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Article source: http://www.chillicothetimesbulletin.com/article/20130515/NEWS/130519767/1003/NEWS

The Misawa Seabees are solely handling renovations on the Davy Jones Locker recreation center on board the U.S. military installation located in northern Japan.

Normally these renovations are handled by independent contractors, but this restoration project could save a projected $80,000 in labor costs and an estimated $40,000 in materials by utilizing Seabee power and ingenuity.

“Here in Misawa, it has not been common for the Seabees to take on a project of this scope,” said Chief Builder Christopher Knox. “In recent years, Seabees have played a vital part in the war on terrorism, and normally we wouldn’t have had the time or resources to do this sort of peacetime construction project. However, our role in the global arena is constantly changing, so we are taking full advantage of this opportunity.”

Since renovations began, April 8, the Seabees have completely overhauled the interior and are making the facility more modern for future patrons.

“The facility was really in need of restoration and modernization. It has been on our to-do list for quite some time,” said Knox, a native of Chapin, Ill. “In addition, there was a need for some safety upgrades, so we decided to go ahead and task the Seabees with a complete refurbishment.”

The Seabees were able to take on this project largely due an increase in their manning.

“With the force realignment, we have an influx of military personnel, and we were looking for projects that best utilized their particular skill sets. The Davy Jones Locker opportunity worked out perfectly,” said Knox.

Thus the project has been both enjoyable and beneficial for the Misawa Seabees.

“This is a fun job,” said Builder Constructionman Nickolas Picard, from Catlettsburg, Ky. “I’ve really enjoyed working with everyone, and getting to see the fruits of our labor. It makes me feel good to know that people are excited to see the renovations and be here once they’re complete.”

Barring setbacks, the Seabees are working hard to get Misawa’s beloved recreation center reopened in the summer. Once complete, Knox says the Seabees are looking to immediately move onto the next big project.

“These renovations are just the tip of the iceberg,” said Knox. “We are currently in discussion with the Air Force 35th Civil Engineer Squadron to take on additional projects within the Misawa community.”

For more news from U.S. Naval Air Facility Misawa, Japan, visit www.navy.mil/local/nafmisawa/

Article source: http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=74021

With family support and command backing, Lt. Tim Kraynack, assigned to the Pediatric Department at Naval Hospital Bremerton, will compete in running and cycling events at the fourth annual Warrior Games for wounded, ill, and injured servicemembers in Colorado Springs, Colo.

Kraynack and family were enroute to his initial duty station at Naval Hospital Yokosuka, Japan, when during a layover at Seattle-Tacoma (SEATAC) airport everything changed. The Pennsylvania native suffered a seizure – the exact cause still unknown – that caused him to be admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU), where he awoke four days later.

“I remembered looking at my wife, mentioning that I felt bad and then that was it,” Kraynack shared.

Emergency medical technicians were called away at SEATAC. Kraynack ended up being admitted as an inpatient into January. In the ICU, Kraynack seized, then aspirated, with a collapsed lung. It was not looking good Kraynack admits. “Family was flown out. It was touch and go,” he said.

There were scans and tests done. Afterward, he complained that his leg hurt. The shin muscle was swollen, red, and he couldn’t move his feet. He was suffering from a compartmental syndrome. NHB Orthopedics doctor Capt. James Harris did an exploratory cut that proved that the muscle was beyond saving, and it was then removed.

The leg muscle wasn’t the only thing removed. Kraynack’s family had their entire plan inexplicitly displaced. Not only was Kraynack’s life in an unknown limbo, but his entire family was also forced to deal with being in an indeterminate and uncertain status. They were in a transition status. Their household goods had already been shipped to Japan. They were in an unknown location. There were no friends or family to lean on.

The staff of NHB rallied to provide needed support and guidance. During a patient in the ICU, staff members checked on Kraynack daily, bringing professional, as well as personal assistance to help him recover.

From Lt. Stephanie Marcello, NHB’s Navy Safe Harbor Program coordinator to Capt. William Hall, Internal Medicine Department provider, NHB staff were there with concentrated, collective and calculated support.

“People like Lt. Marcelo and Capt. Hall really stepped up to help us. They helped with figuring out what to do, who to contact, where to go, how to coordinate. The support was indispensible for us,” said Kraynack.

