Military honors fallen EOD techs at ceremony Check out
Transcription
Military honors fallen EOD techs at ceremony Check out
T H E R E D 7 . n et Friday, May 9, 2014 2014 Emerald Warrior ALSO INSIDE Briefs...............................6 Philpott............................6 |4 Check out these mental performance strategies Military honors fallen EOD techs at ceremony Page 3 Page 2 Page | THE RED 7 | Friday, May 9, 2014 ContactUs Tracey Steele Editor 315-4472 tsteele@thered7.net Susan Fabozzi News Assistant 315-4450 sfabozzi@thered7.net News (850) 315-4450 Fax: (850) 863-7834 E-mail: news@thered7.net Advertising 863-1111 Ext. 1341 Mail 2 Eglin Parkway NE, Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548 The Red 7 is published by the Northwest Florida Daily News, a private firm in no way connected with the 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne) or the U.S. Army. This publication’s content is not necessarily the official view of, or endorsed by, the U.S. government, the Department of Defense, the Department of the Army or 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne). The official news source for 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne) is http://www.soc.mil/. The appearance of advertising in this publication does not constitute endorsement by the U.S. government, the Department of Defense, the Department of the Army, 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne) or the Northwest Florida Daily News for products or services advertised. Everything advertised in this publication shall be made available for purchase, use or patronage without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, physical handicap, political affiliation or any other nonmerit factor of the purchaser, user or patron. Editorial content is edited, prepared and provided by the Northwest Florida Daily News. Year No. 4 Edition No. 19 Military honors fallen EOD techs By KAREN ROGANOV Northwest Florida Daily News “Help us to see death as the gate to eternal life … We commend the souls of these everlasting departed into your care.” So said Air Force Chaplain Joseph G. Wright as he led a crowd of about 2,000 people in prayer May 3 during the 45th Annual Explosive Ordnance Disposal Memorial Service to the honor EOD technicians killed in service. The families of the eight men honored were presented American flags by Army Chief of Staff Gen. Raymond Odierno, Marine Corps Commandant Gen. James Amos and Brig. Gen. James Burton, commanding general of the 20th Support Command. “It’s difficult right now. It’s kinda like a summation of everything we’ve been through,” Kenneth Reid said of the ceremony’s significance and seeing his son’s name added to the granite cenotaphs. Reid and his wife Dorothy were here in 2008 to celebrate their son’s graduation from the Kauffman EOD Training Complex on Eglin Air Force Base. Nicholas Reid, an Army staff sergeant, died Dec. 13, 2012, in combat operations in Afghanistan. As for the next steps, “we’ll continue to honor his memory,” Dorothy said. Those plans include their hometown of Brockport, N.Y., naming the post office after their son. “It’s already passed the House,” she said of the approval process. Nicholas’ best friend from high school, 28-year-old Xuan Nguyen, also attended the ceremony. “He’s got the warmest heart. He’ll help out everybody no matter who they are,” Nguyen said. With the addition of the eight names, the number of the fallen men and women since World War II honored on the EOD Memorial has reached 306. Every name was read aloud during the solemn ceremony. This year, the men ranged from 28 to 33 years old, were from the Army and Marine Corps. NEW NAMES The following names were added to the EOD Memorial: Army Staff Sgt. Kenneith “Wade” Bennett; Army Staff Sgt. Nicholas Reid; Army Sgt. 1st Class Jeffrey Baker; Army Staff Sgt. Joshua Bowden; Marine Corps Gunnery Sgt. Gregory Mullins; Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Mathew Marsh; Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Eric Summers; and Marine Corps Sgt. Miguel Ortiz. Traveling in from St. Stephen, S.C., William and Linda Phillips were there for a seventh year to remember their son, Marine Corps Sgt. John Paul Phillips. John died August 16, 2006, from burn wounds covering 75 percent of his body and an accompanying infection. It was five months after his Humvee drove over an improvised explosive device in Iraq. John had graduated EOD school