Proactively “From the Sea”; an agent of change leveraging the littoral best practices for a paradigm breaking six-sigma best business case to synergize a consistent design in the global commons, rightsizing the core values supporting our mission statement via the 5-vector model through cultural diversity.
In case you missed it, there were two stories that came out over the weekend that are a reminder that as we get all PPT'd up about technology that may or may not work now and then - and for a kings ransom, that some things just "work" - and they love you for it. One warms the heart;
When Marine Sgt. Ross Gundlach served as a dog handler in Afghanistan, he told the yellow lab who was his constant companion that he'd look her up when he returned home.
"I promised her if we made it out of alive, I'd do whatever it took to find her," Gundlach said.
On Friday, he made good on that vow with help from some sentimental state officials in Iowa who know how to pull off a surprise.
Since leaving active duty to take classes at the University of Wisconsin this summer, Gundlach, of Madison, Wis., had been seeking to adopt 4-year-old Casey.
The 25-year-old learned Casey had finished her military service and had been sent to the Iowa State Fire Marshal's Office, where she was used to detect explosives.
Gundlach wrote to State Fire Marshal Director Ray Reynolds, explaining the connection he felt with the dog. He even has a tattoo on his right forearm depicting Casey with angel wings and a halo, sitting at the foot of a Marine.
"He's been putting a case together for the last two months, sending me pictures ... it just tugged on your heart," Reynolds said.
Reynolds decided to arrange a surprise.
There is also a story of even more seriousness. Now and then, people come out to get rid of the Navy Marine Mammal program. The usual suspects come out from the goofy-clueless left, but another threat are - as it is with many things that actually work - the transformationalists.
In a bit of good news for dolphins – but bad news for robots – the Navy's roster of mine-hunting marine mammals is going to be replaced by unmanned underwater vehicles starting in 2017. The reason? It's not that the Navy's team of 24 mine-hunting dolphins is doing a bad job. It's just that it's a lot easier to manufacture and program a, "12-foot, torpedo-shaped robot," as reported by the San Diego Union-Tribune, than it is to stick a dolphin in a multi-year training program. That, and we presume it's a lot easier on the conscience if a hunk of lifeless parts gets blown up versus a… well, anyway. It's not as if the specially trained dolphins are being given a pink slip and sent out to a watery pasture. Rather, it's likely that the 24 mine-hunting dolphins – of 80 total dolphins within the Navy's $24 million marine mammal program – will be reassigned to different aquatic tasks. It's also possible that the dolphins might be retained to find bombs placed on the bottom of a body of water, a different kind of mine hunting that could still make use of the dolphins' unique skills.
Great. Getting rid of something else for the PPT promise of LCS.
I think they'll be back though, not so much that LCS MIW won't be able to do their job in an OK manner, just that they won't be as good as that big mammal brain. Lee Pattinson can tell you;
Do you see technology phasing out the use dolphins?
I worked very closely with the UUV platoon, and it is amazing what the machines can do. However, I don’t believe they will ever surpass the capabilities of the animals. My animal never ceased to amaze me with his detection ranges of underwater objects. Unlike the UUV, the dolphin can think and decipher on its own what is what. The UUV just gives you back data and the human still has to sift through it all and decide if it is a “mine” or any object they may be looking for.
The discovery itself is notable enough: Navy specialists found a rare torpedo off the San Diego coast, an 11-foot brass gem called the Howell that dates back 130 years or so and was one of the first torpedoes to propel itself. Only 50 were made, and only one other one still exists. But what makes the story even better is that the Navy specialists who found it were trained dolphins, reports the Los Angeles Times.
It would have been better to do this a few years ago ... but methinks they needed a happy hatchet man in the top post.
Senior US Defense Department officials are expected to present three budget-cutting scenarios to the defense secretary when they wrap up a wide-ranging review of military strategy at the end of this month, according to sources.
These officials, part of the Strategic Choices and Management Review (SCMR), are preparing for a range of budget cuts — $100 billion, $300 billion and $500 billion — sources said.
...
The first SCMR — known as the “skimmer” or “scammer” in defense circles — assumes the White House’s fiscal 2014 budget proposal is adopted. That plan calls for $100 billion in cuts, but those cuts are back-loaded in the final five years of the decade-long plan. Pentagon officials favor this option because it gives them time to plan and gradually implement the cuts.
Sources say the Army would bear the brunt of those cuts, mostly to force structure. Still, Pentagon officials believe a greater spending cut will be levied on DoD.
