Friday, February 25, 2011

Hurrahs for Boeing Tanker Win!

THEREALAMERICANTANKERS.COM

Dear Supporter,

Great news! We were just informed that Boeing has been selected to build the U.S. Air Force’s next generation of aerial refueling tankers. Thanks in part to your vocal support, the Boeing NewGen Tanker will provide unrivaled aerial-refueling capabilities to American servicemen and women for decades to come, while employing more than 50,000 U.S. workers in meaningful jobs across the country.

Before we can start building planes, the Air Force must first meet with the competitors in the coming days to explain the selection.

While we wait for this to occur, please visit www.RealAmericanTankers.com as soon as possible to tell your elected officials that you support the Air Force’s selection of the Boeing NewGen Tanker. We’re confident that the Air Force chose the best aircraft. With more than 60 years of experience providing aerial-refueling tankers to America’s military, Boeing is ready to start building the NewGen Tanker NOW.

The Air Force’s selection of Boeing is a victory for the U.S. aerospace industry. It is a victory for American workers and our recovering economy. And, perhaps most important, it is a victory for the men and women of our armed forces. We’ll keep you informed as we learn more in the coming days.

Until then, thanks for your continued support!

Sincerely, Sean McCormack, http://www.therealamericantankers.com/


CONGRESSMAN ADAM SMITH

News from U.S. Rep. Adam Smith (WA-09)
Ranking Member, House Armed Services Committee

For Immediate Release: Thursday, February 24, 2011
Contact: Shana Chandler, 202-225-6901

Smith’s Statement on KC-X Source Selection Announcement

Washington - Today, Congressman Adam Smith (WA-09), Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Committee, issued the following statement in response to the announcement that the Department of Defense has selected a provider for the KC-X Aerial Refueling Tanker:

“I am pleased that the Air Force has selected Boeing’s proposal to replace the aging fleet of aerial refueling tankers. After numerous delays, today’s announcement moves us closer to meeting the Air Force’s top acquisition priority.

“In a time when our nation is recovering from an economic crisis, today’s announcement by the Department of Defense is a huge boost to Washington State. A Washington State-made tanker will support more than 11,000 jobs in state and 50,000 jobs across the country.

“I know that the men and women at the Boeing Company will provide the warfighter with a high quality product to meet their mission requirements and I look forward to working with the Air Force as we move forward.”


CONGRESSMAN DAVE REICHERT

David Reichert

Contact: Charles McCray III (202) 225-7761

Reichert Statement on the Air Force Tanker Announcement
Mercer Island, WA, Feb 24 -

Congressman Dave Reichert (WA-08) released this statement in reaction to the Air Force’s announcement to award Boeing with a contract to build the next generation of refueling tanker for American Armed Forces:

“This is great news, and I’m very happy for the Boeing company, its employees, and the entire state of Washington,” Reichert said. “The Department of Defense reevaluated their original decision, this time considering the serious security implications involved, and rightly settled on Boeing – a company with decades of industrial knowledge, established infrastructure, and an army of skilled engineers that are capable of producing the best refueling tanker for our Armed Forces.

“I take my oath to protect and defend our Constitution seriously, and one of the most effective ways I can uphold that pledge is to ensure that our men and women in uniform, serving around the world, have the best tools possible to complete their mission. With this decision, we not only gain a source of much-needed job creation in the region, but we also reassure our troops that we are committed to serving them, just as they have committed to serving for us.”


GOVERNOR CHRIS GREGOIRE

Gov. Gregoire’s statement on U.S. Air Force decision to award tanker contract to Boeing

OLYMPIA – Gov. Chris Gregoire today issued the following statement on the selection of The Boeing Company to build the next refueling tanker for the U.S. Air Force:

“What a great day for The Boeing Company, and for the 11,000 aerospace workers in Washington state alone that will play a role in assembling the NewGen tanker. Following an open, transparent process, the Department of Defense realized what I’ve been saying all along – and that is that Boeing has designed the safest, most cost-effective tanker to serve both our military and our taxpayers well.

“I commend The Boeing Company for its determination and tremendous work to land this contract. This was an arduous process, and Boeing deserves our praise for its commitment to its workforce, as well as the men and women that serve in the U.S. Air Force.

