PRESIDENT OBAMA SIGNS $633 BILLION DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT

Photo Credit:  U.S. Navy.

FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Obama Signs $633 Billion Defense Authorization Act

By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Jan. 3, 2013 - President Barack Obama signed the $633 billion fiscal 2013 National Defense Authorization Act into law yesterday.

The legislation, which cleared Congress last month, authorizes the department to act in any number of instances. "There are certain things that cannot be done without [the authorization act]," said a senior defense official speaking on background.

The act allows the department to institute pay raises, bonuses and incentive pay for personnel. "All military construction has to be authorized under this act," the official said.

It includes a 1.7 percent pay raise for military personnel, and contains $527.5 billion for DOD's base budget, $88.5 billion for overseas contingency operations and $17.8 billion for national security programs in the Energy Department and Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board.

It also extends the Commanders' Emergency Response Program that has been used in Afghanistan and Iraq. It authorizes a one-year extension of the Afghan Infrastructure Fund and extends the Coalition Support Fund and the Pakistan Counterinsurgency Fund. In Iraq, the law authorizes U.S. training activities, the official said.

The law also authorizes changes needed to deter sexual assault in the military.

In addition, it establishes the Military Compensation and Retirement Modernization Commission which will examine all aspects of military compensation. Officials stress that any possible changes to military retirement benefits that the group recommends will not affect current service members.

Air Force structure was of some concern to the department going into the process, but officials say they were pleased with the outcome. The Air Force also received 32 more C-130 aircraft than requested.

"But the Air Force is allowed to do everything else. They are allowed to do their divestures and moves," the official said. "The only thing kept out of service's force structure plan was we had to keep the Global Hawk Block 30 [unmanned aircraft]."

The act raises the co-pay for medications under TRICARE through 2022. The legislation also limits any annual increases in pharmacy co-payments to increases in retiree cost of living adjustments.

"It is a little bit toward what we need to start paying for how much health care is costing," the official said.

The authorization also provides DOD funds for servicewomen who need abortions in case of rape or incest. "So they don't have to take leave and come home or go out on the economy," the official said. "This is the first time this has been approved."

Among other programs, the act authorizes the defense biofuel initiative as well as counternarcotic authorities. "We use this a little bit in Afghanistan, but it's mostly in the southern border and Colombia," she said. "It has to get done."

Passage of the legislation is particularly important this year because the department is operating on a continuing resolution through March which may be continued again through the rest of the fiscal year. The resolution maintains funding at 2012 budget levels. Without this authority, "Things really do shut down," the official said.

"It actually is things that keep the war going and things that ... keep the economy going because it is pay, recruiting, military construction," the official said.

ARMY GEN. DEMPSEY'S ETHICS RECOMMENDATIONS PRESENTED TO PRESIDENT OBAMA

Army General Martin E. Dempsey

FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Panetta Briefs President on Dempsey Ethics Findings
By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Dec. 7, 2012 - Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta has briefed President Barack Obama on Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey's recommendations about general/flag officer ethics, Pentagon Press Secretary George Little said today.

The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff presented two initial findings that Panetta took to the White House earlier this week.

Dempsey sent the secretary some initial findings "informed as a result of his year-long effort to renew the U.S. military's commitment to the profession of arms," Little told reporters.

The findings are part of the review of general and flag officer ethics training. As part of this effort, Panetta asked Dempsey to work with the Joint Chiefs to determine how to better foster a culture of stewardship among senior U.S. military leaders.

The first finding is that while there is appropriate ethics training in place for senior leaders, "we need to start earlier and reinforce that training more frequently in an officer's career," Little said. Ethics training is a part of each service's professional military education from initial entry training to general/flag officer education.

"Second, General Dempsey believes we must look at the level and type of support senior leaders receive in the execution of their duties to ensure it is necessary, and to ensure we are being consistent, sensible and efficient," Little said.

The chairman's intent is to direct consistency of support across the general officer/flag officer cadre and to determine whether it is appropriate, the press secretary said.

"What we're talking about here is the personnel infrastructure surrounding general and flag officers," Little said. There are different types of support that general and flag officers receive. For example, generals in command have an aide-de-camp, which is one level of support. They often have additional staff to help with more routine activities.

Little said the findings are an initial set of recommendations, and part of a long-term effort by the chairman.

"The secretary fully supports what Chairman Dempsey has done over the last year with respect to the profession of arms and this is going to be an on-going dialogue inside the Joint Chiefs and services," Little said. "We will see an evolution of discussion and potential actions depending on what General Dempsey, the chiefs and the secretary decide going forward."

Little said Dempsey has not reached conclusions on ethics training or support to senior military officers.

"The secretary is committed to giving the chairman and the chiefs the space they need to come forward with recommendations and to take actions on their own that may be appropriate for ethics for general and flag officers," the press secretary said.

Panetta strongly believes the vast majority of general and flag officers behave in a manner consistent with the highest standards of conduct, Little said.

U.S. PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA LAYS WREATH AT "TOMB OF THE UNKNOWN"

President Barack Obama and Army Sgt. 1st Class Chad Stackpole lay a wreath to mark Veterans Day at the Tomb of the Unknowns in Arlington National Cemetery, Va., Nov. 11, 2012. Stackpole, sergeant of the guard for the tomb, is assigned to the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment, known as "The Old Guard." U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Megan Garcia

FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Obama Recognizes Veterans' Service, Sacrifice
By Amaani Lyle
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Nov. 11, 2012 - President Barack Obama laid a flowered wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns today in a traditional display of remembrance and gratitude for every service member who has worn the nation's uniform.

Also attending the ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery were First Lady Michelle Obama, Vice President Joe Biden and his wife, Dr. Jill Biden, and Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric K. Shinseki.