the year before and left behind his new bride. “So many of the boys in recent years have served with John,” said William Phillips, indicating their names were now etched in gold on the memorial. He recalled two EOD friends who visited John at the Brooks Army Hospital in San Antonio, Texas. Their names were added to the wall the next year. Phillips was a sort of walking memorial to his son. He wore a dog tag imprinted with John’s photograph and another image of him encased in plastic and sewn onto a leather vest next to Marine Corps patches and Bible verses. Odierno, the keynote speaker, gave a synopsis of each man’s service. The EOD techs are volunteers, and the Eglin school graduates about 1,000 students a year. “They represent what is best about the human spirit: selfless sacrifice, dedication to mission and personal courage,” Odierno said. “They understand that special bond that is indescribable … It’s about that unspoken commitment to each other.” NICK TOMECEK | Daily News Audrey Baker, 3, hugs a flag given to her to honor the memory of her father Sgt. 1st Class Jeffrey Baker on May 3 during the Explosive Ordnance Disposal 45th Annual Memorial Service. Baker was killed in action May 14, 2013 while serving with an EOD unit in Afghanistan. Tech. Sgt. Sam King | USAF Army Chief of Staff Gen. Ray Odierno comforts Mandi Bennett, widow of Staff Sgt. Wade Bennett, during the 45th Annual Explosive Ordnance Disposal Memorial Ceremony May 3, at Eglin Air Force Base. Friday, May 9, 2014 | THE RED 7 | Page thor3 warrior Mental performance strategies to utilize anywhere, anytime THOR3 Mental Performance Specialist Performance in the Special Forces environment requires far more than just technical skills and physical prowess, yet this is where most Soldiers invest their time. A focused mind is critical to your performance, and the training of your mind is often overlooked. Every movement, decision and action starts with thought. When under pressure and stress, your mental game is either going to help you and your team’s performance or hurt it. Your thoughts are either automatic, habitual and running the show or intentional, deliberate and under your control (no, I did not intend to rhyme there, but now that I am conscious of it, I’m going to leave it as it is). As warrior athletes, training the mind is essential to your everyday performance and absolutely necessary for your performance when it matters most. Here are two strategies to begin incorporating consistently in your regular training schedule and everyday life to bring out optimal, confident and consistent execution no matter what. Here’s how to gain more mastery of your mind. Breath Control. Breath is life force, so when you are holding your breath or breathing shallowly, you cannot think as clearly. You narrow your options and limit your actions. The brain requires about 25% of your oxygen, so when you are breathing shallowly, you are preventing your brain from operating in an optimal way. Throughout the day, consider whether you are holding your breath, breathing shallowly or breathing deeply and steadily. Breath control is an excellent way to manage stress, increase performance and get into the “now” of the moment to make better decisions. TRY THIS: Breathe on a 4-2-6-1 cycle. 4 count inhale through nose 2 count hold at top 6 count exhale blow through mouth 1 count hold at bottom 1. To yourself about yourself Complete 10 cycles, 2. To yourself about and notice whether or not others you feel any different from 3. To others about when you started. yourself Train up on your breath4. To others about ing for at least 5 minutes a others day (only focus on the 4-26-1 cycle for 5 minutes). Consider in each case Try to reach 25 cycles whether your internal or without distraction. If external dialogue is posiyour mind wanders, start tive, negative or neutral. over at one. Focus on your Consider how your breath to bring your mind negative or positive evaluback to the present moations of yourself or othment to make more effecers impact your everyday tive decisions. interactions, behaviors and attitudes. Self Talk. We talk Is your self-talk enhancto ourselves at over 800 ing your results and interwords a minute. Some of actions, or are they getting it conscious (in our aware- in the way from your inness), much of it uncontended results? scious (automatic). Follow your results Our self-talk is like the back to your self-talk and instructions given to a