“I also thank my fellow governors that joined with me as I launched the U.S. Tanker Coalition, as well as our state’s Congressional delegation. We’ve spent the last year advocating on behalf of Boeing – ensuring our federal and military leaders understood the advantages of an American-made tanker, made by the best manufacturer of airplanes in the world. Our military, our national security, our economy and the 50,000 workers nationwide who are impacted by this decision are better off following this announcement – and for that, we should all be proud.”

Thursday, February 24, 2011

Boeing Gets KC-X Tanker

FULL REPRINT: The Department of the Air Force announced today the award of an engineering and manufacturing development contract valued at more than $3.5 billion for the KC-46A aerial refueler to Boeing Co. of Seattle, Washington.

The Air Force-led selection effort included experts from the larger Department of Defense community, including the office of the Defense Secretary's staff and independent review teams during each step of the process.

"Many factors were evaluated during the tanker selection process," said Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley.

Selection "took into account mission effectiveness in wartime and life cycle costs as embodied in fuel efficiency and military construction costs," said Donley, emphasizing that both offerors met all the mandatory requirements.

"The thorough and transparent selection process was marked by continual dialogue with offerors to ensure the Air Force had a clear understanding of their proposals and the companies clearly understood the service's analysis of their offers," said Donley.

"Gen. Schwartz and I are confident in the fact that when our young pilots, boom operators and maintainers receive this aircraft, they will have the tools they need to be successful at what we ask them to do," Donley said.

"To the men and women of our Air Force, today's announcement represents a long-overdue start to a much-needed program," Donley said. "Your Air Force leadership, supported by others throughout the Department of Defense, is determined to see this through, and we will stand behind this work."

The program will deliver the first 18 aircraft by 2017. Basing decisions for the aircraft will take place over the next couple of years.

U.S. Department of Defense
Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Public Affairs)
On the Web: http://www.defense.gov/releases/
Media Contact: +1 (703) 697-5131/697-5132
Public Contact: http://www.defense.gov/landing/questions.aspx
or +1 (703) 428-0711 +1

Airmen Safe at Christchurch

The 62nd AW Public Affairs reports that all 18 active duty members from McChord Field, currently deployed in support of Operation Deep Freeze, are safe and unharmed after a 6.3-magnitude earthquake struck the New Zealand capitol of Christchurch Feb. 22.

Based in Christchurch with a C-17 Globemaster III to support Operation Deep Freeze, the Airmen are all accounted for and uninjured. Likewise, the C-17 deployed to support the mission sustained no damage.

Operation Deep Freeze, which runs from mid-October to mid-February, supports the National Science Foundation in Antarctica. Christchurch is a maintenance and re-fueling location for Operation Deep Freeze.

"Our primary concern is that our people and our civilian employees are safe and sound," said Lt. Col. Brent Keenan, 62nd Operations Group deputy commander, and next year's commander of Operation Deep Freeze. "We are helping locally, coordinating with the Joint Task Force, U.S. Embassy, National Science Foundation and the New Zealand Royal Air Force. It will be some time before airfield operations will resume normally scheduled activities."

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Military Forum: 833rd Trans. Btn., SDDC

MILITARY AFFAIRS FORUM

Military Affairs Committee, Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber

Date & Time: WEDNESDAY, March 9, 7:30 – 9:00 a.m.
Place: La Quinta Inn, 1425 E. 27th St., Tacoma 98421
Price: $13.00 pre-paid by Mar. 4, noon
$15.00 pre-paid after March 4
$20.00 walk-ins/at the door
Information: Monique, (253) 627.2175
RSVP: DUE 12 noon, March 4 (Friday)
Register Here.

Featuring: The 833rd Transportation Battalion, SDDC


Event Speaker:  LTC John Redinger, Commander, 833d Transportation Battalion







The 833d Trans Bn. is part of the Surface Deployment & Distribution Command (SDDC) and provides surface deployment/redeployment, distribution and water terminal operations to directly support and sustain the Warfighter in the Pacific Northwest Area of Responsibility and on order deploys in support of SDDC missions worldwide.