If the second option — the $300 billion cut — were put in place, the cuts would be levied against all the services.
The third option assumes full sequestration, or $500 billion over the decade. Sources with insight into the SCMR say this option would wreak the most havoc on the military and force the cancellation or scaling back of several major acquisition efforts.
All these plans are looking at a 10-year execution timeline, with most of the cuts in some coming in the second half .... so .... take it all with a large chunk of salt. Truth can change a lot over a decade, but the change can go in either way.
Throughout the two-month review, DoD officials have agreed that closing bases and changing military compensation are critical components to achieving these targets, sources said. But these officials are pessimistic that Congress will sign off on such institutional changes, meaning force structure, acquisition programs and mission areas would bear the brunt of spending cuts.
We have had enough BRAC, thank you. Quality of work? Work on a mega-base vice a more modest sized base; huge difference. I'll take a tour in Mayport over Norfolk any day of the week. We also won't always be at a point where we will be at this small of a military. The "white space" in this nation is more or less gone due to population, regulations, and other pressures. Once you lose a base, it is very difficult to get it back. Have your J4 folks give you the West Coast brief again. Wars will come in the future - major wars. History tells us that is true. We've BRAC'd enough, look elsewhere. Force structure and acquisitions? We can do more there, and should.
As for military compensation, I have an idea for you; have the same compensation decreases for ALL federal employees if you are going to do that to DOD uniformed members. Starting point. That is my snort/snark. There is some good focus here on something we got very sloppy about in the fat years.
Regardless of the budget situation, the Pentagon has already launched an effort to reduce headquarters staff sizes.
Hagel has targeted so-called overhead spending as a key area for cutting. Last week, a Government Accountability Office report found headquarters staffs at geographical combatant commands have increased by 50 percent to about 10,100 people. Mission and headquarters support costs at these commands is about $1.1 billion each year.
Keep going deeper in the echelon structure. Plenty of room to cut. Also need to look at shore BSC where things that were once collateral duties are now "full-time" jobs. Many of those exist just to create reports that no one needs but others in higher echelons with the same job title ... and none of it value added. You have two LCDR doing what should be a collateral duty for a Senior Chief, if that. Self-licking ice cream cones need to go. Sailors going a decade without a deployment? Review their billets for a hint. One thing that isn't addressed, and should be if we really have a strong desire to make a more modern and cost effective DOD; Goldwater-Nichols needs to be junked. Something created decades ago at the height of the Cold War that has morphed and acquired all sorts of beggar-weeds needs to be removed. That requires the right people in Congress with the will to do that - I don't know if we are there yet. As a result, we will have to make do with what we have. Good, smart people are working hard on this - and there will be many different ways to load-monitor your requirements inside what will be a growing era of budget stress. To get it right, we need a broad, open, and vigorous debate. I think we'll get one. More to follow on this topic. The end of the month should be fun.
The Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments (CSBA), CSIS, American Enterprise Institute and Center for New American Security are scheduled to present their findings at a May 29 event on Capitol Hill.
How did the US Marine Corps and local tribal leaders turn the corner in Fallujah? Who were the people on the ground, Iraqi and American, who were the catalyst for the change that brought about a sea change in the tactical, operational, and strategic direction in Iraq? Today from 5-6pm EST, our guest for the full hour to discuss that and more will be author Bill Ardolino. We will use as a base of our discussion his new book, Fallujah Awakens: Marines, Sheikhs, and the Battle Against al Qaeda. Bill is the associate editor of The Long War Journal. He was embedded with the U.S. Marine Corps, the U.S. Army, the Iraqi Army, and the Iraqi Police in Fallujah, Habbaniyah, and Baghdad in 2006, 2007, and 2008, and later with U.S. and Afghan forces in Kabul, Helmand and Khost provinces in Afghanistan. His reports, columns, and photographs have received wide media exposure and have been cited in a number of academic publications. He lives in Washington, DC.
Two years ago on Memorial Day, Nashville songwriter Connie Harrington was driving in her car, listening to a story on the public radio program Here & Now. And she heard — a soldier who was killed in Afghanistan.
... In the radio broadcast, his father, Paul, said his reasons for driving the truck Jared left behind were simple: "What can I tell you? It's him. It's got his DNA all over it. I love driving it because it reminds me of him, though I don't need the truck to remind me of him. I think about him every hour of every day."
