Holiday Doesn’t Slow Smugglers: Border Patrol Seizes $5 Million in Marijuana

Blythe, Calif. – U.S. Border Patrol agents from Yuma Sector seized approximately 47 pounds of cocaine and arrested one suspected smuggler on Sunday.

	Roof compartment exposed

Border Patrol agents assigned to the Blythe Station checkpoint on Highway 95 referred a red Chevrolet Blazer to secondary inspection following a canine team alert. While in secondary, the driver, a female Mexican national, consented to a search of the vehicle. Agents searched the vehicle and found cocaine concealed in the interior ceiling of the SUV.

The cocaine, with an estimated street value of $1,504,000, and the subject, were turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration.

To report suspicious activity, contact the Yuma Sector Border Patrol’s toll free telephone number at (1-866) 999-8727.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.

Today in the Department of Defense, Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates and Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Mike Mullen will conduct a press briefing today at 2 p.m. EST in the Pentagon Briefing Room (2E973). Journalists without a Pentagon building pass will be picked up at the River Entrance only. Plan to arrive no later than 45 minutes prior to the event; have proof of affiliation and two forms of photo identification. Please call 703-697-5131 for escort into the building.

Deputy Secretary of Defense William J. Lynn has no public or media events on his schedule.
U.S. Navy Vice Adm. Robert Harward, commander of Combined Joint Interagency Task Force 435, will brief the media live from Afghanistan at 10:30 a.m. EST in the Pentagon Briefing Room (2E973). Harward will provide an update on detention operations. J

DOD to Release 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' Report

November 29, 2010

U.S. Department of Defense
Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Public Affairs)

DOD to Release 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' Report                  Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates and Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Mike Mullen will conduct a press briefing at 2 p.m. EST on Tuesday, Nov. 30, in the Pentagon Briefing Room (2E973) to discuss the public release of the Comprehensive Review Working Group (CRWG) report.                  They will be followed by Gen. Carter F. Ham and Jeh Johnson, co-chairs of the CRWG.

NWS Buffalo (Western New York)

Issued By:  NWS Buffalo (Western New York)
Affected Jurisdictions:  Chautauqua, Erie Counties

Headline:  High Wind Warning issued November 29 at 3:29PM EST expiring November 30 at 3:00PM EST by NWS Buffalo

...HIGH WIND WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 5 AM TO 3 PM EST TUESDAY... THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BUFFALO HAS ISSUED A HIGH WIND WARNING...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 5 AM TO 3 PM EST TUESDAY. * LOCATIONS: HIGH WINDS ARE EXPECTED ACROSS PORTIONS OF CHAUTAUQUA AND SOUTHERN ERIE COUNTIES WITH THE STRONGEST WINDS ALONG THE LAKE ERIE SHORELINE. * TIMING: STRONG WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP AROUND DAYBREAK TUESDAY AND CONTINUE THROUGH MID AFTERNOON. * WINDS: SOUTH TO SOUTHEAST WINDS WILL INCREASE TO 30 TO 40 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 60 MPH ALONG THE LAKE ERIE SHORE. FARTHER INLAND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH ARE POSSIBLE ACROSS THE HIGHER TERRAIN. * IMPACTS: HIGH WINDS MAY BRING DOWN TREES AND POWERLINES RESULTING IN SCATTERED POWER OUTAGES AND SOME PROPERTY DAMAGE. THE STRONG SOUTHEAST WINDS WILL BE BLOWING DIRECTLY ACROSS THE NEW YORK STATE THRUWAY...CREATING VERY DIFFICULT DRIVING CONDITIONS FOR HIGH PROFILE VEHICLES.

A HIGH WIND WARNING IS ISSUED WHEN SUSTAINED WINDS OF 40 MPH ARE EXPECTED FOR AT LEAST AN HOUR...WITH GUSTS OF 58 MPH OR GREATER AT ANY TIME. DAMAGE TO TREES...POWER LINES...AND PROPERTY ARE POSSIBLE WITH WIND OF THIS MAGNITUDE. IF YOU HAVE A HIGH PROFILE VEHICLES BE EXTRA CAREFUL UNTIL THE WIND SUBSIDES. STAY TUNED TO WEATHER RADIO OR OTHER RADIO AND TV STATIONS FOR FURTHER DETAILS OR UPDATES.

General Officer Announcements

                 The chief of staff, Army announced today the following assignments:
                 Army Brig. Gen. Ralph O. Baker, deputy commanding general (maneuver), 1st Armored Division/deputy commanding general-east, U.S. Division-Center, Operation New Dawn, Iraq to director for operational plans and joint force development, J-7, The Joint Staff, Washington, DC.
                 Army Brig. Gen. Scott F. Donahue, commanding general, U.S. Army Engineer Division, South Pacific, San Francisco, Calif., to director, J-7, U.S. Forces-Iraq, Operation New Dawn, Iraq.
                 Army Brig. Gen. Christopher K. Haas, commander, Special Operations Command Africa, U.S. Africa Command to commander, Combined Forces Special Operations Component Command Forward, Afghanistan, Operation Enduring Freedom, Afghanistan.

HIGH WIND WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 5 AM TO 3 PM EST TUESDAY

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BUFFALO NY
311 PM EST MON NOV 29 2010

NYZ019-085-302015-
CHAUTAUQUA-SOUTHERN ERIE-
311 PM EST MON NOV 29 2010

...HIGH WIND WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 5 AM TO 3 PM EST TUESDAY...

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF WESTERN NEW YORK.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT.

PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE
INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS.

   HIGH WIND WARNING.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY.

PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE
INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS.

   HIGH WIND WARNING.

RAIN IS EXPECTED TO DEVELOP ON TUESDAY AND BECOME MODERATE TO
HEAVY AT TIMES WHILE CONTINUING THROUGH TUESDAY NIGHT. THE LATEST
GUIDANCE SUGGESTS A POTENTIAL FOR 1 TO 2 INCHES OF RAIN DURING
THIS PERIOD. THIS AMOUNT OF RAIN WOULD CAUSE SIGNIFICANT RISES ON
AREA CREEKS AND RIVERS...WITH WATER LEVELS APPROACHING BANKFULL
STAGE IN SOME CASES.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE HIGH WIND WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 5 AM TO 3 PM EST TUESDAY

URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BUFFALO NY
329 PM EST MON NOV 29 2010


NYZ019-085-300430-
/O.NEW.KBUF.HW.W.0002.101130T1000Z-101130T2000Z/
CHAUTAUQUA-SOUTHERN ERIE-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...JAMESTOWN...ORCHARD PARK...SPRINGVILLE
329 PM EST MON NOV 29 2010

...HIGH WIND WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 5 AM TO 3 PM EST TUESDAY...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BUFFALO HAS ISSUED A HIGH WIND
WARNING...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 5 AM TO 3 PM EST TUESDAY.