how you are programming computer. We are either your computer. running the programs that Next, consider what get us the desired results you say to yourself (and to due to proper input, or others) about various situthere is error in the mesations and scenarios. sage and then the desired Are your thoughts perresults are skewed or off formance enhancing or the mark. performance diminishing? It’s the ol’ “Garbage Whenever a perIn-Garbage Out” or “Good formance diminishing Things In Good Things thought arises in your Out” equation. awareness, simply let that TRY THIS: Pay attention go and shift the self-talk to four scenarios. Notice to be beneficial to your what you say: performance. To gain even better results, work with a specialist who can refine and hone your self-talk skills. About THOR3 . mental performance To learn more about how to further develop your range of mental skills, visit Dr. Andrea Wieland, mental performance specialist with THOR3 over at the CRTF. In THOR3’s Education Series, Andrea will be teaching 4 of 8 basic mental skills that every warrior should understand and utilize consistently. Test your skills with the Mental Toughness Psychological Skills Profile to see how you measure up. About the author Andrea Wieland, Ph.D., M.B.A., THOR3 Men- tal Performance Specialist Andrea has 20 years of experience coaching top performers from elite athletes to top business leaders on their mental games. Working with Special Forces Soldiers is an honor and privilege for Andrea. She intends to have a positive impact on the performance of individuals, teams and leaders in the critical area of mental performance. Competed for 13 years on the U.S. National Field Hockey Team. Competed in the 1996 Olympics as a field hockey goalkeeper. Entrepreneur for two decades, including the role of CEO at an elite, integrated performance and health center similar to the THOR3 model. Magnolia Grill magnoliagrillfwb.com Tom & Peggy Rice • Proprietors 850-302-0266 157 Brooks St. SE, Fort Walton Beach, FL Steaks - Seafood - Italian 2101478 By Andrea Wieland Friday, May 9, 2014 | THE RED 7 | Page Page | THE RED 7 | Friday, May 9, 2014 2014 Emerald Warrior U.S. Air Force Combat Controllers point to an incoming aircraft while standing on the back of a truck during Emerald Warrior 2014 at at Stennis International Airport, Miss., May 2. Senior Airman Colville McFee | USAF Senior Airman Jodi Martinez | USAF Senior Airman Jodi Martinez | USAF U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer Tim Sewseyey yells out commands for a CH-47 Chinook helocast training, an airborne technique used by small forces to insert into a military area of operations, during Emerald Warrior 2014, Gulfport, Miss., April 30. U.S. Army crew members of a UH-60 Black Hawk sit aboard the black hawk to conduct fast rope training with the U.S. Army 20th Special Forces Squadron, during Emerald Warrior 2014, Gulfport, Miss., April 30. U.S. Army Special Forces members with the U.S. Army 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne) move a Zodiac Combat Rubber Raiding Craft’s motor in in preparation for helo-cast training during Emerald Warrior 2014 at Hurlburt Field, May 2. Senior Airman Nicholas Byers | USAF A U.S. Navy HH60H Seahawk from the Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron(HSC) 84, extracts Air Force combat controllers during Emerald Warrior, May 2, Hurlburt Field. Staff Sgt. Tim Chacon | USAF Staff Sgt. Marleah Miller | USAF Members with the 22nd Special Tactics Squadron jump from an MC-130H Combat Talon II during Emerald Warrior over Hurlburt Field, May 2. Emerald Warrior is an annual, joint exercise to train special operations, conventional and partner nation forces in combat scenarios designed to hone special operations air and ground combat skills, and is the Department of Defense’s only irregular warfare exercise. Airman 1st Class Jasmonet Jackson | USAF A U.S. Air Force CV-22 Osprey from the 8th Special Operations Squadron, fly over Emerald Coast during the Emerald Warrior exercise while in route to Hurlburt Field, May 2. Members with the 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne) pause from preparing their parachutes for a high-altitude low-opening jump to pay their respects during retreat on Hurlburt Field, May 2. Staff Sgt. Marleah Miller | USAF Page | THE RED 7 | Friday, May 9, 2014 House panel rejects most proposed military benefit curbs The House armed services’ subcommittee