Military @ MindSay

By Donna Miles

American Forces Press Service

 

July 18, 2008 - Medical students at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences are getting a healthy dose of the challenges in providing battlefield medicine during two concurrent field exercises under way here. About 360 medical, public health and graduate-level nursing students from the Defense Department's only medical school are here at this central Pennsylvania training post, experiencing the rigors of caring for patients in a simulated combat environment.

 

Operation Bushmaster is exposing fourth-year students to the challenges of delivering medical care in support of warfighting, peacekeeping and humanitarian-assistance operations. Meanwhile, Operation Kerkesner is giving many students who just completed their first year of medical school their first tactical training in a field environment.

 

Both exercises began earlier this week and continue through July 24. The training will wrap up with a convoy coming under a simulated attack during a nighttime operation, resulting in mass casualties. As they triage, treat and evacuate patients, the students will come to recognize that part of being a military medical officer is the ability "to make order out of chaos," said Navy Capt. Trueman Sharp, chairman of the university's Military and Emergency Medicine Department and exercise director.

 

Sharp called the annual exercises the capstone of the Uniformed Services University curriculum.

 

"The field training aspect is essential for our students because we are more than a civilian medical school or graduate school of nursing," Sharp explained. "We produce a physician, but we are also producing a military medical officer. That requires a lot of additional knowledge and skills that you wouldn't get in a civilian medical school."

 

Operations Bushmaster and Kerkesner merge students' classroom training, with nearly 800 hours dedicated to military-unique subjects, in a field setting with realistic scenarios like those they'll encounter as Army, Navy and Air Force doctors.

 

This year's scenarios involve a United Nations force called in to conduct peacekeeping and stabilization operations in the fictitious Middle Eastern country of Pandakar in the throes of unrest. The doctors "deployed" as part of the force and were tasked to set up battalion aid stations and an expeditionary medical support station with surgical capabilities until a combat support hospital arrives.

 

Casualties started arriving before they finished setting up their operations. The wounded "patients" -- actually first-year students with realistic-looking simulated war wounds like those being seen in Iraq and Afghanistan -- put the students to the test.

 

Increased emphasis on treating patients as quickly and as far forward as possible presents challenges traditional medical students aren't likely to encounter, from treating patients while under fire to working with far less equipment than they'd find in fixed medical facilities.

 

First-year students role playing patients got a glimpse at the type of challenges they'll face later in their training. But Sharp said they also get to see firsthand what it feels like to be a wounded patient in the hands of a military doctor.

 

"What's going on here is pretty amazing," said Army 2nd Lt. John Francis, a first-year student at his first field exercise. Role-playing a patient with asthma earlier in the day and now with "shrapnel wounds" on his face, Francis said the exercise reinforced what he's learned so far at the university. "This brings it all together," he said. "I'm really excited about what we're getting out of this."

 

"This makes it real," said Navy Ensign Danielle Robins, a former Marine Corps captain now with a year at Uniformed Services University under her belt. "This training defines the uniqueness of what a military medical school means."

 

Across the post, other first-year students were getting a better understanding of that as many got their first experience firing a weapon, navigating an orienteering course, and wearing chemical protective gear after a mock attack. Many also were learning how to live and operate in the field for the first time.

 

Noncommissioned officers are leading the training, with Army Sgt. 1st Class Franklin Abram overseeing the training, which he said helps develop warrior skills in medical officers likely to serve on the front lines. "The bottom line is that we need doctors who can perform in the combat zone as well as the clinic," he said. "Don't think for one minute that because you are a doctor, that (enemy forces) are not going to shoot at you."

 

Air Force Maj. Glenn Burns, Operation Kerkesner course director, said the exercise teaches not only basic survival skills, but also leadership principles. "This is not a test of infantry skills, and we are not trying to develop them as infantry officers," Burns said. "But as we teach them the basics, what we expect to challenge them with is leadership."

 

Fourth-year students were facing those leadership challenges as they treated patients while rotating through a variety of roles they'll play as medical officers, from litter bearers to logistics officers to unit commanders.

 

The exercise reinforces the fact that doctors are just one part of a vast medical care network, Sharp said, while underscoring their broad responsibilities as military medical officers.

 

"Being a medical officer isn't just being a doctor," he said. "It's about leadership. It's about planning and organization. It's about communication. It's about situational awareness. It's about learning to prioritize because you never have enough resources or people, and you never have enough evacuation (capability)."

