JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. - About 100 soldiers assigned to the 22^nd Military Police Battalion (Criminal Investigation Division) will be reunited with friends and families at a "welcome home" ceremony currently scheduled for 11:30 p.m. Saturday at Soldiers Field House on JBLM Main.

The 22^nd Military Police Battalion (CID) deployed to Iraq in July 2009, in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

For this deployment, the battalion was composed of a unique mix of individual agents (Soldiers) from twelve different installations Army-wide, plus multi-component units from four installations. All these consolidated together on Joint Base Lewis-McChord in June 2009 to integrate and train in preparation for the unit's year-long mission. 

The Headquarters and Headquarter Detachment, 22^nd Military Police Detachment (CID), the only active component unit from JBLM, was headquartered at Camp Victory, Baghdad, with forward elements located at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait and Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan. The 315^th Military Police Detachment (CID), a Reserve Component unit headquartered on JBLM, also provided investigative support.

The primary mission of the United States Army Criminal Investigations Command (USACIDC) is to investigate reports of felony crimes committed with Department of Defense interest, felony crimes committed by and / or against Soldiers and / or civilians in the Army's charge, and all accidental or unexplained deaths.

Staff Sergeant Katteri Franklin knew all along she wanted to be a police officer, but had no idea she would eventually want to make a career of it in the military. The McCleary, native was simply looking for a way to make a better life for herself, while helping others along the way.

“I didn’t want kids to go through some of the things that I went through growing up, so I thought that by becoming a police officer, I would be able to help make a difference,” said Franklin, NCO in charge of military police investigations, 51st Military Police Detachment, 504th Military Police Battalion.

Since enlisting, Franklin has deployed twice and seen more in her 10 years as an MP than many will in a lifetime.

“I can honestly say I’ve been there and seen that,” she said.

One particular scene that stood out in her mind was an incident that occurred during her deployment to Iraq in 2007.

Franklin reluctantly described rendering aid to an Iraqi man who approached her after being shot in the head. While wrapping bandages around the Iraqi to keep his eye from dangling, Franklin discovered the bullet had left a gaping hole in the back of his head.

“I stuck my hands in his head and touched his brain,” Franklin said.

Adding that it was her duty to help the Iraqi, she said, “That’s what we do as American Soldiers. We help others.”

It wasn’t the only time she helped a complete stranger.

Franklin’s actions during a mortar attack on that same deployment were vital to the survival of a Polish soldier. Franklin was taking cover when she heard someone yell for a medic. Franklin responded by running to the site of impact with a combat lifesaver’s bag in hand.

Upon arrival, she found a Polish soldier with two sucking chest wounds.

“I pushed a (coalition) soldier out of the way, then myself and (another) guy, who I later found out was a medic, rendered aid to the Polish soldier,” Franklin said.

While neither of the former events was formally recognized, she was awarded a Bronze Star Medal, with V device, for heroic actions during combat operations in October 2007.

Franklin was providing security for coalition forces while they emplaced barriers for a temporary patrol base in southern Iraq when her team became engaged in a complex attack. The battle lasted nearly an hour, during which Franklin rendered aid to two wounded Soldiers, returned fire and pulled two key leaders to safety.

Franklin was one of four to receive Bronze Star Medals for their efforts, which, according to the citation, “contributed greatly to the survival of the wounded.”

Yet, Franklin hardly considers herself a hero. Instead, she credits the training she received as a Soldier and years of experience.

“It’s almost like going into autopilot,” Franklin said. “To me, I’m just doing what I was trained to do.”

Franklin admits that receiving awards and recognition are nice, but insists the true feeling of success comes from knowing she has had a positive effect on younger Soldiers.

“I love leading and training them,” she said. You have to be able to be stern, but at the same time, you have to be able to flip that switch, and be the listener when they need it.”

Sergeant Brian Dattage, a former Soldier of Franklin’s, said that he still goes to Franklin for advice, though they are currently stationed apart.

“The MP Corps could use more (leaders) like her,” Dattage said. “She knows her job, she takes the time to teach and let others learn from their mistakes, and she holds the Army Values very close to her.”

Sergeant Catherine McRae respects how Franklin demands the best out of her Soldiers, and reciprocates that demand.

“Her expectations are high, but she has never left me without the tools or encouragement to accomplish anything she sets forth,” said McRae, MPI.

Franklin said her past experiences with NCOs are what helped shape her as a leader.

“They’ve shown me what to be and what not to be,” she said, adding that her mom has been her biggest influence. “Without her, I don’t know where I’d be.”

