 | Your Daily Snapshot for Thursday, Dec. 15, 2011 | ||
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Sunday, December 18, 2011
Meet the Home Healthcare Worker Who Inspired the President
OFFICIAL TRANSPORTATION SECURITY ADMINISTRATION RESPONSE TO
Abolish the TSA, and use its monstrous budget to fund more sophisticated, less intrusive counter-terrorism intelligence.
Response to We The People Petition on the Abolishment of the Transportation Security Administration
By John Pistole
Thank you for participating in the We the People platform, we respect the right of the petitioners to be heard and value the feedback we receive from travelers who share their experiences – good or bad – with us. The men and women of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) have a challenging, but critical mission, and they take their jobs very seriously. TSA understands that the terrorist threat remains real and continues to evolve, as evidenced by the attempted terrorist attack on Christmas Day 2009 and the disrupted air cargo bomb plot last year.
Why TSA Exists.
TSA was created two months after the September 11 terrorist attacks, when Congress passed the Aviation and Transportation Security Act (ATSA) [.pdf] to keep the millions of Americans who travel each day safe and secure across numerous modes of transportation.
Over the past 10 years, TSA has strengthened security by creating successful programs and deploying technologies that were not in place prior to September 11, while also taking steps whenever possible to enhance the passenger experience. Here are just a few of the many steps TSA has taken to strengthen our multi-layered approach to security:
Establishing an Intelligence-Driven Approach.
TSA uses intelligence in real-time to strengthen security and share key information with state, local, and international partners, to ensure they can respond to evolving threats.
Vetting of Passengers and Transportation Workers.
Today, 100 percent of passengers flying to, from, and within the United States are prescreened against terrorist watch lists under TSA's Secure Flight program. In addition, employees with access to airports and ports, and those who transport higher risk materials, are vetted to ensure a secure environment.
Screening for Explosives.
TSA screens 100 percent of carry-on and checked baggage for dangerous items including explosives. TSA has also deployed explosives-detection canine teams. The teams are used to detect explosives and deter terrorism in aviation, mass transit, and cargo environments.
Deploying Advanced Technology to Detect Evolving Threats.
As part of its multi-layered approach to security, TSA uses Advanced Imaging Technology and Automated Target Recognition software to detect metallic and nonmetallic threats, including weapons and explosives concealed under layers of clothing on passengers. Using Advanced Technology X-ray, Bottled Liquid Scanners and Explosives Trace Detection (ETD) Technology, TSA can more efficiently and effectively screen checked and carry-on bags for potential threats.
Covert Testing.
Covert testing provides TSA with valuable information that can be used to modify security measures, improve training and inform the development of future technology. The statistic cited in the petition was from testing performed nearly eight years ago and doesn't reflect the current security environment. Since then, TSA has implemented new security measures and deployed enhanced technology to address evolving threats to aviation.
Strengthening In-Flight Security.
Hardened cockpit doors and the Federal Air Marshal Service serve as additional layers of security against an act of terrorism.
Establishing a Professionalized Workforce.
Transportation Security Officers (TSO) working at 450 airports today are hired through a rigorous vetting process and go through extensive training that did not exist prior to September 11. Today's TSOs have an average of three and a half years of experience on the job and have a turnover rate of approximately 6 percent. This compares to an average of 3 months of experience and a turnover rate of 125 percent for screeners prior to the creation of TSA.
TSA's Next 10 Years.
TSA is working to enhance its risk-based, intelligence-driven security initiatives to strengthen security while continuing to improve the passenger experience whenever possible. Current efforts include: changing the way TSA screens passengers ages 12 and under, evaluating the expanded use of behavior detection techniques, and piloting expedited screening for known travelers. Efficiencies gained by implementing more risk-based security methods allow us to make the best possible use of the resources to secure air travel.
Additionally, new software has been deployed to further strengthen privacy protections by eliminating passenger-specific images on Advanced Imaging Technology (AIT) machines. The new software has been installed on all millimeter wave AIT units currently in airports, with plans to test and deploy similar software for backscatter units in 2012.
Our Nation is safer and better prepared today because of these and other efforts of the Department of Homeland Security, TSA, and our Federal, state, local and international partners. TSA is constantly identifying ways to continue to strengthen security and improve the passenger experience and appreciates the feedback of the public.