 

Navy Ensign Art Ambrosio got a taste of what it means to balance those challenges when casualties started arriving as he was serving as commander, overseeing the assembly of the expeditionary medical support unit.

 

A fourth-year student, Ambrosio had to resist the urge to drop everything and rush to the patients' needs rather than allowing his staff to do that. "As a medical person, when you see someone hurt, you want to run, and you want to play doctor," he said.

 

"But as the commander, you need to focus on what those responsibilities are," he said. "Your job is to keep the whole machine running: the medical, the transportation, the security, the communications, the logistics. You have to manage people, but do it without micromanaging."

 

For some of the students, the exercises offer a return to principles they learned during prior service in the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps, but with a new focus.

 

Among them is Army 2nd Lt. Gabriel Pavey, who spent 12 years in the Marine Corps before enrolling in Uniformed Services University. Pavey was a Marine staff sergeant working in the Pentagon on Sept. 11, 2001, and remembers the frustration of not being much help to the medics scurrying to help the wounded. He said it led to a major life decision.

 

Now an Army second lieutenant about to enter his second year of medical school, Pavey said he's ready for the rigors of field medicine in a combat environment. "It's my brothers and sisters (in the force) who really do the hard part," he said. "We're here to support them. The folks here all have the same call to duty."

 

Army 2nd Lt. Barrett Campbell said the training he's receiving at the Uniformed Services University is providing a great foundation for what he hopes will be a 20-year career as a military medical officer.

 

"I want to be a military doctor first and foremost, and this is the place to prepare for that," he said. "I chose this school because of the military medical aspect. I wanted to be in a program that trained me for that, and that's what I'm getting here."

 

Robins said the exercise reinforces the connection she feels to her fellow Uniformed Services University students, but especially to the servicemembers she will treat as a Navy doctor. "We have a like-mindedness," she said. "They are taking care of me, and I am taking care of them. They are amazing people, and they deserve great care."

The forensic guy from the FBI [Transcript from Discussion of 2001 ‘Amerithrax Attacks’]

“Dr Bruce Budowle has been in the FBI for over 20 years, heading one of its forensic laboratories. He looks back to the mysterious and still unsolved case of the anthrax envelopes which followed 9/11 […] Dr Budowle has come to Australia's Bond University to share techniques and learn from Professor Angela van Daal's use of genetics to profile human features […]” (ABC Radio National; 17Jul08)

http://www.abc.net.au/rn/inconversation/stories/2008/2299962.htm

 

Former Western [Pennsylvanian] legislator to enter jail Aug. 1

“Former State Rep. Jeff Habay will report to jail Aug. 1 to serve concurrent sentences for conflict of interest and a bizarre fake anthrax threat. […] the state Supreme Court has denied Habay's appeal of his 2006 no-contest pleas to charges that he falsely claimed to have received a powder-filled envelope from a political opponent. Habay was sentenced to four to eight months in jail in the anthrax case.” (Philadelphia Inquirer; 17Jul08; AP) http://www.philly.com/philly/news/local/20080717_Former_Western_Pa__legislator_to_enter_jail_Aug__1.html

 

GAO Notes Mixed Progress on Biosurveillance

“The department has not yet identified what capabilities the National Biosurveillance Integration Center (NBIC) should possess to be considered fully operational […] although DHS is upgrading capabilities for the new center, it will not fully train new personnel using the NBIC information technology system until April 2009 […] Current detectors require 10-34 hours to identify a biological attack from an agent such as anthrax. The new systems finally developed with the DHS Science and technology Directorate would cut that time down to 4-6 hours.” (HS Today; 17Jul08; Mickey McCarter) http://hstoday.us/content/view/4292/128/

 

Disaster planning money reduced [Washington State]

“Federal money used to help local and state public health agencies plan for disasters is being cut by $3.7 million in Washington, with cuts to Snohomish County and four other northwest Washington counties estimated at $200,000. The regional planning program for Snohomish, Island, Skagit, Whatcom and San Juan counties is losing 21 percent of the federal money […] A national push for public health agencies to plan for emergencies came in the wake of the 2001 terrorist attacks and panic over bioterrorism after anthrax-contaminated letters were sent through the mail. In response, local and state public health agencies received $1.1 billion in federal money to help prepare for future emergencies.” (Herald Net; 18Jul08; Sharon Salyer)

http://heraldnet.com/article/20080718/NEWS01/700231358

 

