Guest Blog Post - Linda Osmundson

JCOC 3

We get settled in the nicest Holiday Inn most of us have experienced in Stuttgart.

We ended going out trying to find a place to dance last night. We started at an Irish Pub. We took about four taxis there so there were so many of us the bar regulars were crammed together standing almost out the door. Tonight the pilots are with us again but they are not drinking because in 24 hours they will be flying us home. I respect how conscientious they are about following the rules. One buys me a Sprite to drink.

When the rain eases up we migrate a few blocks to another bar and then migrate to yet another bar to find some dancing music. Our group shrinks and just the diehard dancers (mostly the younger staff and me) are left. We get in a little dancing and then taxi back to the hotel.

This time it is 6:30 AM when Ryan calls me. I’m already awake. We head to a special conference room where we have vast breakfast choices. I try not to eat too much. Then we depart on busses to SOCEUR (Special Operations Command Europe) on a military base in Germany that once was the vast operations center for Hitler. Blue Team is hustled off to another firing range. This time we are standing or sitting behind more big guns and a pistol but not wearing all the body armor and helmets. I feel more in control because I can at least sight on the targets without a helmet falling over my eyes. I am again surprised by the kick that I feel even from shooting a pistol!

After we shoot we are taken to a high platform overlooking an urban setting used by the Green Berets to practice Military Operations on Urbanized Terrain. We watch from above as military masquerading as repairmen drive their van to a particular spot and lift a manhole cover as if they are working on a utility under the road. A sign is given and they “kill” the guard across from the van. Another small team of soldiers comes over a wall and breaks into a home quietly and goes inside searching for their target. We hear shots inside and the team emerges, apparently accomplishing their mission.

Afterwards the Army Green Berets participating in the exercise introduce themselves to us and we are offered the opportunity to individually talk with them and ask questions. I choose a handsome young man who is from Pensacola, FL who says he is 27, slightly older than most of the other enlisted men we have met other days because he has had more special training to become a Green Beret and has made a longer commitment. He is married to a German woman and they live in military accommodations. He has been deployed to Iraq, Afghanistan and other dangerous places during his tour of duty. He tells me his father and grandfather was each in the military before him. When he graduated from high school he felt like he didn’t have much direction so he joined the Army and became a Green Beret! I asked him why he chose such dangerous work and he says, “Somebody has to do this and everyone is going to die some time.” Then he turns his back on the rest of the group so they cannot see his face and says, “I’m going to tell you a secret. My mother has cancer. She and I are just closer to knowing about death than most people.” I am startled by this statement and immediately tears come to my eyes and start to fall down my cheeks. He turns around abruptly and walks away from me a few steps, I imagine so I cannot see his own emotions, then he turns around again and shakes my hand and says, “Thanks for coming. I’m pleased to meet you,” and he walks away again. This was one of my most poignant memories of the trip.

We have a German lunch catered for us at a place on the base called Garden of Eden and then depart for an operations brief at EUCOM, the headquarters for the European Command. As you have noticed, everything has an abbreviated name. Our hosts do their best to remember to translate the abbreviations so we civilians will understand what they are talking about. They take us to a large, windowless building and we are instructed to leave all electronic devices, cameras and cell phones on the bus. We are ushered into a room with tiered seating and surrounded by electronic bill boards and computer screens that we have been told have been “sanitized” for our visit. We are in a real command center where decisions about the world are made by the top military leadership in Germany and we are briefed by General Brilakis.

We return to the Holiday Inn with some promised time to shop but by the time we arrive, there is no time to shop and we go up to our rooms and I rested for a few minutes before it is time to meet downstairs to go to Schoss Weitenburg, a beautiful German castle where we are to have our last dinner. We are introduced to the proud Baron who is our host and the castle resident. We have a beautiful view of the countryside from the huge windows of the room where we are to dine. I am honored to be chosen to sit at the table of the most important General. Protocol dictates that he is served first and takes the first bite before the rest of us.

Each team chooses someone to speak for their group. We all laugh when Jon from the white team introduces himself as the “commie pinko liberal” of the group. I guess I am the other one. Each speaker thanks our hosts, team leaders and staff and we each agree that the week has been enlightening, fascinating and educational. We are each leaving with a new appreciation and respect for the US military.