According to Kraynack, one of the prime contributing factors to his recovery was being open-minded and flexible to engage in the presented opportunities to help him along with the rehabilitation process.

“By the time I got to NHB, we were plugged into everyone in the support system to get better. I was given everything needed to get better. I used the many resources we had, from physical therapy to our Safe Harbor Program to orthopedics. I now regularly share with patients I see that they need to make use of all the available resources. I tell them to take advantage of every resource we have.”

Once Kraynack received notification that it was okay to start the rehabilitation process, he was primed to go. After two months with physical therapy assistance, he was deemed capable of proceeding on his own. He also felt strong enough to contribute and help other patients in Family Practice before moving on to the Pediatric Department.

“Most of us didn’t know he had suffered such an illness and injury. He kept it a good secret. He and his family have been through a lot and have had enough trials. He almost didn’t make it,” said Esperanza Baux, a licensed professional nurse (LPN) with the Pediatrics Department at NHB.

Kraynack started slow, as a staff extra. His days included physical therapy appointments and rehabilitation requirements.

“Everything went well. I got off LIMDU (limited duty), got cleared for the PRT (physical readiness training) and did well in the run,” Kraynack said, who had run competitively from middle school through college, competing in the 800-meter.

“Running has been a part of my life. I still like to try and beat up on the young guys,” said Kraynack, adding that he knew his rehab was beneficial when he won the 2012 NHB Navy Nurse Corps 5K Fun Run.

Capt. Christopher Culp, NHB commanding officer, was also impressed that Kraynack regained his athletic ability after rehabilitation. “He’s a terrific athlete despite some unexpected health problems that left him with lower-limb impairment. I have no doubt he’ll compete well in cycling and track events. We wish him well.”

Kraynack attests that his recovery from the sudden seizure and associated lower-limb impairment were also directly associated to all the help he received. “The resources and care were instrumental in the first few months to get better,” stated Kraynack.

Gone was the leg brace needed due to the removed muscle. Kraynack began to train for the Warrior Games, a therapeutic physical, mental and emotional outlet for all those who get involved. There was cardio work in the morning and weight training later on during the course of the day. Each session on the treadmill, each ride on the bicycle, each set on a machine, and rep with weights, helped Kraynack overcome his muscle loss.

“Everyone here has been very supportive. There were those who didn’t really know I had such an injury or suffered that seizure. They are proud and supportive,” Kraynack shared.

“Yes, those of us who didn’t know were surprised to learn about his condition, because it isn’t noticeable. But he still has a disability and he deserves and needs our support,” Baux stated.

Throughout his recovery, even after he found out he was eligible for the Warrior Games, there was lingering uncertainty about being involved.

“Is this for me? I wasn’t blown up in Iraq or Afghanistan like other Wounded Warriors. I do kind of struggle with it,” said Kraynack, noting along with those wounded in battle, there were others like him who had suffered from an unexpected accident or fluke injury. He found out he was but one of the competitors with lower body and/or upper-body injuries/impairments, spinal cord injuries, brain injuries, visual impairments, serious illness like cancer and/or post traumatic stress.

Kraynack took part in the inaugural Wounded Warrior Pacific Trials in Honolulu with 43 other wounded, ill, and injured Sailors and U.S. Coast Guardsmen Nov. 12, 2012. He was extremely impressed by all those who participated, all in varied stages of recovery.

“Some were just trying to figure what their injuries and limitations were. Then when we met again to train (in Port Hueneme, Calif.), their whole mental outlook had changed. They were not as introverted and not dwelling on the injury. They were super-excited,” related Kraynack.

Along with competing in the 30K cycling competition, Kraynack will engage in his main event, the 1500 meter run (approx 0.93 miles) and the 100 and 200 meter dashes. He will be riding alongside some athletes who are visually impaired, some using a hand-cycle and others using a recumbent bicycle. Other events will feature competitions in archery, seated volleyball, shooting, swimming, track and field and wheelchair basketball.

Like others also competing in the games, Kraynack’s participation is being followed not only by his immediate family, but also by his crew members. When Baux found out about his injury, subsequent recovery, and involvement in the Warrior Games, she took it upon herself, with Kraynack’s approval, to construct a picture board in his honor.

