4th

AMERICA

CeLEBRATES

July
By Jim Garamone

American Forces Press Service

 WASHINGTON – The Defense Department needs to cooperate with the 

media, but needs to clean up its act in how 

it goes about it, Defense Secretary Robert 

M. Gates said. 

 During the July 8 

Pentagon news conference, Gates and 

Navy Adm. Mike 

Mullen, chairman 

of the Joint Chiefs 

of Staff, discussed 

the secretary’s recent memo to the 

department’s civilian 

and military leaders 

on interaction with 

the media.

 “In my approach to 

media relations, I’ve 

attempted to be as 

straightforward and cooperative as possible 

and encouraged this department’s leaders 

to do the same,” Gates said. “None of that 

has changed.”

 The memo was not about how the media 

does its job, Gates said, but about improving 

leaders’ interactions with reporters. 

 It’s a reaffirmation of an existing policy 

“that was being followed selectively, at 

best,” he said.

 The secretary has been concerned about 

Defense Department media interaction for 

some time. 

 “I have grown increasingly concerned that 

we have become too lax, disorganized, and, 

in some cases, flat-out sloppy in the way we 

engage with the press,” Gates said.

 Mullen stressed that the memo is not 

meant to muzzle military personnel. 

 “It is not in any way, shape or form meant 

to preclude the proper engagement with 

the press,” the chairman said.

 But military and civilian personnel 

need to follow certain guidelines when 

they interact with members of the media. 

Mullen said. 

 “[The memo] is to actually, in great part, 

emphasize guidance that has been out there 

for an extensive period of time, but we’ve 

just walked away from,” he said.

 Defense Department civilian and military 

officials have spoken outside their areas of 

expertise, the admiral explained, and reports and other documents -- including 

many on sensitive subjects -- are routinely 

provided to the media before the secretary 

or the president are informed.

 “Even more worrisome,” Mullen said, 

“highly classified 

and sensitive information has been 

divulged without 

authorization or accountability.”

 Gates said he hopes 

the new guidance will 

not choke off media 

access, but rather 

“improve the quality 

of press engagement 

by ensuring that the 

people the media talk 

to can speak with accuracy and authority.”

 “This should not infringe or impede the 

flow of accurate and timely information 

to you or to the public,” he told reporters. 

“That is not my intent, nor will I tolerate 

it.”

 But the reminder was needed, the secretary added.

 “Over the last two years, I have lost a 

first-rate Central Command commander 

and an outstanding commander of [the 

International Security Assistance Force] in 

Afghanistan due to their own missteps in 

dealing with the media,” Gates said. “I’ve 

had to recall a combatant commander to 

Washington for a verbal reprimand for 

speaking out inappropriately on a sensitive 

foreign policy issue.

 “I’ve had two very different presidents 

each, on several occasions, express concern 

to me about senior defense officials, both 

civilian and military, speaking out inappropriately on foreign policy issues,” he continued.

 The defense secretary said he is frustrated 

and concerned with the situation and hopes 

these reminders will help the department 

communicate with the American people 

via the media.

 “Effectively communicating what we do 

and how we do it remains a top priority for 

me,” Gates said. 

 “In fact, I consider it my duty. It’s a 

responsibility I have, not only to the 

commander in chief and to you in the 

media, but to the American people,” he 

said. “I take it very seriously, and I expect 

everyone else in this department to do the 

same.”

Garrison Commander

Lt. Col. John W. Haefner

Garrison Command

Sergeant Major

Command Sgt. Maj. Mark V. Brandenburg

Public Affairs Officer

Jennifer Erickson

Editor / Photojournalist

David San Miguel

2009 

Department of Defense

Thomas Jefferson Award

2009, 2004

Department of the Army

Maj. Gen. Keith L. Ware Award

2009

U.S. Army Installation Management Command

Maj. Gen. Keith L. Ware Award

2009, 2008

U.S. Army Installation Management

Command - Northeast Region

Liberty Bell Award

 The Down Range - Fort A.P. Hill newsletter is an award-winning bi-monthly publication authorized and produced by the PAO 

editorial staff in accordance with AR 360-1 

to inform and entertain the installation 

community on people, policies, operations, 

technical developments, trends and ideas of 

and about the Department of Defense, the 

Department of the Army and Fort A.P. Hill.