On the last day they let us sleep in until 7:30 and we have brunch in the hotel and have a panel discussion with military who have recently returned from Afghanistan and Iraq. This was a fascinating discussion and we asked many questions until it was time to load us on another bus and board the C-17 for the trip home. We were issued one more pair of earplugs as we boarded. Eight hours later we arrived back at Andrews AFB.

Sometime enroute, I discover that I have lost my little fanny pack that I have been using as a purse and I think I have left it in the hotel bathroom. I have no money, camera, Treo (cell phone), driver’s license or credit cards. Fortunately, Commander Perry has my passport so at least I have ID. I spend time up with the pilots watching them fly and we are able to call the hotel to see if they have found my little red pack. They have difficulty understanding our English on the phone and tell us to call back in an hour. When we call back they still have no information.

I had planned to spend the night in a hotel since my flight out was not until the next day but since I have no credit card or money, Commander Ryan Perry offers to take me home and let me spend the night with his family and he will bring me to the airport in the morning. This was way above the call of duty but I agree and I am privileged to meet the entire Perry family. Ryan’s wife, MJ, is also in the Navy and a higher rank than Ryan. She works in Human Resources at the Pentagon. I meet their two sons Blake (15) and Raden (7) and daughter Malia (2) as well as Mother, Janet and Ryan’s sister, Alison. It takes quite a team to keep a military family going when both parents are officers who might be deployed. I had a wonderful evening with the family. We went out to dinner and watched one of the debates together and Raden gave up his bed for me. Ryan made repeated calls to Germany to check on my purse. At one point they said it was found but when we called again, it was a red jacket and not a purse. In the morning, Ryan loaned me $200 and sent me on my way to Asheville to begin my bike ride. The happy post script to my story is that the pack was eventually found on the C-17 after it ended up in S. Carolina. They made contact with my assistant and when I arrived back at my office a week later it was in a box sitting on my desk with everything in it. Yes, there are honest people in the world, especially in the US military!

What an amazing experience. I am still digesting it all and will be for a long time.

Guest Blog Post - Linda Osmundson

JCOC 2

Hi All

It is now the 5th day of JCOC. I have not been able to get to a computer before this. This is a German computer with a few letters in different places so bear with me.

Monday we were still on the Island of Crete. We spent the day with the Coast Guard on board of the Dallas. I was especially interested in this one because I live just below a Coast Guard station and because they do a lot of search and rescue work as on the US coastline as well as search and rescue in places where there is war. We spent some time watching a demonstration of law enforcement tactics and learning how to handcuff someone. The most fun part was riding on an Over the Horizon boat, a small boat that goes really fast. We sat on seats mounted like horses and really flew around the harbor. We also learned how to put out fires which are common on board. They have had 5 in less than a year. I got to handle a fire hose that took more effort to hold on to than I expected. We also visited the engine room where it gets to be 130 degrees! We had lunch with young Coast Guard enlisted folks and it was enlightening to ask why they joined...mostly to see the world and to go to school and to do something different than everyone else in the small towns where grew up. Again, the amount of responsibility vested in very young people was remarkable and they seemed very proud of that.

Dinner was at a nice restaurant with a beautiful view. Went out dancing again...took us 3 bars to find music on a Monday. The younger military folks still seemed surprised I liked to dance so much. Wake up call was a very early 5 AM. This time we flew in a C17 sitting facing each other on the sides of the plane. I got to spend some time in the cockpit and it is amazing. The plane is quite old from the 1970s and being phased out. We had to fly in the smaller plane because we were landing on a very short airstrip. We did an assault landing which was sort of straight down and BUMP. We watched a Special Tactics Squad demonstrate a parachute jump and a simulated air refuel (amazing) and a guided air strike. They can strike within a few feet of a target. We had lunch with airmen in their mess hall. Pretty decent food.

Then we had a busy afternoon learning about weapons and we got to get into the cockpit of F 15 fighter planes and talked to the pilots. One of my favorite parts was a demonstration of working attack dogs. Such discipline. They attacked a padded bad guy with incredible energy and took him down and then immediately released him upon command. We also got to see huge engines and they told us about how they worked and how often they were broken down for repair. We also got to use fighter plane simulators. Incredible technology. I got killed pretty fast in the simulator and crashed into the ground and then got up and flew again!

