AFRICOM AND STATE PARTNERSHIPS

FROM:  AMERICAN FORCES PRESS SERVICE
Army Sgt. 1st Class Paul Deegan, right, leads Warrant Officer Class 1 Benjamin Afful and Sgt. Maj. Richard Kyere-Yeboah of Ghana's army off of the pop-up target M-16 marksmanship range at Camp Grafton Training Center in Devils Lake, N.D., Sept. 18, 2011. Afful and Kyere-Yeboah visited North Dakota as part of an engineer instructor exchange under the Defense Department-sponsored State Partnership Program. North Dakota and Ghana have been partners under the program since 2004. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class David Dodds  

State Partnership Program Supports Africom's Theater Engagement
By Donna Miles
STUTTGART, Germany, July 6, 2012 - When a pro-democracy revolution swept Tunisia, launching what became known as the Arab Spring, the Tunisian military looked to its U.S. partner, the Wyoming National Guard, for help in teaching democratic values to the country's youth.

The Wyoming Guard had the perfect tool at its disposal: the National Guard's Youth Challenge program, which has been instilling values, skills, education and discipline in at-risk youth since 1993 with a goal of helping them lead successful, productive lives.

The Wyoming Guard "was immediately able to offer this program of instruction and this experience to assist the Tunisians in establishing a similar program," Army Maj. Gen. Charles Hooper, U.S. Africa Command's director of strategy, plans and programs, told American Forces Press Service at the command headquarters here. "So that is the kind of experiences, relationships, skills and capabilities that our state partners bring to our African partners."

With no permanently assigned forces and increasing budgetary constraints, Army Gen. Carter F. Ham, the Africom commander, is hoping to expand the popular State Partnership Program to increase the command's engagement across the African continent.
Ham called himself "a big fan" of the program during recent congressional testimony and said he hopes to expand the number of partnerships in Africa from the current eight to 10.
"In our efforts to strengthen defense capabilities of African partners, the National Guard State Partnership Program is an incredibly important component," he said. "We have very strong state partnership programs that contribute very significantly to our training and exercise programs."

Ham reported that he has asked the National Guard Bureau chief, Air Force Gen. Craig R. McKinley, to add two additional partners this year, including possibly one for Libya.
"That might be a place where we could apply a State Partnership Program to great effect," he told the Senate Armed Services Committee in March. "So we will continue to look for opportunities such as that."

McKinley has called the State Partnership Program, initially formed in 1993 to support former Soviet bloc countries after the Soviet Union collapsed, the crown jewel of the Guard's international engagement. Citing the program's high impact at a relatively low cost -- the exact type of engagement the Defense Department's new strategic guidance promotes -- McKinley said he, too, would like to expand it to promote mutual security cooperation with partners and allies around the world.

Navy Adm. James A. Winnefeld Jr., vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, shares Ham's and McKinley's enthusiasm about the program. "It's proven to be a very, very valuable high-leverage tool for us," he said earlier this year, after the release of the new strategy. "So we plan to build on things like that to help us on these innovative approaches to other parts of the world."

The State Partnership Program includes partnerships with 63 countries within Africom, U.S. European Command, U.S. Southern Command, U.S. Central Command, U.S. Pacific Command and U.S. Northern Command areas of responsibility.

Africom currently has eight partnerships. The California National Guard is partnered with Nigeria; the New York National Guard with South Africa; the North Carolina Guard with Botswana; the North Dakota National Guard with Ghana; the Michigan National Guard with Liberia; the Vermont National Guard with Senegal; the Utah National Guard with Morocco; and the Wyoming National Guard with Tunisia.

Since Africom's inception in 2008, the State Partnership Program has been vital to its theater engagement strategy.

"What it brings to our toolbox is continuity," Hooper said. "It creates long-term relationships between the state partners and their African partners."
Hooper has seen firsthand the close bonds that form between National Guard participants, who don't typically rotate between assignments as frequently as their active-duty counterparts, and the African militaries they work with.

