1. No category

MAY 2015
TAMPA CHAPTER—A CHAPTER OF MOAA NATIONAL—A FIVE STAR CHAPTER 2002, 2004-2013
VOLUME 21, NUMBER 5
GENERAL JOSEPH L. VOTEL, COMMANDER,
U.S. SPECIAL OPERATIONS COMMAND
General Joseph L. Votel attended the United States Military Academy and was commissioned
in 1980 as an Army Infantry Officer. His initial assignments were to the 3d Infantry Division in
Germany where he served as a Rifle Platoon Leader, Executive Officer, Battalion Adjutant and
Rifle Company Commander.
Following this tour, he was assigned to Headquarters, Allied Forces Southern Europe, Naples,
Italy, and the NATO Peace Implementation Force (IFOR) in Sarajevo. He commanded the 2nd
Battalion, 22nd Infantry (Light) at Fort Drum, NY, and was subsequently selected to command
the 1st Ranger Battalion at Hunter Army Airfield, Savannah, GA. Following attendance at the
Army War College, General Votel commanded the 75th Ranger Regiment and participated in
Operation Enduring Freedom, Afghanistan, and Operation Iraqi Freedom, Iraq.
As a general officer, General Votel served in the Pentagon as the Director of the Army and
MAY SPEAKER: GEN VOTEL
Joint Improvised Explosive Device (IED) Defeat Task Force and subsequently as the Deputy
Director of the Joint IED Defeat Organization established under the Deputy Secretary of Defense.
He also served as the Deputy Commanding General (Operations), 82nd Airborne Division / CJTF-82, Operation Enduring Freedom, Afghanistan, and was subsequently assigned as the Deputy Commanding General of the Joint Special Operations Command,
Fort Bragg, NC. His most recent assignment was as the Commanding General of the Joint Special Operations Command.
General Votel is a graduate of the Infantry Officer Basic and Advanced Courses, United States Army Command and General
Staff College, and the United States Army War College.
He is married to the former Michele Belair of Saint Paul, MN and they have two grown sons, Scott and Nicholas.
http://geoint2013.com/system/uploads/3003/original/BIO_VOTEL_NOV_2011_V2.pdf?1380393690
IN THIS ISSUE
P 2 OUR PRESIDENT
P 3 LEGISLATIVE
LOWDOWN
OPERATION
HELPING
HAND
SPECIAL POINTS OF INTEREST
FLORIDA COUNCIL OF CHAPTERS CONVENTION
FROM PRIVATE TO GENERAL
DELAY IN OPENING DATE OF FIVE STORY VQ ON BASE
P 4 BULLETIN
BOARD
WOMAN OF THE YEAR AWARD
P 6-11 SERVICE
NEWS
“MOAA HAS EMBRACED A NEW, INSPIRING MISSION STATEMENT: ‘NEVER STOP SERVING’”
Upcoming Events
OUR BOARD WILL
MEET AT 1000 on:
· 07 MAY
· 04 JUNE
· 02 JULY
LUNCHEON
MEETINGS WILL BE
HELD AT 1130
AT SURF’S EDGE ON
ON::
· 14 MAY (JOINT)
· 11 JUNE
· 09 JULY
―VADM NORB RYAN
IMPORTANT DATES IN MAY 2015
01―MAY Day is the 1st day in May, celebrating Springtime and dates back to an ancient pagan holiday
from the time of the Celts (perhaps the Iron Age).
05―Cinco de Mayo really celebrates the Mexican victory over the French armies in the area of
Mexico called Puebla (in the southern section, just East of Mexico City) in 1862.
07―The National Day of Prayer is an annual observance held on the first Thursday of May,
inviting people of all faiths to pray for our nation.
10―Mothers’ Day is set aside to honor our mothers―a friend, a teacher, a guide, a doctor, a
psychologist―in short she is everything for her child and we can never return the same love.
16―Armed Forces Day is a national observance in the United States on the third Saturday of May.
22-24―FLORIDA COUNCIL OF CHAPTERS CONVENTION, St. Augustine, FL.
24―Pentecost. Many Christians in the United States observe Pentecost also known as Whitsunday.
Shavuot. Jews observe the Festival of Weeks―one of three major Jewish festivals.
25―Memorial Day. The American Legion organization officially gave the patriotic observance it's
official name of “Memorial Day” to honor American service people from ALL wars or conflicts.
PAGE 2
MAY 2015
PRESIDENT:
LTC Jim Griffin USA RET (813) 785-0552
[email protected]
IMMEDIATE PAST PRES/PROGRAM
CHAIRMAN & CHAIR, OPERATION HELPING
HAND/MEMBER, MOAA NAT BD OF DIR:
CAPT Bob Silah USN RET (813) 963-1854
[email protected]
ASSIGNMENTS
1ST VICE PRESIDENT/EVENT RESERVATIONS:
MAJ SCOTTY CLELAND USAF RET (813) 988-4552
[email protected]
2ND VICE PRESIDENT/ PUBLIC RELATIONS/
EDITOR, THE RETROSPECT:
CAPT Don Dvornik USN RET (727) 441-2051
[email protected]
EDITOR EMERITUS:
CDR Stanley Ewanowski USN RET PhD
MEMBERSHIP CHAIRMAN:
COL William Schneider USA RET
(813) 977-2572 Cell (813) 300-3202
[email protected]
SECRETARY/DATA BASE MGR/
PHOTOGRAPHER:
CW2 Tom South USA RET (813) 975-5025
[email protected]
TREASURER:
COL Carol Zieres USA RET
(727) 793-0568 CELL (727) 366-1045
[email protected]
DEPUTY TREASURER:
CPT Wiley Hazel USA RET (813) 979-1739
LEGAL ADVISOR:
Former LT William Mitchell USN
(813) 963-5098 Cell: (813) 679-1217
[email protected]
CHAPLAIN/COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER:
CDR Richard Helveston CHC USNR RET
(863) 510-5048 Cell (863) 602-3684
[email protected] or [email protected]
SCHOLARSHIP CHAIRMAN:
Col Milt Steadman USAF RET (813) 968-2835
LEGISLATIVE LIAISON:
Col Ronald Buchert USAF RET (813) 961-4129
ID CARD/BASE ENTRY:
Maj John Massey USAF RET (813) 886-1938
PERSONAL AFFAIRS:
Maj Dick Tinsley USMC RET (813) 886-2169
[email protected]
SICK CALL:
CW3 Bill Farrow USA RET (813) 884-7823
[email protected]
FLAG OFFICER LIAISON:
Maj Gen James Jones USAF RET
FL NATIONAL GUARD LIAISON:
MAJ Chris Buckley, FLNG (727) 259-4563
RESERVE LIAISON:
LTC Robert Sawallesh USA RET (813) 654-3900
JR ROTC/ROTC
Lt Col Ken Martin USMCR RET (813) 831-4426
SENIOR FORMER OFFICERS LIAISON/
ASSISTANT JR ROTC/ ROTC:
FORMER 1LT James G. Kalemeris USAF
(813) 933-5493 CELL: (814) 924-5132
MBR RECRUITMENT/FUND RAISING: All Members
GOLF TOURNAMENT COORDINATOR:
Robert Ahern (813) 265-1605
MOWC PRESIDENT:
Bonnie Kerr (352) 593-4270
[email protected]
is published monthly by members
of the Tampa Chapter of the
Military Officers’ Association of
America (MOAA), P.O. Box
6383, MacDill Air Force Base, FL
33608
33608--0383. Tampa Chapter
MOAA, Inc. is a 501
501--C-19 tax
CAPT DVORNIK
EDITOR
exempt veterans organization not
associated with the Department of
Defense. The views expressed in individually signed
articles do not necessarily reflect Chapter policy.