We invite you to stop by TSA's blog to continue this discussion.
John Pistole is the Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration
DOD Identifies Army Casualty
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DOD Identifies Army Casualty The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. Pvt. Jalfred D. Vaquerano, 20, of Apopka, Fla., died Dec. 13, in Landstuhl, Germany, of injuries suffered from enemy small-arms fire while deployed in Logar province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to 1st Battalion, 41st Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, Fort Bliss, Texas. |
Under Secretary Michele Flournoy Statement on Futenma Replacement Facility and Guam Realignment
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Under Secretary Michele Flournoy Statement on Futenma Replacement Facility and Guam Realignment “The United States is committed to Guam's role as a strategic hub, and to that end a U.S. Marine Corps presence in Guam remains an essential part of our Pacific strategy. “In fulfilling our regional commitments, we will continue to consult and coordinate with our allies and partners and stakeholders within the U.S. government - including Congress - to address concerns, while ensuring our forward presence in the region is geographically distributed, operationally resilient, and politically sustainable. “Within this context, we welcome the Government of Japan’s assurances that it is preparing to move forward with the steps necessary for the Futenma Replacement Facility (FRF), specifically filing the necessary environmental impact statement by the end of the year. Progress on the FRF plan is necessary to build confidence about the viability of our realignment efforts. “We look forward to working with Congress on the critical elements to the realignment of our forces in Japan and Guam, which will result in a reduced number of Marines in Okinawa and a consolidation of our bases in Okinawa, both of which will lessen the impact in Okinawa. U.S forces in Japan and Guam are also vital to our efforts to maintain a strong forward-deployed presence in the Pacific region.” |
Department of Defense Releases 2012 BAH Rates
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Department of Defense Releases 2012 BAH Rates The Department of Defense released today the 2012 Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) rates, which take effect Jan. 1, 2012. Overall rates will increase an average of 2 percent this year. For members with dependents, average increases in BAH are approximately $39 per month. A typical E-6 with dependents, for example, will find his/her BAH about $35 per month higher than last year, while an O-3 with dependents will receive about $40 more than last year. In areas where rates will decrease, the decrease will only apply to members newly reporting to those locations. Members are protected by individual rate protection which ensures that those already assigned to a given location will not see their BAH rate decrease; however, they will receive the increase if the rate goes up. This assures that members who have made long-term commitments in the form of a lease or contract are not penalized if the area's housing costs decrease. Three components are included in the BAH computation: median current market rent; average utilities (including electricity, heat, and water/sewer); and average renter's insurance. Total housing costs are calculated for six housing profiles (based on dwelling type and number of bedrooms) in each military housing area. Basic Allowance for Housing rates are then calculated for each pay grade, both with and without dependents. An estimated $20 billion will be paid to over 1 million service members in 2012. For more information on BAH, visit https://www.defensetravel.dod.mil/site/bah.cfm . | |
Department of Defense Releases 2012 BAH Rates
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Department of Defense Releases 2012 BAH Rates The Department of Defense released today the 2012 Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) rates, which take effect Jan. 1, 2012. Overall rates will increase an average of 2 percent this year. For members with dependents, average increases in BAH are approximately $39 per month. A typical E-6 with dependents, for example, will find his/her BAH about $35 per month higher than last year, while an O-3 with dependents will receive about $40 more than last year. In areas where rates will decrease, the decrease will only apply to members newly reporting to those locations. Members are protected by individual rate protection which ensures that those already assigned to a given location will not see their BAH rate decrease; however, they will receive the increase if the rate goes up. This assures that members who have made long-term commitments in the form of a lease or contract are not penalized if the area's housing costs decrease. Three components are included in the BAH computation: median current market rent; average utilities (including electricity, heat, and water/sewer); and average renter's insurance. Total housing costs are calculated for six housing profiles (based on dwelling type and number of bedrooms) in each military housing area. Basic Allowance for Housing rates are then calculated for each pay grade, both with and without dependents. An estimated $20 billion will be paid to over 1 million service members in 2012. For more information on BAH, visit https://www.defensetravel.dod.mil/site/bah.cfm . |
