Guest Blog Post - Dirk Beveridge

When you think of the military it is easy to get caught up in the technology and power at its disposal. But what stood out most was the human element.

Our 8 day conference (JCOC 75) having visited troops at Guantanamo Bay, USS George Washington, Tolemaida & Cartagena Colombia, San Cano Honduras, and Key West Florida was amazing. But the real amazement was in the hearts, and minds of the amazing and phenomenal people in uniform that we met and the goodness that flowed from everyone of them.

Those that we met are good! Intelligent! Professional! Honorable! Have purpose! Selfless! We could go on but suffice it to say they truly are the best of what we have!

The bottom line is that they are where they are for you and me. They are where they are for our families. They are where they are as Secretary England said - so that we can wake up in freedom rather than terror and chaos.

Upon return to the States I penned a note to two sons - one 11 and the other 9 - of a reservist I met at Guantanamo Bay. I believe this note captures the essence of every service man and woman we met throughout the conference:

Marcus & Thomas - I wanted to write you after meeting your father down at Guantanamo Bay. When he spoke of you both his eyes lit up with pride and love. He told me how precious the two of you are and I know he misses you so very much.

Your father is a very special man and I was honored to meet him. I think of the word "goodness" after talking to your dad. Many years from now - when you begin to raise your own family, I know that you will tell stories about how your dad was in the middle of history ... doing not what was easy, but what was right.

Your dad is making this world a better place to live.

Marcus and Thomas I know that it is not easy for you to be away from your father - from the bottom of my heart, I want to thank the two of you for allowing your father to make a real difference in the world.

With the deepest respect,
Dirk Beveridge

Dirk Beveridge
President, 4th Generation Systems
800-BBS-IDEA
http://www.4thgenerationsystems.com/

We're Back! So Now What?

I'm on the C-17 headed from Miami to Andrews Air Force Base.

So we've had our last event. It was our farewell dinner hosted by SOUTHCOM commander Admiral James Stavridis. A great event, with each of the JCOC teams giving summaries, thoughts, etc. Our conference senior representatives, Mr. Kevin Wensing (from Deputy Defense Secretary England's staff) and Air Force Brig. Gen. Paul M. Van Sickle (from SOUTHCOM staff) , also spoke. This was also a chance for many of us to see some of the photos captured from the week, expertly taken by our two conference Air Force photographers, Tech Sgt. Jerry Morrison and Master Sgt. Kevin Gruenwald.

So now what?

That was a constant question coming from so many of the JCOC participants themselves. And they WANT to do something with these experiences, for sure.

Without exception, the JCOCers spoke about how important the trip was and how they need to take this new knowledge and move forward. With so many ways one could think of taking further action, the imortant thing is to not be overwhelmed into paralysis and do nothing.

Many JCOCers plan to call the parents or spouses of service members they met along the way. Some talk of planning local military support activities, and others of doing humanitarian assistance themselves as JCOC alumni to further support what the military is doing. There were recurring comments that this was just the beginning. If that's the case, I ask each JCOC 75 member...

So now what?

My hope is that each participant in JCOC 75 gained a more clear picture of the myriad activities of their armed forces around the globe, maybe clearing up previously held misconceptions along the way. I'd love to see several (or ALL) of these great JCOC alums out in their communities speaking about what they have seen, experienced and learned.

This has been a stellar opportunity to continue to build on JCOC alumni and what they can do to further educate their own communities about the military -- based on their new-found direct experiences through JCOC.

Many participants departed from Miami, and the rest of us will soon be landing in the D.C. area to go our separate ways.

I can say I had a great time leading the Blue Team, getting to know them, as well as so many others from all our JCOC teams. Red Team, Green Team, Blue Team or White Team -- all the teams were full of superb leaders from around the nation. This was an energized group and we all learned a lot from our hosts throughout the SOUTHCOM area of focus. Thanx everyone!

I will continue to post any additional guest blog inputs from JCOCers as they send them to me.

And maybe we'll get a few lines of blog discussion along the way too!

Until then, as we say in the Navy. . .