“The picture board is a great way to tell and share his story on being in the Warrior Games. I like to do that for our staff to get them the recognition they deserve. It’s also a great way to share what we do with the entire department. It’s a real morale booster,” Baux said.

Despite the sudden twist of fate in 2011, Kraynack and his family have settled in at their new duty station. “It all has worked out. We’re in Navy housing, our son is in school, and we did eventually get our household goods back,” said Kraynack, who previously worked as an exercise physiologist before attending physician assistant school. After earning his degree, he joined the Navy because of a desire to serve, as well as the career opportunities it provides, both caring for patients and being able to compete in athletic events.

According to Navy Wounded Warrior Safe Harbor web-site, the Warrior Games, a Paralympics-like event, will have approximately 200 Wounded Warriors from the United States and United Kingdom taking part in the scheduled events.

For more news from Naval Hospital Bremerton, visit www.navy.mil/local/nhb/.

Article source: http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=73971

June 4, 1942, was a historical game-changing day for the United States military. On that day, the U.S. Fleet defeated the finest of the Imperial Japanese Navy in the waters off a small Pacific atoll named Midway.

The Battle of Midway spanned three days, at the end of which large-scale Japanese expansion in the Pacific was no more.

“It was a major battle in terms of our own ability to meet the enemy and defeat him,” said Robert Cressman, a historian with the Naval History and Heritage Command. “The skill of the attacks and heroism was great on both sides.”

Cressman says Midway was a significant strategic target. “If the Japanese could capture Midway then they could attack Hawaii anytime.” He said recounting the plan of the Japanese Imperial Navy which was to capture Midway to lure the U.S. carriers that had roamed unimpeded between February and April, into decisive battle and destroy them. The object was to destroy what the Japanese considered its most dangerous element: its carriers.

“The Japanese planned to attack Midway and draw out our carriers,” he said.

But that didn’t happen thanks to intelligence, specifically the work of intelligence station HYPO Americans were ready and waiting. Retired Navy Capt. John Crawford told of how cryptologists broke the Japanese code which revealed what the bearings and location of the Japanese fleet. “It was miraculous, our intelligence predicted the time of the planned attack, the distance and location of the Japanese.”

Crawford was on the bridge of the aircraft carrier USS Yorktown (CV-5) when the message came in at 4 a.m. “Our intelligence solved the problem. I was happy as a clam and I was relieved as I read the message to Capt. Buckmaster.”

The message also bore-out the Japanese military’s ominous attack plan. “Many planes were headed to Midway,” said Crawford.

“We were attacked first by dive bombers around noon, then aircraft from the Japanese carrier Hiryu followed our planes and attacked us,” Crawford said.

According to Cressman, from the Yorktown’s perspective, the Hiryu’s dive bombers came in at about 2:00 p.m., and stopped Yorktown with at least three bomb hits. Yorktown repaired, had just gotten underway and was proceeding fast enough to launch planes when the Hiryu torpedo planes (their second strike, unrelated to the first), attacked at about 4:40 p.m., scoring two hits.

Cressman said, June 4, she was attacked twice. Yorktown got hit a third time, by the submarine I-168, June 6.

“After the first attack, she got underway just in time to be attacked a second time, then took two torpedo hits that stopped the ship again, forcing her abandonment,” he said.

The crew was evacuated to several awaiting ships including USS Russell, the ship that now carried Crawford and some of his crewmates.

“What they did was transfer them to another ship and parcel them around,” said Cressman.

The next day USS Hammann was on scene, ready to provide power and maintenance support to the disabled Yorktown. In the area were American destroyers patrolling in an effort to protect Yorktown from the enemy.

Crawford said he was relaxed aboard the rescue ship destroyer Russell, then he learned the tide had changed in favor of the Americans.

“We knew by the time we were picked up that we had sunk most of the Japanese carriers.”

The Japanese had sustained relentless attacks from land and carrier based aircraft. However, danger still stalked the American fleet from beneath the waters. June 6, Japanese submarine I-168, a 1400-ton “Type 6-A” submarine torpedoed USS Yorktown and destroyer Hammann which exploded and sank immediately. The Yorktown went down the next morning.

