CCol.ol. SStevensontevenson RReed,eed, left,left, acceptsaccepts tthehe ccommandommand ooff tthehe UU.S..S. ArmyArmy KwajaleinKwajalein AAtoll,toll, bbyy rreceivingeceiving tthehe UUSAKASAKA fl aagg ffromrom CCol.ol. RRogeroger FF.. MMatthews,atthews, ddeputyeputy ccommanderommander fforor ooperations,perations, SStrategictrategic MMissileissile DDefenseefense CCommand.ommand. ForFor mmore,ore, sseeee PPageage 4.4. (PPhotohoto bbyy NNellell DDrumheller)rumheller) wwww.smdc.army.mil/KWAJ/Hourglass/hourglass.htmlww.smdc.army.mil/KWAJ/Hourglass/hourglass.html COMMENTARY Chief answers concerns raised at town hall In this Chief’s Corner, I would fi rst of the various sections that make up like to take the opportunity to thank KPD, we provided the audience with everyone who was able to attend an opportunity to ask questions. I’ll Kwajalein Police Department’s town take this time to highlight some of the hall meeting on June 28. No doubt cares and concerns expressed. we were disappointed more could One of our neighbors was interested not attend, but we realize everyone’s in the way we as a department train busy schedule and a lot of residents our offi cers with regard to dealing with are off island presently for vacation. our Marshallese residents and work- For those who could attend, thank ers. As a private company contracted you for your support and interest in to support the U.S. Army Kwajalein the department) on our own Marshal- the law enforcement and security Atoll, we focus our recruiting to hire lese Patrol Offi cers, Constables and efforts of our Kwajalein community. only those who already have years of Access Control Offi cers. Training that After a brief opportunity to introduce law enforcement or military police ex- focuses on being sensitive to our host ourselves, the new leadership of the perience and training. We are a depart- department, and provide an overview ment that relies heavily (almost half of See CHIEF, Page 12 LLetteretter ttoo tthehe eeditorditor Resident welcomes survey but questions its validity I see with interest and enthusiasm the notice that there the one time during the year when the greatest number of is going to be a survey, soliciting the opinions of Kwajalein employees is off-island. If one were interested in getting Range Services employees. It is long overdue, and I serious feedback, it might be a better move to conduct the encourage all to take it seriously, spend some time on the survey in September when fewer people were away on answers and truly let those who are asking know your real vacation. feelings and suggestions. Just an idle thought. At the same time, one has to question the sincerity of a — The Rev. John R. Sheehan, survey, asking for employee input, when it is being done at Roman Catholic priest USAKA Employee of the Week Torrey Landers Torrey Landers was the chair- Services Community Activi- man of the Kwajalympics. This ties. He worked with off-island monumental task was all-con- counterparts to acquire all new suming, required detailed coordi- cardio equipment. Landers does nation, and a tremendous amount whatever it takes to ensure spe- of energy. He did this in addition to cial events, private parties and his already busy job as the recre- other requests are professionally ation manager for Kwajalein Range satisfi ed. TThehe KwajaleinKwajalein HHourglassourglass The Kwajalein Hourglass is named fi cial views of, or endorsed by, the U.S. Printed circulation: 2,000 for the insignia of the U.S. Army 7th Government, Department of Defense, E-mail: [email protected] Infantry Division, which liberated the Department of the Army or USAKA. It is island from the forces of Imperial Ja- published Wednesdays and Saturdays in Commanding Offi cer......Col. Stevenson Reed pan on Feb. 4, 1944. accordance with Army Regulation 360-1 Public Affairs Offi cer.....................Sandy Miller The Kwajalein Hourglass is an au- and using a network printer by Kwajalein Editor.....................................Nell Drumheller thorized publication for military per- Range Services editorial staff. Graphics Designer.........................Dan Adler sonnel, federal employees, contractor P.O. Box 23, APO AP 96555 Reporter...........................................J.J. Klein workers and their families assigned to Phone: Defense Switching Network Circulation...................................C.J. Kemen U.S. Army Kwajalein Atoll. Contents of 254-3539 the Hourglass are not necessarily of- Local phone: 53539 The Kwajalein Hourglass 2 Wednesday, July 12, 2006 Smoke and dust fi ll the air as the Pacifi c Bachelor Quarters collapses from the demolition blast Friday afternoon. (Photos by Nell Drumheller) Friday’s demolition blast takes down PBQ By Nell M. Drumheller Public Works, said. Editor Not