Breakfast was supposed to be at the hotel but apparently the cooks did not show so plan B was to go to the base and eat. It was a great breakfast with individually made eggs.

We flew again to Cambridge and had dinner in the Great Hall at St. Johns College, a very handsome, historic building. I spent some time with a female colonel who was sort like the City manager of the base and loved her job as well. Afterwards we went to a historic pub from WW II.

Another very early wake up and we flew to Grafenwoehr, the Joint Multinational Training Command where they train not only American military but other forces that fight with the US. Today we got MREs to eat for lunch. Even here there is amazing technology. You pour a little water into a special bag and it gets hot and you drop in another little bag and in a minute or two you have hot food. Mine tasted like Chef Boy-R-Dee with a small bottle of tabasco to spice it up. Had a brownie that tasted like chocolate sáw dust and a tasty cracker with jalapeno cheese whiz. Not bad considering everything.

We visited the medical simulation unit where they have programmable dummies and soldiers practice deciding triage on the battle field with battle noises and guys yelling all at the same time. Again amazing technology and they say with this training they are saving lots more lives.

In the afternoon I shot all sorts of big guns. (M4s, M2s, M249s, and M240Bs) I was frankly pretty scared but I made myself shoot. We wore helmets and ´body armor that was pretty uncomfortable. My helmet kept getting pushed over my eyes so it was hard to see into the sights and shoot somewhere near the target. One gun ended up sort of kicking me in the face into my teeth and nose. For the rest of the day people kept asking me if I was ok. When I finally looked into a mirror I found out I had a big red bruise on my nose and chin. Battle scars.

Tonight we had a German dinner at the General's house in sort of a barn and I sat with the General. He and his wife were very interesting. Their oldest son was wounded and had his foot amputated and was finishing a PhD and was going to teach to military as a civilian. Their next son was 17 and had Downs Syndrome and was functioning very well and their youngest was in high school and doing well. She is German and spoke English with only a slight accent. She dressed in a traditional German country outfit that made her look sort of like a sexy Heidi. When dinner was finished we boarded C 130s to fly to Stuttgart.

Tomorrow we get to sleep until 6:30 which seems like a luxury. I am sitting in the business center typing this while some of my compatriots hang at the hotel bar next door. What a whirlwind this trip has been.

Linda O

Guest Blog Post - Linda Osmundson

JCOC 1

Hi All

This week I'm in Europe traveling with the Joint Civilian Orientation Conference (JCOC). John Stross past chair of the CASA Trustees nominated me and I am here with almost 50 other "community leaders" including only 10 women. You can google JCOC and follow along with JCOC 76 and you will hear more about our adventures and you can read the bios of the rest of the group. It's a very impressive group! JCOC is part of the public relations for the Department of Defense for which you get nominated and chosen. We arrived in Washington Friday and only knew that we were going to Europe. There they told us we would be going to Crete, Spain, UK and Germany. On Friday we toured the Pentagon and the new 9/11 memorial. It is quite impressive. We received briefings by generals and could ask them questions. The most interesting question was about Pakistan and what are we doing there. The general gave a political non-answer and we all laughed.
After dinner they loaded us on a huge C-17 and we flew overnight to Souda Bay on the island of Crete. The plane is a generally used to transport troops and equipment. It has no windows. We were issued earplugs, blankets and pillows. They also gave us nice back packs, jackets and JCOC polo shirts. There were cots stacked three-high for some of us so I got a little sleep. We arrived in Crete and had a couple hours off so I walked through the town and back on the beach. There was a great dinner and another briefing by the General Fitzgerald who is in charge of EUCOM which includes all of Europe and Africa. Africa will be split off as its own command this fall.
Afterwards a group of the younger folks, mostly young Marines and Navy guys who are escorting us and some of the staff and I went out bar hopping and dancing. I don't drink but had great fun dancing with young guys half my age even though we were all pretty tired. The next morning we boarded a bus and went to to the base where we were given helmets with ear covers amd goggles and loaded on 5 helicopters. It was thrilling because I have never been in a helicopter before. I was so excited I couldn't help grinning the whole time. We landed on the deck of the USS Iwo Jima, an aircraft carrier with about 2500 sailors and Marines. We ate lunch with the troops and talked a little to them about their tour. Most joined because they wanted to help their country. Some had already been to Iraq and were hoping to go to Afghanistan. My young escort joined after 9/11 at age 25, a little older than many. They were all so young and many had huge, important responsibilities. We were welcomed by the Captain and the Commodore and toured around the ship in small groups. Everywhere we went there were Marines and sailors standing at attention, greeting us and shaking our hands. It was a rabbit warren of passage ways. After lunch I was led to a bathroom and then had no idea how to get back to the group until they assigned a young Marine to lead me back.
We toured the medical area where they proudly explained they provided the first "airport" and hospital for Katrina victims. They have full hospital and surgical capabilities. They showed us weaponry and armored vehicles. Then they issues helmets and earplugs again and took us to the deck where we watched helicopters and Harrier planes do a fly-by and then land. The Harriers actually hover and move sideways and drop straight down to land. When they take off they go straight up like a helicopter. I've never seen anything like it. WOW! We also saw a craft that hovered on an air cushion that could also go on land and was used to transport various land vehicles.
We ended the evening with a wonderful Greek dinner in a lovely local restaurant that took hours! Tomorrow we get up at 6AM to fly to Spain.