(Volume 21, Number 55—
—MAY 2015)
PUBLICATION DEADLINE FOR THE
JUNE 2015 ISSUE IS 18 MAY
OUR PRESIDENT’S WORD
Our APRIL luncheon was a very special event for THE TAMPA
CHAPTER for several reasons. Our guest speaker, COL ANDRE
BRIERE, VICE COMMANDER, 6TH MOBILITY WING, presented
a very informative update briefing on MACDILL AFB. He presented
the good, the bad, and the ugly tasks that have to be accomplished on
a daily basis in order to keep the base functioning in a very smooth
and efficient manner. His presentation included some very significant
insights that must occur to take the base to the next level of efficiency.
LTC GRIFFIN
If you were not there, you missed the candid answers pertaining to the
BAY PALMS GOLF COURSES.
Another reason that this was a very special event was that we invited the best JROTC CADETS in Hillsborough County to join us and receive their MOAA
MEDAL in front of the TAMPA CHAPTER members and their families and JROTC instructors. MG FRANK MOORE, USAF(RET), presented the MOAA MEDAL to CADET
SAMUEL GONZALEZ, ALONZO H.S., CADET GAVIN NICELY, MIDDLETON H.S.,
CADET SGT FIRST CLASS SHELLIE BRYANT,STRAWBERRY CREST H.S., CADET
HAILEY MUNRO, HILLSBOROUGH H.S.,CADET ENSIGN CELVIN LOPEZ, FREEDOM H.S.,CADET CHRISTIAN WARREN, ROBINSON H.S., CADET HEYDI FUENTUS, KING H.S. THE TAMPA CHAPTER would like to thank all of the family members
who were in attendance to share this very significant moment with some very special young
people. The MOAA MEDAL is awarded for having demonstrated exceptional potential for
military leadership as a member of the JROTC at their respective schools. After hearing the
individual bios of each cadet who received the award, they are indeed exceptional.
There is another reason why this was a very special event for the TAMPA CHAPTER.
Certain individuals in recognition of their services to the chapter can be recommended and
voted on by the BOARD OF DIRECTORS to be an HONORARY MEMBER OF THE
TAMPA CHAPTER. Such an action was accomplished at our APRIL BOARD MEETING.
Our newest HONORARY MEMBER is MR. ROBERT AHERN for his untiring efforts in
making the MOAA CHARITY GOLF TOURNAMENT a complete success which allowed
THE TAMPA CHAPTER to present OPERATION HELPING HAND a check for $10,000.
I hope that you paid your dues or otherwise you will not be getting this RETROSPECT with
all of this excellent information. Remember, you are our most important recruiter and major
source of new members, and as always…
WE’VE GOT YOUR BACK!!!
“Our commitment to Never Stop Serving is perhaps most strongly reflected in our persistent legislative efforts
in Washington, D.C. In 2014, MOAA’s advocacy team worked tirelessly to keep harmful legislation from
―VADM NORB RYAN, MOAA PRESIDENT
affecting military communities nation-wide”
Colonel Briere, Vice Commander 6th Air Mobility Wing,
brought a slide show so that we could easily follow his presentation
but there was a technical problem which prevented the show from
being projected onto the screen. CW2 South had the ability to
think and react fast in a sudden and unexpected situation and took
photos of the slides which you can view on our web at http://
moaatampa.org/ (see slides). Below is a brief summary of his
presentation:
MacDill has rapid global mobility due to owning 16 KC-135s; 3 C37s;
8,154 active duty personnel; 4,083 civilians, 38 mission teamCOL ANDRE J BRIERE
mates, 40,000 military retirees; 19 aircraft worth $1 billion; 8 billion in
capital assets, 595 facilities and 5 million square feet of land.
MacDill Units include 3,120 authorized persons and 450 contractors; 1, 917 in USCENTCOM; 2070 IN USSOCOM; 777 people in the 927 Refueling Wing; 493 in SOCCENT; 225
in MARCENT; 480 in JCSE; 95 in NOAA; and 31 in NAVCENT. Additionally, MacDill
has two four-star generals and over 50 general officers along with 60 nations in the coalition.
World-wide support is given to every combat unit.
With numerous religions, cultures and missions, it has molded one great community which
offers the best in health care, elementary schools, recreation and a super family campground
facility.
