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ALIVE AND ON VIDEO The leader of the Islamic State group, Abu Bakr al-Baghda- CONFRONTATION di, appeared for the 6 ON THE BORDER ﬁ rst time in ﬁ ve years U.S. SOLDIERS DISARMED in a video released BY MEXICAN TROOPS IN by the group’s TEXAS, REPORTS SAY propaganda arm. COVER STORY THE ARMY’S 14 PACIFIC PUSH WHO CAN’T MORE ROTATIONS, MORE 8 ‘FIGHT TONIGHT’? SOLDIERS SET FOR THE REBALANCE NEEDED REGION AS CHINA RISES FOR SOME CRITICAL ASSETS, 3-STAR SAYS

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Army Times (ISSN 0004-2595) | Vol. 80, Issue 9 | Army Times is published 24 weeks of the year by Sightline Media Group, 1919 Gallows Road, Suite 400, Vienna, VA 22182-4038. Schedule is subject to change. Annual subscription rate is $55 U.S. domestic mail. To subscribe or change an address, write Army Times, Attn.: Subscriber Service Department, 1919 Gallows Road, Suite 400, Vienna, VA 22182-4038. Periodical postage paid at Vienna, Va., and additional mailing offi ces. Postmaster: Send all UAA to CFS. (See DMM 707.4.12.5). Non-postal and military facilities: Cover photo: Send address corrections to Army Times, Circulation, 1919 Gallows Road, Suite 400, Vienna, VA 22182-4038. ©2019 Sightline Media Group Photocopies: To request photocopies, order online from the Copyright Clearance Center at www.copyright.com, specifying ISSN 0004-2595. The fee is $3.50 per photocopy per article, limited to 500 copies. Reprints & Permissions: To reprint Capt. Rachael Jeff coat/Army or license content including text, images, graphics and logos please contact PARS International by phone: 212-221-9595. Advertising standards: Advertising is accepted on the premise that Cover Design: the merchandise and services are accurately described. Ads that contain fraudulent, deceptive or misleading statements or illustrations, or in the opinion of Army Times may be off ensive, are Philip Kightlinger/Staff not knowingly accepted. If you encounter noncompliance, please tell us. Advertising sales offi ce: 1919 Gallows Road, Suite 400, Vienna, VA 22182-4038. For Advertising Inquiries, Email: [email protected]. Customer Service: (800) 408-0030 or (703) 750-7400, Email [email protected], or write to Army Times, Subscriber Service, 1919 Gallows Road, Suite 400, Vienna, VA 22182. For change of address, attach address label from a recent issue.

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0513_ARM_DOM_00_003_00.indd 3 5/2/19 12:12 PM ON THE DON’T WORRY ITS JUST A... RADAR “MILITARY“MILITARY EXERCISE” FORT BRAGG APOLOGIZES FOR FAUX POWER OUTAGE

Fort Bragg, North Carolina, the Army’s most populated installation, spent half a day in the literal and proverbial dark April 24-25 as part of an exercise designed to stress test the post in the face of a cyberattack. By midday April 25, offi cials announced that the power outage, which spared Womack Army Medical Center and the Soldier Support Center, was only a drill, issuing an apology later that day. “We understand the exercise conducted caused concern for many within our community and surrounding areas ... for that, we apologize,” offi cials said in a Facebook post featuring a meme, shown above, that said “Don’t worry it’s just a ... ‘military exercise.’ ” The idea, according to a statement, was to simulate how the installation would handle a cyberattack against the power grid as a brigade prepared for deployment. “Department of Defense requires military installations to conduct readiness exercises on an annual basis,” the post said. “The intent is to determine the readiness and resiliency of the installation in a real-world scenario. With that said, our objectives have been met and as many of you know, everything is back to normal.” Fort Bragg’s Facebook page racked up hundreds of comments from bemused and concerned soldiers and family members alike. “Did you all forget that very recently a foreign national tried to 5 SOLDIERS NABBED AFTER access Fort Bragg?” Tina Vandivier wrote on April 27. “Those soldiers and guards TRAIN for that same scenario. A spoiled gallon a milk is a ORDNANCE GOES MISSING small price to pay to check and see how prepared we really are.” Various forms of ordnance conducted at Fort Hood, April mysteriously appeared in 18, and the soldiers were not ARMY TO PUT Killeen, Texas, the night of authorized to remove the April 26 after reportedly ordnance from the post. All SENSORS ON ITS going missing from nearby missing ordnance has been VEHICLES TO HELP Fort Hood. recovered.” DEFEAT DRONES Once base personnel Five soldiers have since realized there was ordnance been apprehended and are The Army is looking for a new unaccounted for, Army under “military control,” the sensor system that it can mount representatives contacted the statement said. on just about all of its ground Killeen Police Department to The report did not specify vehicles to detect and help assist in the retrieval process, how the ordnance was defeat any small drones that the Killeen Daily Herald located, but did say an threaten the vehicle. And it reported. explosive ordnance team needs to weigh less than 20 onboard Precision Fire Control The munitions were from Fort Hood was called in pounds. Radar, which can talk to an aircraft, found stored in a number to assist in the recovery. The Ballistic Low Altitude stationary ﬁ ring platform, or even of homes in four different All munitions were safely Drone Engagement 360 Degree other vehicles, and help weapons neighborhoods. recovered on the same Detection System is a program target the threat. “The ordnance was training night they were reported recently posted by Army This is a diff erent approach from ammunition and was not missing, the report said, and Contracting Command. what the Army has been pursuing high explosive ordnance,” evacuated residents were It must be accurate and able to with Active Protection Systems post officials said in a allowed to return to their see a full view and track at least for its armored vehicles. Those statement. “They took the homes. The Army’s Criminal 10 targets simultaneously out to systems include their own kinetic ordnance from a live-fire Investigation Division is about two miles. and non-kinetic options, jammers training exercise that was investigating the incident. The sensor would ﬁ nd threats and lasers to defeat threatening

and share information with the drones. ARMY

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Two U.S. soldiers in Texas were confront- pistol from the hip of one of the Americans ed by Mexican soldiers who thought the and threw it inside the U.S. government Americans had crossed into Mexico, U.S. vehicle. An inquiry revealed the Mexican offi cials said April 23. The Mexican troops soldiers believed they were on Mexican reportedly removed a weapon from the territory. But the incident happened on a American soldier who was armed. slice of U.S. territory south of the border U.S. Northern Command said that on wall but north of the actual border. April 13, the Americans were in a Customs “After a brief discussion between the and Border Protection vehicle near Clint, soldiers from the two nations, the Mexi- Texas. Newsweek reported that one of can military members departed the area,” the Mexican soldiers removed a service Northern Command said.

October 2016. He was promoted ment. include two Army Commendation HONOR THE to the rank of specialist in Octo- His awards and decorations Medals, one of which has a “C” ber 2018 and arrived in Iraq in include the Army Commendation device for combat, the Nation- December. Medal, Army Achievement Medal, al Defense Service Medal, the Riley’s awards and decorations National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service FALLEN include the National Defense Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon Service Medal, the Global War Medal and Army Service Ribbon. and the Inherent Resolve Cam- on Terrorism Service Medal, the The death is under investiga- paign Medal. Korea Defense Service Medal, tion, Army offi cials said. the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon and the Combat Action Badge. The incident is under investigation, Army offi cials said.

Riley

FOUR DIE IN Miller NON-COMBAT Thomason INCIDENTS Air Force Staff Sgt. Albert J. Pfc. Michael A. Thomason, 28, Miller died in a non-combat relat- Spc. Ryan Dennis Orin Riley died who was deployed to Kobani, Syr- ed incident at Al Udeid Air Base in Iraq on April 20 in a non-com- ia, died on April 29 from wounds in Qatar on April 19. bat-related incident in Nineveh Osario suff ered in a non-combat related Miller, 24, from Richmond, province. incident. New Hampshire, was assigned Riley, 22, was assigned to 2nd Spc. Michael T. Osorio of Fort He was an infantryman assigned to the 736th Aircraft Mainte- Battalion, 32nd Field Artillery Carson, Colorado, died in Taji, to 2nd Battalion, 327th Infantry nance Squadron at Dover Air Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Iraq, on April 24 in a non-combat Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Force Base, Delaware. He was Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air incident. Team, 101st Airborne Division, out supporting Operation Freedom’s Assault) out of Fort Campbell, Osorio, originally from Horse- of Fort Campbell, Kentucky. Sentinel. Kentucky. shoe Bend, Idaho, was an intel- Thomason was originally from Miller was a crew-chief for a He was a 13J fi re control spe- ligence analyst in Fort Carson’s Lincoln Park, Michigan, and enlist- C-17 Globemaster transport plane cialist on his fi rst deployment 3rd Armored Brigade, 4th Infantry ed in the Army in December 2017. and was awarded an Air Force to Iraq in support of Operation Division. Thomason’s deployment to Achievement Medal in 2016. Inherent Resolve. He enlisted in the Army in July Syria was his fi rst. His death is under investiga- Riley enlisted in the service in 2017 and was on his fi rst deploy- His awards and decorations tion, Air Force offi cials said. DAMIAN DOVARGANES/AP DAMIAN

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the Reserve has combat assets the active Army lacks. Is it time for a force rebalance? By Todd South [email protected]

Th e top commander of the Army Reserve had a how, when and where to mobilize critical Reserve serve) is an especially provocative act that is likely to message about what it takes to put his forces into enablers to support active Army operations in major set in motion other cascading events or other trigger major combat operations and what that means for combat. points used from this calculation and increase the the total force of the Army. But drilling down to specifi c capabilities and units likelihood of combat operations ensuing,” he said. “We don’t fi ght tonight,” Lt. Gen. Charles Luckey makes the picture even more stark. “Or, whether you look at it as a fl exible deterrent told attendees at Association of the U.S. Army On a long list of “unique” assets in the Reserves option. One of the ways you telegraph to a conven- speaker event April 23. “It’s fi ght tonight after such as chemical, biological, radiological and tional opponent you’re getting serious is because tomorrow night.” nuclear response units, seaport operations, military you’ve got to mobilize certain capabilities prior to “Th e 82nd and Rangers, they’ll fi ght tonight, we’ll police battalions that specialize in interrogation and the initiation of combat operations,” Luckey said. fi ght two days after they do,” he said. transloading craft, nearly three quarters of those and And a big signal is putting the Reserve mobiliza- Th e comment elicited chuckles from the mostly other types of units are only in the Reserves and tion into motion. gray-haired crowd of retired Army offi cers, many of have no active Army counterpart or complement. “ … One of our responsibilities is to set the theat- them who carried stars on their shoulders. But that Th e “stressed” assets include Army space support, er for the warfi ghter with critical embedded enablers distinction illustrated the combined pressures the corps aerial delivery and vertical construction, and and unlike the (Guard), which adds massive combat reserve force faces in an “existential war with a peer those are needed to set the stage in theater for the capability to the Army from a combat perspective, competitor,” as Luckey framed it. active units arriving and fi ghting. many of the things on this slide reside only in the And serious questions have arisen at top Army of- Th en there’s the combined stressed and unique (Reserve) and are critical key enablers and have got fi ces as to whether the current makeup of the active assets. While some units exist only in the reserves, to go fast, in some cases three days,” he said. and Reserve sides of the Army creates “strategic risk” they must be deployed in the fi rst days of battle Th at brings the strategic question, which resides at in that near-peer fi ght. commencing. the center of how to use the reserves and, more im- Th e three-star presented a snapshot of his force, portantly, what that means for the rest of the Army. showing that within the fi rst 90 days of a major STRATEGIC RISK All of that leads to what Luckey described as an confl ict, half of the Army Reserve will deploy either If the day of mobilization of the reserves is the same “interesting set of conversations inside the Army.” in the United States or in theater. day as the start of armed confl ict, a huge portion “Can we start a mobilization process prior to the Th e limited map for public display showed the of what the Army Reserve can provide becomes a beginning of hostilities?” he said. movement of Army Reserve and Guard entities strategic risk if not addressed, Luckey said. It remains an open question. across the United States to major bases and ports to Th e three-star also showed timelines indicating But what he and the Army G4 and Army Materiel fl ow to the fi ght. that of the critical units and personnel in key capa- Command leadership are looking closely at is the “Th is is four times more stressful, in terms of bulk, bilities, delays to mobilization could run anywhere same focus. of anything the Army’s ever done in terms of stuff from two weeks to more than two months. “If we can’t get some time to get ahead of some of and people who have to move very quickly for any Th at broke down into administrative, training, these things then we need to look to rebalance the major event,” Luckey said. “And essentially this is equipment maintenance and preparation and get- force structure of the Army,” Luckey said. “Because from a cold start.” ting the soldiers to their destination. some of the things that are in the (Reserve) probably Cold start is how a Reserve activation force wide “Th is drives a strategic conversation as to whether shouldn’t be in the (Reserve) if I don’t have time to would go now unless top Pentagon planners decide or not you believe mobilizing the (Guard) and (Re- generate that capability prior to an engagement.” SGT. 1ST CLASS BRENT C. POWELL, ARMY RESERVE BRENT C. POWELL, CLASS 1ST SGT.