SAN ANTONIO (April 1, 2010) -- Chief of Staff of the Army Gen. George W. Casey Jr. asked the crowd of about 2,000 how they were doing and after a hearty "Hooha" response, he proceeded to tell them how they were doing.

Casey iterated statistics and time lines for the present while laying out a future for Soldiers of the 21st century, unveiling the Installation Management Command's campaign plan during the Association of the United States Army's 2010 Army Installations Symposium & Exposition, March 29.

"What you do is so important to the long-term health of this force," Casey said, adding he wanted to personally deliver the operational context of the plan and stressed leadership focus on change as the Army moves forward.

He said objectives set in 2007 to rebalance a force stretched from current demands by 2011 were already, or nearly met this year and included supporting strategic objectives in Iraq and Afghanistan; sustaining Soldiers, families and the civilian workforce; establishing an integrated management system for Army business operations; implementing leadership development; and continuing to transform the Army for an uncertain future.

A first priority for Army rebalancing was growth, said Casey. Originally slated for an increase of 74,000 Soldiers by 2012, with 65,000 on active duty and the rest in the Reserve and Guard, the objective was met in 2009.

"We're three years ahead of time and it wasn't a moment too soon with the plus up in Afghanistan," Casey said.

Readjusting dwell time - the amount of time Solders spend at home between deployments - was significant for Casey.

"It's clear to me the most important thing we can do in the Army to restore balance is increase the time Soldiers are at home; not just so they can spend time with their families - that's important - but so they can recover themselves."

Casey cited a scientific study completed last year concluded Soldier recovery between deployments takes 2-3 years for a one-year deployment. He said 70 percent of the active force will have a two-year dwell time and 80 percent of Reserve and Guard a four-year dwell by 2011. The remaining force will be included in the schedule by 2012.

"When you see a unit that's had 18 months at home, it's light years different than 12 months at home. You can already see the impact," Casey said.

Planned since 2004, all 300 Army brigades were set to convert to modular organizations as part of rebalancing. Casey said 90 percent are completed; the rest will convert by the end of the year.

"Taken together, modular reorganization and rebalancing is the largest organizational change of the Army since World War II," he said, "and we've done it while we've deployed 150,000 Soldiers over and back to Iraq and Afghanistan every year. That's a lot of moving parts."

Casey discussed the process of moving 160,000 Soldiers with skills necessary in Cold War, to skills which are more relevant today.

He said the Army has already stood down 200 tank companies, artillery batteries and stood up corresponding numbers of civil affairs, psychological operations, special forces and military police units.

"We're about two-thirds of the way through that and will be done by the end of the year."

Casey was positive on Base Realignment and Closure, saying that although 380,000 Soldiers, civilians and families will be on the move in the next two years, the effort will result in better-quality facilities and an exponential jump in opportunity.

He announced a new rotational model that brought several gasps from members of the audience. Casey said rotational schedules originally drawn up in 2005 were not implemented as a result of demand. But with drawdown in Iraq, he said he is seeing a way ahead and will publish deployment schedules for the next three years in the next 60 days.

Casey also asserted that the Army has fiscal challenges to confront as a result of eight and one-half years of war, but said he can see meeting objectives as set out for this year. 

"The money is in the [20]11 budget and it's a matter of executing now, we'll be in a much better place at the end this fiscal year than four years ago."

Consolidate, assess and refine - those are the three things that I see going on over the course of the rest of this year as we build the 2017 program, Casey said.

"We need to refine this great Army and I say refine rather than adapt. We're in pretty good shape but there are still things we could do differently."    

The U.S. Army's Feb. 25 release of a formal Request for Proposal, or RFP, to industry marks a significant step forward in the effort to build a first-of-its-kind, highly versatile Ground Combat Vehicle, more commonly referred to as the GCV, - a nine-man squad Infantry Carrier that can protect against IEDs and other threats, move in urban and off-road terrain and accommodate emerging technologies such as lightweight armor composites and electronics as they become available, service leaders said.

The Army -- in close cooperation with its industry partners who have 60 days to respond to the RFP -- aims to produce competitive prototypes by 2015 and production vehicles within seven years by 2017.

"It is important to note that within the RFP you are not going to see a weight requirement. What you will see and what we are emphasizing is the GCV has to be a versatile vehicle. This will probably be one of the most versatile vehicles that the Army has ever designed. If you look at survivability or armor protection, we are going to have a modular design, meaning we can have scalable armor kits so the commander can decide how protected that vehicle needs to be for the mission," said Vice Chief of Staff Gen. Peter Chiarelli. "We are giving commanders the capability to tailor survivability for a given situation."