DOD Identifies Marine Casualty
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DOD Identifies Marine Casualty The Department of Defense announced today the death of a Marine who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. Maj. Samuel M. Griffith, 36, of Virginia Beach, Va., died Dec. 14 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to 4th Air-Naval Gunfire Liaison Company, Marine Forces Reserve, West Palm Beach, Fla. |
Army Releases November Suicide Data
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Army Releases November Suicide Data The Army released suicide data today for the month of November. Among active-duty soldiers, there were seven potential suicides: none have been confirmed as suicide and seven remain under investigation. For October 2011, the Army reported 17 potential suicides among active-duty soldiers. Since the release of that report, four cases have been confirmed as suicide and 13 cases remain under investigation. During November 2011, among Reserve Component soldiers who were not on active duty, there were eight potential suicides (eight Army National Guard and no Army Reserve): two have been confirmed as suicide and six remain under investigation. For October 2011, the Army reported 12 potential suicides among not-on-active-duty soldiers. Since the release of that report, one case has been added for a total of 13 cases (five Army National Guard and eight Army Reserve). Four cases have been confirmed as suicide and nine cases remain under investigation. As of Nov. 30, 2011, the Army has identified 260 potential soldier suicides for CY 2011. Of that total, 154 were active duty suicides: 100 have been confirmed as suicide and 54 remain under investigation; 106 were Reserve Component not on active duty suicides (73 Army National Guard and 33 Army Reserve): 84 have been confirmed as suicide and 22 remain under investigation. Compared to previous years, the Army had 305 in CY 2010 (159 active-duty and 146 not-on-active-duty) and 242 in CY 2009 (162 active-duty and 80 not-on-active-duty). “Suicide continues to be a challenge for our Army Family,” said Sgt. Maj. of the Army Raymond F. Chandler III. “It is a devastating loss when one of our own, whether soldier, civilian or family member, dies by suicide.” Chandler also said that overcoming this challenge will take the Army’s collective efforts, dedication, support and understanding. “To that end, I am calling on all of our leaders, but especially the noncommissioned officers, the backbone of our great Army, to make a difference. We must cultivate a climate that encourages help-seeking behaviors and supports those who ask for help,” said Chandler. “By standing shoulder to shoulder, we can ensure that no one stands alone!” Soldiers and families in need of crisis assistance can contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Trained consultants are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year and can be contacted by dialing 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or by visiting their website at http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org . Army leaders can access current health promotion guidance in newly revised Army Regulation 600-63 (Health Promotion) at: http://www.army.mil/usapa/epubs/pdf/r600_63.pdf and Army Pamphlet 600-24 (Health Promotion, Risk Reduction and Suicide Prevention) at http://www.army.mil/usapa/epubs/pdf/p600_24.pdf . The Army’s comprehensive list of Suicide Prevention Program information is located at http://www.preventsuicide.army.mil . Suicide prevention training resources for Army families can be accessed at http://www.armyg1.army.mil/hr/suicide/training_sub.asp?sub_cat=20 (requires Army Knowledge Online access to download materials). Information about Military OneSource is located at http://www.militaryonesource.com or by dialing the toll-free number 1-800-342-9647 for those residing in the continental United States. Overseas personnel should refer to the Military OneSource website for dialing instructions for their specific location. Information about the Army’s Comprehensive Soldier Fitness Program is located at http://www.army.mil/csf . The Defense Center for Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury (DCoE) Outreach Center can be contacted at 1-866-966-1020, via electronic mail at Resources@DCoEOutreach.org and at http://www.dcoe.health.mil . The website for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention is http://www.afsp.org , and the Suicide Prevention Resource Council site is found at http://www.sprc.org/index.asp . |
Panetta Promises Continued Support to Libya