"Each year, on the 11th day of the 11th month, we pause as a nation and as a people to pay tribute to you, to thank you, to honor you, the heroes over the generations who have served this country of ours with distinction," Obama said. He also acknowledged the toll taken on veterans' loved ones, who he said continue to "walk these quiet hills and kneel before a final resting place of those they cherish the most."

The president assured that the sacrifices of living and fallen veterans and their families and friends would never be forgotten.

"It is in that sacrifice that we see the enduring spirit of America. ... Since even before our founding, we have been blessed with an unbroken chain of patriots who have always come forward to serve," Obama said. "Time and again, at home and abroad, you and your families have sacrificed to protect that powerful promise that all of us hold so dear: life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness."

Though he acknowledged the gratitude of the nation, the president also noted that no ceremony, parade, hug or handshake is enough to truly honor veterans' service.

"We must commit this day and every day to serving you as well as you've served us," the president said.

Obama related the significance of today's service members, the 9/11 generation that "stepped forward after the towers fell and in the years since have stepped into history."

"You toppled a dictator and battled insurgency in Iraq," he said. "You pushed back the Taliban and decimated al-Qaida in Afghanistan. You delivered justice to Osama bin Laden."

These deeds drive the commitment to care for veterans, as more than a million warriors will transition back into civilian life over the next few years, the president said.

"This is the first Veterans Day in a decade in which there are no American troops fighting and dying in Iraq," the president said over applause, adding that 33,000 troops also have returned from Afghanistan.

"Our heroes are coming home. ... They'll take off their uniforms and take on a new and lasting role: they will be veterans," he said.

As veterans return, the president explained, it falls to Americans as fellow citizens to be there for them and their families as those who once wore the uniform now find new ways to serve.

"Some of our most patriotic businesses have hired and trained 125,000 veterans and military spouses," the president said.

He also pledged to maintain the 9/11 GI Bill, which has helped thousands of veterans pursue their education, including certifications, undergraduate, graduate and post-graduate degrees.

Obama also pledged to champion the cause of those who suffer invisible wounds of war, such as post-traumatic stress disorder. "No veteran should have to wait months or years for the benefits that you've earned, so we will continue to attack the claims backlog," Obama said.

And as the United States marks the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War, the president said, the government has secured new disability benefits for veterans who fought there and were exposed to Agent Orange.

"We carry on knowing that our best days always lie ahead," Obama said. "You needed it, you fought for it, and we got it done."

PRESIDENT OBAMA PROCLAIMS NOVEMBER 11 AS VETERANS DAY

FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
President Proclaims Nov. 11 as Veterans Day
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Nov. 7, 2012 - "Our men and women in uniform have taught us about strength, duty, devotion, resolve -- cornerstones of a commitment to protect and defend that has kept our country safe for over 200 years. In war and in peace, their service has been selfless and their accomplishments have been extraordinary," President Barack Obama said in his proclamation issued today declaring Nov. 11 as Veterans Day.

The proclamation reads:

"Whether they fought in Salerno or Samarra, Heartbreak Ridge or Helmand, Khe Sanh or the Korengal, our veterans are part of an unbroken chain of men and women who have served our country with honor and distinction. On Veterans Day, we show them our deepest thanks. Their sacrifices have helped secure more than two centuries of American progress, and their legacy affirms that no matter what confronts us or what trials we face, there is no challenge we cannot overcome, and our best days are still ahead.

"This year, we marked the 200th anniversary of the War of 1812. We began to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War. We welcomed our veterans back home from Iraq, and we continued to wind down operations in Afghanistan. These milestones remind us that, though much has changed since Americans first took up arms to advance freedom's cause, the spirit that moved our forebears is the same spirit that has defined each generation of our service members. Our men and women in uniform have taught us about strength, duty, devotion, resolve -- cornerstones of a commitment to protect and defend that has kept our country safe for over 200 years. In war and in peace, their service has been selfless and their accomplishments have been extraordinary.

"Even after our veterans take off the uniform, they never stop serving. Many apply the skills and experience they developed on the battlefield to a life of service here at home. They take on roles in their communities as doctors and police officers, engineers and entrepreneurs, mothers and fathers. As a grateful Nation, it is our task to make that transition possible -- to ensure our returning heroes can share in the opportunities they have given so much to defend. The freedoms we cherish endure because of their service and sacrifice, and our country must strive to honor our veterans by fulfilling our responsibilities to them and upholding the sacred trust we share with all who have served.

"On days like this, we are called to reflect on immeasurable burdens that have been borne by so few. We pay tribute to our wounded, our missing, our fallen, and their families -- men and women who have known the true costs of conflict and deserve our deepest respect, now and forever. We also remember that our commitments to those who have served are commitments we must honor not only on Veterans Day, but every day. As we do so, let us reaffirm our promise that when our troops finish their tours of duty, they come home to an America that gives them the benefits they have earned, the care they deserve, and the fullest opportunity to keep their families strong and our country moving forward.

"With respect for and in recognition of the contributions our service members have made to the cause of peace and freedom around the world, the Congress has provided that November 11 of each year shall be set aside as a legal public holiday to honor our Nation's veterans.

"NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim November 11, 2012, as Veterans Day. I encourage all Americans to recognize the valor and sacrifice of our veterans through appropriate public ceremonies and private prayers. I call upon Federal, State, and local officials to display the flag of the United States and to participate in patriotic activities in their communities. I call on all Americans, including civic and fraternal organizations, places of worship, schools, and communities to support this day with commemorative expressions and programs."

U.S. PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA PROCLAIMS NOVEMBER TO BE MILITARY FAMILIES MONTH

FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
President Proclaims November as Military Family Month

American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Nov. 1, 2012 - "In our military families, we see the best our country has to offer. They demonstrate the virtues that have made America great for more than two centuries and the values that will preserve our greatness for centuries to come," President Barack Obama said in his proclamation issued today declaring the month of November as Military Family Month.