only did the building collapse as sched- uled, but according to Craven there was no col- After weeks of preparation, the actual explo- lateral damage to adjacent buildings. sive reduction of the Pacifi c Bachelor Quarters Kwajalein Police Department Chief Joe Barnes was a boom, collapse and cloud of dust. headed up the team responsible for the evacua- At a little past 4 p.m. on Friday the 168 sticks tion of people from the buildings in the hazard of dynamite exploded sequentially as planned, zones. Buildings within a 681-foot area had to and the fi rst fl oor of the PBQ collapsed, crum- be empty before the blast could go. “It went per- pling fl oors two and three down. fectly! With the combined effort of KPD and the The remaining shell of a building looks like a engineer Soldiers we were able to get in place resting dragon, with high ridges where the rein- the required 681-foot perimeter along with the forced stairwells keeping sections raised. search and evacuation of all personnel within “The PBQ came down even better than planned, the perimeter in approximately 1.75 hours,” as not only did the fi rst story collapse complete- Barnes said. ly, the second and third stories also collapsed in “Once the area was secured, there were a few wave-like fashion, leaving only three two-story incidents of residents attempting to re-enter ridges where the reinforced stairwells were lo- cated,” Monte Craven, U.S. Army Kwajalein Atoll See PBQ, Page 6 Wednesday, July 12, 2006 3 The Kwajalein Hourglass Reed takes reins as 23rd co By Nell M. Drumheller leadership, has done and is doing, Editor to strengthen our strategic, close and unique relationship with the RMI COL Beverly Stipe said a tear- and our ability to work together to ful goodbye Tuesday morning meet the new demands of our time, as a preclude to the U.S. Army to promote our mutual security and Kwajalein Atoll change of com- to protect the freedoms that both our mand. peoples hold dear. Sam, thank you Stipe transferred command to for your strong leadership and dedi- Col. Stevenson Reed in a cer- cation. Thank you for your friend- emony at the Davye Davis Multi- ship.” Col. Glen H. Crane purpose Room. And to Reed, Morris said, “Col. 1964-1965 “This is a bittersweet occasion,” Reed, I hope that you and your fam- U.S. Ambassador to the Repub- ily will enjoy your time in Kwajalein lic of the Marshall Islands Greta and the Marshall Islands as much as Morris said at the ceremony. I have. Kwajalein is a very special “Over the past two years, Col. place, and you will be working with Stipe and I have worked closely wonderful people.” together to ensure that USAKA Reed has had more than a year to was able to carry out its strategic prepare for his assignment as the mission for the security of the USAKA Commander. “I was told by United States and the Republic my leadership at Fort Bliss [Texas] of the Marshall Islands and the that I was selected to Command entire Pacifi c region.” Kwajalein in April 2005,” he said. The ambassador continued, He spoke to two previous USAKA Col. Melvin D. Clark “There are many other things Commanders to learn about the mis- 1965-1967 that USAKA, under Col. Stipe’s sion and activities on Kwajalein, but Col. Frank C. Healy Col. David Spaulding Col. Scott B. Cottrell Col. Gary K. McMillen 1967-1968 1994-1996 1996-1998 1998-2000 Col. Donald B. Miller Col. Jesse Fishback Col. Robert Russell Col. Ernest Van Netta Col. John H. Reeve The Kwajalein Hourglass 1968-1971 1971-1973 1973-1976 1976-1978 Wednesday, July1978-1980 12, 2006 to see what Kwajalein provided to the joint community.” Reed described his fi rst impres- sion of Kwajalein, “[This is] a place with tremendous potential. A com- munity that is simply beautiful and picturesque with approximately 3,400 Americans and Marshallese employees and family members on Kwajalein, Meck and Roi-Namur Is- land. I have seen all of the many new construction projects on the different Col. Phillip R. Harris islands and I have seen facilities that 1988-1990 I think take away from the beauty the islands have to offer. I would like to build some timelines and start remov- ing those facilities.” Though on the island for a short time, Reed has considered USAKA’s role within the bigger Army picture. “I see the mission of Ballistic Mis- sile Defense Testing as the primary Tuesday - present mission for intercontinental ballistic missile testing at Kwajalein, but I also admitted, “I really did not know the depth see the need to incorporate more new of the mission until I visited the island in Col. John J. MacNeill April. I was truly amazed and impressed See REED, Page 12 1990-1992 Col. Curtis L. Wrenn Col. Jerry P. Brown Col. Beverly Stipe Col. Crosby E. Hazel 2000-2002 2002-2004 2004-2006 1992-1994 Col. Peter Witteried Col.