8 ARMYTIMES.COM 05.13.19

0513_ARM_DOM_00_008_00.indd 8 5/2/19 1:32 PM THERE’S A NEW GENERAL IN CHARGE OF THE ARMY’S EFFORTS TO REVAMP BASIC TRAINING AND FITNESS By Meghann Myers [email protected]

The command responsible for both Army recruits, America’s sons and daughters, base, and what he found was a host of basic training, and its efforts to field a who volunteer to join our Army,” he said leaders at the ground level, concerned that new fitness test, changed hands April 26. in his remarks. “IMT is the foundation the freshly minted soldiers reporting to Maj. Gen. Malcolm Frost, who is set of training civilian volunteers into simply their units were undisciplined and out of to retire later this year, handed over lead- the best soldiers on Earth.” shape. ership of the Center for Initial Military The plan, leaders said, is that he carries A host of changes followed. In early Training to Brig. Gen. Lonnie Hibbard in on CIMT’s trajectory. 2018, Frost led an overhaul of Army basic a ceremony at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, “One of the fears I have, changing out, training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, New commander Virginia. was the gap that might occur,” Frost said. which included more Army history and Brig. Gen. Lonnie Hibbard took command “He helped me and then other Army “There was a fear that that momentum drill and ceremony, designed to instill the of the Center for Initial Military Training senior leaders understand the imbalances that we gained was going to stop.” understanding of what it means to be a on April 26. and the cumulative risks that had crept But that won’t happen under Hibbard, professional soldier. There was also more Fitness Test — six events measuring into the Army’s training mission over he said. land navigation, a higher fitness standard strength, agility and other skills — went almost two decades of continuous combat “We will be at the walk — if not run and double the time spent on radio com- from the pilot to field-testing phases, overseas,” Lt. Gen. Stephen Townsend, — phase, because of what he knows and munication training. with a roll-out scheduled for fall 2020. At the head of Training and Doctrine Com- understands and what he’s been a part of,” Then CIMT did away with Advanced the same time, teams of nutritionists and mand, said of Frost. “And then he helped Frost said. Individual Training platoon sergeants, conditioning coaches are planned for ev- us find ways to fix them.” Frost, a 1988 West Point graduate and bringing back drill sergeants to the ery Army battalion, as part of the official Hibbard, a career pilot, is coming in career infantryman, took command of program for more continuity with basic Holistic Health and Fitness Initiative. from almost two years as the director of CIMT in July 2017, following a stint training, then increasing the ratio of drill “We now have the resources. We are operations, plans and training at TRA- in the Pentagon as the service’s chief of sergeants to trainees across initial entry not under-resourced. I think we are not DOC. public affairs. training and adding lieutenants to take undervalued anymore ... we’re a still a lit- “The source of power of the United His first order of business was a review pressure off of overworked cadre. tle misunderstood, but that’s okay,” Frost

ARMY States Army is the soldiers — the young of the Army’s entire initial entry training And of course, the Army Combat said. “I think we’ve closed the gap a lot.” Proudly

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05.13.19 ARMYTIMES.COM 9 ARMY WANTS TO USE ROBOTS, DRONES TO MAP UNDERGROUND TUNNELS By Todd South [email protected]

Th e Army’s Rapid Equipping Force lect groups of soldiers across the force is looking to industry for a porta- at nearly all of the Army’s brigade ble way for soldiers to map remote combat teams on the fundamentals of tunnels using either ground robots or fi ghting underground. drones, and they want it fast. Th e more primitive aspects are A request for information posted familiar, from door breaching with on the website fbo.gov April 15 gives pry bars, to sledge hammers, welding industry 30 days to send information torches and cutting saws. Some of the on their model or prototype-ready more daunting tasks include commu- Finding their way devices so that soldiers in the fi eld nications, with many radios having Soldiers move through a tunnel during a competition to test individual skills at Uijeong- can soon have a way to move beyond problems maintaining connections in bu, South Korea. fl ashlights, maps and pencils to safely those environments, and keeping the fi nd out what’s waiting for them in humans safe while fi nding out what edly told Army Times that knowing man-made tunnel systems, urban dark tunnel passages. the underground terrain holds. what their soldiers were seeing was underground settings, and natural Over the past two years, experts Army Times embedded with sol- crucial to fi guring out what to feed cave networks that are too danger- with the Army’s Asymmetric Warfare diers of the 82nd Airborne in Febru- into the fi ght. ous, dark, deep, and unknown to Group through the Maneuver Center ary to learn more about some of the For example, a single-level tunnel risk human lives,” according to the of Excellence have been training se- training. Offi cers and NCOs repeat- complex that extended a few hun- DARPA website. “Teams are compet- JUNG YEON-JE/AFP/GETTY IMAGES JUNG YEON-JE/AFP/GETTY dred meters could be handled by a ing to develop breakthrough technol- squad or perhaps a platoon. ogies that rapidly and remotely map, But if soldiers keep pushing and navigate, and search subterranean fi nd miles of passageways, multiple environments.” levels and potential ambush sites, Th e two tracks include both a the attack has to be re-evaluated and systems goal and a virtual simula- could drain many more resources. tions piece. Th e winner of the virtual Th e REF is asking industry to give competition will receive a $750,000 them a device that can either be prize. Th e systems champion will carried by the solider, mounted on a take home a $2 million prize, ac- ground robot or a small fl ying drone cording to DARPA’s website. and operated within the tunnel, Th e DARPA Subterranean Chal- according to the post. lenge began in 2017 and is pitting It has to provide a 2D or 3D map, diff erent groups in multi-stage com- which must be seen immediately as the petition to look at subdomains of device is moving through the tunnel. tunnel systems, urban underground Th e image is stored for later viewing. and cave networks. Th e device has to be compatible Th ey selected nine teams to compete with either the Android Tactical As- and held “competitor’s days” in 2018. sault Kit, a smartphone-based soldier Th ose nine teams include at least 26 information system, or work with entities from government, academia any commercially available radio or and industry, including groups from the other end-user device. United States, Australia, Switzerland, At the same time the Pentagon’s South Korea and Czech Republic. Defense Advanced Research Projects In early April the teams attempted Agency is conducting multi-year, “to remotely navigate the dark and large-scale challenge to provide tech dirty corridors of Edgar Experimen- to map, navigate and search under- tal Mine in Idaho Springs, Colora- ground terrain. do,” according to the site. “Th e Subterranean Challenge seeks Th at was in preparation for the to revolutionize how fi rst responders Subterranean Integration Exercise, or and warfi ghters operate in hu- STIX, later in 2019.

10 ARMYTIMES.COM 05.13.19 NEWEST NIGHT-VISION GOGGLE FINISHES TESTING, WILL FIELD IN SEPTEMBER By Todd South [email protected] A better view The Enhanced Night Vision Th e Army’s latest iteration of night mander of Army Futures Command . Goggle–Binocular allows soldiers vision, which adds binocular vision and “I have used the goggle. I have shot to observe in limited visibility and lets soldiers see their weapon sight in [with] the goggle. It is better than all kinds of weather. their device, will go to a unit this fall, anything I’ve experienced in my Army earlier than originally expected. career,” he said. Army Times previously reported Over the next two years, 10,000 sol- It has some distinct features: the ENVG-B and allowing soldiers to that a unit deploying to South Korea diers will receive the goggle, which is a •A dual-tubed binocular system for accurately engage without shouldering in October would carry the Enhanced product of PEO Soldier and work with improved situational awareness and the weapon. Night Vision Goggle-Binocular. But the Soldier Lethality Cross Functional depth perception. Th e wireless connection gives a new release from Program Executive Team and Army Futures Command. It • Higher resolution, white phosphor soldiers an option to use Rapid Target Offi ce-Soldier lays out more details on is the fi rst such product to emerge from tubes instead of the traditional green, Acquisition software, so they can the device and noted that the ENVG-B those two brand new entities. providing better contrast. shoot from the hip, around corners would fi eld in September. “ Soldier and Marine feedback from • A fused thermal imager for better and toggle from a weapons view or a Th e goggle recently completed a two- these touchpoints provided sever- target recognition in degraded visual “picture-in-picture” mode to see both week limited user evaluation test with al improvements to the ENVG-B environments such as dust, smoke, what’s in front of them and where soldiers that led up to a 36-hour pla- system,” said Capt. Joshua Redmond, darkness or subterranean areas. their weapon is pointing. toon situation training exercise, Patrick ENVG-B assistant product manager at • Augmented reality aspects from the Th e next-level development will Ferraris with PEO Soldier said. PEO Soldier. “Th e Soldiers developed Nett Warrior display. come from the Integrated Visual An armored brigade combat team the system into what it is today and • Wireless interconnectivity with the Augmentation System, a total package would deploy with the device, said Lt. these goggles have overwhelming user Family of Weapon Sight-Individual, of augmented reality built on the Gen. James Richardson, deputy com- acceptance.” displaying the weapon site reticule in Microsoft HoloLens device . PEO SOLDIER ACCOMPLISH WHAT OTHERS CAN’T BS in Psychology: U.S. ARMY SPECIAL OPERATIONS A degree with no limits

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0513_ARM_DOM_00_011_00.indd 11 5/1/19 4:29 PM 13 HEROES GETTING AWARD UPGRADES TO DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS

By Meghann Myers [email protected]

Back in 2016, then-Defense Secretary July 27, 2007, while placing himself Sept. 4, 2008, IED attack in Kan- mand out of Aberdeen Proving Ground, Ash Carter ordered his department to in between his dahar province, Maryland, who cleared pathways in and launch a review of more than 1,300 val- soldiers and a Afghanistan. Out out of a high-risk explosive area on Oct. or awards bestowed for Global War on line of enemy fi re of the Army since 5, 2013, for an 18-man special oper- Terror action, after suspicions arose that near Saret Koleh, 2011, he received ations team in brown-out conditions, some service members’ bravery had been Afghanistan. His his award on successfully helping them infi ltrate and under-recognized during the confl icts in family received his March 28. safely evacuate in Kandahar province, Afghanistan and Iraq. Th e Army owned award March 1. Staff Sgt. Afghanistan. about 800 of those medals, and this Capt. (then- Michael Ollis, Chief Warrant Offi cer Jason Myers, year, plans to upgrade 13 Silver Stars to 1st Lt. ) Andrew of 2nd Battalion, an assistant detachment commander for the Distinguished Service Cross. Bundermann, 22nd Infantry Operational Detachment Alpha 3321 Some have already received their Bostick acting commander Debolt Regiment, 1st out of Fort Bragg, North Carolina, who awards and some will get them later this of B Troop, 3rd Squadron, 61st Cav- Brigade Combat Team, 10th Moun- rescued 15 hostages guarded by suicide year, according to Army spokesmen. alry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat tain Division out of Fort Drum, New bombers on Nov. 10, 2011. It is Myers’ Th e soldiers are receiving the DSC “in Team, 4th Infantry Division out of York, who was killed in action while second DSC, as he earned the fi rst on recognition of their gallantry, intrepidity Fort Carson, Colorado, who success- shielding a Polish soldier from a March 27, 2010. and heroism above and beyond the call fully helped defend Combat Outpost suicide bomber on Aug. 28, 2013, in Ceremonies for of duty,” Lt. Col. Emmanuel Ortiz-Cruz Keating on Oct. 3, 2009, during Ghazni province, Afghanistan. the special opera- told Army Times in March. “Previously the Battle of Kamdesh. Th e notori- Sgt. 1st Class Larry Hawks, of tions soldiers are recognized for their bravery by award ous fi ght resulted in two Medals of Operational Detachment Alpha 323, still in the planning of the Silver Star, the Department of Honor, and now two Distinguished 1st Battalion, 3rd Special Forces stages, Lt. Col. Defense upgraded the soldiers’ medals Service Crosses. Out of the Army Group, for action on July 25, 2005, Loren Bymer told as part of a comprehensive review of since 2012, he received his award which resulted in 15 confi rmed Army Times. commendations for heroism in Iraq and March 7. enemy killed, 14 insurgents captured Th ree additional Afghanistan.” Sgt. Daniel Cowart, a gunner and more than 30 light and heavy USASOC soldiers Here is the available list: for D Company, 3rd Battalion, weapons recovered in Afghanistan. Myers will be upgraded Staff Sgt. Stevon Booker, a tank 8th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Chief Warrant Officer 3 Chris- from Silver Stars to Distinguished Service commander with Combat Team, 1st topher Palumbo, a UH-60 Black Crosses, he added, but their names and A Company, 1st Cavalry Division Hawk pilot with A Company, 3rd actions are not releasable due to security Battalion, 64th Ar- out of Fort Hood, Battalion, 158th Aviation Regiment, concerns. mor Regiment, 4th Texas, who tackled 12th Aviation Brigade out of Ans- In the meantime, other awards have Brigade Combat an insurgent in a bach, Germany, who helped insert seen upgrades. In December, the Army Team, 3rd Infan- suicide vest on May a Special Forces team to defend an awarded Staff Sgt. Justin Gallegos, try Division out 13, 2007, near Sa- Afghan National long considered a hero of the Battle of of Fort Stewart, marra, Iraq. Retired Army convoy that Kamdesh in Afghanistan, a Distinguished Georgia, who was from the Army had been struck Service Cross after an upgrade campaign killed in action since 2008, he by insurgents on backed by then-Rep. Martha McSally, Booker while fi ghting off Cowart received his award April 11, 2005, R-Ariz. an ambush near Baghdad on April 5, on March 20. in southeastern No other information has been released 2003, during the Iraq invasion. His Sgt. (then-Pvt.) Robert K. Debolt, Afghanistan. concerning further upgrades. family received his award April 5. an infantryman with C Company, Spc. Samuel Maj. Thomas Bostick, command- 2nd Battalion, 2nd Infantry Regi- Crockett, an er of B Troop, 1st Squadron, 91st ment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st explosive ordnance DAILY UPDATES Cavalry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Infantry Division, then based at Fort Crockett disposal technician IN YOUR INBOX Brigade Combat Team out of Vicen- Hood, Texas, who pulled his fellow with the 20th Chemical, Biological, Ra- Sign up for the Army Times newsletter. za, Italy, who was killed in action soldiers from a burning vehicle after a diological, Nuclear and Explosives Com- armytimes.com/newsletters TIM EVANSON/FLICKR

12 ARMYTIMES.COM 05.13.19 Replacements coming An AH-64D Apache helicopter NEWEST HELICOPTERS TO GO TO conducts aerial gunnery training at ‘HIGH PRIORITY’ GUARD BEFORE Fort Hood, Texas. SOME ACTIVE UNITS GET THEM By Todd South [email protected]