"In all of these relationships, the states bring the very best of their practices," he said. Along with military skills training that helps build capacity on the continent, he said the Guard also provides role models for African militaries.

In Liberia, for example, the Michigan National Guard is providing 24 members in support of Operation Onward Liberty, a joint venture between the U.S. Marine Corps, Air Force and Army to help Liberia's armed forces build capacity to defend their borders and their neighbors.

Last spring, North Dakota National Guard members demonstrated to the forces and civilian disaster-management experts in Ghana how the Guard supports civilian-led disaster response efforts -- in this case, during an actual snowstorm and major flooding in Fargo, N.D.

Although their climates are worlds apart, North Dakota and Ghana deal with similar disasters, including floods, drought and windstorms, a participating Guardsman noted.
In December, a team of North Carolina National Guardsmen traveled to Gaborone, Botswana, to share the U.S. experience in integrating military intelligence into operations with Botswana.

"Relationships count, and that's what makes the State Partnership Program so valuable," Hooper said. "It's the long-term relationships between the state partners and their African partners."

US Navy Videos SECNAV Discusses Great Green Fleet

US Navy Videos

STRESS AND REINTEGRATION FROM A WAR ENVIRONMENT

FROM:  AMERICAN FORCES PRESS SERVICE

Family Matters Blog: Taking Stress Out of Reintegration

By Lisa Daniel

WASHINGTON, July 2, 2012 - The Defense Department is working to "fundamentally transform" the nation's understanding of the invisible wounds of war, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta has said, and nowhere is that more apparent than at the Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological and Traumatic Brain Injury.

DCoE is out in front on recognizing psychological problems among service members and recently began reaching out to military members and their families through social networking.

One event, now common in military family life -- that also can be largely misunderstood -- is a service member's redeployment home. Navy Lt. Cmdr. Dana Lee, a counselor in reintegration and deployment health at DCoE in Silver Spring, Md., recently took part in a Facebook chat with families about how to give service members a smooth transition back into their home life.

People often have unrealistic views of how a redeployment will be, Lee told me in a follow-up interview. "A lot of people think of it as a series of positive events," she said. "You're reunited with your family and friends, you're going back to your favorite restaurants and activities."

But returning to the routine of home life after war also can be a "period of extended stressors," she added. "There are expectations that come with coming back. When you're deployed, you're focused on mission completion. There are different routines at home."

A lot of things happen in the months that a service member is away, Lee explained. The kids have grown and changed, maybe the house is different, there may be a new car, and the couple's relationship may have changed.

Many couples – or one member of the couple – may want to dash off to Disney World or throw a big party or family reunion for what many see as the ultimate celebration. But some redeploying service members may need down time to decompress, Lee said.

Communication is key to understanding what the service member wants and needs, Lee said. "Include your service member in the planning process so they can have a say in what is happening," she said.

While some reintegrated troops are ready for a big welcome-home party, some may be exhausted or overwhelmed by that, Lee said. "Some people when they just get back, all they want to do is catch up on their sleep," she said. "Some may sleep 20 hours a day for a few days just to catch up.

"The service member may be thinking, 'I just want to get the basics done: relax, sleep, have a good burger.'"

Reintegration should be viewed as a process, rather than a timed event, Lee said. There is no set time in which a service member should feel fully acclimated, she said.

Reintegration affects the whole family, Lee said, and family members should understand that it is OK to spend time apart. "It's OK to look at your routines and do what you need to do for yourselves," she said.

Families should talk about the changes openly and, if a service member is deployed, start the conversation then. "The conversation should not start as soon as the service member gets back," she said.

It is common for troops to have disagreements or flashbacks as they reintegrate, Lee said. Some signs that a service member may need professional help with reintegration is if he or she has excessive anger, depression, symptoms of post-traumatic stress, is using illegal drugs or misusing prescription drugs, or drinking alcohol excessively, she said.

