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More than half of the air wing's personnel participated in flight operations involving missions over the land and sea. ABOARD USS THEODORE ROOSEVELT, Oct. 11, 2005 — Carrier Air Wing 8 launched its first combat operations from USS Theodore Roosevelt in more than two and a half years Oct. 6, in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. "I asked my [leading petty officer] to put me on the schedule for one of the first jets to be launched. It gives me a great sense of pride knowing that I could have helped save a bunch of people on the ground." U.S....

WASHINGTON, Oct. 11, 2005 – Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice thanked U.S., French and Spanish troops in Kyrgyzstan today for their role in helping to safeguard fledgling democracies and supporting the war on terror. "We have strong allies in this fight. It is not an American fight, but rather, a fight of free peoples," she told the troops at Manas Air Base, according to a 376th Air Expeditionary Wing news release. The base serves as a staging point for operations in Afghanistan and is currently hosting relief and supply efforts for earthquake relief efforts in Pakistan. "I want to thank...

CAMP VIRGINIA, Kuwait — A square mile of Kuwaiti real estate is an American boomtown. In the American Old West there were a number of similar communities, such as the silver mining town of Tombstone. But while Tombstone depended on the precious metal for its economic well being, Camp Virginia’s source is the military. Surrounded by desert that has a few small bushes providing some glimpses of green the camp is an area where U.S. and some coalition forces come before going to or leaving Iraq. “Camp Virginia provides support for the troop units coming here,” Lt. Col. Matthew Hearon....

NORFOLK, Va., Oct. 5, 2005 – High-speed vessel Swift, homeported at Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek, Norfolk, Va., played a major role in Hurricane Katrina relief efforts. Swift was pierside at Naval Station Ingleside, Texas, when the crew learned they were needed to deliver fresh food to federal, state and local agencies assisting with the relief efforts. “You can only eat MRE’s (meals ready to eat) for so long,” said Lt. Cmdr. Phillip Pournelle, Swift’s executive officer. " You can build all the high tech ships in the world, but unless you have the crew that’s capable and willing to...

NAVAL STATION INGLESIDE, Texas (NNS) -- Mine warfare ships based here are prepared to deploy in support of Hurricane Rita disaster recovery efforts. USS Gladiator (MCM 11), USS Avenger (MCM 1) and USS Pioneer (MCM 9) are conducting unit level training and sonar calibration operations in the Gulf of Mexico. These ships are on standby to conduct survey operations of the Galveston and Houston safety fairways to help determine if they are free of any storm-related debris and to ensure the safety of deep-draft traffic transit. “We are looking forward to supporting Hurricane Rita recovery efforts,” said Capt. Jonathan Tobias,...

GULFPORT, Miss. (NNS) -- Reserve Seabees from Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 18 are supporting their active-duty counterparts here during hurricane relief efforts. A twelve-member detachment from NMCB 18, headquartered in Washington, is augmenting NMCB 1, an active-duty battalion homeported at the construction battalion center here. "Our heart goes out to the people affected by this horrific event, and our unit is proud that we can be part of the first responders to help those in desperate times,” said Cmdr. Bradley Posadas, NMCB 18’s commanding officer. “I'm very happy our personnel from both Helena, Mont., and Central Point, Ore., detachments...

ANCHORAGE, Alaska, Sept. 21, 2005 – Rich Owens takes great pride in his role as the "owner/commander" of Kulis Air National Guard Base's "Ice Cream Support Squadron" here. Owens bought Tastee Freez ice cream shop and restaurant on Aug. 1, 1994, near the base, which is home to the Alaska Air National Guard's 176th Wing. He didn't know anyone from Kulis then, but 16 days later that would change. Three of his friends were in a Cessna 172 that crashed near Anchorage. "The 210th Rescue Squadron, which is part of Kulis ... happened to be at a training mission right...

WASHINGTON - Chief Justice-nominee John Roberts, his confirmation secure, picked up support from fractured Senate Democrats Wednesday as President Bush met lawmakers to discuss a second, probably more contentious, vacancy on the Supreme Court. The Judiciary Committee's senior Democrat, Patrick Leahy of Vermont, announced his support for Roberts shortly after leaving the White House, guaranteeing bipartisan backing for the nominee in Thursday's vote by the panel. But Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid, longtime liberal stalwart Edward Kennedy and former presidential candidate John Kerry all are opposing Roberts, underscoring a split in the Senate's 44 Democrats on whether they can or...

WASHINGTON, Sept. 20, 2005 – U.S. Northern Command is prepared to meet requests for assistance that the Federal Emergency Management Agency may issue prior to and in the wake of Hurricane Rita, military officials reported today. The hurricane near the Florida Keys strengthened to Category 2 today and is forecast to strengthen further as it moves westward into the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico. NORTHCOM's Joint Operations Center continues 24-hour operations in Colorado Springs, Colo., to monitor the storm's progress and to facilitate subsequent requests that may come from FEMA representatives. Defense Coordinating Officers and Defense Coordinating Elements...