Tracking produce proves complex

“More than six weeks ago, the Food and Drug Administration issued a warning about a salmonella outbreak in New Mexico and Texas connected to raw tomatoes. Since then, the agency has expanded the warning nationwide and added jalapeno and serrano peppers. More than 1,100 people have fallen ill since April, but not a single contaminated tomato or pepper has been found.” (Los Angeles Times; 17July08; Annys Shin) http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-salmonella18-2008jul18,0,983085.story

 

Bomb Squad Blows Up Highly Explosive Acid Found In Walnut Hill [Florida]

“The quart size bottle of picric acid was found in a barn on a farm in the 7800 block of Highway 97, less than a half mile from  Ernest Ward Middle School. The bomb squad was called to the scene, and the Walnut Hill Volunteer Fire Department responded about 1:45. […] Besides wartime bomb making, picric was once used diluted as an antiseptic and as a treatment for burns, malaria, herpes and smallpox. It was once also synthesized into a non-explosive insecticide called chloropicrin. Chloropicrin was also used by the Germans and British as a chemical warfare agent during World War Two.” (North Escambia; 17Jul08; William)

http://www.northescambia.com/?p=3098

 

Poisonous cylinders made safe [Dublin]

“Cylinders of a highly volatile poisonous liquid were disposed of safely in South Dublin today with the help of US environment experts. The seven containers of hydrogen cyanide (HCN) were successfully chemically neutralised without the use of any explosives. […] The cylinders had been stored at the pest control company Rentokil and were moved to the county council owned compound at Grange Castle, Co Dublin for the neutralization.” (Evening Herald; 17Jul08; Sarah Neville) http://www.herald.ie/national-news/poisonous-cylinders-made-safe-1434861.html

 

Hidden Newnes Forest storage has added to military puzzle

“Earlier this week the Lithgow Mercury published a feature based on interviews conducted by the Illawarra Mercury with ex servicemen now living in the Illawarra region who had worked on secret chemical warfare stockpiles at Marrangaroo and Glenbrook during World War Two. The chemicals included mustard gas imported from America and Britain in contravention of the Geneva Convention to be used in any last ditch defence effort should Australia be invaded. […] There was no way of knowing exactly what was in the drums in the forest but it clearly wasn’t someone’s stash of home brew.” (Lithgow Mercury; 17Jul08; Len Ashworth) http://lithgow.yourguide.com.au/news/local/news/general/hidden-newnes-forest-storage-has-added-to-military-puzzle/813140.aspx

 

Live in Azalea Park [Orlando, Florida]? Learn about cleanup

“The Army Corps of Engineers will have a community meeting at 6:30 p.m. today [17Jul08] at the Engelwood Neighborhood Center […] The purpose of the meeting is to discuss the investigation into possible contamination left behind in the Azalea Park neighborhood from the former Orlando Army Airfield Toxic Gas and Decontamination Yard.” (Orlando Sentinel; 17Jul08; Rich McKay & Wes Smith) http://www.orlandosentinel.com/services/newspaper/printedition/thursday/orange/orl-orgovwatch17_108jul17,0,857491.story

 

Meeting of the Open-Ended Working Group on Terrorism

“OPCW Director-General Rogelio Pfirter opened the meeting by recalling the recommendations of the Second Review Conference on the OPCW’s response to terrorism. He highlighted the importance of implementing Article X of the Chemical Weapons Convention (Assistance and Protection Against Chemical Weapons) and stressed the value of the OPCW’s existing cooperation with the EU. […] He said information exchange in the fight against terrorism across borders has improved, greater attention is paid to the protection of EU infrastructures, and that the European Arrest Warrant has facilitated the procedures of extradition.” (OPCW News; 15Jul08; Johan de

Wittlaan)

http://www.opcw.org/pressreleases/2008/News17_2008.html

 

Emergency responders get dirty bomb training [Carlsbad, New Mexico]

“There were bodies and belligerents all over the place Thursday afternoon in a field near the Carlsbad Environmental Monitoring and Research Center. […] It was all part of a ‘dirty bomb’ exercise involving the Texas National Guard Civil Support Team. Some members of New Mexico's support team were also present. […] Thursday's training session was divided into two parts. Members of the Carlsbad Fire Department were the first to arrive on scene, but they were eventually backed up by the National Guard.