"It goes back to functioning," Lee said. "If you notice increased anger and it's really not the same person you knew before deployment, and the anger is impacting family relationships, or if they are isolating themselves," then it may be time to reach out to a counselor or clergy members, she said.

"We know that when you break your leg, you're going seek treatment," Lee said. "But it's also vital that people with invisible wounds seek help, too."

U.S.-TIMOR-LESTE RELATIONS

Map Credit:  U.S. State Department
FROM:  U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT 

U.S.-TIMOR-LESTE RELATIONS

Timor-Leste became an independent nation in 2002, following over four hundred years of Portuguese colonization, twenty-four years of Indonesian occupation, and three years of United Nations transitional administration. The country faces the challenge of building a strong democracy and vibrant economy against a background of still-fragile institutions and limited human capital. The United States and Timor-Leste enjoy excellent bilateral relations based on shared interests and values, and the United States is committed to strengthening and deepening this partnership.

U.S. Assistance to Timor-Leste

The United States has a large bilateral development assistance program and is also a major donor member to a number of multilateral agencies active in Timor-Leste such as the United Nations, Asian Development Bank, and World Bank. U.S. assistance focuses on bolstering stability by strengthening the foundations of good governance, accelerating economic growth, improving the health of the Timorese people, and supporting the professionalization of the Timorese security forces.

Bilateral Economic Relations

Timor-Leste is one of the least developed countries in the world and there is little direct trade with the United States. The economy is dependent on government spending (financed by petroleum revenues) and, to a lesser extent, assistance from international donors including the United States. Private sector development has lagged due to human capital shortages, infrastructure weakness, an incomplete legal system, and an inefficient regulatory environment. The U.S. Overseas Private Investment Corporation and the Government of Timor-Leste have signed an Investment Incentive Agreement. The major U.S. investor in Timor-Leste is ConocoPhillips; its Bayu-Undan gas condensate development is located in the Timor Sea joint petroleum development area between Timor-Leste and Australia. The second largest export is coffee, which generates about $10 million a year for farmers. Starbucks Coffee Company is a major purchaser of Timorese coffee.

Timor-Leste's Membership in International Organizations

Timor-Leste's foreign policy places high priority on its relationships with Indonesia, Australia, other neighbors, and friendly countries and donors. Timor-Leste and the United States belong to many of the same international organizations, including the United Nations, Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Regional Forum, Asia/Pacific Group on Money Laundering, International Monetary Fund, and World Bank. Timor-Leste applied for ASEAN membership in 2011, but an ASEAN decision to admit the nation is still pending.

Bilateral Representation

The U.S. Ambassador to Timor-Leste is Judith R. Fergin;

THE FUTURE HAND GRENADE

FROM:  DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE ARMED WITH SCIENCE
Soldiers engage in grenade training. The hand grenade is familiar to the general public by virtue of its frequent appearance in countless war movies. Yet the basic technology is almost 100 years old. A Picatinny arsenal engineer wants to give a modern face-lift to the warhorse of warfare. (By U.S. Army photo)



Written on JUNE 28, 2012 AT 7:04 AM by JTOZER
Improving The Hand Grenade
As far as the design of the basic hand grenade goes, essentially it has been frozen in time.
The first pull-pin design with a lever and delayed fuze dates back to May 1915 and is often referred to as the grandfather to the current variation.

“The basic technology is almost 100 years old,” said Richard Lauch, a Picatinny Arsenal engineer, referring to the Mills Bomb No. 5.

The Mills bomb is the popular name for a series of prominent British hand grenades.  They were the first modern fragmentation grenades and named after William Mills, a hand grenade designer.

Lauch, who served in the U.S. Marine Corps, has been on a mission to modernize the hand grenade so that it is safer as well as easier to use and cheaper to produce.

During the last year and half of his Marine service, Lauch was primary marksmanship instructor in the Weapons Training Battalion at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego, Calif.

While he was assisting in training recruits on the proper use of the M67 hand grenade, Lauch became intimately familiar with what he saw as the grenade’s deficiencies.

