Major General Tony Cucolo, Director of Force Development for the Deputy Chief of Staff, G-8 at Headquarters, Department of the Army, and several senior staff members briefed reporters recently on the future of the Army’s vehicle fleet. The over 270,000 vehicles used by the Army give it the lead in vehicle ownership in the Federal government, surpassing even the Postal Service. After over a decade of war, the lessons learned on the battlefield coupled with new budget constraints are changing the composition of the Army’s vehicle fleet. Some of the changes are:
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In a historic first, Brigadier General Laura J. Richardson has been named by the U.S. Army’s Chief of Staff to take the post of deputy commander of the 1st Cavalry Division in Fort Hood, Texas. This marks the first time that a woman has been chosen for such a high position in a combat unit.
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Lt. Gen. William Webster, commander of 3rd Army/U.S. Army Central Command, poses with Soldiers and maintainers of the tugboat Champagne-Marne, May 6, at Kuwait Naval Base. The vessel received new nameplates with the Marne Patch on either side of the name. Photo by Spc. Michael Adams

In the summer of 1918, the 3rd Division was fighting in northern France, in a battle that would become a turning point for World War I and the division’s reputation.

In the French Province of Champagne, along the banks of the Marne River, American forces were fighting off a strong German attack that may have given the German’s key strategic strongholds against the Allies.

While other units were retreating all around the newly organized division, 3rd Division maintained its position along the Marne River, against some of the heaviest fighting seen during the war.

The division stood fast, dashing Germany’s hope of gaining any further foothold in France and effectively putting Germany on the defensive. For this, the division earned the nickname “Rock of the Marne.”

Gen. John “Blackjack” Pershing, commander of the American forces in Europe at that time, said 3rd Division’s performance was one of the most brilliant in the history of the United States Army.

This turning point for World War I and the turning point in America’s military history lives on in a tugboat named Champagne-Marne, for the battle fought that summer.

In a small ceremony at Kuwait Naval Base, a former 3rd Infantry Division commander, Lt. Gen. William Webster was on hand to help put the new nameplates on the tugboat in a small ceremony, May 6. Webster, now commander of 3rd Army/U.S. Army Central Command, still remembers with pride his years commanding the unit and its history.

Webster commanded 3rd ID from 2003 to 2006. While he was commander he was charged with reshaping the division into the Army’s first modular division.

Every vessel in the Army’s inventory is named after a Medal of Honor recipient or a famous military battle in American history, including this tugboat that made 3rd Div. one of the most feared in the Army.

2nd Battalion, 401st Army Field Support Brigade, based out of Kuwait, maintains the vessel.

“Lt. Gen. Webster relished the opportunity to get the opportunity to get back to the Marne,” said Lt. Col Michael Wright, commander of the 2nd Battalion, 401st Army Field Support Brigade. “He liked that it was still being so well-maintained.”

The new signs displayed on the boat show the Marne patch on either side of the vessel’s name.
“The vessel is in excellent condition for being over 50 years old,” said Chief Warrant Officer 3 David Proffitt, of Virginia Beach, Va., who serves as a marine maintenance officer with 2/401st AFSB. “The new boards were a fitting touch.”

The vessel’s ability is obvious to more than just one Soldier.

“The tugboat is an all-purpose thing,” said Wright. “It can bring barges into pier, pull boats and push boats.”

Chief Warrant Officer 3 Proffitt appreciated that he was there to see the ship and appreciates the unit’s work.

“It isn’t often that those of us within the Army watercraft community have the opportunity to make an impression on leaders outside of the field,” he said. “Although vessels are built to design specification, they are unique, each and everyone in its function and traits, almost like a living organism.”

For the Soldiers who serve on the ship, it becomes more than a place of duty.

“When underway, the crew not only works aboard, but they live, eat and rest there too,” Proffitt said. “It is essentially home to the Soldiers for the duration of their assignment. You can go weeks at a time without personal contact with the outside world or even see land. The fact that someone can connect to a vessel on a personal level brings a depth of understanding and interest that you usually only get from the mariners that sail them.”

Even though it is not in use, it could be manned and ready for action in a matter of days. The Champagne-Marne was commissioned more than 50 years ago and is one of only two remaining 100-foot tugboats still used by the Army. The vessel played a part in preventing Iraqi sabotage, participating in operations which required complex and integrated joint operations with Special Operations, Navy, Coast Guard, and Army forces during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

DVIDS
Story by Spc. Michael Adams

The Army has been fighting malaria forever. Some of the greatest achievements in public health were made possible by U.S. Army doctors such as Walter Reed.