 The views and opinions expressed in this 

publication are not necessarily the official 

views of, or endorsed by, the U.S. Government, the U.S. Army or this command.

Send submissions and correspondence 

to Public Affairs Office, Attn: Editor, Down 

Range - Fort A.P. Hill, 18436 4th St., Bldg. 

112, Fort A.P. Hill, VA 22427-3114. Telephone: (804) 633-8120, DSN 578-8120.

2 July 12, 2010 Down Range - Fort A.P. Hill

Media engagement policy reaffirmed 

amid recent missteps by military leaders

“This should 

not infringe or 

impede the flow 

of accurate and 

timely information 

to you or to the 

public.”
 Down Range - Fort A.P. Hill July 12, 2010 3

Dressed in traditional colonial attire, historical reenacters demonstrate the dance 

of the 18th Century.

A “colonist” shares a game with one of many 

young participants who attended the celebration. The demonstration gave attendees an insight on what games children played.

Photos by David San Miguel

Michael Newman, Port Royal town crier, announces the colonists’ Declaration of Independence from the British crown.

Members of the U.S. Army’s “Old Guard” Fife and Drum Corps perform “Yankee Doodle Dandy” and other popular colonial period songs at Port Royal’s annual Fourth of July celebration.

 Celebrating the 234th anniversary of 

this nation’s birth, the community of 

Port Royal hosted its annual 4th of July 

celebration.

 The annual tribute began at 10 a.m. 

with Michael Newman, Port Royal’s 

own town crier, announcing a formal 

complaint against the heavy taxation 

levied against the colonists by the British government. 

 This Declaration of Independence, as 

it known, became the rallying point for 

the colonists and marked the beginning 

of the Revolutionary War.

 To help commemorate this year’s 

event, members of the U.S. Army’s 

“Old Guard” Fife and Drum Corps 

performed various songs of the period.

 Much to the delight of the more than 

200 attendees, historical reenacters 

danced wearing traditional period attire, offered youth a glimpse at games 

the children played and gave cooking 

and sewing demonstrations.

 In addition, the attendees were given 

free surrey rides through town to the 

Historic Portrait Gallery where portraits of 15 men and women who figured strongly in Caroline County and 

Virginia history are on display. 

4th of July Port Royal
By Staff Sgt. Danielle M. Bacon

26th Marine Expeditionary Unit

 A long, gravel-paved road leads to a 

small village where a handful of villagers 

mill around and hawk their wares. Arabic 

chants blaring over the village only adds to 

the sights and smells of the open market. 

 A home-made kite soars through the air, 

its tether leads to a middle-aged man with 

weather-worn hands and face.

 Marines from Company K, Battalion 

Landing Team 3/8, 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, encountered the surreal scene 

as they conducted a cultural awareness 

exercise during Realistic Urban Training 

here, June 10.

 Speaking arabic, the village role-players 

greet the Marines as they made their way 

through market.

 The Marines’ goal: meet with the elders 

in what is called a key leader engagement.

 “The elders typically have a lot of power 

in the village, and we let him know of 

our involvement in the area,” said 1st 

Lt. Arthur Crocker, platoon leader, 1st 

Platoon, Company K. “We were there to 

find out the needs of the village and gather 

intelligence.”

 It wasn’t long after their arrival that the 

Marines found out about the town’s water 

shortage. 

 Crocker immediately communicated to 

elders that his Marines would do what they 

could to help. Afterall, part of their mission 

is to establish and build rapport with local 

communities. 

 The lieutenant knows that any small 

gesture usually pays great dividends toward 

strengthening partnerships and increasing 

security and stability. 

 He added that on the surface, this mission is not as easy as it seems. 

 Overcoming the language barrier is one 

thing but learning how to approach a city 

and not look hostile yet still provide security 

is another issue, he said.