Th e likely next Army chief of staff has according information provided by capability moving forward.” “for some time into the future.” made Guard aviators of the future a Army Times’ sister publication De- Th e other thing aviation does, he Current requirements for the Army, real part of the service’s next steps in fense News. said, is move things, whether that’s Marines and Special Operations combat aircraft. Simultaneously, the Army is called air assault or mobility. Command units vary slightly, with the Army Vice Chief of Staff Gen. developing a partial AH-64 Apache Th at’s where the FLRAA will come Marines demanding greater distances James McConville said that the new- replacement, the Future Attack Re- in, moving armed helos into plac- and speed as well as options for more est helicopter under development, connaissance Aircraft. es to support dismounted ground fi repower on the FLRAA. which will replace many UH-60 Th e FARA could also go to Army troops. Th e Army timeline aims to have a Black Hawks and CH-47 Chinooks, Guard units, McConville said. But Guard air isn’t the only one to contract by 2021, an aircraft fl ying by will go not just to tip-of-the-spear Traditionally, advanced vehicles, see likely changes with the new air- 2024 and a fi elded aircraft by 2030 units such as the 101st Airborne Di- armor, aviation and other big-ticket craft. Th e four-star, himself a Master that will last into the 2080s, with vision, 82nd Airborne Division and equipment fi lls out the active-duty Army Aviator who has qualifi ed on modifi cations, of course. 160th Special Operations Aviation units long before Guard and Reserve the Apache, AH-1 Cobra and OH-58 McConville said that a combination Regiment, but at the same time will soldiers get their hands on it. Kiowa Warrior, told attendees that of the capabilities of the new pro- arrive at “high priority” Army Guard “When we look at what aviation the FARA will replace some Apaches grams they’re pursuing, along with units. does ... they fi nd stuff and they kill in the air cavalry squadrons. increases in long-range precision fi res Speaking at the annual meeting stuff , that’s what they do,” McCon- “Th e FARA will replace some and multi-domain operations task of the Army Aviation Association ville said. Apaches but not all,” he said. Th e re- force experimentation, are helping of America, McConville estimated “Th e Apache is the most lethal maining Apaches, which are continu- reorganize how formations go to war. that the Future Long Range Assault helicopter in the world right now,” he ing into their sixth major upgrade, Jen Judson, Defense News re- Aircraft could fi eld by 2028 to 2030, said. “And we want to increase that now will be in the attack battalions porter, contributed to this report. STAFF SGT. MARK SCOVELL, ARMY MARK SCOVELL, SGT. STAFF

Sam Johnson

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05.13.19 ARMYTIMES.COM 13 Sinking a ship Soldiers with the Army’s Multi-Domain Operations Task Force pilot program cheer the launch of a surface-to-ship missile for a live-fire sinking at Pacific Missile Range Facility Barking Sands, Hawaii, in July during the joint Rim of the Pacific exercise. THE PACIFIC PUSH NEW ROTATION, THOUSANDS MORE TROOPS HEADING THERE AS THE ARMY READIES FOR A NEW KIND OF FIGHT

14 ARMYTIMES.COM 05.13.19

0513_ARM_DOM_00_014_015_016_017_00.indd 14 5/1/19 5:23 PM Arriving at Palau Private 1st Class Benjamin Alley, an infantryman serving with 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 7th Infantry Division, stages in a security posture April 13 during Exer- cise Palau.

By Todd South ic Command spokesman. [email protected] Those troops are parceled out across an area that’s hard to fathom. The Pa- The Army is growing its force in the cific Ocean is 15 times larger than the Pacific region, keeping rotational United States, has seven of the world’s forces there longer with plans to 10 largest armies and it is home to 24 increase the number of soldiers they of the world’s 36 megacities. All that is send, and soon beginning a new spread across more than a dozen time division-strength rotation with thou- zones. sands of soldiers going for short-term Those 85,000 U.S. soldiers include deployments. an estimated 12,800 in Alaska; 18,400 And they’re not going to Korea. in Washington; 23,500 in Hawaii; They are sweeping to the South Chi- 1,700 in Japan and 16,500 in South na Sea and surrounding areas, all in an Korea, all of them forward based. effort to expand the Army’s presence Another 4,700 rotate into South Ko- in containing a resurging China and rea annually, and the Pacific Pathways multiply forces in a hard-to-reach area. program takes 900 to 1,100 soldiers The soldiers in those units are reach- into partner countries, previously for was aimed at what Filipino leadership ing China. ing back into the Army’s recent past. a few weeks but most recently three sees as an encroaching China. Much of that rests in the “three-line They’re finding their way on missions months in Thailand and four months Philippine President Rodrigo Du- configuration” perceived by Chinese that look much different than past in the Philippines. terte’s official message was to tell the military officials when they look to the deployments that involved vehicle The Pathways program is expected to Chinese government not to encroach United States’ position in the Pacific, patrols around remote bases and acting grow to 1,500 or 1,700 soldiers in the on Pagasa or other territory so that the according to “Archipelagic Defense: as police for tribal conflicts. coming years. two nations could “be friends,” but he The Japan-U.S. Alliance and Preserv- Instead, they’re moving missile also shared a warning. ing Peace and Stability in the Western defense systems that scoot around NEW ROTATION “If you make moves there, that’s a Pacific,” by Andrew F. Krepinevich Jr. and between small island strongholds, A new rotation called Defender Pacific different story,” Duterte said. “I will with the Sasakawa Peace Foundation. throwing wires to run communica- will send a division headquarters with tell my soldiers, ‘Prepare for suicide Those consist of three arcing lines tions across vast expanses of ocean or multiple brigades, Gen. Robert Brown, mission.’ ” along which the United States has opening ports at waterfronts so that the top commander over the Army’s While Marines and SOF elements positioned bases or at least airfields to munitions, food and medicine can Pacific forces, announced recently. advised the nation’s military in the cover the vast distances of the region. reach those in the fight should China’s About 5,000 to 10,000 soldiers will bloody, drawn-out siege and retaking The partner forces offer significant moves escalate into violence. deploy for the exercise, which will of the Filipino city of Marawi in 2017, boosts to power projection. And that role differs not only from likely be once a year. it has been Army advisers who are The three arcs start close to China, the wars in Afghanistan, Iraq and That exercise will focus on the South helping their military build their own the first line sweeping from Japan and special operations forces-led counter- China Sea or East China Sea area and versions of brigade combat teams. South Korea to Diego Garcia in the terrorism missions of recent years. It run between 30 to 45 days. The Army’s push makes sense to Indian Ocean. The second line con- will be a different role than the Army The soldiers will be deployed sud- retired Army Lt. Gen. Thomas Spoehr, nects Guam and Australia and the last performs anywhere else, and it might denly, in keeping with the dynamic director of the Center for National line extends from Hawaii northward be a model for the future of near-peer flexing concept that is part of the Na- Defense at The Heritage Foundation. to the Aleutians and ending in Alaska. fights. tional Defense Strategy, keeping U.S. “More complex terrain means you The combined lines link a network In Europe and across major combat forces and adversaries on their toes. can’t deploy as large a formation,” he of supporting bases, ports and access operations in past wars, the Army has Existing rotations and forces sta- told Army Times. “You need to go points. been the center of focus for how U.S. tioned in the region would remain in probably with a battalion, smaller But Chinese military leaders see military power flows into an operation. their assigned missions and the new teams, not mechanized but airborne, potential vulnerabilities in that chain. But in the maritime-dominant rotations would add to that force SOF, light infantry, by and large work “A China without Taiwan will not Indo-Pacific Command, the Army strength, Brown said. best.” be able to break out of the ‘first island may serve more as an enabler, keeping He added that the formations that chain’ and be denied entry into the sea lanes open and airwaves clear to NEW EXERCISE the Army brings have to fight along- Pacific, so much so that its southeast- beat back ballistic missile launches U.S. forces, including Army special side the partner nations they’re work- ern territory will be devoid of any se- and electronic jamming so that the Air operations forces, Marines and Navy ing with. Most of the Asian militaries curity,” Chinese military expert Gong Force’s planes can take off, the Navy’s personnel, recently conducted an exer- training with the United States are Li stated. “On the other hand, if the ships can maneuver and the Marines cise known as a joint airfield seizure on Army-centric but lack big armor. Taiwan problem is resolved, the door and select light Army units can engage the only Philippine-controlled island That pairs with other Army exercises to the Pacific Ocean will be opened enemies directly. in a hotly contested area of the South to bolster the capabilities of partner for mainland China, thus breaking the The Army has an estimated 85,000 China sea known as Pagasa. militaries in Thailand, Indonesia, first island chain.” soldiers dedicated to the region, wrote It was the first such modern exercise Malaysia and Taiwan, key enablers to

RACHEL JEFFCOAT/ARMY; SGT. 1ST CLASS WHITNEY C. HOUSTON/ARMY CLASS 1ST SGT. JEFFCOAT/ARMY; RACHEL Col. Derrick Cheng, U.S. Army Pacif- of its kind with the joint force and it share some of the burden of contain- See PACIFIC page 16

05.13.19 ARMYTIMES.COM 15 DEFENSIVE LINES

SAN DIEGO TO OKINAWA JAPAN Shortest sea route: The new Defender Pacifi c rotation SOUTH KOREA 5,700 nautical miles will likely be 30 to 45 days with a divi- Okinawa It takes at least 12 days to transit sion-sized force, about three brigades or from the U.S. Navy’s major West 10,000 to 15,000 soldiers. CHINA Coast base in San Diego to the first island chain. Ground forces Ryukus typically need a significantly ARMY FORCES IN THE PACIFIC Islands longer time to deploy. TAIWAN Joint Base Lewis- 18,400 soldiers FIRST ISLAND McChord CHAIN BARRIER VIETNAM Army in South Korea 16,500 stationed PHILIPPINES GUAM 4,700 rotational Hawaii 23,500 Thitu Alaska 12,800 Island SECOND ISLAND CHAIN BARRIER Japan 1,700

PACIFIC PATHWAYS TASK FORCE Current 900-1,100 soldiers PAPUA NEW Future 1,500-1,700 GUINEA

From PACIFIC page 15 Archipelagic Defense report. transport planes and fl ew to Palau, a ways to beat back China’s weapons And ground forces would take small island nation that hadn’t seen an systems and position. ARMY’S CHANGING ROLE longer. Army presence since 1982. A key capability the Army is using Th e Army must recognize that it will Soldiers did jungle, patrolling and to get into the potential Pacifi c fi ght likely not be the focus of large-scale BCTS: 29 DAYS BY AIR marksmanship training while enablers is long-range precision fi res; it’s a top combat in the Pacifi c region but can A BCT’s full load out would take 37 worked communications between the priority for modernization. still contribute, experts said. days by ship and 29 days by air to island and elements on Guam and in Th e Army chose the region as the Christopher Dougherty is a senior travel from the U.S. mainland to the the Philippines, he said. fi rst arena to test portions of its newest fellow at Center for a New Ameri- “fi rst island” chain, or those closest to Since the Pathways program started doctrine – multi-domain operations. can Security and a former airborne mainland China in the South and East it was seen as a way to have forces Th e MDO Task Force led an array infantryman who served with 2nd China Seas, Krepinevich wrote. west of the International Date Line of precision strikes last year during Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment at To minimize some of those delays, should a crisis occur, Hall said. Th at the Rim of the Pacifi c, or RIMPAC, Fort Lewis, Washington. the report recommends forward would give the Army a fl exible way to exercise, the world’s largest maritime Dougherty told Army Times that the stationing more troops in areas of the use its formations in an expeditionary military exercise. Army’s traditional role has been as a Pacifi c and also deploying soldiers mission. Soldiers conducted their fi rst sinking “large force with staying power.” But from bases in South Korea to where “But we never exercised it,” Hall exercise, using long-range artillery, air the question looms as to whether it is they’re needed. said. attacks and shore-based missiles to suited to distributed operations in a Krepinevich also points to the use Th e rotations aim to put those hit a decommissioned ship. Th e task maritime environment. of Army air assault and rapid response promises into the regular, working role force included 500 personnel with the “Th ere’s a constant tension. Army units such as the 75th Ranger Regi- of Army forces. 17th Field Artillery Brigade, which forces are big, they are heavy and they ment for light infantry work. Hall, also a student of history, said exploited simulated enemy weaknesses take a long time to get anywhere,” he Col. Jerry Hall is the deputy branch looking back to World War II could to create a bubble of time to hit the said. “Th e Army has been trying to chief for theater exercise at USARPAC give soldiers a snapshot of what sol- target. square that since the invention of the and oversees the dozens of exercises the diering in the Pacifi c might mean. Anti-ship missiles are a key priority tank.” Army works in the region. “Unless we’re on the Asian land mass for both Army and Marine formations Dougherty said the Army has to an- “On small islands, small atolls, you won’t see major land operations,” in the region. Both services are looking swer how it will project force quickly there’s not as much space for large he said. at “coastal defense,” essentially an- and bring what’s needed to the fi ght. formations,” Hall said. “Spread out Th e best analogy would see soldiers ti-ship missiles. With a few well-placed “Th ey’re not going to be the support- over more islands presents mission running missile defense and security at batteries of such mobile weapons, ed force in the Pacifi c,” he said. “Th e command and communications chal- airfi elds and ports, and seizing airfi elds small numbers of troops could control key thing for the Army in the Pacifi c is lenges.” to “enable future operations.” critical sea lanes, experts said. wrapping their head around it. Th ey’re He pointed to the recent Pacifi c Both the Marines and Army have starting to do this.” Pathways that saw the 1st Battalion, FIRES, AIR DEFENSE looked at using the existing HIMARS “It’s a fl ip in mindset,” he said. 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team out AND HELICOPTERS system, which has been in operation Equipment and forces deploying of Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash- Rather than rolling tanks across fi elds extensively in recent confl icts. But the from the U.S. West Coast would take ington, hit the Philippines. Within a or fl anking vehicle formations with system was not designed for target- 12 days at a minimum to reach Oki- very short period an infantry company upgunned Strykers in Europe, the bulk ing a system at sea. Both services are nawa, Japan, Krepinevich wrote in his with enablers loaded onto two C-130 of the Army’s gear will have to target pursuing new systems that would meet

