Published: 6/18/2013

Afghans now are in the lead for security throughout their country, and this inflection point points the way toward a stable nation, the commander of NATO and U.S. forces in Afghanistan said today.

Marine Corps Gen. Joseph F. Dunford Jr. told Pentagon reporters via a phone hook-up from the Afghan capital of Kabul that the nature of the relationship between Afghanistan and NATO has changed.

Today’s achievement of “Milestone 2013” is a long-anticipated development, the general said. U.S., NATO and partner nations have carried the security burden in Afghanistan since 2001. Behind that shield, the Afghan government recruited, equipped and trained soldiers and police to take the security responsibility. Afghan forces took the security job in more and more of the country until today, when they assumed the lead for combat operations throughout the country.

“This is a source of great pride for the Afghan people and the Afghan security forces, and, frankly, it’s also a great source of pride for members of the coalition,” Dunford said.

American, NATO and partner nations made this day possible, and wounded warriors from the United States, the United Kingdom and Italy were present as Afghan President Hamid Karzai and NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen made the announcement this morning.

The change means U.S., NATO and coalition troops are no longer conducting unilateral operations. There are exceptions, however. NATO-commanded forces do conduct security operations, route clearance operations and operations conducted for retrograde movements, Dunford said. “The only operations that are being planned and conducted against the enemy are being conducted with the Afghans in the lead,” he said.

“As we mark Milestone 2013, I’m confident in the overall direction of the campaign,” Dunford said. “I believe the Afghans are, in fact, ready to take the lead right now. I believe they’ll be able to run and secure the elections in 2014. And I believe we’ll be ready to effect full transition in December of 2014.”

Sustaining Afghan progress is the focus now, he said. Command and control, air support, intelligence and equipment and instruction for countering improvised explosive devices are crucial capabilities for the Afghan national security forces.

“We’re working hard to mature the systems, the processes and institutions that are going to allow the Afghans to become fully self-reliant in the days ahead,” Dunford said.

The key to the future is integrating the capabilities of the Afghan army and police across the spectrum, the general said.

The way ahead is charted. Through the end of 2014, coalition forces will continue to work to train, advise and assist Afghan forces. Coalition forces will continue to provide support, including limited medical evacuation for forces and will continue to train and mentor leaders and units.

The Afghan military must medevac their wounded using their own assets. The Afghan air force has Mi-17 helicopters and ground evacuation capabilities. The service is getting smaller cargo-style aircraft that could also help transport wounded troops.

The Afghan military has paid a price for the security lead. In some weeks, officials said, Afghan forces lose between 100 and 120 troops, and NATO and Afghan forces are examining the situation. IEDs cause the greatest number of casualties, and Afghan forces are working to use counter-IED equipment and to learn the tactics, techniques and procedures to minimize casualties.
 

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Published: 6/18/2013

Praising the Afghan people for their determination and noting the sacrifices that led to achievement of the milestone, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel today praised the formal transfer of security lead throughout Afghanistan to Afghan national security forces.

“This critical milestone is a tribute to the determination of the people of Afghanistan to take responsibility for their country's future, and it was made possible by heavy sacrifices on the part of the United States, coalition partners, and the Afghan forces,” the secretary said in a statement.

Hagel express his appreciation for the leadership of Afghan President Hamid Karzai in helping to oversee the transition, and he commended NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen and Marine Corps Gen. Joseph F. Dunford Jr., the commander of the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan, for their “tireless efforts.”

“Today is a day for all Americans to take pride in the hard work our service members and their civilian counterparts are performing every day in Afghanistan,” the secretary said. “This achievement keeps us and our coalition partners on track to bring our combat mission to a close next year and transition to a noncombat train, advise and assist mission that will help ensure Afghans can sustain security into the future.”
 

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Published: 6/18/2013

Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel today dedicated what he called a “magnificent” permanent display in the Pentagon to honor veterans of the Korean War.

The display opened in commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the 1953 armistice that ended hostilities on the Korean Peninsula, and of the U.S.-South Korean alliance.

“We not only acknowledge you, we thank you,” Hagel said to Korean War veterans who attended the dedication of the display, located on the first floor of the Pentagon’s “A” ring. “We assure you that through this dedication today, your efforts and your noble cause will live on. You have helped shape history in a unique and magnificent way.”

The exhibit comprises a collection of photographs, videos, weapons and other artifacts of the Korean War. It also highlights the advancements of women, medicine and technology and the integration of African-Americans into the U.S. military.