By Donna Miles American Forces Press Service TRIPOLI, Libya, Dec. 17, 2011 - Paying tribute to the courage and determination of the Libyan people, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta today joined Libyan leaders in welcoming a new chapter in U.S.-Libyan relations. Panetta, who made history today as the first defense secretary to visit here, said during a joint news conference with Prime Minister Abd al-Raheem al-Keeb that he's proud of the role the United States played in helping free Libya from Moammar Gadhafi's regime. "Even though Operation Unified Protector has ended, I want to stress that the United States ... will continue to stand by the Libyan people," he said, U.S. and Libyan flags behind him. "To that end" he said, "we are looking forward to building a close partnership with the Libyan government and we stand ready to offer ... assistance in the spirit of friendship and the spirit of mutual respect." Panetta noted that yesterday the United States lifted most of the sanctions on the Libyan government and released all government and central bank funds within U.S. jurisdiction. This amounts to about $30 billion. Panetta said the United States didn't want these funds falling into Gadhafi's hands, but said he now hopes they will be released soon. "These funds belong to the Libyan people and will now be returned to Libya," he said. That means the Libyan government can now access most of its worldwide holdings as the country moves forward with reconstruction and transition. The secretary said he made clear during his meetings here today with al-Keeb and Defense Minister Usama Al-Jwayli that the United States stands ready to offer security assistance cooperation when the new government identifies its needs. "I believe that this new and free Libya can become an important security partner of the United States," he said. A bloody eight-month civil war now behind it, Libya is now in the hands of the Libyan people, the secretary said, and they will chart their future. "They will determine what assistance they require from the United States and the international community," he said. The talks did not get into specific forms of support, he told reporters, re-emphasizing that the United States is willing to provide "whatever assistance Libya believes it needs." Panetta offered a message to the Libyan people: "The blood that you have spilled has earned you the right to determine your future, to work through the security challenges that you are going to confront." Difficult challenges inevitably will be ahead, he recognized. Libya will need to secure weapons stockpiles, confront terrorism, professionalize the army and police, and develop the institutions of a free, representative government. It also will have to unify the revolutionary forces, an effort Panetta said he feels confident that Libya is taking the right steps to do. Al-Keeb said he plans to unveil solid programs soon that will attract Libya's "freedom fighters" and direct their efforts toward fighting now for a better future for Libya. "It's not a matter of just saying, 'Put down your guns and go back to work,'" he said. Panetta noted that the United States, too, experienced revolution and expressed hope that Libya will continue on its current path to enjoy a future of peace, prosperity and freedom. "This will be a long and difficult transition, but I have confidence that you will succeed in realizing the dream of a representative government and a more secure and prosperous future," he said. Al-Keeb said the unfolding of the "Arab spring" in other parts of the region influenced Libya's revolution, and said they all share the same aspirations of dignity, freedom and respect for human rights. Panetta emphasized that there's no rubber-stamp solution to how each country will advance its efforts to put the institutions of government and representative democracy in place. What's important, he said, is that each country makes sure it is responding to "what the people want." Al-Keeb called the changes these revolutions have brought about "one good sign of why democracy in the Middle East is something everybody needs to support and stand by." As he traveled from the airport to the defense ministry for today's meetings, Panetta passed reminders of Libya's past and its appreciation for a new future. Graffiti scribbled on a concrete wall surrounding Gadhafi's damaged former compound declared, simply, "Thanx US/UK." � |
| Biographies: Leon E. Panetta Related Sites: Special Report: Travels With Panetta |
DOD Announces 2011 DOD Chief Information Officer Award Winners
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DOD Announces 2011 DOD Chief Information Officer Award Winners Department of Defense announces today the recipients of this year’s DoD Chief Information Officer Awards at a Pentagon ceremony. This year marked the 11th anniversary of the DoD CIO Award and is the highest honor recognized by the department for achievement in information management and information technology. More than 70 nominations were submitted worldwide including both civilian government employees and military. The applicants were evaluated based on their outstanding achievement in one or more of the following eight critical IT areas: acquisition; architecture and interoperability infrastructure; identity and information assurance and cyber operations; management and standards; synchronized and responsive operations and services; capital planning and optimized information technology investments; information management/technology/assurance workforce; and information sharing and data management. The award winners were chosen because of their exemplary performance in improving information delivery and dissemination, management capability, cost reduction and savings, a broad user