The proclamation reads:
"Since our Nation's earliest days, courageous men and women of all backgrounds and beliefs have banded together to fight for the freedoms we cherish. Behind each of them stands a parent, a sibling, a child, a spouse -- proud family members who share the weight of deployment and make profound sacrifices on behalf of our country. During Military Family Month, we honor our military families and recommit to showing them the fullest care and respect of a grateful Nation.

"In our military families, we see the best our country has to offer. They demonstrate the virtues that have made America great for more than two centuries and the values that will preserve our greatness for centuries to come. With loved ones serving far from home, military spouses take on the work of two. Their children show courage and resilience as they move from base to base, school to school, home to home. And even through the strain of deployment, military families strengthen the fabric of each community they touch and enrich our national life as shining examples of patriotism.

"We each have a solemn duty to serve our Armed Forces and their families as well as they serve us. Through First Lady Michelle Obama's and Dr. Jill Biden's Joining Forces initiative, we have worked to fulfill this obligation by mobilizing all Americans to give service members and their families the opportunities and support they have earned. Last year, we challenged American businesses to hire or train 100,000 veterans and military spouses by the end of 2013. To date, they have already exceeded that challenge, hiring over 125,000 veterans and military spouses. From helping military children succeed in the classroom to increasing support for those who care for our wounded warriors, Joining Forces will keep fighting to ensure the well-being of our troops and their families.

"When a young woman signs up to defend our Nation, her parents are enlisted as well. When a father deploys to a combat zone, his children are called to serve on the home front. And when the men and women of our military serve far from home, their families feel the strain of their absence. In that absence, let us stand together as one American family. Let us honor the brave patriots who keep our country safe, and let us forever hold close the memories of those who have perished in the line of duty. This month, we reaffirm that we will always lift up our military families -- not just when their loved ones are away, but also long after the welcome home ceremonies are over.

"NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim November 2012 as Military Family Month. I call on all Americans to honor military families through private actions and public service for the tremendous contributions they make in support of our service members and our Nation."

PRESIDENT OBAMA STAYS INFORMED ON HURRICANE SANDY



President Barack Obama receives an update on the ongoing response to Hurricane Sandy, in the Situation Room of the White House, Oct. 29 2012. Participating via teleconference, clockwise from top left, are: Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano; FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate; Rick Knabb, Director of the National Hurricane Center; Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood; and Secretary of Energy Steven Chu. Pictured, from left, are: Clark Stevens, Assistant Press Secretary; Emmett Beliveau, Director of the Office of the Chief of Staff; John Brennan, Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism; Richard Reed, Deputy Assistant to the President for Homeland Security; Chuck Donnell, Senior Director for Resilience; Asha Tribble, Senior Director for Response; Chief of Staff Jack Lew; Alyssa Mastromonaco, Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations; Press Secretary Jay Carney; and David Agnew, Director for Intergovernmental Affairs. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

FROM: FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY
Obama Gets Storm Relief Update at FEMA Headquarters
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Nov. 3, 2012 - President Barack Obama today convened a briefing at the National Response Coordination Center at the Federal Emergency Management Agency headquarters here to receive the latest update on federal efforts to support state and local response and recovery activities for Hurricane Sandy, according to a White House news release.

At FEMA headquarters, the release said, Obama was joined by Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano, FEMA Administrator William Craig Fugate, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta, Energy Secretary Dr. Steven Chu, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan, Education Secretary Arne Duncan, Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, Small Business Administration Administrator Karen Mills, Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Navy Adm. James A. Winnefeld Jr., Deputy Chief of Staff Alyssa Mastromonaco, Deputy Assistant to the President for Homeland Security Richard Reed, and other senior officials.

Secretary of Transportation Raymond H. LaHood, Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack and U.S. Northern Command commander Army Gen. Charles H. Jacoby Jr. joined the briefing by phone, according to the release.

On the call Obama received an update from the National Weather Service, including a forecast on a coastal low pressure system that could be moving into the area in coming days, and spoke directly with a number of state and local officials, who also joined by phone, including Connecticut Gov. Dannel Malloy, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, and New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, as well as New York City borough presidents and mayors from across the affected area.

This conversation provided the president and his team another opportunity to discuss specific challenges with state and local leaders, including issues related to power generation, fuel challenges, and long-term housing needs among others, the release said.

Obama made clear that all available resources would be employed to support the deployment of necessary assets, and directed his team to continue to focus on identifying and removing any barriers to the movement of these resources, according to the release. On Nov. 1, following a conversation between the president and utility executives, the Department of Defense airlifted utility resources, including bucket trucks and other assets, from California to New York to support power restoration efforts.

FEMA announced Nov. 2 that the president directed the Defense Logistics Agency to purchase up to 12 million gallons of unleaded fuel and up to 10 million gallons of diesel fuel for distribution in areas impacted by the storm to supplement ongoing private sector efforts, the release said. This purchase will be transported by tanker trucks and distributed throughout New York, New Jersey and other communities impacted by the storm. This announcement, the release said, followed a decision earlier in the day to provide a temporary blanket waiver to the Jones Act, to ensure tankers could move oil and refined gas to the New York area as quickly as possible.

On today's call, following a discussion of additional resources available to individuals impacted by the storm, the president also directed SBA Administrator Karen Mills to brief local officials directly on the low-cost loans available through the FEMA Disaster Declarations provided to eligible families, according to the release.

The President thanked the state and local officials on the call for their hard work, and specifically praised the heroic efforts of the first responders still on the front lines, and told his team that continuing to surge all available resources was his top priority, the release said. The President closed by making clear he expected no letup in these efforts.

　

PRESIDENT PROCLAIMS 9-11 TO BE PATRIOT DAY

Photo:  World Trade Center.  Credit:  U.S. Navy 
FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
President Proclaims Patriot Day, Day of RemembranceAmerican Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Sept. 10, 2012 - President Barack Obama today signed a proclamation designating tomorrow's 11th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States as Patriot Day and National Day of Remembrance.