“The Korean War has been known in this country too long as ‘The Forgotten War,’” Ahn Ho-young, South Korea’s ambassador to the United States, said at the dedication ceremony. “We should change it to ‘The Forgotten Victory.’”

Since the war, South Korea has made significant economic progress and a transition to democracy, Ahn said, and has an important role in global issues. “[The war] was a victory and must not be forgotten,” he added.

Echoing Ahn, Hagel said the South Korean people have come far in many ways.

“I know of no other nation that has done as much in such a little bit of time to improve their people and the region, and I know of no country [that is] a better ally to the United States than the Republic of Korea,” the secretary said. “We are grateful for this relationship, [and] … what anchors it … is that special bond of people wanting a better life, who are willing to risk anything for it.”

Referencing his recent trip to Singapore for the Shangri-La Dialogue security summit, Hagel emphasized how the 60-year bilateral relationship between the United States and South Korea was evident in the two nations’ relationships with Japan, the Philippines, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, the Chinese and European allies.

“This special relationship is bigger than just the Korean Peninsula or the North Asia region,” the secretary said. “It has affected the world.”

The secretary said he is particularly proud of the Americans who left their cities and towns and “went far away to a very bloody conflict in a distant land, where very few knew a lot about the Korean Peninsula.” Yet when the veterans returned home to the United States, he added, little acknowledgment of their service awaited them.

“Very few people knew where Korea was,” he said. “But … it was just as important in any conflict we’ve been in. The Republic of Korea still plays a key role as a very key ally in maintaining peace, stability and security in that part of the world.”

Hagel offered his gratitude to Korean War veterans on behalf of the Defense Department’s men and women.

“We acknowledge your service, everything you’ve done, what you mean to this country [and] the world, and the model you’ve provided for our young men and women for generations to come,” Hagel told veterans. “It will be evidenced by this great display that we are dedicating today.”
 

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Published: 6/18/2013

Cooperation at many levels will help to reduce misunderstandings between the United States and Russia, the leaders of both countries said after meetings in Northern Ireland yesterday.

Presidents Barack Obama and Vladimir Putin agreed to cooperate on a number of different aspects of the bilateral relationship. The men spoke at Enniskillen, Northern Ireland, as part of the G-8 Summit.

Putin said the United States and Russia “have an opportunity to move forward on most sensitive directions.”

The two leaders discussed Syria. While they do not agree on all points, they said, they both want the violence in the Middle East country to stop. “We agreed to push the parties to the negotiations table,” the Russian president said.

Obama stressed that discussions on Iran and North Korea were productive. “We both agreed to consult closely on the North Korean issue,” he said in his remarks. “On Iran, we both … expressed cautious optimism that with a new election there, we may be able to move forward on a dialogue that allows us to resolve the problems with Iran's nuclear program.”

Obama noted that Russia and the United States are the world’s two nuclear superpowers. “We have a special obligation to try to continue to reduce tensions, to build on the work that we did with New START, and to lead the world in both nuclear security issues and proliferation issues,” he said. As part of that, the United States and Russia signed a convention to continue the Nunn-Lugar program to counter potential threats of proliferation and to enhance nuclear security.

“By working together, we not only increase security and prosperity for the Russian and American people, but also help lead the world to a better place,” Obama said.

The two nations also negotiated a range of steps designed to increase transparency and reduce the possibility that a misunderstood cyber incident could create instability or a crisis in the bilateral relationship. Part of this will result in better links between the two countries’ Computer Emergency Response Teams, officials said.
 

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Published: 6/18/2013

More than 1,000 airmen, spouses and local community members turned out here yesterday for a town hall meeting with the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey said he came to Minot because he wanted a chance to interact with those performing what he called "the vital work for our nation," noting that throughout the life of the B-52 and intercontinental ballistic missile force, there has been a history of silent, dedicated service, often in times of hardship and uncertainty.

The overarching topic of discussion for the chairman’s remarks was budget concerns, ranging from how sequestration spending cuts would affect the nuclear mission to whether or not airmens’ base pay will be cut.

But when it comes to readiness and the nuclear enterprise, Dempsey said, the United States “will never fail to do what is right. We will find the resources to do what is needed."

The Defense Department’s No. 1 priority is the defense of the homeland, he added, which means maintaining a credible and reliable nuclear deterrent.

"The nuclear enterprise is a top priority because it has kept us safe for the last 60 years," the nation’s top military officer said.