base, process, mission impact, or net-centricity. Team awards were presented to: First Place: Directorate of Communications, Office of the Defense Representative Pakistan/J6, U.S. Embassy Islamabad, Pakistan. Second Place: Medical Communications for Combat Medical Care (MC4), U.S. Army, Fort Detrick, Md. Third Place: Office of the Chief Information Officer, Joint Chiefs of Staff, The Pentagon Washington, D.C. Fourth Place: C4 Systems (J6) Directorate, U.S. Forces Japan, Yokota Air Base, Japan. Fifth Place: INSCOM Futures Development Team, U.S. Army, Fort Belvoir, Va. Individual awards were presented to: First Place: Navy Lt. Hannah L. Bealon, International Security Assistance Force CJ2 Operational Support Element Systems, ISAF Headquarters, Afghanistan. Second Place: Army Chief Warrant Officer Joshua L. Parks, 7th Theatre Tactical Signal Battalion, U.S. Army Schweinfurt, Germany / Joint Networks Communications Network Center, Afghanistan. Third Place: Air Force Lt. Col. Pamela L. Woolley, Joint Staff OCIO, The Pentagon, Washington, D.C. Fourth Place: Benjamin Pauwels, White House Communications Agency, Defense Information Systems Agency, Washington, D.C. |
General Officer Announcements
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General Officer Announcements Secretary of Defense Leon E. Panetta announced today that the President has made the following nominations: Air Force Col. Jeffrey K. Barnson has been nominated for appointment to the rank of brigadier general and for assignment as mobilization assistant to the director of strategic plans, requirements and programs, Headquarters Air Mobility Command, Scott Air Force Base, Ill. Air Force Col. Abel Barrientes has been nominated for appointment to the rank of brigadier general and for assignment as mobilization assistant to the director for operations, Headquarters U.S. Pacific Command, Camp H. M. Smith, Hawaii. Air Force Col. Kimberly A. Crider has been nominated for appointment to the rank of brigadier general and for assignment as mobilization assistant to the director of communications and information and chief information officer, Headquarters Air Force Space Command, Peterson Air Force Base, Colo. Air Force Col. Theron G. Davis has been nominated for appointment to the rank of brigadier general and for assignment as assistant deputy director for strategic logistics, Joint Staff, Pentagon, Washington, D.C. Air Force Col. Christopher L. Eddy has been nominated for appointment to the rank of brigadier general and for assignment as mobilization assistant to the European Command assistant director for intelligence, Stuttgart Air Base, Germany. Air Force Col. Lyman L. Edwards has been nominated for appointment to the rank of brigadier general and for assignment as deputy director for strategy, plans and policy, Headquarters U.S. Central Command, MacDill Air Force Base, Fla. Air Force Col. John C. Flournoy Jr., has been nominated for appointment to the rank of brigadier general and for assignment as commander, 349th Air Mobility Wing, Air Force Reserve Command, Travis Air Force Base, Calif. Air Force Col. Kathryn J. Johnson has been nominated for appointment to the rank of brigadier general and for assignment as associate director of logistics, Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics, Installations and Mission Support, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Pentagon, Washington, D.C. Air Force Col. Kenneth D. Lewis Jr., has been nominated for appointment to the rank of brigadier general and for assignment as commander, 433rd Airlift Wing, Air Force Reserve Command, Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. Air Force Col. Stephen J. Linsenmeyer Jr., has been nominated for appointment to the rank of brigadier general and for assignment as commander, 910th Airlift Wing, Air Force Reserve Command, Youngstown Air Reserve Station, Ohio. Air Force Col. Vincent M. Mancuso has been nominated for appointment to the rank of brigadier general and for assignment as mobilization assistant to the director of operations, Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, Plans and Requirements, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Pentagon, Washington, D.C. Air Force Col. Udo K. McGregor has been nominated for appointment to the rank of brigadier general and for assignment as commander, 452nd Air Mobility Wing, Air Force Reserve Command, March Air Reserve Base, Calif. Air Force Col. Eric S. Overturf has been nominated for appointment to the rank of brigadier general and for assignment as commander, 442nd Fighter Wing, Air Force Reserve Command, Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo. Air Force Col. Karen A. Rizzuti has been nominated for appointment to the rank of brigadier general and for assignment as vice commander, 10th Air Force, Air Force Reserve Command, Naval Air Station-Joint Reserve Base, Fort Worth, Texas. Air Force Col. Vincent M. Saroni has been nominated for appointment to the rank of brigadier general and for assignment as mobilization assistant to the Air Force civil engineer, Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics, Installations and Mission Support, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Pentagon, Washington, D.C. Air Force Col. James P. Scanlan has been nominated for appointment to the rank of brigadier general and for assignment as mobilization assistant to the commander, 19th Air Force, Air Education and Training Command, Randolph Air Force Base, Texas. |