* LOCATIONS: HIGH WINDS ARE EXPECTED ACROSS PORTIONS OF CHAUTAUQUA
  AND SOUTHERN ERIE COUNTIES WITH THE STRONGEST WINDS ALONG THE
  LAKE ERIE SHORELINE.

* TIMING: STRONG WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP AROUND DAYBREAK
  TUESDAY AND CONTINUE THROUGH MID AFTERNOON.

* WINDS: SOUTH TO SOUTHEAST WINDS WILL INCREASE TO 30 TO 40 MPH
  WITH GUSTS TO 60 MPH ALONG THE LAKE ERIE SHORE. FARTHER INLAND
  GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH ARE POSSIBLE ACROSS THE HIGHER TERRAIN.

* IMPACTS: HIGH WINDS MAY BRING DOWN TREES AND POWERLINES
  RESULTING IN SCATTERED POWER OUTAGES AND SOME PROPERTY DAMAGE.
  THE STRONG SOUTHEAST WINDS WILL BE BLOWING DIRECTLY ACROSS THE
  NEW YORK STATE THRUWAY...CREATING VERY DIFFICULT DRIVING
  CONDITIONS FOR HIGH PROFILE VEHICLES.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A HIGH WIND WARNING IS ISSUED WHEN SUSTAINED WINDS OF 40 MPH ARE
EXPECTED FOR AT LEAST AN HOUR...WITH GUSTS OF 58 MPH OR GREATER
AT ANY TIME. DAMAGE TO TREES...POWER LINES...AND PROPERTY ARE
POSSIBLE WITH WIND OF THIS MAGNITUDE. IF YOU HAVE A HIGH PROFILE
VEHICLES BE EXTRA CAREFUL UNTIL THE WIND SUBSIDES.

Transitional Assistance Management Program (TAMP) benefits?

TAMP FOR DWH?

by CDR David L. Teska

A question has been raised whether Reservists recalled for 60 days under Title 14 for the Deepwater Horizon incident (or any other T14 recall) eligible for Transitional Assistance Management Program (TAMP) benefits? TAMP is a follow-on medical coverage program under TRICARE for elgible demobilized Reservists. For more on TAMP visit http://www.tricare.mil/tricaresmartfiles/Prod_272/TAMP_BR_Rev2_Lo_Res.pdf

No. Active duty under Title 14 U.S.C. 712 does not qualify as contingency orders for any post-active duty benefit purposes including TAMP.
For more information, please read "Mobilization/Demobilization Guidance for Reservists Recalled under Title 14 U.S.C. 712" at http://www.uscg.mil/reserve/docs/resources/T14%20Entitlements%20Document%20for%20CGR%20website.htm.

David L. Teska
CDR, USCGR
SRO, Sector San Diego

Guard Leaders Hope Efficiencies Will Extend Border Role

By Lisa Daniel
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Nov. 29, 2010 - National Guard soldiers and airmen are making a big difference to civilian law enforcement officers working along the U.S. southwest border, and officials hope smart fiscal oversight will allow them to stay through the spring, a National Guard Bureau official said.
Homeland Security Department officials have told military leaders at the Pentagon that they are "very impressed" with the support from 1,195 soldiers and airmen deployed to the border to help DHS's Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Protection agents, Army Maj. Gen. Peter M. Aylward told American Forces Press Service in a Nov. 24 interview.
Representatives from Homeland Security, the Office of the Secretary of Defense, the Joint Staff, and the adjutants general for California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas discussed the Guard's contribution along the border and their deployment schedule during a Nov. 23 video teleconference, said Aylward, a special assistant to the chief of the National Guard Bureau.
Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano visited California National Guard members in San Diego, along with her top military advisor, Coast Guard Rear Adm. Chuck Michel, on Oct. 18. Michel reported back that there is a high return on investment from President Barack Obama's directive in May to send up to 1,200 National Guard troops to the border, Aylward said.
"He said they are very impressed with the attitude, professionalism, and great support the National Guard soldiers and airmen are providing in the San Diego sector, and across the board in the other states," he said. "The troops are doing great work, and it's greatly appreciated by our colleagues who are working to hire and train 1,000 agents."
The Guard members were asked to support the federal agents until the new hires are on board. The Guard reached capacity for the mission in October, and the directive calls for the drawdown of troops to begin in February. Government officials, though, are still working out the redeployment schedule, Aylward said. Redeployment is tied to the $135 million allocated to the mission, which is shared equally between the Homeland Security and Defense departments.
"How long we sustain the 1,200 folks on the border is part and parcel to the $135 million," he said. "The rampdown schedule is something the team is working through right now with the four states. The reality is we have had no change to the existing requirement and don't anticipate a change to that requirement." The challenge, he added, is how to execute that requirement within the budget allocation.
Because of the "great fiscal stewardship" of the four adjutants general, Aylward said, officials hope to extend the drawdown timeline into late spring, and perhaps into June. The adjutants general cut costs for the operation by using lower-level personnel and finding alternatives to work-related travel to stretch the appropriated funds, he said.
Defense and Homeland Security officials are reviewing the drawdown schedule to determine how long they can fund it, Aylward said.
The troops are working mostly in "entry identification teams" that operate in secret locations to provide oversight of the 2,000-mile border between the four states and Mexico, the general said.
"For us, it's really nothing new," he said. "They work in listening posts, observation posts, gathering information to give to law enforcement for prosecution."
The Guard members also work as criminal analysts in support of immigration and customs officials, Aylward said. "We do a great job with analytical work and intelligence around the globe, so this is a great fit for us," he said.
"This, frankly, is just another chapter in this initiative [to reduce transnational threats along the southwest border] that began even before DHS started, going back to 1993 with Customs and Border Protection," he added.
This year has seen an improvement along the border, with illegal immigration down 23 percent between January and August, Aylward noted. During the same time, drug seizures were up 15 percent and weapons seizures were up 30 percent. At the same time, drug violence has surged in Mexico, but little has spilled over to the U.S. states, he said.
"Our challenge is how to have rules that facilitate trade, tourism and commerce, but eliminate transnational threats and illegal activity," Aylward said. "We're part of those who are helping with those solutions by screening out the transnational threats."
The breakdown of Guard members along the border is 224 in California, 524 in Arizona, 72 in New Mexico, and 250 in Texas. Another 130 are working command and control, officials said.
Customs and Border Protection spokeswoman Kelly Rose Ivahnenko said the National Guard teams help to fill gaps in surveillance coverage along the border, enhance interdiction efforts with analysis and technology such as infrared sensing devices and truck-mounted cameras, and provide agents with real-time information.
"National Guard troops serve as valuable partners and are a tremendous asset in bolstering our border security efforts, along with unprecedented resources in manpower, technology and infrastructure that have been allocated by this administration," Ivahnenko said.
As examples, Ivahnenko said, Guard members have assisted Border Patrol with 2,500 apprehensions and the seizure of nearly 3,000 pounds of marijuana in the Tucson, Ariz., sector. In Texas, Guard members have helped to secure 25 apprehensions and 200 pounds of marijuana in the El Paso sector and 430 apprehensions and 1,348 pounds of marijuana in the Rio Grande Valley sector. California National Guardsmen have detected 1,046 illegal entries that resulted in arrests by Border Patrol agents, she said.
 