Here is the president's proclamation:

On September 11, 2001, a bright autumn day was darkened by the worst attack on the American people in our history. Thousands of innocent men, women, and children perished when mighty towers collapsed in the heart of New York City and wreckage burned in Pennsylvania and at the Pentagon. They were family and friends, service members and first responders -- and the tragedy of their loss left pain that will never fade and scars our country will never forget.

More than a decade later, the world we live in is forever changed. But as we mark the anniversary of September 11, we remember what remains the same: our character as a Nation, our faith in one another, and our legacy as a country strengthened by service and selflessness. In the spirit that moved rescue workers and firefighters to charge into darkness and danger that September morning, we see the same sense of moral responsibility that drove countless Americans to give of themselves in the months that followed. We offered our neighbors a hand and lined up to give blood. Many helped our Nation rebuild and recover long after the dust had settled, donating and volunteering and helping survivors who had borne so much. We were united, and the outpouring of generosity reminded us that, through challenges that have spanned from acts of terrorism to natural disasters, we go forward together as one people.

Today, as we remember the victims, their families, and the heroes who stood up during one of our country's darkest moments, I invite all Americans to reclaim that abiding spirit of compassion by serving their communities in the days and weeks ahead. From volunteering with a faith-based organization, to collecting food and clothing for those in need, to preparing care packages for our men and women in uniform, there are many ways to bring service into our everyday lives -- and each of us can do something. To get involved and find a local service opportunity, visit www.Serve.gov, or www.Servir.gov for Spanish speakers.

Even the simplest act of kindness can be a way to honor those we have lost, and to help build stronger communities and a more resilient Nation. By joining together on this solemn anniversary, let us show that America's sense of common purpose need not be a fleeting moment, but a lasting virtue -- not just on one day, but every day.

By a joint resolution approved December 18, 2001 (Public Law 107-89), the Congress has designated September 11 of each year as "Patriot Day," and by Public Law 111-13, approved April 21, 2009, the Congress has requested the observance of September 11 as an annually recognized "National Day of Service and Remembrance."

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim September 11, 2012, as Patriot Day and National Day of Service and Remembrance. I call upon all departments, agencies, and instrumentalities of the United States to display the flag of the United States at half-staff on Patriot Day and National Day of Service and Remembrance in honor of the individuals who lost their lives on September 11, 2001. I invite the Governors of the United States and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and interested organizations and individuals to join in this observance. I call upon the people of the United States to participate in community service in honor of those our Nation lost, to observe this day with appropriate ceremonies and activities, including remembrance services, and to observe a moment of silence beginning at 8:46 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time to honor the innocent victims who perished as a result of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this tenth day of September, in the year of our Lord two thousand twelve, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-seventh.

BARACK OBAMA

AFGHANISTAN TO BE MAJOR NON-NATO ALLY

FROM:  U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Major Non-NATO Ally Status for Afghanistan
Fact Sheet Office of the Spokesperson Washington, DC
July 7, 2012
On May 2, 2012, President Obama and President Karzai signed the Enduring Strategic Partnership Agreement between the United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. As part of this agreement, the United States pledged to designate Afghanistan a Major Non-NATO Ally (MNNA). Following the entry into force of the Strategic Partnership Agreement on July 4, President Obama signed the MNNA designation for Afghanistan on July 6. Afghanistan is the first country to be designated an MNNA since 2004.

MNNA designation provides a long-term framework for our security and defense cooperation. It reinforces the strong bilateral defense relationship between the United States and Afghanistan by helping support aligned defense planning, procurement, and training. Only a limited number of countries have this special status. MNNA qualifies a country for certain privileges supporting defense and security cooperation but does not entail any security commitment to that country.

Some of the privileges of MNNA status include eligibility for training, loans of equipment for cooperative research and development, and ultimately Foreign Military Financing for commercial leasing of certain defense articles. While the United States and the international community already provide significant security assistance to Afghanistan, in the long-term as Afghanistan takes on greater financial responsibility for its own security, MNNA status will be a critical catalyst for maintaining effective Afghan National Security Forces and building a robust peace-time security relationship between Afghanistan and the United States.

MNNA status is a symbol of the strong relationship between Afghanistan and the United States based on mutual respect and shared interests. It is a significant example of the United States’ long-term commitment to Afghanistan and our close cooperation.

PRESIDENT OBAMA HOSTS PARTY FOR TROOPS & FAMILIES AT THE WHITE HOUSE

FROM:  AMERICAN FORCES PRESS SERVICE 
President Hosts Troops, Families for Independence Day Party
WASHINGTON, July 5, 2012 - President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama hosted a Fourth of July party for hundreds of service members and their families on the South Lawn of the White House yesterday.

The partygoers enjoyed traditional holiday food and a concert by country music star Brad Paisley before taking in the fireworks display that lit up the nation's capital.
In remarks during the festivities, the president singled out one guest from each service for special recognition.

"We salute our soldiers, like Sgt. Alan Ruehs, who, in the midst of an enemy ambush in Afghanistan, risked his own life to save the lives of four others," he said. "We salute our sailors, like Petty Officer Taylor Morris, who suffered terrible wounds while serving in Afghanistan on an explosive ordnance disposal team, but who inspires us all through his incredible recovery. We salute an airman: Col. Charles Barnett, who led close to 200 combat missions in Afghanistan and still serves his country by volunteering to care for our fallen heroes at Arlington National Cemetery.

"We salute a Marine: Cpl. Alex Nguyen, who sustained serious injuries when his vehicle struck an IED in Afghanistan, but who carries on stronger than ever," he continued. "We salute a 'Coastie' from my hometown of Chicago: Lt. Cmdr. Michelle Watson, who was one of the first African-American women to graduate from the Coast Guard Academy and went on to perform exceptional service in Operation Enduring Freedom."

