Tuesday, May 28, 2013
Friday, May 24, 2013
Memorial Day Remembrance
Memorial Day is about coming together to honor those who gave their all.
As we gather with family and friends on Memorial Day, let us celebrate the blessings of our hard-won freedom and remember those who made it possible. I wish you a safe and enjoyable holiday.
Thursday, May 23, 2013
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
Air Force Announces KC-46A Preferred and Reasonable Alternatives
Air Force officials announced today the preferred and reasonable alternatives for the first KC-46A Tanker aircraft training and main operating bases. The Air Force must now conduct the necessary environmental analysis before making a final basing decision in Spring 2014
Altus Air Force Base, Okla., is the preferred alternative for the KC-46A formal training unit.
McConnell Air Force Base, Kan., is the preferred alternative for the first active duty-led KC-46A main operating base.
Fairchild Air Force Base, Wash., and Grand Forks Air Force Base, N.D., are the reasonable alternatives.
The preferred alternative for the first Air National Guard KC-46A main operating base is Pease Air Guard Station, N.H. The reasonable alternatives are Forbes Air Guard Station, Kan.; Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J.; Pittsburgh International Airport Air Guard Station, Pa., and Rickenbacker Air Guard Station, Ohio.
Congressman Adam Smith said, “I respect and appreciate how the Air Force has conducted this process, but it is disappointing that Fairchild Air Force Base was not chosen as the Air Force’s preferred host for KC-46A,” Smith said. “I still believe that Fairchild’s capacity and accommodations for the tanker, strategic location, tremendous community support, and proven track record of serving our nation’s aerial refueling effort with the KC-135 make the base an ideal home for the next generation of tankers. The Washington Congressional delegation has and will continue to work together to promote Fairchild’s capacity to host future tankers.”
"The Air Force chose these locations using operational analysis, results of site surveys and military judgment factors," said Timothy Bridges, the Air Force deputy assistant secretary for installations.
"Bringing the KC-46A online is an important step in recapitalizing a tanker fleet that has been a leader in air refueling for more than five decades," Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Welsh III said. "This new age aircraft will achieve better mission-capable rates with less maintenance downtime, improving our ability to respond with rapid, global capability to assist U.S., joint, allied and coalition forces and better support humanitarian missions."
Welsh explained the 179 planned KC-46A aircraft are just the first phase of a three-phase effort to replace more than 400 KC-135 and 59 KC-10 aircraft. The first phase of tanker recapitalization will complete deliveries in fiscal 2028. He went on to emphasize the importance of continuing KC-135 modernization efforts.
"I want to stress that the KC-135 units not replaced with the KC-46A will continue to fly the KC-135R for the foreseeable future," Welsh said. "Throughout tanker recapitalization, the Air Force is committed to ensuring continued support of combatant commander requirements."
"The Air Force began the Environmental Impact Analysis Process in April 2013," Bridges said. "We look forward to the inputs provided from the communities as we proceed through the environmental impact analysis."
"Once the requirements of the environmental impact analysis process are complete, the Air Force will make its final basing decision," he said.
The KC-46A will provide improved capability, including boom and drogue refueling on the same sortie, world-wide navigation and communication, airlift capability on the entire main deck floor, receiver air refueling, improved force protection and survivability, and multi-point air refueling capability.
The formal training unit and the first main operating base will begin receiving aircraft in fiscal 2016. The second main operating base will receive aircraft in fiscal 2018.
For more information, please contact Ann Stefanek, Air Force Public Affairs, at 703-695-0640 or email.
Altus Air Force Base, Okla., is the preferred alternative for the KC-46A formal training unit.McConnell Air Force Base, Kan., is the preferred alternative for the first active duty-led KC-46A main operating base.
Fairchild Air Force Base, Wash., and Grand Forks Air Force Base, N.D., are the reasonable alternatives.
The preferred alternative for the first Air National Guard KC-46A main operating base is Pease Air Guard Station, N.H. The reasonable alternatives are Forbes Air Guard Station, Kan.; Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J.; Pittsburgh International Airport Air Guard Station, Pa., and Rickenbacker Air Guard Station, Ohio.