―Editor
MAY 2015
PAGE 3
LEGISLATIVE LOWDOWN
—submitted by Col. Ron Buchert, USAF, (Retired),
Member, MOAA Board of Directors (2000-2006)/
Chapter, Legislative Liaison
The House Armed Services Committee
began considering its first draft of the FY
2016 Defense Authorization bill and proCOL BUCHERT
posals for policy changes and equipment
COL BUCHERT
plans will start being released soon. According to Military Times major initiatives from the Military
Compensation and Retirement Modernization Commission's (i.e.
overhaul of retirement and medical care) will not be included.
The House committee has been discussing the commission's
proposals but many lawmakers are still unsure how those changes will be received (by the military community) and seem content to continue debate on the ideas for now. Rep. Joe Heck, RNev., chair of the armed services' committee's personnel panel,
said in a statement he is "concerned that Congress not rush that
process without fully vetting both the recommendations and
their second and third-order effects." (Rep. Heck is a physician
and a brigadier general in the Army Reserves with three tours in
Iraq).
Each year, the Defense bill sets spending guidelines for thousands of critical Pentagon priorities, but also includes many,
sometimes controversial, items that can't happen unless Republicans in the House and Senate reach a deal on their separate
budgets. If Congress can’t pass all 12 appropriations bills before
the end of September (end of FY 2015/ beginning of FY 2016)
and have them signed by President Obama, lawmakers will likely have to wrap the spending bills into several packages or one
major one.
Possible spending cuts to the services medical budgets pose a
significant threat to military medical research and could harm
health services for troops, families and retirees, top Army, Navy
and Air Force medical commanders told Congress. Testifying
before the House Appropriations Committee's defense panel the
services' surgeons general said proposed budget caps would
have a "detrimental impact" on the Defense Department health
system and urged lawmakers to fix the issues before the cuts go
into effect. Lt. Gen. Patricia Horoho said the Army Medical
Command would be forced to close some inpatient and acute
care surgical centers if budget caps remain in place. Air Force
Lt. Gen. Thomas Travis said the budget caps (sequestration) are
"a threat to research dollars" that would put pressure on
"restoration, modernization, sustainment of our facilities and
research dollars." Forced by sequestration rules the FY 2016
budget would be cut by approximately $40 billion. Unless Congress amends the Budget Control Act. Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen, R-N.J., chairman of the defense panel, said "everyone
on his committee hates sequestration and will work toward a
solution."
An internal survey conducted by the Republican firm
"OnMessage" found that security issues ranked first on a list of
top priorities for voters, ahead of economic growth, fiscal responsibility, and the economy. Twenty percent of all respondents ranked it as the top issue, compared with thirteen percent
who listed economic growth as their top concern. Fourteen percent listed “fiscal responsibility” at the head of their list. The
findings confirm other surveys showing national security as a
leading issue in the upcoming elections. In January the Pew Research Center found that for the first time in five years an equal
share of voters rated defending the U.S. against terrorism (76
percent) as important a policy priority as the economy (75 percent).
SPRING AHEAD WITH
OPERATION HELPING HAND
―submitted by CAPT Bob Silah USN RET, Chairman,
Operation Helping Hand.
It's been another busy month! Starting with
the Tampa Chapter Golf Tournament in March,
CAPT SILAH
which was a smashing success with over 100
golfers participating. Thanks to the hard work
and superb planning by our esteemed President, Jim Griffin, and
our new Chapter Honorary Member, Robert Ahern, the proceeds
check for $10.000 was presented to us at our April Operation
Helping Hand dinner. My thanks to all who took part in the best
of our 4 annual golf tournaments.
Expos again took much of our time in March and April. Central
Pasco Chamber Expo in March, the Carrollwood Area Business
Association (CABA)'s Exposition, also in March, and the "Sun N'
Fun" celebration in Lakeland in April, all have been enjoyable,
tiring, and very successful. Our main objective in these events is
to tell all attendees about who we are and what we do. We've met
a lot of people, told all about our mission, and gave away our
pamphlets and many other of our handout items.
Baseball season is in full swing. As I've written in previous columns, the Tampa Bay Rays have been very good to us. For the
past 6 years, they have donated 4 games in the largest suite at the
Tropicana Stadium to us. Each game we have 80 patients, their
families and staff attending. As in all past years that the Rays
have graciously given us use of the suite, they have also provided
a full buffet that has been really enjoyed by all, especially our
patients! Our first game of the 2015 season in on 10 May and I
expect a full house that will partake. We will be there to honor
and assist our wounded/injured patients and their families.
Let me deviate from all going on with Operation Helping Hand.
As a member of the National MOAA Board of Directors, I recently took part in our annual "Storming the Hill" effort in Washington, DC. As part of my duties, along with the 2 members of my
team, we called on 10 Congressmen/women discussing 1) Sustaining Military Pay and Allowances and stopping all pay caps; 2)
Rejecting the disproportionate Tricare fee hikes and Health plan
changes; and 3) Eliminating the harmful effects of Sequestration.
I found that all members of Congress that we called on were very
receptive, cordial, and told us that they would do all possible to
support what we are promoting. I'd have to say that although time
in these call was exhausting, we were successful in promoting the
mission of MOAA.
There are still patients arriving frequently at our James A. Haley
VA Hospital. Of course we will continue to do all necessary to
honor, assist, and support them and all those who have been
aboard for awhile.. Our mission remains and we will do all possible to accomplish.
Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.) receives the Col. Arthur T. Marix Congressional
Leadership Award from Gen. Charles T. Robertson Jr., USAF (Ret).
Photo by Steve Barrett.
PAGE 4
MAY 2015
TAMPA CHAPTER BULLETIN BOARD
WELCOME NEW MEMBERS
ROBERT AHERN (HONORARY MEMBER), 10507 Brynwood Ln, Tampa, FL 33624-5007 (813) 265-1605
MAJ JAMES CLIFFORD USA RET, 108 Bayfield Dr, Brandon,
FL 33511-7957 (813) 643-1036
LTC CHRISTOPHER NICELY, 5618 Osprey Park Place, Lithia,
FL 33547-3814 (813) 684-0300 Shelly
LT COL JEANNE RICHARD USAF RET, 1223 Foggy Ridge
Parkway, Lutz, FL 33559-6758 (813) 948-7539
—submitted by COL Bill Schneider, Membership Chairman
TAPS
DORA THOMAS KINGERY (AUX MBR) 100, of Tampa, died
Wednesday, March 4, 2015.