Fair Winds and Following Seas,

Brook DeWalt
Lieutenant Commander, U.S. Navy
Blue Team Leader and Conference Blogger, JCOC 75

Guest Blog Post - Gail Werner-Robertson

My favorite memory of JCOC 75 was my overnight stay on the nuclear aircraft carrier USS George Washington. Of course it was thrilling to see the night flight operations; but even more impressive were the many conversations we had with the crew. Every person, from the lowest ranking to the admiral, all showed tremendous pride in their mission.

Let it be clear, everyone knew what the mission was, how they contributed to the mission and the importance of what they were doing. It sounds trite, but these crew members really did exemplify the best of what this country has to offer. These special interactions gave me tremendous pride in not only my country but also the youth who are so proudly protecting our freedoms.

Gail Werner-Robertson, JCOC 75
Founder and CEO, GWR Wealth Management / Sunshine Autism Foundation
Omaha, Neb.

Guest Blog Post - Karen Johnson

This has been an amazing trip. As a resident of Northern Virginia, I am aware of the military, but not fully familiar with its intricacies -- as a matter of fact, I had not toured the Pentagon until this trip, although I live near it, have run through its parking lot during several Marine Corps marathons and have had several friends who have worked there!

In short, I am stunned by the diverse role our military plays in the southern hemisphere. I am also extremely proud of the stability and support we are bringing to the countries we work with.

For instance, in Colombia we learned that a U.S. Army Ranger working with our Embassy raises money and collects clothes for an orphanage in a town several hours outside of Bogota -- this is in addition to the organized efforts of the military to assist those in need in-country.

We saw that unique American spirit at every stop -- men and women proud to be representing our nation thousands of miles away from their family and friends.

Nowhere was the American justice and humanity more evident than at GTMO. Isolated from the U.S. and prohibited from going into Cuba, at GTMO we met a dedicated and close knit group of soliders who are resposible for the care and detainment of suspected terrorists. At GTMO we were able to see the detainees and tour both the minimum and maximum security facilities where they are kept. Having personally viewed these facilities and met the people who guard and care for these detainees, I can say that they are extremely well cared for and that their living conditions are clean and comfortable. The men and women who guard these detainees have extremely stressful and high risk jobs. For instance, the maximum security facility is constantly being modified to protect guards from feces and other substances that the detainees "collect" and either throw on the guards or drop from one level of the facility to another. Guards names are not on their uniforms for fear that detainees will utilize their sources and do harm to the guards and/or their families.

There are so many aspects of this trip that I could highlight, as each stop was a fascinating experience.

I was one of the lucky few who was allowed to spend the night on the USS George Washington. After an exciting and exhausting day of touring the ship and watching a series on night takeoffs and landings, we finally made it to our berthing. I took the top bunk, and the gentle rock of the ship along with the soothing hum of the engines put me right to sleep! The men who traveled with us weren't so lucky. Their accomodations were a little more "luxurious" but they were beneath the flight deck. So while the women had purring engines, the men had a night full of chains being dropped and equipment moving overhead!

As I told my father in an e-mail the next day -- it was perhaps the best sleep I had had in a long time.

During our trip we flew on a C17 and a C130. I had always heard horror stories about military aircraft. Not true!!! I much prefer flying with the U.S. military over commercial any day! The crew was oustanding. Their dedication to safety beyond compare! Plus, on a military aircraft, you get to wander around and chat with friends, sleep on a cot, or even the floor! One of my seatmates would depart shortly after takeoff and find his bed -- which he created on the floor of the loading area!

I am especially pleased that we were able to visit SOUTHCOM -- the area of Central and South America so vital to the U.S. politically, economically and militarily. It was great to see America's leadership and partnerships at work.

General VanSickle and his staff are to be commended for their outstanding work on behalf of our nation. I am indeed lucky to have had these experiences and make new friendships.

Karen Johnson, JCOC 75
Senior Vice President, Valente & Associates
Alexandria, Virginia

Guest Blog Post - Meredith Iler

The following text was e-mailed in by JCOC 75 participant Meredith Iler...

What started out as a gesture of gratitude to one of our heroes for serving our nation, ended up demonstrating just how small our world can be.

JCOC participant Meredith Iler was on a routine tour on base in Honduras when her “Red Team” entered the hospital facility to be briefed on Medivac procedures. Within minutes, Sgt, Stevan Crowder who worked in the facility but was not participating in the JCOC visit recognized her. He came up to her and asked “Are you the one with the foundation to build homes for our severely wounded heroes?” Meredith immediately replied yes since she chairs the HelpingaHero.org’s Wounded Hero Home Program. He then told her that she had given her first class seat to him when he deployed to Honduras a few months earlier.

