American Forces Press Service
Sept. 14, 2007 - Paralyzed Veterans of America held its annual Americana Gala at the National Building Museum here last night. In keeping with the evening's theme of "Building a Better Tomorrow," the event paid tribute to visionary individuals and corporate leaders who have championed improved quality of life for veterans and people with disabilities. These improvements include working toward an accessible, barrier-free America and ensuring better access to job-seeking tools and employment opportunities.
"Imagine an America where veterans with disabilities and their families have everything they need to thrive," said Homer S. Townsend Jr., the organization's acting executive director. "Through their leadership, the people and businesses we honor tonight are helping paralyzed veterans make this vision a reality."
Labor Secretary Elaine L. Chao received the 2007 Honor for Public Service Award for her enduring service and her advocacy for the veteran community. U.S. Rep. James Langevin of Rhode Island received the 2007 Congressional Award for his long-time support of both the Paralyzed Veterans of America and veterans. Former U.S. Sen. Max Cleland of Georgia received the 2007 Patriotic Award for his longtime advocacy for veterans with disabilities.
Additionally, the group presented Michael Graves of the Michael Graves and Associates architectural firm with the 2007 Health and Design Award for his efforts to maximize the independence of people with disabilities and his leadership and innovation in the creation of quality medical devices. United Parcel Service received the 2007 Award for Corporate Leadership for its enduring advocacy for people and veterans with disabilities.
Founded in 1946, Paralyzed Veterans of America is the only congressionally chartered veterans service organization solely for the benefit and representation of individuals with spinal cord injury or disease. The organization has more than 19,000 members in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.
(From a Paralyzed Veterans of America news release.)
Editor's Note: To find out about more individuals, groups and organizations that are helping support the troops, visit www.AmericaSupportsYou.mil. America Supports You directly connects military members to the support of the America people and offers a tool to the general public in their quest to find meaningful ways to support the military community.
Friday, September 14, 2007
Top Army Reserve NCO Cites Challenges Ahead in Transforming Force
By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service
Sept. 14, 2007 - For perspective about how much the Army Reserve has changed as it has evolved from a strategic reserve to an operational force that's a key player in the war on terror, few could offer as much insight as its senior enlisted soldier. Command Sgt. Maj. Leon Caffie was drafted into the Army in 1970 and served as an infantryman in Vietnam. After returning home, he joined an Army Reserve far different from the one he helps to lead today.
The little equipment reserve units had at the time was cast off from active-duty units. The training "weekend warriors" got when they gathered in their reserve centers typically consisted of reading military training manuals. If they went to the range for weapons qualification, they borrowed weapons from an active unit. Annual training was all but devoid of training.
Caffie remembers his first reserve AT, at Fort Jackson, S.C. He and his fellow reservists had to cut through the weeds to get to the condemned buildings they'd been assigned to work in. Their biggest task, Caffie recalls, was to put together the unit's annual AT party.
"They really didn't expect us to do anything," he said. "We were more of a nuisance to the active component than we were assets."
Flash forward 33 years, and Caffie is happy to report: "That legacy force no longer exists."
The Army Reserve has changed from a force of last resort to an integral part of the Army structure, he said. Since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States, more than 102,000 of the Army Reserve's 200,000 members have mobilized to support the war effort.
As the 10th senior enlisted advisor to the Army Reserve chief, Caffie is helping the Army Reserve continue to move beyond the legacy force he once served in. And a big part of that task, he said, is looking out for soldiers' interests.
Army Reserve Chief Lt. Gen. Jack C. Stultz interviewed 16 people before selecting Caffie to the job last year. Impressed by Caffie's ability to impose strict standards and his genuine concern for the troops, Stultz said, he knew he had his man to help move the Army Reserve transformation forward.
"He won't tolerate substandard performance, and that's what soldiers appreciate – the fact that he demands and lives up to that warrior ethos and doesn't ask anything of a soldier that he's not willing to do himself," the general said at Caffie's swearing-in ceremony.
Even Caffie's job description represented a shift from the Army Reserve's old way of doing business. In the past, the Army Reserve had two enlisted leaders: one for the U.S. Army Reserve Command at Fort McPherson, Ga., and another for the chief of the Army Reserve in Washington. Stultz merged the two jobs into one position.
"This is symbolic of not only bringing in new leadership, but also of the fact that we're transforming the reserves into an operational force from an old, legacy force," Stultz said.
As he supports that transformation, Caffie focuses on training soldiers, developing leaders and helping reservists balance their military and civilian careers and family responsibilities.
Caffie has a keen appreciation of the juggling act citizen-soldiers face. He spent 28 years in law enforcement before retiring from the Alachua County Sheriff's Office in Florida, all while serving in increasingly responsible Army Reserve jobs.
Now that he's in a position to make a difference, Caffie said, he's committed to changing old-school ways to make it easier for citizen-soldiers to serve.
He's convinced, for example, that fixed battle assemblies – "drill weekends" in Caffie's earlier days – aren't the best way to train Army Reservists. He said he's encouraged to see more flexible schedules for reservists to enhance their skills.
When they train, Caffie wants reservists out in the field as much as possible, not in those "concrete cocoons that we call Army Reserve centers." Soldiers appreciate knowing that their training is worthwhile, and get motivated developing their leadership skills, he said.
"The key is to get the soldiers into a field environment. Show them appreciation. Challenge them with leadership roles," Caffie said. "And they will deliver."
They're delivering every day, he said, with some the vast majority of the 26,000 reservists currently mobilized serving in about 20 countries around the world, including Iraq. In addition to carrying out a broad range of critical missions overseas, about 6,000 reservists are training other troops about to deploy.
During his regular visits to check on these mobilized reservists, Caffie said, he's struck by the contrast to his early Army Reserve days. "You can walk into the theater today in Afghanistan and Iraq and I would wager that you could not distinguish the active-duty soldier from the reserve-component soldier," he said.
This, he said, shows that new approaches to training soldiers are paying off. "We've changed the paradigm and the old, mundane way of leadership. We're able to maintain the same high standards, but have torn down the boxes that we have built around ourselves," he said.
One big change is the way the Army Reserve looks at its members' civilian job responsibilities. Caffie said there's a growing recognition of the value of the vast civilian skills reservists bring to the military force beyond they military occupational specialties.
"It's important that we understand the force we have and the diversity that reservists bring to the fight," he said. "For too long, people have overlooked the wealth of experience reservists bring in terms of their education and civilian-acquired skills."
Caffie rattled off examples of the unique professional skills. Among them was the story of a young Army Reserve specialist the sergeant major met when visiting a medical unit deployed to Sarajevo. The soldier was working in a corner of the medical facility, hunched over a malfunctioning MRI machine he had torn apart.
"He told me he works for the company that makes the machines," Caffie said. "He said he knew what the problem was, that he'd called back to his company to get them to send the parts it needed, and that he'd put it back together and get it working.
"That's the kind of expertise you have in the Army Reserve, so it's important that you understand what you've got," he continued. "We have people with two unique professional skills – the one they train on as an MOS and the one they bring from their civilian careers."
These civilian-acquired skills make Army Reservists particularly value to the military, Caffie said.
With Stultz, he's working to remove some of the roadblocks that interfere with their ability to continue serving. They promote employer support programs and praise efforts being advanced through the National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve.
They're also focusing on programs for families, particularly during reserve call-ups. "We recruit soldiers, but we sustain families," Caffie said. "We still have a ways to go, but I think we have made significant improvements in that arena."
Some of Caffie's focus boils down to issues as basic as clearing the way to pay reservists for out-of-pocket expenses associated with their military training. Caffie relayed the story of an Army Reserve specialist who regularly drives more than 250 miles to his battle assemblies, pays two nights' hotel costs to attend them and has to pick up the tab for two meals a day while he's away from home for training. At the end of a drill weekend, the soldier ends up in the red.
"It's not fair, but that is the legacy way that we have done business," Caffie said. "We need to move away from that into an operational mindset. An operational mindset says that I have talented soldiers out there, and I will do anything within my power to ensure they are treated fairly and get what they are entitled to."
Fixing this problem is one of the "rocks" Caffie said his boss has "put into my rucksack."
"I got rid of some of them, but some are still there," he said. "I still have some I continue to work on."
As he picks away at these rocks, Caffie said he gets personal gratification knowing he's serving his soldiers and helping the Army Reserve move beyond that legacy force he joined back in 1974.
One indication of how far that force has come is reflected in Army Reserve retention rates. Attrition – at chronic levels during Caffie's early Army Reserve days – is at its lowest point in seven years as the Army Reserve exceeds all retention goals.
Caffie called these retention successes "remarkable," particularly among troops who have deployed to combat. "If you look at the stats for soldiers who have been deployed in the Army Reserve, those retention rates are astronomical as well," he said. "We have done a remarkable job of retaining soldiers with combat experience, who have deployed into either Afghanistan or Iraq."
These retention rates are no accident, he said, particularly when some Army Reserve troops already have served two deployments, and some are preparing for their third deployment.
"When you throw all those angles into the mix, and you are still able to retain them, we are doing something correct," he said. "I think that's about leadership. It starts at the top."
Ultimately, Caffie attributes the success of the Army Reserve and the fact that its members continue to serve to old-fashioned patriotism. Many reservists serve because they believe they're making a contribution to their country and helping preserve its freedoms, he said.
"That's the reason a lot of these soldiers continue to serve today -- because they figure that one must be willing to pay to be free," he said. "They're great American patriots."
American Forces Press Service
Sept. 14, 2007 - For perspective about how much the Army Reserve has changed as it has evolved from a strategic reserve to an operational force that's a key player in the war on terror, few could offer as much insight as its senior enlisted soldier. Command Sgt. Maj. Leon Caffie was drafted into the Army in 1970 and served as an infantryman in Vietnam. After returning home, he joined an Army Reserve far different from the one he helps to lead today.
The little equipment reserve units had at the time was cast off from active-duty units. The training "weekend warriors" got when they gathered in their reserve centers typically consisted of reading military training manuals. If they went to the range for weapons qualification, they borrowed weapons from an active unit. Annual training was all but devoid of training.
Caffie remembers his first reserve AT, at Fort Jackson, S.C. He and his fellow reservists had to cut through the weeds to get to the condemned buildings they'd been assigned to work in. Their biggest task, Caffie recalls, was to put together the unit's annual AT party.
"They really didn't expect us to do anything," he said. "We were more of a nuisance to the active component than we were assets."
Flash forward 33 years, and Caffie is happy to report: "That legacy force no longer exists."
The Army Reserve has changed from a force of last resort to an integral part of the Army structure, he said. Since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States, more than 102,000 of the Army Reserve's 200,000 members have mobilized to support the war effort.
As the 10th senior enlisted advisor to the Army Reserve chief, Caffie is helping the Army Reserve continue to move beyond the legacy force he once served in. And a big part of that task, he said, is looking out for soldiers' interests.
Army Reserve Chief Lt. Gen. Jack C. Stultz interviewed 16 people before selecting Caffie to the job last year. Impressed by Caffie's ability to impose strict standards and his genuine concern for the troops, Stultz said, he knew he had his man to help move the Army Reserve transformation forward.
"He won't tolerate substandard performance, and that's what soldiers appreciate – the fact that he demands and lives up to that warrior ethos and doesn't ask anything of a soldier that he's not willing to do himself," the general said at Caffie's swearing-in ceremony.
Even Caffie's job description represented a shift from the Army Reserve's old way of doing business. In the past, the Army Reserve had two enlisted leaders: one for the U.S. Army Reserve Command at Fort McPherson, Ga., and another for the chief of the Army Reserve in Washington. Stultz merged the two jobs into one position.
"This is symbolic of not only bringing in new leadership, but also of the fact that we're transforming the reserves into an operational force from an old, legacy force," Stultz said.
As he supports that transformation, Caffie focuses on training soldiers, developing leaders and helping reservists balance their military and civilian careers and family responsibilities.
Caffie has a keen appreciation of the juggling act citizen-soldiers face. He spent 28 years in law enforcement before retiring from the Alachua County Sheriff's Office in Florida, all while serving in increasingly responsible Army Reserve jobs.
Now that he's in a position to make a difference, Caffie said, he's committed to changing old-school ways to make it easier for citizen-soldiers to serve.
He's convinced, for example, that fixed battle assemblies – "drill weekends" in Caffie's earlier days – aren't the best way to train Army Reservists. He said he's encouraged to see more flexible schedules for reservists to enhance their skills.