on military personnel has rejected Pentagon plans to: slow increases in military housing allowances starting next year; raise TRICARE fees on families and retirees, and narrow coverage by ending TRICARE Prime, the military’s managed care option. But in shaping personnel sections of the fiscal 2015 defense authorization bill (HR 4435), the subcommittee wouldn’t block a planned military pay cap for January. The Obama administration seeks a one percent raise versus 1.8 percent to match private sector wage growth. Also, subcommittee chair Rep. Joe Wilson (R-S.C.) hinted that the Defense Commissary Agency’s budget would be squeezed, and presumably so would shopper savings, if base grocery stores can’t run more efficiently. The bill would require the Secretary of Defense to conduct a new review of commissaries, in this case by relying on “the services of an independent organization experienced in grocery retail analysis.” Such a review, Wilson said, might help to “reverse some of the cuts” in the commissary system budget. Wilson didn’t say how deep the cuts would be. Committee staff said those type of details would not be released until the full committee amends and votes out the full defense bill May 6. The administration has proposed cutting $1 billion a year from the Defense Commissary Agency’s $1.4 billion appropriation by 2017. The cut would be phased over three years, starting with $200 million in fiscal 2015. If the subcommittee decided to block only half of the proposed cut for next year, as one unconfirmed AP report suggested, commissaries would face a hit of $100 million or seven percent. Wilson and Rep. Susan Davis of California, ranking Democrat on the subcommittee, needed only minutes to complete an open “mark” of the bill’s personnel provisions. With defense budgets squeezed by the 2011 Budget Control Act, the number of personnel initiatives is modest. Tom Philpott The Senate Armed Services Committee will unveil its version of the bill in late May, after the Joint Chiefs of Staff have had another chance to urge deeper cuts to compensation program than the House panel is endorsing. The House panel did accept proposed active duty force cuts totaling 52,800 by October 2015. That includes a 30,000 cut in Army strength to reach 499,000; a 16,700 cut to Air Force, down to 310,900, and a 6,100 cut in Marines to 184,100. Navy strength would be unchanged at 323,600. Studies often serve to delay decisions and there are plenty ordered up by the House panel in this wartime election year. One is to be an anonymous survey of random service members on pays and benefits to determine preferred forms of compensation. Other language directs more frequent reviews and analyses from the U.S. Comptroller General to determine the adequacy of the number of health care providers who accept TRICARE Standard and TRICARE Extra. The Defense Secretary also is to submit a report on modernizing and realigning military medical facilities. During mark up Wilson and Davis touted new steps in the bill to strengthen protections against sexual assaults. Each concluded brief remarks by rejecting most Defense proposals to rein in personnel costs. Back in March, when introducing the 2015 defense budget request, Robert Hale, then under secretary of defense and comptroller, warned that if Congress rejected every initiative to curb compensation, it would punch “a $2.1 billion hole in our fiscal ‘15 budget.” The House subcommittee seems to have punched a hole only half that size by opting not to secure a full January military pay raise of 1.8 percent. If that silence on the raise survives the full committee mark, and a vote by the full House and also a Senate version of the defense bill, it would be a green light for President Obama to impose a one percent pay cap, as he did last year, under his authority to introduce an alternative federal pay in September. Just a few years ago, the armed services committees could toss out budget costsaving initiatives, or vote to add expensive new programs, by negotiating deals www.AccentTops.com Accent Tops & Trailers 657 BEAL PARKWAY From staff reports Now Enrolling for Summer Classes Massage Therapy, Skin Care, and Nail Specialist Accepting Post 911, Montgomery GI Bill & MyCAA Soothing Arts Healing Therapies School of Massage & Skincare 2100860 2096211 850-862-2400 and we need to be informed of their analysis before proceeding with wide impacting changes,” he said. The commission’s report