Biographies:
Army Maj. Gen. Peter M. Aylward
Related Sites:
National Guard Bureau

LIST OF DOMAIN NAMES SEIZED BY ICE

1. 2009jerseys.com
2. 51607.com
3. amoyhy.com
4. b2corder.com
5. bishoe.com
6. borntrade.com
7. borntrade.net
8. boxedtvseries.com
9. boxset4less.com
10. boxsetseries.com
11. burberryoutletshop.com
12. burberryoutlet-us.com
13. cartoon77.com
14. cheapscarfshop.com
15. coachoutletfactory.com
16. dajaz1.com
17. discountscarvesonsale.com
18. dvdcollectionsale.com
19. dvdcollects.com
20. dvdorderonline.com
21. dvdprostore.com
22. dvdscollection.com
23. dvdsetcollection.com
24. dvdsetonline.com
25. dvdsuperdeal.com
26. eluxury-outlet.com
27. getdvdset.com
28. gofactoryoutlet.com
29. golfstaring.com
30. golfwholesale18.com
31. handbag9.com
32. handbagcom.com
33. handsbagpop.com
34. icqshoes.com
35. ipodnanouk.com
36. jersey-china.com
37. jerseyclubhouse.com
38. jordansbox.com
39. lifetimereplicas.com
40. louis-vuitton-outlet-store.com
41. louisvuittonoutletstore4u.com
42. louisvuittonoutletstores2u.com
43. lv-outlets.com
44. lv-outlets.net
45. lv-outletstore.com
46. massnike.com
47. merrytimberland.com
48. mycollects.com
49. mydreamwatches.com
50. mygolfwholesale.com
51. mytend.com
52. nfljerseysupply.com
53. nibdvd.com
54. nystylerolex.com
55. odvdo.com
56. oebags.com
57. onsmash.com
58. overbestmall.com
59. rapgodfathers.com
60. realtimberland.com
61. rmx4u.com
62. scarfonlineshop.com
63. scarvesviponsale.com
64. shawl-stor.com
65. silkscarfonsale.com
66. silkscarf-shop.com
67. skyergolf.com
68. sohob2b.com
69. sohob2c.com
70. storeofeast.com
71. stuff-trade.com
72. sunglasses-mall.com
Page 2 of 2
73. sunogolf.com
74. tbl-sports.com
75. thelouisvuittonoutlet.com
76. throwbackguy.com
77. tieonsale.com
78. timberlandlike.com
79. topabuy.com
80. torrent-finder.com
81. usaburberryscarf.com
82. usaoutlets.net
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is the largest investigative arm of the Department of Homeland Security.
ICE is a 21st century law enforcement agency with broad responsibilities for a number of key homeland security priorities. For more
information, visit: www.ICE.gov. To report suspicious activity, call 1-866-347-2423.

ICE seizes 82 website domains involved in selling counterfeit goods as part of Cyber Monday crackdown

List of domain names seized

WASHINGTON - Seizure orders have been executed against 82 domain names of commercial websites engaged in the illegal sale and distribution of counterfeit goods and copyrighted works as part of Operation In Our Sites v. 2.0, as part of an ongoing investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
"The sale of counterfeit U.S. brands on the Internet steals the creative work of others, costs our economy jobs and revenue and can threaten the health and safety of American consumers," said ICE Director John Morton. "The protection of intellectual property is a top priority for Homeland Security Investigations and the National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center. We are dedicated to protecting the jobs, the income and the tax revenue that disappear when counterfeit goods are trafficked."


The coordinated federal law enforcement operation targeted online retailers of a diverse array of counterfeit goods, including sports equipment, shoes, handbags, athletic apparel and sunglasses as well as illegal copies of copyrighted DVD boxed sets, music and software.
During the course of the operation, federal law enforcement agents made undercover purchases from online retailers suspected of selling counterfeit goods. In many instances, the goods were shipped directly into the United States from suppliers in other countries using international express mail. If the goods were confirmed as counterfeit or otherwise illegal, seizure orders for the domain names of the websites that sold the goods were obtained from U.S. magistrate judges. Individuals attempting to access the websites will now find a banner notifying them that the domain name of that website has been seized by federal authorities.
"By seizing these domain names, we have disrupted the sale of thousands of counterfeit items, while also cutting off funds to those willing to exploit the ingenuity of others for their own personal gain," said Attorney General Eric Holder. "Intellectual property crimes are not victimless. The theft of ideas and the sale of counterfeit goods threaten economic opportunities and financial stability, suppress innovation and destroy jobs. The Justice Department, with the help of our law enforcement partners, is changing the perception that these crimes are risk-free with enforcement actions like the one announced today."
The operation builds upon Operation in Our Sites I, which was announced in June 2010. In that first action of this broader law enforcement initiative, authorities executed seizure warrants against nine domain names of websites offering pirated copies of first-run movies.
The nationwide operation was spearheaded by the National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center (IPR Center) led by ICE’s Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), in coordination with the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section and nine U.S. Attorneys’ Offices including the Southern District of New York; District of Columbia; Middle District of Florida; District of Colorado; Southern District of Texas; Central District of California; Northern District of Ohio; District of New Jersey; and the Western District of Washington. The Criminal Division’s Asset Forfeiture and Money Laundering Section also provided significant assistance.
The IPR Center is one of the U.S. government’s key weapons in the fight against criminal counterfeiting and piracy. The IPR Center is led by ICE HSI and includes partners from U.S. Customs and Border Protection; the FBI; the Department of Commerce; the Food and Drug Administration; the Postal Inspection Service; the General Services Administration, Office of the Inspector General; the Naval Criminal Investigative Service; the Defense Criminal Investigative Service; the Army Criminal Investigative Division’s Major Procurement Fraud Unit; the Consumer Product Safety Commission, INTERPOL; and the Government of Mexico Tax Administrative Service. The IPR Center allows law enforcement and the private sector jointly to address the growing transnational problem of counterfeit products. The IPR Center coordinates outreach to U.S. rights holders and conducts domestic and international law enforcement as well as coordinates and directs anti-counterfeiting investigations. To learn more about the IPR Center, visit http://www.ice.gov.

