RedstoneRocketwww.theredstonerocket.com May 20, 2020 Vol. 69 No. 20 PUBLISHED IN THE INTEREST OF PERSONNELMILITARY AT SCENEREDSTONE ARSENAL, AL Job transfer tool sharpens for families on the move By KARI HAWKINS Army Materiel Command Public Affairs A program is being expanded by the Army Materiel Command to provide Nonappropriated Funds employees bet- ter opportunities as they move with their Soldier or civilian through a career that demands mobility. The NAF Child and Youth Services Employee Assignment Tool developed by COMMUNITY NEWS the Army G-1 Civilian Personnel NAF Highway cleanup paves Division – open only to employees work- ing in child and youth programs at Army way for next repair phase. installations – is now the NAF Civilian PAGE 5 Employment Assignment Tool open to most employees working in NAF pro- grams. These include the Army’s Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation ac- tivities such as bowling centers, libraries, gyms and leisure travel offices as well as child and youth services. NAF employ- ees are different from other government civilians in that their salaries are funded by the activities where they work. The expanded program makes it easier for NAF-employed spouses to continue Army photo by Sgt. Melissa Lessard, 504th Military Intelligence Brigade their own careers, even when they are Families like Sgt. 1st Class Ricky Hill’s at Fort Hood, Texas, can take advantage disrupted by an installation move due of the expanded Nonappropriated Funds Civilian Employment Assignment Tool to their spouse’s highly mobile career. developed for NAF-employed spouses who need to transfer their employment to See Tool on page 15 another military installation because of their spouse’s relocation. MILITARY SCENE Medical logistics mission joins life cycle management Army general to co-lead Operation Warp Speed for COVID-19 vaccine command. PAGE 19 By DAVID VERGUN Defense.gov President Donald Trump announced on Friday that Army Gen. Gustave Perna, the commander of Army Materiel Com- mand, will co-lead an effort, dubbed Operation Warp Speed, to find a vaccine for COVID-19 by January 2021. Defense Secretary Mark Esper said the Defense Department is very excited and committed to partnering with the Depart- ment of Health and Human Services, across the government, and in the private sector to accomplish the mission. “Win- ning matters, and we will deliver by the end of this year a vac- cine at scale to treat the American people and our partners abroad,” he said. The goal is to produce about 300 million vaccines by Janu- Photo by Kevin Fleming ary, said Jonathan Rath Hoffman, assistant to the secretary Gen. Gustave F. Perna, commanding general, Army Materiel WIN OR LOSE of defense for public affairs, at a Pentagon press briefing on Command, talks about his current vision for reform during Friday. a quarterly update at Sustainment Command headquarters, Classic replay: Lumberjacks Hoffman mentioned that it’s a goal involving a whole-of- Rock Island Arsenal, Illinois, Feb. 26. Perna will co-lead an chop down mighty Duke. effort, dubbed Operation Warp Speed, to find a vaccine for See operation on page 16 PAGE 37 COVID-19 by January 2021. 2 Redstone Rocket May 20, 2020 Redstone Arsenal: Federal Center of Excellence RocketViews On this date in history: May 20 Cutting corners on barber might work … eventually The wait was 137 minutes. So, I decided to live with my mistake a Snippets little while longer. In 2013: An EF5 tornado struck the Oklahoma City suburb of Moore, killing By Jonathan Stinson 24 people and injuring 377 others. Flashback to four days ago. All of the hair Assistant editor In 1983: First publications were made of the discovery of the HIV virus that salons and barbershops were still closed. I was digging around under the sink in my causes AIDS in the journal Science by Luc Montagnier. bathroom, and I came across a set of hair In 1949: In the United States, the Armed Forces Security Agency, the predeces- of breaching a castle to go out the backdoor clippers. and onto the deck. sor to the National Security Agency, was established. I vaguely remember buying them. Ever In 1940: During the Holocaust, The first prisoners arrived at a new concentra- I got everything set up and started cutting since I started losing my hair, sometime in my hair. tion camp at Auschwitz. college, my haircuts have not been compli- I started with a longer guard than usual. I In 1932: Amelia Earhart took off from Newfoundland to begin