16 ARMYTIMES.COM 05.13.19 that mission. inaccessible in a high-end, near-peer to help give those formations more An Army Lessons Learned report fi ght. of a complete suite of capabilities for from the 2017 Pacifi c Sentry exercise Other Army priorities fall closely in expeditionary style ops. noted that to mitigate the “tyranny of line with the Pacifi c theater’s needs – Previously, CEMA was only available time and distance” the Army will have air missile defense is a reviving artform at division or corps level. to identify alternative landing zones and funding priority for the Army. Th e Army is even referring to the and preposition supplies, wrote Brig. Electronic warfare and countering Pacifi c as it tells industry what it wants Gen. Steve Bullard, then director of such eff ects is being integrated into from its next helicopter. Mobility Forces. formations. Th e Future Long Range Assault Air- Bullard referenced the concept of In March, Brown ticked off recent craft is designed in part to be a UH-60 “adaptive basing,” which means mov- events that showcased the Army’s Black Hawk replacement. ing transportation assets around the attempt to get back after effi cient One of the several capabilities that theater because airfi elds are threatened AMD: the restarted Roving Sands the Army wants out of the advanced or denied. No more piles of food, fuel, defense training exercises, a reactivated new helicopter is a “self-deployment munitions and spare parts at well-forti- 38th ADA brigade and a new ADA mission,” basically getting a stripped- fi ed locations mostly free from attack. battalion, both last fall. down version to another location Everything goes mobile across farther On the force structure side, Brig. without being fl own or fl oated by distances than the Army has had to Gen. Clement Coward, commander of plane or ship. contend with in a long time. the 32nd AMD, said they’re working In offi cial documents, the Army Partly, the Army and Marine Corps to get AMD brigades and battalions said that self-deployment mission have some of that in place. Th e Army into corps and division warfi ghting “represents the standard long-range has prepositioned stocks of equipment exercises. overwater planning for the longest for arriving troops to use when in the- Th e goal with those moves and segment of the shortest possible route ater. Th e Marine Corps uses the Mar- improving the stock of AMD systems across the Pacifi c Ocean, which is from itime Prepositioning Ship program to is to meet “the capabilities of Russia Earekcson, (Alaska) to Chitose, Japan.” keep stocks of gear and supplies afl oat and China in their respective theaters To ensure the helicopter can make to pull into port and meet Marines as by 2022.” it, they want it to fl y at least 1,725 Artillery in the Pacifi c they head to the fi ght. Starting in 2018, the Army be- nautical miles on its own. An air defense system crewmember with Some argue that practice needs seri- gan putting cyber electromagnetic Th at would still be thousands of the 35th Air Defense Artillery Brigade ous updating as they’re only useable at activities, or CEMA, teams down at miles from the fi ght in the South or loads a Stinger missile for a live-fi re training exercise during the Rim of the Pacifi c

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05.13.19 ARMYTIMES.COM 17 YOUR MILITARY

Day care death Baby Abigail and her mother Anna. Abigail died in the home of a reportedly unauthorized day care provider at an Army base in Hawaii. ‘Something needs to change,’ says mom of baby girl who died at in-home daycare Karen Jowers [email protected]

Th e mother of a 7-month-old baby who died at a Two months after Abigail’s death, the incident is still found violations. Th e daycare is in privatized housing babysitter’s home reported for unauthorized and under investigation by the Honolulu Police Depart- at Aliamanu Military Reservation, part of U.S. Army unlicensed caregiving in Hawaii military housing says ment, which has classifi ed it as an unattended death. Garrison-Hawaii. offi cials need to make changes to ensure children are No charges have been fi led. No one is placing blame A neighbor, Katie Camario, told Military Times that protected. on the caregiver; attempts by Military Times to reach she had reported her concerns for more than a year “I had no idea [the caregiver] was being reported for her have been unsuccessful. Sources said the caregiver about numerous young children crying and left unat- neglect,” said Anna, who asked that her last name be and her family have moved off the installation. tended outside the home, citing various incidents such withheld for security reasons. “I only found out that Th e medical examiner’s offi ce has not released infor- as the children playing with a lighter, and one child’s day outside the house waiting for the police to release mation about the cause of death. head being stuck in playground equipment. Other me from the scene,” on Feb. 24, the day her child Following the incident, the Army launched an inves- neighbors also said they reported similar concerns. died at Aliamanu Military Reservation. Th e baby’s tigation into child care authorizations and procedures She adds that she and others are not placing blame on father is a member of the Army National Guard. on Hawaii bases, and it is ongoing, said Dennis Drake, anyone for Abigail’s death. Neighbors told her what they had reported pre- a retired Army colonel who is spokesman for U.S. Camario said she had fi led a report with the military’s viously to authorities. “If I’d known that all those Army Hawaii. Interactive Customer Evaluation website on Feb. 20 – things had happened… I felt so upset. If I had known A neighbor who lives near the home where the child four days before Abigail’s death. She had also reported there were reports of neglect, I would have taken my died said the death came four days after she fi led a her concerns to Army Family Child Care offi cials, as children out so fast. complaint alleging the provider, a Navy wife, was well as to military police, as early as December 2017, “Abigail would be alive,” she said. “I wanted my operating an unlicensed daycare that had been shut she said. Family Child Care offi cials told her the pro-

children to be safe. Th at’s my main priority.” down at least three times by base offi cials who allegedly vider was not licensed to provide child care, she said. ANNA.

18 ARMYTIMES.COM 05.13.19 On military installations, in order to provide child my mind. I guess I wasn’t really educated. I didn’t have “Th ey asked who I am, and I told them my kids care in a home, providers must undergo stringent any idea what that was. I had zero indication that was are inside, and they asked me which ones were my reviews and training before being certifi ed and allowed happening.” children. I said I’m the mother of a 7-month-old and 2 to operate the business. Th ey must undergo fi re and Th ere had been times when she had previously taken ½ year old. Th eir faces went white. safety inspections, and provide a learning curriculum her toddler son to daycare situations where if she didn’t “I was freaking out. Th ey said, ‘I’m so sorry. Th e tailored for the child’s age. Th ere are also limitations feel comfortable in the fi rst fi ve minutes, she pulled babysitter found your daughter not breathing. We on the number of children that are allowed at any him out immediately. tried to administer CPR but she was too far gone.’ given time in the provider’s home. “I never got that feeling with her. I was so blindsid- Th ere was nothing they could have done for her,” Army Installation Management Command offi cials ed. …,” she said. Anna said, in tears as she remembered the day. will determine their way forward once they have re- “I never felt my children were unsafe. She was just so Anna said she has been given preliminary infor- ceived and reviewed the results of the police investiga- reliable. I’m usually pretty good at picking up on stuff mation about the investigation, but doesn’t want to tion, said spokesman Scott Malcom. In the meantime, like that. Now I’m questioning if my gut is not making discuss what authorities have told her. they are developing materials to inform parents about the right choices for me and my children.” “We just can’t release that information,” she said. day care licensing on installations, and on family child Th e day Abigail died, she said, the sitter text- “Th e investigation will take a good amount of time. care certifi cation for spouses who may want to off er ed “Come now,” to Anna. “I texted her back, ‘Is It’s important that they’re thorough, to make sure child care in their homes, he said. everything okay?’ She said, ‘no, please come now.’ they’re not missing anything.” In addition, “Child and Youth Services staff will “I had no idea what I was driving into. My thought Anna questions whether the right steps were taken reiterate training on how to investigate reports of was not that something terrible had happened to my to make sure children were being kept safe, when the unauthorized child care to better protect the health, children, because I thought I would have received a provider continued to operate. safety and wellbeing of children on our installations,” phone call or something. “Was the system implemented?” she asked. “If there he said. “When I pulled up to the house, I didn’t even stop were reports, and I had no idea these things were “I didn’t even know about unlicensed care before my vehicle. I saw the MPs, the ambulance, the [Hono- happening…. Something clearly needs to change. this happened,” Anna said. “Licensing never came to lulu police]. My heart dropped. Someone dropped the ball.”

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05.13.19 ARMYTIMES.COM 19 Iraqi interpreter earns US citizenship after bureaucratic problems By: Kyle Rempfer [email protected]

A former Iraqi interpreter for U.S. Dhurgham Abdulkareem served as forces became an American citizen an interpreter for U.S. troops in Baghdad April 23 after previously being pulled between 2009 and 2011, according to from a citizenship ceremony by immi- U.S. Army documents and Defense gration offi cials for unspecifi ed reasons Department IDs. While he loved the job, — a problem he said other interpreters it also made him a target for extremists have experienced. who viewed him as a traitor. Dhurgham Abdulkareem, 41, said that In 2012, he managed to obtain a Spe- becoming a citizen has fi nally given him cial Immigrant Visa, provided to Iraqis “peace of mind.” He now knows he won’t and Afghans who help U.S. missions, be forced to return to Iraq, where could and moved to Florida. Now a U.S. citizen face retribution for having worked for After a year of interviews and back- Dhurgham Abdulkareem, who spent two years serving as an Iraqi interpreter for U.S. the Americans. ground checks, in addition to the screen- troops, was pulled from a citizenship ceremony in early April for unspeciﬁ ed reasons. He His citizenship request was approved ing that allowed him to work with U.S. ﬁ nally became a citizen April 23, 2019, after his case was spotlighted by Military Times. after Military Times contacted immigra- forces in combat, Abdulkareem was told tion offi cials in April. by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Abdulkareem said he was thankful sat in limbo until he managed to hire a Now that he has his citizenship, Services to appear at a Naturalization to the immigration offi cial who helped lawyer and fi le a lawsuit to get his case Abdulkareem is planning to apply for Oath Ceremony to become a citizen on resolve the issue, but he added that long moved along. Defense Department contractor jobs that April 5. waits for citizenship and Special Immi- “Th at shows how hard it is to require his unique language skills. He has When he arrived, though, he was told grant Visas is a problem he has noticed become a citizen,” Alanbki, who said talked to headhunters for those positions, he could no longer participate in the cer- aff ect other Iraqi interpreters. he was shot and stabbed by al-Qaida in- but without citizenship, he could not emony. Offi cials told him that one of the “It’s just silly,” he added. “I’m not surgents while serving with U.S. troops begin the security clearance process they conditions of the immigration process trying to make an issue, but as an inter- in Fallujah, previously told Military require, a recruiter for the position told was not yet fi nished, but they couldn’t preter, why [do] we have this problem?” Times. Military Times. tell him which condition that was. Now a U.S. citizen, Dhurgham In the lawsuit, Alanbki’s attorney Citing privacy concerns, U.S. Citizen- Military Times reached out to immi- Abdulkareem is able to use his Iraqi alleged that his client had been errone- ship and Immigration Services offi cials gration offi cials on April 16. Th e next and English language skills to apply ously blacklisted as a national security said they could not comment on the day, Abdulkareem was invited for a fi nal for defense contractor jobs that require concern under the Controlled Applica- incident or the fi nal outcome. A spokes- interview. Afterwards, they ushered him security clearances. tion Review and Resolution Program, person reiterated their previous statement over to a citizenship ceremony scheduled One friend of Abdulkareem’s, who or CARRP — an opaque and restrictive that “some applications take longer than for the afternoon. worked for U.S. troops in Fallujah, is program begun under the George W. others to process.” “I think they read the article,” he said. still in Iraq. Bush administration and continued Th e nature of a translator’s job can “I think for sure the article made a huge “He quit in 2007 when he almost got under presidents Barrack Obama and complicate the citizenship application, [diff erence],” killed,” Abdulkareem said, adding that Donald Trump. Betsy Fisher, policy director of the Abdulkareem said that during the the friend was shot several times. “It’s a Alanbki became a citizen in 2018 and International Refugee Assistance Project, interview, he was asked less than a dozen lot on your body. ... I hope he can get was the one who warned Abdulkareem said. Translators may interact with local questions, such as whether he had ever over here.” that their situations were extremely militants as part of their job, such as bypassed U.S. checkpoints in Iraq and Another of Abdulkareem’s friends, similar. conducting interrogations or negotiating whether any identifi cation documents in Haeder Alanbki, was also an interpreter It is unclear whether CARRP was a ceasefi res. Iraq were ever stolen from him. for U.S. troops in Iraq but obtained factor in this case, but the program is “Th ose are the kind of interactions Th en they printed the questions out, a visa to come to the U.S., where he currently the subject of a class-action that made interpreters so essential, but Abdulkareem signed his name and the enlisted in the Florida Army National lawsuit by the ACLU. Citizenship ap- in many cases lead to additional security immigration offi cial said: “‘We have a Guard. plicants typically do not know whether checks because they’re under suspicion ceremony today at 1 p.m. if you want to Alanbki, who was already a U.S. they’ve been subject to its scrutiny, an for interacting with militants,” Fisher come,’” according to Abdulkareem. “And soldier, was also pulled from his citizen- attorney at the ACLU of Southern

said. I said yes, yes, yes, for sure.” ship ceremony at the last minute. He California told Military Times. PHOTO COURTESY

20 ARMYTIMES.COM 05.13.19

0513_arm_dom_00_020.pdf 1 03-May-19 16:02:07 17 years later... A UH-60 takes off in Afghanistan in preparation for transporting troops VETERANS AND MILITARY and supplies across the country on FAMILIES WANT OUT OF April 18, 2019. AFGHANISTAN: POLL By: Leo Shane III [email protected]

Veterans and military families over- American foreign policy,” said Dan among veterans and military families. Trump has vacillated on the troop whelmingly support plans to fully Caldwell, executive director at Con- Less than 40 percent of those surveyed presence in both areas. In February, withdraw troops from Afghanistan and cerned Veterans for America. said that keeping troops in Afghanistan is Trump said that “great nations do not similarly favor a complete U.S. military “President Trump would have strong still necessary for the safety of the United fight endless wars.” But rumored plans pullout from Syria, according to a new support from these communities if he States. Sixty percent said they support for a full withdrawal from both combat poll from a conservative activist group were to follow through on his promise removing all U.S. personnel from Af- zones have not yet materialized. released April 24. to remove U.S. troops from Afghani- ghanistan. The proposed rapid drawdown of Concerned Veterans for America, stan and Syria, and get serious about The U.S. military mission in Syria troops from both combat zones was which has close ties to the conservative our country’s financial future.” got more support — about 55 per- also a factor in the resignation of De- Koch brothers’ network and the Trump CVA officials teamed up with leaders cent of those surveyed said they think fense Secretary Jim Mattis last year. administration, said the results indicate from VoteVets.org — a left-leaning having a military presence there is The poll data was collected be- that President Donald Trump should advocacy group with close ties to the important to U.S. national security — tween April 5 and 14, and includes follow through with his public com- Democratic Party — to push lawmak- but roughly half said they still would responses from a randomized sample ments to bring those troops home. ers to halt open-ended foreign military support removing all American military of 800 veterans and 800 more military “Veterans and military families have operations, arguing the “forever” wars personnel from that region. households. It was conducted by the borne the brunt of America’s endless cost too much in taxpayer funds and Less than one-third said they would communications firm Pursuit Of — an wars, and after nearly two decades of military readiness. oppose a total withdrawal from organization connected to the Koch fighting there is clear support among CVA leaders say results from the Afghanistan, and about 45 percent brothers’ network. Group officials said

CAPT. ROXANA THOMPSON/ARMY ROXANA CAPT. both groups for a new approach to survey show support for that position opposee a full pull out from Syria. there is a 3.5 percent margin for error.