Meredith remembered him vividly as that was the first time she had ever flown with an entire unit on a flight and had asked the Colonel in charge if it would be OK to give her seat to one of his team. With his permission, she gave her seat to Sgt. Crowder who was at the airport with his beautiful wife and 2 small children as tears streamed down all of their faces at the thought of being separated for the next 6 months.

Thanks to JCOC, the two have been reunited and were able to exchange contact information. They plan to get together in Oklahoma City with their spouses later this summer.

Meredith Iler, JCOC 75
President, Strategic Alliance
Cypress, Texas

Guest Blog Post - Hon. Terry Strle

On Thursday I met an ER team member by the name of Bingham (not sure if he is a doc or of his rank). We met during the Mobile Surgical Team demonstration in Honduras. Bingham has just a short time left in Honduras, then he will be headed to Ft. Washington in Fairbanks, Alaska, where he will work in the ER at our new base hospital. How cool is that!!! He will arrive later this summer and he promised to look me up.

The longer we JCOC members are together as a group, the funnier we get. And while I like to think things are mostly about me (;-0), this is really about our men and women out on active duty and reserve military.

What an outstanding bunch of people. Mission driven, positive, polite and focused. It has been an honor to see them in their element.

Army Strong!

Terry Strle, JCOC 75
Mayor, City of Fairbanks
Fairbanks, Alaska

Key West and the Coasties

Thursday night we flew from Honduras to Key West. It was another late night arrival followed by another early morning wake-up call. After a great breakfast, although rushed as usual to keep on track with our very tight schedule, we took a quick bus ride to the headquarters of Joint Inter-Agency Task Force-South, or JIATF-S.

We received a brief from the task force's deputy director and intelligence operations director. This gave us deeper insight into the multitude of U.S. and foreign agencies working together to deter, identify, track, intercept and prosecute those who engage in the trafficking of illegal items or people into the United States and elsewhere. We were given great examples of how these efforts are indeed paying dividends. While there is no overnight answer, JCOCers left saying there's a need for continued determination and updates to policy to best facilitate success.

Upon our departure from JIATF-South, we stopped to look at a seized submersible vessel previouly used to move illicit items without detection. Again, the JCOC team was impressed with what they learned here.

The team then moved on to U.S. Coast Guard Sector Key West. After a group operations briefing, we gathered at the sea wall to witness a search and rescue demonstration. We then again broke into smaller teams for a more personalized, hands-on experience. We toured a medium endurance Coast Guard cutter, checked out USCG's ability to rapidly deploy communication assets in a time of crisis, spoke with Coasties assigned to their depolyable operations group (or DOG) and tactical law enforcement team (and just how great they are at disabling fast boats that need to be detained), participated in a use-of-force demonstration for non-compliant vessels (going fast and seeing their waterborne tactics), and learned about some of the latest biometrics technologies used to better identify and potentially track those folks detained by the Coast Guard.

It was another hot (and humid) day, but time passed quickly as all the JCOCers were so pleased with the level of access and what they were learning. This was an impressive day of events lined up for the JCOC participants.

Now back to the C-17 aircraft and another jaunt -- this time to Miami -- in advance of our JCOC 75 farewell reception and dinner! Of course, we have only a matter of minutes to get to our rooms, change, and get downstaitrs again! But that is the fast-paced schedule of JCOC! No "Hollywood Showers" for any of us! Time is not something we have a lot of, esecially on this trip!
Hasta,
Brook

Guest Blog Post - Lou Kerr

Being a member of the JCOC Clas 75 has truly been a life changing experience.

As days pass, friendships develop, knowledge is gained and awareness creeps into one's conciousness.

Being with bright, dedicated people serving in every aspect of our military has given me an appreciation of caring I had not experienced before.

Young men and women who take their duties seriously; who find time to be excellent fathers and mothers but still have time to give generously of their time to volunteer to elp improve the lives of others seems to be just a part of every day living for our troops.

Men and women who have served in the war zone chose to re-up to be a part of a military effort i didn't know existed.