Congressman Adam Smith said, “I respect and appreciate how the Air Force has conducted this process, but it is disappointing that Fairchild Air Force Base was not chosen as the Air Force’s preferred host for KC-46A,” Smith said. “I still believe that Fairchild’s capacity and accommodations for the tanker, strategic location, tremendous community support, and proven track record of serving our nation’s aerial refueling effort with the KC-135 make the base an ideal home for the next generation of tankers. The Washington Congressional delegation has and will continue to work together to promote Fairchild’s capacity to host future tankers.”
"The Air Force chose these locations using operational analysis, results of site surveys and military judgment factors," said Timothy Bridges, the Air Force deputy assistant secretary for installations.
"Bringing the KC-46A online is an important step in recapitalizing a tanker fleet that has been a leader in air refueling for more than five decades," Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Welsh III said. "This new age aircraft will achieve better mission-capable rates with less maintenance downtime, improving our ability to respond with rapid, global capability to assist U.S., joint, allied and coalition forces and better support humanitarian missions."
Welsh explained the 179 planned KC-46A aircraft are just the first phase of a three-phase effort to replace more than 400 KC-135 and 59 KC-10 aircraft. The first phase of tanker recapitalization will complete deliveries in fiscal 2028. He went on to emphasize the importance of continuing KC-135 modernization efforts.
"I want to stress that the KC-135 units not replaced with the KC-46A will continue to fly the KC-135R for the foreseeable future," Welsh said. "Throughout tanker recapitalization, the Air Force is committed to ensuring continued support of combatant commander requirements."
"The Air Force began the Environmental Impact Analysis Process in April 2013," Bridges said. "We look forward to the inputs provided from the communities as we proceed through the environmental impact analysis."
"Once the requirements of the environmental impact analysis process are complete, the Air Force will make its final basing decision," he said.
The KC-46A will provide improved capability, including boom and drogue refueling on the same sortie, world-wide navigation and communication, airlift capability on the entire main deck floor, receiver air refueling, improved force protection and survivability, and multi-point air refueling capability.
The formal training unit and the first main operating base will begin receiving aircraft in fiscal 2016. The second main operating base will receive aircraft in fiscal 2018.
For more information, please contact Ann Stefanek, Air Force Public Affairs, at 703-695-0640 or email.
Noteworthies with a Local Link
Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel announced that the President has nominated Army Lt. Gen. Curtis M. Scaparrotti, for appointment to the rank of general and assignment as commander, United Nations Command/Combined Forces Command/U.S. Forces Korea, Republic of Korea. He is currently serving as director, Joint Staff, Washington, D.C. Gen. (P) Scaparrotti has served as CG, I Corps and JBLM.
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
SBA Announces Veteran Pledge Iniative
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is announcing today the SBA Veteran Pledge Initiative, a commitment by its top national, regional and community lenders to collectively increase their lending activity to veterans by five percent per year for the next five years.
Often times, veterans face challenges in raising capital or have trouble receiving a conventional loan. With the support of SBA’s top 20 national lending partners, and approximately 100 additional regional and community lending partners across the United States, SBA expects to assist an additional 2,000 veterans obtain loans to start or expand small businesses by increasing lending by $475 million over the next five years. This equals a five percent increase above historic veteran lending activity by the SBA.
The initiative also complements SBA’s existing partnership with the National Association of Development Companies (NADCO) VetLoan Advantage strategic initiative that offers small business financing discounts and training to veterans who own businesses or are interested in small business ownership.
Are you a veteran transitioning from active service and want to become an entrepreneur? Or perhaps you’ve been out of the service for some time and want to start a new small business or expand an existing one?
If that’s you or someone you know, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has announced the SBA Veteran Pledge Initiative, a new commitment by its top national regional and community lenders to collectively increase their lending activity to veterans by five percent per year for the next five years. This initiative has the potential to boost the already $2.1 billion per year in lending support that various SBA programs provide to new and existing vet small business owners.
I’ve heard stories that many veteran entrepreneurs face challenges in raising capital or have trouble receiving a conventional loan. This is why getting out the word about this new initiative is so important. With the support of SBA’s top 20 national lending partners, and approximately 100 additional regional and community lending partners across the United States, SBA expects to assist an additional 2,000 veterans obtain loans to start or expand small businesses by increasing lending by $475 million over the next five years.