All of the invited service members represent a generation of heroes that has earned its place in history alongside the greatest generations, Obama said.
"Because of your service and sacrifice, all of our troops are now out of Iraq," he said. "Because of your service and sacrifice, we took the fight to al-Qaida and we brought Osama bin Laden to justice. Because of your service and sacrifice, we're transitioning out of Afghanistan. We will remain ready for any threat. That is all because of you."

PRESIDENT OBAMA PRAISES AIRMEN FIREFIGHTERS

FROM:  U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Obama Praises Airmen for Firefighting Efforts, Bravery
President Barack Obama reflected on the sacrifices made by airmen fighting wildfires in the Rocky Mountain region, calling them “heroes who deserve the appreciation of a grateful nation.” Obama made the statement in Washington, D.C., July 2, 2012, following the crash of a North Carolina Air National Guard C-130 aircraft flown by a crew battling a South Dakota wildfire.

PRESIDENT OBAMA SAYS FIREFIGHTING AIRMEN ARE HEROS

FROM:  AMERICAN FORCES PRESS SERVICE
Obama Calls Firefighting Airmen Heroes
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, July 2, 2012 - President Barack Obama released a statement today calling the airmen battling wildfires in the Rocky Mountain region "heroes who deserve the appreciation of a grateful nation."

The statement comes following a crash yesterday of a North Carolina Air National Guard C-130 as its crew was battling a wildfire in South Dakota.
Here is the president's statement:

Yesterday, a military C-130 from the North Carolina Air National Guard crashed while supporting firefighting efforts in South Dakota. The full details are still under investigation, but the crew of this flight – along with their families and loved ones – are in our thoughts and prayers.

The men and women battling these terrible fires across the West put their lives on the line every day for their fellow Americans. The airmen who attack these fires from above repeatedly confront dangerous conditions in an effort to give firefighters on the ground a chance to contain these wildfires – to save homes, businesses, schools, and entire communities. They are heroes who deserve the appreciation of a grateful nation.
I know Americans across the country share my concern for the well-being of the surviving members of the crew and my deep condolences to the families of those who lost their lives. And I know that Americans join me in expressing my deepest gratitude for the selfless determination they and thousands of men and women involved in this fight in states across the country demonstrate every day.

PRESIDENT OBAMA THANKED FIREFIGHTERS, VOWS TO MARSHAL FEDERAL GOVERNMENT

Photo:  Colorado Fire.  Credit:  U.S. Air Force Photo By Master Sgt. Jeremy Lock

FROM:  AMERICAN FORCES PRESS SERVICE
Obama: Employ All Resources to Fight Colorado Wildfires
WASHINGTON, June 30, 2012 - As President Barack Obama thanked firefighters and volunteers, and met with impacted families in wildfire-devastated areas in and around Colorado Springs, Colo., yesterday, he also vowed to marshal all federal resources -- including military -- to combat the fires.

"We're going to continue to make sure that the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Forest Service, our military and National Guard and all the resources that we have available at the federal level are brought to bear in fighting this fire," Obama said today in his weekly video address to the nation. He recorded this week's address during his Colorado visit.

The federal government has marshaled thousands of firefighters, hundreds of fire engines, and more than 100 aircraft, including 19 air tankers, to support firefighting efforts in a number of Western states including Colorado, White House officials noted.
Meanwhile, four Department of Defense C-130 aircraft equipped with U.S. Forest Service Modular Airborne Fire Fighting Systems and under the command and control of U.S. Northern Command are assisting in the efforts to control fires in the Rocky Mountain region at the request of the National Interagency Fire Center in Boise, Idaho, according to a Northcom news release issued today.

Northcom, based at Peterson Air Force Base, Colo., partners with other agencies to conduct homeland defense, civil support and security cooperation to defend and secure the United States and its interests.

Four additional MAFFS-equipped aircraft will be arriving later today to assist with firefighting efforts within the Rocky Mountain region, the Northcom release said.
As of early today, DOD aircraft have flown the following wildfire fighting missions in Colorado:

-- Waldo Canyon Fire, near Colorado Springs, Colo.: Fifty air drops, employing approximately 133,500 gallons of flame retardant;
-- Flagstaff Fire, near Boulder, Colo.,: Five air drops, employing about 13,200 gallons of flame retardant; and

-- Arapahoe National Forrest Fire, Colo.,: Six air drops, employing approximately 13,250 gallons of flame retardant.

Military units that conducted those missions are the 302nd Airlift Wing, Air Force Reserve, Peterson Air Force Base, Colo., and the Wyoming Air National Guard's 153rd Airlift Wing based in Cheyenne. Both units are currently flying missions out of Peterson Air Force Base, Colo.

The California Air National Guard's 146th Airlift Wing, from Channel Islands, and the North Carolina Air National Guard's 145th Airlift Wing, from Charlotte, will soon join the 153rd and the 302nd, military officials said.

This is the first time since 2008 that all eight military aircraft have been activated at one time, said Air Force Col. Jerry Champlin, 153rd Air Expeditionary Group commander. In that year, the aircraft were stationed at McClellan Airpark in Sacramento, Calif., to fight fires in that state.

Champlin, a member of the Wyoming Air National Guard, has tactical control over the MAFFS aircraft.
Although all eight C-130s will operate from Peterson Air Force Base for now, where they will drop fire retardant depends on the daily situation in the region, officials said. The U.S. Forest Service also may choose to base one or more aircraft in other operating areas.

PRESIDENT OBAMA DECLARES MAJOR DISASTER FOR COLORADO

FROM:  U.S. FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY
Release Date: June 29, 2012
President Declares Major Disaster for Colorado
WASHINGTON, D.C. --  The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) today announced that federal disaster assistance has been made available to Colorado to supplement state and local recovery efforts in the areas affected by the High Park and Waldo Canyon Fires beginning on June 9, 2012, and continuing.