 “When we go into a village like this, we 

don’t want to present ourselves as hostile,” 

Crocker explained. “The Marines did a 

good job keeping two hands on the weapon 

and not flagging or scaring the people in 

the village. They go in and talk with the 

villagers while I talk with the elders.”

 “We did a soft knock on the village,” 

said Lance Cpl. James Chapman, an 

infantryman with 1st Platoon. 

 It’s going in, knocking on doors and 

meeting with the villagers to ask them 

questions and get shown around, he said. 

 “We asked if they needed anything or 

whether the Taliban was threatening them 

to see if we can set up security or help them 

in any way,” Chapman said. “You’re just 

trying to be yourself with them. You want 

to help them out as soon as possible. They 

have needs and you want to get it to them 

because they are suffering.”

 As the unit leaves the village, shots are 

heard fired from a tree-line a few hundred 

yards away ... and, the Marines respond. 

 Their shift from assistance to firefight 

illustrates the complications of the modern 

battlefield ... where Marines could be tasked 

to provide humanitarian assistance on one 

street and conduct combat operations on 

another.

 “If all we train for is kinetic operations, 

then we are selling ourselves short and really 

hindering what the MEU was designed to 

do,” said Capt. David Bell, commander, 

Company K.

 “It’s an opportunity to dust off Gen. 

Krulak’s three-block war concept,” he said. 

By helping the people and meeting with 

their village leadership, we can find out 

what their needs are. 

 “If we can help them, then we will 

build a relationship with them and, more 

importantly, they will help us,” he added. 

“They can tell us where the bad guys are. 

Then we can go kinetic.”

 Most Marines said they considered the 

village and training beneficial.

 “The training here has been very realistic 

and it’s a great opportunity for us to train 

in a new environment as well as to conduct 

these urban operations,” said Crocker. 

“What we did today was a good experience 

for all of us.” 

Warriors 

learn lessons 

on cultural 

awareness

4 July 12, 2010 Down Range - Fort A.P. Hill

Photo by Staff Sgt. Danielle M. Bacon

Role-playing village elders speak with 1st Lt. Arthur Crocker, platoon leader, Company K, during cultural awareness training held here, June 10. 
 Down Range - Fort A.P. Hill July 12, 2010 5

By Lance Cpl. Santiago G. Colon, Jr.

26th Marine Expeditionary Unit

 The art and science of combined arms 

operations is to present the enemy with an 

inescapable dilemma, to make him choose 

between movement while under 

precise and constant fire or wait for 

their destruction from above. 

 The 26th Marine Expeditionary 

Unit Marines employed this science 

during Realistic Urban Training 

conducted here, June 6-11.

 More than 600 Battalion Landing 

Team 3/8 Marines negotiated squad 

and company live-fire battle courses which 

required them to negotiate uneven terrain, 

secure target areas and conduct urban 

warfare operations. 

 During these events, the Marines often 

utilized air power from Marine Medium 

Tiltrotor Squadron 266 (VMM-266) 

(Reinforced) and indirect fire support from 

81 mm mortars. 

 The combined use of direct and indirect 

fires against an enemy force is the very 

definition of combined arms. 

 Critical to military operations is the 

coordination with other elements of the 

MEU to practice combined arms attacks, 

said Sgt. Brett A. Dayton, a squad leader 

with Company K, BLT 3/8, 26th MEU. 

 These attacks involve combining the 

ground and air element forces, said 

Dayton.

 An example of which can be seen when 

our aviation forces provide indirect fire 

suppression from afar and Marines on the 

ground go in and take an objective, he said.

 Marines employed a broad set of weapons 

during the training. Small arms included 

M16 and M4 service rifles, M249 Squad 

Automatic Weapons, M240B machine 

guns, mortars, and rockets such as AT-4s 

and Shoulder-launched Multi-purpose 

Assault Weapons. 

 “Employing a wide array of weaponry 

allows us the flexibility to conduct all 

types of operations,” said 1st Lt. Daniel M. 