The current grenade fuze design only allows for a right-handed user to throw it in the upright position. A lefty has to hold the grenade upside down to safely pull the pin.

Also, the current fuze consists of an explosive train that is in-line from production through usage; thus, it is always “armed.”

In a grenade, the explosive train is the sequence of events that begins when the handle is released. That initiates a mechanical strike on a primer, which ignites a slow-burning fuze to provide time for the grenade to be thrown before the fuze sets off the primary explosive.

In an “in-line” explosive train, the sequence is always in-place and ready.  Until it is removed, a pin in the handle is the only thing that prevents the sequence from being initiated.

Lauch believes his design is safer because a lefty or righty holds the grenade no differently, and because the grenade can only be armed by rotating the explosive chain in line.

FOOD SAFTY AFTER WEATHER EMERGENCY

Photo Credit:  Wikimedia.
FROM:  U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
USDA Offers Food Safety Tips In Aftermath of Devastating Storm 
WASHINGTON, July 2, 2012—The USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is issuing food safety recommendations for affected residents recovering from a devastating storm that has left millions without power in states stretching from as far west as Ohio through Virginia and West Virginia to New Jersey.

"In the wake of this past weekend's storms we want to make sure that those without power are taking the necessary precautions to avoid foodborne illness," USDA Under Secretary for Food Safety Dr. Elisabeth Hagen said. "Consumers without power or access to a computer can get good food safety tips on their smartphones using our Mobile Ask Karen app."

Steps to follow to prepare for a possible weather emergency:
Keep an appliance thermometer in the refrigerator and freezer to help determine if food is safe during power outages. The refrigerator temperature should be 40° F or lower and the freezer should be 0° F or lower.
Store food on shelves that will be safely out of the way of contaminated water in case of flooding.
Group food together in the freezer—this helps the food stay cold longer.
Freeze refrigerated items such as leftovers, milk and fresh meat and poultry that you may not need immediately—this helps keep them at a safe temperature longer.
Purchase or make ice and store in the freezer for use in the refrigerator or in a cooler. Freeze gel packs ahead of time for use in coolers.
Plan ahead and know where dry ice and block ice can be purchased.
Have coolers on hand to keep refrigerator food cold if the power will be out for more than 4 hours.

Steps to follow if the power goes out:
Keep the refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible.
A refrigerator will keep food cold for about 4 hours if you keep the door closed.
A full freezer will keep its temperature for about 48 hours (24 hours if half-full).
If the power is out for an extended period of time, buy dry or block ice to keep the refrigerator as cold as possible. Fifty pounds of dry ice should keep a fully-stocked 18-cubic-feet freezer cold for two days.

Steps to follow after a weather emergency:
Check the temperature in the refrigerator and freezer. If the thermometer reads 40° F or below, the food is safe.
If no thermometer was used in the freezer, check each package. If food still contains ice crystals or is at 40° F or below when checked with a food thermometer, it may be safely refrozen.
Discard any perishable food (such as meat, poultry, fish, soft cheeses, milk, eggs, leftovers and deli items) that have been kept in a refrigerator or freezer above 40° F for two hours or more.
Discard any food that is not in a waterproof container if there is any chance that it has come into contact with flood water. Containers that are not waterproof include those with screw-caps, snap lids, pull tops, and crimped caps. Discard wooden cutting boards, plastic utensils, baby bottle nipples and pacifiers.
Thoroughly wash all metal pans, ceramic dishes and utensils that came in contact with flood water with hot soapy water and sanitize by boiling them in clean water or by immersing them for 15 minutes in a solution of 1 tablespoon of unscented, liquid chlorine bleach per gallon of drinking water.
Undamaged, commercially prepared foods in all-metal cans and retort pouches (for example, flexible, shelf-stable juice or seafood pouches) can be saved. Follow the Steps to Salvage All-Metal Cans and Retort Pouches in the publication "Keeping Food Safe During an Emergency" at: www.fsis.usda.gov/Fact_Sheets/
Keeping_Food_Safe_During_an_Emergency/index.asp
Use bottled water that has not been exposed to flood waters. If bottled water is not available, tap water can be boiled for safety.
Never taste food to determine its safety!
When in Doubt, throw it Out!