What an incredible experience!

Linda O

Special Forces Demonstration

While in Stuttgart, JCOC 76 participants watched as members of Special Operations Command Europe demonstrated a technique used when assaulting several buildings simultaneously.

Guest Blog Post - Chris Van Gorder

Final JCOC Update

Today we started our last full day in Europe with the U.S. Marine Corps Europe for a demonstration and display of the non-lethal tools they use. We were transported to Marine Forces Europe Headquarters (MARFOREUR) at the Panzer Kaserne Base. We were met by Marine Corps Colonel Brad Shumaker who introduced us to the topic for this session.

One does not think about the Marine Corps as a "non-lethal" organization but they are the lead armed service in evaluating and training of non-lethal tactics and equipment. This morning, the Marines described and demonstrated their use of non-lethal weapons including the use of piercing sound to discourage attack, weapons that fire rubber balls and paint to injure and mark a subject that might be involved in civil disobedience or an attack, tasers, riot gear and tools used to disable vehicles that might try to roll through a road block. All very interesting. Law enforcement has been using these tools for years but it is interesting to see the military adopt these tools in an effort to minimize collateral injuries or death even in a combat situation.

We then drove to the U.S. Special Operations Command led by Air Force Major General Frank Kisner.

The facility they use in Stuttgart is very large with facilities and open area in which to train.

The Special Operations Command Europe (SOCEUR) provides operational direction and control of special operations, civil affairs, and psychological operations forces stationed in Europe. From a variety of assets, SOCEUR forms task forces capable of executing special operations as well as conducting assessments and response to crises throughout EUCOM.

SOCEUR's activities include Joint/Combined Exchange Training events, the Joint Contact Team Program, the African Crisis Response Initiative, and humanitarian demining operations.

Readiness to respond to crisis is SOCEUR's highest priority as reflected in its motto - Semper Preparate (Always Prepared). SOCEUR sustains its unique capabilities to respond to a full spectrum of crisis - from trans-national threats, through smaller scale events, to major war.

The JCOC members were split into two groups to experience and work with some of our Army and Navy Special Warfare Operators. My group went to the KD firing range first to use the same weapons the special forces use in combat. We were able to fire handguns, shotguns, specially designed rifles and automatic weapons like the M4, MP5 and others. We had a special warfare soldier or sailor with us at every station for a quick brief and then they let us fire away.

We then met with some of the special operations sailors from the Navy - Navy Seals - to see their equipment and spend some time talking to them about their experiences.

Our team was then driven to the large open area designed for Special Warfare Training. This is a huge forest area built with a driving area for convoy and on-road tactical training and at least one area of buildings designed for assault practice.

We were taken to these buildings and escorted several stories high in one of them so we could listen to a presentation about the Special Warfare capabilities and to observe an assault or " Military Operations on Urbanized Terrain (MOUT) Demonstration. The assault was to be conducted by three special operations squads on two different buildings at the same time. One building had an armed enemy guard.

As we watched, the rain started to come down but that won't stop this type of operation. We observed two workmen and a work truck parked on the road next to the closest building that was to be assaulted - the one with the armed guard.