Yurkovich, assistant operations officer for 

BLT 3/8. 

 The MV-22 Osprey, UH-1E Huey, 

CH-53E Super Stallion, and AH-1W 

Super Cobra helicopters from VMM-266 

provided air support. 

 Combining both elements gives the MEU 

commander the capability of putting the 

enemy within the horns of the dilemma, 

Yurkovich said. 

 He explained that within a Marine Air 

Ground Task Force, like the 26th MEU, 

the combined arms concept is scalable to 

meet a range of combat situations.

 “We can perform anything from 

squad-sized to battalion-sized 

attacks,” he said. 

 In addition, the units are capable 

of executing the full spectrum of 

military operations, from combat to 

humanitarian assistance and disaster 

relief, Yurkovich said. 

 “We support the MEU by conducting raids, ground attacks, humanitarian 

services and training foreign forces,” said 

Dayton. “During RUT, we can go out there, 

test our abilities and tweak things here and 

there, so we can be effective in real-life 

combat situations.” 

 With more MEU-wide training exercises 

planned for July and August, Dayton added 

his and all BLT 3/8 Marines are well on 

their way to being fully prepared for their 

deployment later this year. 

 “We have come a long way since we first 

started training for deployment,” said 

Dayton. “We will be more than ready when 

it comes time to deploy. We have a lot of 

seasoned leaders out here who have a lot 

of knowledge and are passing it on to their 

Marines.”

“Employing a wide array of weaponry 

allows us the flexibility to conduct all 

types of operations.” 

 -- 1st Lt. Daniel M. Yurkovich

 Battalion Landing Team 3/8

Marines exercise realistic combat operations

Artillerymen with Fox 2/12 Battery, Battalion Landing Team 

3/8, 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, fire an M777 A2 Howitzer 

during a direct-fire exercise held here. The 26th MEU is scheduled to deploy later this fall. 

Photo by Lance Cpl. Santiago G. Colon Jr.
6 July 12, 2010 Down Range - Fort A.P. Hill

By Staff Sgt. Danielle M. Bacon

26th Marine Expeditionary Unit

 More than 1,300 Marines wrapped up 

Realistic Urban Training, a three-week 

exercise held here, June 18. 

 The exercise required the 26th Marine 

Expeditionary Unit to combine command, 

air, ground and support assets and to execute 

a wide range of missions from combat to 

humanitarian assistance.

 With half of their “crawl, walk, run” 

predeployment training period complete, 

the leadership is confident the Marines are 

ready for their pending deployment later 

this fall. 

 “The MEU has come together better than 

we could have imagined at this point,” said 

Lt. Col. Benjamin Chapman, operations 

officer, 26th MEU. He is responsible for 

the coordination and overall execution of 

all MEU training. 

 At this point, the three elements are 

normally at the crawl stage, he said. “Yet 

here we’ve seen them operate at levels of 

units ready to deploy.” 

 During RUT and outside the Marines’ 

comfort zone in Camp Lejeune, N.C., the 

unit has worked to refine everything from 

individual skills and small unit tactics to 

company and MEU-level command and 

control. 

 The unit traveled 290 miles to northern 

Virginia in order to take the Marines to an 

unfamiliar environment.

 Here, they received high-intensity, closequarters battle training and trained in the 

use of live and non-lethal fires as well as the 

use of explosives for breaching. 

 “Training in and around Virginia affords 

the opportunity for the Marines and sailors 

to train in unfamiliar places, which will 

pay dividends when deployed in uncertain 

foreign environments,” Chapman said. 

 The MEU is comprised of a command 

element and three major subordinate 

elements - Combat Logistics Battalion 

26, Battalion Landing Team 3/8, and 

Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 266 

(Reinforced) - each of which bring muchneeded assets. 

 The MEU is a Marine Air Ground Task 

Force and is entirely self-sufficient. 

 Because the MEU has all of its warfighting 

assets under a single commander, it can 

leverage an incredible amount of combat 

power against the enemy, the operations 

officer said. 

 The CLB-26 provided the logistical support for the MEU during the exercise. 