Smoke poured from a burned out vehicle. Volunteers who played the parts of victims all had detailed maps and timelines for the mock scenario. Some were assigned to be victims from the get-go, while others played the parts of tourists or ‘walking worried.’” (Current Argus; 18Jul08; Kyle

Marksteiner)

http://origin.currentargus.com/ci_9922344

 

[Homeland Security Secretary Michael] Chertoff: European terrorists trying to enter US

“European terrorists are trying to enter the United States with European Union passports, and there is no guarantee officials will catch them every time, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said Thursday. […] Chertoff and other intelligence officials have delivered similar warnings before, and he offered no new information about specific threats or an imminent attack. Chertoff reiterated his concern that terrorists could sneak radiological material into the country on small boats or private aircraft.” (AP; 18Jul08; Eileen Sullivan)

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5i3uIGU_Clf36waqYlsaWDls9HP2gD920562O1

 

UH [University of Hawaii] chosen to help make travel safer

“The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has tapped the University of Hawaii to be one of 11 institutions to serve for the next six years as ‘an incubator of technology’ in the area of maritime security issues, according to a visiting federal official. Retired Rear Adm. Jay Cohen, Homeland Security Department undersecretary for science and technology, told the Star-Bulletin yesterday that the UH's Center of Excellence for Maritime, Island and Port Security will be under the College of Engineering and will receive a grant ranging from $1.5 million to $2 million annually.” (Star Bulletin; 16July08; Gregg K. Kakesako) http://starbulletin.com/2008/07/16/news/story11.html

 

Advanced Life Sciences and UK Ministry of Defence announce collaboration

“Advanced Life Sciences Holdings has announced that the UK's Defence Science and technology Laboratory will evaluate the developmental compound ALS-886 as a treatment for chemically induced lung injury. […] Michael Flavin, chairman and CEO of Advanced Life Sciences, said: ‘Dstl is internationally recognized for its ability to evaluate new therapeutic countermeasures that combat chemical and biological warfare agents, and we are very excited to partner with them to develop ALS-886 for potential procurement as a medical countermeasure.” (Trading Markets; 18July08) http://www.tradingmarkets.com/.site/news/Stock%20News/1768368/

 

CNS ChemBio-WMD Terrorism News is prepared by the Chemical and Biological Weapons Nonproliferation Program of the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies at the Monterey Institute of International Studies in order to bring timely and focused information to researchers and policymakers interested in the fields of chemical, biological, and radiological weapons nonproliferation and WMD terrorism.

Navy

 

Canadian Commercial Corp., General Dynamics Land Systems, Canada, Ontario, Canada, is being awarded $552,081,274 for delivery order #0004 under previously awarded firm-fixed-priced, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract (M67854-07-D-5028) for the purchase of 773 Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles with Engineering Change Proposal (ECP) upgrades and associated Non-Recurring Engineering (NRE) costs. Work will be performed in South Africa (57 percent); Lansing, Mich. (22 percent) and Anniston, Ala. (21 percent), and work is expected to be completed no later than Dec. 2009. Contract funds will not expire by the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured with nine offers received via Navy Electronic Commerce Office. The Marine Corps Systems Command, Quantico, Va., is the contracting activity. 

 

Raytheon Co., Fullerton, Calif., is being awarded a cost-plus-incentive-fee contract with award fee provisions for a total estimated value of $232,767,343 for the System Development and Demonstration of the Joint Precision Approach and Landing System (JPALS), including the delivery of eight fully functional Ship System Engineering Development Models and four Aircraft System Test Avionics Sets. Work will be performed in Fullerton, Calif., (45 percent); Cedar Rapids, Iowa, (38 percent); Indianapolis, Ind., (7 percent); Long Beach, Calif., (5 percent); Richardson, Texas, (3 percent); Woodland Hills, Calif., (1.8 percent); and Virginia Beach, Va. (0.2 percent), and work is expected to be completed in Sept. 2014. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via an electronic request for proposals, with two offers received. The Naval Air Systems Command is the contracting activity (N00019-08-C-0034).