Special Update: United for Military Families

Rick Allen, President, United Way and/or VP for Community Impact and Advocacy, Helen Myrick.

They will share information about an initiative to open the community’s social service resources to military and dependent families. with federal support “buying in” to the local human services system (brokered through United Way, which already contracts with almost all of the needed services and agencies).

Chamber on Facebook
You can now find an official Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber Facebook page on the popular networking site used by over half a billion people.

Thursday, February 17, 2011

Noteworthies with a Local Link

Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus and Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Gary Roughead announced today the following assignment:

Rear Adm. Mark D. Guadagnini will be assigned as director, readiness and training, N4/N7, U.S. Fleet Forces Command, Norfolk, Va. Guadagnini is currently serving as commander, Carrier Strike Group Nine, Everett, Wash.

Monday, February 14, 2011

DOD Releases Fiscal 2012 Budget Proposal

President Barack Obama today sent to Congress a proposed defense budget of $671 billion for fiscal 2012. The request for the Department of Defense (DoD) includes $553 billion in discretionary budget authority to fund base defense programs and $118 billion to support overseas contingency operations (OCO), primarily in Afghanistan and Iraq.

The fiscal 2012 budget continues the DoD reform agenda, seeking additional efficiencies across the entire defense enterprise, while also strengthening our national security capability.

This budget represents a reasonable, responsible and sustainable level of funding, the minimum level of defense spending that is necessary, given the security challenges we are facing around the globe, said Defense Secretary Robert Gates.

The $553 billion for the base budget provides funding to take care of our people, which is our highest priority, and also provides substantial funding to build capability for possible future conflicts. The OCO portion totals $117.8 billion, $41.5 billion below the fiscal 2011 request of $159.3 billion. The proposal reflects the planned withdrawal of troops from Iraq by the end of the first quarter of fiscal 2012 and a modest decline in funding for Afghanistan operations.

While this budget request seeks continued efficiencies in 2012 and beyond, the absence of an appropriation for fiscal 2011 threatens to cause serious inefficiencies and problems this year. The current continuing resolution, if it remains in effect for the rest of the year, will lead to delays and inefficient, start-and-stop management. It will rob the DoD of the flexibility needed to manage effectively, especially in time of war, and it will not provide the Department with enough resources to maintain training and support while also paying bills for military pay, benefits, and inflation. In short the continuing resolution represents a crisis at our doorstep, and the DoD strongly urges the Congress to pass a defense appropriation bill as part of the overall legislation to fund government activities in fiscal 2011.

Highlights of the proposed DoD budget are outlined in the linked summary and charts. For more information and to view the entire fiscal 2012 budget proposal, please visit here and download the "FY 2012 Budget Request Overview Book." Budget-related transcripts can also be viewed here.

Friday, February 11, 2011

Noteworthies with a Local Link

The chief of staff, Air Force announced today the following assignment:

Brig. Gen. Jerry P. Martinez, deputy commander, political-military affairs, Combined Security Transition Command, Afghanistan, U.S. Central Command, Kabul, Afghanistan, to director for joint integration, Directorate of Operational Capability Requirements, deputy chief of staff for operations, plans and requirements, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C.   Brig. Gen. Martinez is a former 62nd AW Commander.

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Cong. Smith to be Speaker

MILITARY AFFAIRS FORUM

Military Affairs Committee
Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber

Date & Time: WEDNESDAY, Feb. 23, 7:30 – 9:00 a.m.
Place:  La Quinta Inn, 1425 E. 27th St., Tacoma 98421
Price: $20.00 pre-paid by Feb. 18, noon
$25.00 pre-paid after Feb. 18
$30.00 walk-ins/at the door
Information: Monique Shields, (253) 627.2175
RSVP: DUE 12 noon, Feb. 18 (Friday)
Register here.

Congressional Update from Congressman Adam Smith, Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Committee.