Federal funding is available for Crisis Counseling and Disaster Unemployment Assistance for affected individuals in El Paso and Larimer counties impacted by the High Park and Waldo Canyon Fires.

Federal funding also is available to state, and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency protective measures, including direct federal assistance, for El Paso and Larimer counties impacted by the High Park and Waldo Canyon Fires.

Michael F. Byrne has been named as the Federal Coordinating Officer for federal recovery operations in the affected area.  Byrne said that damage surveys are continuing in other areas, and more counties and additional forms of assistance may be designated after the assessments are fully completed.

PRESIDENT AND FIRST LADY HAVE VISIT FROM WOMEN SUBMARINERS

FROM:  AMERICAN FORCES PRESS SERVICE
President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama greet the first contingent of women sailors to be assigned to the U.S. Navy's operational submarine force in the Blue Room of the White House, May 28, 2012. Also attending were Navy Adm. Mark Ferguson, left, Navy Secretary Ray Mabus and Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta, right. White House photo by Pete Souza  
Obamas Host Women Submariners, First Lady Sponsors Sub
By Lisa Daniel
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, May 29, 2012 - President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama yesterday welcomed the Navy's first contingent of women submariners to the White House as part of a busy Memorial Day schedule.

The 24 young women visited the White House, along with Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta, Navy Secretary Ray Mabus, and Navy Adm. Mark Ferguson, vice chief of naval operations, as part of a "Joining Forces" initiative. The first lady and Dr. Jill Biden, wife of Vice President Joe Biden, started the Joining Forces campaign last year to rally Americans to honor, recognize and serve military families.

As part of the meeting, the first lady accepted Mabus' invitation to serve as the sponsor of the future USS Illinois (SSN 786), a Virginia-class submarine -- the Navy's newest class of attack submarine -- being built in Groton, Connecticut and Newport News, Virginia. Illinois is expected to join the fleet in late 2015.

In sponsoring USS Illinois, Obama joins a tradition of first lady sponsorships of Navy submarines. First Lady Laura Bush is USS Texas' (SSN 775) sponsor and christened it in 2004; First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton is USS Columbia's (SSN 771) sponsor and christened it in 1994.

"As sponsor, the first lady will establish a special link to Illinois, her sailors, and their families that extends throughout the life of the submarine," a White House press release says.

"It's an honor and a privilege to serve as sponsor of the USS Illinois," the first lady said yesterday. "I'm always inspired by the service and sacrifice of the men and women of the Navy, as well as the families who support them. This submarine is a tribute to the strength, courage, and determination that our Navy families exhibit every day."
"Naval tradition holds that a sponsor's spirit and presence guide the ship and her crew throughout the life of the ship," Mabus said. "Illinois and her crew are blessed to have such a wonderful sponsor and I am grateful Mrs. Obama accepted my invitation to serve as sponsor for this submarine."

The first lady also serves as the sponsor for the recently commissioned Coast Guard Cutter Stratton, based in Alameda, Calif. The ship is named after Captain Dorothy Stratton, the director of the Coast Guard Women's Reserve during World War II where she oversaw 10,000 enlisted women and 1,000 commissioned officers.
In 2009, Mabus announced that for the first time in U.S. Navy history, women would be assigned to the operational submarine force.

The 24 women who met with the president and first lady were accepted into the Navy's nuclear submarine program after completing intensive training. They are serving on ballistic and guided missile submarines throughout the Navy.

PRESIDENT OBAMA URGES AMERICANS TO REMEMBER SACRIFICES ON MEMORIAL DAY

Photo:  Marine Plays Taps At Arlington National Cemetery.  Credit:  U.S. Marine Corps.  

FROM:  AMERICAN FORCES PRESS SERVICE

Obama: Remember Veterans Past, Present on Memorial Day

By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, May 26, 2012 - President Barack Obama today urged all Americans to remember those who sacrificed for the country and to help service members still feeling the effects of war.

In his Saturday address, the president reminded Americans that Memorial Day is more than just a well-earned three-day weekend. "In town squares and national cemeteries, in public services and moments of quiet reflection, we will honor those who loved their country enough to sacrifice their own lives for it," he said.

On Monday, Obama will place a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery. The ceremony honors all Americans who died in war from those at Concord and Lexington to Baghdad and Kandahar.

Later in the day, he will participate in a ceremony at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial here marking the 50th anniversary of the war that claimed 58,000 Americans. "It's another chance to honor those we lost at places like Hue, Khe Sanh, Danang and Hamburger Hill," he said. "And we'll be calling on you — the American people — to join us in thanking our Vietnam veterans in your communities."

But even as Americans remember those who died, they need to remember the veterans who also sacrificed, the president said. Hundreds of thousands of service members have served in Iraq and Afghanistan, tens of thousands of them have been wounded.

"We have to serve them and their families as well as they have served us: By making sure that they get the healthcare and benefits they need; by caring for our wounded warriors and supporting our military families; and by giving veterans the chance to go to college, find a good job, and enjoy the freedom that they risked everything to protect," he said.

The country owes these Americans for their service, Obama said. "Our men and women in uniform took an oath to defend our country at all costs, and today, as members of the finest military the world has ever known, they uphold that oath with dignity and courage," he said.

Americans need to let these veterans and their families know they are appreciated and cherished. "On Memorial Day, we come together as Americans to let these families and veterans know that they are not alone," the president said. "We give thanks for those who sacrificed everything so that we could be free. And we commit ourselves to upholding the ideals for which so many patriots have fought and died."

MEMORIAL DAY, A DAY OF REFLECTION

Photo:  Annapolis National Cemetery.  Credit:  U.S. Department of Defense.
FROM:  U.S. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
Memorial Day – When America Remembers
Reflecting on the Sacrifice of America’s Fallen Warriors
Memorial Day is a time for somber remembrance of the loved ones who died in the service of their nation.