Building schools, raising funds, digging ditches to laying their lives on the line to help other countries fight crime, drugs, or being available for disaster relief is a daily part of their lives.

The friends of JCOC have lots to be thankful for and seeing how our troops go beyond their requirements was witnessed by each and every one of the JCOC team.

More can be done to help the humanitarian efforts that the military is doing so effectively.

Private partnerships need to be formed with the military so more can be accomplished by these caring young people who have inspired and motivated us by their unselfish acts of humanity.

Ms. Lou Kerr, JCOC 75
Chair and President, The Kerr Foundation
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Guest Blog Post - Leo Bustad

I was repeatedly impressed with the U.S. military personnel at every level -- their professionalism and commitment is enexelled. Their graciousness flowed from the heart, every interaction ws pleasant and they all voiced they were proud to be serving.

Dr. Leo Bustad, JCOC 75
Cardiologist, Alaska Heart Institute
Anchorage, Alaska

Guest Blog Post - Madelyn Hammond

Being in the Honduras village of Barrio and seeing the faces of the children made me realize how fortunate I am and how important the trip has been to broaden my perspective of the world outside of Hollywood.

Madelyn Hammond, JCOC 75
Chief Marketing Officer, Variety Magazine
Los Angeles, Calif.

Guest Blog Post - Lucia Dougherty

The JCOC trip had so many outstanding moments, such as the visit to Guantanamo and seeing first hand the care, compassion and restraint the military men and women demonstrated under stressful circumstances; staying overnight on the George Washington aircraft carrier; repelling with the Colombian military and riding on a black hawk helicopter.

However, the most important experience for me is the ealization that our military is held in great esteme in many countries in this hemisphere where they are helping diplomacy by building schools, providing medical care and assisting the local military with equipment and services.

My fellow participants and leaders of this trip from SOUTHCOM and the DOD made this trip a once in a lifetime experience.

Lucia Dougherty, JCOC 75
Principal Shareholder, Greenberg Traurig
Miami, Fla.

Guest Blog Post - Robin Reiter-Faragalli

What a thrilling and exhilirating trip this has been. Pride in our military doesn't begin to describe the incredible feelings. The depth of their commitment, passion and willingness to serve is inspirational.

Highlights include the unexpected overnight on the George Washington and the strength and determination of the people of Colombia. I am in awe of our service men and women and must find a way to honor their service and share our appreciation. WOW.

Robin Reiter-Faragalli, JCOC 75
Principal, Reiter & Associates, LLC
Miami, Fla.

Guest Blog Post - Steve Lee

To me the whole trip comes back to one thing - our men and women in uniform, the Pride of America. From Guantanamo Bay to the George Washington or to Colombia, at each stop there is dedication and enthusiasm in howthey are serving our country.

Of course, they are far away from home and for a long time. Being a parent I certainly admire their moms and dads and how they must miss them.

Talking to the troops, they are so happy and proud to share what they do and see the expression in their eyes of their patriotism for the USA. It gives me cause to appreciate the sacrifice of those who gave all, the wounded, and those who are serving all over the world... and of course the families, wives, children, brothers, sisters, moms and dads.

Being here on this trip also has given me time to reflect on a fine American family, the Maupins of Cincinnati, Ohio, whose son until recently was missing for four years in Iraq. They have been ruly an inspiration to all.

Each and every day I find new reasons and gain more connection to Support Our Troops the Best I Can! Until they all come home, what a privilage it is to serve those who serve.

Steve Lee, JCOC 75
Senior Vice Prsident of Investments
UBS
Cincinnati, Ohio

Guest Blog Posts Coming from JCOC 75 Participants

I've been asking various members of JCOC 75 to send me their input if they'd like to share some thoughts on this program -- overall experiences, particular items that stuck out in their minds, ah-ha moments, or anything else as it relates to JCOC 75. These are to be their thoughts, their words. I've received a handful and will post them throughout the next fews days as they come in. I hope they can provide some added context to our journeys and the JCOC program. Thanx!
Hasta,
Lt. Cmdr. Brook DeWalt, U.S. Navy
Blue Team Leader, JCOC-75

Honduras -- Humanitarian Assistance, Hot Temperatures, and a Hurt Ankle

So the rest of our Thursday in Honduras was busy and hot...