JACKQUELINE STREUBER (AUX MBR) 95, died on 21
March 2015.
—submitted by Maj Dick Tinsley Personal Affairs Chairman
REMEMBER IN OUR PRAYERS
COL KENNETH W. DAVEY USAF RET, 4008 Mountain
Springs LN Tampa, FL 33624-1824
DR STAN J EWANOWSKI (CDR USNR RET), 5010 MARATHON DR MADISON, WI 53705-4713
LTC JOSEPH GONTARSKI USA RET is hospitalized at Tampa
General Hospital in Room F407.
CARLA HENSEN, wife of FORMER USAF CPT ERIC
HENSEN, 4425 Pine Meadow Ct., Tampa, FL 33624-5244
MAJ B R HEWITT USAF RET, 14450 Reuter Strass Cir #701,
Tampa, FL 33613-3127
LT COL JOANNE VEVERKA-TAUBER USAF RET, 13714
Chestersall Dr, Tampa, FL 33624-2501
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO
MEMBERS BORN IN MAY
01 LTC CHARLES OGLE USAR RET
COL WILLIAM A SCHNEIDER USA RET
CAPT ARTHUR WHITING USCG RET
02 LCDR JASON MONSOUR NOAA AD
03 FORMER ARMY MAJ CHARLES KOLKER
04 MAJ JAN B LAUX III USA RET
05 CAPT KENNETH WRIGHT USN AD
09 CAPT PAUL A MORRISON USN RET
10 LTC CHARLES HART III USA RET
11 COL (CHAPLAIN) JEFFERY GUILD USAF RET
12 LTC STEPHEN WERNER USA RET
13 CAPT MARGARET MOORE USAF RET
15 LCDR SHANNON GRANT USPHS AD
16 CW2 THOMAS SOUTH USA RET
17 LT COL JOHNNY BAKER USAF RET
18 COL WILLIAM K GEARAN USA RET
20 CAPT HARRY CUMBER USMC RET
CPT ALBERT HERNANDEZ USA RET
21 CDR TIMOTHY GALLAGHER NOAA
23 CW3 BILL J FARROW USA RET
24 CAPT WILLIAM WHALEY USCG RET
28 LT DIEGO ESGUERRA USN RET
LT COL RICHARD GRINNELL USAF RET
CAPT STEVEN A SWIFT USNR
29 ENS DANIEL MICHLER USCG AD
29 COL ROSS VANLERBERGHE USAF RET
By Ginger Heath,
MOWC, Co-chair
Do you have a child
or grandchild who is a High School Senior and graduating this
year? Make a difference in their future education―LAST
CALL!
The Tampa Chapter of the Military Officers Association of
America (MOAA) and the Military Officers Wives Club
(MOWC) are offering four individual $2,000 scholarships to
high school seniors who are planning to attend a college, community college or university this fall.
The applicant must have a parent or grandparent who has been
a member of MOAA Tampa Chapter or MOWC since April,
2014. The complete eligibility requirements and application
forms are available at http://moaatampa.org/
APPLICATIONS MUST BE RECEIVED NO LATER THAN 1 MAY 2015.
Awards will be made at MacDill AFB on June 14, 2015, and
recipients must attend and talk about their ambitions, study emphasis, and college choice. Please call Ginger Heath with any
questions at (813) 254-6869.
Col. Andre Briere 6th
Air Mobility Wing
vice commander presents Senior master
Sgt. Angela Suafoa,
6th Aerospace Medicine Squadron superintendent, with the City
of Tampa 2015 Military Woman of the
Year award, March 18,
2015, Tampa, Fla.
Suafoa’s dedication to
the men and women of
the 6th Air Mobility
Wing were continuously displayed as she counseled and guided Airmen and their families, all while
epitomizing the Air Force’s definition of a senior noncommissioned officer.
(U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Brittany Liddon/Released)
CONSTRUCTION UPDATE
Since the current lodging is inadequate to support conferences/meetings at
MacDill Air Force Base, construction is underway on a five-story Visiting
Quarters (VQ) with 202,078 square feet of space; 2 DV Suites; 25 Business
Suites and 325 Standard Guest Rooms.
Also there will be meeting rooms, a coffee shop and parking for 481 vehicles. This facility will be the future site of Rickenbacker’s Café.
The original opening date was planned for March 2015. However, due to
multiple design and unforeseen site challenges, the new opening date is
scheduled for December 2015.
MAY 2015
PAGE 5
MEDALS PRESENTED AT LUNCHEON―PHOTOS BY CW2 TOM SOUTH USA RET
Color Guard from
Hillsboro HS:
Col. Briere, Vice Com- Donald Franklin, Tyre
mander, 6th Air Mobil- Love, Cyona Rahming,
Christian Bolling
ity Wing, speaker
President Griffin welcomes our new
honorary member, Robert Ahern
Coalition officers (L to R) LTC Giovanni DE WILDE (Belgium), General
Lissner (Denmark) and Col. Jorge Alberto Miranda (El Salvador) standing
with President Griffin
Medals awarded to JROTC attendees
JROTC ATTENDEES
PAGE 6
U.S. soldiers leap over a canal after patrolling through a field near Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, March 24, 2015. The soldiers are assigned to the 101st Airborne Division's 3rd
Battalion, 187th Infantry.
http://www.defense.gov/dodcmsshare/homepagephoto/2015-04/hires_150324-A-SO125077c.jpg?source=GovDelivery
U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Chance Italiano moves the refueling boom from a KC-135
Stratotanker aircraft into position to refuel a U.S. Air Force F-15C Eagle during Exercise
Forceful Tiger near Okinawa, Japan, April 1, 2015. Italiano is a boom operator assigned
to the 909th Air Refueling Squadron.
http://www.defense.gov/dodcmsshare/homepagephoto/2015-04/hires_150401-F-LH638264A.jpg?source=GovDelivery
Marine Corps Cpl. Jordan Claspell meets Eliljah, his 2-month-old son, for the first time
upon his return to Camp Pendleton, Calif., April 4, 2015, after a seven-month deployment
with Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Crisis Response in the U.S. Central
Command area of responsibility.
http://www.defense.gov/dodcmsshare/homepagephoto/2015-04/hires_150405-M-DN1410071.jpg?source=GovDelivery
MAY 2015
ON REACHING YOUR
DESTINATION SAFELY
By Richard Helveston
I grew up on a farm and I know how important it is to pay
close attention to the stake at the end of the row in order to
plow a straight one. However, I was too short to see over the
horse and tried to eye the stake by leaning to one side or the
other. My rows were always crooked!