The Army Acquisition Executive, Dean G. Popps, credited the Under Secretary of Defense for ATL, the DoD's Defense Acquisition Executive (DAE), and his team for their assistance in getting the Army to the RFP release date as planned. "Dr. Ash Carter, his staff and OSD key players provided critical insights, guidance, and strategies during the Material Development Decision Defense Acquisition Board (MDD-DAB) process and during RFP peer review. Their efforts and oversight were exceptional," said Popps.

"We have learned from the Future Combat System program -- over 40 technologies -- and we have incorporated that inside of a GCV construct. FCS -- plus what we know today from eight years of war --- has resulted in the release of an RFP for GCV. We could not have done this without industry; this is a partnership between our Army and industry to make sure we do the right things to make sure we put this capability in the hands of the warfighter," said Lt. Gen. Bill Phillips, military deputy to the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology (ASA ALT).

Industry proposals will work with the Army to examine potential material solutions for the vehicle's requirements which seek to manufacture an unprecedented blend of protection, mobility and emerging technologies in a single, highly-survivable infantry carrier. 

The initial phase of the GCV Program is being executed by the Program Executive Office for Integration, primarily because of the residual expertise inherent in that PEO from the Manned Ground Vehicle research and development era. At an appropriate time, in the coming 12-14 months, the current plan calls for the program to move to PEO-Ground Combat Systems in Warren, Mich. All of the Army's PEOs report to the Army Acquisition Executive (AAE).

The Army plans to award up to three Technology Development contracts by the fourth quarter of this year, marking a roughly 27-month period in which to test and mature sub-components and other material elements of the designs prior to the prototyping phase, in 2015, Army officials said.

"The GCV will address capability gaps we have identified from eight years of war --- such as mobility for our soldiers both inside and outside cities, improved information sharing for both mounted and dismounted soldiers while on-the-move. The GCV will be required to carry an entire infantry squad in one vehicle and protect it with sufficient space and electric power to accept network and other improvements as they occur," said Lt. Gen. Michael Vane, director of Army Capabilities Integration Center, Fort Monroe, Va. 

Approaching the vehicle's development in an incremental fashion -- thus allowing for it to adjust to and incorporate technological change -- will increase the Army's ability to innovate and respond to the fast pace of change anticipated on the battlefields of today and tomorrow, Vane said.

Alongside formally releasing the RFP, the Army is also concurrently conducting an Analysis of Alternatives (AOA) in order to ensure that its plans for the GCV represent the best solution for the future, Mehney added. 

"We are making sure that the GCV is the right material fit for the requirements we have been given. The Analysis of Alternatives is taking place at the same time as the RFP. It is our intent to complete the AOA by late summer 2010," he said. "This will precede the contract award, so if the analysis of alternatives says you need to do something differently than have a new vehicle program, we can respond to that prior to the contract award."     

(Editor's Note: Read down for info on Pfc. Kiersha Strong of the 56th Multifunctional Medical Battalion out of Fort Lewis, Wa.)

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti - U.S. Army Reserve Spc. Aries M. Johnson, a chaplain's assistant with the 377th Theater Sustainment Command headquartered in Belle Chase, La., has been on many tactical vehicles during his military career.

On Saturday night, however, Johnson, who deployed to Haiti with his unit in support of the earthquake humanitarian relief effort Operation Unified Response, climbed on an Army tractor trailer flat bed for the ride of his life.

Although, the truck-turned-performance stage didn't even travel an inch, Johnson, 22, of Baton Rouge, did move the cheering crowd of service members, contractors and local Hatian residents with his wide-ranging melodious voice and heart-felt lyrics. Their approving response was enough to name him first place winner of the Logistic Supply Area - Hope You Got Talent Show Saturday in Port-au-Prince. 

"I was a little nervous at first but once I got out there and started singing the lyrics, I got into my own zone--an adrenalin rush," Johnson said about taking the stage. "I can't describe the feeling. It's the biggest thing I've ever been involved with."

Sponsored by the 7th Sustainment Brigade, out of Fort Eustis, Va., the two-day talent show, open to thousands of troops serving in Haiti, started with a qualifying day on March 12 and 32 contestants vying to be top talent of the Joint Logistics Command - Haiti. Of those competing in the preliminary round, only 12 made it the next day's finals. Capt. Catrina A. Brown, the event's impromptu organizer, said event interest started out slow. The competition solicited all forms of talent including singing, dancing and even poetry reading. 

"There was little interest and no-one stepped up so I took ownership of it," Brown, the officer in charge of battalion operations for the 7th SB said after the talent show idea withered with only a few contestants wanting to perform. Then interest snowballed.

"We went from five acts to 30 in two days," Brown said. She added it wasn't until the last two days when outdoor rehearsals and auditions generated interest that the number of soldiers wanting to participate jumped significantly.