Dempsey Thanks Kuwaiti Leaders for Help in Iraq
By Cheryl Pellerin American Forces Press Service ABOARD A MILITARY AIRCRAFT, Dec. 17, 2011 - The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff took time on a multicountry USO holiday tour this week to thank Kuwaiti officials for that nation's critical help to U.S. Forces Iraq over the past eight years and now, as the mission is ending. Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey met Dec. 14 with Emir Sabah al-Ahmed al-Jaber, Prime Minister Jaber al-Mubarak al-Hamad, U.S. Ambassador to Kuwait Matthew H. Tueller, and Dempsey's counterpart Lt. Gen. Ahmed al-Khalid, Kuwait Armed Forces chief of staff. Near the border Kuwait shares with Iraq, at a dwindling number of installations -- such as camps Arifjan and Virginia and the Khabari al Awazem border-crossing facility, called K Crossing � U.S. Army, Navy and Air Force troops have taken in hundreds of convoys and thousands of former U.S. Forces Iraq war fighters, collected and processed their vehicles, weapons and equipment, and helped send them home. The chairman said he thanked "our Kuwaiti partners for helping us accomplish this [U.S. Forces Iraq] retrograde operation, which I've heard [Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta] describe as somewhat historic." Dempsey also asked Kuwait's assistance as Iraq begins the hard task of adjusting to its new sovereignty. "My time in Kuwait would suggest that our Kuwaiti partners are concerned about our work to establish a normal relationship with Iraq because there's still some mistrust between the two countries that goes back certainly to 1990-1991, but historically far back beyond that," the chairman said. "I'm stopping in several of the countries on this trip to assure our other partners that our lack of physical presence in Iraq doesn't mean we're taking our eye off of them as a partner," he added, "or that we're going to stop trying to help [Iraq] develop responsibly." Establishing a U.S. Office of Security Cooperation in Iraq, as the United States has in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and a number of other countries, will facilitate U.S. military sales there, the chairman's spokesman Marine Corps Col. Dave Lapan told American Forces Press Service. "The idea," he added, "is to pull Iraq into the type of normal relationships we have with Kuwait and other countries in the region." Dempsey also seeks to get back to a normal level of military engagement with Kuwait. The nations have been close partners since the 1991 signing of a defense cooperative agreement, Dempsey said, but the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have cut into routine U.S.-Kuwait military-to-military training, exercises and security cooperation. Under provisions of the 1991 defense agreement, Dempsey added, "we are taking some of the forces that were in Iraq and repositioning them in Kuwait for a period of time." The hope is, Lapan said, "that we will get to the point where the relationship with Iraq is similar to those we have with Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar -- all the countries in the region where we have strong military-to-military relations." � |
| Biographies: Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey Related Sites: Special Report: Travels With Dempsey |
Who's in The News? General Martin E. Dempsey Chairman JCoS Official Bio
General Martin E. Dempsey | ||
General Martin E. Dempsey serves as the 18th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. In this capacity, he serves as the principal military adviser to the President, the Secretary of Defense and the National Security Council. By law, he is the nation’s highest-ranking military officer. Prior to becoming Chairman, the general served as the Army’s 37th Chief of Staff. Past assignments have taken him and his family across the globe during both peace and war from Platoon Leader to Combatant Commander. He is a 1974 graduate of the United States Military Academy and a career armor officer. As a company grade officer, he served with the 2nd Cavalry in United States Army Europe and with the 10th Cavalry at Fort Carson. Following troop command he earned his Masters of Arts in English from Duke University and was assigned to the English Department at West Point. In 1991, GEN Dempsey deployed with the Third Armored Division in support of OPERATION DESERT STORM. Following DESERT STORM, he commanded 4th Battalion 67th Armor (Bandits) in Germany for two years and then departed to become Armor Branch Chief in US Army Personnel Command. From 1996-1998 he served as the 67th Colonel of the Third Armored Cavalry Regiment. Following this assignment as the Army’s “senior scout” he served on the Joint Staff as an Assistant Deputy Director in J-5 and as Special Assistant to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. From September 2001 to June 2003, General Dempsey served in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia training and advising the Saudi Arabian National Guard. In June of 2003, General Dempsey took command of the 1stArmored Division in Baghdad, Iraq. After 14 months in