05.13.19 ARMYTIMES.COM 21 A painful reminder The recent suicide outside a Cleveland VA center put a spotlight on the problem that lawmakers say needs more attention.

Frustrations mount over lack of progress on preventing veterans’ suicide By: Leo Shane III [email protected]

Just hours before a Capitol Hill hearing April 29 on how a day across the country. a year-long task force review of the veterans suicide issue, to address the problem of veterans dying by suicide, a Veterans Aff airs offi cials have noted the uptick in engaging experts across multiple departments to fi nd veteran took his own life outside the Louis Stokes Cleve- veterans who have died by suicide in public spaces at de- new ideas. Th e House eff ort echoes that move, but law- land VA Medical Center. partment facilities — 25 in the last 18 months — does makers hope to bring legislative force along with that. Lawmakers said that the incident was a painful not refl ect a statistically signifi cant increase in the overall Among the ideas being discussed at other committee reminder for all the eff ort and funding put into suicide suicide problem. hearings later this week: expanding eligibility for health prevention in recent years, progress on the issue has been care services, expanding research on suicides, mandating frustratingly inconsistent. “IT’S CLEAR WE ARE more reporting by VA on suicides on campuses and “Two weeks ago, three other veterans committed sui- NOT DOING ENOUGH increased monitoring of prescriptions by VA doctors. cide at VA facilities in fi ve days,” House Veterans’ Aff airs Shelli Avenevoli, deputy director at the National Committee Chairman Mark Takano, D-Calif., said. “So TO SUPPORT Institutes of Mental Health, said in recent years offi cials far, we have seen seven this year. VETERANS IN have seen successes with a host of new approaches, such “It’s clear we are not doing enough to support veterans as universal mental health screening for all patients and in crisis.” CRISIS” detailed follow-up plans for suicidal patients. Both Democrats and Republicans in the House are — House Veterans Aff airs Committee Chairman Takano, whose uncle — a Vietnam veteran — died pledging to try and fi x that in coming months, launch- Mark Takano, D-Calif. by suicide decades ago, said lawmakers are open to any ing a series of hearings and legislative pushes to address innovations that could help with the issue. the lingering problem of veterans suicide. “But all of us feel these losses,” said Dr. Richard Stone, VA offi cials said they are open to the conversation, Takano and committee ranking member Rep. Phil acting head of the Veterans Health Administration. calling the challenge a national problem, not just one Roe, R-Tenn., said they are optimistic they can advance Lawmakers and veterans groups expressed frustration shouldered by their staff . bipartisan legislation on the issue, to include more at the department, not for their eff ort, but for their Th ey did not disclose any additional details about research and monitoring within VA facilities. results. the Cleveland suicide, which occurred early Monday House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, in a press conference “We must confront an uncomfortable and deeply morning outside of the campus’ emergency room. Stone ahead of the hearing to highlight the new congressional troubling truth: VA’s current eff orts and approaches to noted that more than 240 suicides have been prevented focus, called the issue an “uncomfortable, urgent crisis” suicide prevention and mental health are not working,” on the grounds of VA facilities since the start of 2017, and promised to work closely with Republican Party said Joe Chennelly, executive director at AMVETS. but the idea that 25 other deaths happened “with help leaders on fi nding answers. “How do we know this? In the simplest of terms, the just a few feet away is deeply troubling.” Preventing suicides has been VA’s top clinical priority suicide numbers aren’t decreasing.” Veterans experiencing a mental health emergency can for the past two years, and lawmakers noting that spend- Offi cials at Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America contact the Veteran Crisis Line at 1-800-273-8255 and ing on support programs have more than doubled since lamented that “we are far from a long-term sustainable select option 1 for a VA staff er. Veterans, troops or their 2005. Despite that, the rate of suicide among veterans solution to address veterans suicide.” families members can also text 838255 or visit Veteran-

has remained steady over the last 10 years, with about 20 Earlier this year, President Donald Trump announced sCrisisLine.net for assistance. MEDICAL CENTER CLEVELAND VA STOKES LOUIS

22 ARMYTIMES.COM 05.13.19 2019 BENEFITS GUIDE

A must-read for any service member, veteran or spouse. The 2019 Benefits Guide includes the latest changes to: the GI Bill, BAH, military retirement, tuition assistance, the military pay raise and much more!

DOWNLOAD NOW AT MILITARYTIMES.COM/BENEFITS-GUIDE-2019 Your new unit Teamwork can be just as important at a Fortune 500 company as REBOOTCAMP it was in the military.

Best for Vets Employers 2019: The top finishers Story and research by George Altman [email protected]

Now is an excellent time to be a veteran looking for a fi nding veterans and service members to work at the makes special eff orts to recruit, support and train job civilian job. company. Company representatives also attended candidates who are disabled veterans. Unemployment rates are at historic lows, numerous 74 veteran job fairs over the course of the last year. groups are off ering job search and training help to Th anks to these large-scale vet recruiting eff orts, as COMCAST NBCUNIVERSAL vets, and many of the country’s biggest companies well as numerous other factors, First Data retains 3 One of the largest companies included in have rolled out major vet hiring programs. its spot atop our Best for Vets: Employers rankings. this year’s rankings, Comcast hired nearly At this point, there are so many options that it may “Th rough a company-wide military engagement strat- 2,700 veterans and service members in 2018. But the seem overwhelming. If that’s how you’re feeling, the Best egy called First Data Salutes, we provide the military company’s vet-related eff orts don’t end with recruit- for Vets: Employers rankings are a good place to start. community with career opportunities, best-in-class ing. Comcast also has an 11-person team working to Nearly 200 employers across the country – more than education resources, and premier business solutions support the company’s military-connected employees. have ever participated before – competed for a spot in for veteran-owned businesses,” the company wrote in In addition, the company spent nearly $160 million this year’s rankings, providing in-depth data on their its survey response. at veteran-owned vendors and suppliers in the past culture, recruiting, policies and resources related to year – about 5 percent of Comcast’s vendor budget. veterans, service members and military families. SOUTHERN COMPANY We carefully analyzed their responses. Here’s who 2 Th is power company has many positions that INTUITIVE RESEARCH AND came out on top. align with military occupational specialties, 4TECHNOLOGY CORP. including power system operators, information Intuitive is one of the smallest companies in our FOR-PROFIT COMPANIES technology workers, even air traffi c controllers. And rankings – but it has one of the biggest relative vet em- if you’ve received military training in these fi elds, ployee populations, with vets accounting for 30 percent FIRST DATA CORP. Southern Company will accept that training and let of the workforce. Th e company dedicates 35 percent of 1 First Data has a team of eight recruiters you get right to work, rather than forcing you to get its recruiting budget specifi cally to veteran recruiting. dedicated either entirely or almost entirely to additional, civilian credentials. Th e company also “Founded by two former Army civilian managers, Intu- GABRIELA BARRANTES/POWER HOME REMODELING GABRIELA BARRANTES/POWER

24 ARMYTIMES.COM 05.13.19 itive was built on a foundation of ethical law enforcement as a natural extension principles and values that still radiate of military service: “We want to put throughout the company today,” the the troops back in the fi ght, making company’s survey response said. them mission capable to now serve their local communities.” USAA While every company on this THE EXCHANGE (AAFES) DECISIVE 5list is focused on hiring veterans Familiar to nearly every service and military family members, USAA is 2member as the ubiquitous one of just a few groups whose customer on-base (and online) place to buy PRINCIPLED base is also veterans and military fam- consumer goods, electronics and other ilies. Th e banking and insurance pow- essentials – including your favorite erhouse has veterans in the positions of Military Times newspapers – Th e VERSATILE chief executive offi cer, chief of operations Exchange is a natural fi t for mili- and president of USAA Federal Savings tary-connected employees. Military Bank. USAA also off ers its reservist em- spouses accounted for three in 10 of ployees their full civilian pay, on top of the company’s 2018 hires and about their military pay, for 12 months when 18 percent of the company’s total employees must leave work for military employee population. Representatives commitments. of Th e Exchange attended a whopping 695 veteran job fairs in the last year. GOVERNMENT AND NONPROFIT ORANGE COUNTY (FLA.) ORGANIZATIONS SHERIFF’S OFFICE 3 Members of the National Guard HARRIS COUNTY SHERIFF’S and reserves whose military obligations OFFICE force them to miss time working for this 1 Th is sheriff ’s offi ce, based in Florida law enforcement organization Houston’s Harris County, gives its can count on receiving the full diff erence veteran applicants a signifi cant hiring between their military pay and their TRANSITION FROM YOUR LIFE IN SPECIAL OPERATIONS preference over nonveterans. Addition- sheriff ’s offi ce pay, for an unlimited TO PARAMILITARY OPERATIONS WITH THE CIA. ally, when calculating retirement bene- period of time. What’s more, they receive fi ts, the offi ce will credit veterans with these benefi ts even if they volunteered With your special operations training, you’ve proven that you’ll up to fi ve additional years of employ- for active duty service. In addition, push yourself to the limit in defending what makes our country great. ment, based on their time serving in training with the offi ce can be covered Now, we’re inviting you to go beyond – to serve our nation’s interests the military. Th e sheriff ’s offi ce views by the GI Bill. as a Paramilitary Operations Officer or Specialized Skills Officer with the CIA’s Directorate of Operations. You’ll conduct intelligence activities globally using your significant combat and leadership experience in In-demand skills Special Operations or Combat Arms (Infantry and Aviation). Many military jobs, such as Information Technology, are also highly valued by Every company has a mission statement. Some are just more civilian employers. meaningful than others.

Successful candidates for this position may be eligible for a one-time hiring bonus of up to 25% of their base pay.

THE WORK OF A NATION. For additional information and to apply, visit: THE CENTER OF INTELLIGENCE. cia.gov/careers

Applicants must have US citizenship and the ability to successfully complete medical examinations and security procedures, including a polygraph interview. An equal opportunity employer and a drug-free workforce. PROGRESSIVE INSURANCE

05.13.19 ARMYTIMES.COM 25 legend

) Received Secretary of Defense Employer Support T Can work remotely Freedom Award or Extraordinary Employer Support Award N The Rankings Flexible scheduling ) Received Seven Seals Award, Above and Beyond f Transfer to another We invited organizations across the country to fi ll out a rigorous, Award or Pro Patria Award location 91-question survey evaluating their culture, recruitment and ) Received Patriot or Spouse Patriot Award policies for veterans, service members and military families. Here’s how they stacked up! For-profit companies Employees New hires Percentage Military of recruiting experience Veterans ESGR Military Rank Organization Industry Headquarters Total Military Total Military budget for instead of on- awards spouse Reservist pay veterans certiﬁ cation boarding policies Training: full pay, 19 business days, then full [1] Business and ++++ 1 First Data Corp. Financial Operations Atlanta 12,312 1,045 2,021 186 10% ) TNf difference, unlimited; activated: full pay, 2 years, then full difference, unlimited

Energy - Utilities - ++++ Full difference, unlimited 2 Southern Company Gas - Electric Atlanta 28,384 2,249 1,749 191 8% ) TNf

[1] ++++ Full pay, 15 business days, 3 Comcast NBCUniversal Media - Technology Philadelphia 162,442 8,612 46,135 2,686 15% ) TNf then full difference, 3 years

Intuitive Research and Training: full difference, 4 Technology Huntsville, Ala. 388 117 89 19 35% ++++ ) Nf 2 weeks; activated: full Technology Corp. difference, 6 months

5 USAA [1] Insurance San Antonio 33,842 4,916 4,785 609 30% ++++ ) TNf Full pay, 12 months

Training: full difference, 20 6 General Motors Automotive - Motor Detroit 93,826 6,019 8,362 226 1% ++++ ) TNf business days; activated: full Vehicles - Parts difference, unlimited Training: full difference, 15 7 BAE Systems Defense - Aerospace Arlington, Va. 30,868 4,908 6,013 1,343 25% ++++ business days; activated: full ) TNf pay, 30 business days, then full difference, 11 months

8 Verizon Telecommunications New York 129,757 10,345 13,954 1,122 11% ++++ ) TNf Full difference, 36 months

Training: full pay, 2 weeks; 9 U.S. Bank Business and Minneapolis 72,963 1,942 16,303 364 2% ++++ activated: full pay, 6 weeks, Financial Operations ) TNf then full difference, 104 weeks

10 Booz Allen Hamilton [1] Consulting McLean, Va. 24,700 7,500 6,000 2,000 no data ++++ ) TNf Full difference, 12 months

11 G6 Hospitality [1] Hospitality Carrollton, Texas 8,280 386 12,322 379 20% ++++ TNf Full difference, unlimited

12 United Rentals Inc. Rental Services Stamford, Conn. 16,231 1,745 3,039 297 25% ++++ ) TNf Full difference, unlimited

Newport News Shipbuilding, a division Manufacturing and Newport News, 13 20,000 4,562 4,562 1,062 20% ++++ Full difference, unlimited of Huntington Ingalls Production Va. ) Nf Industries [1]

Business and ++++ Full difference, 1 year 14 Capital One Financial Operations McLean, Va. 47,500 1,431 9,437 432 5% ) TNf

Training: full difference, 25 15 Windstream Holdings Inc. Telecommunications Little Rock, Ark. 11,948 1,262 1,627 163 20% ++++ ) TNf business days; activated: full difference, 1 year