An FSIS Public Service Announcement (PSA) illustrating practical food safety recommendations for handling and consuming foods stored in refrigerators and freezers during and after a power outage is available in 30- and 60-second versions at www.fsis.usda.gov/news/Food_Safety_PSA. News organizations and power companies can obtain hard copy (Beta and DVD) versions of the PSA by contacting FSIS' Food Safety Education Staff at (301) 344-4757.

Videos about food safety during power outages are available in English, Spanish, and American Sign Language on FSIS' YouTube channel, www.youtube.com/USDAFoodSafety. Podcasts regarding food safety during severe weather, power outages, and flooding are available English and Spanish on FSIS' website at www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_Events/
Food_Safety_at_Home_Podcasts.

Consumers with food safety questions can "Ask Karen," the FSIS virtual representative available 24 hours a day atwww.AskKaren.gov or m.AskKaren.gov on your smartphone. Mobile Ask Karen can also be downloaded from the Android app store. Consumers can email, chat with a live representative, or call the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline directly from the app. To use these features on the app, simply choose "Contact Us" from the menu. The live chat option and the toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline, 1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854), are available in English and Spanish from l0 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET Monday through Friday.

SEC ALLEGES A SCHEME INVOLVING BRIBING STOCK BROKERS TO INCREASE STOCK PRICE

FROM:  U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Thursday, July 5, 2012
CEO of Axius Inc. and Finance Professional Indicted for Alleged Roles in Scheme to Bribe Stock Brokers and Manipulate Stock Prices
WASHINGTON – The chief executive officer (CEO) of Axius Inc., a Nevada corporation, and a finance professional were indicted today on multiple charges for their alleged roles in a scheme to bribe stock brokers and manipulate the share price of Axius stock, announced Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney Loretta E. Lynch for the Eastern District of New York.

Roland Kaufmann, a Swiss citizen and the CEO of Axius, and Jean-Pierre Neuhaus, a Swiss citizen and finance professional, were each charged in an indictment filed today in the Eastern District of New York with one count of conspiracy to commit securities fraud and to violate the Travel Act, one count of securities fraud, one count of wire fraud, one count of violating the Travel Act, one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering and one count of money laundering.  According to court documents, Axius is incorporated in Nevada and its principal offices are in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.  Axius is a “holding company and business incubator” that develops other businesses.

“As CEO of Axius, Mr. Kaufmann allegedly conspired with Mr. Neuhaus to fraudulently manipulate the value of his company’s stock,” said Assistant Attorney General Breuer.  “According to today’s indictment, he attempted to bribe stock brokers into artificially propping up the value of Axius stock.  With our partners in the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section is pursuing a nationwide effort to investigate and prosecute fraudulent conduct in our securities markets.”

“Rather than rely on the market to set the true value of Axius’ stock, the defendants allegedly sought to buy the best price possible through bribery and deception,” said U.S. Attorney Lynch.  “Their scheme stood to enrich themselves at the expense of the investing public.  We will vigorously investigate and prosecute any such corruption in the securities markets.”

“Conspiring to inflate the price of Axius shares artificially was likely to result in unjust enrichment for the defendants and undeserved losses for investors,” said Assistant Director-in-Charge Janice K. Fedarcyk of the FBI in New York.  “Market-driven fluctuations in share prices are risks investors have to accept. Illegal manipulations become the subject of FBI investigations.”

The indictment alleges that Kaufmann, 60, agreed with Neuhaus, 55, to defraud investors in Axius common stock by bribing stock brokers and manipulating the share price.  As part of the scheme, they enlisted the assistance of an individual they believed to have access to a group of corrupt stock brokers; this individual was in fact an undercover law enforcement agent.  Kaufmann and Neuhaus believed that the undercover agent controlled a network of stockbrokers in the United States with discretionary authority to trade stocks on behalf of their clients.