Event Speaker: Congressman Adam Smith

The Committee retains jurisdiction of all subjects listed in clause 1(c) of rule X of the Rules of the House of Representatives and retains exclusive jurisdiction for: defense policy generally, ongoing military operations, the organization and reform of the Department of Defense and Department of Energy, counter-drug programs, acquisition and industrial base policy, technology transfer and export controls, joint interoperability, the Cooperative Threat Reduction program, Department of Energy nonproliferation programs and detainee affairs and policy.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:
The 833 Transportation Battalion
March 9, 7:30 9:00 a.m., La Quinta, Register Here.
Speaker:  LTC John Redinger, Commander, 833d Transportation Battalion
The 833d Trans Bn. is part of the Surface Deployment & Distribution Command (SDDC) and provides surface deployment/redeployment, distribution and water terminal operations to directly support and sustain the Warfighter in the Pacific Northwest Area of Responsibility and on order deploys in support of SDDC missions worldwide.

Chamber on Facebook

You can now find an official Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber Facebook page on the popular networking site used by over half a billion people.

Monday, February 7, 2011

No Road Capacity - No Helicopters - No Jobs

The Army, in releasing a final Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) for the proposed growth, realignment and stationings of new existing Army aviation assets, counters its earlier preference for JBLM, choosing Ft. Carson, CO. 

In Saturday's The News Tribune, the community learned the disappointing news:  some but now not all 5,700  soldiers and 8,260 family members will come here.  The current preference is that units already here, around 3,000 troops, will form a CAB and the new troops will go to Ft. Carson.

In responding to the announcement, spokespersons cited the region's lack of highway infrastructure to support additional troops - where clearly Ft. Carson's community could.  While our local region and state departments have cooperatively addressed impacts from growth and the cycling of deployments, needed and necessary new capacity is not even on the horizon. 

The Congress has recognized the imbalance of construction and growth on installations while feeder infrastructure off base languishes.  The National Research Council has published a just released report calling for DoD investment in off-base highways. 

We're glad to keep the 3,000 jobs, but acknowledge our state and regional lack of infrastructure development has lost out on 2,700 more jobs.

Friday, February 4, 2011

Noteworthies with a Local Link

Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus and Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Gary Roughead announced Thursday the following assignment:

Rear Adm. (lower half) Joseph P. Aucoin, who has been selected for promotion to rear admiral, will be assigned as director, Programming Division, N80, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Washington, D.C. Aucoin is currently serving as commander, Carrier Strike Group Three, Bremerton, Wash.

Thursday, February 3, 2011

Time Nears for Final Tanker Decision

Sean McCormack, Real American Tankers wrote:  On Monday, members of Boeing’s tanker team met with U.S. Air Force officials at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio to discuss our interim evaluation. This was our last opportunity to receive feedback from the Air Force on our proposal before the end of the tanker competition.

Based on this feedback, we’re now making final adjustments to our bid, which we’ll submit to the Air Force no later than Feb. 11. Our best-and-final offer will combine decades of tanker experience, the best aerial refueling technology and a proven Boeing airframe to best fulfill the Air Force’s requirements.

As the competition comes down to the wire, our tanker team is focused on one thing – providing the Air Force with the most capable tanker at the lowest cost to taxpayers.

In related news, the World Trade Organization, or WTO, this week issued a confidential final decision regarding the European Union’s complaint against alleged U.S. government subsidies to Boeing. Based on news reports, the ruling confirmed what we’ve known all along – the support Boeing has received pales in comparison to Airbus’ $20 billion in illegal subsidies, enough money for Airbus to develop nearly its entire lineup of commercial airplanes. These illegal subsidies have distorted competition in the aerospace industry for decades and eliminated tens of thousands of good-paying U.S. jobs. Airbus should finance airplanes the same way Boeing does – with its own money.

These subsidies also are tipping the scales unfairly in the Air Force tanker contest as the competitor’s airplane – the A330 – has received more than $5 billion in illegal subsidies from European governments while Boeing paid 100 percent for the development of the 767 aircraft. In a blog posting earlier this week, defense analyst Loren Thompson wrote, “The A330 being offered in the tanker competition wouldn’t even exist had it not been for a 40-year pattern of receiving illegal launch aid.”

While we work toward submitting our final proposal, please visit TheRealAmericanTankers.com to tell your elected officials that the Boeing NewGen Tanker is the right plane for American warfighters, taxpayers and workers.

We’ll keep you updated as we enter the home stretch of the competition, and thanks again for your continued support!