The JCOC participants had lunch with Joint Task Force Bravo personnel. The meal? A variety of MRE's (Meals Ready to Eat). The location? Wherever their JTF Bravo personnel chose to take them -- their work spaces, their berthing, outdoor under a tree, or wherever else seemed like a good place to figure out how to eat an MRE and learn more about the service members assigned here.

After lunch, the JCOCers split into three teams (Blue Team divided up betwen the Red, White and Green teams) to see other aspcets of JTF-Bravo activity. They witness humanitarian assistance and visited a localsmall town, delivering sports equipment for the children and seeing the construction of foundations for new buildings -- part of their Beyond the Horizons Exercise. They also visited with the Mobile Surgical Team (MST), and witnessed a firefighting demonstration -- with a few of the JCOCers geared up to help in the demo! And finally, they were able to try their hands at the repelling towers.

It was here at the repelling towers that we had a bit of an unfortunate issue. One of the mighty "Go Navy" Blue Team members left with a broken ankle. Doing well and still tagging along as we near the end of our journeys, this JCOCer has another unique "sea story" to add to the diary of JCOC 75.

The full group then met up for a final dinner and "Warrior Party" hosted by JTF-Bravo. That was some great food! And some great discussion with the various personnel from JTF-Bravo and other SOUTHCOM region nations.

The JTF-Bravo visit was a great experience for all the JCOCers I spoke with throughout the day. They could not believe the impact our personnel are having with so many poeple so far from home -- particularly with the youth of Honduras.

It wasn't long before we headed back to the airport en route to our next stop, Key West, Florida. Arriving late Thursday night, we were then prepped for a day of learning about Coast Guard operations and the Joint Inter-Agency Task Force - South.

More soon!
Hasta,
Brook

An early up, and off to Honduras

To catch you all up, the JCOC group spent Wednesday evening back in Bogota. The group gathered at Club Colombia, listened to some local musicians and discussed their observations of the conference thus far. It was a comfortable and early evening, with most participants back to the hotel by 11 p.m. Why, you might ask?

Wake up calls were at 3:30 a.m. for our next country destination, Honduras. We were en route by 4:40 a.m. and arrived in country after a nearly 4-hour flight.

JCOC was greeted on the tarmac by the U.S. Ambassador to Honduras, as well as members of Joint Task Force Bravo.

This place in the heart of Central America, like so many other parts of the SOUTHCOM area, is hot!

After a bag breakfast, a briefing by the ambassador and JTF-Bravo, and some Q & A, we were headed to the field.

As I type this blog entry, I am standing in a large dry field. Two UH-60 helicopters are in the process of demonstrating sling-load operations. The JCOC members are participating as well. The helicopters are guided in, loaded with personnel (JCOCers), and further guided in to connect to their sling load. In this case today, the two loads they are carrying are a Humvee and a bundled pallet of food and water. The group is getting another direct example of what the military practices to ensure their ability to get the mission done. The JCOC members are sling-loading, directing traffic, and travelling with the helos, all under some exceptional direction by JTF-Bravo personnel.

Also, a group of military personnel from 19 SOUTHCOM nations have just arrived to further interact with our group.

OK, I think we are beginning to wrap up this part of the day's itinerary. I'll leave it here and catch up with you again shortly!

Hasta,
Brook

Off to the port city of Cartagena

So I'm writing this from a seat on the C-130 flying back to Bogota. Let me back up so you are filled in for the day.

We were up at 5:45 a.m. and pulling away from the hotel at 6:45. The Wednesday morning destination was the historic walled city of Cartagena, about a 90-minute flight from Bogota. A bit of a bumpy ride and tight seating, but no surprises. We arrived and headed straight for the Colombian Naval Base and Coast Guard Headquarters. There, the JCOC group received operational briefs, as well as tours of two naval ships, one of them being a historical sailing ship.

Next we headed into the old walled part of the city for a quick tour and about 30 minutes of shopping - something this group does not get a lot of time to do as we keep them fully engaged in learning about the DoD mission in the region. The tour part was rather short, as the group really wanted to take advantage of this rare chance to gift shop. So what did we do? Of course, we adapted and overcame - and got the shopping done. About a half-hour later, we re-boarded the buses and headed back to the airport for the C-130 flight back. And that brings us all up to date!