Memorial Day is the Federal holiday celebrated the last Monday of each May to honor the men and women who died while serving in the military.

Unlike Veterans Day, which is held each November 11 to honor all Veterans, Memorial Day represents a time for the nation to pause, remember and honor the service of deceased Veterans and military members who died on active duty.

Memorial Day is a time when people visit cemeteries and memorials. Many cemeteries will host ceremonies of remembrance, which are usually coordinated on the local level by officials at those cemeteries.
                                                                            Photo:  Corinth National Cemetery.  Credit:  Wikimedia.
The holiday was originally called Decoration Day, when the tradition of decorating the graves of Union and Confederate Veterans began. It still brings loved ones to the graves of the deceased, often with flowers.

“I call on all Americans to come together to honor the men and women who gave their lives so that we may live free, and to strive for a just and lasting peace in our world.”
— President Barack Obama

More than 100,000 people are expected to attend activities at VA’s national cemeteries with color guards, readings, bands, and choir performances. Events will honor about one million men and women who died in the military during wartime, including about 655,000 battle deaths.

National cemetery staff and volunteers typically place American flags on each grave.
At Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia, soldiers from the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment based at Fort Myer, Va. — the famed “Old Guard” — traditionally decorate each grave with a small American flag.

Remembering Fallen Warriors
On Memorial Day at 3 p.m., local time around the nation, Americans will pause for the annual Moment of Remembrance to pause and reflect on the sacrifice of America’s fallen warriors and the freedoms that unite Americans.

The Department of Veterans Affairs maintains approximately three million gravesites at its 131 national cemeteries and has the potential to provide six million graves on more than 19,000 acres in 39 states and Puerto Rico, as well as 33 soldier’s lots and monument sites.

PRESIDENT OBAMA PROCLAIMS 50 ANNIVERSARY OF VIETNAM WAR

Vietnam War Memorial Aerial View.  Credit: U.S. Government
FROM:  AMERICAN FORCES PRESS SERVICE
President Proclaims 50th Anniversary of the Vietnam War
WASHINGTON, May 25, 2012 - In a proclamation issued today, President Barack Obama urged Americans to remember the courage and sacrifice of U.S. military members who served during the Vietnam War, and he declared May 28, 2012, through November 11, 2025, as the Commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of the Vietnam War.

In his proclamation, Obama called upon federal, state, and local officials "to honor our Vietnam veterans, our fallen, our wounded, those unaccounted for, our former prisoners of war, their families, and all who served with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities" during the 13-year commemoration.

"As we observe the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War, we reflect with solemn reverence upon the valor of a generation that served with honor," Obama said in his proclamation. "We pay tribute to the more than 3 million servicemen and women who left their families to serve bravely, a world away from everything they knew and everyone they loved.

"From Ia Drang to Khe Sanh, from Hue to Saigon and countless villages in between, they pushed through jungles and rice paddies, heat and monsoon, fighting heroically to protect the ideals we hold dear as Americans," the president continued. "Through more than a decade of combat, over air, land, and sea, these proud Americans upheld the highest traditions of our armed forces."

Today, grateful Americans "honor more than 58,000 patriots -- their names etched in black granite -- who sacrificed all they had and all they would ever know," Obama said. "We draw inspiration from the heroes who suffered unspeakably as prisoners of war, yet who returned home with their heads held high. We pledge to keep faith with those who were wounded and still carry the scars of war, seen and unseen. With more than 1,600 of our service members still among the missing, we pledge as a nation to do everything in our power to bring these patriots home.

"In the reflection of The Wall," he continued, "we see the military family members and veterans who carry a pain that may never fade. May they find peace in knowing their loved ones endure, not only in medals and memories, but in the hearts of all Americans, who are forever grateful for their service, valor, and sacrifice."
Obama urged citizens to "renew our sacred commitment to those who answered our country's call in Vietnam and those who awaited their safe return."

Beginning on Memorial Day, May 28, 2012, he said, the federal government will partner with local governments, private organizations, and communities across America to participate in the Commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of the Vietnam War.

The 13-year commemoration, he added, will "honor and give thanks to a generation of proud Americans who saw our country through one of the most challenging missions we have ever faced."

No amount of words will ever be enough or fully worthy in praising military members for their service in the Vietnam War, nor any honor truly befitting their sacrifice, Obama said.

However, "it is never too late to pay tribute to the men and women who answered the call of duty with courage and valor," he said, adding it's also important to "renew our commitment to the fullest possible accounting for those who have not returned."

Obama urged all Americans to provide "our Vietnam veterans, their families, and all who have served the fullest respect and support of a grateful nation."

PRESIDENT OBAMA CONGRATULATES AIR FORCE ACADEMY GRADUATING CLASS

(U.S. Air Force graphic, photo/Mike Kaplan) 
FROM:  AMERICAN FORCES PRESS SERVICE
Obama Congratulates U.S. Air Force Academy Graduates
By Army Sgt. 1st Class Tyrone C. Marshall Jr.
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, May 23, 2012 - President Barack Obama addressed the U.S. Air Force Academy's graduating Class of 2012 today, reminding them of the Air Force's critical role and congratulating them as they prepare to build on a new era of American leadership.
"It's great to be back at a school that has produced so many of the airmen I've known as president," Obama said on the school's campus in Colorado Springs, Colo. "Every day I rely on outstanding academy graduates who serve at the White House."

The president noted "great" airmen serving the country such as Brig. Gen. Marshall B. Webb, who is prominently featured in the photo of White House's Situation Room taken the day Osama bin Laden was killed in Pakistan by Navy SEALs.

Obama also pointed out that he presented the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy to the academy's Fighting Falcons football team for a second straight year, and record 18th time, and highlighted the service of academy graduates serving aboard Air Force One, such as his pilot, Air Force Col. Scott Turner.