Those who drive and text will not reach their destination –
Luke 9:62 What? You didn’t find this translation or paraphrase in your KJV, NIV, NRSV, CEB, Standard American,
Amplified, or Life Application bible? Not even Eugene Peterson’s The Message has this paraphrase. However, I think the
above paraphrase of Luke 9:62 “No one who puts a hand to
the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God” actually captures the immediacy of and constant attentiveness required in answering the call to follow Christ.
Likewise, I know that while driving it only takes an instant
of fumbling with the radio buttons, the DVD or CD player, or
trying to catch the ketchup that is dripping off a cheeseburger,
to veer, however slightly, off course. Even a glance in the
rear-view mirror or over the shoulder must be only momentary in order to keep on course. When we have been adjusting
the fade or treble too long, when we have been fiddling with
hitting the SEND button on our cellphone, and have drifted a
bit in our lane, we might be startled by the horn blast from the
eighteen-wheeler in the lane next to us, alerting us to get back
on course. Our eyes immediately jerk back to focus on what is
before us; our hands grip the wheel and our full attention is
back to guiding our vehicle in the right direction. But as time
passes, and that eighteen-wheeler disappears over the horizon
in front of us, will we, once again, find ourselves succumbing
MAY 2015
PAGE 7
MESS SERGEANT MAKES MOST OF
CULINARY EXPERIENCE
By Army Staff Sgt. Paul Roberts, 314th Press Camp Headquarters
SMARDAN TRAINING AREA, Romania―Army Sgt. Raheem Johnson isn’t
your typical “mess sergeant” in Forward
Support Troop, 2nd Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment, Grafenwoehr, Germany.
Johnson, who hails from Philadelphia,
had almost seven years of experience in
the culinary field before joining the Army. He earned his certification in the culinary arts with the Job Corps in Philadelphia and proceeded to work for universities and local restaurants before embarking on a new career path, he said. Johnson
Army Sgt. Raheem Johnson, a Philachose
the military occupational specialty
delphia native and food service noncommissioned officer with Forward
92G―food service specialist―one he has
Support Troop, 2d Squadron, 2d
been working in for eight years now.
Cavalry Regiment, puts buffalo-style
“Right now the path that I’m on, I’m
chicken fingers into a field container
used for transporting hot meals to the very happy,” Johnson said. “I wouldn’t
field during live-fire exercises at
change anything,” he added.
Smardan Training Area, Romania,
Johnson said his previous culinary expeduring preparations for Operation
Windspring, March 27, 2015.
rience enabled him to “fast track” while in
U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. advanced individual training. Instead of
Paul Roberts
having to go through the full nine-week
course, he cut the time in half because of the level of his certification.
“Actually, I’ve exceeded some of my own expectations as far as where
I’m at right now,” Johnson said. Johnson said he’s decided to make the
Army a career. His ultimate goal, he added, is to achieve the pinnacle
enlisted rank of sergeant major of the Army before he retires.
As a new leader, Johnson said he doesn’t find his challenges come in
the kitchen, but in the management of soldiers. “Just as far as being a
leader, a new leader, getting to know soldiers and trying to get the mission accomplished and at the same time, cater to your soldiers’ needs,”
Johnson said, has been the challenge.
Even though he has been invited to join culinary competition teams,
Johnson said, he doesn’t enjoy competition as much as he enjoys being
in the kitchen and working with his soldiers. “I just enjoy cooking,” he
said with a smile. “I enjoy teaching.”
Johnson said he is passionate about sharing his knowledge and experiences with his soldiers and knows that if he isn’t sharing what he knows,
then he isn’t the leader that they deserve and need.
“You have to be very logical and have your head in the game when
you’re cooking,” he explained. “Your mental stability will be tested.”
Johnson said for him, the ability to share his passion, his drive and his
knowledge with soldiers is the highest calling and leads to the true molding of the future in his career field.
http://www.defense.gov/news/newsarticle.aspxd=128500&source=GovDelivery
MEMBERSHIPS ARE OPEN
―Please call Bill Schneider at
(813) 977-2572
PAGE 8
APRIL 2015
US NAVY KICKS OFF NAVAL ENGAGEMENT
ACTIVITIES WITH VIETNAM
DRILL INSTRUCTOR, RECRUIT REUNITE
DECADES LATER
From Commander Task Force 73 Public Affairs
By Marine Corps Cpl. Travis Gershaneck, MCAS, Yuma
DA NANG, Vietnam (NNS) -The U.S. Navy began the sixth
annual Naval Engagement Activity
(NEA) with the Vietnam People's
Navy April 6, as both nations celebrate the 20th anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2015.
This five-day collaboration will
focus on non-combatant events
and skills exchanges in military
CAPT Christopher England, CO of the Armedicine, search and rescue, and
leigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer
USS Fitzgerald (DDG 62), shakes hands with maritime security.
an officer from the Vietnam People's Navy
Subject-matter expert exchanges
during the opening ceremony of Naval Enwill
focus on maritime domain
gagement Activity Vietnam. In its sixth year,
awareness, shipboard damage conNEA Vietnam is designed to foster mutual
understanding, build confidence in the mari- trol, submarine rescue, legal symtime domain and strengthen relationships
posia, band concerts, community
between the U.S. Navy, Vietnam People's
service events, and team sports. A
Navy and the local community.
brief at-sea phase will allow ships
(U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication
Specialist Seaman Patrick Dionne/Released) from both navies to practice the
Code for Unplanned Encounters at
Sea (CUES) and ship handling.
These naval activities underscore the deepening and diverse relationship
between the United States and Vietnam.