The indictment alleges that Kaufmann and Neuhaus instructed the undercover agent to direct brokers to purchase Axius shares that were owned or controlled by Kaufmann in return for a secret kickback of approximately 26 to 28 percent of the share price.  Kaufmann and Neuhaus allegedly instructed the undercover agent as to the price the brokers should pay for the stock, and Kaufmann specifically instructed the undercover agent that the brokers would have to pay gradually higher prices for the shares they were buying.  The indictment alleges that Kaufmann and Neuhaus directed the undercover agent that the brokers were to refrain from selling the Axius shares they purchased on behalf of their clients for a one-year period.  By preventing sales of Axius stock, Kaufmann and Neuhaus allegedly intended to maintain the fraudulently inflated share price for Axius stock.

Kaufmann and Neuhaus were originally charged in a criminal complaint filed in the Eastern District of New York on March 8, 2012.  They were arrested on March 8, 2012.  No investors were actually defrauded in the undercover operation.

In a related action, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) today filed a civil enforcement action against Kaufmann and Neuhaus in the Eastern District of New York.  The department thanks the SEC for its cooperation in this matter.

U.S.-BRUNEI RELATIONS

Map Credit:  U.S. State Department.
FROM:  U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
U.S. Relations With Brunei
Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs
Fact Sheet
July 3, 2012
In 1850, the United States and Brunei concluded a Treaty of Peace, Friendship, Commerce and Navigation, which remains in force. In 1984, Brunei became a fully independent state following a century of partial autonomy under the United Kingdom. The United States opened an embassy in Brunei upon the country's independence. A memorandum of understanding on defense cooperation was signed in 1994. Brunei's armed forces engage in joint exercises, training programs, and other military cooperation with the United States. Bruneian military personnel have attended U.S. military academies.
The two countries work closely together on a bilateral and regional agenda to tackle some of the most pressing issues. They also have cooperated to increase English language instruction in Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries, promote commercial interests, and expand educational opportunities and people-to-people connections. The United States shares Brunei’s commitment to the environment and supports the Heart of Borneo rainforest conservation initiative.

U.S. Assistance to Brunei
The United States provides no foreign assistance to Brunei.

Bilateral Economic Relations
Brunei encourages foreign investment in the domestic economy through various incentives, marketing opportunities for investors in new industries and economic activities, although oil and gas and government spending still account for most economic activity. Brunei's non-petroleum industries include agriculture, forestry, fishing, aquaculture, and banking. U.S. firms are consulting on aquaculture projects. Bilateral trade is expanding and the United States was the third-largest supplier of imports to Brunei in 2009. Brunei's garment-for-export industry has been shrinking since the United States eliminated its garment quota system at the end of 2004. However, with 75% of total garment exports valued at $66 million, the United States remains the largest export market for garments.

Brunei's Membership in International Organizations
Brunei gives its ASEAN membership the highest priority in its foreign relations. The United States and Brunei participate in many of the same international organizations, including the United Nations, the East Asia Summit, the ASEAN Regional Forum, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum, the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, and the World Trade Organization.

Bilateral Representation
The U.S. Ambassador to Brunei is Daniel Shields;

ITALIAN FIRM LEAVES IRAN'S ENERGY SECTOR

FROM:  U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT
Withdrawal of Italian firm Edison International S.P.A. from Iran's Energy Sector
Press Statement Victoria Nuland
Department Spokesperson, Office of the Spokesperson Washington, DC
July 6, 2012
The United States welcomes the decision made by the Italian energy company, Edison International S.p.A. (“Edison International”), to withdraw from Iran’s energy sector, specifically its contract to explore Iran’s Dayyer natural gas field. Edison International has also pledged not to engage in sanctionable activity with Iran in the future. As a result, the Secretary of State decided to apply the Special Rule under the Iran Sanctions Act (ISA), as amended by the Comprehensive Iran Sanctions Accountability and Divestment Act (CISADA). This means that, as long as the company continues to act in accordance with its assurances, under the law, it will not be subject to an investigation into past Iran-based activities.