When they train, Caffie wants reservists out in the field as much as possible, not in those "concrete cocoons that we call Army Reserve centers." Soldiers appreciate knowing that their training is worthwhile, and get motivated developing their leadership skills, he said.
"The key is to get the soldiers into a field environment. Show them appreciation. Challenge them with leadership roles," Caffie said. "And they will deliver."
They're delivering every day, he said, with some the vast majority of the 26,000 reservists currently mobilized serving in about 20 countries around the world, including Iraq. In addition to carrying out a broad range of critical missions overseas, about 6,000 reservists are training other troops about to deploy.
During his regular visits to check on these mobilized reservists, Caffie said, he's struck by the contrast to his early Army Reserve days. "You can walk into the theater today in Afghanistan and Iraq and I would wager that you could not distinguish the active-duty soldier from the reserve-component soldier," he said.
This, he said, shows that new approaches to training soldiers are paying off. "We've changed the paradigm and the old, mundane way of leadership. We're able to maintain the same high standards, but have torn down the boxes that we have built around ourselves," he said.
One big change is the way the Army Reserve looks at its members' civilian job responsibilities. Caffie said there's a growing recognition of the value of the vast civilian skills reservists bring to the military force beyond they military occupational specialties.
"It's important that we understand the force we have and the diversity that reservists bring to the fight," he said. "For too long, people have overlooked the wealth of experience reservists bring in terms of their education and civilian-acquired skills."
Caffie rattled off examples of the unique professional skills. Among them was the story of a young Army Reserve specialist the sergeant major met when visiting a medical unit deployed to Sarajevo. The soldier was working in a corner of the medical facility, hunched over a malfunctioning MRI machine he had torn apart.
"He told me he works for the company that makes the machines," Caffie said. "He said he knew what the problem was, that he'd called back to his company to get them to send the parts it needed, and that he'd put it back together and get it working.
"That's the kind of expertise you have in the Army Reserve, so it's important that you understand what you've got," he continued. "We have people with two unique professional skills – the one they train on as an MOS and the one they bring from their civilian careers."
These civilian-acquired skills make Army Reservists particularly value to the military, Caffie said.
With Stultz, he's working to remove some of the roadblocks that interfere with their ability to continue serving. They promote employer support programs and praise efforts being advanced through the National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve.
They're also focusing on programs for families, particularly during reserve call-ups. "We recruit soldiers, but we sustain families," Caffie said. "We still have a ways to go, but I think we have made significant improvements in that arena."
Some of Caffie's focus boils down to issues as basic as clearing the way to pay reservists for out-of-pocket expenses associated with their military training. Caffie relayed the story of an Army Reserve specialist who regularly drives more than 250 miles to his battle assemblies, pays two nights' hotel costs to attend them and has to pick up the tab for two meals a day while he's away from home for training. At the end of a drill weekend, the soldier ends up in the red.
"It's not fair, but that is the legacy way that we have done business," Caffie said. "We need to move away from that into an operational mindset. An operational mindset says that I have talented soldiers out there, and I will do anything within my power to ensure they are treated fairly and get what they are entitled to."
Fixing this problem is one of the "rocks" Caffie said his boss has "put into my rucksack."
"I got rid of some of them, but some are still there," he said. "I still have some I continue to work on."
As he picks away at these rocks, Caffie said he gets personal gratification knowing he's serving his soldiers and helping the Army Reserve move beyond that legacy force he joined back in 1974.
One indication of how far that force has come is reflected in Army Reserve retention rates. Attrition – at chronic levels during Caffie's early Army Reserve days – is at its lowest point in seven years as the Army Reserve exceeds all retention goals.
Caffie called these retention successes "remarkable," particularly among troops who have deployed to combat. "If you look at the stats for soldiers who have been deployed in the Army Reserve, those retention rates are astronomical as well," he said. "We have done a remarkable job of retaining soldiers with combat experience, who have deployed into either Afghanistan or Iraq."
These retention rates are no accident, he said, particularly when some Army Reserve troops already have served two deployments, and some are preparing for their third deployment.
"When you throw all those angles into the mix, and you are still able to retain them, we are doing something correct," he said. "I think that's about leadership. It starts at the top."
Ultimately, Caffie attributes the success of the Army Reserve and the fact that its members continue to serve to old-fashioned patriotism. Many reservists serve because they believe they're making a contribution to their country and helping preserve its freedoms, he said.
"That's the reason a lot of these soldiers continue to serve today -- because they figure that one must be willing to pay to be free," he said. "They're great American patriots."
Monday, September 10, 2007
Verbal Judo Way of Leadership
The Verbal Judo Institute is pleased to announce that the latest book written by Dr. George "Rhino" Thompson, “The Verbal Judo Way of Leadership—Empowering the Thin Blue Line from the Inside Up," is now available!
For many years Dr. Thompson has sought to present the Verbal Judo philosophy on leadership in written form. "The Verbal Judo Way of Leadership" is a unique co-authorship between George Thompson, founder and president of The Verbal Judo Institute and VJ instructor/retired "Green Beret" Greg Walker.
This book features exclusive new material on the art of Tactical Communications and the elusive art of superior leadership. Dr. Thompson and Greg Walker combine their diverse professional backgrounds with their shared vision of Verbal Judo concepts to help Peace Officers achieve excellence as law enforcement supervisors, managers, administrators, and beyond. Drawing from Dr. Thompson's street and courtroom proven Verbal Judo philosophy and his co-author's dual careers as an Army Special Forces combat leader and civilian peace officer "The Verbal Judo Way of Leadership –Empowering the Thin Blue Line from the Inside Up" is MUST reading for the 21st Century law enforcement officer, First Responder, and military man or woman intent on achieving true success as a leader in his or her chosen profession.
For additional information, please review the attached Verbal Judo Merchandise Catalog or visit our www.verbaljudo.com.
For many years Dr. Thompson has sought to present the Verbal Judo philosophy on leadership in written form. "The Verbal Judo Way of Leadership" is a unique co-authorship between George Thompson, founder and president of The Verbal Judo Institute and VJ instructor/retired "Green Beret" Greg Walker.
This book features exclusive new material on the art of Tactical Communications and the elusive art of superior leadership. Dr. Thompson and Greg Walker combine their diverse professional backgrounds with their shared vision of Verbal Judo concepts to help Peace Officers achieve excellence as law enforcement supervisors, managers, administrators, and beyond. Drawing from Dr. Thompson's street and courtroom proven Verbal Judo philosophy and his co-author's dual careers as an Army Special Forces combat leader and civilian peace officer "The Verbal Judo Way of Leadership –Empowering the Thin Blue Line from the Inside Up" is MUST reading for the 21st Century law enforcement officer, First Responder, and military man or woman intent on achieving true success as a leader in his or her chosen profession.
For additional information, please review the attached Verbal Judo Merchandise Catalog or visit our www.verbaljudo.com.
Wednesday, September 05, 2007
Situational Leadership® II for Law Enforcement Training Program (SLTP)
The role of the law enforcement supervisor and manager has changed. In the past, supervisors and managers were expected to be the boss, evaluator, judge, and critic. In today’s rapidly changing world the authoritarian manager that valued compliance, conformity and command control hierarchies will not be able to keep up with the pace of change. Today, the law enforcement manager and supervisor must become a partner, facilitator, cheerleader, supporter, and coach in order to be successful. As law enforcement leaders, our task is to accomplish the organizational mission by means of our greatest resource, our people. As law enforcement leaders, we must understand that the value of diversity is that each individual brings his or her unique experience, skills and commitment to the organization and its mission. Today’s law enforcement leader must be able to successfully use a variety of leadership styles depending on the task, mission, and individual. Situational Leadership® II can provide you with a variety of leadership tools that can enhance your effectiveness and success as a supervisor, in this rapidly changing world.
This program teaches the leadership model developed and perfected by Dr. Ken Blanchard, and his colleagues at The Ken Blanchard Companies. The FLETC Law Enforcement Leadership Institute (LELI) and The Ken Blanchard Companies have collaborated to customize the program for law enforcement leaders and managers. It provides a unique opportunity for law enforcement professionals to not only refine their supervisory and leadership skills, but more importantly, to use SL® II to develop their people.
The instructors are current or former law enforcement professionals and have been qualified by The Ken Blanchard Companies to present the program. These professionals bring a unique understanding of the law enforcement culture, and practical knowledge of how to meet the challenges that face a law enforcement supervisor in operational settings.
Participants in this program will gain an understanding of how to apply Situational Leadership® II in both their personal lives and their law enforcement careers. Participants will explore topics to develop skills using an adult learning model that employs lecture, case studies, practical exercises, and self-directed learning. This program is highly participatory and hands on.
For Course Information:
http://www.fletc.gov/training/programs/law-enforcement-leadership-institute/situational-leadership-aeii-for-law-enforcement-training-program-sliitp
This program teaches the leadership model developed and perfected by Dr. Ken Blanchard, and his colleagues at The Ken Blanchard Companies. The FLETC Law Enforcement Leadership Institute (LELI) and The Ken Blanchard Companies have collaborated to customize the program for law enforcement leaders and managers. It provides a unique opportunity for law enforcement professionals to not only refine their supervisory and leadership skills, but more importantly, to use SL® II to develop their people.
The instructors are current or former law enforcement professionals and have been qualified by The Ken Blanchard Companies to present the program. These professionals bring a unique understanding of the law enforcement culture, and practical knowledge of how to meet the challenges that face a law enforcement supervisor in operational settings.
Participants in this program will gain an understanding of how to apply Situational Leadership® II in both their personal lives and their law enforcement careers. Participants will explore topics to develop skills using an adult learning model that employs lecture, case studies, practical exercises, and self-directed learning. This program is highly participatory and hands on.
For Course Information:
http://www.fletc.gov/training/programs/law-enforcement-leadership-institute/situational-leadership-aeii-for-law-enforcement-training-program-sliitp
Saturday, August 18, 2007
Young People Should Find Ways to Serve, Pace Says
By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service
Aug. 16, 2007 - Whether it's through military service or another means, young Americans should find some way to serve their country, the U.S. military's top officer said here today. "I do believe that each of us who has had the blessing of the accident of birth of being born in a free country ought to find some way to repay our country," Marine Gen. Peter Pace, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said during a town hall meeting at Collier Field House here.
"If we have a system that allowed people to join the Peace Corps or allowed people to do good work inside the United States where it's needed, or join the military," it would help the country.
Young people should give a year or two of their lives to making society better, and U.S. leaders should take such a commitment seriously, Pace said. "We would be a much stronger society, and we would be giving back to the world what we should be giving back," he said.
The general also put to rest rumors about a possible U.S. military draft. "Nobody in any leadership position is having any serious discussion about a draft," he said.
American Forces Press Service
Aug. 16, 2007 - Whether it's through military service or another means, young Americans should find some way to serve their country, the U.S. military's top officer said here today. "I do believe that each of us who has had the blessing of the accident of birth of being born in a free country ought to find some way to repay our country," Marine Gen. Peter Pace, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said during a town hall meeting at Collier Field House here.
"If we have a system that allowed people to join the Peace Corps or allowed people to do good work inside the United States where it's needed, or join the military," it would help the country.
Young people should give a year or two of their lives to making society better, and U.S. leaders should take such a commitment seriously, Pace said. "We would be a much stronger society, and we would be giving back to the world what we should be giving back," he said.
The general also put to rest rumors about a possible U.S. military draft. "Nobody in any leadership position is having any serious discussion about a draft," he said.
Thursday, August 16, 2007
Chairman Reflects on Military Service
By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service
Aug. 14, 2007 - In a town hall meeting here today, Marine Gen. Peter Pace, the military's senior general, spoke about how proud he has been to look out for the welfare of lower-ranking servicemembers during his 40-year career. Pace is retiring Oct. 1. He has been chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff since 2005, and was vice chairman for four years before that.
"I talk frequently on the impact of decisions on 'Pfc. Pace,'" he said. "It's my way of making sure that those of us on the high-end of the rank structure don't forget that each decision we make has an impact on a (private first class) or a senior airman or petty officer."
Pace said he is proud that civilian leaders in the Pentagon now talk about the impact of decisions on young enlisted members and officers.
"I'm happy that the dialogue includes a clear understanding that there are real people involved here and that when you say to do something in Washington, it has very specific impacts on the 'Pfc. Paces' of the world who have to make that decision work," he said.