"By bringing our navies and our people closer together each year, these
activities advance our relationship in ways that benefit our nations directly,
and by extension, promote a peaceful, prosperous and stable
region," said Rear Adm. Charlie Williams, commander of U.S. 7th Fleet's
Task Force 73 (CTF 73).
NEA evolved from annual port visits to Da Nang by U.S. Navy ships,
which began more than a decade ago. Guided-missile destroyer USS Curtis
Wilbur (DDG 54) was the first U.S. Navy ship to visit Da Nang, July 28,
2004, and most recently USS John S. McCain (DDG 56), also a guidedmissile destroyer, visited last April as part of NEA 2014. Each year, NEA
becomes more complex, and last year marked the first time ships from both
navies conducted exchanges at sea.
Today another guided-missile destroyer, USS Fitzgerald (DDG 62) and,
for the first time, littoral combat ship USS Fort Worth (LCS 3) are continuing this tradition during NEA 2015. The officer in charge of these ships is
Capt. H.B. Le, deputy commander, Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 7. A
Vietnamese-American, Le commanded guided-missile destroyer USS Lassen (DDG 82) when it visited Da Nang in November 2009.
"It's great to be back in Vietnam, and we're very much looking forward to
working with our Vietnamese Navy counterparts over the next five days,"
said Le. "There are many highlights of this week's engagement. One of the
most significant activities will be the opportunity to conduct CUES exchanges underway, which will help both navies prevent miscommunication
at sea and foster mutual understanding."
In addition to Fitzgerald and Fort Worth, U.S. units participating in NEA
Vietnam include personnel from CTF 73, DESRON 7, Undersea Rescue
Activity San Diego, Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit (EODMU)
5, and the U.S. 7th Fleet Band "Orient Express."
Occurring during the 20th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic
relations between the United States and Vietnam, these activities were designed to foster mutual understanding, build confidence in the maritime
domain and develop relationships between the people and navies of both
nations.
This is the sixth NEA Vietnam since it was established as an annual en-
MCAS YUMA,
AZ―Newly promoted
Marine Corps Master
Gunnery Sgt. Thomas
Draffen stood at attention in front of the
Marine Aviation
Weapons and Tactics
Marine Corps Master Sgt. Thomas Draffen is
promoted to master gunnery sergeant at Marine Squadron 1 building.
Corps Air Station Yuma, AZ. Draffen was
His uniform’s collar
promoted by retired Master Gunnery Sgt.
lay bare for a moment
Michael Arnett, who was his drill instructor at
before two pairs of
boot camp.
U.S. Marine Corps photo by hands deftly pinned in
Cpl. Xzavior T. McNeal place the rank he has
worked 20 years to
achieve.
Behind him, friends and peers mirrored the air traffic controller’s tall stance. To his left, his wife, who he has been with
since before his enlistment in 1994, secured one side of his
collar. On his right, retired Marine Corps Master Gunnery Sgt.
Michael Arnett―the drill instructor responsible for making
Draffen into a Marine―secured the other.
After the ceremony was over and the formation dispersed,
Draffen and Arnett had a chance to reminisce about their
shared beginnings. “He was the shortest drill instructor, and he
was very skinny,” Draffen said about Arnett, recalling the ritual
first contact between drill instructor and recruit known as
“Black Friday.” “Well, the only one skinnier than me was
him,” Arnett interjected with a chuckle.
“[Arnett] was clearly very passionate about what he was doing,” continued Draffen, a native of Northville, New York.
“That’s the reason why, after 20 years, it was very easy to ask
him to pin me.”
“My main job was ‘knowledge hat,’” Arnett said. “My main
focus was getting recruits through the academic portion of boot
camp.” “And I was the ‘knowledge recruit,’” Draffen said.
The knowledge recruit is picked by the platoon drill instructors and usually is one of the brighter recruits of each training
cycle. “Our platoon took No. 1 for academics, and I didn’t do it
by myself,” Arnett said. “Draffen was there on the back end, as
a recruit, encouraging the guys to be the best.” “I remember he
was just hustling,” Arnett continued. “I remember he was always trying to do his best and flying to get the job done the
best he could. Obviously, that’s continued with him making
master gunnery sergeant. With him now being in the top 2 percent of the Marine Corps, his hard work has benefited him
well.”
“I remember talking to him during boot camp and found out
that he’d just gotten married and had a kid on the way,” said
Arnett, a native of Panama City, FL. “I remember thinking to
myself as a sergeant with two kids at the time, ‘Golly, he’s got
a family, and he’s just starting out.’” “I was in boot camp to
support my family,” Draffen said. “We ran into some financial
problems, so there I was.” Now six months away from his 21year mark in the Marine Corps, Draffen still holds true to the
lessons instilled in him by the man who taught him the fundamentals of what it means to be a Marine.
“I’d say the one lesson that he really drove home, and is
something we push on our kids, is to take care of your family,”
Draffen said. “He reinforced that you perform to take care of
your family first, and everything else comes secondary to that.”
gagement in 2010. NEA Vietnam was last conducted April 7-11, 2014.
http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=86422
http://www.defense.gov/news/newsarticle.aspx?
id=128516&source=GovDelivery
MAY 2015
PAGE 9
FROM PRIVATE TO GENERAL: FLORIDA
NATIONAL GUARD GETTING A NEW LEADER
ly sunbathing on a beach for the quiet of his hotel
room to crack critical thinking textbooks. He
By Carol Rosenberg - [email protected]
lugged military strategy books along on a training
exercise in Kiev, the Ukraine — giving new meaning to the “distance learning” — all to earn a correspondence-course Master’s Degree in Strategic
Studies from the Army War College in 2009
More and more leadership roles in the Guard, on
a part-time basis, meant cutting his civilian professional life to part-time, too, finishing up recently as
a day-rate pharmacist at the Costco in Lantana, so
he could devote more time to his Army duties.
Another kind of sacrifice came in September
2011 when he pinned on his first silver star as brigadier general, becoming the first black general officer in Florida Guard history. The historic ceremonies were held at an armory in West Palm Beach,
where Calhoun enlisted in 1977.