Dempsey also fielded questions from the audience relating to the isolated environment that airmen at Minot face on a daily basis. He regaled the audience about the three years he spent in the 1970s patrolling the West German border as a young lieutenant in a remote and austere environment, quite similar to what airmen experience in North Dakota. This gave him a sense of service and duty, probably before many of his U.S. Military Academy classmates, he said.

"There is something extraordinary about doing something above and beyond what others are doing," he said.

Dempsey also urged Minot airmen to maintain a balance of character and competence in their lives. "You need to wake up in the morning and think about how to be a better person," he said. "In our profession, you need to be able to count on the person to your left and right."

The chairman also assured the Minot audience that the issue of sexual assault in the military is receiving the attention it needs from Pentagon leaders.

"We are working this issue as hard as anything, and at the highest level," he said. As leaders consider changing the Uniform Code of Military Justice and changing policies to address the problem, he added, there is a need to get hold of the issue on the front end to change the climate that has permitted it to fester.

"What I need is the leaders at the tactical level to not accept [sexual assault]," he said.

Turning again to the defense budget, Dempsey said it is his responsibility to try to give civilian and military members a sense of certainty. Going year by year in the budget process causes uncertainty, he added, and the goal is to forecast budgets to allow service members to plan for the future.
 

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Published: 6/18/2013

The services and U.S. Special Operations Command have completed plans to gradually open jobs to female service members that used to be closed to them, senior Pentagon officials announced today.

Joined by senior service officials at a Pentagon news conference, Juliet Beyler, the Defense Department’s director of officer and enlisted personnel management, said today’s announcement is a milestone.

She noted that in January, then-Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta and Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, rescinded the 1994 Direct Ground Combat Definition and Assignment Rule. That policy barred women from jobs -- such as tank mechanic and field artillery radar operator -- performed near combat units. It also prohibited women in jobs such as intelligence, communications and logistics from assignment at units smaller than a brigade.

“Our goal is to ensure that the mission is met with the best-qualified and most capable people, regardless of gender,” Beyler said in prepared remarks. This year, she added, the services and Socom have worked diligently to plan two lines of effort aimed at integrating women:

-- Currently open occupations that were restricted: for example, administrative clerk in a tank battalion or truck driver in an artillery battery; and

-- Currently closed occupations that require review and validation of occupational standards: for example, infantry, armor and combat engineer.

The services and Socom have filed separate plans, which Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel has reviewed, she noted. Beyler added that while the plans differ, they all involve work with scientific and research agencies to review occupational standards and ensure they are current, operationally valid and applied on a gender-neutral basis.

All the plans are incremental in opening closed positions, which requires congressional notification, she said.

“Each service and Socom is conducting thorough doctrine, organization, training, materiel, leadership and education, personnel, facilities and policy analyses to ensure deliberate and responsible implementation,” she said.

Pentagon officials said the department expects to issue a report to Congress later this summer detailing more implementation specifics. Full implementation across the services should occur by Jan. 1, 2016, officials said.

The services and Socom have identified decision points by which they will make final determinations to open occupations and positions or to request an exception to policy to keep a position or occupation closed, Beyler said. The defense secretary and the Joint Chiefs chairman must personally approve any exceptions to policy, she added.
 

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Published: 6/18/2013

The director of the National Security Agency told Congress today more than 50 terrorist plots worldwide have been prevented since the 9/11 attacks through the classified surveillance programs the government uses to gather phone and Internet data, programs he said are legal and do not compromise the privacy and civil liberties of Americans.

Army Gen. Keith B. Alexander, who also commands U.S. Cyber Command, told the House Intelligence Committee he plans as early as tomorrow to provide lawmakers with classified details about the plots that were foiled in an effort to show how valuable the programs are to national security.

Alexander and other senior U.S. officials were called to testify in response to unauthorized disclosures to the media by former NSA contractor Edward Snowden, who revealed details about the agency’s gathering of telephone numbers and the monitoring of Internet activity by foreigners overseas, leaks that Alexander said have caused irreversible and significant damage to the security of the United States and its allies.

Testifying alongside Alexander, Deputy FBI Director Sean Joyce discussed two terrorist plots that he said the surveillance programs helped to prevent. In one, emails intercepted from a terrorist in Pakistan helped to stop a plot to bomb New York City’s subway system. Another involved a failed attempt by a known extremist in Yemen who conspired with a suspect in the United States to target the New York Stock Exchange. Both cases led to arrests and convictions, Joyce said.

“These programs are immensely valuable for protecting our nation and the security of our allies,” Alexander said, and added that they may have helped to prevent the 9/11 attacks themselves if the government had the legal authority, as granted by the Patriot Act, to use them at the time.