Training: full difference, 10 16 Leidos Technology Reston, Va. 32,166 6,966 7,632 2,011 15% ++++ ) TNf business days; activated: full difference, 26 weeks

17 Lockheed Martin Corp.[1] Defense - Aerospace Bethesda, Md. 105,000 22,573 no data 3,518 18% ++++ ) TN Full difference, unlimited

[1] Includes operations outside of U.S. [2] 2017 data [3] Protected veterans, as deﬁ ned by the federal government

26 ARMYTIMES.COM 05.13.19

0513_arm_dom_00_026.pdf 1 03-May-19 16:03:14 See RANKINGS page 28 Employees New hires Percentage Military of recruiting experience Veterans ESGR Military Rank Organization Industry Headquarters Total Military Total Military budget for instead of on- awards spouse Reservist pay veterans certiﬁcation boarding policies 18 Hilton Hospitality McLean, Va. 62,403 1,659 21,332 852 37% ++++ ) T N f Full difference, 12 months

[1] Business and ++++ 19 TSYS Financial Operations Columbus, Ga. 13,175 309 2,393 121 15% ) T N f Full difference, unlimited Training: full pay, 15 business days, then 20 Xcel Energy Energy - Utilities - Minneapolis 11,691 1,090 1,175 119 50% ++++ ) full difference, 2 years; Gas - Electric activated: full difference, 2 years Full pay, 60 business days, 21 Merck & Co. Inc. Pharmaceutical Kenilworth, N.J. 23,084 572 3,076 101 10% ++++ ) T N then full difference, 60 business days Training: full difference, unlimited; activated: full 22 DynCorp International [1] ++++ Defense - Aerospace Mclean, Va. 7,469 22 2,440 6 60% ) T N difference, 13 weeks, then full difference, 13 weeks 23 Humana Inc. Healthcare Support Louisville, Ky. 41,594 1,568 7,654 443 5% ++++ ) T N f Full difference, 12 months

Training: full pay, 80 hours; 24 Boeing Manufacturing and Chicago 127,958 19,350 14,686 1,862 10% ++++ ) T N f activated: full difference, 90 Production business days Training: full pay, 30 PricewaterhouseCoopers business days, then full 25 Consulting New York 38,143 995 5,152 262 10% ++++ ) T N f difference, 18 months; (PwC) activated: full difference, 18 months

Combined Insurance, a 26 Insurance Chicago 3,800 73 3,852 167 10% ++++ Full difference, 2 years Chubb Company ) T N f

Performance Contractors Training: no pay; activated: 27 Construction Baton Rouge, La. 7,342 643 3,926 238 33% ++++ Inc. T N f full difference, unlimited

Business and Training: full difference, 30 28 JPMorgan Chase & Co.[1] New York 250,000 5,757 56,000 1,243 15% ++++ ) T N f business days; activated: full Financial Operations difference, unlimited

Marsh and McLennan Full pay, 4 weeks, then full 29 Consulting New York 25,936[2] 981[2] 3,792[2] 147[2] 6% ++++ Companies ) T N f difference, 5 years

Werner Enterprises Inc. Transportation and 30 Omaha, Neb. 12,527 2,016 12,547 1,949 20% ++++ No pay [1] Moving ) T N f

East Hartford, ++++ 31 Pratt & Whitney Airline - Aviation Conn. 22,516 2,516 3,066 409 5% ) T N Full difference, 5 years

Business and 32 Wells Fargo [1] ++++ Financial Operations San Francisco 271,453 8,271 36,808 1,502 no data ) T f Full difference, unlimited Training: full difference, 30 Energy - Utilities - ++++ 33 Con Edison Inc. Gas - Electric New York 15,255 60 1,133 31 25% ) T N business days; activated: full difference, 5 years 566,000 17,500 34 Amazon [1] Technology Seattle no data 7,500[2] no data ++++ Full difference, 52 weeks [2] [2] ) T N f

Training: full difference, 15 35 CACI International Inc.[1] Defense - Aerospace Arlington, Va. 17,501 6,552 5,202 2,517 no data ++++ ) business days; activated: full difference, 26 weeks 36 Accenture Consulting Dublin, 50,000 1,400 7,770 805 no data ++++ ) T N Full difference, 6 months

Business and 539 6,053 115 0% ++++ Full difference, 12 months 37 KPMG LLP Financial Operations New York 32,298 ) T N f

Hewlett Packard 38 Technology Palo Alto, Calif. no data 830 no data 90 0% ++++ Full difference, 5 years Enterprise ) T N f Advanced Disposal 39 Environmental Ponte Vedra, Fla. 6,068 no data 2,339 no data no data ++++ Full difference, unlimited Services

Energy - Utilities - + Full pay, 240 hours, then full 40 Consumers Energy Gas - Electric Jackson, Mich. 8,141 699 645 59 15% ½ ) T N f difference, 1 year

[1] Includes operations outside of U.S. [2] 2017 data [3] Protected veterans, as deﬁned by the federal government

05.13.19 ARMYTIMES.COM 27 From RANKINGS page 27 legend

) Received Secretary of Defense Employer Support T Can work remotely Freedom Award or Extraordinary Employer Support Award N Flexible scheduling ) Received Seven Seals Award, Above and Beyond f Transfer to another Award or Pro Patria Award location Government and nonprofit organizations ) Received Patriot or Spouse Patriot Award

Employees New hires Percentage Military of recruiting experience Veterans ESGR Military Rank Organization Industry Headquarters Total Military Total Military budget for instead of on- awards spouse Reservist pay veterans certiﬁcation boarding policies Training: full pay, 120 hours; Harris County Sheriff's activated: full pay, 120 1 Law Enforcement Houston no data 530 no data 55 10% ++++ Ofﬁce (HCSO) [1] ) N f hours, then full difference, 5 years The Exchange (Army Training: full pay, 30 2 & Air Force Exchange Retail Dallas 35,614 4,128 17,976 2,217 20% +++ ) T N f business days; activated: full Service) [1] difference, 52 business days

Orange County (Fla.) 3 Law Enforcement Orlando, Fla. 2,245 388 213 42 10% ++++ Full difference, unlimited Sheriff's Ofﬁce )

Full pay, 10 business days, 4 LMI [1] Consulting Tysons, Va. 1,179 341 329 84 40% +++ ) T N f then full difference, 26 weeks Training: full pay, 15 UT MD Anderson Cancer Healthcare business days; activated: full 5 Practitioners and Houston 20,272 3,199 3,726 314 2% +½ Center ) T N pay, 15 business days, then Technical full difference, unlimited

[1] Business and + Full difference, 15 business 6 PenFed Credit Union Financial Operations McLean, Va. 2,599 149 797 46 25% ½ T N f days

United States Postal Package and parcel 7 Washington 631,195 81,913[3] 122,016 18,954[3] 35% +½ Full pay, 240 hours Service delivery ) f Healthcare 8 Atrium Health Practitioners and Charlotte, N.C. 36,635 1,500 5,933 187 4% ++++ ) No pay Technical

Concurrent Technologies 9 Technology Johnstown, Pa. 445 66 84 9 20% +++ Full difference, unlimited Corp. ) T N

Henrico County Police 10 Law Enforcement Henrico County, 842 21 78 2 25% ++++ No pay Division Va.

Healthcare 11 Sanford Health[1] Practitioners and Sioux Falls, S.D. 29,743 no data no data no data no data +½ ) Full difference, 12 months Technical

Penn State Health Milton Healthcare 12 Practitioners and Hershey, Pa. 10,879 230[3] 2,183 71[3] 0% ) T N f Full pay, 15 business days S.Hershey Medical Center Technical

Culpeper County Sheriff's 13 Law Enforcement Culpeper, Va. 100 29 13 3 0% +½ No pay Ofﬁce

Transportation Security Training: full pay, 120 hours; 14 Law Enforcement Arlington, Va. 63,357 9,474 11,495 1,107 no data ) N f activated: full difference, Administration unlimited

Healthcare 15 Cleveland Clinic Practitioners and Cleveland 52,000 1,200 8,500 273 5% +++ ) N No pay Technical Training: full pay, 240 Brevard County Sheriff's 16 Law Enforcement Titusville, Fla. 1,320 105 176 18 no data +++ hours; activated: full pay, Ofﬁce 30 business days, then full difference, 2 years

Cincinnati Police 17 Law Enforcement Cincinnati no data 318 no data 12 no data +++ Partial difference, unlimited Department ) f

Washington State Department of Fish and 18 Law Enforcement Olympia, Wash. 154 34 20 3 0% ++++ Full pay, 21 business days Wildlife Enforcement N Program

The University of Arizona 19 Law Enforcement Tucson, Ariz. 122 no data 12 no data 5% ++++ Full pay, 30 business days Police Department ) N

[1] Includes operations outside of U.S. [2] 2017 data [3] Protected veterans, as deﬁned by the federal government

28 ARMYTIMES.COM 05.13.19 REMAINING FOR-PROFIT COMPANIES METHODOLOGY A record number of companies and other organizations – about 190 41. Allstate 66. Eaton 91. Cushman & Wakefield 42. DaVita Inc. 67. Synchrony 92. MGM Resorts – completed surveys to try to earn a place in the 2019 Best for Vets: 43. Citi 68. Cigna International Employers rankings. 44. La Quinta by Wyndham 69. Union Pacific 93. Zurich North America The Best for Vets: Employers survey included 91 questions focused on 45. OMNI Technologies 70. CVS Health 94. SONOCO company culture, veteran recruitment, military policies and accommoda- 46. Bank of America 71. Precise Systems 95. Amgen tions for reservist employees. Questions related to company culture and 47. ADP 72. Express Scripts 96. New York Community military recruiting each accounted for about 35 percent of the evalu- Bank 48. Dominion Energy 73. Ernst & Young LLP ation, while reservist policies made up 17 percent and military-related 97. Progressive Insurance 49. Quicken Loans 74. VSE Corp. policies accounted for about 14 percent. 98. Brown-Forman Corp. 50. First Command Financial 75. ManTech International The rankings, compiled annually since 2010, are and have always Services Inc. Corp. 99. Deloitte 100. Phillips 66 been objective, independent, and held to the same standard as all other 51. Peoplescout - A TrueBlue 76. Academy Securities Military Times news and editorial content. In the chart: Company 77. Fortinet Inc. 101. The Procter & Gamble Company Industry categories are courtesy of CareerBuilder.com. 52. CDW 78. Ford Motor Company - 53. Shell Dealerships 102. CarMax Inc. Employees and New hires data are from calendar or fiscal year 2018, 54. Travelers 79. Aviation Training 103. Honeywell unless otherwise indicated. 55. AT&T Consulting LLC 104. Beacon Roofing Supply Veterans on-boarding rates the way companies acclimate new veter- Inc. 56. AMERICAN SYSTEMS 80. Vectrus Systems Corp. an employees, including orientation, training and mentorship programs. 105. Charles Schwab 57. Walmart Inc. 81. Smithfield Foods The best rating is 4 stars. 106. Norfolk Southern 58. Prudential Financial Inc. 82. Associated Bank 107. DTE Energy ESGR awards indicates the highest award a company has been given by the 59. Boaters Exchange 83. Zeiders Enterprises Inc. 108. ASUS Defense Department’s Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve national 60. Power Home Remodeling 84. Hormel Foods 109. Ball Corporation committee. A bronze medallion indicates that a company has received the Pa- 61. Exelon 85. Waste Management 110. Johnson & Johnson triot or Spouse Patriot award. A silver medallion indicates a Seven Seals, Above 62. American Water 86. The Hartford 111. The Home Depot and Beyond or Pro Patria award. A gold medallion indicates a Freedom or 63. Southwest Airlines 87. FDM Group 112. CenturyLink Inc. Extraordinary Employer Support award, which are the most prestigious. 64. Strategic Staffing 88. Rackspace Solutions 89. Summit Materials 113. Public Service Enterprise Military spouse policies indicates whether a company, when possible, Group 65. Kellogg Company 90. FedEx allows military spouse employees to either work remotely (symbolized by a WiFi symbol), work flexible hours (clock) or transfer to another branch (arrows) if they face hardship due to a spouse’s deployment or schedule. Reservist pay shows the level of pay offered to reservists, training or MORE ONLINE: activated, and how long that pay continues. Full pay is the full civilian For more detailed information on the companies above, visit pay plus the military pay; full difference is the entire difference between rebootcamp.militarytimes.com military and civilian pay; partial difference is part of the difference between military and civilian pay.