Edison is the sixth company to withdraw from its investment in Iran under this provision in the ISA, joining companies Total (France), Royal Dutch Shell (UK/Netherlands), Statoil (Norway), ENI (Italy), INPEX (Japan), all of which continue to abide by their commitments to refrain from sanctionable activity that could benefit Iran. These companies have recognized the risks of doing business in Iran’s energy sector given Iran’s proliferation activities, support for terror networks around the world, and other destabilizing actions.

We commend the commitments made by Edison International, and we hope that other firms will follow its lead. We will continue to pursue sanctions as part of a robust dual-track policy to encourage Iran to address the international community’s concerns regarding its nuclear program. Edison’s actions, along with those of all the companies eligible for consideration under the Special Rule, send a clear message to the Iranian government: Iran has a choice; it can comply with its international nuclear obligations, or it can face increased pressure from the international community and greater isolation from the global economy.

MINE COUNTERMEASURE SHIP USS PONCE TRANSITS THE ARABIAN GULF

FROM:  U.S. NAVY
120704-N-WB378-249 ARABIAN GULF (July 4, 2012) Afloat Forward Staging Base (Interim) USS Ponce (AFSB-I) transits the Arabian Gulf. Ponce is deployed to support maritime security operations and mine countermeasure efforts in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Blake Midnight/Released)
Ponce Arrives In Bahrain 
From U.S. Naval Forces Central Command Public Affairs
MINA SALMAN PIER, Bahrain (NNS) -- The U.S. Navy's first afloat forward staging base-interim, USS Ponce (AFSB-I), arrived in Bahrain for duty in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility (AOR), July 6.

Prior to arriving in theater, Ponce, formerly designated as an amphibious transport dock (LPD), was converted and reclassified as an AFSB(I) in April to fulfill a long-standing U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) request for an AFSB to be located in its AOR.

"Ponce's role as an AFSB provides us with an enhanced capability to conduct maritime security operations, and gives us greater flexibility to support a wide range of contingencies with our regional partners," said Vice Adm. John Miller, commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT).

Ponce's primary mission is to support mine countermeasures (MCM) operations and other missions, such as the ability to provide repair service to other deployed units, including electrical, diesel engine, piping, and machinery repairs. Additionally, Ponce also has the capability to embark and launch small riverine craft.

Commanded by a U.S. Navy captain, Ponce will remain a U.S. Navy ship. The newly classed AFSB will be manned by a "hybrid" crew consisting of approximately 150 Military Sealift Command (MSC) civilian mariners and 55 U.S. Navy Sailors. Sailors will be primarily responsible for the ship operations. MSC personnel will man the engineering, deck and damage control departments.

"The versatility of Ponce, combined with the teamwork of its 'hybrid' crew, brings a unique capability to the region." said Capt. Jon Rodgers, commanding officer of Ponce. "As the first dedicated afloat forward staging base, we look forward to working closely with our coalition and regional partners to promote security and stability."

Ponce departed its homeport of Norfolk, Va., June 1. Previously scheduled to decommission, Ponce delayed its scheduled decommissioning to serve as an interim AFSB until a permanent solution can be identified.

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.

GENERAL TAKES UP RAPTOR FIGHTER

FROM:  AMERICAN FORCES PRESS SERVICE
Air Force Staff Sgt. Joshua Bard straps Gen. Mike Hostage into an F-22 Raptor aircraft for his qualification flight at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla., June 27, 2012. Hostage is the commander of Air Combat Command based at Langley Air Force Base, Va., and Bard is a crew chief with the 43rd Aircraft Maintenance Unit. U.S. Air Force photo by Christopher Cokeing  

Face of Defense: Air Force General Pilots Raptor Fighter
By Justin Oakes
Air Combat Command
LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va., July 6, 2012 - Air Combat Command's senior airman completed F-22 Raptor pilot qualification recently, reinforcing his personal stake in the Air Force's efforts to identify the root cause of unexplained physiological incidents involving a small number of Raptor crews.