Did you know? - that we have been giving many of our JCOC participants the opportunity to ride in our aircraft cockpit jump seats? Yes, we rotate jump seaters and we are trying to give maximum opportunities so the JCOCers can observe firsthand how our air crews operate these aircraft.

More later!

Hasta,
Brook

Editor's Note

The last 3 posts were in succession today as Lt. Cdr. Dewalt had Internet connection troubles but was finally able to email us his posts.


- Jack

So much to do in such little time!

Wake up call at 5 a.m.! Everyone looks refreshed this morning at breakfast. Within the hour we were being escorted to the airport for a trip to a Colombian military base in Tolemaida. This time we were flying in a C-130. Imagine two long rows of mesh military seats facing each other with only a few inches between your knees. A new experience for our JCOC group and another example of how travel for many military operations. We were soon airborne again!

Interesting... About 20 minutes into our flight to Tolemaida, our aircraft took defensive measures to include a few sharp turns and the release of chaff. Then as quickly as it happened, it was back to the routine flight. I'm told it was simply a precautionary measure for travels in the region. And I'm willing to bet that very few of our participants even noticed, assuming it was just part of our short but bumpy ride. For those who did notice, it was just another interesting little part of the journey!

We arrived in Tolemaida and exited the plane to a warm, high altitude location with clouds below us, yet surrounded by many more mountains. It is beautiful here!

While in Tolemaida, we were kept fully engaged with an initial brief by the local Colombian military commander, and a series of stops around the base. We received field presentations by their special forces - the Lanceros- who then allowed the group to try their hands at the military repelling stations - 18 meters up. Many JCOCers took part. They also had a batch of local snakes on hand, who seemed to enjoy wrapping themselves around us all for photos! The special forces event lasted quite a while, and it was clearly appreciated by our group to see how they train.
Next, we witnessed a live-fire house-clearing demonstration, watched a .50-caliber target shooting demonstration followed by a chance to shoot the weapon ourselves to feel what it is like, and an impressive humanitarian assistance display with a variety of scenarios being demonstrated. It was a full morning that really showed how the Columbian military, along with U.S. assistance, is engaging in a variety of activities related to drug interdiction and humanitarian aid.

After a short plane trip back to Bogota, we were quickly en route to the U.S. Embassy where we had a working lunch with Deputy Chief of Mission Brian Nichols and the country team. We learned more about local missions for USAID, the Pol-Mil section, economics and drug eradication. We all wished we had more time for deeper discussion, but it was a good overview.
Later, we broke into smaller team groups and visitied the Columbian Urban Counterterrorist Special Forces to view a live-fire house clearing demo and to speak with Colombian commandos. We were dressed with appropriate safety attire and we got up close, watching the scenario unfold from a catwalk overhead. It was a powerful example of the intricate training necessary to do what they do. The groups also visited the local DEA headquarters where we learned about the cocaine production problems in the area, as well as cooperative erradication, interdiction, and plans to move the region forward.

As if that was not enough, we were off again! We chanted a few rounds of the JCOC cheer and we were going again! "We're not tired. We're not sleepy! We feel good!"

Last night (Tuesday evening) we attended a reception at the home of the ambassador. This was another great opportunity to speak with Colombian and U.S. personnel about the regional issues.
And everyone was off to sleep in advance of another busy day ahead!

Hasta,
Brook

Touchdown in Bogota!

We arrived in Bogota, Colombia, late afternoon Monday night. There, we boarded buses and were whisked across town to our hotel. This is a country still dealing with many issues and security is not taken lightly. As such, we've been given hefty security for all our travels. As a matter of force protection, it would not be prudent to go into specifics while the trip is under way, but I can tell you that the Colombian government and our U.S. Embassy here are taking the necessary steps to watch over the distinguished JCOC group. I recommend you take a look at some of the related photos posted to the JCOC Web site!

Our evening activity was rather tame when compared to the bulk of our itinerary. We had dinner in the hotel, followed by shopping with some local merchants. It was a nice, comfortable evening.

Most folks then headed for bed, while a few stuck around in the hotel lounge and chatted about the trip thus far. For me, I unpacked, reviewed the next day's plan and headed for bed. It was the first hotel bed for 19 of us since leaving the country! Yes indeed, this program really keeps everyone going at full speed in a military environment!