Harrington was moved by what she heard and scribbled down everything she could remember, all while fighting tears. A few days later, Harrington started turning those thoughts into a song, with two co-writers. Singer Lee Brice recorded "I Drive Your Truck," and last month, it vaulted to No. 1 on Billboard's Country Airplay chart.
Now, for the rest of the story.
One of the most remarkable things about Jared isn't even in the song. The sergeant was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for trying to rescue a badly wounded comrade in Afghanistan in 2006. His patrol had come under a fierce attack, and Jared ran out three times into a wall of bullets and grenades. On his last attempt to save the private, he was killed.
"That's something I have to live with every day. ... [He] never gave up on anything, no matter what it was," Paul says of his son.
"Your child is your future, and when you've lost your child, you've lost your future. And I think one of the reasons so many Gold Star parents drive their children's trucks is 'cuz they have to hold on. They just have to hold on."
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty.
Sergeant First Class Monti distinguished himself at the cost of his life while serving as a team leader with the Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 3d Squadron, 71st Cavalry Regiment in Nuristan Province, Afghanistan on 21 June 2006. On that day, Sergeant First Class Monti was leading a mission to gather intelligence and to direct fires against the enemy in support of a squadron-size interdiction mission. While at an observation position on top of a mountain ridge, Sergeant First Class Monti’s sixteen-man patrol came under attack by a superior force consisting of as many as 50 enemy fighters. On the verge of being overrun, Sergeant First Class Monti directed his patrol to set up a hasty defensive position behind a collection of rocks. He then began to call for indirect fire from a nearby support base; accurately bringing the rounds upon the enemy who had closed to within 50 meters of his position. While still calling for fire, Sergeant First Class Monti personally engaged the enemy with his rifle and a grenade, successfully disrupting an attempt to flank the patrol. Sergeant First Class Monti then realized that one of his Soldiers was lying wounded and exposed in the open ground between the advancing enemy and the patrol’s position. With complete disregard for his own safety, Sergeant First Class Monti moved from behind the cover of the rocks into the face of withering enemy fire. After closing within meters of his wounded Soldier, the heavy volume of fire forced Sergeant First Class Monti to seek cover. Sergeant First Class Monti then gathered himself and rose again to maneuver through a barrage of enemy fire to save his wounded Soldier. Again, Sergeant First Class Monti was driven back by relentless enemy fire. Unwilling to leave his Soldier wounded and exposed, Sergeant First Class Monti made another attempt to move across open terrain and through the enemy fire to the aide of his wounded Soldier. On his third attempt, Sergeant First Class Monti was mortally wounded, sacrificing his own life in an effort to save his Soldier. Sergeant First Class Monti’s acts of heroism inspired the patrol to fight off the larger enemy force. Sergeant First Class Monti’s immeasurable courage and uncommon valor were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, 3d Squadron 71st Cavalry Regiment, the 3d Brigade Combat Team, the 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), and the United States Army.
A mash-up of a couple of recent emails. You know one thing sequestor cannot stop? That is right ... the days and days of work that must be done in order to support ....
Subject: AWARDS - DUE IN APRIL AND MAY
Leadership,
The following award submissions are due during the months of April and May. [redacted]
Short-fused:
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) Roy Wilkins Renown Service Award (Due to [redacted] Admin NLT 22 Apr 2013)
May Awards are listed below:
Federally Employed Women (FEW) Recognition Award (Due to [redacted] Admin NLT 1 May 2013)
Outstanding Department of Defense (DOD) Employee with a Disability Award (Due to [redacted] Admin NLT 14 May 2013)
Blacks in Government (BIG) Meritorious Service Award (Due to [redacted] Admin NLT 31 May 2013)
National Organization for Mexican American Rights (NOMAR) Meritorious Award (Due to [redacted] Admin NLT 31 May 2013)
Reminder:
- League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) Excellence Award (Due to NOSC Admin NLT 15 Apr 2013)
- Society of American Indian Government Employees (SAIGE) - nomination deadline: April 29th, 2013
- League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) - nomination deadline: April 29th, 2013
- National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) - nomination deadline: May 13th, 2013
Nomination format and award criteria are located at http://www.public.navy.mil/BUPERS-NPC/SUPPORT/DIVERSITY/AWARDS/Pages/default2.aspx; click on the "Sample ODMEO Awards Package " and "2013 Awards Memo" in the upper right corner.
For more information, please contact LT [redacted]
Oh no, we must expend every precious man-hour (can we say that) in order to feed the beast.
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