Son Evan had followed his dad to FAMU, and
was a drummer in the band. Promotion day coincided with the televised Atlanta Classic football game,
Army Maj. Gen. Michael Calhoun, his wife, Sophia, is congratulated on his promotion by
pitting the Rattlers against Southern University.
Gov. Rick Scott at the historic St. Francis Barracks on March 6, 2015. State Command Sgt.
The newly minted general said he didn’t want to
Maj. Robert Hosford looks on.
deprive his child of the chance to be on TV with the
When Maj. Gen. Michael Calhoun takes command of the nearly 12,000
Marching 100. So the dad told the son to miss the
troops of the Florida National Guard this weekend, he becomes Florida’s
historic moment. Evan, now 22, was on hand, how22nd adjutant general and the first African American to hold the post.
ever, earlier this month when Calhoun pinned on
Firsts are nothing new to this 1976 Florida A&M University graduate. In
his second star in St. Augustine to become a major
2011, he became the Florida Guard’s first African-American brigadier gengeneral.
eral and is now the first major general.
It was suggested to the general, partly in jest, that
But ask the 61-year-old former Costco pharmacist — also a likely first for a service in the Army and fidelity to FAMU could
National Guard general — and he attributes it to one part luck, one part drive test a man’s loyalties. Not so. “FAMU is family,”
and lots of sacrifice since he began his Army career as a private in 1977.
he replied. Evan was six months old when he at“You need to be lucky,” he says. “You do have to be good. And you need to
tended his first FAMU game.
be blessed because you affect many lives.”
The Florida Guard has full-time fighter pilots,
In an interview ahead of a ceremony installing him Sunday at Camp
part-time infantry troops and, just like his alma
Blanding, near Starke, the Florida native and father of a FAMU student spoke mater, a band — the 13th Army Band which, Calof missed funerals and family reunions, a year-long deployment and weekend houn boasted, put down their instruments and handdrills away from home along the way to becoming the state’s top commander ed out tarps and bottled water like their fellow
and Gov. Rick Scott’s senior military adviser.
weekend warriors after a 2005 hurricane.
During a family vacation in the Virgin Islands, he recalled, he left his famiHis forces, like all guard units, have a dual function, meaning Gov. Scott can call them up to a natural disaster, something he hasn’t yet done, and
President Barack Obama can divert them to Middle
East duty, something that has happened in more
than 100 mobilizations since the Sept. 11, 2001
attacks.
Calhoun’s turn came soon after the invasion of
Iraq; he spent nearly a year in Kuwait with a combat support unit in 2004.
To those who wonder why it took so long for an
African American to attain the rank of general in
Florida’s National Guard, yet alone command it,
consider this: The storied guard, which claims its
roots in a Spanish militia set up in 1565, only got
its first black soldier in 1963 — postal worker and
Korean War Air Force veteran James Bryant —
because a fellow postal worker, a white first lieutenant in the Florida Guard, recruited Bryant to the
command headquarters motor pool.
(Continued on page 10)
PAGE 10
MAY 2015
Fourteen years later, Calhoun had graduated from
FAMU and signed up during
a pause between graduating
and passing the licensing
exam as a pharmacist. He
did basic training at Fort
Leonard Wood, Mo., trained
as a medic in Fort Sam Houston, Texas, and had risen to
the rank of sergeant when
then-Gov. Bob Graham mobilized the guard to two
nearly back-to-back call-ups
in 1980—a year of tumult
for Florida.
First he went to Key West, he recalled, to provide first aid to seasick, malnourished Cubans arriving in waves in the Mariel boatlift. Soon after, he was part of a unit standing by at Hollywood baseball field in case they were needed to treat National Guardsmen
called to Miami during the McDuffie race riots.
Calhoun left after six years but said he missed the military. He returned in 1989 as a first lieutenant in the 131st Mobile Army
Surgical Hospital because of his day duties as a pharmacist. He would switch from medical corps to the broader military occupational specialty of the quartermasters corps because a pharmacist can only go so far in the Army.
In Florida he led the Special Troops Battalion of the 53rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, was commander of the 865th Quartermaster Battalion, and spent more than six years in a variety of roles with the 50th Area Support Group, nearly all part-time jobs.
One exception: He wore a battle-dress uniform continuously for nearly a year in Kuwait. Now, he’ll don the uniform most days as a
full-time employee of the state, earning $157,251.60.
The job comes with a house, an official residence at 86 Marine St., adjacent to the St. Francis Barracks in St. Augustine, which
traces its roots to a 1580s outpost for some Franciscian friars. He and his wife, Sophia, will move in in May, after the current
“TAG,” as The Adjutant General is called, moves out and the state undertakes some renovations.
Fellow FAMU alum, Bobby Calhoun (no relation), said his College of Pharmacy classmate’s military career really took off once
he traded his pharmacy specialty for logistics. Even as he spent his years in service, said Calhoun, a pharmacist at Tallahassee Memorial Hospital, they met several times a year at football games or for continuing education seminars to keep up their licenses.
“Once he gets focused in a direction, he’s unturnable,” his classmate said, describing him as a “softspoken” man with the unmistakable carriage of a general—“serious, assured, open-minded, decisive.” Plus, Bobby Calhoun added, “He looks good in a uniform.”
While he’s never before worked full-time with the Guard in the state, the increased tempo of his part-time duties dictated that he
devote less time to work, he said. So by the time he pinned on his second star as a major general, he’d already cut back his pharmacy work to per-diem patch-and-fill jobs at Costco, something he recently gave up entirely.
For his part, Gov. Scott would not say whether the idea of making history with the first African American TAG figured in his first
genuine selection of a military advisor after inheriting Maj. Gen. Emmet “Buddy” Titshaw from Charlie Crist.
“It’s never one factor,” the governor said by phone this month. “The most important thing is he’s a leader, he’s had five commanding roles since 2006, he’s had a lot of medals and my experience with him has always been positive.”
Like Scott, who joined the Navy as an entry-level sailor, an E-1, Calhoun started in the army as a private—on the way to establishing his business career.
“When you're around him you'll feel comfortable that
he will lead, he will do a good job if there's a crisis,” the
governor said. “He also treats others with respect — he's
very respectful to people who work with him — and he
started at the bottom.”