Message from the Director: Thanking America’s Veterans

November 10, 2010

---

Veterans Day is a time to honor all Americans who have fought for our country, to thank those who currently serve, and to think about the price we must pay for our freedom. Ever since our nation’s founding, our democracy has depended on the same essential quality: the willingness of patriots to risk their lives for something bigger than themselves. From Lexington and Concord to Omaha Beach and Kandahar, the sacrifices of our men and women in uniform have kept the American dream alive. Thanks to them, we enjoy the blessings and opportunities of a free society.
Along with our partners in the Armed Forces, our Agency shares the mission of defending our country. We provide the critical intelligence that shapes strategy, protects the troops, and targets the enemy. CIA officers are serving with their military colleagues in the field in greater numbers than ever before. They put their lives on the line and face many of the same hazards that confront our soldiers. Together, our officers and America’s warfighters have forged a common bond against the enemy. We at CIA are very proud of our support to the military.
On Veterans Day 2010, we will pause to remember the sacrifices of those who serve our nation. Their example inspires all of us to carry on the mission of protecting the American people. I extend my deepest gratitude to all of you who have ever served in the military, or who have the honor of working with our partners in uniform. I’ve seen that teamwork in action overseas, in some very dangerous places. All of us at CIA pay tribute to the courage, skill, and generous spirit of Americans who, like those patriots before them, are on the frontlines of the fight for our freedom and for a better world.
Leon E. Panetta

SOURCE: CIA - No endorsement Implied

Message from the Director: Associate Director for Military Affairs

Statement to Employees by Director of the Central Intelligence Agency Leon E. Panetta on the Associate Director for Military Affairs.
November 15, 2010

---

On Friday, Lt. Gen. Mark Welsh, our Associate Director for Military Affairs, will conclude over two years of exceptional service to the CIA. Next month, he will begin a new chapter in his distinguished career: He has earned a fourth star and will take command of U.S. Air Forces in Europe (USAFE).

During his time with the Agency, Mark has made decisive contributions to our mission as the principal bridge to our military partners. His experience and leadership have helped guide the teamwork that is essential to America’s fight against al-Qa’ida and its violent allies. He built even closer ties to commanders in the field and troops on the ground. Mark has also done great work to strengthen collaboration on cyber security.
Mark is one of the military’s brightest stars. His talent, advice, and constant good humor will be missed by CIA officers at all levels. As he heads to Ramstein Air Base in Germany, we wish him continued success. We will always be proud to count him as a colleague and friend. I had the honor last week of presenting him the Director's Award for his outstanding service to the CIA and the nation.

Beginning this week, you’ll see a new three-star Air Force general here at CIA. Lt. Gen. Kurt A. Cichowski will be our next ADMA, effective November 22nd. Kurt comes to us after serving as Vice Commander, Air Force Special Operations Command, Hurlburt Field, Florida. He received his commission from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1977 and holds advanced degrees in business administration and airpower art and science. Kurt is a command pilot with more than 3,400 hours flying everything from fighters to special operations gunships. He has held a wide variety of operational, command, and staff positions. The CIA is very fortunate to have him. Please join me in welcoming Kurt to our mission and our Agency family.
Leon E. Panetta

Source: CIA - No implied endorsement

DOD Identifies Army Casualty

U.S. Department of Defense
Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Public Affairs)

DOD Identifies Army Casualty               The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.               Pvt. Devon J. Harris, 24, of Mesquite, Tex., died Nov. 27 in Wardak province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit with a rocket-propelled grenade.  He was assigned to the Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 10th Mountain Division, at Ft. Polk, La.               For additional background information on this soldier, news media representatives may contact the Ft. Polk public affairs office at 337-531-7203.

Chairman Discusses Afghanistan, Threats from Iran, Yemen

By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Nov. 28, 2010 - The United States is "very committed" to begin drawing down its forces in Afghanistan in July, but large numbers will remain, Navy Adm. Mike Mullen said on a televised broadcast today.
"We will start drawing down troops next July," Mullen told Fareed Zacharia, host of the CNN program, GPS. Any drawdown will be based on conditions on the ground and via a recommendation from commanders on the ground, he said. It is too soon to know the numbers of troops and locations the drawdown will affect first, he added.
"We're very committed to beginning the drawdown then," he said. "But there will continue to be a large number of U.S. and allied troops on the ground in Afghanistan after July 2011."
The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff also said that reconciliation talks with the Taliban must be done from a position of strength, and that any talks between the Taliban and the Afghan government right now "are talks about talks."
Reconciliation is a very important process for Afghanistan, Mullen said, and when that can happen, political progress will follow.
"We need to do that from a strong position, and we're just not there right now," he said. "The Taliban don't think they are losing and the likelihood that they are going to take any significant steps with respect to reconciliation is low."
Turning to Iran, the chairman said he believes Iranian officials still are working to develop and weaponize nuclear devices, despite their public words to the contrary. The United States has been thinking about military options against Iranian facilities for some time, but "I still think it is important to focus on the dialogue, to focus on the engagement, but do it in a realistic way," he said.
The United States needs to look at Iran and decide whether the nation is going to "tell the truth, actually engage and actually do anything," he said. Iran has a history of gamesmanship, and American leaders need to take this under consideration, he said.
Mullen also spoke of al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula, saying that the Yemen-based terrorist group continues to be a problem. The recent bombs on cargo aircraft emanated from Yemen and the group is actively recruiting members to attack the United States, he said.
"This al-Qaida group in Yemen is trying to kill Americans," Mullen said. "I think that will continue and we are obligated to address that threat."
 

Biographies:
Navy Adm. Mike Mullen
Related Articles:
Mullen: North Korean Acts Endanger Region