 “We give the MEU the capability to 

sustain on shore in any environment for 

any given period of time,” said Lt. Col. Tim 

Bryant, commander, CLB-26. 

 The Logistics Combat Element not only 

brings food to the table, it transports it there 

while its engineers build a house around it. 

Training tests 26th MEU’s mettle

See TRAINING, page 7

Photo by David San Miguel

A Marine crouches posed and ready to lead his squad to assault enemy forces.
 Down Range - Fort A.P. Hill July 12, 2010 7

 The CLB provides engineers who can 

lay the groundwork and foundation to 

build structures or fighting positions, 

electricians to provide power, water and 

fuel for all the vehicles. The CLB also 

brings a higher level of maintenance and 

the ability to recover downed equipment. 

 When the MEU reaches a port, beach or 

sets up a landing zone, CLB-26 provides 

landing support and traffic control. 

 “We bring what it takes to keep a MEU 

going in an expeditionary environment,” 

said Bryant.

 The CLB proved this during a heavy 

lift exercise in which its landing support 

specialists worked with VMM-266 to move 

large targets from one range to another via 

helicopter. 

 CLB Marines take on many different 

roles both within and outside of their typical 

job specialties – these collateral duties help 

bridge the gap and ensure that the MEU is 

multifaceted. 

 The CLB’s lionesses program allows the 

MEU to process female detainees. 

 “It was an incredible learning experience,” 

said Sgt. Jennifer Filauro, who helped with 

a female mock-detainee after a training 

raid. 

 She explained how important it is to have 

women trained in handling other females, 

especially in countries where women are 

not allowed to speak to men. 

 This capability helps the MEU overcome 

these cultural barriers. 

 In addition to their security mission, the 

CLB’s military police support the BLT 

during a raid. 

 “The CLB provided the means for a 

reconnaissance element insertion in preparation for a training mission,” said 

Chapman. “The Marines are at a point where 

they can provide the MEU commander a 

greater level of flexibility in the execution 

of any mission.”

 BLT 3/8, the MEU’s ground combat 

element not only brings the means to fight, 

but also the ability to conduct a wide array 

of operations. 

 The BLT deploys with more than 

1,200 Marines and sailors – infantryman, 

artilleryman, tank operators, light armored 

reconnaissance Marines, combat engineers, 

mechanized vehicle operators, snipers and 

others.

 “The BLT’s training was two-fold,” said 

Maj. Michael Hoffman, operations officer, 

BLT 3/8. 

 “First they trained using combined 

arms,” he added. “The BLT’s platoons and 

companies focused on live-fire ranges and 

the integration of company-level movement 

with indirect fire through engineers and 

aviation-delivered ordnance.”

Training continuted from page 6

Photo by Lance Cpl. Santiago G. Colon Jr.

Marines with Company I, BLT 3/8, 26th MEU, fire on targets downrange during a company battle live-fire exercise.

See LIVE FIRE, page 8
8 July 12, 2010 Down Range - Fort A.P. Hill

The Marines practiced aggressive live-fire techniques they may well use against enemy forces in combat.

 Second, it executed situational type training under 

the supervision of Special 

Operations Training Group, he 

said. “These exercises incorporate company-level scenarios 

that include reconnaissance 

and surveillance missions, and 

company level raids with role 

players on the objective.”

 “Training at Fort A.P. 

Hill allowed us to conduct 

aggressive live-fire ranges in a 

very compressed time period,” 

he said. 

 “A.P. Hill is unique, not only 

for all the ranges for live-fire 

aviation employment, but it is 

centrally located in an urban 

environment,” commented 

Lt. Col. Romin Dasmalchi, 

commander, VMM-266.

 He said during the 

exercise, his pilots 

practiced their skills landing 

in unfamiliar in several local 

civilian communities, including 

Charlottesville, Fredericksburg, 

Farmville, Bremo Bluff and 

Hopewell, Va.

 “The overall objective is integrating with the (Major 

Subordinate Elements) and individual training in unfamiliar 

urban areas,” Dasmalchi said. 