MANAS AIR BASE, Kyrgyzstan (AFPN) -- They came fired up and ready to entertain the troops, and that is exactly what comedians Dave Attell and Scott Kennedy did here Sept. 14. The two stand-up comedians have been touring U.S. Central Command hot spots entertaining everyone from Florida Army National Guardsmen at a forward-deployed location to Airmen and Soldiers at Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan. No matter where they went, Mr. Attell and Mr. Kennedy said they enjoy the time they spend with the military. “I love coming down and talking to the guys and ladies, just showing our support,” Mr. Attell...

BILOXI, Miss. (NNS) -- Beach Master Unit (BMU) 2 took command of a devastated Biloxi landing craft zone Sept. 4 so U.S. and international Navy ships operating in the Gulf Coast region could bring Sailors, Marines and supplies to the beach in support of the hurricane disaster relief efforts. The beach was littered with heavy debris from the Hurricane Katrina, and had to be transformed into a spotless beach in order to support Landing Craft, Air Cushion arrivals. "This is just what we do," said Beach Party Commander, Chief Boatswain's Mate (SW/AW) Dawn Martin. "The bottom line is, we do...

MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE-GUNTER ANNEX, Ala. (AFPN) -- While tons of relief supplies are flowing into the Gulf Coast daily, the Operations and Sustainment Systems Group here is shoring up the vital flow of communications to the hurricane-stricken region. Hours after Hurricane Katrina made landfall, the group's team of communications, logistics, contracting and acquisition experts were called to action. The first call for help came over the Labor Day weekend from Keesler Air Force Base, Miss., which suffered severe flooding and wind damage. "The operations division received an emergency request from Keesler to upgrade their unclassified circuits to support the...

WASHINGTON, Sept. 14, 2005 – President Bush today urged the United Nations to close ranks against the threat of global terrorism. In his speech before the world body's high-level plenary meeting at the U.N.'s New York City headquarters, Bush first thanked the 115 nations and almost a dozen international organizations that offered assistance to the U.S. for Hurricane Katrina relief along the stricken Gulf Coast. "Your response, like the response to last year's tsunami, has shown once again that the world is more compassionate and hopeful when we act together," Bush said to U.N. representatives. The president then urged the...

Show support for our troops at the 50th Anniversary of the Miramar Air Show! At 9am, Saturday, October 15th, an anticipated 5,000 people will form the World's Largest Human Yellow Ribbon. The record will be set on the flightline and photographed by media from the skies above! You can be a part of this tribute by purchasing t-shirts for your entire family, organization, or company. Shirts will be available for $7.00 at all San Diego County Wal-Mart stores beginning September 12th. All funds from your purchase willgo directly to support the Quality of Life programs for servic members and their...

BERLIN, Sept. 13, 2005 – Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld today thanked NATO nations for an outpouring of support toward U.S. regions damaged by Hurricane Katrina. "The NATO countries, indeed, countries around the world have been wonderfully forthcoming," Rumsfeld said in a brief news statement here with his British counterpart, Secretary of State for Defense John Reid. Rumsfeld said he had personally expressed his appreciation to the British government for its support. The United Kingdom airlifted 500,000 military ration packs to the American Gulf Coast. "No one could help but be moved by the pictures of devastation to New Orleans and...

17th Corps Support Battalion Soldiers Return from Iraq While deployed, the troops drove more than 1.15 million miles and delivered more than 2.26 million gallons of fuel and more than eight million gallons of water By U.S. Army Pfc. Kyndal Brewer SCHOFIELD BARRACKS, Hawaii, Sept. 6, 2005 -- The 17th Corps Support Battalion is home at Schofield Barracks from Operation Iraqi Freedom. And soldiers received enthusiastic welcome-home greetings from families and friends as they entered the Martinez Gymnasium Aug. 26. Signs reading, "Welcome home troops!" and "We missed you daddy!" were held high by children, friends and family members...

9/5/2005 - EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. (AFPN) -- It is not unusual to see vehicles lined up, five to six deep, patiently waiting in the aftermath of a hurricane. Usually these long lines are for fuel to power cars and generators. Here, however, these cars are lined up for a different reason: they are waiting to donate goods to those in need. A lengthy line of cars waited to unload their goods at the Airman’s Attic Sept 2. People brought clothes, furniture, toys and household appliances to help military families displaced by Hurricane Katrina and who have lost everything...

WASHINGTON, Sept. 6, 2005 – Servicemembers supporting hurricane-relief efforts along the Gulf Coast agree that while it's heartbreaking to see the massive devastation left in Hurricane Katrina's wake, they're happy to be able to roll up their sleeves to help their fellow countrymen. That's the across-the-board assessment of the military responders who, U.S. Northern Command officials reported today, number almost 14,000 active-duty troops and more than 38,000 National Guardsmen, a force expected to continue to grow in the days ahead. Regardless of their missions -- conducting search-and-rescue operations, evacuating displaced residents, providing law-and-order support, or distributing food and water --...

Relief Comes in Many Ways - Patience is the Key Normally, I would be sitting down to write about the newest information in Fibromyalgia treatment, or perhaps the most current article I need to share, or posting uplifting messages to our troops. But tonight, I have a different message to send. In the wake of the devastation left by Hurricane Katrina - shock, dismay and numbness has settled in among the victims and rescuers alike. I have heard reports that two New Orleans police officers have commited suicide, and others have simply walked off the job - overwhelmed by the...