U.S. Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Mathew Colson (middle) with APS West platform USS Gunston Hall observes as Senegalese Army Pvt. Cheikh Amanga (right) practices giving an intravenous catheter on Senegalese Army Pvt. Senghane Mbodj (left) during a tactical combat casualty care training course at the Ouakam Military Hospital for 26 members of the Senegalese Armed Forces as part of Africa Partnership Station West 2010 initiative. APS an international initiative developed by Naval Forces Europe - Africa, which aims to work cooperatively with U.S. and international partners to improve maritime safety and security in Africa.

Researchers at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research here are discovering new ways to combat and prevent the spread of malaria.

“Every conflict the U.S. has been in we’ve been faced with malaria,” said Army Col. Christian Ockenhouse, director of the U.S. Military Malaria Vaccine Program, during an April 14 interview on the Pentagon Channel podcast “Armed with Science: Research and Applications for the Modern Military.

Malaria is a parasitic disease which infects red blood cells, Ockenhouse said. It’s transmitted through the bite of a female mosquito, goes to the liver to develop and emerges after five days into the bloodstream to cause the disease.

Most people believe malaria is a disease of the past, but it has not disappeared, he said. In sub-Saharan Africa, 3,000 children die every day from the disease, he noted, which also can target adults, including U.S. troops serving in Afghanistan, South America and Africa.

More information about malaria:

• Info 101: Malaria
• Malaria is not gone, just forgotten

In the military, malaria impacts readiness and missions, and measures are implemented to combat the disease, Ockenhouse said. Using insect repellant and camouflage face paint with repellent in it, wearing uniforms impregnated with insecticides and employing bed nets can help to prevent malaria.

One of the important measures to prevent the disease is taking anti-malaria pills. This pill regime is one of the most effective preventative methods, Ockenhouse said, but it has to be performed daily. “Often time soldiers forget or don’t take it if they don’t see any symptoms,” he said.

The researchers are working with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in three areas to protect service members and children against malaria. First, they are developing a highly safe, highly effective vaccine. A second area is to develop better diagnostics, which would allow earlier detection and treatment of the malaria parasite in the blood. Third, they are developing new anti-malarial drugs to prevent infection and treat those that have it.

The researchers also are developing a medication for severe malaria. Ockenhouse spoke of an in-house program designed not only for early-stage research and development, but also to test new drugs against malaria in late-stage clinical trials intended for FDA approval.

The group also works overseas with laboratories located in Kenya, Thailand, Tanzania, Mali, South America and Peru.

“We are ambassadors in the countries where we work. We are there to lend assistance to their public health initiatives, which includes helping these countries test malaria vaccines, drugs and diagnostics and aiding in infrastructure and capacity development.”

The researchers also have assisted in the development of the world’s most advanced malaria vaccine that is being tested in 16,000 infants in 11 different countries. Preliminary studies indicate that use of the vaccine can reduce malaria by 50 percent. When licensed and made available the vaccine could save hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of children’s lives, Ockenhouse said.

“We are at the forefront of many endeavors in drugs and vaccines,” Ockenhouse said. “The DoD should be particularly proud that it is stepping up to the plate and leading the world’s efforts on this disease.”

DVIDS
Story by Christen McCluney

The United States military is makes a massive effort to make information available about the operations in Haiti. Facebook, Twitter and many, many Bloggers’ Roundtables are all a part of their strategy. We have participated in many interviews in the last few days with more to come.

US experts examine Haiti port damages

Divers have examined much of the port area in Port-au-Prince. There is damage, both on the surface and underwater. It may be possible to open a portion of the port, at least to LCU’s this week. The petrol port will take longer to survey and to get into operation.

On Sunday, the airport handled all the aircraft that arrived. None were diverted, for the first time since the quake. Haitian air traffic controllers are working alongside Air Force personnel. The Government of Haiti has established the general priorities for aircraft to land.

The Marines moved into the PaP neighborhood of Leogane this morning. As of noon, only the beachmaster equipment had gone ashore, to clear obstacles and clear a path for the coming amphibious vehicles.

Bataan sailed with medical staff for one operating room and limited supplies. It was a very fast evolution and they are waiting follow on supplies and an additional 70-80 medical personnel.

The Canadians are in the southern port city of Jacmel in force. They are trying to open a route between that city and the Dominican Republic.

B-roll of Medical staff assigned to the USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) join Coast Guardsmen assigned to USCGC Tahoma (WMEC 908) and Haitian volunteers treat earthquake victims at the Killick Haitian Coast Guard Base clinic. Carl Vinson and Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 17 are conducting humanitarian and disaster relief operations as part of Operation Unified Response after a 7.0 magnitude earthquake caused severe damage near Port-au-Prince on Jan. 12, 2010. Produced by Petty Officer 2nd Class Ashley Van Dien

Humanitarian assistance efforts in Haiti are improving every day despite enormous challenges, the commander of Joint Task Force Haiti said.