During a question-and-answer session, a young airman asked the general if he ever thought he would reach the heights to which his career has taken him. Pace responded that he always planned to serve as long as he was needed.
Pace first entered combat in Vietnam during the Battle of Hue City in 1968 as a platoon leader in Company G, 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines. He was the third platoon leader in as many weeks. Only three Marines in his company of 156 did not get wounded in Hue. "I was one of them," he said.
In one incident, a staff sergeant walked in front of him when a sniper fired. "The (round) caught him in the side rather than me in the chest," the general said. "I walked through a minefield one day when I didn't know I was in a minefield.
"I had no idea how I had gone through 13 months in combat as a platoon leader without getting scratched and, more importantly, I lost some wonderful Marines who died following Second Lieutenant Pace's orders in combat," he continued.
He said that when he came back from Vietnam he made a promise to himself.
"For me, (service in the military) has been about trying to repay those who died following my orders," he said. "In the process, I have never thought about the next promotion, because I've always felt I would serve the nation until I was no longer needed. And I would know that when I stopped getting promoted. Whenever that happened would be just fine."
The general said the idea worked "pretty well" for 40 years.
"Now I am going home," he said referring to his retirement in October. "I am not a volunteer to go home, nor am I dragging my feet. I am sitting here saying the same thing I have said for 40 years: I love this nation, I love each and every one of you who wear the uniform, I would serve until I die if they would let me.
"But I am also very comfortable that I have fulfilled the mission that I set for myself 40 years ago. And those great young Marines who will be forever young with their names on the Vietnam Wall and those who died with us in Somalia and those who died in this conflict, I hope I have served the way I meant to serve, and that is to remember the impact on 'Pfc. Pace' and not care about whether General Pace gets promoted."
American Forces Press Service
Aug. 14, 2007 - In a town hall meeting here today, Marine Gen. Peter Pace, the military's senior general, spoke about how proud he has been to look out for the welfare of lower-ranking servicemembers during his 40-year career. Pace is retiring Oct. 1. He has been chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff since 2005, and was vice chairman for four years before that.
"I talk frequently on the impact of decisions on 'Pfc. Pace,'" he said. "It's my way of making sure that those of us on the high-end of the rank structure don't forget that each decision we make has an impact on a (private first class) or a senior airman or petty officer."
Pace said he is proud that civilian leaders in the Pentagon now talk about the impact of decisions on young enlisted members and officers.
"I'm happy that the dialogue includes a clear understanding that there are real people involved here and that when you say to do something in Washington, it has very specific impacts on the 'Pfc. Paces' of the world who have to make that decision work," he said.
During a question-and-answer session, a young airman asked the general if he ever thought he would reach the heights to which his career has taken him. Pace responded that he always planned to serve as long as he was needed.
Pace first entered combat in Vietnam during the Battle of Hue City in 1968 as a platoon leader in Company G, 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines. He was the third platoon leader in as many weeks. Only three Marines in his company of 156 did not get wounded in Hue. "I was one of them," he said.
In one incident, a staff sergeant walked in front of him when a sniper fired. "The (round) caught him in the side rather than me in the chest," the general said. "I walked through a minefield one day when I didn't know I was in a minefield.
"I had no idea how I had gone through 13 months in combat as a platoon leader without getting scratched and, more importantly, I lost some wonderful Marines who died following Second Lieutenant Pace's orders in combat," he continued.
He said that when he came back from Vietnam he made a promise to himself.
"For me, (service in the military) has been about trying to repay those who died following my orders," he said. "In the process, I have never thought about the next promotion, because I've always felt I would serve the nation until I was no longer needed. And I would know that when I stopped getting promoted. Whenever that happened would be just fine."
The general said the idea worked "pretty well" for 40 years.
"Now I am going home," he said referring to his retirement in October. "I am not a volunteer to go home, nor am I dragging my feet. I am sitting here saying the same thing I have said for 40 years: I love this nation, I love each and every one of you who wear the uniform, I would serve until I die if they would let me.
"But I am also very comfortable that I have fulfilled the mission that I set for myself 40 years ago. And those great young Marines who will be forever young with their names on the Vietnam Wall and those who died with us in Somalia and those who died in this conflict, I hope I have served the way I meant to serve, and that is to remember the impact on 'Pfc. Pace' and not care about whether General Pace gets promoted."
Thursday, August 02, 2007
Future NCOs Welcome Top Sergeant Major to Italy
By Petty Officer 1st Class Derrick Ingle, USN
Special to American Forces Press Service
Aug. 1, 2007 - With a South Carolina accent, words of wisdom and a little physical fitness, the U.S. military's most senior enlisted member captured the hearts of some of the Army and Air Force's most promising leaders of tomorrow. Army Command Sgt. Maj. William J. Gainey, senior enlisted advisor to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, yesterday visited with 40 Airman Leadership School graduates at this northeastern Italy base.
The school prepares Air Force senior airmen and Army specialists and below to be noncommissioned officers. While the six-week course gets young soldiers and airmen ready for the next pay grade, the most senior NCO in the Defense Department used only 60 minutes to do his bit to prepare them for life.
"Most of you don't know me, do you?" Gainey asked. "You heard some old sergeant major was coming to visit and said, 'OK, what's the big deal?'
"All I care about is that you know who your first-line supervisor is, because guess what? One day that's going to be you. Don't worry about who I am," Gainey said. "Worry about your young soldiers and airmen when you become an NCO. You have to listen to your people. This is my motto: I put my God first, my family second and my job or service third. As long as you prioritize in this order, the rest will fall into place, I promise you."
From motivational mottos to metaphoric examples of how each branch of service makes up the "apple pie" called the Defense Department, the 32-year Army veteran used parables -- and about 600 push-ups -- to relate to the military's next generation.
Gainey had several volunteers come to the stage for a physical challenge. "He said he'd add up all the push-ups we can do and do one more," Air Force Staff Sgt. Odell Straughter said.
"He did just that, too. Out of nine of us, we did around 600. He counted it up, dropped down and did one more," Straughter continued with a laugh. "It was a listening tool. He said, as future NCOs, we have to listen to exactly what our people are saying, not what we think they're saying."
The "push-up challenge" not only served as a wake-up call for some to open their ears, but as also enlightenment reminder to maintain physical readiness.
"I do 100 push-ups every morning. If you don't embrace physical fitness, how can you carry a wounded lad out in the field?" Gainey asked. "If you're not in shape enough to be there for your troops, shame on you."
With Gainey's stern, yet welcoming, on-stage presence, the young troops where quick to take heed of his advice.
"He's such a dynamic speaker," Air Force Senior Airman Bradley Von Hawgg said. "He knows how to draw you in. Everything he was saying was right on. He was talking to us and not at us. He's able to talk to the chairman at the Pentagon on one level and then come to Italy and still relate to non-NCOs. How does he do it? Last week I was thinking about leaving the Air Force, yet after meeting the SEAC, I'm not so sure."
Those who know Gainey best say he was a contagious motivational leader long before becoming the top NCO in the Defense Department. From the sands of the Middle East to the halls of the Pentagon, this South Carolina native has always been referred to as "a soldier's soldier."
"I've served with him before his appointment to Washington, D.C.," Army Command Sgt. Maj. Earl Rice, of the Southern European Task Force in Vicenza, Italy, said. Gainey also visited Vicenza during his trip to Italy.
"The secret of his success is he didn't forget where he came from. He remembers what it's like to be a young private, a young sergeant, and an NCO. He's using that same mentality at DoD's headquarters that he had out in the field. It's an honor to have him come out a visit us."
(Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Derrick Ingle is asigned to the Joint Staff.)
Special to American Forces Press Service
Aug. 1, 2007 - With a South Carolina accent, words of wisdom and a little physical fitness, the U.S. military's most senior enlisted member captured the hearts of some of the Army and Air Force's most promising leaders of tomorrow. Army Command Sgt. Maj. William J. Gainey, senior enlisted advisor to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, yesterday visited with 40 Airman Leadership School graduates at this northeastern Italy base.
The school prepares Air Force senior airmen and Army specialists and below to be noncommissioned officers. While the six-week course gets young soldiers and airmen ready for the next pay grade, the most senior NCO in the Defense Department used only 60 minutes to do his bit to prepare them for life.
"Most of you don't know me, do you?" Gainey asked. "You heard some old sergeant major was coming to visit and said, 'OK, what's the big deal?'
"All I care about is that you know who your first-line supervisor is, because guess what? One day that's going to be you. Don't worry about who I am," Gainey said. "Worry about your young soldiers and airmen when you become an NCO. You have to listen to your people. This is my motto: I put my God first, my family second and my job or service third. As long as you prioritize in this order, the rest will fall into place, I promise you."
From motivational mottos to metaphoric examples of how each branch of service makes up the "apple pie" called the Defense Department, the 32-year Army veteran used parables -- and about 600 push-ups -- to relate to the military's next generation.
Gainey had several volunteers come to the stage for a physical challenge. "He said he'd add up all the push-ups we can do and do one more," Air Force Staff Sgt. Odell Straughter said.
"He did just that, too. Out of nine of us, we did around 600. He counted it up, dropped down and did one more," Straughter continued with a laugh. "It was a listening tool. He said, as future NCOs, we have to listen to exactly what our people are saying, not what we think they're saying."
The "push-up challenge" not only served as a wake-up call for some to open their ears, but as also enlightenment reminder to maintain physical readiness.
"I do 100 push-ups every morning. If you don't embrace physical fitness, how can you carry a wounded lad out in the field?" Gainey asked. "If you're not in shape enough to be there for your troops, shame on you."
With Gainey's stern, yet welcoming, on-stage presence, the young troops where quick to take heed of his advice.
"He's such a dynamic speaker," Air Force Senior Airman Bradley Von Hawgg said. "He knows how to draw you in. Everything he was saying was right on. He was talking to us and not at us. He's able to talk to the chairman at the Pentagon on one level and then come to Italy and still relate to non-NCOs. How does he do it? Last week I was thinking about leaving the Air Force, yet after meeting the SEAC, I'm not so sure."
Those who know Gainey best say he was a contagious motivational leader long before becoming the top NCO in the Defense Department. From the sands of the Middle East to the halls of the Pentagon, this South Carolina native has always been referred to as "a soldier's soldier."
"I've served with him before his appointment to Washington, D.C.," Army Command Sgt. Maj. Earl Rice, of the Southern European Task Force in Vicenza, Italy, said. Gainey also visited Vicenza during his trip to Italy.
"The secret of his success is he didn't forget where he came from. He remembers what it's like to be a young private, a young sergeant, and an NCO. He's using that same mentality at DoD's headquarters that he had out in the field. It's an honor to have him come out a visit us."
(Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Derrick Ingle is asigned to the Joint Staff.)
Saturday, July 28, 2007
Adamchik Recognized as Certified Speaking Professional
(July 28, 2007) (San Dimas, CA). Military-Writers.com is a website committed to listing military personnel who have authored books. The website announced that one of the writers, Wally Adamchik, a former tank command with the United States Marine Corps President of FireStarter Speaking and Consulting, a Raleigh, NC based Leadership Consulting firm has earned the Certified Speaking Professional (CSP) designation. Established in 1980, the CSP is the speaking profession’s international measure of speaking experience and skill. Fewer than 10 percent of the speakers worldwide who belong to the International Federation for Professional Speakers hold this professional designation.
The CSP designation is conferred by the National Speakers Association (NSA) and the International Federation of Professional Speakers only on accomplished professional speakers who have earned it by meeting strict criteria. CSP’s must document a proven track record of continuing service and ethical behavior. Wally Adamchik is one of 26 professionals to earn the CSP in the class of 2007. He was honored during a ceremony on July 10, 2007 at the NSA National Convention in San Diego, California.
Wally focuses on helping firms improve the ability of their leaders to succeed in an increasingly complex and competitive market. He is the author of NO YELLING: The Nine Secrets of Marine Corps Leadership You MUST Know To WIN In Business which was selected by Entrepreneur magazine as one of the best business books for summer 2007 and is a regular contributor to national print and trade publications. He is a Non-Resident Fellow with Marine Corps University helping the Marines define and refine leadership doctrine for the 21st century.
Contact Information:
Wally Adamchik, CSP
President
FireStarter Speaking and Consulting
919-673-9499
wally@beafirestarter.com
www.beafirestarter.com
Military-Writers.com currently lists 33 current or former military servicemembers and their 71 books.