Veterans' Reflections: Putting Personal Comforts Aside

By Ian Graham
Emerging Media, Defense Media Activity
WASHINGTON, Nov. 26, 2010 - Like a lot of people at that stage of their lives, Lisa Reed wasn't sure what she wanted to do in the late 1990s. After a year of ambiguity in community college, she said, she saw opportunity in the Air Force and enlisted in 1999.
Training was a bit of a shock, she admitted. Initially, she said, she was overwhelmed. As a woman, she found herself in a small minority at basic training. But that feeling subsided, she added, as she became close with her fellow servicemembers.
"At first, it was very obvious," she said. "All of a sudden, [the women] were completely outnumbered. As time went by, it became less noticeable." At one point, she was assigned to an F-15C squadron with 30 male fighter pilots.
People certainly can face gender problems in the service, Reed said, but on the whole, it's like a family, and military camaraderie should not be taken lightly.
It's hard to find that kind of friendship in the civilian world, she said, adding that the closeness people experience working together in the military is far beyond a normal co-worker relationship.
"I looked at my male co-workers as family members," she said, "and my female co-workers as my sisters."
In August 2001, Reed was sent to Kuwait. She did intelligence work for a fighter squadron watching the no-fly zone over Iraq as part of Operation Southern Watch. A month into her deployment, her mission changed drastically.
None of her military training, she said, had equipped her for the events of Sept. 11, 2001.
"It was hard, seeing something like that happen to your country, your friends, your family, while you're in a foreign country," she said. "You feel helpless. Even though there wasn't anything anybody could do, there's still a feeling like you can't do anything to help. It's surreal."
The no-fly zone took second chair. Operation Southern Watch was set aside for Operation Enduring Freedom. Reed's job was to compile and deliver messages to her commander. She primarily dealt with threats pilots could face in the air.
"Basically, I would go through terrorism-related message traffic and report to the base commander in the war room about possible threats," she said.
Both of her parents had served in the Air Force, Reed said, so she was accustomed to the military lifestyle. In fact, she said, she wanted the travel opportunities the military would provide her. Since she left the service in 2003, she has traveled in India and Tibet as well as across the United States.
"Whenever you travel to a different place, it sets a specific chapter in your life," she said. "It makes that time in your life, the people you meet there, and the things that happen very memorable."
Her time in service is memorable, she said, because of the events that happened while she was in uniform, and because of the value she places on her service.
"Being a veteran means you've given up part of your life and the comforts of 'normal' life for your country, and for the people you serve with," Reed said. "You put your personal comforts aside for a few years. It says a lot about someone's character, that they can put their life in someone else's hands and work in a team setting with them."
("Veterans' Reflections" is a collection of stories of men and women who served their country in World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, and the present-day conflicts. They will be posted throughout November in honor of Veterans Day.)
 

Related Sites:
Veterans' Reflections Site

Face of Defense: Iraq-Deployed Tanker Receives Honor

By Army Sgt. Kimberly Johnson
1st Armored Division
BAGHDAD, Nov. 24, 2010 - Army Staff Sgt. Jason Motes is now among an elite brotherhood within the United States Armor Association -- The Order of St. George, symbolizing bravery, dedication and decency.

Army Col. John Ward, division operations officer, 1st Armored Division, United States Division – Center, inducts Staff Sgt. Jason Motes into the Order of St. George during a ceremony in Baghdad, Nov. 15, 2010. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Kimberly Johnson (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available.

Motes, the future operations noncommissioned officer-in-charge with Company A, Division Special Troops Battalion, 1st Armored Division, United States Division –- Center, is one of very few staff sergeants who have been inducted into the order. "The Order of St. George, to me, is the tradition for [tank crewmen]," said Motes, a Delaware, Ohio, native. "It symbolizes one's long effort toward [excellence in] our branch. It's a big honor."
According to the U.S. Armor Association, the history of St. George dates back to about 280 A.D. St. George was a member of the Roman emperor's mounted guard and was imprisoned, tortured and executed for standing up against the emperor, refusing an order to destroy all Christian churches and sacred writings.
More than 1,000 years later, citizens of a small Italian village claim that St. George appeared and killed a dragon that was tormenting the town. It is that historic image of St. George that symbolizes the heroism and bravery of mounted warriors.
Over the years, soldiers of several nations have given accounts of St. George appearing on battlefields to aid in their victories. St. George is the only saint portrayed as fighting mounted, and in 1986 the U.S. Armor Association established the order to recognize the best tankers and cavalrymen in the Army.
"If anyone of the junior level of leadership deserves the Order of St. George, it is Staff Sgt. Motes," said Sgt. Maj. Dale Sump, the division master gunner with A Company, DSTB, and a Cherokee, Iowa, native. "Just because of the way he attacks a problem and how adaptable he is ... that's really what the Army needs right now."
Sump, who nominated Motes for the honor, said the Order of St. George medallion is a new medal for staff sergeants. He said there were previously just three levels of the medallion -- bronze, silver and gold -- given only to senior enlisted soldiers and officers.
During Operation Iraqi Freedom, Sump said, the Army established a new black medallion to recognize junior exceptional armor leaders.
Motes' family has a tradition of soldiering; his brother and father are both infantrymen. He said he wanted something different and chose the armor branch.
"It's a brotherhood," Motes said. "I am now a part of a very few people who have [been inducted into] the Order of St. George. Being knighted during the ceremony is a sign of respect for what I've done, what I could do, and what my leaders think I can do more of."

Veterans' Reflections: Military Provides Conduit to World

By Ian Graham
Emerging Media, Defense Media Activity
WASHINGTON, Nov. 24, 2010 - As a child, John McAllister saw the military as a ticket to a new world, beyond anything his rural Midwestern home could offer.

John McAllister, a veteran who served both in the National Guard and the U.S. Air Force, stands at the World War II Memorial in Washington. D.C., July 1, 2010. In an interview McAllister reflected on the dramatic impact military service has had on his life. DOD photo by U.S. Navy Petty Officer Second Class William Selby (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available.

"I'm from a small town in northern Minnesota, and it was a way to learn an occupation, and also to get out there and see some things besides the small town we grew up in," he said. His two older brothers had set the example for him, both joining the Army National Guard and then going into active service. It was easy to follow in their footsteps, because McAllister also had a strong desire to serve his country.
"It all comes back to being grateful for what we have in this country, and being a representative of that when we're over there in these other countries," he said.
In 1988, two years after joining the Army Guard, McAllister enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and went to its firefighter academy. His service would take him far, far away from Minnesota, around the U.S. and eventually to Guam, where he was stationed when Operation Desert Storm commenced.
Though he was far from the war geographically, working at what he called a gas station for large-frame aircraft carrying people and equipment to the battlefield, he had close friends stateside who were departing for the war zone.
"The day the ground war started in the Persian Gulf War happened to be my 22nd birthday; it was February 24, 1991," McAllister said. "I remember waking up the morning they were pushing in -- up to that point it had just been aerial bombings going on -- and I knew that it was my friends going into harm's way."
"I was concerned about them, so I made a point after I left Guam to touch base with them, and to make sure they're all okay," he added. "I took a trip down from Minnesota to New Mexico, just to visit with them."
McAllister said he recalls his military service with fondness. Without it, he said, his life would be drastically different. He wouldn't have met his wife in Greece, and he wouldn't have developed the lifelong friendships only the services' camaraderie can foster.
"They're probably the best friendships you'll ever make, the ones you make in the military. The things you learn, the places you see, the people you get to know [are indispensible]," he said.
(Veterans' Reflections is a collection of stories of men and women who served their country in World War II, the Korean War, Vietnam War, Desert Shield and Desert Storm and present-day conflicts. They will be posted throughout November in honor of Veteran's Day.)