Obama said this visit to the Air Force Academy, his second, brought the class full circle as the cadets were preparing to go to Jacks Valley, a wooded training area on the academy's grounds, for field training in 2008.

"So I was proud to be here when you began this journey, and I thought I'd come back and help you celebrate at the end," he said.

"You survived. In you, we see the values of integrity and service and excellence that will define your lives," Obama said. "And I know you couldn't have made it without the love and support of your moms and dads and brothers and sisters and grandmas, grandpas, aunts, uncles, cousins."

Four years ago when the cadets entered the academy was a time of "extraordinary challenge for our nation," Obama said.

"Our forces were engaged in two wars," he said. "Al-Qaida, which had attacked us on 9/11, was entrenched in their safe havens. Many of our alliances were strained, and our standing in the world had suffered."

The U.S. economy at that time was "in the worst recession since the Great Depression," Obama continued. "Around the world, and here at home, there were those that questioned whether the United States still had the capacity for global leadership."

Today, the cadets are stepping forward into a "different world," the president said.
"You are the first class in nine years that will graduate into a world where there are no Americans fighting in Iraq," he said. "For the first time in your lives, and thanks to Air Force personnel who did their part, Osama bin Laden is no longer a threat to our country."
"We've put al-Qaida on the path to defeat, and you are the first graduates since 9/11 who can clearly see how we'll end the war in Afghanistan," Obama added.

The president said all of this means the 180,000 troops serving in Iraq and Afghanistan four years ago now number less than half of that figure.

"As more Afghans step up, more of our troops will come home, while achieving the objective that led us to war in the first place, and that is defeating al-Qaida and denying them safe haven," Obama said. "So we aren't just ending these wars; we are doing so in a way that makes us safer and stronger."
The president also commended the graduating class for two achievements at "one of the most demanding academic institutions in America."

This year, the academy boasts "the largest number of graduates ever to go directly on to graduate school [and] the largest number of female graduates in academy history," Obama noted. "You will follow in the footsteps of General Janet Wolfenbarger, who I was proud to nominate as the first female four-star general in Air Force history."

Obama said the cadets are joining "the finest, most capable military the world has ever known [and] no other nation even comes close."

Though the war in Afghanistan is drawing to a close, Obama cautioned the cadets that there are still terrorists in the world who seek to kill Americans.

"And so, guided by our new defense strategy, we'll keep our military and our Air Force fast and flexible and versatile," he said. "We will maintain our military superiority in all areas -- air, land, sea, space and cyber. And we will keep faith with our forces and our military families."

PRESIDENT PROCLAIMS MAY 19TH AS ARMED FORCES DAY

Photo Credit:  White House

FROM:  AMERICAN FORCES PRESS SERVICE

President Issues Armed Forces Day Proclamation

WASHINGTON, May 18, 2012 - In a proclamation issued today declaring May 19 as Armed Forces Day, President Barack Obama urged all Americans to recognize and honor U.S. military members for their "unparalleled service" in defense of the nation.

"With every assignment and in every theater, America's men and women in uniform perform their duties with the utmost dignity, honor, and professionalism," Obama said in his proclamation. "Through their dauntless courage and dedication, they live up to our nation's highest ideals in even the most perilous circumstances."

On Armed Forces Day, he continued, Americans "pay tribute to the unparalleled service of our armed forces and recall the extraordinary feats they accomplish in defense of our nation."

America's service members, Obama said, "set extraordinary examples of character for those whose freedom they protect. Together, they comprise the greatest force for freedom and security the world has ever known."

From boot camp to the thick of battle, U.S. service members "look to those with which they stand, shoulder-to-shoulder, knowing they rise and fall as one team. United in their love of country, they teach us the true meaning of words like duty, honor, and strength," The president said in his proclamation.

Besides being leaders and troops, patriots and heroes, U.S. service members "are also parents, spouses, partners, sons, and daughters," Obama said.

"Their families are just as vital to their success as their brothers and sisters in arms, and our debt of gratitude extends to them as well," he added. "As we celebrate the soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines, and Coast Guardsmen who make our way of life possible, we also pay our deepest respect to their families, our missing, our wounded, and our fallen.

"Inspired by their service and humbled by their sacrifice," Obama said, "let us recommit to providing all those who have served our nation the support they deserve."

PRESIDENT OBAMA WELCOMES NEW STAGE IN AFGHAN SECURITY TRASITION

FROM:  AMERICAN FORCES PRESS SERVICE
Obama Welcomes New Stage of Afghan Security Transition
WASHINGTON, May 13, 2012 - President Barack Obama welcomed Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai's announcement of his government's list of areas intended for the third stage of the transition of security responsibility from NATO's International Security Assistance Force to Afghan security forces.

"I welcome President Karzai's announcement today of the third tranche of areas to transition to Afghan security lead, which is an important step forward in our effort to achieve our objectives in Afghanistan," Obama said in a statement issued today.

"As transition proceeds in these areas," Obama said, "nearly 75 percent of the population of Afghanistan will be living in provinces, districts and villages where Afghan forces are leading."

The Afghan government will now enter the third of five tranches or stages, as they continue to move forward in the process of taking the responsibility of national security, ISAF officials said in a news release issued today.

Meanwhile, Afghanistan's national security forces "are strengthening their capacity as we remain on track to meet our goal of having the Afghan government fully responsible for security across the country by the end of 2014," Obama said in his statement.

A week from now, Obama said, world leaders will gather at the May 20-21 NATO Summit in Chicago "to discuss how we can effectively advance the transition process as our forces move from combat to a support role and demonstrate our enduring support for the Afghan government and Afghan National Security Forces."

Obama said he "looks forward to meeting with President Karzai and my fellow leaders in Chicago to discuss these critical steps that will strengthen Afghan sovereignty while responsibly winding down the war."