Iraq, General Dempsey redeployed the division to Germany and completed his command tour in July of 2005. He then returned to Iraq for two years in August of 2005 to train and equip the Iraqi Security Forces as Commanding General of MNSTC-I. From August 2007 through October 2008, GEN Dempsey served as the Deputy Commander and then Acting Commander of U.S. Central Command. Before becoming Chief of Staff of the Army, he commanded US Army Training and Doctrine Command from December 2008-March 2011. General Dempsey’s awards and decorations include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Distinguished Service Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters, the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit with two Oak Leaf Clusters, the Bronze Star with “V” Device and Oak Leaf Cluster, the Combat Action Badge, and the Parachutist Badge. In addition to his Masters’ Degree in English, he holds Masters’ Degrees in Military Art and in National Security Studies. General Dempsey and his high school sweetheart Deanie have three children: Chris, Megan, and Caitlin. Each has served in the United States Army. Chris remains on active duty. They have five wonderful grandchildren: Kayla, Mackenna and Finley by Chris and daughter-in-law Julie, Luke by Caitlin and son-in-law Shane, and Alexander and Hunter by Megan and son-in-law Kory. Caitlin and Shane are expecting their second child next spring. |
Dempsey: DOD to Stay Engaged, Vigilant in Middle East
By Cheryl Pellerin American Forces Press Service ABOARD A MILITARY AIRCRAFT, Dec. 17, 2011 - It's too soon to calculate how the end of U.S. Forces Iraq will affect the region's military dynamics, but the U.S. focus on the Middle East and its partner countries there is unwavering, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said. Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey is traveling with a USO holiday tour and taking time to meet with his counterparts and officials in several countries, including Kuwait, Iraq and Afghanistan. "Right now I think there are concerns, maybe some that would rise to a level of skepticism about the future [in the region]," he told reporters who are traveling with him. "But I think that's why our presence here is so important," the chairman said, "to help ease those concerns and reduce that skepticism." Dempsey added, "We've got to make sure we maintain our vigilance, our deterrence and our engagement in the Middle East." The focus for the Defense Department in 21 countries that make up the U.S. Central Command's area of responsibility include Afghanistan, Iran and its nuclear aspirations, and regional instability associated with the Arab Spring, the revolutionary wave of protests and violence that erupted Dec. 18, 2010. The unrest most recently includes a nationwide revolt in Syria, with protesters demanding the resignation of President Bashar al-Assad and the government responding with deadly violence, which according to the United Nations this week has so far taken nearly 5,000 lives. "We're trying to think ahead about what it will mean to the people when the regime in Syria changes, as we think it will," Dempsey said. Related to that, he added, "is the enduring relationship with Turkey and their role. They're a [U.S. European Command] nation from our perspective but they currently have a positive influence in that part of the Arab world." Iran is another critical defense challenge in the region, the chairman said. "Iran continues to be provocative both in terms of its nuclear aspirations but also the activities of the [Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps] Quds Force," which is said to responsible for operations outside Iran, Dempsey said. The most recent manifestation of such provocation, he added, was a plot uncovered in October that involved Iranian officials and Iranian-American used car salesman Mansour J. Arbabsiar's botched attempt to hire assassins to kill Saudi Arabia's ambassador to the United States. For DOD, the chairman said, the challenge is "Iran's hegemonic aspirations and how we can build a consensus within the region and globally that this is unacceptable, and then [determine] what to do about it." The U.S. presence in the Middle East is an especially important buffer to the challenge with Iran, Dempsey said, adding, "I do believe that what Iran needs to see in this region is a more coherent Arab world, so their aspirations are tempered." But of all the challenges in the region, Afghanistan is a primary focus. "That's No. 1 because we have kids in harm's way," Dempsey said. "That's always going to be job No. 1." The department is working to review its strategy in Afghanistan with Centcom Commander Marine Corps Gen. James Mattis, Marine Corps Gen. John R. Allen, commander of the International Security Assistance Force-Afghanistan and U.S. Forces Afghanistan, and others, the chairman added. "We know the surge [of combat troops to Afghanistan] will be off-ramped in September 2012," he said. "That's when we're back to the 68,000 [troops] that was kind of the standard at the start. "The question we're grappling with is, given the Lisbon objectives, how do we get from September 2012 to December 2014?" In November 2010 in Lisbon, Portugal, NATO leaders agreed to halt combat operations by international troops