This initiative also complements SBA’s existing partnership with the National Association of Development Companies (NADCO's) VetLoan Advantage strategic initiative that offers small business financing discounts and training to veterans who own businesses or are interested in small business ownership.
The combined goal by the top 20 national lending partners’ will provide nearly $249 million of lending, potentially impacting nearly 800 veteran entrepreneurs. The five percent increase in lending by approximately 10 lenders in each of the 10 Regions will account for the remaining $226 million in loans and more than 1,100 additional veteran entrepreneurs assisted.
Rhett Jeppson, SBA Official said he knows that if we support our veteran entrepreneurs, and provide them with the tools they need, they will have a higher chance of success. Already, veterans make up a large number of successful small business owners. Nearly one in ten of small businesses are veteran-owned. These 2.45 million veteran-owned businesses employ more than 5 million individuals. In the private sector workforce, veterans are more likely than those with no active-duty military experience to be self-employed.
Echoing these sentiments was SBA Administrator Karen Mills, speaking recently at Ft. Bragg, North Carolina, who said “Our service men and women have made incalculable contributions and sacrifices for our country, and supporting them as they pursue their dreams to start or grow their own business is one of SBA’s highest priorities. Through this partnership with national lending partners and regional lenders across the U.S. we stand ready to serve veteran entrepreneurs with loan- guarantees, entrepreneurial training, and resources that are critical tools to help them start businesses, drive the local economy and create jobs for themselves and their communities.”
And so, Jeppson said for all of you aspiring and existing entrepreneurs, if you need capital for your small business, please call one of SBA's 68 local district offices, or one of its 15 Veterans Business Outreach Centers nationwide.
SBA’s resources for veterans, and its partnership with 1,000 Small Business Development Centers and some 12,000 SCORE-Counselors to America's Small Businesses volunteers, help more than 200,000 veterans, service-disabled veterans and reservists each year.
To learn more about additional opportunities for veterans available through the SBA, please visit this website.
Often times, veterans face challenges in raising capital or have trouble receiving a conventional loan. With the support of SBA’s top 20 national lending partners, and approximately 100 additional regional and community lending partners across the United States, SBA expects to assist an additional 2,000 veterans obtain loans to start or expand small businesses by increasing lending by $475 million over the next five years. This equals a five percent increase above historic veteran lending activity by the SBA.The initiative also complements SBA’s existing partnership with the National Association of Development Companies (NADCO) VetLoan Advantage strategic initiative that offers small business financing discounts and training to veterans who own businesses or are interested in small business ownership.
Are you a veteran transitioning from active service and want to become an entrepreneur? Or perhaps you’ve been out of the service for some time and want to start a new small business or expand an existing one?
If that’s you or someone you know, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has announced the SBA Veteran Pledge Initiative, a new commitment by its top national regional and community lenders to collectively increase their lending activity to veterans by five percent per year for the next five years. This initiative has the potential to boost the already $2.1 billion per year in lending support that various SBA programs provide to new and existing vet small business owners.
I’ve heard stories that many veteran entrepreneurs face challenges in raising capital or have trouble receiving a conventional loan. This is why getting out the word about this new initiative is so important. With the support of SBA’s top 20 national lending partners, and approximately 100 additional regional and community lending partners across the United States, SBA expects to assist an additional 2,000 veterans obtain loans to start or expand small businesses by increasing lending by $475 million over the next five years.
This initiative also complements SBA’s existing partnership with the National Association of Development Companies (NADCO's) VetLoan Advantage strategic initiative that offers small business financing discounts and training to veterans who own businesses or are interested in small business ownership.
The combined goal by the top 20 national lending partners’ will provide nearly $249 million of lending, potentially impacting nearly 800 veteran entrepreneurs. The five percent increase in lending by approximately 10 lenders in each of the 10 Regions will account for the remaining $226 million in loans and more than 1,100 additional veteran entrepreneurs assisted.