“Our aircrews have landed in 

places they’ve never seen or 

touched before ... this is very 

representative of real-world 

activities.”

 The ACE provided aerial 

support for combined arms 

operations as well as showcased 

their heavy-lift capabilities by 

working with the CLB to move 

large targets which simulated 

tanks from range to range. 

 Just like the other MSEs, 

the ACE leadership believes 

they are poised and ready for 

deployment.

 “I believe the Marines 

are more than ready,” said 

Dasmalchi. “They have met 

or exceeded all of the predeployment requirements 

- more importantly, we have 

an increased cohesive and motivated team.” 

 “The support from throughout 

the MEU has been incredible,” 

said Hoffman. “It’s not so much 

the support as it is one team 

working together to accomplish 

the mission. 

 “Our integration of ACE, 

CLB and BLT from the 

individual level all the way up 

has been seamless,” he said. 

“It is definitely the strongest 

combined arms (team) I have 

been a part of.” 

 “RUT was a huge success,” 

said Chapman. “The fact that 

we met or exceeded all of our 

training objectives, preparing us 

for our next exercise integrating 

with our Navy counterparts at 

sea.” 

 “The upcoming deployment 

looks to be very promising,” 

said Hoffman. “Marines are 

always ready, which is what sets 

us apart. I’d be very comfortable 

deploying tomorrow with these 

Marines.”

Live Fire continued from page 7

Photos by David San Miguel

The 26th MEU’s arsenal includes vaired combat aviation assets.
 Down Range - Fort A.P. Hill July 12, 2010 9

Photos by David San Miguel

Marines with the 26th MEU practice live-fire combat operations in anticipation of a deployment in the fall. 

Mayors David 

Storke of 

Bowling Green

and Roy M. 

Gladding of 

Tappahannock

meet with the

26th MEU 

leadership, during 

a combined arms 

live-fire exercise 

held at 

Fort A.P. Hill. 

The Marine unit 

trained here to

practice combat

manuevers in an 

unfamiliar 

environment

in preparation 

of the unit’s pending

deployment later 

this fall.
JCLC

10 July 12, 2010 Down Range - Fort A.P. Hill

By David San Miguel

Editor

 Junior Reserve Officer Training 

Corps cadets from various high schools 

within a tri-state region converged at 

Fort A.P. Hill to participate in their 

annual JROTC Cadet Leadership 

Challenge, June 23-28.

 During their six-day-long summer 

camp, the 523 cadets were exposed to 

an intense training regiment which 

began each day at 5 a.m. with a wakeup call and concluded at 10 p.m. with 

“lights out”. 

 Rotating through each training 

phase by company, the cadets underwent survival, drown-proofing and 

safety instruction followed by runs 

through land navigation, rappelling 

and confidence courses.

 Retired Army 1st Sgt. Christopher 

P. Lee, Thomas Edison High School, 

Alexandria, Va., was part of the 20-

plus team of instructors that facilitated 

the program. He said the cadets came 

from various high schools in Virginia, 

Maryland and Washington, D.C.

 “The cadets came here to learn not 

only how to survive, but to build up 

their confidence and self-esteem,” Lee 

added. They learn to take responsibility 

for their actions, support their teammates and to step up, take charge and 

lead.

 Cadet Jourdan Ginyard, Forestville 

Military Academy, Prince George 

County, Md., said the program is 

allowing him to grow as a leader 

through camaraderie and teamwork.

 “Here, we’re learning a lot about Army 

leadership and other activities,” he said. 

“We’re learning to become a unit and 

to make new friends.”

Student cadets learn to lead,

foster teamwork to succeed

Photos by David San Miguel

Cadet Gloria Deiderick of Magruder High School, 

Rockville, Md., enjoyed making new friends as well 

as the challenges the program offered.

During the six-day 

JCLC summer 

camp, 523 JROTC 

cadets underwent 

drown-proofing 

and water survival 

training. 