The disclosure of the NSA programs has generated a nationwide debate over what techniques the government can legally use to monitor phone and Internet data to prevent terrorism without violating the privacy and civil liberties of Americans. Alexander and other senior U.S officials emphasized that the gathering of phone numbers that already are being collected by service providers as well as the tracking of U.S-based Internet servers used by foreigners are legal and repeatedly have been approved by the courts and Congress.

“These programs are limited, focused and subject to rigorous oversight,” and their disciplined operation “protects the privacy and civil liberties of the American people,” Alexander said.

The details of the foiled terror plots that he plans to provide to Congress will remove any doubt about the usefulness of the surveillance in keeping the homeland safe, the NSA director told the House panel.

“In the 12 years since the attacks on Sept. 11, we have lived in relative safety and security as a nation,” he said. “That security is a direct result of the intelligence community’s quiet efforts to better connect the dots and learn from the mistakes that permitted those attacks.”

To prevent another damaging leak such as the breach caused by Snowden’s disclosures, Alexander told lawmakers, the NSA is looking into where security may have broken down and for ways to provide greater oversight for the roughly 1,000 system administrators at NSA who have access to top secret information.

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Published: 6/18/2013

Afghan forces formally assuming the lead in security operations throughout their country today and U.S. and coalition forces continuing their drawdowns in Afghanistan is opening new opportunities for the United States to engage more broadly, not just in Afghanistan, but across the region, the top policy and planning officer at U.S. Central Command said.

The U.S. commitment to Afghanistan will continue long after combat operations end in December 2014, Marine Corps Maj. Gen. William D. Beydler, Centcom’s director of strategy, plans and policy, told American Forces Press Service at the command headquarters at MacDill Air Force Base here.

“We are not leaving at the end of 2014,” he said. “The fact of the matter is, we are reducing our combat presence, but our presence from a train-and-advise standpoint is only going to get better and more focused along those lines. … We are transitioning to an enduring presence that is acceptable to the Afghans and that allows them to continue the progress they have made.”

With a post-2014 security agreement still being negotiated, Beydler said it’s not yet clear what the bilateral relationship will look like after the transition.

“That will largely be determined by the Afghans,” he said. “They obviously are going to have a large say in where [U.S. forces] might be based, what our interactions will be, what the legal implications will be, and what the support arrangement will be.”

The goal, Beydler said, is to provide an enduring presence in Afghanistan that can continue to train and advise the increasingly capable, 350,000-strong Afghan National Security Forces.

That capability, highlighted during a ceremony today as NATO officially handed lead security responsibilities for the remaining areas of Afghanistan to the Afghan forces, will continue to grow over time, he said.

As Afghan forces take the planning and operational lead during the current fighting season and prepare for security challenges of next spring’s elections, the training emphasis is increasingly focused on building capability in the aviation, logistics and supply, maneuver and fires arenas, he said.

“That will take place over the next few years,” Beydler said. “And we will be there, supporting that as it comes into full operational capability.”

Meanwhile, Centcom is working closely with the NATO and the International Security Assistance Force commander in Afghanistan, Marine Corps Gen. Joseph F. Dunford Jr., to support the operational and tactical-level transition, Beydler said.

Bases are being closed as operations consolidate. Equipment is leaving Afghanistan -- some through Pakistan, some through the Northern Distribution Network that stretches through North and Central Asia and Russia, and some by air. Troop numbers are drawing down, freeing up manpower to engage in other parts of the world.

As this unfolds, Beydler cited new opportunities to increase military-to-military engagement more widely across the Centcom area of responsibility that stretches from Egypt to Kazakhstan.

The United States currently engages with 18 of the 20 regional nations -- all but Iran and Syria, he said.

“The perception seems to be that we are withdrawing from the region, centered around the fact that we are reducing combat operations and moving to a stabilized presence in Afghanistan between now and 2014,” Beydler said. “But it is a misnomer to think that we are going to walk out at the end of 2014, shut the door, and that there is not going to be anything left behind.

“We will continue to engage not only in Afghanistan, but across the entire Centcom [area of responsibility],” he continued. “We will be engaged financially. We will be engaged from a training standpoint. We will be engaged from an exercise standpoint. The fact is we will continue to be engaged across the spectrum. And some areas and in some ways, we will be able to be more engaged than ever before, because after 10 or 12 years of sustained combat operations, we will have the capacity to do so.”
 