“Today, we had 180 flights go through the airport with zero delays,” Army Lt. Gen. P.K. “Ken” Keen said yesterday during a “DoDLive” bloggers roundtable. “That’s the first day since we started that we did not have a delay.”

For perspective, Keen noted that the single runway at the Port-au-Prince airport handled just 13 flights per day before the earthquake. U.S. airmen opened the airport less than 24 hours after the earthquake in response to a request for help from Haitian authorities. It then took several days to streamline the system for handling the crush of planes carrying supplies. Landing time slots now are now assigned based on priorities set by Haitian officials, he explained.

As of yesterday, U.S. troops had distributed 400,000 bottles of water, 300,000 rations and 12,000 pounds of medical supplies, Keen said, adding that those figures count only U.S. contributions. Numerous nations and international aid groups also are delivering assistance, he said.

But while the amount of aid is substantial, Keen said, it’s just a drop in the bucket compared to the needs of some 3.5 million people who are suffering, so the size of U.S. military force in Haiti — in an operation now dubbed “Unified Response” — will continue to grow.

“We have about 1,400 military on the ground right now,” he said. “We have another approximately 5,000 that are afloat on various ships supporting us. We will grow that force over the coming weeks to where we will have about 4,000 to 5,000 on Haiti and another 5,000 offshore supporting us.”

Personnel from the David Grant USAF Medical Center are bringing a 10-bed, completely portable “hospital in a box” known as an expeditionary medical support unit. The EMEDS will represent the first Air Force medical assets to be airlifted from Travis to Haiti.

Accompanying the EMEDS will be an elite three-member Critical Care Air Transportation Team – essentially a flying intensive care unit.

“Our time has come,” said Col. (Dr.) Brian Hayes, the commander of the 60th Medical Group during remarks before the EMEDS team. “Years from now, when your family members will ask you what you did in the Air Force, I’m sure this will be one of the most memorable events in your lives and medical careers that you will look back on and tell your story.”

The mission of an EMEDS team, which includes physicians, nurses, and a variety of medical technicians, is to rapidly deploy and provide forward stabilization, primary care, and dental services to support a population-at-risk of 3,000 to 5,000 people. The EMEDS+10 package and personnel being airlifted to Haiti are capable of providing medical and dental care for seven days in an austere environment without re-supply.

Critical Care Air Transport Teams assist in carrying out the mission of the Air Force’s aeromedical evacuation system, which includes air transport of patients under medical supervision while delivering optimal care.

Once deployed, the CCATTs are a limited, rapidly-deployable resource available in selected situations to supplement the aeromedical system. They are engaged after a patient has received essential, stabilizing care by supported ground medical support personnel. CCATTs are able to continuously monitor and maintain stabilization of critically ill/injured/burned patients during patient movement activities in either an inter- or intra-theater aeromedical mission support role.

“Since we heard the first news reports coming out of Haiti, the 60th Medical Group has been planning and preparing for an official tasking,” said Col. John Mansfield, the deputy commander of the 60th Medical Group. “In fact, our medical readiness unit here at DGMC did an outstanding job in getting a team assembled and medically prepared to deploy within a 12-hour timeframe.”

The 10 beds in the EMEDS will provide complex medical and surgical inpatient capability consistent with the in-country evacuation policy, as determined by the on-scene commander. The core infrastructure provides additional ancillary support, medical equipment maintenance and facility management, although blood storage, collection and transfusion capability is limited.

An additional 25 personnel from DGMC are prepared to augment the initial EMEDS team after deployment. When combined, the 83-member staff can provide medical care for a 25-bed hospital capable of supporting 5,000 to 6,500 Haitian refugees.

Day Four (16Jan): As our port assessments were completed, we steamed to the Windward Pass to assume the position of a Commander Task Force. With surface and air assets, we have two missions right now. One – to pave the way for supplies to be delivered into the port of Cap Hatien (one of the many ports that will be used through the next few months). Two – prevent migrant smugglers from trying to profit from the misfortune of the Haitian people by putting them in more danger on the open seas in unstable vessels.

Day Five (17Jan): Our helicopter and a cutter crewmember performed damage assessment overflight of Route 1 from Cap Haitien to Gonaives (we already had completed Gonaives to PAP). This verified that relief efforts delivered to Cap Haitien can be trucked to PAP, it means Cap Haitien is a viable port. Our task unit continued to work with local Cap Haitien officials to pave the way for relief supplies.

Day Six (18Jan): Our helo performed medical evacuations from Killick Haitian CG Base to the Sacred Heart Hospital in Milot. The flight mechanic talked about two children on the first flight who wanted to hold his hand for comfort. In total, they transferred nine non-ambulatory people in stokes litters. The task unit continued its work in Cap Haitien.