The CSP designation is conferred by the National Speakers Association (NSA) and the International Federation of Professional Speakers only on accomplished professional speakers who have earned it by meeting strict criteria. CSP’s must document a proven track record of continuing service and ethical behavior. Wally Adamchik is one of 26 professionals to earn the CSP in the class of 2007. He was honored during a ceremony on July 10, 2007 at the NSA National Convention in San Diego, California.
Wally focuses on helping firms improve the ability of their leaders to succeed in an increasingly complex and competitive market. He is the author of NO YELLING: The Nine Secrets of Marine Corps Leadership You MUST Know To WIN In Business which was selected by Entrepreneur magazine as one of the best business books for summer 2007 and is a regular contributor to national print and trade publications. He is a Non-Resident Fellow with Marine Corps University helping the Marines define and refine leadership doctrine for the 21st century.
Contact Information:
Wally Adamchik, CSP
President
FireStarter Speaking and Consulting
919-673-9499
wally@beafirestarter.com
www.beafirestarter.com
Military-Writers.com currently lists 33 current or former military servicemembers and their 71 books.
Friday, July 27, 2007
LOS ANGELES POLICE PROTECTIVE LEAGUE ANNOUNCES TRANSITION IN LEADERSHIP
July 26, 2007 - The Board of Directors of the Los Angeles Police Protective League today announced a transition in leadership. Bob Baker, who has been League President since 2002, will be retiring from the Los Angeles Police Department after 37 years, and will be stepping down from his post on July 31. He will be replaced as League President by Board Vice President Tim Sands, who has served as a Board member and League officer since 1997.
Detective Baker has spent his entire career with the LAPD. With 37 years in the Department, including 23 years as a narcotics Detective, he will be retiring as a senior supervisor. He was first elected to the Board of Directors in 1999. He has since been reelected three times and has been president of the League since 2002. Baker will be joining the staff of District Attorney Steve Cooley, where he will be working as a liaison with law enforcement, including the LAPD, the Sheriff's Department and other municipal and county agencies, to expand and improve law enforcement training within Los Angeles County and statewide.
District Attorney Steve Cooley is looking forward to Baker's arrival on his team. "He will be a real asset to what this office is trying to accomplish," says the District Attorney.
Officer Sands is a 33-year department veteran who spent 18 years working on the streets in patrol, traffic, vice and narcotics, before spending five years representing officers at administrative boards of rights hearings. He has been Board Vice president for five years; previously he was Board treasurer for five years. He has also been League legal chairman since 1999.
Other continuing Board members include Sergeant Paul Weber, Board Treasurer; Officer Corina Lee, Board Secretary; Detective Jack Cota; Officer Ray Espinoza; Lieutenant Brian Johnson; Officer Scott Rate; and Officer Peter Repovich.
"Bob has been an immeasurable asset to this League. In the past five years, under his leadership, we have made great strides in fighting off attacks on our pensions, maintaining flexible work schedules, and working to create workable solutions to the impositions of the consent decree. We have also gone through several contract negotiations and walked away with good results despite a difficult fiscal environment," says Sands.
"It is going to be hard for me to walk away from this Department and the men and women of the LAPD, but I am thrilled to be leaving the League leadership in the capable hands of Tim and the other Board members," said Baker. "Tim is a terrific leader whose expertise in protecting officers' legal rights is a great benefit to the League. I know that under his leadership the Board will continue to achieve success in protecting officers' rights and benefits."
Editor's note: Reporters wishing to speak to District Attorney Cooley about Bob Baker and his new position as law enforcement liaison should contact District Attorney Media Relations Department. (213) 974-3525.
About the LAPPL
Formed in 1922, the Los Angeles Police Protective League (LAPPL) represents the more than 9,000 dedicated and professional sworn members of the Los Angeles Police Department. The LAPPL serves to advance the interests of LAPD officers through legislative and legal advocacy, political action and education. The LAPPL can be found on the Web at www.LAPD.com.
Detective Baker has spent his entire career with the LAPD. With 37 years in the Department, including 23 years as a narcotics Detective, he will be retiring as a senior supervisor. He was first elected to the Board of Directors in 1999. He has since been reelected three times and has been president of the League since 2002. Baker will be joining the staff of District Attorney Steve Cooley, where he will be working as a liaison with law enforcement, including the LAPD, the Sheriff's Department and other municipal and county agencies, to expand and improve law enforcement training within Los Angeles County and statewide.
District Attorney Steve Cooley is looking forward to Baker's arrival on his team. "He will be a real asset to what this office is trying to accomplish," says the District Attorney.
Officer Sands is a 33-year department veteran who spent 18 years working on the streets in patrol, traffic, vice and narcotics, before spending five years representing officers at administrative boards of rights hearings. He has been Board Vice president for five years; previously he was Board treasurer for five years. He has also been League legal chairman since 1999.
Other continuing Board members include Sergeant Paul Weber, Board Treasurer; Officer Corina Lee, Board Secretary; Detective Jack Cota; Officer Ray Espinoza; Lieutenant Brian Johnson; Officer Scott Rate; and Officer Peter Repovich.
"Bob has been an immeasurable asset to this League. In the past five years, under his leadership, we have made great strides in fighting off attacks on our pensions, maintaining flexible work schedules, and working to create workable solutions to the impositions of the consent decree. We have also gone through several contract negotiations and walked away with good results despite a difficult fiscal environment," says Sands.
"It is going to be hard for me to walk away from this Department and the men and women of the LAPD, but I am thrilled to be leaving the League leadership in the capable hands of Tim and the other Board members," said Baker. "Tim is a terrific leader whose expertise in protecting officers' legal rights is a great benefit to the League. I know that under his leadership the Board will continue to achieve success in protecting officers' rights and benefits."
Editor's note: Reporters wishing to speak to District Attorney Cooley about Bob Baker and his new position as law enforcement liaison should contact District Attorney Media Relations Department. (213) 974-3525.
About the LAPPL
Formed in 1922, the Los Angeles Police Protective League (LAPPL) represents the more than 9,000 dedicated and professional sworn members of the Los Angeles Police Department. The LAPPL serves to advance the interests of LAPD officers through legislative and legal advocacy, political action and education. The LAPPL can be found on the Web at www.LAPD.com.
Why We Serve: Navy Lieutenant Promotes Volunteerism
By Meghan Vittrup
American Forces Press Service
July 26, 2007 - Growing up in Mobile, Ala., Judith L. Lemley never imagined being in the military. But after graduating with a bachelor's degree in secondary education, Lemley was inspired to follow in the footsteps of her father and enlisted in the Navy. "My father was proud of his time in the military, and he spoke highly of it," Lemley, now a Navy lieutenant, said.
Lemley enlisted 15 years ago and received her officer commission after completing the Limited Duty Officer Program.
Lemley has deployed four times on ships in the Persian Gulf and recently returned from a seven-month tour to Afghanistan, where she helped train Afghan National Army soldiers to use and maintain field radios.
The Afghan soldiers' training also incorporated cryptography to secure communications. It also established automatic link systems so soldiers could communicate without having to change wavelengths throughout the day.
After taking initiative and looking over program cost projections, Lemley was able to carve out $240 million, saving 41 percent over initial projections, when she realized things were being purchased haphazardly.
"I came in and said, 'Nope, I'm going to take this over," Lemley said. "And I carved it out, and I said, 'You know what? This is what we are going to do. We are not going to buy all this excess; we are going to trim the fat and make it happen.' And that's what we did; we stayed focused. What you save in one area someone can always use in another."
Lemley is one of eight servicemembers who served in Iraq, Afghanistan or the Horn of Africa selected to share their individual stories to Americans across the country through the Defense Department's "Why We Serve" public outreach program.
The "Why We Serve" program was initially the idea of Marine Gen. Peter Pace, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The program began in fall of 2006. Groups that comprise two military servicemembers from each branch are selected to participate in the program for about 90 days.
"My experience will only help other people grow and stir interest to support the troops, and that's what it's about," Lemley said.
Holding a leadership position in the military, where women only make up a small percentage, can be a challenge. But training Afghan soldiers in a country where women and men are not treated equally can be intimidating, she said.
"The part I find fulfilling is that I did have to meet with (Afghan National Army) generals and colonels on an almost daily basis, and I was the one who kept the key to the kingdom because I fielded all communication equipment," Lemley said. "They found out early on that they couldn't yell at me and order me around. But as a woman, I learned all you have to do is stand your ground and be logical. Women do have value and can make sound decisions."
Lemley said she wants Americans to know that job satisfaction and challenging work are key components of success. "Job satisfaction is the most critical thing," she said. "Respect yourself, and others will respect you."
Lemley also said she wants people to understand the importance of volunteerism and of supporting the troops.
"I want Americans to know that the servicemembers are trying to do as we've been directed, and we really need their support," Lemley said. "Whether they agree with the war or not, we are Americans trying to protect their safety and security in the United States, and we would greatly appreciate their support."
American Forces Press Service
July 26, 2007 - Growing up in Mobile, Ala., Judith L. Lemley never imagined being in the military. But after graduating with a bachelor's degree in secondary education, Lemley was inspired to follow in the footsteps of her father and enlisted in the Navy. "My father was proud of his time in the military, and he spoke highly of it," Lemley, now a Navy lieutenant, said.
Lemley enlisted 15 years ago and received her officer commission after completing the Limited Duty Officer Program.
Lemley has deployed four times on ships in the Persian Gulf and recently returned from a seven-month tour to Afghanistan, where she helped train Afghan National Army soldiers to use and maintain field radios.
The Afghan soldiers' training also incorporated cryptography to secure communications. It also established automatic link systems so soldiers could communicate without having to change wavelengths throughout the day.
After taking initiative and looking over program cost projections, Lemley was able to carve out $240 million, saving 41 percent over initial projections, when she realized things were being purchased haphazardly.
"I came in and said, 'Nope, I'm going to take this over," Lemley said. "And I carved it out, and I said, 'You know what? This is what we are going to do. We are not going to buy all this excess; we are going to trim the fat and make it happen.' And that's what we did; we stayed focused. What you save in one area someone can always use in another."
Lemley is one of eight servicemembers who served in Iraq, Afghanistan or the Horn of Africa selected to share their individual stories to Americans across the country through the Defense Department's "Why We Serve" public outreach program.
The "Why We Serve" program was initially the idea of Marine Gen. Peter Pace, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The program began in fall of 2006. Groups that comprise two military servicemembers from each branch are selected to participate in the program for about 90 days.
"My experience will only help other people grow and stir interest to support the troops, and that's what it's about," Lemley said.
Holding a leadership position in the military, where women only make up a small percentage, can be a challenge. But training Afghan soldiers in a country where women and men are not treated equally can be intimidating, she said.
"The part I find fulfilling is that I did have to meet with (Afghan National Army) generals and colonels on an almost daily basis, and I was the one who kept the key to the kingdom because I fielded all communication equipment," Lemley said. "They found out early on that they couldn't yell at me and order me around. But as a woman, I learned all you have to do is stand your ground and be logical. Women do have value and can make sound decisions."
Lemley said she wants Americans to know that job satisfaction and challenging work are key components of success. "Job satisfaction is the most critical thing," she said. "Respect yourself, and others will respect you."
Lemley also said she wants people to understand the importance of volunteerism and of supporting the troops.
"I want Americans to know that the servicemembers are trying to do as we've been directed, and we really need their support," Lemley said. "Whether they agree with the war or not, we are Americans trying to protect their safety and security in the United States, and we would greatly appreciate their support."
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Fund Memorializes Soldier by Honoring Others
By Samantha L. Quigley
American Forces Press Service
July 25, 2007 - Through scholarships, care packages and emergency financial relief, the Scott Vallely Soldiers Memorial Fund, a troop-support group in Montana, honors its namesake. Army Pfc. Scott Paul Vallely was attending special-operations training at Fort Bragg, N.C., when he died on April 20, 2004. The 29-year-old, who entered the Army in October 2003, had just completed infantry training at Fort Benning, Ga.
"Scott always helped other people and was a very generous person," Marian Vallely, Scott's mother, said in a statement on the fund's Web site. "The Memorial Fund has been established to assist and provide monetary support to members of the armed forces and/or their families in (their) time of need.
"The fund will also serve to provide scholarship assistance to those young men and women who will be serving in the armed forces," she added.