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Published: 6/18/2013

With Afghanistan’s national security forces now leading all security operations throughout the country, the commander of U.S. and coalition forces in Afghanistan today congratulated the Afghan people.

Marine Corps Gen. Joseph F. Dunford Jr. called the milestone “a monumental step forward.”

“No longer are the Afghan people reliant on coalition forces to provide security,” the general said. “Afghan soldiers and police are now protecting fellow Afghans.”

The announcement of what planners call “Tranche 5” in the transition process begins the final phase of Afghan forces assuming full security responsibility throughout Afghanistan.

“This is a cause for celebration, not apprehension,” Dunford told the Afghan people. “While the nature of our relationship is changing, the commitment of the international community to the people of Afghanistan remains resolute and enduring.”

Two weeks ago, NATO’s defense ministers approved the concept for a new mission in Afghanistan beginning in 2015. The details of this new mission, called Resolute Support, will be developed in the coming months, officials said.

“Challenges lie ahead,” Dunford said. “But today’s announcement recognizes the ability of a sovereign Afghanistan to meet those challenges. The Afghan people will see their sons and daughters providing security. The enemies of Afghanistan will see a capable, credible force.

“Today is a proud day for Afghanistan,” he continued. “We in the coalition look forward to supporting you in the months and years ahead as you seize the opportunity to realize your dreams of a peaceful, prosperous future.”
 

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Published: 6/18/2013

The Defense Department has teamed with the White House, industry, medical communities and installation leaders to assess obesity and tobacco programs for the total workforce, a Pentagon official said here today.

Starting in July, DOD officials will evaluate 13 installations to gauge their implementation of the Healthy Base Initiative, said Charles E. Milam, acting deputy assistant secretary of defense for military community and family policy at the 2013 American Logistics Association Congressional Caucus and Public Policy Forum.

Installation assessments will consider such factors as healthy commissary offerings, ease of exercising, choices for healthy meals, and availability of healthy snacks in vending machines, Milam said.

Participating installations are Fort Bragg, N.C.; Fort Sill, Okla.; Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii; Submarine Base New London, Conn.; Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho; Yokota Air Base, Japan; Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center/Marine Air Ground Task Force Training Command, Twentynine Palms, Calif.; Marine Corps Base Quantico, Va.; Coast Guard Air Station Cape Cod, Mass.; March Air Reserve Base, Calif.; and Camp Dodge, Iowa. The other two participants are the Defense Logistics Agency, Fort Belvoir, Va.; and Defense Health Headquarters, Falls Church, Va.

DOD officials selected commanders who personally embrace a healthy lifestyle, Milam explained, adding that eight of the sites have on-base schools, facilitating assessments of each school’s fitness and lunch programs.

Milam said the initiative began two years ago when the White House and First Lady Michelle Obama’s “Let’s Move!” campaign sought to partner with DOD to assess the impact of national prevention strategies on youth in America.

The Healthy Base Initiative falls under Operation Live Well, which Milam calls “a bigger, much larger initiative under [DOD] health affairs that is enduring,” as officials seek empirical evidence of successful health programs.

Milam noted that canvassing the services for effective health, wellness and fitness ideas yielded some 40 pages of different initiatives. “Many of them were very effective, [but] no one could really tell me how effective they were,” Milam said.

So officials focused on improving two areas within the national prevention strategy, Milam said, with health affairs focusing on tobacco control and military community and family policy promoting nutrition and healthy lifestyles.

Milam illustrated the nation’s spiral into obesity since 1990, noting that in 2010 about 40 percent of the states were obese, with average body mass index of 30 percent or higher, and that trends indicate the majority of the United States will be obese by 2030.

The military has a vested interest in eradicating this problem, and with good reason, he said.

“Today, we recruit from a pool of about 25 percent of young men and women who are even eligible to join the military,” Milam explained. “And out of that pool, 27 percent can’t even meet basic weight requirements.”

Tobacco use, while on a fairly steady decline across the United States, is on an uptick in DOD, with a price tag of $1.6 billion in medical care costs, he noted. “We spend about 95 percent of our health care budget on treatment and about 5 percent on prevention,” Milam said. “So now is not a good time for me to be going to the comptroller to ask for more money.”

In 2010, 85,000 service members were obese, Milam said, adding that one of the primary reasons for men and women being forced to leave the military is failure to meet fitness and weight standards.

“Now, many are coming to us with weight problems already, because of what the nation is starting to look like,” Milam said.