Holiday Doesn’t Slow Smugglers: Border Patrol Seizes $5 Million in Marijuana

Edinburg, Texas ─ More than $5.3 million worth of marijuana was confiscated in multiple seizures by U.S. Border Patrol agents throughout the Rio Grande Valley Sector in a 48-hour time period spanning the Thanksgiving holiday.

	click for hi-res Agents stationed in Texas had a busy holiday yesterday, including this seizure of bundles of marijuana.

One of the largest seizures occurred Thursday at the Falfurrias Checkpoint, when a K-9 alerted to the odor of narcotics. A subsequent search revealed more than 1,100 pounds of marijuana hidden within a spool of fiber optic wire. The driver and marijuana were turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration.

In a separate incident Wednesday, agents from the McAllen Station seized more than 700 pounds of marijuana near Madero, Texas. Agents patrolling the Rio Grande observed a group of people carrying large backpacks. As soon as the group spotted the agents, they dropped their cargo and fled to Mexico. The marijuana was turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration for further investigation.

“Our agents work diligently day in and day out to protect the nation from these dangerous drugs,” said Acting Chief Patrol Agent Armando Mercado Jr. “While we Americans enjoy our Thanksgiving holiday with our families, it is important to remember the agents who safeguard our communities.”

To report suspicious activity, call the Rio Grande Valley Border Patrol Sector’s toll-free telephone number at (800) 863-9382.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.

Awarded Govt. Contracts

CONTRACTS

 U.S. TRANSPORTATION COMMAND

             Alaska Marine Lines, Inc., Seattle, Wash., a sealift services company, is one of 11 contractors awarded a contract on Nov. 23, 2010, for cargo sealift transportation services under the Regional Domestic Contract (RDC-5) program.  The contracts have a base period of one year and two possible one-year option periods.  Alaska Marine Lines, Inc., has a guaranteed minimum contract value of $2,500. The RDC-5 program has a maximum ceiling price of $197,000,000.  Work will be performed to/from the Continental United States, Alaska, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and Hawaii.  The contract start date is Dec. 1, 2010.  A total of 11 offers were received. The contracting activity is the U.S. Transportation Command Directorate of Acquisition, Scott Air Force Base, Ill. (HTC711-11-D-R009).

             Crimson Shipping Company, Inc., Chickasaw, Ala., a sealift services company, is one of 11 contractors awarded a contract on Nov. 23, 2010, for cargo sealift transportation services under the Regional Domestic Contract (RDC-5) program.  The contracts have a base period of one year and two possible one-year option periods.  Crimson Shipping Company, Inc., has a guaranteed minimum contract value of $2,500. The RDC-5 program has a maximum ceiling price of $197,000,000.  Work will be performed to/from the Continental United States, Alaska, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and Hawaii.  The contract start date is Dec. 1, 2010.  A total of 11 offers were received. The contracting activity is the U.S. Transportation Command Directorate of Acquisition, Scott Air Force Base, Ill. (HTC711-11-D-R010).
             Crowley Puerto Rico Services, Inc., Jacksonville, Fla., a sealift services company, is one of 11 contractors awarded a contract on Nov. 23, 2010, for cargo sealift transportation services under the Regional Domestic Contract (RDC-5) program.  The contracts have a base period of one year and two possible one-year option periods.  Crowley Puerto Rico Services, Inc., has a guaranteed minimum contract value of $2,500. The RDC-5 program has a maximum ceiling price of $197,000,000.  Work will be performed to/from the Continental United States, Alaska, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and Hawaii.  The contract start date is Dec. 1, 2010.  A total of 11 offers were received. The contracting activity is the U.S. Transportation Command Directorate of Acquisition, Scott Air Force Base, Ill. (HTC711-11-D-R011).
             Horizon Lines, LLC., Charlotte, N.C., a sealift services company, is one of 11 contractors awarded a contract on Nov. 23, 2010, for cargo sealift transportation services under the Regional Domestic Contract (RDC-5) program.  The contracts have a base period of one year and two possible one-year option periods.  Horizon Lines, LLC, has a guaranteed minimum contract value of $2,500. The RDC-5 program has a maximum ceiling price of $197,000,000.  Work will be performed to/from the Continental United States, Alaska, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and Hawaii.  The contract start date is Dec. 1, 2010.  A total of 11 offers were received. The contracting activity is the U.S. Transportation Command Directorate of Acquisition, Scott Air Force Base, Ill. (HTC711-11-D-R012).
             Matson Navigation Company, Inc., Oakland, Calif., a sealift services company, is one of 11 contractors awarded a contract for cargo sealift transportation services under the Regional Domestic Contract (RDC-5) program.  The contracts have a base period of one year and two possible one-year option periods.  Matson Navigation Company, Inc has a guaranteed minimum contract value of $2,500. The RDC-5 program has a maximum ceiling price of $197,000,000.  Work will be performed to/from the Continental United States, Alaska, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and Hawaii.  The contract start date is Dec. 1, 2010.  A total of 11 offers were received. The contracting activity is the U.S. Transportation Command Directorate of Acquisition, Scott Air Force Base, Ill. (HTC711-11-D-R013).
             National Shipping of America, LLC., Mobile, Ala., a sealift services company, is one of 11 contractors awarded a contract on Nov. 23, 2010, for cargo sealift transportation services under the Regional Domestic Contract (RDC-5) program.  The contracts have a base period of one year and two possible one-year option periods.  National Shipping of America, LLC, has a guaranteed minimum contract value of $2,500. The RDC-5 program has a maximum ceiling price of $197,000,000.  Work will be performed to/from the Continental United States, Alaska, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and Hawaii.  The contract start date is Dec. 1, 2010. A total of 11 offers were received. The contracting activity is the U.S. Transportation Command Directorate of Acquisition, Scott Air Force Base, Ill. (HTC711-11-D-R014).
             Northland Services, Inc., Seattle, Wash., a sealift services company, is one of 11 contractors awarded a contract on Nov. 23, 2010, for cargo sealift transportation services under the Regional Domestic Contract (RDC-5) program.  The contracts have a base period of one year and two possible one-year option periods.  Northland Services, Inc., has a guaranteed minimum contract value of $2,500. The RDC-5 program has a maximum ceiling price of $197,000,000.  Work will be performed to/from the Continental United States, Alaska, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and Hawaii.  The contract start date is Dec. 1, 2010.  A total of 11 offers were received. The contracting activity is the U.S. Transportation Command Directorate of Acquisition, Scott Air Force Base, Ill. (HTC711-11-D-R015).
             Pasha Hawaii Transport Lines, LLC, Corte Madera, Calif., a sealift services company, is one of 11 contractors awarded a contract on Nov. 23, 2010, for cargo sealift transportation services under the Regional Domestic Contract (RDC-5) program.  The contracts have a base period of one year and two possible one-year option periods.  Pasha Hawaii Transport Lines, LLC, has a guaranteed minimum contract value of $2,500. The RDC-5 program has a maximum ceiling price of $197,000,000.  Work will be performed to/from the Continental United States, Alaska, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and Hawaii.  The contract start date is Dec. 1, 2010.  A total of 11 offers were received. The contracting activity is the U.S. Transportation Command Directorate of Acquisition, Scott Air Force Base, Ill. (HTC711-11-D-R016).
             Sea Star Line, LLC, Jacksonville, Fla., a sealift services company, is one of 11 contractors awarded a contract on Nov. 23, 2010, for cargo sealift transportation services under the Regional Domestic Contract (RDC-5) program.  The contracts have a base period of one year and two possible one-year option periods.  Sea Star Line, LLC, has a guaranteed minimum contract value of $2,500. The RDC-5 program has a maximum ceiling price of $197,000,000.  Work will be performed to/from the Continental United States, Alaska, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and Hawaii.  The contract start date is Dec. 1, 2010.  A total of 11 offers were received. The contracting activity is the U.S. Transportation Command Directorate of Acquisition, Scott Air Force Base, Ill. (HTC711-11-D-R017).
             Totem Ocean Trailer Express, Inc., Federal Way, Wash., a sealift services company, is one of 11 contractors awarded a contract on Nov. 23, 2010, for cargo sealift transportation services under the Regional Domestic Contract (RDC-5) program.  The contracts have a base period of one year and two possible one-year option periods.  Totem Ocean Trailer Express, Inc., has a guaranteed minimum contract value of $2,500. The RDC-5 program has a maximum ceiling price of $197,000,000.  Work will be performed to/from the Continental United States, Alaska, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and Hawaii.  The contract start date is Dec. 1, 2010.  A total of 11 offers were received. The contracting activity is the U.S. Transportation Command Directorate of Acquisition, Scott Air Force Base, Ill. (HTC711-11-D-R018).
             Trailer Bridge, Inc., Jacksonville, Fla., a sealift services company, is one of 11 contractors awarded a contract on Nov. 23, 2010, for cargo sealift transportation services under the Regional Domestic Contract (RDC-5) program.  The contracts have a base period of one year and two possible one-year option periods.  Trailer Bridge, Inc., has a guaranteed minimum contract value of $2,500. The RDC-5 program has a maximum ceiling price of $197,000,000.  Work will be performed to/from the Continental United States, Alaska, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and Hawaii.  The contract start date is Dec. 1, 2010.  A total of 11 offers were received. The contracting activity is the U.S. Transportation Command Directorate of Acquisition, Scott Air Force Base, Ill. (HTC711-11-D-R019).

 DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY

             Bethel Industries Inc., Jersey City, N.J.* is being awarded a maximum $13,971,888 firm fixed price indefinite quantity contract for working/utility uniforms.  Other location of performance is Mississippi.  Using service is Navy.  The original proposal was Web solicited with 15 responses.  This contract is exercising the third option year period. The date of performance completion is Nov. 29, 2011.  The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pa. (SPM1C1-08-D-1028).
 *Small Business

CGC Escanaba seizes 963 pounds of cocaine

CGC Escanaba seizes 963 pounds of cocaine

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Written by: LT Connie Braesch

MIAMI - Ensign Raynor Buckley, a crewmember on board the CGC Escanaba, offloads a bale of cocaine at Base Support Unit Miami Sept. 24, 2010. U.S. Coast Guard photo by PO3 Sabrina Elgammal.

While on a law-enforcement patrol about 21 miles south of Isla de Providencia, Colombia, Sept. 17, CGC Escanaba seized more than 900 pounds of contraband from a fleeing 35-foot center-console vessel suspected of smuggling drugs.
During pursuit, the suspects on the vessel began throwing items overboard before beaching the vessel, fleeing on foot and evading capture. Escanaba crewmembers retrieved 15 bales and two backpacks of contraband from the water, which tested positive for cocaine.
The contraband was offloaded and transferred to U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency agents Friday at Base Support Unit Miami.
Escanaba is a 270-foot medium-endurance cutter homeported in Boston.

 

Petraeus Discusses Future of Afghan Detainees

By U.S. Navy Chief Petty Officer Maria Yager American Forces Press Service PARWAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan, Sept. 28, 2010 - The top U.S. commander in Afghanistan toured the U.S. Detention Facility here yesterday, and discussed his vision for detention operations in Afghanistan. Army Gen. David Petraeus, International Security Assistance Force and U.S. Forces-Afghanistan commander, meets with an Afghan National Army soldier who works at the detention facility in Parwan, Afghanistan, Sept. 27, 2010. The facility is operated by more than 100 Afghan soldiers and 1,200 military members from the U.S. Army, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps guard force, medical and legal support fields. More than 600 additional Afghan soldiers are being trained for their assumption of guard force responsibilities. U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman William A. O'Brien (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. "When I took command of Multinational Force-Iraq in February 2007, we still had Camp Bucca with 17,000 detainees at that time and it grew larger," said Army Gen. David H. Petraeus, commander, International Security Assistance Force and commander, U.S. Forces Afghanistan. "We still had all of the detainees in huge enclosures. It was just fenced-in enclosures of about 800 to 900 detainees per enclosure. Obviously, we have come a long way since then." Combined Joint Interagency Task Force-435, in partnership with the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, and U.S. interagency and international partners, conducts operations in detention, corrections, the judicial sector and biometrics. Next year the CJIATF will transition detention operations to Afghan control while partnering with Afghan authorities to promote rule of law practices. Petraeus said his team had implemented job training and rehabilitation programs, routine detainee review boards, integration of host nation legal activities, and shuras, or meetings, to get communities to re-embrace detainees when they were released. "All that began a good bit of what you see today," said Petraeus, who was joined by his deputy commander for detention operations, U.S. Navy Vice Adm. Robert Harward, commander, Combined Joint Interagency Task Force-435. Petraeus said when he left Iraq and assumed command of U.S. Central Command in 2008, one of his first acts was to send U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Douglas Stone to survey the detention operations situation in Afghanistan. Now retired, Stone served as Petraeus' deputy commander for detention operations in Iraq. "He came back in the spring of 2009 and had a number of recommendations -- a number of those have led to what you have seen right here," said Petraeus. Parwan's state-of-the-art theater internment facility opened in December 2009. Petraeus said the focus was initially on detainee operations, which, over time, expanded to training Afghans to take on detention facility tasks. In January 2010, Afghan government officials signed a memorandum of understanding that guides the process for the Afghan Ministry of Defense to take the lead on assuming responsibility for the Parwan detention facility. In the memo key ministries agreed to identify and assign personnel to staff the facility, working alongside American personnel through the transition process. Currently more than 160 Afghan soldiers have completed required training and joined the 1,200 U.S. servicemembers who make up the guard force. Another 600 ANA soldiers are currently in training to join their Afghan and U.S. counterparts. The detention facility's design accommodates detainee reintegration efforts and enables CJIATF-435 to better align detention operations with the overall strategy to defeat the extremist insurgency in Afghanistan. "This is about doing it right. And I really mean that," Petraeus said. "The fact is that what we wanted to do was do it properly." During his tour of the detention facility, Petraeus received a briefing on detainee reintegration programs and he also visited the detainee agriculture training area. Eligible detainees at the facility may participate in literacy and educational programs. Earlier this year reintegration officials at the detention facility implemented vocational training for eligible detainees including bread making, agriculture and tailoring. Reintegration, under Petraeus' counterinsurgency strategy, includes removing Afghan fighters by bringing those willing to renounce violence and accept the Afghan constitution back into their communities with honor and dignity. It is about creating conditions through community-based programs, public protection, and sustainable economic opportunities so fighters have incentives to live peacefully and return to their communities. As part of ongoing efforts to evaluate the effectiveness of reintegration programs, last week, Harward and CJIATF-435's Afghan Deputy Commander, Maj. Gen. Marjan Shuja, met with members of the Afghan government, community members and 22 former detainees to discuss reintegration successes and challenges for the released men. Petraeus said he has seen progress in the short time since the Parwan detention facility opened and implemented reintegration and rehabilitation programs for detainees. "The recidivism rates so far on those who have been released are very low indeed," the general said.