in Afghanistan by the end of 2014. Afghan President Hamid Karzai and U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon attended the summit of leaders who crafted a transition strategy directing coalition troops to begin this year turning over security responsibility for the nation's provinces to Afghan security forces. "What we aspire to over time is to approach the entire issue of engagement differently," Dempsey said, adding that there are opportunities for the U.S. military services in smaller engagements. "Most countries don't want us to be flopping a brigade combat team in and among their population, so I think we have to find a way to think that through too," the chairman said. "It's really about what we have learned in the last 10 years [of war], and how to establish new relationships not only in [the Middle East], but worldwide." � |
| Biographies: Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey Related Sites: Special Report: Travels With Dempsey |
Buffalo | Grant Street Near Bradley 2 car MVA
Buffalo | Grant Street Near Bradley 2 car MVA
Use caution in area. No data on injuries. This data will not update
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Dempsey, Saudi Partners Discuss Iraq, Regional Challenges
American Forces Press Service RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, Dec. 18, 2011 - Hours after the last U.S. Forces Iraq convoy crossed the border into Kuwait on its way home, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff sat down for the first time with Saudi officials here to discuss Iraq and other developments in the region. Traveling with a multicountry USO holiday tour to Kuwait, Iraq, Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia and other nations, Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey took time today to meet with leaders of one of the United States' long-time partners in the Middle East. "I've been very clear with all of our partners -- Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and others -- [that] if you're concerned about the future of Iraq, then we should all work together to help ensure that we achieve a brighter future for Iraq," Dempsey told reporters who are traveling with him. "[If Iraq is] left unattended or left to its own devices," he said, then countries that could have helped the newly sovereign nation "shouldn't come back and complain about the outcome." Today Dempsey met with officials from the Saudi Ministry of Defense and the Saudi Arabia National Guard. The chairman, who from 2001 to 2003 served in the kingdom to train and advise the Saudi Arabian National Guard, said he and the Saudi officials spent time renewing their acquaintance. But they also discussed Iraq, Iran's potential influence on Iraq, the Arab-Israeli conflict, he added, and the growing Saudi investment in the U.S. foreign military sales program. "On the specific issue of Iraq, I'd say [Saudi officials] are probably concerned about the Iranian influence and are eager to know what we intend to do to make sure that influence doesn't permeate Iraq," Dempsey said. "They asked me what I thought it meant [that the U.S. military is out of Iraq] and they offered to tell me what they thought it meant," he said, adding, "I wouldn't describe our discussions at this point as suggesting to each other what we might do." The Arab-Israeli conflict was also on the agenda, the chairman said, a routine topic in meetings with Saudi leaders. "Generally speaking we begin our meetings with a reflection on the fact that from their perspective the key to a lasting settlement in the region is the Arab-Israeli conflict," Dempsey said. The Saudis made no judgments about how the United States is managing the conflict, "but I would describe on the part of both the leaders in the Saudi Arabia National Guard and the Ministry of Defense ... a heightened sense of concern on the basis of what they consider to be two facts," Dempsey said. First, he added, "they are very concerned that our withdrawal from Iraq opens the door for greater Iranian influence, [and] they consider that Iranian influence in Bahrain has a very real chance of destabilizing the region." A positive signal from the Saudis is a rapidly growing investment in the U.S. Foreign Military Sales program, he said, with the Saudi Arabia National Guard investment growing four-fold and the Ministry of Defense investment nearly doubling. And the Saudis have established a new facilities-protection program through the program for critical industries such as oil refineries and water and power plants, Dempsey added. With the Saudis, he said, "We used to talk about stuff -- material procurements, bright shiny objects. It wasn't that kind of conversation at all today. It was actually quite substantive; about training and of course geopolitical issues." Dempsey added, "I think they feel like they're in a very good place and ... a strong place in terms of capabilities. "I think they're genuinely interested now in how they can get better at utilizing [equipment they've purchased from the United States], the chairman said, "and I find that to be quite encouraging." � |
| Biographies: Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey Related Sites: Special Report: Travels With Dempsey |
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