General Calhoun calls his rise “humbling,” and something he never imagined as Private Calhoun.
“That’s the beautiful part of it,” he said. “To have
been around back then and now to walk next to a private
or a sergeant today and tell them you were a private and
a sergeant, too—see that light bulb go off.”
Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/news/state/florida/
article16520174.html#storylink=cpy
―submitted by Maj Chris Buckley, FL NATIONAL GUARD LIAISION
MAY 2015
PAGE 11
AIR FORCE OFFICER'S HARD WORK
REAPS REWARDS
By Air Force Senior Airman Vernon L. Fowler Jr., 6th Air Mobility Wing
MACDILL AIR
FORCE BASE―
The late NFL Hall of
Fame football coach
Vince Lombardi
once said, “Leaders
are made, they are
not born.” That quote
never rang more true
than it has for Air
Force 1st Lt. Kim
Atkins, a sexual asAir Force 1st Lt. Kim Atkins, a sexual assault response coorsault response coordinator with the 6th Air Mobility Wing, stands in formation
on MacDill Air Force Base, Fla., April 13, 2015. Atkins was dinator here.
recently selected to be an instructor at Officer Training
“Both my grandfaSchool.
ther
and dad served
U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Vernon L. Fowler Jr.
in the Army as infantrymen,” Atkins said. “My mother is currently a first sergeant at Dover
Air Force Base, and my aunt is serving in the Army Reserve and used to
be a drill sergeant. So, my work ethic was instilled into me.”
Atkins, who hails from Dover, DE, said she was groomed for leadership, starting with her time serving as the flight commander in the Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps and then as captain on her cross
country and track teams in high school. She said she was also a member
of the National Honor Society and worked as a guidance counselor's
assistant and nurse's assistant at her school.
After graduating, Atkins accepted an ROTC scholarship to the University of Delaware, where she would regularly lead the joint color guard
and help train the field training preparation flights.
“I loved being a part of JROTC,” Atkins said. “I had an awesome instructor who pushed me to continue it into college.”
After graduating from college, Atkins left for officer training school.
There, she would face various obstacles. One of the biggest, she said,
was being underestimated by her peers and instructors. Consequently,
she said she worked hard to become the ROTC Iron Woman for fitness
excellence.
“I, along with a male, was named the top in fitness out of 350,” Atkins
said. “I like to prove people wrong.”
After receiving her commission and completing technical school, Atkins was assigned to MacDill's 6th Force Support Squadron sustainment
services flight. She would later work in readiness and mortuary affairs
before finding herself as the SARC.
“Upon my arrival to MacDill, my goal was to be a professional first,”
Atkins said. “I came here with the intent to not only improve my leadership, but also my followership and be my personal best for everyone's
benefit.”
Atkins was recently accepted to become an instructor at Officer Training School. She will depart MacDill and head to the course this summer,
where she will be evaluated as she leads her first flight.
“I'm super excited, and I hope to keep growing as a leader and a follower,” Atkins said. “I'm going to make sure to put my best foot forward
and be an example because, as a friend once told me, ‘Attitude determines altitude.’”
http://www.defense.gov/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=128578&source=GovDelivery
The Navy successfully conducted take-offs and landings from the USS George H.W. Bush, with a new
stealth jet drone called the X-47B
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STRENGTH AT RISK
Our nation’s security depends on recruiting and retaining the strongest talent. We must heed the lessons of the past and take this opportunity to
get it right because we never stop serving. Recently, MOAA leaders gathered in Washington to “storm the Hill.” This year, we addressed the Pentagon’s budget submission, focusing on sustaining pay and benefits for currently serving and retired troops. Congress has signaled an appetite for
change to retirement and health care systems, which are integral to the readiness of the all-volunteer force. Because of the budget environment
caused by sequestration, MOAA is concerned calls for further erosion of pay and benefits will damage the morale of the force and threaten retention. We asked legislators to sustain currently serving pay and benefits, reject disproportional TRICARE fees and changes, and to eliminate harmful sequestration cuts. The administration’s FY 2016 budget doesn’t modernize or reform pay and benefits but simply erodes them. It proposes: a
third year of military pay caps and an increase in out-of-pocket housing expenses; a reduction in the commissary subsidy that will lead to a 66percent loss of consumer purchasing power; and TRICARE consolidation requiring working-age retirees to pay for service in military treatment
facilities, an enrollment fee, and Standard copayments and deductibles. The proposal also adds a means-tested TRI- CARE For Life enrollment
fee. The nation will have to relearn the lessons of the 1990s if lawmakers undo the repairs Congress enacted from 2001-10 to close a 13-percent
pay gap and reduce 18-percent out-of-pocket living expenses.
Under the current proposal, mid-grade NCOs and officers and their families who have borne the brunt of persistent conflict will have less discretionary income. DoD regrettably has enabled a loss of purchasing power while masking its efforts as raises. A captain (O-3) with 10 years of service and a family of four could lose $6,421 a year, while a sergeant (E-5) could lose $5,173 a year. During the rollout of the FY 2016 defense
budget, a senior defense official, at- tempting to reassure troops, said, “We are all about our people.” But, he added, “Dollars we saved in pay and
compensation ... help balance out readiness and capability.” As the drawdown continues, a stronger
economy offers potential recruits and high ly trained servicemembers more civilian job options. The services could suffer an exodus of troops
facing tough career decisions, such as another deployment away from home. Few Americans would endure these demands for one
term, let alone 20 to 30 years. A 2014 Military Times poll found declining morale in the force: “Troops report significantly lower
overall job satisfaction” and “declining interest in reenlistment now compared to five years ago.” Proposals for further erosion of
pay and benefits are creating a dangerous retention condition and undermining the morale of the all-volunteer force.
— Vice Adm. Norbert R. Ryan Jr., USN (Ret) copied from Military Officer, April 2015
SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS ―HURRY―The
deadline for applications: 1 May 2015. Check it
out on our web at moaatampa.org
—submitted by Col Steadman
MOAA, MOWC
JOINT LUNCHEON
THURSDAY, 09 MAY 2015
at 1130 hours at the SURF’S EDGE CLUB
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