Each spring the Soldiers Memorial Fund presents cash leadership awards to graduates entering military service. More than 15 such awards were presented to ROTC and high school students in 2006 alone, according to the Web site.
In addition to the leadership awards and the care package program, the group is working to ensure fallen heroes are never forgotten.
The goal of the fund is "to honor, memorialize and pay tribute to those men and women who have fallen in combat and training -- either giving their lives or being wounded in the global war on terror," Scott's father, retired Army Maj. Gen. Paul Vallely, said.
The Scott Vallely Soldiers Memorial Fund also supports the Defense Department's America Supports You program, which works to connect citizens and corporations with military personnel and their families serving at home and abroad.
American Forces Press Service
July 25, 2007 - Through scholarships, care packages and emergency financial relief, the Scott Vallely Soldiers Memorial Fund, a troop-support group in Montana, honors its namesake. Army Pfc. Scott Paul Vallely was attending special-operations training at Fort Bragg, N.C., when he died on April 20, 2004. The 29-year-old, who entered the Army in October 2003, had just completed infantry training at Fort Benning, Ga.
"Scott always helped other people and was a very generous person," Marian Vallely, Scott's mother, said in a statement on the fund's Web site. "The Memorial Fund has been established to assist and provide monetary support to members of the armed forces and/or their families in (their) time of need.
"The fund will also serve to provide scholarship assistance to those young men and women who will be serving in the armed forces," she added.
Each spring the Soldiers Memorial Fund presents cash leadership awards to graduates entering military service. More than 15 such awards were presented to ROTC and high school students in 2006 alone, according to the Web site.
In addition to the leadership awards and the care package program, the group is working to ensure fallen heroes are never forgotten.
The goal of the fund is "to honor, memorialize and pay tribute to those men and women who have fallen in combat and training -- either giving their lives or being wounded in the global war on terror," Scott's father, retired Army Maj. Gen. Paul Vallely, said.
The Scott Vallely Soldiers Memorial Fund also supports the Defense Department's America Supports You program, which works to connect citizens and corporations with military personnel and their families serving at home and abroad.
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
Over 1400 Cop Books
Police-Writers.com is a website that lists state and local police officers who have written books. With addition of a police officer from New Jersey and a police officer from North Carolina, Police-Writers.com now lists 1411 books written by state or local police officers.
Daniel R. DelBagno is a retired captain of police with the Newark Police Department (New Jersey). Currently he is President and Director of Research of the Princeton Educational Research Institute, on of 'the largest and most effective law enforcement entrance and promotional schools in the United States.
Daniel DelBagno is involved in the preparation and administration of law enforcement entrance and promotional tests and is considered to be an expert in the field of law enforcement testing. Daniel DelBagno has written over thirty books in the criminal justice field. He co-authored his most current book, The New Age of Police Supervision and Management: A Behavioral Concept.
According to the book description of The New Age of Police Supervision and Management: A Behavioral Concept, the book is “packed with the authors' 60 years of time-tested leadership expertise, this managerial gold mine is filled with the knowledge you need to accelerate your career and earn the supervisory positions you aspire to! Easy-to-understand and logically segmented for long-term retention, this guide leaves no stone unturned on the road to higher rank...from detailing the key traits of successful supervisors and understanding the complex world of human behavior to practical advice for gaining respect from the troops and handling difficult, real world challenges within the ranks, from drugs to racial tension.”
Daniel DelBagno’s other works include Crime Investigation Quizzer; Police Sergeant Exam; Police Sergeant Exam: A Step by Step System to Preparing Your Promotional Exam; Attorney General Guidelines Quizzer; Law Enforcement Manual; New Jersey Criminal Justice Code: Attorney General Guidelines Quizzer: and, A Question and Answer Study Guide; Promotional Test Questions.
Brian Voncannon is a retired Deputy Sheriff from Cabarrus County Sheriff's Office (North Carolina). A former SWAT team member, he is medically retired from the Cabarrus County Sheriff's Office. Brian Voncannon is also honorably discharged from the United States Army (R) where he served as an infantryman an drill sergeant. When he is not writing, he is involved in martial arts or making handmade Native American crafts. Brian Voncannon is the author of five books: Cherokee Blue Eyes: Keeping the Heritage Alive; Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Living With the Unknown; Shadows: Diary of a Ninja; Completing the Circle: The Hathcock Indian Blood; and, Living Behind the Shield: A Modern Warrior's Path to Bravehood.
According to the book description of Living Behind the Shield: A Modern Warrior's Path to Bravehood, “this book offers the reader a glimpse into the very soul of a law enforcement officer. From the rigors of training to the effects that this career can have on the officer, this book will enlighten the reader whether involved in this field or not. Many unknown burdens of wearing the badge are covered from the author’s own experiences. Although shocking, the realities of law enforcement are revealed from the "driver’s seat". The main thrust of this book is the challenge that officers face each day; however, a message of hope encircles the final chapter. Individuals seeking a career in law enforcement will find the content educational, while veteran officers will see that they are not alone in their daily battles.”
Police-Writers.com now hosts 659 police officers (representing 290 police departments) and their 1411 books in six categories, there are also listings of United States federal law enforcement employees turned authors, international police officers who have written books and civilian police personnel who have written books.
Daniel R. DelBagno is a retired captain of police with the Newark Police Department (New Jersey). Currently he is President and Director of Research of the Princeton Educational Research Institute, on of 'the largest and most effective law enforcement entrance and promotional schools in the United States.
Daniel DelBagno is involved in the preparation and administration of law enforcement entrance and promotional tests and is considered to be an expert in the field of law enforcement testing. Daniel DelBagno has written over thirty books in the criminal justice field. He co-authored his most current book, The New Age of Police Supervision and Management: A Behavioral Concept.
According to the book description of The New Age of Police Supervision and Management: A Behavioral Concept, the book is “packed with the authors' 60 years of time-tested leadership expertise, this managerial gold mine is filled with the knowledge you need to accelerate your career and earn the supervisory positions you aspire to! Easy-to-understand and logically segmented for long-term retention, this guide leaves no stone unturned on the road to higher rank...from detailing the key traits of successful supervisors and understanding the complex world of human behavior to practical advice for gaining respect from the troops and handling difficult, real world challenges within the ranks, from drugs to racial tension.”
Daniel DelBagno’s other works include Crime Investigation Quizzer; Police Sergeant Exam; Police Sergeant Exam: A Step by Step System to Preparing Your Promotional Exam; Attorney General Guidelines Quizzer; Law Enforcement Manual; New Jersey Criminal Justice Code: Attorney General Guidelines Quizzer: and, A Question and Answer Study Guide; Promotional Test Questions.
Brian Voncannon is a retired Deputy Sheriff from Cabarrus County Sheriff's Office (North Carolina). A former SWAT team member, he is medically retired from the Cabarrus County Sheriff's Office. Brian Voncannon is also honorably discharged from the United States Army (R) where he served as an infantryman an drill sergeant. When he is not writing, he is involved in martial arts or making handmade Native American crafts. Brian Voncannon is the author of five books: Cherokee Blue Eyes: Keeping the Heritage Alive; Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Living With the Unknown; Shadows: Diary of a Ninja; Completing the Circle: The Hathcock Indian Blood; and, Living Behind the Shield: A Modern Warrior's Path to Bravehood.
According to the book description of Living Behind the Shield: A Modern Warrior's Path to Bravehood, “this book offers the reader a glimpse into the very soul of a law enforcement officer. From the rigors of training to the effects that this career can have on the officer, this book will enlighten the reader whether involved in this field or not. Many unknown burdens of wearing the badge are covered from the author’s own experiences. Although shocking, the realities of law enforcement are revealed from the "driver’s seat". The main thrust of this book is the challenge that officers face each day; however, a message of hope encircles the final chapter. Individuals seeking a career in law enforcement will find the content educational, while veteran officers will see that they are not alone in their daily battles.”
Police-Writers.com now hosts 659 police officers (representing 290 police departments) and their 1411 books in six categories, there are also listings of United States federal law enforcement employees turned authors, international police officers who have written books and civilian police personnel who have written books.
Monday, July 16, 2007
Military Books
Military-Writers.com is a website committed to listing military personnel who have authored books. The website added three authors: David Hatch, Thomas Russo; and, Richard L. Allen.
Detective David E. Hatch spent more than 27 years with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. David Hatch joined the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department in 1969 after discharge from the U.S. Marine Corps. In 1980, as a detective, he joined the homicide section. During his time with homicide, he investigated over 400 homicides and 125 officer-involved shootings.
After retirement in 1997, David Hatch has concentrated on law enforcement related writing and teaching. He is the author of Officer-Involved Shootings and Use of Force: Practical Investigative Techniques, Second Edition (Practical Aspects of Criminal and Forensic Investigations).
David Hatch’s book, now in its second edition, “continues to provide sound and sober models, protocols, and procedures to handle the highly charged fall-out from officer involved shootings. Written by cops for cops, it is designed to address the needs of the agency, the rights of the employee, and the concerns of the public, and give law enforcement the policies and tools to properly investigate and document this high profile area.”
In 1956, Thomas J. Russo joined the United States Navy. He served in the Mediterranean on the minesweeper USS Dash. He was honorably discharged in 1958. In 1960, Thomas Russo joined the Montclair Police Department (New Jersey). Thomas Russo served through the ranks of the Montclair Police Department, ultimately becoming the chief of police in 1993. He retired in 2001.
Thomas J. Russo is a graduate of the FBI’s National Academy and the Secret Service Dignitary Protection School in Washington, D.C. He is the recipient of a Certificate in Criminal Justice Education from the University of Virginia and a graduate of the Certified Public Manager Course of the State of New Jersey. Thomas Russo is published his autobiography Street Kid to Top Cop in 2005.
Richard L. Allen was born in Gary, Indiana and raised in Newark, New Jersey. He served four years as an aircraft mechanic in the U.S. Air Force, including six months in Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War. After 24 years in the Air Force Reserves, Allen joined the Newark Police Department where he served until his retirement in 2001. Richard Allen is the author of Lock and Key; Poetic Police Food for Thought; and, A New Ark Police Officer's View of Poetic Just Ice/Justice.
According to the book description of Lock and Key, “with enough episodes to fill a season of televised police dramas, author and former police officer Richard Allen provides readers with a candid look into the nature of police work and the daily challenges an officer must face. In his memoir, "Lock and Key," Allen recalls some of the most unforgettable incidents and individuals of his experience. He depicts the humanity, compassion, and courage of those who serve their community as officers of the peace while revealing his deepest gratitude and appreciation for his fellow police officers”
Military-Writers.com currently lists 31 current or former military members and their 64 books.
Detective David E. Hatch spent more than 27 years with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. David Hatch joined the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department in 1969 after discharge from the U.S. Marine Corps. In 1980, as a detective, he joined the homicide section. During his time with homicide, he investigated over 400 homicides and 125 officer-involved shootings.
After retirement in 1997, David Hatch has concentrated on law enforcement related writing and teaching. He is the author of Officer-Involved Shootings and Use of Force: Practical Investigative Techniques, Second Edition (Practical Aspects of Criminal and Forensic Investigations).
David Hatch’s book, now in its second edition, “continues to provide sound and sober models, protocols, and procedures to handle the highly charged fall-out from officer involved shootings. Written by cops for cops, it is designed to address the needs of the agency, the rights of the employee, and the concerns of the public, and give law enforcement the policies and tools to properly investigate and document this high profile area.”
In 1956, Thomas J. Russo joined the United States Navy. He served in the Mediterranean on the minesweeper USS Dash. He was honorably discharged in 1958. In 1960, Thomas Russo joined the Montclair Police Department (New Jersey). Thomas Russo served through the ranks of the Montclair Police Department, ultimately becoming the chief of police in 1993. He retired in 2001.
Thomas J. Russo is a graduate of the FBI’s National Academy and the Secret Service Dignitary Protection School in Washington, D.C. He is the recipient of a Certificate in Criminal Justice Education from the University of Virginia and a graduate of the Certified Public Manager Course of the State of New Jersey. Thomas Russo is published his autobiography Street Kid to Top Cop in 2005.
Richard L. Allen was born in Gary, Indiana and raised in Newark, New Jersey. He served four years as an aircraft mechanic in the U.S. Air Force, including six months in Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War. After 24 years in the Air Force Reserves, Allen joined the Newark Police Department where he served until his retirement in 2001. Richard Allen is the author of Lock and Key; Poetic Police Food for Thought; and, A New Ark Police Officer's View of Poetic Just Ice/Justice.