 

BRDC a Joint Venture, Large, Pa., Islands Mechanical Contractor, Inc., Middleburg, Fla., PAE Government Services, Inc., Los Angeles, Calif., Ratcliff Construction, Inc., Orange Park, Fla., TolTest, Inc., Maumee, Ohio, are each being awarded an indefinite-delivery/ indefinite-quantity multiple award design-build construction contract for general building type projects at Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay. The work to be performed is for general building projects including new construction, renovation, alteration, and repair of facilities and infrastructure, roofing, demolition, and routine renovation. Each contract consists of a base year and four option years for a maximum of 60 months or a maximum value of $100,000,000 for all contracts, whichever comes first with a guaranteed minimum of $10,000 for each contract. The aggregate of $100,000,000 will potentially be shared among all four contractors. BRDC a Joint Venture is being awarded the initial task order in the amount of $632,646 (including the minimum guarantee) for the design and construction of a new Temporary J6 Admin Facility with a gross building area of approximately 4900 square feet at Naval Station Guantanamo Bay. Work for this task order is expected to be completed by Jun. 2009. The remaining four contractors are being awarded the minimum guarantee of $10,000. Work will be performed in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and work is expected to be completed Jul 2009 (Jul. 2013 with options). Contract funds will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The basic contract was competitively procured via the Navy Electronic Commerce Online website with seven proposals received. These five contractors may compete for task orders under the terms and conditions of the awarded contract. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command Southeast, Jacksonville, Fla., is the contracting activity (contract numbers N69450-08-D-1279/1280/1281/1282/1283).

 

BAE Systems Land & Armaments, LP. Ground Systems Division, York, Pa., is being awarded $60,252,370 for delivery order #0009 under previously awarded firms-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract (M67854-07-D-5025) for the purchase of 36 United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) Category I vehicles including technical insertion engineering change proposals (ECPs), two RG33 MRAP Category II vehicles including technical insertion ECPs and two RG33 MRAP Category II Ambulance vehicles including technical insertion ECPs. Work will be performed in York, Pa., and is expected to be completed Mar. 2009. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured with nine offers received via Navy Electronic Commerce Office. The Marine Corps Systems Command, Quantico, Va., is the contracting activity. 

 

I Garcia Construction, Inc.*, Fresno, Calif., is being awarded $6,789,000 for firm-fixed price Task Order #0005 under a previously awarded indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity multiple award construction contract (N62473-07-D-2009) for the design and construction of the renovation of the Marine Corps Reserve Center (MCRC) San Bruno, Calif. The work to be performed provides for life safety, antiterrorism/force protection, and security improvements to the Center. Work will be performed in San Bruno, Calif., and is expected to be completed by Jul. 2009. Contract funds will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The original contract was competitively procured via the Naval Facilities Engineering Command e-solicitation website with 12 proposals received and award made on Dec. 21, 2006. The total combined maximum for all contracts awarded is $100,000,000. The multiple contractors (five in number) may compete for task orders under the terms and conditions of the existing contract. Three proposals were received for this task order. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Southwest, San Diego, Calif., is the contracting activity.

  

Air Force

 

The Air Force is modifying a cost plus award fee, cost plus fixed fee, cost plus incentive fee, firm fixed price contract with Lockheed Martin Space Systems Corp., of Sunnyvale, Calif., not to exceed $119,160,000. This action will provide Advanced Extremely High Frequency Satellite Communications System, which provides secure, survivable communications to the U.S. war-fighters during all levels of conflict and is the protected backbone of the Department of Defense Military Satellite Communications architecture. This contract action is for the advance procurement of long-lead parts of the AEHF Satellite Vehicle 4 in FY08. Advance procurement ensures that parts with significant lead times will be in place to begin SV4 full production on schedule. This action is an in-scope modification and will be awarded as an undefinitized contract action.  At this time $59,580,000 has been obligated. MCSW/PK, El Segundo, Calif., is the contracting activity (F04701-02-C-0002, P00315).

 

Battelle Memorial Institute of Columbus, Ohio, is being awarded a cost plus fixed fee contract for an estimated $12,693,336. This contract action will provide operational test and evaluation, of Chemical Biological Radiology Nuclear Defense secure battle space management information and warning and reporting systems, and related contamination avoidance, collective and individual protection, decontamination, and medical and health services materials, equipment, and systems, and validate their performance against published Chemical Biological Defense operational requirements. At this time $217,392 has been obligated. 55th Contracting Squadron, 55 CONS/LGCD, Offutt AFB, Neb., is the contracting activity (SP0700-00-D-3180, DO: 0561). 