In the distance we observed one special ops squad come out of the forest and surround the far building to be assaulted. Since the squad was in sight of the workmen, it became obvious to us that the workmen were also special ops. As the distant squad approached the house, the two workmen approached the guard and engaged him in conversation. At that time an explosion went off at the distant house drawing my attention. I looked back to the close house and saw that the guard was down - taken out by the two special ops soldiers. Another squad exited the forest and entered the close building after another explosion to breach the door - or stun the residents. As both squads entered the buildings, two heavily armed Humvees came up the road to provide support and cover fire for both special ops squads. And, as fast as they entered, they exited having completed their assignment and jumped on the Humvees for a quick exit from the scene.

This all took just a minute or so.

We were then given the opportunity to meet each of the special ops soldiers that conducted the assault. Each was a bright professional soldier who had completed many years of training to qualify for special ops. The entire group had just returned from Iraq where they had conducted more than 100 missions. One of the NCOs I spoke with pointed out a friend who had been wounded by a hand grenade. An insurgent had been killed. As the soldier approached the insurgent, a hand grenade fell out of the dead mans hand exploding. His body armor saved his life but he got shrapnel in his leg. He went to the hospital but returned to his squad within three weeks.

One of my JCOC colleagues asked him if it was true that things were slowing down in Iraq. The soldier smiled and said, "not where they send us."

We all went back to the KD Range to have lunch at the "Garden of Eden." This is a restaurant that is used by the special ops group for meals and parties. The photographs and notes hanging on the wall had a lot of special warfare history.

I spoke to one NCO at lunch about HALO parachute jumping. HALO stands for "high altitude - low opening." He gave me a detailed explanation and told me of his highest jump - from almost 25,000 feet. Of course he had to pre-breathe oxygen and carry oxygen along with all of his other equipment. In this jump, he opened his chute at 18,000 feet so he could fly the parachute twelve miles to a landing zone - silently. Using timing, proper altitude and good flying with precise navigation, he came through the clouds at about 5,000 feet and the landing zone was directly ahead. Amazing!

We then went to a high security windowless building - the EUCOM Operations Center for a briefing by BGen Mark Brilakis. Everything in the Operations Center was "sanitized" so no sensitive information was shared. The briefing was excellent and a description of activities and the people who staff the center 24-hours a day was also excellent.

We went back to the hotel for a couple of hours and then went out to our last dinner. We were hosted by General Bantz J. Craddock, U.S. Army - Supreme Allied Commander, Europe and Commander, United States European Command. He is also the NATO Commander - a position the United States has always held. By the way, the Supreme Allied Commander is the same position General Eisenhower held during World War II.

General Craddock was joined by several other Generals, Colonels and high ranking civilian staff from the command.

The dinner was held at the Castle Schloss Weitenberg. The castle is operated by the owner as a hotel and restaurant. The current owner, Max-Richard Baron von Rassler met us and thanked us for coming. He told us we helped maintain the castle.

The castle was originally built in 1062 and purchased by the Baron's ancestors in 1720. The family has owned it since that time. In 1954, the hotel and restaurant was developed to help fund the maintenance of the castle.

The dinner was wonderful - many comments from General Craddock, Air Force BGEN David Cotton who joined us for this trip and members from each team to give the audience some idea of our take-aways.

The short presentations were excellent - all teams believed the highlight of the trip was meeting our service personnel - soldiers, airmen, sailors, marines, coastguardsmen, NCOs, officers and general officers - all volunteers and all committed to keeping us free and safe. There were comments about the technology used by the services, the cooperation between the different service branches and other affiliated agencies. There were comments about how patriotism grew this week.

But it all came back to the people - and I remembered what Staff Sergeant Edward Mosley told me yesterday when I asked him what we could do for him and his colleagues. He did not ask for more money, more time off or more technology or equipment - he just said,

"Don't forget us."

Thank you DOD and EUCOM and to all of you who will be standing watch tonight - and tomorrow..........

Guest Blog Post - Capt. Christian Hodge

Tuesday - U.S. Air Forces Europe

“One more day down, another closer to Air Force day,” is what I told some JCOC participants as we wrapped up Navy and Coast Guard days. Those days were fantastic, of course, but I knew we had a pretty cool day in store for the folks on Mildenhall and Lakenheath Air Bases in the UK. I’d told the participants Air Force today would be the best day!