A panel of three judges decided who from the qualifying round would pass to the finals and subsequently the top five. Audience response determined the top three prize winners. During the qualifying round Johnson sang "A Song for You" by Donny Hathaway. 

In the finals, he selected the Maxwell ballad "Pretty Wings." After winning the talent show, Johnson performed an encore of an original song he wrote in 2008, "Always Better Here."

"I love to sing. I've been doing it my whole life. It's what moves me. It wasn't about the money," Johnson, who's been in the Reserve for four years, said of his $250 first place prize money. 

The Baton Rouge native said his family is musically inclined and many of them sing or play musical instruments well. His mother, Jacki Johnson, is his main inspiration says Johnson. When asked whether his mother is a good singer his only response was, "Can she sing?" emphasizing what an obvious talent she is.

Taking second place and $150 were Pfc. Ann Onyea Mazyck and Pfc. Kiersha Strong of the 56th Multifunctional Medical Battalion out of Fort Lewis, Wa. The third place winner was Capt. Theresa Giorno from the 10th Transportation Battalion of Fort Eustis, Va..

Just before leaving the stage a judge told Johnson "forget about LSA Idol, you're ready for American Idol."

Johnson, who doesn't sing professionally, is part of a duo group trying to get exposure. Johnson directs anyone interested in learning more about him and his music to facebook.

The Department of Defense announced today that additional campaign stars are authorized for wear on the Iraq Campaign Medal (ICM).

The campaign stars recognize a service member's participation in DoD designated campaigns in Iraq. 

Service members who have qualified for the ICM may display a bronze campaign star on their medal for each designated campaign phase in which they participated.  The stars will be worn on the suspension and campaign ribbon of the campaign medal.

The additional campaign phases and associated dates established for the ICM are:

•          Iraqi Surge - Jan. 10, 2007 to Dec. 31, 2008.

•          Iraqi Sovereignty - Jan. 1, 2009 through a date to be determined. 

                Four other phases, previously identified, include:

•          Liberation of Iraq - March 19, 2003 to May 1, 2003.

•          Transition of Iraq - May 2, 2003 to June 28, 2004.

•          Iraqi Governance - June 29, 2004 to Dec. 15, 2005.

•          The "National Resolution" phase, which began Dec. 16, 2005, has been determined to end Jan. 9, 2007.

Service members should contact their respective military departments for specific implementation guidance.

Military jumpers from the U.S. and Royal Thai Air forces jumped out of a C-17 Globemaster III as part of the 2010 Cope Tiger Exercise, March 3.

More than 60 qualified Jumpmasters from the U. S. Air Force and the Royal Thai Air Force Parachute Team completed three separate jumps over Bangkok, Thailand as the first major activity of Cope Tiger, which is an annual multilateral aerial large forces exercise conducted in the Asia-Pacific region that includes humanitarian and civic assistance programs.

It marked the first time that Thai forces jumped out of a C-17 in a static line format. 25 in all made the jump while 35 others performed High Altitude Low Observance jumps from the back end of the jet. Four U.S. Airmen also made the HALO jump. The jump mission was a huge success that allowed U.S. Air Force members from all around the country to participate in the event.

"It's an honor to be involved in a multilateral event like this and have the opportunity to train with others that share your job," said Floresville, Texas native Master Sgt. John Gaona whom is currently assigned to the Weather Squadron at Pope AFB, N.C.

Master Sgt. Gaona is a qualified jumper as well as a weatherman.

"I saw a message that they needed jump masters and I applied," said Gaona.

535th Airlift Squadron Loadmaster Staff Sgt. Todd Tichawa of Genoa, Ill., came along for the experience of the exercise.

"I came to help coordinate some of the missions here and it was a great opportunity to be part of the first-ever Royal Thai Air Force static line jump from one of our C-17's," said Tichawa.

Although the C-17 Globemaster used was based out of Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, it has been a team effort as the crew for this particular mission was comprised of pilots and loadmasters from Joint Pearl Harbor-Hickam and Elmendorf AFB and jump masters from Yokota Air Base, Japan, Eielson AFB, Alaska and Fort Lewis, Wash., in addition to Pope AFB. 

Thai media gathered to watch the collaboration of the event and interviewed several personnel from both forces on what they expected out of this exercise.

"I'm really looking forward to all of the coordination with the Thai Air Force and completing more joint missions," said Capt. Kevin Jackson, Tennessee native and 517th Airlift Squadron.

The U.S. Air Force has more than 21 aircraft participating in the exercise with a good balance of fighter type aircraft as well as heavies known as the cargo and personnel carriers. 

