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.
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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
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
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