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05.13.19 ARMYTIMES.COM 29 MIL MONEY

Here’s how commissary store brand prices compare

By: Karen Jowers Water works [email protected] The commissary’s private label brand of bottled water, Freedom’s Choice, was the best deal among the bottled water products compared in a Military Times analysis. Private label brands are becoming more prevalent on com- *Generally speaking, civilian discount grocers’ own missary shelves, so Military Times did a quick, unscientific store brands beat commissary store brand prices. Of the comparison of the prices these store brands offer. 16 categories of products we looked at, the commissary to the same product in the other four stores. The pricing We enlisted the help of Tom Gordy, a Navy Reserve had the best store brand price in five. In the remaining 11 system has changed on national brands; they’re no longer commander, regular commissary shopper, and president categories, either Walmart or Target store brands beat the sold at cost from the vendor. Commissary officials can of the Armed Forces Marketing Council, an organization commissary brand in 10 of those categories. In the remain- mark up or mark down the national brand prices, so that representing members of industry that sell products in coming category, a Safeway store brand was the best price on price isn’t necessarily what the vendor charged the commis- missaries and exchanges. sweet peas because of a sale. sary. At the Fort Belvoir, Va., commissary we compared some “Even after two years, the promise of commissary store Bottled water is one category where private label brands 44 items in 16 categories, both national brands and store brands providing better value isn’t materializing,” said generate more than 25 percent of sales overall in stores in brands. We didn’t check out the perishables such as meat Gordy. He cited the example of ibuprofen, where the issue the U.S., according to The Nielsen Company. and produce, because we were focusing on private label of commissary private labels started during testimony in In the commissary, the store brand bottled water – items. Then we headed out to two discount retailers, Target a congressional hearing several years ago. At that time, the Freedom’s Choice – beat out the shelf prices for other store and Walmart, and two supermarket chains, Harris Teeter commissary’s Good Sense brand, which was essentially a brands, by 11 percent for spring water, and 27 percent for and Safeway. private label, was the cheapest, at $2.29 for 100 200-mil- the purified water. Freedom’s Choice was also less than half This unscientific, limited exercise didn’t evaluate the qual- ligram tablets. of the regular price of the same size of national brands in ity of these items. The prices we quote are the shelf prices, Now the commissary’s TopCare private label ibuprofen is the store. Of note, those national brands were all on sale the and don’t include the 5 percent surcharge the commissary 8 cents higher, at $2.37. And the TopCare ibuprofen is 16 day we shopped at the commissary, but the lowest price was charges at the cash register on all the items in the basket. percent higher than Walmart’s store brand, which has been still $1.55 higher than the Freedom’s Choice. Nor does it include the sales tax charged at local retail stores, reduced to $1.98. But it varies by category and item. Commissary prices which are going to vary depending on where you live. For Store brands in the commissary include Freedom’s Choice generally compared favorably in the frozen vegetables we example, in Virginia, food items are taxed at 2.5 percent, for food items; HomeBase for nonfood items such as paper analyzed, both in national brands and store brands. In the while other items are taxed at different rates depending on products and other household items. Under the TopCare canned vegetables aisles, the national brands fared well in the locality. So take that into consideration as you compar- brand name, you’ll find products such as over-the-counter the commissary, but Walmart’s store brand beat out the ison shop. medications, vitamins, first aid supplies and beauty care commissary store brands, as well as the others. The takeaways: items. Under Tippy-Toes labels you’ll find baby and child What does this limited experiment mean for you, the *Commissary store brands offer savings in comparison to care items. shopper? It depends on how you shop, Gordy says. If you’re national brands within the store, sometimes as much as half *National brands are a different story. In the 44 compar- buying most or all store brands, generally the commissary the price of the national brand, depending on the product. isons, the commissary had the best price on 24 items. Of doesn’t have the best price compared to discount retailers. That’s generally the case with any grocer’s store brands. those, the savings in the commissary on the national brand But if you’re buying mostly national brands, the commis- But from there, it’s mixed. was at least 20 percent in eight of those brands, compared sary generally provides the best value. JESSICA ROUSE/DEFENSE COMMISSARY AGENCY ROUSE/DEFENSE COMMISSARY JESSICA

30 ARMYTIMES.COM 05.13.19

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1Account access restrictions may apply to mobile/web access in certain countries. Membership eligibility and product restrictions apply and are subject to change. Bank products provided by USAA Federal Savings Bank, Member FDIC. © 2019 USAA. 249258-0419 Look to the Sky The Navy is reportedly drafting guidelines on how to report UFO sightings, like the apparent one here, seen in a declassiﬁed Department of Defense video.

Aliens, ahoy! Navy developing guidelines on reporting UFO sightings

By: J.D. Simkins [email protected]

Encounters with unidentified aircraft by pilots have 2017, who noted it was done away with when it “was personnel simply “don’t know what to do with that once again prompted Department of Defense officials determined that there were other, higher priority issues information — like satellite data or a radar that sees to take action. that merited funding and it was in the best interest of something going Mach 3.” More specifically, the Navy confirmed that the service the DoD to make a change.” “They will dump [the data] because that is not a tradi- is drafting guidelines to establish a formal process for pi- Former military intelligence official Luis Elizondo, tional aircraft or missile,” he said. lots and military personnel to report UFO sightings, Po- who claims to have spearheaded the AATIP, told Politico DeLonge’s To the Stars shot onto everyone’s radar litico first reported. the Pentagon should be taking a more aggressive ap- last year after the company released a declassified 2015 The move comes following a surge in what the Navy proach to analyzing data surrounding UFO encounters. video that reportedly showed U.S. Navy pilots encoun- called a series of intrusions by advanced aircraft on Navy “If you are in a busy airport and see something you are tering a UFO. carrier strike groups. supposed to say something,” he said. The clip, called “GO FAST,” is “an authentic “There have been a number of reports of unauthorized “With our own military members it is kind of the DoD video that captures the high-speed flight of an and/or unidentified aircraft entering various mili- opposite: ‘If you do see something, don’t say something. unidentified aircraft at low altitudes,” a TTSA press tary-controlled ranges and designated air space in recent ... What happens in five years if it turns out these are release said. years,” a Navy spokesperson told Politico. extremely advanced Russian aircraft?” Such encounters have sparked questions from congres- “For safety and security concerns, the Navy and the Elizondo will be appearing in a six-part documen- sional lawmakers who have requested briefings by the [U.S. Air Force] takes these reports very seriously and tary series titled “Unidentified: Inside America’s UFO Navy’s senior intelligence officials and members of its investigates each and every report. Investigation™” — the trademark symbol is part of the aviation community, the report said. To improve upon past investigations, the Navy wants title — alongside other former Pentagon officials and The Navy did not specify who had requested briefings. to establish a formal process so that “such suspected Blink-182 co-founder Tom DeLonge, who founded To In 2017, then-Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, incursions can be made to cognizant authorities.” the Stars Academy of Arts and Sciences as a means to along with former Sens. Ted Stevens, R-Alaska, and The Navy confirmed a fleet-wide message on the prove the existence of alien life. Daniel Inouye, D-Hawaii, openly backed the establish- UFO-reporting initiative is in the works. Joining Elizondo on the History Channel docuseries is ment of the AATIP. While this development comes sans any admission former deputy assistant secretary of defense for intelli- “I’m not embarrassed or ashamed or sorry I got this of the existence of alien life, it signals a return to DoD gence for both the Clinton and Bush administrations, thing going,” Reid told the New York Times in 2017. “I acknowledgement that the series of recently document- Chris Mellon. think it’s one of the good things I did in my congressio- ed encounters are at least authentic enough to warrant Mellon, who was also instrumental in drafting the nal service. I’ve done something that no one has done further investigation. legislation that led to the creation of Special Opera- before.” So prevalent was the DoD’s interest in tracking the tions Command, echoed Elizondo’s call for a formal Dr. Hal Puthoff, a NASA quantum physicist and phenomena years ago that it established a program reporting process. DoD adviser, and Jim Semivan, a former senior intel- inside the Pentagon solely dedicated to investigating “Right now, we have situation in which UFOs and ligence member of the CIA, will also be lending their reports of UFO sightings. UAPs are treated as anomalies to be ignored rather than expertise to the History Channel’s upcoming series, The existence of the Advanced Aerospace Threat anomalies to be explored,” he told Politico. “We have which is set to debut in May. Identification Program, which ran from 2007 until systems that exclude that information and dump it.” Elizondo, Mellon, Puthoff and Semivan all currently

2012, was confirmed by DoD officials in December Mellon cited a number of examples in which military work for TTSA. DOD SCREENSHOT

32 ARMYTIMES.COM 05.13.19 Back to the Big Screen The opening sequence of “Saving Private Ryan” cemented the ﬁlm as an instant classic. Over 20 years Classifieds after its release, the movie is returning to the big screen. Attorney Directory

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By J.D. Simkins [email protected] One of the greatest cinematic achievements and arguably invasion suggested it was too real, “like being back in the most iconic war film ever made is heading back to the battle,” one veteran of D-Day said. big screen over 20 years after it first stunned audiences The film would haul in a global box office total of $481 around the world. million on its way to being nominated for 11 Academy Steven Spielberg’s “Saving Private Ryan” (1998) will be Awards. Employment coming to 600 cinemas nationwide for just two days — Of those nominations, “Saving Private Ryan” would June 2 and June 5 — to commemorate the 75th anni- take home 1999 Oscars for Best Director, Best Cine- Military Times is looking for versary of the June 6, 1944, landing of Allied forces in matography, Best Film Editing, Best Sound Editing and delivery agents with base access Normandy. Best Sound Mixing, but was upset in the Best Picture to deliver newspapers to retail Starring Tom Hanks, Matt Damon, Tom Sizemore, category by Harvey Weinstein’s “Shakespeare in Love.” stores for the Barry Pepper, Edward Burns, Giovanni Ribisi, Vin Diesel The Allied landings on D-Day, codenamed Operation following installations: and Adam Goldberg, the film forever transformed the Neptune, kicked off a months-long campaign — called way in which Hollywood depicts war, producing a dev- Operation Overlord — to reclaim Normandy from the Barksdale AFB astatingly sobering departure from past glorifications of death grip of Adolf Hitler and the Third Reich. Cannon AFB combat. Over 160,000 Allied troops stormed a 50-mile stretch Dyess AFB The movie, which has since been added to the Library of of defended coastline on D-Day, supported by over 5,000 Patrick AFB Congress’ National Film Registry, received instant adula- ships and 13,000 aircraft. Corpus Christi Naval Air Station tion for its realism, especially for an opening 27-minute The culmination of Overlord would see Paris, and all of West Point recreation of the landings on the beaches of Normandy that Northern France, liberated from Nazi control by the end Ft Richardson/Elmendorf AFB dropped viewers into what felt like the very Higgins boats of August 1944. that were thundering toward a hellish French coastline. For ticket information and to ﬁnd out when and where “Saving Please email: So authentic was the sequence, some of which was shot Private Ryan” is playing on the aforementioned dates, visit the [email protected]

PARAMOUNT PICTURES PARAMOUNT on location at Omaha Beach, that veterans of the actual Fathom Events website.

05.13.19 ARMYTIMES.COM 33 CROSSWORD HANGING FRUIT ACROSS 128 Irvine locale 1 Muscat dweller 129 Swamp grass 6 Imitate Daffy Duck 130 Prefix with present 10 Chest muscles, informally 131 Contends 14 Coalition 132 Singer Bonnie 18 Billiards shot 133 Concocted 19 Not duped by 134 “Auld — Syne” 20 Folk legend Guthrie 135 Apropos of 21 Not-yet-final software 136 Lauder of perfume 22 Involving three parties 24 One of the Clue suspects DOWN 27 1971 Stanley Kubrick film 1 Nona- minus one 29 “Shop — you drop!” 2 Painter Chagall 30 Sully 3 Edible pomegranate part 31 Middling 4 Court plea, in brief 32 Old Italian painter 5 Desktops since 1998 36 Singer Rawls 6 Bygone theater chain 37 Honcho 7 Like some hotel dining 41 Gruesome 8 Antares, e.g. 44 Louvre, e.g. 9 Tyler’s successor 46 False names 10 Infant food 50 Explorer — de León 11 Transgress 51 Shakers or Quakers 12 Attire 52 Most malicious 13 Capital of Bulgaria 53 Tiny fraction of a joule 14 Small pellets of shot 54 Heroine in Nintendo’s Mario 15 Not including games 16 Peter of “Masada” 59 State boldly 17 Len of stage and screen 60 Lisa of pop 23 Ref’s ring decision 62 More than friendly 25 Krypton, e.g. 63 Rock 26 See 24-Across 66 Dictator Idi 28 See 27-Across 68 Have control over 33 “Speechless” airer 70 Hawaii’s Mauna — 34 Set up, for short 71 Lindsay of “Mean Girls” 35 Actress Susan 72 Come to 37 Scot’s cap 73 New York City is said to be 38 Bullring shout one 39 Zadora of “Hairspray” KING FEATURES SYNDICATE 75 “Beetle Bailey,” e.g. 40 See 37-Across 77 Stuck — rut 42 Resembling a gorilla 78 Attain 43 Crowns for nobles 89 Solo of “Solo” 79 “Quit it!” 45 Spring (from) 91 See 90-Across 80 Home pest 47 Fourth prime 94 Flew on foot 81 Mexican folk musician 48 Suffix of languages 95 Period 86 WWII-era British gun 49 Sipping aid 96 Glistening grass stuff 88 Collins of rock and pop 51 Transgress 99 Mu — chicken 90 Fluorescent green Crayola 55 Fab Four drummer 101 Blood carrier color 56 Actress Hayek 102 Give knowledge 92 Period 57 Impassive 103 Lipton rival 93 Slaved away 58 See 54-Across 104 Respiratory woe 97 Some Korean cars 61 “Against the Wind” singer 105 One slaving away 98 The Antilles, e.g. 63 Gunky stuff 109 Laud 100 Tangle up 64 Pitch-related 111 Spring (from) 101 Some shiny plastics 65 United Airlines hub 112 U.K. mil. branch 104 Private college in the Bay 67 Houdini’s skill 113 Grocery, e.g. State 69 Looker-on 115 Due, as money 106 Chew like a rodent 74 See 73-Across 118 96, in old Rome 107 Ending for acetyl 75 Tots’ beds 119 Ache 108 Legendary hero of Athens 76 Dark Chinese tea 120 Nest eggs for srs. 110 Regatta gear 82 Gunky 121 Doing the job 114 “In case it’s true ...” 83 Slanted 122 Evening, in adspeak 116 Hotel phone abbr. 84 Uninvited partygoer 123 See 117-Across 117 It may follow “Use by” on a 85 That fellow’s 125 Praiseful poem label 87 “Thy Neighbor’s Wife” author 126 “Raggedy” plaything 124 Of no value Gay 127 See 124-Across

34 ARMYTIMES.COM 05.13.19 Heavy lift A soldier does a deadlift during a pilot program for the Army Combat Fitness Test at Fort Bliss, Texas, last year.