After we landed and disembarked from the C-17 we entered the PAX terminal and met General Hunt from U.S. Air Forces Europe (USAFE), and the Wing Commander and Vice Wing Commander from Mildenhall and Lakenheath, respectively. We were then treated to a mini airshow, showcasing some of the weapons systems and capabilities of USAFE. Special Tactics Squadron members parachuted in, F-15s, F-16s, A-10s flew overhead and simulated dropping ordnance, and a C-130 did a tactical landing and quick pick-up of troops on the ground.

After the airshow General Hunt gave a robust briefing on all things USAFE. The guests were impressed by this tough and intelligent man, and personally I think he’d make a fine Army or Marine general or Navy Admiral (but thankfully he’s Air Force). After the briefing we had lunch with Airmen in the chow hall (dining facility), which was one of the highlights of the day. The JCOC participants were impressed with how bright and squared away America’s young Airmen are.

After lunch we went to a flightline hangar and after breaking into teams were privy to a carefully orchestrated display that showed weapons loading, an IED removing robot, Special Ops (with cool guns), a jet engine, fighter jet simulators and a KC-135 tanker. However it was the two awesome and impressive F-15s in the hangar that stole the show. Seeing the aircraft close-up, loaded to bear, huge-sleek-and-deadly, is what I feel had the most impact on the guests. Many were able to get into the cockpits and speak with the pilots, and witnessed firsthand why the U.S. Air Force is the world’s premier air, space and cyberspace force.

The evening concluded with dinner at the great hall in St Johns college in Cambridge. The food was surprisingly not-bad (for British food), but the atmosphere, camaraderie and spirits (St John’s beer) were definitely fantastic. General Hunt was presented a gift on behalf of JCOC 76, and as we wrapped up the night I did indeed have many JCOC participants come up and tell me that today, Air Force day, was their best day!

Guest Blog Post - G. Bradford Bulkley

An impression...

A glaring irony strikes me as we go from location to location on this trip. It is the fact that as we greet the troops and they act impressed w our group's corporate titles and credentials, what they don't realize is that we are the ones who are truly in awe of them. Our men and women of the armed forces are very impressive, from their leadership, teamwork, to their visible unbreakable spirit even in the face of danger. You can read about them in books or the press, but I've now seen the "real" armed forces and met the best of the best. They are the men and women of our armed forces.

Guest Blog Post - W. Allen Morris

JCOC-Report #5 (Joint Civilian Orientation Conference)

Yesterday was a Looong, but good Day! I'm even getting used to "reporting with baggage at 5:30AM"!

By 8:30AM we had flown 3 hours, arriving at Mildenhall Royal Air Force & US Air Force Base.

They put me back in the Cockpit of the C-17 Globemaster III Transport,
and it's beginning to feel quite comfortable...I just LOVE the smell of Jet Fuel in the Morning! (0;

Forgive the pilot in me, but I am so impressed with the versatility & performance of this plane which can cruise for 13 hours at 450kts, carry an M1 Tank or 3 helicopters (often it's Air Force One Helo!) or 200 para troopers and land in 2,500' on a dirt strip...like my little PC-12!!! Incredible!!

I now know that heaven for a pilot is a Full Day Indoctrination at a US Air Force Base! But the Air Force does one heck of a lot more than fly planes!

As soon as we landed they initiated a simulated assault by the USAF Special Tactical Squadron (STS) to take and capture a hostile major airport. As the STS Paratroopers dropped from the sky, an infiltration team arrived on ATVs/motorcycles with electronic gear to orchestrate the Air Assault, orchestrating:
- F-16 Strike Eagles delivering Laser & GPS guided Smart Bombs
- A-10 Warthogs w 20mm cannon attacks against enemy vehicles
- a Tactical Assault Landing (read VERY steep approach!) of a C-130 to load up & evacuate all personnel & vehicles!
- an F-15 squadron in low level formation with their KC-135 Refueling Tanker

Then on to a broad-view briefing of the Far Reaching Activities of our Air Force European Command by Major General James Hunt, USAF, Director Air & Space Operations Europe... Which has also included Africa!

I furthered my love affair with the F-15, climbing all over, on top of & under & inside with her pilots! They even let me fly the F-16 360 simulator against surface to Air Missile Attacks!! I tried to escape from the group to take up residence in the Simulator Center... But they found me!! (0;

Nuggets:
#1. USAF has transported 55,500 patients out of Iraq & Afghanistan!