 

DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY

 

Sage Energy Trading, LLC, Tulsa, Okla.*, is being awarded a maximum $81,664,374.89 fixed price with economic price adjustment contract for direct supply natural gas delivery. Using services are Army, Navy, Air Force and Federal Civilian Agencies. This proposal was originally Web solicited with 37 responses. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year.  The date of performance is Sept. 30, 2010. The contracting activity is Defense Energy Support Center, Fort Belvoir, Va., (SP0600-08-D-7501).

 

Army

 

EBV Explosives Environmental Co., Joplin, Mo., was awarded on Jul. 15, 2008, a $15,301,687 firm-fixed price contract for demilitarization of multiple launch rocket system M26 basic rocket and/or compounds.  Work will be performed in Joplin, Mo., and is expected to be completed by Nov. 30, 2009. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Seven bids were solicited on Dec. 21, 2007, and three bids were received. U.S. Army Aviation & Missile Command, Redstone Arsenal, Ala., is the contracting activity (W31P4Q-08-C-0398).

 

ILC Dover, Inc., Frederica, Del., was awarded on Jul. 16, 2008, an $11,645,635 firm-fixed price contract for faceblanks, nosecups, eye lens retainer rings, front voicemitters and external drink tubes.  Work will be performed in Frederica, Del., and is expected to be completed by Dec. 30, 2009.  Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year.  One bid was solicited on Jun. 17, 2008.  U.S. Army TACOM, Rock Island, Ill., is the contracting activity (W52H09-08-C-0139).

By Donna Miles

American Forces Press Service

 

July 16, 2008 - The top U.S. commander in the Pacific reported today that he and a top Chinese commander agreed last night to work toward bringing their militaries together for two bilateral humanitarian assistance and disaster response exercises.  Navy Adm. Timothy J. Keating, commander of U.S. Pacific Command, during an address at the Heritage Foundation here, called the informal agreement another sign of the distinct warming of U.S.-Sino relations and increasing Chinese interest in building closer military-to-military ties.

 

Keating said he and Chinese Lt. Gen. Zhang Qinsheng agreed over dinner last night "to begin active consideration" of a plan to exercise their forces together in a disaster relief scenario. Keating and Zhang, commander of the Guangzhou military Region, discussed the possibility of two exercises, one in China and one in Hawaii or elsewhere in the United States, Keating said.

 

The exercises probably will be land-based rather than sea-based, bringing additional training elements beyond search-and-rescue and ship maneuvering operations. "We want to expand the envelope, and we want to push the envelope," Keating said.

 

While hoping to begin the exercises "relatively soon," Keating said, he recognizes that China won't be able to focus on pushing the concept forward at least until the Olympics in August. In addition, Keating cited the need to coordinate within U.S. Defense and State department channels to get the necessary agreements and lay the framework for the training.

 

But with leaders at both U.S. departments emphasizing the need to move beyond Cold War paradigms toward more positive exchanges with China, Keating expressed optimism the plan will proceed.

 

"After the Olympics and before the first of the year, we hope to engage in staff talks to lay out a plan," he told reporters today. He expressed hope the military-to-military exercises could begin within 15 to 18 months from last night's handshake.

 

Keating cited China's acceptance of U.S. military aid following a devastating magnitude 7.9 earthquake that hit the central Sichuan province as a sign of China's increased willingness to engage with the United States. China allowed two U.S. military C-17 Globemaster III transport aircraft to deliver generators, chain saws and humanitarian relief supplies.

 

During his two visits there since arriving at PaCom last year, and in reciprocal Chinese visits in the United States, Keating said, he's seen solid progress in eroding historic divisions. He's "more optimistic" now than a year ago about the state of the two countries' military-to-military relationship, and hopeful that China will engage in more multilateral exercises with the United States and others in the region.

 

As the U.S., Japanese, Australian, Singaporean and Indian navies gathered for the recent Malabar exercise, Keating said, anyone concluding that the goal was to surround China "is 180 degrees wrong."

 

"We are not looking to surround them. We want to draw them out," he said. "We want them to join these other countries."

 

Keating expressed hope that over time, China will participate in more personnel exchanges, and even go so far as to engage on a peaceful basis with Taiwan.

 

"I think it would be terrific if, over time, we would have Chinese military officers and Taiwan military officers and United States military officers, all sitting in the same classroom at the Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies," he said.