"As airmen, risk is part of our lives as members of the military," said Gen. Mike Hostage, the commander of Air Combat Command. "I'm asking these airmen to assume some risk that exceeds the norm in day-to-day training, and I have to be willing to do it myself and experience firsthand what they do."

Hostage completed his F-22 qualification training with the 325th Fighter Wing at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla., June 27.

"Flying the airplane allows me to understand exactly what our airmen are dealing with," Hostage said. "It's an amazing airplane to fly, and I'm confident in the procedures we have in place to help enhance crew safety."

Since September 2011, when the aircraft returned to flight operations, the Air Force has worked to determine why a very small number of pilots have experienced symptoms such as dizziness while flying or disorientation post-flight, and to reduce the risk of those incidents. In January 2012, the Air Force created the F-22 Life Support Systems Task Force, which consists of approximately two dozen ACC specialists and hundreds of others from across the Air Force and other governmental agencies, including NASA and the Navy, as well as industry partners.

"We've had a 99.9 percent effective flying rate relative to these unknown physiological incidents, but that is not good enough," Hostage said. "The task force has made great progress, and the collaboration between our Air Force experts and others from NASA, the Navy and industry is exceptional. I'm confident we're on the right track, ensuring the safety of our crews and maintaining the F-22's combat readiness."

Air Combat Command is leading the F-22 life support task force, which has implemented several risk mitigation measures since the return-to-fly in September. Those measures include comprehensive inspections of aircraft and aircrew life support systems; a greater awareness and emphasis on pilots' recognition of any indication of a potential problem; the installation of a better-designed handle to activate the emergency oxygen system; the fielding of pulse oximeters that allow pilots to cross-check symptoms against measurements of the oxygenation of their blood's hemoglobin; and numerous other non-material enhancements.

"We have taken a 9-1-1 call approach," said Air Force Maj. Gen. Charles Lyon, the ACC's director of operations and the task force lead. "We have instructed our airmen in the field that whenever they get any indication that something may not be right, knock it off, the flying equivalent of calling 9-1-1, and terminate the flight. We focus all our attention on them and the safe recovery of the aircraft."

Most recently, ACC directed pilots to remove the upper pressure garment of their aircrew flight equipment during routine flight operations. Recent centrifuge testing revealed some issues with the garment, which places added pressure on a pilot's chest and restricts breathing in some instances.

"I'm cautiously optimistic that we've identified the major factors that have caused symptoms of oxygen deprivation in some of our F-22 pilots," Lyon said. "We've learned some significant things over the past several months that help protect our crews and maintain our combat readiness for the nation."

Lyon also said he is satisfied that, after extensive testing, no harmful contaminants are moving through the oxygen system. He went on to say a major focus of the task force now is looking at the physiological-support equipment and exploring commonalities in the flight profiles -- the combination of various altitudes and maneuvers -- that could be common in the incidents.

As the task force continues its analysis of factors contributing to physiological incidents, it remains in ongoing dialogue with F-22 pilots, maintainers and life support airmen through regular video teleconferences and a series of town hall meetings.

Meanwhile, Hostage plans to use his time in the Raptor to experience F-22 operations firsthand and continue engaging in personal dialogue with Raptor crews.
"Flying with F-22 pilots and interacting directly with our maintenance and life support airmen helps me better understand and validate what we've learned and what we're continuing to learn about safer operation of the aircraft in a really demanding flight environment," he said.

"The F-22 is vitally important to this nation and the joint warfighting team, and our Raptor pilots and ground crews are up to the task," Hostage said. "Our adversaries pay very careful attention to where it is and what it's doing. Our friends are very reassured by its presence. And it's ready to meet combatant commander requirements anywhere in the world -- all because of our airmen who make it happen."