is due next February. Members of the armed services committees cited that often in deflecting the pleas of military leaders over the past two months that compensation growth must be slowed now. Davis did so again Wednesday. Apparently not swayed by recent testimony of military leaders, Davis said she needed to hear more. “While I support not including in the mark the proposed legislative changes to the commissary system, the housing allowances reduction and the health care changes,” Davis said, “I do believe that we need to begin a conversation to address these issues. Part of that conversation needs to include the results of the [MCRMC] so that we can address compensation and retirement in a holistic approach.” Tom Philpott is a syndicated columnist. You may write to him at Military Update, P.O. Box 231111, Centreville, VA 20120-1111; or at milupdate@aol.com. red 7 Briefs Car, Truck & SUV Accessories Hard & Soft Bed Covers Bed Liners & Mats Toolboxes-Hitches Toppers & Lids Since 1988 Window Visors Step Bars-Running Boards-Seat Covers with appropriators to raise defense budget top lines. That isn’t possible under the restraints of the 2011 Budget Control Act. It also is why the Joint Chiefs warn that training, modernization and other critical readiness accounts are at risk if their plans to curb benefits are killed. Wilson sounded unconcerned as he rattled off the cost-saving ideas his subcommittee had rejected. “This mark does not include the Department’s request for military retirees to pay more for health care” or its proposal to make “a fundamental change to the TRICARE benefit” or its plan to trim increases in Basic Allowance for Housing for stateside members living off base, Wilson said. He didn’t explain how, given rigid budget ceilings, the subcommittee will replace savings lost from not capping increases to Basic Allowances for Housing, modifying TRICARE and raising TRICARE fees. Wilson did note the nation is still at war. He also gave another reason to delay most benefit cuts. “Congress established the Military Compensation and Retirement Modernization Commission [MCRMC] Visit SoothingArts.com for more information. 3035015 Free steak lunch for military Cumulus Media and Logan’s Roadhouse are serving free steak lunches, in conjunction with Lee Automotive Group and Eglin Federal Credit Union, for our area’s military members. The free feast takes place on Thursday, May 22 from 10:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. at Liza Jackson Park in honor of Military Appreciation Month. On-air personalities from NASH FM 105.5, 99ROCK, Z96, Coast 93.3 and News Talk 1260 will serve the free Logan’s Roadhouse sirloin steaks, tossed salad, over-loaded mashed potatoes and Logan’s rolls to the first 500 current or past military service members. Buffalo Rock Pepsi and Blue Bell Ice Cream will round out the menu, and military members can register to win $100 VISA gift cards and other prizes. The lunch will be served under the pavilion at the west side of Liza Jackson Park near the boat launch. For more information or to be a part of the 7th Annual Military Appreciation Cook-Out, call Cumulus Media at (850) 243-2323, the NASH studio at (850) 2441055, the 99ROCK studio at (850) 243-3699 or the Z96 studio at (850) 664-0965. See briefs page 7 Friday, May 9, 2014 | THE RED 7 | Page Ranger Camp set to host open house this weekend Thousands of students each year go through the strenuous training to become an Army Ranger, attending a portion of the course at Camp Rudder. Less than 50 percent will graduate. “We do this open house to build up our relationship with the community,” said Army Sgt. 1st Class Labaron Paschall. “We aren’t able to get out very often because when we are in cycle we are very busy. This gives us a chance to showcase the talents of our instructors, what they are capable of doing and how they do it.” The event is a popular one. In 2012, about 2,200 people attended and a similar crowd is expected this year. Paschall said the snake team — “our own rock stars” — will handle venomous snakes and alligators, which always delights the crowd. An airborne team will parachute into the camp from a plane overhead. Various weapons will also be on hand, and attendees will have a chance to fire them of your four person team is required no later than May 16. For information, contact Barry Woods at (850) The International Test 830-5061. and Evaluation Association (ITEA) Emerald Coast