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

MILCON at JBLM

MILITARY AFFAIRS FORUM

Military Affairs Committee

MEETING NOTICE


Date & Time: WEDNESDAY, Feb. 9, 7:30 – 9:00 a.m.
Place: La Quinta Inn, 1425 E. 27th St., Tacoma 98421
Price: $13.00 pre-paid on or before Feb. 4
$15.00 pre-paid after Feb. 5
$20.00 walk-ins/at the door
Information: Monique Shields, (253) 627.2175
RSVP: DUE 12 noon, Feb. 7 (Monday)
Register: Online Link

Featuring:
Milcon at JBLM. Victor Ramos, USACE, Program Manager for MILCON at JBLM. The Corps of Engineers is responsible for execution of the Military Construction Program at Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM). The Military Construction Program at JBLM has experienced record years with respect to amount of construction contracts awarded per fiscal year. The FY12 and FY13 Military Construction Years will be new record years with respect to construction dollars awarded for JBLM. Ramos is the Army MILCON Program Manager for Seattle District and JBLM is the installation he supports. Ramos is responsible for assuring the District executes the projects at JBLM in accordance with the policies and procedures established by the Assistant Chief of Staff for Installation Management (ACSIM), USACE HQ and JBLM.

Employer Partnership of the Armed Forces. John Patterson, Program Support Manager, Military Personnel Services Corporation, Employer Partnership of the Armed Forces will share info about the tangible benefit to employers is they can hire an applicant already trained by the military--resultant reduced cost of hiring. Such applicants can document their training, have been drug-tested, know how to get up in the morning, and have had some leadership background. He’ll guide you on a simulated job-application. 1,200 nationwide employers have joined the Employer Partnership family.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Feb. 23, 7:30 – 9:00 a.m., La Quinta Inn, Register Here.

Special meeting with Cong. Adam Smith, Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Committee. The Committee retains exclusive jurisdiction for: defense policy generally, ongoing military operations, the organization and reform of the Department of Defense and Department of Energy, counter-drug programs, acquisition and industrial base policy, technology transfer and export controls, joint interoperability, the Cooperative Threat Reduction program, Department of Energy nonproliferation programs, and detainee affairs and policy.

AMC Abilene Chamber Community Support Award Go to this link for our application for community support of JBLM-McChord Field.

2010-11 Calendar

Chamber on Facebook You can now find an official Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber Facebook page.

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Baby Boom is Business Boon

It's not everyday that you can meet face to face with 800 military families to support them while at the same time introducing them to your business. But, thanks to a baby boom, that opportunity is available Feb 13th in Lacey.

Madigan Army Medical Center is getting ready for a lot of new patients over the next six months. With the redeployments of five major brigades this past summer, the MAMC staff is preparing for a sizeable baby boom to take place on base this winter and spring.

To celebrate, a massive baby shower is being thrown for local military parents.

We are always looking for fun ways to support our readers, said Ken Swarner, publisher and editor of The Ranger and Northwest Airlifter newspapers and host of the event. We thought the baby boom was something to build on ... besides, having a baby comes with added expenses.

Operation Baby Boom, co-sponsored by Swarner and Washington's Guaranteed Education Tuition, or GET, program, will take place on Feb.13 from 1 to 5 p.m. at St. Martin's University, located at 5300 Pacific Avenue SE in Lacey.

The event, which is free, will feature giveaways for expectant moms, new moms and moms with kids under age three. The goal, according to Swarner, is to hand out as many free products as possible for the moms, from children's vitamins to formula. Two of the larger companies already on board for the event are WalMart and Huggies. And, like any good baby shower, there will be shower games and the promise of additional door prizes for winners.

Local businesses may purchase a booth for $150, or donate 800 baby related give-aways to hand out from a free booth. Either way, businesses participating will receive free publicity in a Military Baby Guide publishing in the Ranger and Airlifter Feb 10 and distributing at the event as well.

This is just a chance for us, and those we've partnered with, to say thank you to the service members and their families, Swarner said.

Those interested should contact Swarner or at (253) 584-1212. For more information, click here.

Guest Blogger:  Ken Swarner