According to the book description of Lock and Key, “with enough episodes to fill a season of televised police dramas, author and former police officer Richard Allen provides readers with a candid look into the nature of police work and the daily challenges an officer must face. In his memoir, "Lock and Key," Allen recalls some of the most unforgettable incidents and individuals of his experience. He depicts the humanity, compassion, and courage of those who serve their community as officers of the peace while revealing his deepest gratitude and appreciation for his fellow police officers”
Military-Writers.com currently lists 31 current or former military members and their 64 books.
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
Military Authors
Military-Writers.com is a website committed to listing active, former and retired military personnel who have authored books. The website added two former servicemembers who have authored books.
Elmer L. Snow, III is a retired Sergeant from the Prince George’s County Police Department (Maryland). During his career in law enforcement he was a recipient of the Police Officer of the Year Award, Chief’s Award for Valor, Police Officer of the Month Award, and 42 letters of Commendation for Outstanding Performance of Duty. Prior to his law enforcement career, Elmer Snow honorably served in the United States Army from 1961-1964. He was a Military Policeman in the 101st Airborne Division. He achieved the rank of E-4 Specialist.
Following his retirement, Elmer Snow was employed for five years by the DuPont Company in Wilmington, Delaware where he provided personal protection for the Chairman of the Board, the DuPont Board of Directors, and Key Management. During this time he became involved in terrorism, counter terrorism programs, and counter terrorist driving techniques.
In 2003 he was contacted by Halliburton Corporation to provide personal protection services during the reconstruction of Iraq. As a Security Coordinator with KBR, a Halliburton subsidiary, Snow worked in numerous high risk positions throughout Iraq, including Mosul, Baghdad, Tikrit, Balad, and culminating at Camp Anaconda. Upon his return to the United States, Elmer Snow wrote A View from Iraq.
According to the book description, A View from Iraq “is a must read for soldiers who have served, curious citizens, families of those who served or are in Iraq, as well as security practitioners who are constantly searching for tactics that are used by terrorists and insurgents. The book details various individual acts of courage and bravery that were demonstrated by members of our armed forces, methods of identifying problems that occur, and ways of reducing the level of threat to an acceptable level.” Elmer Snow is also the author of two fiction books Overkill- A Detective’s Story and Revenge Served Cold.
Cory B. Harris has over 13 years of military and law enforcement experience. He has served with The United States Air Force, Little Rock Police Department (Arkansas), United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the United States Marshal Service. Cory Harris served in the U.S. Air Force from 1992 to 1996 and was honorably discharged at the rank of E-4. He has training and experience in field training, crime prevention, investigations, operations, apprehension, and protection. He is also a recipient of the Little Rock Police Department’s Medal of Merit.
Cory B. Harris is the author of Zipper Le Series One: Outlook on Leadership And Liability Issues in the Criminal Justice System. According to the book description, Cory B. Harris’ book, “takes you behind the badge to examine tough issues in the criminal justice system. It tackles civil liability, race, and leadership issues to name a few from the outlook of the author. The author gives examples using his own experiences that are simple and easy to understand to give the reader unique insight. The book contains many case studies, and stories that are interesting yet they have a simple meaning. The book explores how different groups of people look at these issues in different ways, as well as how important it is for criminal justice officials to stay mentally fit.”
Military-Writers.com currently lists 25 current or former military members and their 53 books.
Elmer L. Snow, III is a retired Sergeant from the Prince George’s County Police Department (Maryland). During his career in law enforcement he was a recipient of the Police Officer of the Year Award, Chief’s Award for Valor, Police Officer of the Month Award, and 42 letters of Commendation for Outstanding Performance of Duty. Prior to his law enforcement career, Elmer Snow honorably served in the United States Army from 1961-1964. He was a Military Policeman in the 101st Airborne Division. He achieved the rank of E-4 Specialist.
Following his retirement, Elmer Snow was employed for five years by the DuPont Company in Wilmington, Delaware where he provided personal protection for the Chairman of the Board, the DuPont Board of Directors, and Key Management. During this time he became involved in terrorism, counter terrorism programs, and counter terrorist driving techniques.
In 2003 he was contacted by Halliburton Corporation to provide personal protection services during the reconstruction of Iraq. As a Security Coordinator with KBR, a Halliburton subsidiary, Snow worked in numerous high risk positions throughout Iraq, including Mosul, Baghdad, Tikrit, Balad, and culminating at Camp Anaconda. Upon his return to the United States, Elmer Snow wrote A View from Iraq.
According to the book description, A View from Iraq “is a must read for soldiers who have served, curious citizens, families of those who served or are in Iraq, as well as security practitioners who are constantly searching for tactics that are used by terrorists and insurgents. The book details various individual acts of courage and bravery that were demonstrated by members of our armed forces, methods of identifying problems that occur, and ways of reducing the level of threat to an acceptable level.” Elmer Snow is also the author of two fiction books Overkill- A Detective’s Story and Revenge Served Cold.
Cory B. Harris has over 13 years of military and law enforcement experience. He has served with The United States Air Force, Little Rock Police Department (Arkansas), United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the United States Marshal Service. Cory Harris served in the U.S. Air Force from 1992 to 1996 and was honorably discharged at the rank of E-4. He has training and experience in field training, crime prevention, investigations, operations, apprehension, and protection. He is also a recipient of the Little Rock Police Department’s Medal of Merit.
Cory B. Harris is the author of Zipper Le Series One: Outlook on Leadership And Liability Issues in the Criminal Justice System. According to the book description, Cory B. Harris’ book, “takes you behind the badge to examine tough issues in the criminal justice system. It tackles civil liability, race, and leadership issues to name a few from the outlook of the author. The author gives examples using his own experiences that are simple and easy to understand to give the reader unique insight. The book contains many case studies, and stories that are interesting yet they have a simple meaning. The book explores how different groups of people look at these issues in different ways, as well as how important it is for criminal justice officials to stay mentally fit.”
Military-Writers.com currently lists 25 current or former military members and their 53 books.
Two Cops and a Civilian
Police-Writers.com is a website that lists state and local police officers who have written books. The website added one civilian police official and two police officers who have authored books: Stephen M. Hennessy; Wendell Godfrey; and, LeMay Johnson.
Stephen M. Hennessy is a thirty five year law enforcement veteran serving in progressively responsible management and leadership positions with the FBI, the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, and the Phoenix Police Department (Arizona). During his career he coordinated complex criminal investigations for many years as well as was responsible for a forensic laboratory, a statewide computer history and information system, and other administrative areas of law enforcement organizations such as finance, budget, research, and legislative matters. He holds a master's degree in curriculum and instruction and a doctorate in educational leadership.
Stephen M. Hennessy is the author of Thinking Cop, Feeling Cop: A Study in Police Personalities. According to the book description, “a groundbreaking resource for police executives, officers on the street, media representatives, trainers and others involved in the fields of civil and criminal justice. This book explores the roles of personality types and how they affect the daily lives of law enforcement officials. Stephen Hennessy breaks down the communication patterns and management styles necessary to be a successful police officer and discusses the strengths and weakness of each style. This insightful book opens doors to understanding the role of women in law enforcement and highlights ways to deal with conflicts police officers may have with other professions.”
In 1981, Wendell Godfrey graduated from the University of Southern Mississippi with a BS in Criminal Justice. He has served most of his adult life as a police officer with small, medium and large departments. His last law enforcement assignment was as the chief of police of the Florence Police Department (Mississippi). He is the author of Valley of the Shadow: The Maelstrom.
According to the description of Wendell Godfrey’s book, “a thriller crime novel written by a veteran Police Chief like none other you've read. If your idea of motorcycle gangs is limited to Hell's Angels and Bandidos, think again. If you think identity theft, kidnapping, and missing children only happen in big cities and police stories, brace yourself. In a child abduction drama written by a real cop, feel the cut of the knives and hear the blaze of the guns as outlaw bikers ride their way through a murder mystery in which only superior police tactics have any chance to prevail.”
LeMay Johnson writes under the pen name of Jon LeMay. He spent thirty years with the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office (Minnesota). He retired as a captain. He is the author of Frogtown. According to one reviewer, Frogtown is “Earthy and realistic, this novel has all the elements to keep the reader interested page after page. Written by a veteran law enforcement officer adds a depth to the story making it all the more fascinating. Seldom does one get to enter the complex world of cops on the street with such insight. Hard to put down.”
Police-Writers.com now hosts 625 police officers (representing 274 police departments) and their 1337 books in six categories, there are also listings of United States federal law enforcement employees turned authors, international police officers who have written books and civilian police personnel who have written books.
Stephen M. Hennessy is a thirty five year law enforcement veteran serving in progressively responsible management and leadership positions with the FBI, the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, and the Phoenix Police Department (Arizona). During his career he coordinated complex criminal investigations for many years as well as was responsible for a forensic laboratory, a statewide computer history and information system, and other administrative areas of law enforcement organizations such as finance, budget, research, and legislative matters. He holds a master's degree in curriculum and instruction and a doctorate in educational leadership.
Stephen M. Hennessy is the author of Thinking Cop, Feeling Cop: A Study in Police Personalities. According to the book description, “a groundbreaking resource for police executives, officers on the street, media representatives, trainers and others involved in the fields of civil and criminal justice. This book explores the roles of personality types and how they affect the daily lives of law enforcement officials. Stephen Hennessy breaks down the communication patterns and management styles necessary to be a successful police officer and discusses the strengths and weakness of each style. This insightful book opens doors to understanding the role of women in law enforcement and highlights ways to deal with conflicts police officers may have with other professions.”
In 1981, Wendell Godfrey graduated from the University of Southern Mississippi with a BS in Criminal Justice. He has served most of his adult life as a police officer with small, medium and large departments. His last law enforcement assignment was as the chief of police of the Florence Police Department (Mississippi). He is the author of Valley of the Shadow: The Maelstrom.
According to the description of Wendell Godfrey’s book, “a thriller crime novel written by a veteran Police Chief like none other you've read. If your idea of motorcycle gangs is limited to Hell's Angels and Bandidos, think again. If you think identity theft, kidnapping, and missing children only happen in big cities and police stories, brace yourself. In a child abduction drama written by a real cop, feel the cut of the knives and hear the blaze of the guns as outlaw bikers ride their way through a murder mystery in which only superior police tactics have any chance to prevail.”
LeMay Johnson writes under the pen name of Jon LeMay. He spent thirty years with the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office (Minnesota). He retired as a captain. He is the author of Frogtown. According to one reviewer, Frogtown is “Earthy and realistic, this novel has all the elements to keep the reader interested page after page. Written by a veteran law enforcement officer adds a depth to the story making it all the more fascinating. Seldom does one get to enter the complex world of cops on the street with such insight. Hard to put down.”
Police-Writers.com now hosts 625 police officers (representing 274 police departments) and their 1337 books in six categories, there are also listings of United States federal law enforcement employees turned authors, international police officers who have written books and civilian police personnel who have written books.
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Military Pays Tribute to Special Warrior
By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service
July 10, 2007 – The military paid tribute to a special operations leader at a retirement ceremony for Army Gen. Bryan "Doug" Brown here yesterday. Before Brown turned over command of U.S. Special Operations Command to Navy Adm. Eric Olson, Marine Gen. Peter Pace presided over Brown's retirement ceremony.
"Nobody could have served his country better than Doug Brown," Pace said during the ceremony.
Brown enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1966. He served on an A-team and in 1970 he attended Officer Candidate School and then went to flight school at Fort Rucker, Ala. It was also the year he married his wife, Penny.
"It has been my experience that those officers who have had the privilege of being enlisted members are the finest officers our nation produces - especially those who do not forget what they learned in the enlisted ranks," Pace said. "Doug Brown, for sure, has always had the welfare of his soldiers and his troops in the forefront of his mind."
In the course of his career, Brown rose from private to general - the first Army aviation officer to wear four stars.
Pace said Brown built on the foundation of previous commanders when he took command of U.S. Special Operations Command in 2003. "He has made (the command) more effective in the crucible of war," Pace said.
In 2001, the command was a force provider to other combatant commands - it did not have operational control of special operations forces personnel.
"In the last four years, not only has he been a force provider, but he is also now a force commander," Pace said. "When it became apparent that we needed somebody to coordinate the actions across the globe of the things that special operations forces were doing, it fell to U.S. Special Operations Command and General Brown to make it happen."