Biographies: Army Gen. David H. Petraeus Combined Joint Interagency Task Force-435 Related Sites: NATO International Security Assistance Force

Army Gen. David Petraeus, International Security Assistance Force and U.S. Forces-Afghanistan commander, and Afghan National Army Brig. Gen. Safiullah Safi, commanding general of the Parwan and Pol-e-Charki military police brigade, discuss the role of Afghan soldiers at the detention facility in Parwan, Afghanistan, Sept. 27, 2010. The design of the detention facility allows for safe, humane and effective management of the detainee population, and allows willing detainees to participate in group activities, educational and training programs. Once transferred to Afghan control, the detention facility will be part of a larger Justice Center in Parwan, which will become Afghanistan's central location for the pre-trial detention, prosecution and post-trial incarceration of national security suspects. U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman William A. O'Brien Download screen-resolution Download high-resolution

Awarded Government Contracts

U.S. Department of Defense
Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Public Affairs)

CONTRACTS ARMY                 New Mexico Technology Group, LLC, El Paso, Texas, was awarded on Nov. 19 a $84,365,864 cost-plus-award-fee contract for mission support services to support the testing mission at White Sands Missile Range, N.M.  Work is to be performed in White Sands Missile Range, N.M., with an estimated completion date of Nov. 30, 2016.  Three bids were solicited with three bids received.  Mission & Installation Contracting Center, White Sands Missile Range, N.M., is the contracting activity (W9124Q-07-C-0504).                 Harry Pepper & Associates, Jacksonville, Fla., was awarded on Nov. 22 a $78,862,136 firm-fixed-price contract.  The FAKA Union Pumping Station in Collier County, Fla., is a part of the Picayune Strand Restoration Project.  The works include pump station construction, tie-back levees, spreader berms, and canal plugs which will help restore an area formerly known as Golden Gates Estates to its pre-drainage hydrology and ecology.  Work is to be performed in Naples, Fla., with an estimated completion date of Jan. 5, 2014.  Bids were solicited on the World Wide Web with 14 bids received.  U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Jacksonville, Fla., is the contracting activity (W912EP-11-C-0003).                 GAN Corp., Huntsville, Ala., was awarded on Nov. 22 a $27,218,120 cost-reimbursement-plus-award-fee contract.  This contract is for the test support services for Operational Command Intelligence Electronic Warfare Test Directorate.  Work is to be performed in Fort Huachuca, Ariz., with an estimated completion date of May 31, 2015.  Bids were solicited on the World Wide Web with four bids received.  ATEC Mission Support Contracting Activity, Fort Hood, Texas, is the contracting activity (W9115U-11-C-0001).                 Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., Stratford, Conn., was awarded on Nov. 19 an $11,796,358 firm-fixed-price contract.  This contract is for the P00253 exercises an option for one UH-60M aircraft for Jordan Foreign Military Sales Case JO-B-WAT, as well as four engineering change proposals and provides the contractor consideration for the conversion of specific government furnished equipment items to contractor furnished equipment.  This is a very important person aircraft for the county of Jordan.  Work is to be performed in Stratford, Conn., with an estimated completion date of Dec. 31, 2012.  One sole-source bid was solicited with one-sole source bid was received.  U.S. Army Contracting Command, Aviation & Missile Commands Contracting Center, Redstone Arsenal, Ala., is the contracting activity (W58RGZ-08-C-0003). NAVY                 Rockwell Collins, Inc., Cedar Rapids, Iowa, is being awarded a $60,540,803 not-to-exceed modification to a previously awarded undefinitized contract action (N00019-10-C-0067) to provide labor, facilities, equipment, and material required to develop and produce A-kits and B-kits for the Block I modification of three low rate initial production E-6 aircraft.  In addition, this modification provides for associated training and support systems to achieve initial operational capability.  Work will be performed in Richardson, Texas (70 percent); Waco, Texas (20 percent); and Oklahoma City, Okla. (10 percent).  Work is expected to be completed in September 2013.  Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year.  The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity.                 American Securities Programs, Inc., Dulles, Va., is being awarded a $26,427,412 modification under a previously awarded firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract (N69450-07-D-1261) to exercise option four for regional security services at Commander Naval Region Southeast, Jacksonville, Naval Air Station Jacksonville.  The work to be performed provides for, but is not limited to, roving guard services and entry control point (ECP) services such as identification checks, fixed vehicle inspections, commercial vehicle inspections, and emergency ECP closures.  The total contract amount after exercise of this option will be $104,835,317.  Work will be performed in the Southeast region at the following installations:  Naval Support Activity Orlando, Orlando, Fla.; Construction Battalion Center Gulfport, Gulfport, Miss.; Naval Air Station Meridian, Meridian, Miss.; Naval Weapons Station Charleston, Charleston, S.C.; Naval Support Activity Athens, Athens, Ga.; Naval Support Activity Panama City, Panama City, Fla.; Naval Air Station Whiting Field, Milton, Fla.; Naval Air Station Kingsville, Kingsville, Texas; Naval Support Activity New Orleans, New Orleans, La.; and Naval Hospital Charleston, Charleston, S.C.  The work is expected to be completed by November 2011.  Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year.  The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Southeast, Jacksonville, Fla., is the contracting activity.