Chapter will host a meeting and dinner from 5-7 p.m. ThursEveryone with base acday, May 15 at the Boathouse cess is invited to shop or sell Landing (the Bilge Pub). The at Eglin’s basewide Parking guest speaker is Maj. Gen. Lot Sale at 8:30 a.m. May 10 (USAF ret.) Jeffery Riemer, on Georgia Avenue. Look for currently chief operating the event flags and signage officer of InDyne, Inc. The at the two large parking lots topic is “Are We Ready for across the street from the the Next BRAC?” RSVP to Eglin Conference Center eccitea@itea.org with entrée and BX Mini Mall. Sellers selection (fish, chicken, beef) may park in any available by May 8. There is a $5 cover space in either lot, then use charge and the dinner is $20. the adjacent space to display Membership in ITEA is not their wares. Shoppers are required to attend. welcome to park in any of the parking lots off Van Matre Avenue, surrounding the event area. Space for sellers is free. Advance reservations are not required. For inforRelay For Life Golf Tour- mation, call 850-882-1482. nament is May 23 at the Fort Walton Beach Golf Course. Shotgun start at noon. The event benefits the NicevilleValparaiso Relay For Life and makes a difference in The Air Force Enlisted the fight against cancer. Village’s major local fundThis Four Man Scramble raising event, the 11th Anformat event includes tour- nual Bob Hope Memorial nament entry, cart, greens Charity Golf Classic, will be fee, lunch, drinks, and a post held May 16-17 at the Eglin event meal for $50 per per- AFB Golf Course in Niceville. son. Advanced registration Registration is open online at www.afev.us/GolfClassic or by calling 850-651-3766. Proceeds from this event benefit military widows in need residing at the Air Force Enlisted Village (AFEV). Play begins on Friday, May 16 at noon on The Eagle course. Golfers will play The Eagle again on Saturday, May 17 with an 8:30 a.m. start and an awards luncheon will immediately follow. There will be prizes for the winning teams, a longest drive contest sponsored by GEICO, a closest to the pin contest, and an opportunity for holein-one prizes sponsored by Sam Taylor Buick Cadillac. The two day tournament is $150 per person and golfers will receive green fees, golf cart, range balls, commemorative coin, goody bag, on-course refreshments and lunch for both days. Corporate sponsorships are available and include golf: Gold $5,000 - 8 golf registrations, event banner and publicity, Silver $2,500 - 4 golf registrations, event banner and publicity, and Bronze $1,000 - 2 golf registrations, event banner and publicity. Secure a Corporate Sponsorship by registering online at www.afev.us/Corporate or call 850-651-3766. Hole Sponsorships are also available for $100. By LAUREN SAGE REINLIE Northwest Florida Daily News EGLIN AFB — The Army’s 6th Ranger Training Battalion Open House is back on this year, after a hiatus due to budget concerns last year. For over 60 years, the battalion has invited the public out to Camp James E. Rudder to show off what their instructors and students are up to deep in the swampy forest about 25 miles north of Fort Walton Beach. —with blanks, of course. This year, the event also will feature a car show on the other side of the camp, Paschall said. Attendance is free, but proceeds from concession sales, donations and car show entry fees will go to Fisher House and to help pay for the battalion’s annual ball. “It’s a long drive, but it’s well worth it,” Pashcall said. The camp is located on Overlord Drive. Signs direct traffic from State Road 189. The event will be from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. For a schedule of events go to www.nwfdailynews.com. briefs From page 6 Parking Lot Sale Relay For Life Golf Tournament Bob Hope Memorial Charity Golf Classic May 15 @ 7:30 p.m. • $20 Mattie Kelly Arts Center, Niceville All proceeds benefit Youth Orchestra Scholarships & programs Call or Click for tickets (850) 729-6000 or www.mattiekellyartscenter.org (Plus $2 Box Office processing fee) 2101362 ITEA Emerald Coast Chapter meeting EA/EO Page | THE RED 7 | Friday, May 9, 2014 Discover the perfect community for your BAH. Low 100s* Reserve Pointe, Navarre Approx. 16 miles Mid 100s* Keylan Cove, Pensacola Approx. 37 miles Winners Gait, Pace Approx. 26 miles LaGrange Landing, Freeport Approx. 55 miles High 100s* BIG New Home Savings So We are keeping them under our hat! 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