Pace said Brown provided leadership not only for those in the military, but also for the interagency group that works with special operations. Brown took on the mission of understanding and orchestrating the deployment of special operations forces around the world.
Brown also worked to transform special operations, which includes a 20 percent increase in the size of the force and a 50 percent increase in the budget. It also includes "a mindset that brings with it a tenacity that says, 'I have a job to get done. How can I best get it done?'" Pace said.
The chairman said Brown has worked with all concerned to get "the 90 percent solution today, rather than wait for the 100 percent solution in 2017, because the nation needs it today."
None of what the general accomplished would have been possible without the support of his family, Pace said.
"It is true for all of us, but especially for soldiers in special operations community, that our families sit home and wait and pray for us," Pace said. "You worry about us all the time. And when we come home, you stand in the background as we get our awards and you pretend you had nothing to do with it."
Pace told Penny Brown that she was the strength of her family during all of the general's deployments.
"You have kept your family tied together when Doug has been doing the nation's business, and collectively this nation owes you a great debt of gratitude," the chairman said. "You have served this nation as well as anyone who has worn the uniform."
Pace presented Brown with the Distinguished Service Medal, and presented Penny Brown with the Distinguished Civilian Service Medal.
American Forces Press Service
July 10, 2007 – The military paid tribute to a special operations leader at a retirement ceremony for Army Gen. Bryan "Doug" Brown here yesterday. Before Brown turned over command of U.S. Special Operations Command to Navy Adm. Eric Olson, Marine Gen. Peter Pace presided over Brown's retirement ceremony.
"Nobody could have served his country better than Doug Brown," Pace said during the ceremony.
Brown enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1966. He served on an A-team and in 1970 he attended Officer Candidate School and then went to flight school at Fort Rucker, Ala. It was also the year he married his wife, Penny.
"It has been my experience that those officers who have had the privilege of being enlisted members are the finest officers our nation produces - especially those who do not forget what they learned in the enlisted ranks," Pace said. "Doug Brown, for sure, has always had the welfare of his soldiers and his troops in the forefront of his mind."
In the course of his career, Brown rose from private to general - the first Army aviation officer to wear four stars.
Pace said Brown built on the foundation of previous commanders when he took command of U.S. Special Operations Command in 2003. "He has made (the command) more effective in the crucible of war," Pace said.
In 2001, the command was a force provider to other combatant commands - it did not have operational control of special operations forces personnel.
"In the last four years, not only has he been a force provider, but he is also now a force commander," Pace said. "When it became apparent that we needed somebody to coordinate the actions across the globe of the things that special operations forces were doing, it fell to U.S. Special Operations Command and General Brown to make it happen."
Pace said Brown provided leadership not only for those in the military, but also for the interagency group that works with special operations. Brown took on the mission of understanding and orchestrating the deployment of special operations forces around the world.
Brown also worked to transform special operations, which includes a 20 percent increase in the size of the force and a 50 percent increase in the budget. It also includes "a mindset that brings with it a tenacity that says, 'I have a job to get done. How can I best get it done?'" Pace said.
The chairman said Brown has worked with all concerned to get "the 90 percent solution today, rather than wait for the 100 percent solution in 2017, because the nation needs it today."
None of what the general accomplished would have been possible without the support of his family, Pace said.
"It is true for all of us, but especially for soldiers in special operations community, that our families sit home and wait and pray for us," Pace said. "You worry about us all the time. And when we come home, you stand in the background as we get our awards and you pretend you had nothing to do with it."
Pace told Penny Brown that she was the strength of her family during all of the general's deployments.
"You have kept your family tied together when Doug has been doing the nation's business, and collectively this nation owes you a great debt of gratitude," the chairman said. "You have served this nation as well as anyone who has worn the uniform."
Pace presented Brown with the Distinguished Service Medal, and presented Penny Brown with the Distinguished Civilian Service Medal.
Friday, July 06, 2007
Today's Troops Follow in Footsteps of Earlier Generations of Heroes
By Tech. Sgt. Kevin Wallace, USAF
Special to American Forces Press Service
July 6, 2007 – America's security has always rested on the backs of men and women willing to sacrifice whatever necessary to defend it. An old Japanese quote states, "A samurai should always be prepared for death - whether his own or someone else's." Like the samurai, U.S. servicemembers freely give their lives, faithfully serving as America's avenger, wielding her mighty sword, in conflicts of the past and present.
In every battle the nation has seen, heroes have shone as a beacon for others to follow.
Below are the stories of four American heroes. Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Duane Hackney, Marine Lt. Gen. Lewis "Chesty" Puller, Navy Petty Officer 1st Class James E. Williams and Army Maj. Audie Murphy are beacons of leadership for their fellow servicemembers to follow.
Each man is the most combat-decorated member of his service. All are heroes, America's version of the samurai, faithful to their country regardless of the cost.
Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Duane Hackney
While at basic training at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, during the Vietnam era, Chief Master Sgt. Duane Hackney chose to pursue a career in pararescue, a choice that continually put him in harm's way and earned him more than 70 individual awards, including the Air Force Cross.
Hackney graduated from pararescue training as an honor graduate in every phase of the course. For this, he earned the right to pick his first assignment. Instead of choosing a lush assignment stateside or in Europe, far away from the sweltering jungle, he volunteered for Detachment 7, 38th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron, in Da Nang, Vietnam.
Three days after reporting for duty, he flew on his first combat mission. During the mission, he was struck in the leg by a .30-caliber slug. To avoid being grounded, he had a fellow pararescueman remove the bullet on the spot. This selfless act set the tone for his career, and he participated in more than 200 combat missions in three and a half years of Vietnam duty.
On his 10th mission, while pulling a wounded Marine pilot aboard his HH-3E "Jolly Green Giant" helicopter, Hackney was hit by enemy fire.
His helicopter was shot down five times over the following months, during which he earned four Distinguished Flying Crosses and 18 Air Medals for single acts of heroism.
He received his Air Force Cross while on a mission Feb. 6, 1967. He was the first living enlisted airman to receive the second-highest award for heroism given by the U.S. Air Force.
The dawn of the Feb. 6 mission started like any other. Hackney descended from his Jolly Green Giant to look for a downed pilot near Mu Gia pass, in North Vietnam. He searched for two hours, but inclement weather set in, and he was forced to return to base.
A few hours later, radio contact with the pilot was re-established and the chief went out again to attempt another rescue. This time, he found the severely wounded pilot. Hackney safely carried the pilot back to the helicopter to egress the jungle. However, before they could clear enemy air space, the chopper was struck by anti-aircraft artillery, and the compartment filled with smoke and fire. The chief strapped his parachute on the pilot's back and shuffled the pilot out the door.
He then searched the craft for a spare parachute, finding one just prior to a second anti-aircraft shell ripping into the helicopter. Before he could finish buckling the chute, the Jolly Green Giant's fuel line exploded, blasting him out the door without the chute on his back. With the parachute clenched in his arms, he managed to pull the cord before plummeting into the jungle 250 feet below. Though the chute slowed his fall, he still plunged more than 80 feet onto a rocky ledge below.
Despite being severely burned and wounded by shrapnel, Hackney managed to evade the enemy and thwart capture. The heroic rescuer was rescued by a fellow pararescueman and was returned to Da Nang Air Base. When he got back, he learned that he was the only survivor from the mission. Four other crewmembers and the pilot he rescued were lost in the operation.
For giving up his parachute and risking his own life, he received the Air Force Cross. He was the youngest airman and the second enlisted member to receive the medal. The first was Airman 1st Class William Pitzenbarger, also a pararescueman, who received the award posthumously.
After Vietnam, the chief continued his distinguished Air Force career and retired in 1991. Two years later he died of a heart attack in his Pennsylvania home. He was 46 years old.
Marine Lt. Gen. Lewis "Chesty" Puller
Lt. Gen. Lewis "Chesty" Puller, the most decorated Marine in U.S. history, is one of only two people to receive a Navy Cross, the Navy's second-highest decoration, five times.
Puller earned 52 separate, subsequent and foreign awards in his 37-year career with the Marine Corps.
With five Navy Crosses and a Distinguished Service Cross, the Army's second highest decoration, Puller received the nation's second highest military decoration six times.
Prior to his involvement in World War I, Puller, then an Army sergeant, was accepted into the Virginia Military Institute, in Lexington, Va., to pursue a commissioned career in the Army.
As America's involvement in World War I intensified, the sergeant, who was nicknamed "Chesty" for his barrel chest, resigned from the college and enlisted as a private in the Marine Corps. His reasons were summed up in his quote, "I want to go where the guns are."
After his 1919 re-enlistment, he saw action in Haiti. There, he participated in more than 40 combat engagements over the course of five years.
In 1924, he returned stateside and was commissioned as a second lieutenant. He spent four years at various stateside assignments before returning overseas in 1928, where he earned his first Navy Cross in Nicaragua. He spent a second tour in Nicaragua in 1933, when he earned a second Navy Cross for leading five successive actions against superior numbers of outlaw forces.
Puller earned three Navy Crosses in World War II: in Guam, Guadalcanal, and finally in Japan.
On Guadalcanal, for action that is now known as the Battle for Henderson Field, Puller's battalion was the only American unit defending an airfield against a regiment-strength Japanese force. In a three-hour firefight, his unit suffered 70 casualties while the Japanese lost more than 1,400 troops, and the American's held the airfield.
Puller was quoted as saying, "All right, they're on our left, they're on our right, they're in front of us, they're behind us. ... They can't get away this time," about the battle.
He earned his fifth Navy Cross in November 1950 during the intense Battle of Chosin Reservoir. During the firefight, then-Col. Puller was quoted as saying, "We've been looking for the enemy for some time now. We've finally found him. We're surrounded. That simplifies things."
In 1966, he requested to be reinstated in the Corps in order to see action in the Vietnam War, but the request was denied on the basis of his age.
Navy Petty Officer 1st Class James E. Williams
Born and raised in South Carolina, Petty Officer 1st Class James E. Williams was the most-decorated enlisted man in Navy history. He received a Medal of Honor, Navy Cross, Silver Star, Navy and Marine Corps Medal, Bronze Star, Purple Heart and a Navy Commendation Medal with combat distinguishing device.
The petty officer received the Medal of Honor for his service on the Mekong River in Vietnam on Oct. 31, 1966, while serving as a boat captain and patrol officer. His vessel and another river-patrol boat were searching for contraband when crewmembers spotted two speedboats. Williams pursued and sunk one of the boats, then turned and went after the second, which was hiding in an 8-foot-wide canal in front of a rice paddy.
He knew his boat wouldn't fit in the canal, but after checking a map realized he could pass through a wider canal and intercept the enemy's vessel.
He proceeded with his plan. However, after exiting the canal, he found himself and his crew in a hostile staging area where they came under heavy fire from more enemy boats and North Vietnamese troops on the shore.
U.S. helicopter support eventually arrived, so Williams moved his vessel to another enemy boat staging area down river, where another fierce battle was under way.
After more than three hours of fighting, his patrol had accounted for the destruction or loss of 65 enemy boats and more than 1,000 enemy troops.
"You gotta stop and think about your shipmates," he said during a 1998 interview with the Navy's All Hands Magazine. "That's what makes you a great person and a great leader -- taking care of each other."
Williams passed away in 1999.
Maj. Audie Murphy
Immediately following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on Dec. 7, 1941, Audie Murphy, a 17-year-old son of poor, rural sharecroppers, tried to enlist in the military, but the services rejected him because he had not yet reached the required age of 18.
Shortly after his 18th birthday, Murphy tried to enlist in the Marine Corps but was turned down for being too short. Finally, the 5-foot-5-inch man was accepted into the Army and sent to Camp Wolters, Texas, for basic training.
During a close-order-drill session, he passed out. Fearing his apparent weaknesses, his company commander tried to have him transferred to a cook and bakers school, but the private insisted on becoming a combat soldier.
His thirst for combat was finally quenched when he was ordered to help liberate Sicily on July 10, 1943. Shortly after arriving, he experienced his first combat encounter and defeated two enemy officers. For this action, his captain promoted him to corporal.
Murphy distinguished himself in combat on many occasions while in Italy earning several promotions and decorations.