Rhett Jeppson, SBA Official said he knows that if we support our veteran entrepreneurs, and provide them with the tools they need, they will have a higher chance of success. Already, veterans make up a large number of successful small business owners. Nearly one in ten of small businesses are veteran-owned. These 2.45 million veteran-owned businesses employ more than 5 million individuals. In the private sector workforce, veterans are more likely than those with no active-duty military experience to be self-employed.
Echoing these sentiments was SBA Administrator Karen Mills, speaking recently at Ft. Bragg, North Carolina, who said “Our service men and women have made incalculable contributions and sacrifices for our country, and supporting them as they pursue their dreams to start or grow their own business is one of SBA’s highest priorities. Through this partnership with national lending partners and regional lenders across the U.S. we stand ready to serve veteran entrepreneurs with loan- guarantees, entrepreneurial training, and resources that are critical tools to help them start businesses, drive the local economy and create jobs for themselves and their communities.”
And so, Jeppson said for all of you aspiring and existing entrepreneurs, if you need capital for your small business, please call one of SBA's 68 local district offices, or one of its 15 Veterans Business Outreach Centers nationwide.
SBA’s resources for veterans, and its partnership with 1,000 Small Business Development Centers and some 12,000 SCORE-Counselors to America's Small Businesses volunteers, help more than 200,000 veterans, service-disabled veterans and reservists each year.
To learn more about additional opportunities for veterans available through the SBA, please visit this website.
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Friday, May 17, 2013
JBLM Contributes with 64% Growth
Our civic leaders sought to build a Camp Lewis to temper the wild
economic swings of their era with the stability of a defense
installation. That worked even better for us than envisioned as Ft.
Lewis-become JBLM countered our Great Recession. If the Great Recession
was bad enough for you, what would it have been like absent this additional 20,600 new incomes?
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
DoD Civilian Furloughs Lessened
The following message to All Department of Defense Personnel from Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel on Civilian Furloughs:
As you are fully aware, the Department of Defense is facing a historic shortfall in our budget for the current fiscal year. This is the result of current law that went into effect March 1. It imposes deep across-the-board cuts on DoD and other federal agencies. Combined with higher than expected wartime operating costs, we are now short more than $30 billion in our operation and maintenance (O&M) accounts -- which are the funds that we use to pay most civilian employees, maintain our military readiness, and respond to global contingencies.
The department has been doing everything possible to reduce this shortfall while ensuring we can defend the nation, sustain wartime operations, and preserve DoD's most critical asset -- our world-class civilian and military personnel. To that end, we have cut back sharply on facilities maintenance, worked to shift funds from investment to O&M accounts, and reduced many other important but non-essential programs.
Still, these steps have not been enough to close the shortfall. Each of the military services has begun to significantly reduce training and maintenance of non-deployed operating forces -- steps that will adversely impact military readiness. And even these reductions are not enough. Since deeper cuts to training and maintenance could leave our nation and our military exposed in the event of an unforeseen crisis, we have been forced to consider placing the majority of our civilian employees on administrative furlough.
After extensive review of all options with the DoD's senior military and civilian leadership on how we address this budget crisis, today I am announcing that I have decided to direct furloughs of up to 11 days for most of the department's civilian personnel. I have made this decision very reluctantly, because I know that the furloughs will disrupt lives and impact DoD operations. I recognize the significant hardship this places on you and your families.
After required notifications, we will begin the furlough period on July 8 at the rate of one furlough day per week for most personnel. We plan to continue these furloughs through the end of the current fiscal year. If our budgetary situation permits us to end furloughs early, I would strongly prefer to do so. That is a decision I will make later in the year.
Furloughs for 11 days represent about half of the number we had originally planned, reflecting the department's vigorous efforts to meet our budgetary shortfalls through actions other than furlough. There will be exceptions driven by law and by the need to minimize harm to the execution of our core missions. For example, all employees deployed or temporarily assigned to a combat zone will be excepted from furloughs.
Your managers have been given authority to develop specific furlough procedures to minimize adverse mission effects and also limit the harm to morale and productivity. They will be in touch with you to provide guidance and answers.
The president and I are deeply appreciative of your patience, your hard work, and your dedication and contributions to the critical mission of helping protect America's national security. I am counting on all of you to stay focused on this vital mission in the days ahead. As I said the day I assumed the responsibilities of secretary of defense, I'm proud to be part of your team and I'm proud to serve with you.