 

The United States has sent China "an open invitation" and hopes it will accept, Keating said.

 

"I don't know if the Chinese will accept the offer tomorrow, but they need to understand, as I have emphasized to them, that the lanai light is always on for them," he said.

 

Keating said he's convinced that the best way to prevent tensions between the United States and China is through openness that leads to understanding.

 

"I am firmly convinced we are much better suited as a military and as a country to engage in open dialogue [with China] ... to ensure they understand our motives and we understand theirs," he said.

By Gerry J. Gilmore

American Forces Press Service

 

July 16, 2008 - Two U.S.-military sponsored economic reconstruction programs are helping to put thousands of Iraqi citizens into productive jobs while boosting the country's business activity, a senior U.S. military officer posted in Iraq said today. In March 2007, Army Gen. David H. Petraeus, commander of Multinational Force Iraq, directed his officers to find ways to provide jobs and increased opportunities for economic expansion, entrepreneurship and skills training for the people of Iraq, recalled Army Maj. Gen. Timothy McHale, director of personnel, logistics and resources for Multinational Force Iraq.

 

The successful Iraqi First LOGCAP and Iraqi-Based Industrial Zone programs are direct results of Petraeus' directive, McHale said.

 

"Both of these programs are focused on contributing to Iraq's economic progress and security," McHale pointed out.

 

The Iraqi First LOGCAP program provides a conduit for Iraqi businesses to sell their products and services to coalition customers, McHale explained.

 

"We are striving to put Iraqis first in purchase decisions," McHale noted. LOGCAP, he said, is the name of the military logistics contracting and purchasing system.

 

LOGCAP is the coalition's largest service contract in Iraq, and is a prime example and one of the programs in which Iraqi First is being applied, the two-star general said.

 

"We are working to direct more and more jobs supporting this contract to Iraqis," McHale continued. "In addition, we are directing more purchases of products to Iraqi suppliers. The goal is to have Iraqi workers and Iraqi suppliers to be a significant part of our military logistics support."

 

Today, about 3,700 Iraqi citizens are holding jobs as part of the Iraqi First-LOGCAP program, McHale said. At some installations, he noted, Iraqi citizens make up more than 50 percent of the work force.

 

"We are working every day to open up more jobs on more bases to Iraqi citizens, and we expect to add thousands of jobs over the next several months," McHale said, noting Iraqis are working in skilled positions such as construction, carpentry, masonry, welding, plumbing, electrical work, well-drilling as well as many types of general-labor positions.

 

"Iraqis also have a growing presence in both professional and administrative positions," McHale said. A new initiative, he noted, is exploring ways to hire Iraqis through Iraqi-government-sponsored vocational-technical schools.

 

The Iraqi First-LOGCAP program is also about buying Iraqi products for use on coalition bases, McHale said, noting the U.S. military in Iraq has bought more than $182 million worth of Iraqi products and services over the past year.

 

"While these products were available elsewhere, we chose to buy Iraqi goods and services," McHale said. Buying Iraqi-made products creates new jobs for the people of Iraq, he observed. For example, he said, a recent business transaction with an Iraqi plastics factory resulted in the reopening of three plastic-bag production lines.

 

LOGCAP-affiliated purchases have involved more than 200 Iraqi vendors providing thousands of items and products, McHale said. Iraqi-supplied goods and services, include construction materials, metals, tools, heating and cooling equipment, as well as maintenance, laundry and food service and supply services.

 

Meanwhile, the Iraqi-Based Industrial Zone program, called IBIZ, continues to help Iraqi entrepreneurs to do business with the U.S. military, McHale said.

 

"IBIZ is a program that provides secure locations on or next to coalition-force bases for privately owned, small and medium sized Iraqi businesses employing Iraqi workers," McHale explained. The program, he said, injects money into the Iraqi economy while boosting social stability by providing jobs to Iraqis so that they can support their families.

 

IBIZ-affiliated ventures employ more than 1,400 Iraqis with annual salaries totaling more than $10 million, McHale reported. Successful businesses that participate in the IBIZ program include building trades, vehicle-repair, retail shops, cement and asphalt, metal cutting, trucking and generator repair.

 

"We also create a work force and business foundation for transitioning support to the Iraqi security forces or to the society of Iraq," McHale said.

 

The IBIZ program is growing, McHale said, noting it is now being implemented on 11 coalition bases, with plans to expand it to 14 bases this summer.