Following the Italian campaign, Murphy's unit was ordered to invade southern France. Shortly thereafter, Murphy's best friend was killed while approaching a German soldier feigning surrender. His friend's death sent him into a rage, and he single-handedly wiped out the German machine gun crew responsible. He then used the German machine gun and grenades to destroy several nearby enemy positions. For this act, he received a Distinguished Service Cross.
He was awarded a battlefield commission and given a platoon. Twelve days after the promotion, he was shot by a sniper and spent 10 weeks recuperating.
When he returned to his unit, Murphy became the company commander and was wounded by mortar rounds that killed two soldiers near him.
The next day, despite the bitter-cold temperature and more than 24 inches of snow on the ground, his unit entered the battle at Holtzwihr, France. With only 19 of his 128 soldiers engaged, his men seemed doomed. Subsequently, he sent all of his men to the rear while he continued to engage the Germans until he ran out of ammunition.
Without the means to return fire, Murphy looked to an abandoned, burning tank nearby. He secured its .50-caliber machine gun and used it to saw down German infantry at a distance. During the engagement, he destroyed a full squad of German infantry that had crawled in a ditch to within 100 feet of his position. Murphy suffered several leg wounds yet released his fury on the enemy for almost an hour.
Eventually, his telephone line to the artillery fire-direction center was cut by enemy fire. Without the ability to call on artillery, he summoned his remaining men and organized them to conduct a counter attack, which ultimately drove the enemy away from Holtzwihr. These actions earned Murphy the Medal of Honor.
During World War II, Murphy was credited with destroying six tanks, killing more than 240 German soldiers, and wounding and capturing many others. By the end of World War II, he was a legend within 3rd Infantry Division as a result of his heroism and battlefield leadership.
During his career, Murphy received 33 U.S. medals, five French medals and one from Belgium.
Despite suffering from insomnia, bouts of depression and nightmares as a result of post-traumatic stress disorder, he raised his hand and volunteered for duty when the Korean conflict broke out in 1950. However, he was never called up for combat duty. By the time he retired in 1966, he had attained the rank of major.
(Air Force Tech. Sgt. Kevin Wallace is assigned to the 436th Airlift Wing.)
Special to American Forces Press Service
July 6, 2007 – America's security has always rested on the backs of men and women willing to sacrifice whatever necessary to defend it. An old Japanese quote states, "A samurai should always be prepared for death - whether his own or someone else's." Like the samurai, U.S. servicemembers freely give their lives, faithfully serving as America's avenger, wielding her mighty sword, in conflicts of the past and present.
In every battle the nation has seen, heroes have shone as a beacon for others to follow.
Below are the stories of four American heroes. Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Duane Hackney, Marine Lt. Gen. Lewis "Chesty" Puller, Navy Petty Officer 1st Class James E. Williams and Army Maj. Audie Murphy are beacons of leadership for their fellow servicemembers to follow.
Each man is the most combat-decorated member of his service. All are heroes, America's version of the samurai, faithful to their country regardless of the cost.
Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Duane Hackney
While at basic training at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, during the Vietnam era, Chief Master Sgt. Duane Hackney chose to pursue a career in pararescue, a choice that continually put him in harm's way and earned him more than 70 individual awards, including the Air Force Cross.
Hackney graduated from pararescue training as an honor graduate in every phase of the course. For this, he earned the right to pick his first assignment. Instead of choosing a lush assignment stateside or in Europe, far away from the sweltering jungle, he volunteered for Detachment 7, 38th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron, in Da Nang, Vietnam.
Three days after reporting for duty, he flew on his first combat mission. During the mission, he was struck in the leg by a .30-caliber slug. To avoid being grounded, he had a fellow pararescueman remove the bullet on the spot. This selfless act set the tone for his career, and he participated in more than 200 combat missions in three and a half years of Vietnam duty.
On his 10th mission, while pulling a wounded Marine pilot aboard his HH-3E "Jolly Green Giant" helicopter, Hackney was hit by enemy fire.
His helicopter was shot down five times over the following months, during which he earned four Distinguished Flying Crosses and 18 Air Medals for single acts of heroism.
He received his Air Force Cross while on a mission Feb. 6, 1967. He was the first living enlisted airman to receive the second-highest award for heroism given by the U.S. Air Force.
The dawn of the Feb. 6 mission started like any other. Hackney descended from his Jolly Green Giant to look for a downed pilot near Mu Gia pass, in North Vietnam. He searched for two hours, but inclement weather set in, and he was forced to return to base.
A few hours later, radio contact with the pilot was re-established and the chief went out again to attempt another rescue. This time, he found the severely wounded pilot. Hackney safely carried the pilot back to the helicopter to egress the jungle. However, before they could clear enemy air space, the chopper was struck by anti-aircraft artillery, and the compartment filled with smoke and fire. The chief strapped his parachute on the pilot's back and shuffled the pilot out the door.
He then searched the craft for a spare parachute, finding one just prior to a second anti-aircraft shell ripping into the helicopter. Before he could finish buckling the chute, the Jolly Green Giant's fuel line exploded, blasting him out the door without the chute on his back. With the parachute clenched in his arms, he managed to pull the cord before plummeting into the jungle 250 feet below. Though the chute slowed his fall, he still plunged more than 80 feet onto a rocky ledge below.
Despite being severely burned and wounded by shrapnel, Hackney managed to evade the enemy and thwart capture. The heroic rescuer was rescued by a fellow pararescueman and was returned to Da Nang Air Base. When he got back, he learned that he was the only survivor from the mission. Four other crewmembers and the pilot he rescued were lost in the operation.
For giving up his parachute and risking his own life, he received the Air Force Cross. He was the youngest airman and the second enlisted member to receive the medal. The first was Airman 1st Class William Pitzenbarger, also a pararescueman, who received the award posthumously.
After Vietnam, the chief continued his distinguished Air Force career and retired in 1991. Two years later he died of a heart attack in his Pennsylvania home. He was 46 years old.
Marine Lt. Gen. Lewis "Chesty" Puller
Lt. Gen. Lewis "Chesty" Puller, the most decorated Marine in U.S. history, is one of only two people to receive a Navy Cross, the Navy's second-highest decoration, five times.
Puller earned 52 separate, subsequent and foreign awards in his 37-year career with the Marine Corps.
With five Navy Crosses and a Distinguished Service Cross, the Army's second highest decoration, Puller received the nation's second highest military decoration six times.
Prior to his involvement in World War I, Puller, then an Army sergeant, was accepted into the Virginia Military Institute, in Lexington, Va., to pursue a commissioned career in the Army.
As America's involvement in World War I intensified, the sergeant, who was nicknamed "Chesty" for his barrel chest, resigned from the college and enlisted as a private in the Marine Corps. His reasons were summed up in his quote, "I want to go where the guns are."
After his 1919 re-enlistment, he saw action in Haiti. There, he participated in more than 40 combat engagements over the course of five years.
In 1924, he returned stateside and was commissioned as a second lieutenant. He spent four years at various stateside assignments before returning overseas in 1928, where he earned his first Navy Cross in Nicaragua. He spent a second tour in Nicaragua in 1933, when he earned a second Navy Cross for leading five successive actions against superior numbers of outlaw forces.
Puller earned three Navy Crosses in World War II: in Guam, Guadalcanal, and finally in Japan.
On Guadalcanal, for action that is now known as the Battle for Henderson Field, Puller's battalion was the only American unit defending an airfield against a regiment-strength Japanese force. In a three-hour firefight, his unit suffered 70 casualties while the Japanese lost more than 1,400 troops, and the American's held the airfield.
Puller was quoted as saying, "All right, they're on our left, they're on our right, they're in front of us, they're behind us. ... They can't get away this time," about the battle.
He earned his fifth Navy Cross in November 1950 during the intense Battle of Chosin Reservoir. During the firefight, then-Col. Puller was quoted as saying, "We've been looking for the enemy for some time now. We've finally found him. We're surrounded. That simplifies things."
In 1966, he requested to be reinstated in the Corps in order to see action in the Vietnam War, but the request was denied on the basis of his age.
Navy Petty Officer 1st Class James E. Williams
Born and raised in South Carolina, Petty Officer 1st Class James E. Williams was the most-decorated enlisted man in Navy history. He received a Medal of Honor, Navy Cross, Silver Star, Navy and Marine Corps Medal, Bronze Star, Purple Heart and a Navy Commendation Medal with combat distinguishing device.
The petty officer received the Medal of Honor for his service on the Mekong River in Vietnam on Oct. 31, 1966, while serving as a boat captain and patrol officer. His vessel and another river-patrol boat were searching for contraband when crewmembers spotted two speedboats. Williams pursued and sunk one of the boats, then turned and went after the second, which was hiding in an 8-foot-wide canal in front of a rice paddy.
He knew his boat wouldn't fit in the canal, but after checking a map realized he could pass through a wider canal and intercept the enemy's vessel.
He proceeded with his plan. However, after exiting the canal, he found himself and his crew in a hostile staging area where they came under heavy fire from more enemy boats and North Vietnamese troops on the shore.
U.S. helicopter support eventually arrived, so Williams moved his vessel to another enemy boat staging area down river, where another fierce battle was under way.
After more than three hours of fighting, his patrol had accounted for the destruction or loss of 65 enemy boats and more than 1,000 enemy troops.
"You gotta stop and think about your shipmates," he said during a 1998 interview with the Navy's All Hands Magazine. "That's what makes you a great person and a great leader -- taking care of each other."
Williams passed away in 1999.
Maj. Audie Murphy
Immediately following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on Dec. 7, 1941, Audie Murphy, a 17-year-old son of poor, rural sharecroppers, tried to enlist in the military, but the services rejected him because he had not yet reached the required age of 18.
Shortly after his 18th birthday, Murphy tried to enlist in the Marine Corps but was turned down for being too short. Finally, the 5-foot-5-inch man was accepted into the Army and sent to Camp Wolters, Texas, for basic training.
During a close-order-drill session, he passed out. Fearing his apparent weaknesses, his company commander tried to have him transferred to a cook and bakers school, but the private insisted on becoming a combat soldier.
His thirst for combat was finally quenched when he was ordered to help liberate Sicily on July 10, 1943. Shortly after arriving, he experienced his first combat encounter and defeated two enemy officers. For this action, his captain promoted him to corporal.
Murphy distinguished himself in combat on many occasions while in Italy earning several promotions and decorations.
Following the Italian campaign, Murphy's unit was ordered to invade southern France. Shortly thereafter, Murphy's best friend was killed while approaching a German soldier feigning surrender. His friend's death sent him into a rage, and he single-handedly wiped out the German machine gun crew responsible. He then used the German machine gun and grenades to destroy several nearby enemy positions. For this act, he received a Distinguished Service Cross.
He was awarded a battlefield commission and given a platoon. Twelve days after the promotion, he was shot by a sniper and spent 10 weeks recuperating.
When he returned to his unit, Murphy became the company commander and was wounded by mortar rounds that killed two soldiers near him.
The next day, despite the bitter-cold temperature and more than 24 inches of snow on the ground, his unit entered the battle at Holtzwihr, France. With only 19 of his 128 soldiers engaged, his men seemed doomed. Subsequently, he sent all of his men to the rear while he continued to engage the Germans until he ran out of ammunition.
Without the means to return fire, Murphy looked to an abandoned, burning tank nearby. He secured its .50-caliber machine gun and used it to saw down German infantry at a distance. During the engagement, he destroyed a full squad of German infantry that had crawled in a ditch to within 100 feet of his position. Murphy suffered several leg wounds yet released his fury on the enemy for almost an hour.
Eventually, his telephone line to the artillery fire-direction center was cut by enemy fire. Without the ability to call on artillery, he summoned his remaining men and organized them to conduct a counter attack, which ultimately drove the enemy away from Holtzwihr. These actions earned Murphy the Medal of Honor.
During World War II, Murphy was credited with destroying six tanks, killing more than 240 German soldiers, and wounding and capturing many others. By the end of World War II, he was a legend within 3rd Infantry Division as a result of his heroism and battlefield leadership.
During his career, Murphy received 33 U.S. medals, five French medals and one from Belgium.
Despite suffering from insomnia, bouts of depression and nightmares as a result of post-traumatic stress disorder, he raised his hand and volunteered for duty when the Korean conflict broke out in 1950. However, he was never called up for combat duty. By the time he retired in 1966, he had attained the rank of major.
(Air Force Tech. Sgt. Kevin Wallace is assigned to the 436th Airlift Wing.)
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