#2. Our Air Force trains & helps emerging nations: Romania, Bulgaria,
Georgia, Poland, Hungary, Ukraine... and provided troop transport for
African Nation Peacekeepers (not US soldiers) in Darfur, who did not have transport capabilities!

#3. Our fleet of A-10s & F-16s are avg 35 & 25 years old!!! Older than the pilots who fly them!

Big smile on my face today!! (0;

More tomorrow,

Allen
PS. The STS has the BEST Hi-Tech Toys!!

Guest Blog Post - W. Allen Morris

JCOC-Report #4 (Joint Civilian Orientation Conference)

How do you follow something as dramatic as the USS Iwo Jima? We all thought a Coast Guard Cutter could not compare! It did!

I had lunch & dinner yesterday with Captain Bob Wagner of the USCG Cutter Dallas at the US Naval Base in Rota, Spain, near Gibraltar, headed back FROM 4 months in the Black Sea!

We actually have 6 US Coast Guard Cutters currently in the Persian Gulf tasked to the Navy, supporting our troops.

The 378ft USCGC Dallas was loaded with Humanitarian Relief Supplies for Georgia. The first time a US War Ship has ever visited some of these ports in Georgia, Romania, Bulgaria, Turkey & Ukraine. Many of these countries are anxious to qualify for membership in NATO and the people Love America, especially after generations of Soviet domination!

They also visited ports training local Coast Guards/Navys in the Gulf of Guinea, an area on the west coast of Africa, where countries are asking for help to protect their Maritime borders against massive oil theft and active piracy.

They have been the visible presence of The United States in a very positive way promoting good will & teaching Maritime Law Enforcement in these important places.

We all felt this was every bit as important, though very different, than the combat capabilities of The Iwo Jima.

I especially liked driving their high speed (50mph), inflatable, long range, 5-man, intercept boat OTH (Over the Horizon)! And handling their 25 Caliber machine gun & 50mm guns used to shoot out the engines of belligerent ships!

I do always love the toys! (0;

Nugget:
#1. The US Coast Guard, with it's 252 Cutters, would make it the 7th Largest Navy in the World!

#2. 18% of America's oil comes from the Gulf of Guinea!! Seriously Important! Go look at your map!

#3. Average Age on the Cutter Dallas...23 years old! Wow!

More tomorrow from Mildenhall Air Force Base in England!!!

Allen

Guest Blog Post - W. Allen Morris

JCOC Report #3 (Joint Civilian Orientation Conference)

Greetings from Naval Air Station, Rota, Spain, near Gibraltar!

On Sunday, we flew out in a formation of 6 UH-46 Helicopters & landed on the USS Iwo Jima Marine Assault Aircraft Carrier in the Aegean Sea north of Crete.

The Iwo Jima has a population of 3,000 Sailors & Marines running a huge ship, an airport, a truck depot, a boat yard, maintenance and repair facilities and a fully staffed hospital with doctors & nurses and 4 operating rooms.

The ship has transport & attack helicopters, Harrier Jump Jets, 3 huge Hovercraft assault ships for beach landings, armored humvees, trucks, and all manner of weapons, missiles, and defense systems all to support the Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU).

I met and had lunch with lots of the sailors, marines & pilots.

I learned how to load, aim and fire the Humvee-mounted Tow Anti-tank missile, the shoulder-mounted MK135 missile w Thermal sights, the new 240 machine gun 7,62mm. And a very long briefing on the mechanics & capabilities of the Harrier Jet. (0;

The put on quite a show of precision airmanship and seamanship and marine deployment from the Helos! Impressive!

This whole floating city, airport, industrial plant is run by some
very impressive sailors & marines with huge responsibilities.

Average age on board the Iwo Jima?

22 years old!!! Some as young as 17.

And all of them are capable professionals, anxious to get in to help our troops & the citizens in Afghanistan!

To say I am impressed is an understatement. I am so proud & grateful for what these young men & women are doing to serve our country & the citizens we are liberating from Taliban oppression!

One nugget:
Since we liberated Afghanistan, 68% of the girls/women now have an Education available to them for the first time!.

Next stop the Coast Guard Cutter Dallas!

More later,

Allen