DOD has reached out to private industry, working with corporations that have developed their own health and wellness programs to take a holistic approach to improving health habits, including families, civilians and children, Milam said. A team of contractors from Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y., will travel to the military communities with DOD officials to help them evaluate the efficacy of health programs.
Dr. Brian Wansink, who leads the team, specializes in cafeteria makeovers, specifically in schools, Milam said.

“He goes in there with his team [and] doesn’t change one menu item, but he moves things around,” Milam explained. “He takes the sugary drinks, moves them toward the back, brings the water up front … and puts the candy bars out of reach. You have to ask for them.”

These simple moves, known as “stealth health” have spurred a 35 percent change in behavior, where students reportedly opted for healthy alternatives to sweets and fried foods.

“At the end of all of this, we’re going to package the empirical data … not only DOD-wide, but put together something we’ll be able to share with the nation,” Milam said.
 

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Published: 6/18/2013

Thirty-seven military commissaries in Europe and the Pacific will remain open with local national employees while U.S. civilian employees are affected by furloughs, the Defense Commissary Agency’s top official said here today.

Most Defense Department civilian employees will be off work for up to 11 unpaid furlough days from July 8 to Sept. 30 as the Pentagon copes with deep spending cuts for the rest of the fiscal year. DeCA civilians will be furloughed on Mondays.

"DeCA is committed to doing everything possible to minimize the impact of any budget decisions on its patrons," said Joseph H. Jeu, DeCA's director and CEO. "We're doing just that at overseas commissaries, where we have sufficient local national employees to open during furloughs."

Because of international agreements, local national employees are exempt from furlough. Store staffs overseas include a mix of U.S. and local national employees, and 37 of DeCA's 66 overseas stores have enough local national staff to remain operational and will remain open during the furlough period, officials said.

The following commissaries will be open on furlough days:

-- Royal Air Force Base Menwith Hill, United Kingdom;

-- U.S. Army Garrison Bamberg, U.S. Army Garrison Garmisch, Patch Barracks, Sembach Air Base, Spangdahlem Air Base, U.S. Army Garrison Vilseck and Vogelweh Air Base -- all in Germany;

-- Chièvres Air Base, Belgium;

-- Aviano Air Base, U.S. Army Garrison Livorno, Naval Support Activity Naples, Naval Air Station Sigonella and U.S. Army Garrison Vicenza -- all in Italy;

-- Lajes Field, the Azores, Portugal;

-- Naval Station Rota, Spain;

-- Ankara Air Base, Incirlik Air Base and Izmir Air Base -- all in Turkey;

-- Cairo, Egypt;

-- Riyadh, Saudi Arabia;

-- K-16 Air Base, U.S. Army Garrison Camp Stanley, U.S. Army Garrison Camp Carroll, Hannam Village Housing Area, Kunsan Air Base, U.S. Army Garrison Camp Humphreys, U.S. Army Garrison Daegu, Naval Base Chinhae and Osan Air Base -- all in South Korea;

-- Camp Foster Marine Corps Base, Okinawa; Camp Courtney Marine Corps Base, Okinawa; U.S. Army Garrison Camp Zama; Kadena Air Base, Okinawa; and

Misawa Air Base; Sagamihara Housing Area and Yokota Air Base -- all in Japan.

Commissary customers can quickly find out about any changes to their local store's operating schedule by going to http://www.commissaries.com, clicking on the "Locations" tab, then "Alphabetical Listing," finding their store and clicking on "Local Store Information."

Because the budget situation is fluid, DeCA officials said, plans for the furlough period are subject to change.
 

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Published: 6/17/2013

Deputy Secretary of Defense Ash Carter is encouraging federal employees to participate in the Department of Agriculture’s fifth annual “Feds Feeds Families” campaign by bringing non-perishable food items to their offices through August for distribution to local food banks.

“‘Feds Feeds Families’ allows us to showcase how caring and giving our people are and demonstrates our commitment as a department to helping people in need,” Carter said in a June 9 memo.

The campaign, which began June 1 and ends Aug. 28, is a national, voluntary effort, the deputy defense secretary said.

Carter requested that government workers assist with logistical support and donations. In the National Capital Region, those donations will go to the Capital Area Food Bank, which supplies more than 700 food pantries, soup kitchens and other service organizations.

“Running a successful campaign requires a team effort,” Carter wrote, noting that leadership support is critical.

Last year, food donations from across the federal government totaled 7.3 million pounds. The Defense Department alone contributed 2.1 million of those pounds, surpassing its goal of 1.5 million pounds.

Nationwide donation pick up dates are June 26, July 31 and August 28. 

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