The two Air Forces will also conduct some humanitarian efforts to include dental and basic medical care to needed areas accompanied with a few donations as well.

Events like this illustrate the U.S. Air Force's stability in the Pacific Region through joint military efforts as well as humanitarian.    

JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. - About 250 Soldiers assigned to the I

Corps Headquarters will be reunited with friends and family at Joint

Base Lewis-McChord with a "homecoming" ceremony at Wilson Gym, JBLM

Lewis North, currently scheduled for 9 p.m. March 3.

The I Corps Soldiers recently completed a 12-month deployment to Iraq,

where I Corps served as the headquarters element for Multi-National

Corps Iraq, supporting U.S. and multi-national units deployed in support

of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

As MNC-I, the Corps' mission included command and control of

multi-national forces supporting Iraqi security operations and

coordinating the planned reduction of U.S. forces and equipment in Iraq

and ongoing transfer of security responsibilities to Iraqi Security

Forces.

I Corps' staff worked closely with Iraqi Ground Force Command (IGFC),

establishing a Combined Partnership Operations Center (CPOC) at Camp

Victory to further improve communication and coordination with Iraqi

Security Forces. By June 30th, 2009, U.S. and multi-national coalition

forces had successfully withdrawn to bases outside urban city centers,

and Iraqi Security Forces assumed direct control for security operations

in Iraqi cities.

Multi-National Corps Iraq became U.S. Forces Iraq in January, 2010,

further consolidating command and control of U.S. forces deployed in

support of operations in Iraq, as part of the planned withdrawl of

forces stipulated in the January, 2009 Security Agreement with the Iraqi

government.

This will be the first large group of I Corps Soldiers to return since

approximately 100 returned with the unit's advance party about two weeks

ago. An additional 120 Soldiers assigned to I Corps' Analysis and

Control Element returned in December, 2009. The unit's remaining

Soldiers are expected to return to Joint Base Lewis-McChord within the

next several weeks.

Army Times has an interesting piece on changes to the Army and how Joint Base Lewis-McChord fits in to that.

When 4th Squadron, 6th Air Cavalry Regiment's Sgt. Samuel Viall saw a costly problem during his tour in Iraq, he proposed a fix that can save the Army some money and possibly some lives, too.

In recognition of his idea, Viall was named 2009 Suggester of the Year for both Joint Base Lewis-McChord and the Army.

The suggestion, a housing that stabilizes the flash suppressor jacket on the OH-58D Kiowa Warrior's XM-296 .50-caliber, aircraft-mounted machine gun for careful extraction, was born from necessity.

Prior to Viall's suggestion, the housing could only be removed via brute force.

The more than 1,000 pounds of leverage needed to loosen the stuck barrels could have undesired consequences, he said.

One example from his time in Iraq illustrates the point. Returning from a mission, the barrel of an OH-58D's XM-296 was jammed into the receiver of the gun because of heat and carbon buildup, Viall said.

Using the normal means of extraction, part of the barrel housing was unknowingly damaged, he said. When fired during a subsequent mission, a flash suppressor tine broke off and flew through the canopy.

"Luckily, it didn't injure the pilot," Viall said.

Viall's suggestion will save the Army more than $39,000 during its first year of use.

A letter of nomination said the improvement reduces the amount of damage to equipment during routine maintenance by 95 percent.

"Previously, Soldiers were having to strap down the receiver to a tabletop or something heavy," he said. "Then they'd pry it loose with a big wrench."

Units can produce the tool locally in their own machine shops, he said.

After word of Viall's invention spread, other Kiowa units in Iraq were lining up to get their hands on the invention.

"The general said, ‘We need this thing now - we need our weapons up,'" Viall said.

Production of the new tool became a full-time job for Viall and others in the shops platoon, he said.

"We made about one per day," Viall said. "They were waiting on a solution."

A year and a half later, after a permanent change of station to Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Viall was informed of the award.

"It was pretty amazing," he said. "It was a big surprise."

The Army training manual that covers the repair of the XM-296 weapon system now includes Viall's invention and procedures.

Viall will receive his Suggester of the Year Award in Washington, D.C., next month.

Viall's commander, Maj. James Faulknor, said the sergeant's knowledge and skills are indispensable to the unit.

"His accomplishment really is a great thing," Faulknor said. "Speaking from a maintenance perspective, the ability - in the field - to exchange something this rapidly is an asset."

It can be manufactured by anyone with the same MOS in any unit, he said.

Battalion commander Lt. Col. Charles Bell said he is proud to have a Soldier like Viall under his command.

"His suggestion has great utility across the Army," Bell said.