readers’ comments: fitness test, feres rules In the Army Times op-ed “Game of Tests: The new Units are supposed buy all this equipment. But my bet is if they let soldiers seek care off post. Have mandatory fitness test is coming. Here are three workouts to get you that units are holding into all that extra money until August monthly weigh-ins and vaccinations/shots done with the ready,” Army officer Nick Barringer described ways to or September, like they always do. … There ain’t enough Army doc. — Keenan Jackson prepare for the new Army Combat Fitness Test. Here are gym space for every soldier during PT hours. So figure it a few of the responses from readers, posted on Facebook: out. You know that Burger King run that you were going to make during lunch? Go hit the gym for 20 or 30 minutes Would this be retroactive? To, say, an Air Force colonel Those sound like good workouts. I’m still at a loss and train. You know that weekend that you were going to who botched a surgery at Walter Reed in 2010, then though why everyone thinks lower back injuries are spend indoors playing video and drinking beer and eating proceeded to violate HIPAA regulations? — Kristen Duus going to skyrocket. It’s not like Soldiers haven’t had over junk food? Go to the gym for a few hours and train. There a year to prepare. is always a way to find some time. It’s just about how much — Thomas Scott Levely you’re willing to sacrifice in order to do what you need I wholeheartedly agree that if malpractice occurs, then to do to meet and exceed the standards. And yes, in the the patient should have the right to seek redress. How- For those stating back injuries, the reason why people beginning there may be a few injuries. But that means ever, I doubt there are any attorneys in JAG in any of get injured is because they don’t train the posterior that soldiers are not learning to train properly. This can the military branches with the expertise to argue for the chain. The deadlift, along with the squat, are two of the be done without injuries. It’s all about how willing you plaintiff or defense in a case of alleged medical malprac- most strength building movements. Doing sit-ups and are to learn the proper techniques. tice, so this will need to be addressed. — Martin Fox — Robert Eric Steckler running doesn’t accomplish strength or power. — Dusty Zabokrtsky These tests should be body-weight determined. Body I had a friend die of cancer because the medics would But most units in the Reserves and National Guard still weight to lift weight ratio. I think the minimum should not send him to get his knee checked out. Turns out do not have any additional exercise equipment, never be the weight of two standard kits, weapons, basic load the chronic knee pain was caused by the bone cancer mind the trainers, dietitians, etc. If soldiers train on their and the average weight of a Soldier. That would be the that later metastasized and spread cancer through out own and get hurt the Army will not provide medical minimum for everyone. his body. He was dead within three months after he coverage for those injuries but if soldiers wait for the There was only one female in our ACFT. She was not was rushed to the ER because his knee exploded while official rollout, it appears that they will test long before able to max. She is very small. She probably weighs 120lbs. walking to the PX. — James B Crain they ever have any equipment or training. Dangerous — Brian Lane dilemma. — Paul Rolston SHOULD TROOPS BE ABLE You think it’s hard to get good medical care now, just TO SUE FOR MALPRACTICE? wait. They’ll just start med boarding anyone with The answer to PT shouldn’t be every soldier in the Army Readers responded online to “New measure would allow slightly complicated medical problems and send it to needing a gym membership to use after work. There troops to sue for military malpractice mistakes,” about a the VA system. I wouldn’t be surprised if they started should workouts that can be done in the unit area with- proposed waiver to the Feres Doctrine, which prohibits separating Soldiers for family members with serious out special equipment. such suits: health problems. — Brian Brown — Chuck Bailey

SGT. BRITTANY JOHNSON/ARMY NATIONAL GUARD JOHNSON/ARMY NATIONAL BRITTANY SGT. They wouldn’t have to worry about malpractice suits

05.13.19 ARMYTIMES.COM 35 Race heats up Does the U.S. lag behind China and Russia in the development of hypersonic weapons? EDITORIAL Editor Kathleen Curthoys [email protected] Senior Reporter Meghann Myers [email protected] Ground Combat Reporter Todd South [email protected]

Military Times Executive Editor Andrew Tilghman [email protected] Deputy Editor and Capitol Hill Bureau Chief Leo Shane III [email protected] Pentagon Bureau Chief Tara Copp [email protected] News Editor Steve Weigand [email protected] Associate Editor, Military Culture J.D. Simkins [email protected] Navy Reporter Mark Faram [email protected] Marine Corps Reporter Shawn Snow [email protected] Air Force Reporter Stephen Losey [email protected] Senior Reporter Geoff Ziezulewicz U.S. must win the race to geoff [email protected] Editor, MIlitary Communities Karen Jowers [email protected] Editor, Rebootcamp George Altman [email protected] develop hypersonic missiles Associate Editor, Rebootcamp Natalie Gross [email protected] Early Bird Brief Editor Kyle Rempfer By Iain D. Boyd [email protected] DIGITAL OPERATIONS Senior Editor, Digital Operations Russia and China have recently touted which never built a prototype. in 2019. Christian Lowe their progress in developing hypersonic A recent success was the X-51A, It’s not yet clear when those coun- [email protected] vehicles, which fl y much faster than the from 2005 to 2013, which set a world tries will be able to deploy hypersonic Social Media Editor Rachel Rakoff VIDEO & PHOTO speed of sound. endurance record for sustained fl ight weapons in any signifi cant numbers, Video and Photo Editor Ben Murray Hypersonic missiles are rock- of a hypersonic vehicle powered by a which is why the U.S. has seized upon Multimedia Journalist/Producer Jeff Martin Multimedia Journalists Alan Lessig, et-boosted to high altitude and may be high-speed propulsion engine called a this moment to step up its eff orts. Daniel Woolfolk launched from land, sea or air. scramjet. Th ere were only four fl ights, Th e recent presidential funding re- Multimedia Producer John Bretschneider DIGITAL DEVELOPMENT Th ey fl y far faster than any other and two of those were not fully success- quests for weapons development signal VP, Technology/Engineering Will Alexander weapons – more than 3,000 mph and ful. In addition, there were no plans in eff orts to fi gure out how to deploy Director, Web Development Ashley McCabe Web Developers Karan Batra, Kaym Yusuf potentially up to 10,000 mph – which place for any follow-on at the end of hypersonic weapons from air, sea and Senior Director, Digital Project Management makes them diffi cult to identify, avoid the X-51A program. land. Jenn Rafael DESIGN & PRODUCTION or shoot down. Now it seems the U.S. is back in the Most of the U.S. spending appears to Art Director Philip Kightlinger After leading the development of this hypersonic eff ort in a serious way. be aimed at developing new weap- Designers Brandon-Mykal Rambus, Audrey Angel Production Director Deborah Stoken technology area for decades, the U.S. Th e Pentagon has declared hyper- ons – but that risks ignoring the key Production Manager Mary Poston fi nds itself behind and investing heavily sonics to be its number one research priority of defense. To counter Chinese ADVERTISING Senior Vice President, Sales Mort Greenberg in the technology to try to keep up. and development technical priority. and Russian development eff orts, the [email protected] One of my primary research areas is Th e president’s recent budget request Pentagon will need to invest in ways Western U.S. Michelle Rosen [email protected] in the development of computation- proposes allocating almost $3 billion to detect, track and disable or destroy Eastern and Central U.S. Phil Hladkly al models to help design hypersonic to develop hypersonic weapons and incoming hypersonic weapons. [email protected] Director, Military Market Sales Lisa Danielczyk vehicles. Th e research is funded by the defense systems against potential adver- It is not clear if the types of inter- [email protected] Government and Recruitment Megan Morrocco government and private industry. I saries’ hypersonic weapons. ceptors that have been developed for [email protected] have led studies on hypersonics for the China and Russia have become defense against slower weapons will be Education and Recruitment Pilar Allas government. increasingly interested in hypersonic eff ective against hypersonic missiles. [email protected] MARKETING Over the past 60 years, U.S. interest weapons in recent years. Entirely novel approaches may be Marketing Director Stephanie Gildea in hypersonic vehicles has waxed and Since 2005, China has published needed to defeat this new threat. Ex- waned. An early success was the X-15, more research papers at a key hy- amples include high-power lasers and a hypersonic test aircraft with a max- personics conference than any other beams of electromagnetic energy. imum speed of 4,500 mph that was country or international group. Th e I believe that to avoid an important SIGHTLINE MEDIA GROUP fl own from 1959 to 1968. Chinese have invested in a number of gap in U.S. defensive capabilities, Publisher of: Army Times, Navy Times, Air Force Th e X-15 fl ew 199 times and experi- new and impressive hypersonic test American eff orts in defense must at Times, Marine Corps Times, Defense News, C4ISRNET and Federal Times enced two failures, one resulting in the facilities. And China has conducted least keep up with the progress of Chairman Michael A. Reinstein CEO David Steinhafel death of the pilot. It set the stage for more hypersonic fl ight tests recently other nations in developing hypersonic Chief Revenue Offi cer Doug Neiman the development of the space shuttle, than the U.S. weapons. Military Evangelist/Community which fl ew from 1981 to 2011. Russian President Vladimir Putin Outreach Director Rob Wilkins Iain D. Boyd is the James E. Knott Vice President, Audience Development & Circulation Shawn Byers Th e next ramp-up in hypersonic recently claimed that his country’s mil- Professor of Engineering in the Depart- activity was the National Aero-Space itary will begin deploying a hypersonic ment of Aerospace Engineering at the To advertise, visit armytimes.com/advertising

Plane Program, from 1986 to 1993, weapon called the Avangard sometime University of Michigan. KRIS OSBORN/AIR FORCE

36 ARMYTIMES.COM 05.13.19 Bad training ranges An Air Force F-22 Raptor ﬂ ies alongside a KC- 135 Stratotanker over the 67,000-square-mile Joint Paciﬁ c Alaska Range Complex. SENIOR AIRMAN ZACHARY PERRAS/AIR FORCE PERRAS/AIR SENIOR AIRMAN ZACHARY FROM THE EDITORS Troubling air range issues demand attention For a couple of years now, the topline strategy coming 1980s and are so out of date that they do prepare bonuses, and to increase the size of the force. At the out of the Pentagon has called for a renewed emphasis pilots for today’s near-peer threats. other are the constant calls to ratchet up the pur- on big nation state threats like Russia and China. A U.S. Air Force training range in Japan features chase of high-tech weaponry and equipment. We’ve heard dire warnings from smart people who simulated surface-to-air threats “from the 1960s and So, what gets squeezed in the middle is the actual say the U.S. is rapidly losing its technological edge 1970s,” according to the report. process of training the force we have to use the and that war with near-peer rivals would be much Pilots complain that their training becomes “repeti- weapons systems we’ve already purchased. harder and more costly than we’d like. tive and predictable” after just a few runs. Readiness is inherently complex and involves Former Defense Secretary Jim Mattis made im- “As a result,” the report concluded, “the aviation thousands of interrelated factors. It’s hard to hold proving “lethality” one of the top buzzwords in the units in the USINDOPACOM area of responsibility the Pentagon leadership totally accountable for military today. could not train as they would fi ght.” something that is essentially impossible to measure Th at’s why we were somewhat stunned to read a Th e IG blames these range problems on fi nancial precisely. recent investigation report on the training ranges woes caused by the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, on- Th is is especially true when most top leaders hold used by fi ghter jet pilots. Th e investigators found going counter-terrorism operations across the globe their top jobs only for a few years before moving on, many training facilities are completely antiquated and the fl uctuating budgets Congress imposed on the creating a perverse incentive to kick the can down and unable to adequately prepare today’s units for a services during the past decade. the road. conventional war. But at some point, the Pentagon also must take But fi nding Soviet-era missile systems at a training Th e investigation by the Defense Department ownership of this problem. range used by F-22s and F-35s refl ects a staggering Inspector General focused on ranges used to train for It is not an eff ective use of scarce defense dollars to level of negligence. operations in the U.S. Indo-Pacifi c Command. buy dozens of the most advanced aircraft in the world Th e inability of aviation forces to train as they For example, a Navy range in Nevada is still using every year if the U.S. military cannot provide facilities fi ght increases the risk that they will be unable to 50-year-old surface-to-air simulators and electronic for pilots to train on them and learn real-world warf- accomplish their mission and that attrition of pilots warfare simulators that do not “replicate the threats ighting skills. and aircraft will rise unnecessarily in an actual pilots would face in combat,” according to the report. Th is is just another example of how the politics of battle. At a joint range up in Alaska, the electronic warfare defense spending is eroding readiness. At one end Th e problem has now been clearly identifi ed. We simulators replicate Soviet missile systems from the are pressures to boost pay, mostly through targeted are waiting to hear how it will be corrected.

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05.13.19 ARMYTIMES.COM 37 PARTING SHOT

THE GREEN MILE

A soldier scales the monkey bars as part of the Green Mile physical endurance course during jungle training at the Lightning Academy in Wahiawa, Hawaii on April 18, 2019. The 25th Infantry Division Lightning Academy off ers courses in air assault, jungle operations, basic and tactical combatives, rappel master and other skills. Photo by Spc. Valencia McNeal

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Federally Insured by NCUA. To receive any advertised product, you must become a member of PenFed Credit Union. © 2019 Pentagon Federal Credit Union 1. Promotions are in effect for completed applications submitted on or after December 28, 2018 and subject to change without notice. Only purchase transactions are eligible for promotions. On eligible fixed-rate and adjustable rate mortgages, PenFed will give a promotional credit of .50% of the loan amount not to exceed $20,000. To receive the maximum amount offered of $20,000, the loan amount must be $4 million. The average promo savings is $1,416 as a lender credit. Available when obtaining an eligible mortgage through PenFed, using a network real estate agent and using our affiliate title providers. In states where PenFed does not have an affiliated title company, and in Florida, New York and Texas, members can choose their own title company and still be eligible for the promotion. The application of additional loan level pricing adjustment will be determined by various loan attributes to include but not limited to the loan-to-value (LTV) ratio, credit score, transaction type, property type, product type, occupancy, and subordinate financing. Promotion available for the purchase of a primary residence, second home and investment property only. Other restrictions may apply. On eligible fixed rate VA mortgages, PenFed will give a promotional credit of .50% of the total loan amount. The average promo savings is $1,416 as a lender credit. Loan amounts available up to Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) 2019 loan limits for the One-Unit Limit. While a veteran may use the promotion to acquire a property up to 2-units in size, the total loan amount will be based on the One-Unit (single-family residence) limit for the county in which the collateral is located. Veteran may finance the funding fee and still be eligible for the promotional credit even if the addition of the financed funding fee exceeds the county loan limit. Available when obtaining an eligible mortgage through PenFed, using a network real estate agent and using our affiliate title providers. In states where PenFed does not have an affiliated title company, and in Florida, New York and Texas, members can choose their own title company and still be eligible for the promotion. Promotion available for the purchase of a primary residence. Applicant is responsible for VA funding fee. Other restrictions may apply. *There is no origination fee, however, origination charges such as rate extension and points may be applicable.