See JCLC, page 11
 Down Range - Fort A.P. Hill July 12, 2010 11

Cadet Ian

McKinley of 

Magruder High 

School, Rockville, 

Md., low crawls 

under an obstacle

during a run 

through the

confidence course.

With grit and determination, the cadets overcame each challenge. 

 These lessons in leadership, the 

cadet added, proved especially 

beneficial when his team negotiated the Leaders’ Reaction 

Course or in keeping the barracks 

clean and ready for unannounced 

inspections. 

 “For some of the cadets, it’s 

been an eye-opener,” commented 

retired Army Col. Martin 

Compton of the JCLC cadre 

team from Wintersville High 

School, Westminster, Md. Many 

of the cadets are accustomed to 

competing on an individual basis 

and not as a “unit”. 

 “Here, the cadets built relationships, developed cohesive units 

and worked as teams,” the colonel 

said. 

 Yet, for some, the military regiment was an adjustment. 

 “Waking up early ... having 

little time to eat ... I just wanted 

to get a taste of what it’s like to 

be in the military,” added Cadet 

Jamelle S. Marshall, Parkdale 

High School, Riverdale, Md. “It’s 

been fun, but I don’t think I’d like 

to join.”

JCLC continued from page 10

See CADETS, page 12

Photos by David San Miguel

During the JCLC summer camp, the 523 JROTC cadets 

learned how to rappel as part of an exercise to build character 

and self-esteem.
12 July 12, 2010 Down Range - Fort A.P. Hill

 The JROTC program gives the cadets only a 

glimpse of what serving in today’s military may 

be like, said retired Army Lt. Col. Victor W. 

Burnett, Senior Army Instructor, Woodbridge 

Senior High School.

 “What they learn at summer camp builds 

on that experience,” he added. It also gives the 

cadre a great way to select students to serve 

in leadership roles and positions ... and it also 

lets us see how we stack up against the other 

schools.

 Despite the heat, the dirt and the many 

cuts and bruises suffered while rappelling, 

negotiating the LRC or running through the 

obstacle course, there were some who relished 

making new friends, and the opportunity to 

test their mental and physical limitations. 

 Cadet Kate P. Frenz, Magruder High School, 

Derwood, Md., who decided late into her 

junior year to join the JROTC program, was 

one such cadet.

 “The JROTC program is very structured and 

I like that,” she said. “I like the discipline and I 

think I’d like to pursue a military career.”

 At the week’s conclusion, former graduate 

of the JCLC experience, Senior Cadet Gerald 

Foster III, Norwich University, Northfield, Vt., 

offered the cadets some final words of advice. 

 “Life,” he said, “will present you with many 

challenges. Look at these challenges as a test 

and think positive. It’s how you deal with the 

challenges that will make you successful.”

Cadets

continued from page 11

Photos by David San Miguel

Army Col. (retired) Otis J. Elam, camp commander, and Senior Cadet Gerald Foster 

of Norwich Universary, the featured guest, render salutes as the troops conduct a 

final pass in review.

Elam and the JCLC cadet commander of troops conduct a final inspection.
NEWS NOTES

 Down Range - Fort A.P. Hill July 12, 2010 13

WASHINGTON -- An independent 

council of 19 Cabinet members announced 

a proposal, June 21, they said will end 

Veteran homelessness in five years and put 

the nation on track to end all homelessness 

by 2020.

 The U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness released “Opening Doors: The 

Federal Strategic Plan to Prevent and 

End Homelessness.” It is the nation’s first 

comprehensive federal plan to combat 

homelessness, said Housing and Urban 

Development Secretary Shaun Donovan.

 According to the council, the plan would 

focus on efforts to integrate support services 

and to apply state and local initiatives at the 

federal level. 

 Citing the homeless Veteran population, 

Donovan underscored the need for a joint, 

interagency approach. 

 “Our Veterans remind us that ending 

homelessness is bigger than any one agency 

or level of government,” he said.

 “By strengthening existing interagency 

partnerships, this plan honors the sacrifice 

of those who have served their country 

and assures our troops serving in Iraq and 

Afghanistan that they won’t be forgotten 

when they return home.”