the world’s first cated. So, I probably thought I’d save some figured there would be a learning curve, but solo nonstop flight across the Atlantic Ocean by a female pilot, landing in Ireland money and do it myself. Like most things I buy, I bought them, put them in a drawer, things were going so smoothly. I kicked my- the next day. self for not doing this sooner. In 1902: Cuba gained independence from the United States. Tomás Estrada and continued seeing a barber. This clipper had been waiting 15 years for I had the front and sides done, and now it Palma became the country’s first president. this moment. It was its time to shine. was time for the back. I called out to my wife, and she knew. She This is where momma comes in. It’s hard knew I was about to do something stupid, to cut the hair on the backside of your head. and she didn’t want any part of it. Her main So, she takes the clippers and starts cut- concern was that she’d mess up my hair. ting. I told her, first of all, there’s not a lot to Again, things are going great. Then the Final Salute mess up. Second of all, even if you do, we’ll clippers stopped cutting. Three-fourths of just cut it shorter. the way done, and the clippers die. Here is a list of Tennessee Valley veterans who have died recently. The Red- Nevertheless, despite my pleas, she was No big deal. I’ll get some new ones from stone Rocket salutes them for their service. resolute. the store. So, I did what any strong, independent, There is not a store in Huntsville that has John Calvin Martin, a World War II veteran and Purple Heart recipient, died 36-year-old would do. I went to see momma. hair clippers in stock. May 10 at his home. He was born Sept. 18, 1923, in Limestone County. Besides I show up at my parents’ house, clippers in OK, that wasn’t great, but I’ll Amazon the Purple Heart, Martin received multiple commendations during his service in hand, and knock on the door. Prime them, and they’ll be here in a couple the Army Air Corps and later the Air Force. He served January 1942 to September It takes my dad a solid 15 minutes to open of days. 1953 and flew numerous missions as a tail gunner on the B-17 and the B-24 during the door. He’s installed little metal plates be- Wrong! the war. hind each door that is supposed to prevent Amazon won’t have any hair clippers in someone from kicking it in. stock until later this month. Editor’s note: If you know a veteran who has passed away, email their Why? I don’t know, but when he does The good news is between the baldness information to [email protected] to be included in the finally disable all of the security measures – and using a long guard if I don’t show you next Final Salute. picture a medieval castle opening its main where the clippers stopped, it’s tough to tell gate and lowering a drawbridge across the – especially if I just keep turning my head, moat – he quips some joke about it being a so you never see the spot where they stopped quarantine and that I should go away. working side-by-side with the last place they I know it’s a joke because up until the week worked. Send your letters to editor before, nobody was allowed in the house, and I’ve waited about a week with this haircut, at one point during the quarantine, he did in so I think I’m going to give it a little time The Redstone Rocket invites your signed letters to the editor and your commen- fact tell me to go away. That time he hadn’t for the rush of people to pass at the hair sa- taries. Unsigned letters will not be published. Send your letters and commentaries to unbarred the door. lons and barbershops. Maybe when the wait [email protected]. So, I walked through the front door and drops to under an hour. Then I’ll sit in my car proceeded to go through the same process and wait, but at this point, there’s no rush. Editorial office: 256-876-1500 Editorial Fax: 256-955-0133 Retail Advertising: 256-340-2463 Classified Advertising: 256-260-2218 Advertising Fax: 256-260-2211 RedstoneRocket Rocket articles are available at: Co., Inc., a private firm in no way connected with the Depart- exclusive written contract with the Department of Army. http://www.theredstonerocket.com ment of the Army. Opinions expressed by writers herein are Everything advertised in this publication shall be made their own and are not to be considered an expression by the available for purchase, use or patronage without regard to The Redstone Rocket is published weekly on Wednesday. Rocket Staff Department of the Army.