As you are fully aware, the Department of Defense is facing a historic shortfall in our budget for the current fiscal year. This is the result of current law that went into effect March 1. It imposes deep across-the-board cuts on DoD and other federal agencies. Combined with higher than expected wartime operating costs, we are now short more than $30 billion in our operation and maintenance (O&M) accounts -- which are the funds that we use to pay most civilian employees, maintain our military readiness, and respond to global contingencies.
The department has been doing everything possible to reduce this shortfall while ensuring we can defend the nation, sustain wartime operations, and preserve DoD's most critical asset -- our world-class civilian and military personnel. To that end, we have cut back sharply on facilities maintenance, worked to shift funds from investment to O&M accounts, and reduced many other important but non-essential programs.
Still, these steps have not been enough to close the shortfall. Each of the military services has begun to significantly reduce training and maintenance of non-deployed operating forces -- steps that will adversely impact military readiness. And even these reductions are not enough. Since deeper cuts to training and maintenance could leave our nation and our military exposed in the event of an unforeseen crisis, we have been forced to consider placing the majority of our civilian employees on administrative furlough.
After extensive review of all options with the DoD's senior military and civilian leadership on how we address this budget crisis, today I am announcing that I have decided to direct furloughs of up to 11 days for most of the department's civilian personnel. I have made this decision very reluctantly, because I know that the furloughs will disrupt lives and impact DoD operations. I recognize the significant hardship this places on you and your families.
After required notifications, we will begin the furlough period on July 8 at the rate of one furlough day per week for most personnel. We plan to continue these furloughs through the end of the current fiscal year. If our budgetary situation permits us to end furloughs early, I would strongly prefer to do so. That is a decision I will make later in the year.
Furloughs for 11 days represent about half of the number we had originally planned, reflecting the department's vigorous efforts to meet our budgetary shortfalls through actions other than furlough. There will be exceptions driven by law and by the need to minimize harm to the execution of our core missions. For example, all employees deployed or temporarily assigned to a combat zone will be excepted from furloughs.
Your managers have been given authority to develop specific furlough procedures to minimize adverse mission effects and also limit the harm to morale and productivity. They will be in touch with you to provide guidance and answers.
The president and I are deeply appreciative of your patience, your hard work, and your dedication and contributions to the critical mission of helping protect America's national security. I am counting on all of you to stay focused on this vital mission in the days ahead. As I said the day I assumed the responsibilities of secretary of defense, I'm proud to be part of your team and I'm proud to serve with you.
Monday, May 13, 2013
Noteworthies with a Local Link
The chief of staff, Army announced today the following officer assignments:
Maj. Gen. Jeffrey S. Buchanan, deputy commanding general, I Corps and Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., to commanding general, U.S. Army Military District of Washington/commander, Joint Force Headquarters-National Capital Region, Washington, D.C.
Maj. Gen. Kenneth R. Dahl, deputy commanding general-support, U.S. Forces-Afghanistan, Operation Enduring Freedom, Afghanistan, to deputy commanding general, I Corps and Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash.
Maj. Gen. Jeffrey S. Buchanan, deputy commanding general, I Corps and Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., to commanding general, U.S. Army Military District of Washington/commander, Joint Force Headquarters-National Capital Region, Washington, D.C.
Maj. Gen. Kenneth R. Dahl, deputy commanding general-support, U.S. Forces-Afghanistan, Operation Enduring Freedom, Afghanistan, to deputy commanding general, I Corps and Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash.
Thursday, May 2, 2013
2nd RED Dinner Honors Grads
The 2nd Annual Operation RED (Recruit Enlistment Dinner) was held May 1. The RED Dinner honors graduating high school seniors who have made the decision to serve our country by enlisting in the armed forces.
Among many community members attending at the enlistment and ceremonies, Tom Pierson, Pres./CEO, Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber said, "It was a great event last night. I was most impressed by these graduating seniors who have chosen to begin their careers serving our country."
Among many community members attending at the enlistment and ceremonies, Tom Pierson, Pres./CEO, Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber said, "It was a great event last night. I was most impressed by these graduating seniors who have chosen to begin their careers serving our country."
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