 He added that the HUD-VA partnership already has provided 30,000 units of 

permanent supportive housing to Veterans 

and their families. -- ARNEWS

Interagency council proposes plan to end Veteran homelessness

VA launches development 

of new online claims system

 WASHINGTON – Secretary 

of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki announced plans to develop 

a fully automated, online system 

for handling Veterans’ disability 

compensation claims.

 “This new program accelerates 

our effort to eliminate the 

claims backlog through automation and modernization of 

our systems,” Shinseki said. “It’s 

another step in transforming VA 

into a 21st Century department 

that better serves our Veterans.”

 “Vietnam Veterans of America has been advocating for 

substantial process change in 

adjudicating Veterans’ claims 

for many years,” said Rick 

Weidman, VVA executive director for policy and government 

affairs. 

 “This automated program will 

make a big difference in the 

lives of hundreds of thousands 

of Veterans,” he said.

 The new system will guide 

Veterans through automated, 

program-assisted menus to 

capture the information and 

medical evidence that will drive 

faster claims decisions. 

 In the initial configuration, 

VA estimates the new system 

may assist as many as 100,000 

Veterans.

 As part of the implementation 

of the new claims system, VA 

has awarded a $9.1 million development contract to Bethesda, 

Md.,-based IBM. 

 The IBM team will work 

closely with VA developers to 

implement the online application system by November.

 

--ARNEWS 

WASHINGTON – The Department of Veterans Affairs now offers bronze medallions to attach to existing, 

privately purchased headstones or markers, signifying a 

deceased’s status as a Veteran.

 The new item can be furnished instead of a traditional 

government headstone or marker for Veterans whose 

death occurred on or after Nov. 1, 1990, and whose grave 

in a private cemetery is marked with a privately purchased 

headstone or marker. 

 Under federal law, eligible Veterans buried in a private 

cemetery are entitled to either a government-furnished 

grave marker or the new medallion, but not both. Veterans buried in a national or state Veterans cemetery will 

receive a government headstone or marker of the standard design authorized at that cemetery. 

 The medallion is available in three sizes: 5 inches, 3 

inches and 1 1⁄2 inches in width. Each bronze medallion 

features the image of a folded burial flag adorned with 

laurels and is inscribed with the word “Veteran” at the top 

and the branch of service at the bottom. 

 Next of kin will receive the medallion, along with a kit 

that will allow the family or cemetary staff to affix the 

medallion to a headstone, grave marker, mausoleum or 

columbarium niche cover.

 Families of eligible decedents may also order a memorial headstone or marker when remains are not available 

for interment.

 Information about VA-furnished headstones, markers 

and medallions or other burial benefits can be obtained 

from any national cemetery office, the VA website at 

www.cem.va.gov or by calling the VA regional office tollfree at 1-800-827-1000.

Bronze medallions now offered 

to mark Veterans’ graves
14 July 12, 2010 Down Range - Fort A.P. Hill

Fort A.P. Hill 

 Family

Our

SERVICE WITH A SMILE! -- Debbie K. 

Hilliard, vehicle registration clerk, Directorate 

of Emergency Services, enjoys meeting new people, helping them get their vehicle registration, 

and taking advantage of the many recreational 

facilities available at Fort A.P. Hill.

FEEDING THE FORCE! -- Sarah R. Beverly, 

snackbar food attendant, Directorate of Family, 

Morale, Welfare and Recreation, has been working at Fort A.P. Hill for a little more than a year. 

She loves her job here because the customers are 

so nice and friendly.

ON PATROL! -- Ken Delano, patrol/bike 

officer, Directorate of Emergency Services, has 

worked at Fort A.P. Hill the last seven years. He 

attributes his longevity to the good command 

and officer workforce. He said when you work 

with good people, the job is more enjoyable.

WORKING THE RANGES! -- Lorry J. 

Speare, range inspector, Directorate of Plans, 

Training, Mobilization and Security, insures the 

ranges are operational and ready for the thousands of Warriors who train here. It’s a great job 

working with the Soldiers.