At the outset of the Battle of Midway, the American fleet boasted three aircraft carriers: USS Hornet, USS Enterprise and USS Yorktown to Japan’s Akagi, Kaga, Hiryu and Soryu.

“We nailed three of the four in the first part of the battle,” said Cressman. “Hiryu, which survived the first devastating attack that morning, took mortal damage that same [June 4] afternoon. She had been the most successful Japanese carrier that day, having launched two attacks that damaged the Yorktown twice, first with bombs, second with torpedoes.”

All told, a devastated Japan lost four of its six fleet aircraft carriers that had attacked Pearl Harbor. Also lost were a large number of highly trained aviation mechanics.

Cressman says the veterans who fought valiantly in the Battle of Midway more than demonstrate the characteristics of honor, courage and commitment.

“The Navy has core values and the people who fought at Midway personify them.”

Robert Cressman is the author of several books, including The Official Chronology of the U.S. Navy in World War II. This chronology of American World War II naval operations greatly expands and updates a work published just ten years after the war. Drawing on information from more than four decades of additional research sponsored by the Naval Historical Center, the work addresses the operational aspects of every theater in the naval war.

For more news from Naval District Washington, visit www.navy.mil/local/ndw/.

Article source: http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=73999

The two-day training symposium provided an opportunity for senior enlisted leaders to interact directly with the new Fleet Master Chief Marco Ramirez and Adm. Cecil D. Haney, commander of, U.S. Pacific Fleet, and to get a better understanding of the issues Sailors encounter in the Pacific Fleet.

“We thought to bring the leaders here so we could meet them and discuss the issues that are affecting our Navy today, issues including money and how we are battling that.” said Ramirez. “We have to ask ourselves are we ready, can we maintain readiness, because we are war fighters and we want to be ready. When the time comes, we want to be able to deliver the power.”

During this event leaders discussed the commander’s intentions, policies, priorities and current force status while also shaping the commander’s expectations regarding readiness, resources available and requirements.

Haney spoke to the senior enlisted leaders about the importance of how the U.S. Navy implements change.

“We are looking at how we do everything including funding, maritime strategy, manning and training,” said Haney. “We must find different ways of doing business to ensure the solutions we come up with are sensible. I rely on the Chiefs’ Mess to ensure that the messages we put out really resonate with our Sailors throughout the Pacific Fleet, as well as the Navy.”

One of the major topics this year during the symposium was on efforts to effectively focus on sexual assault awareness. The mission of the Sexual Assault Prevention and Response (SAPR) program is to prevent and respond to sexual assault, eliminating it from the Navy ranks through a balance of focused education, comprehensive response, compassionate advocacy, and just adjudication in order to promote professionalism, respect, and trust, while preserving Navy mission readiness.

“We have come a long way, we still have a way to go and with leadership and mentorship I think we can get there,” said Force Master Chief Cash Caldwell, Submarine Force Pacific Fleet. “If people just open their eyes and look around at what’s going on around them and take note of their situational awareness, we can get this under control.”

The symposium also discussed training, current and future manning, sea-shore rotation, updating instructions, and CPO 365 Training.

For more news from Pacific Fleet, visit www.navy.mil/local/cpf/.

Article source: http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=74045

Mabus, the 75th SECNAV, delivered remarks on the flight deck of Freedom to more than 200 foreign dignitaries and representatives from 26 countries, U.S. citizens in Singapore, and Sailors.

Mabus’ remarks focused on the Navy’s longstanding presence in Southeast Asia and highlighted the new role of littoral combat ships to work with regional navies and promote shared interests.

“There are many key engagements between our allies, partners and friends within this region,” said Mabus. “USS Freedom was tailor made for this area and LCS is going to be one of the most crucial platforms the United States Navy has available.”

Mabus stressed the U.S. Navy’s continued cooperation with regional navies and coast guards to protect freedom of navigation, support maritime commerce and ensure maritime security.

Also on hand to deliver remarks, U.S. Ambassador David Adelman emphasized
the growth of the U.S.-Singapore defense relationship.

“The last three years has seen our relationship deepen dramatically,” said Adelman. “We are committed to a safe and secure region.”

Rear Admiral Tom Carney, Commander, Logistics Group Western Pacific also addressed the guests.

“USS Freedom’s deployment reflects the United States’ enduring commitment to stability and security in the Indo-Asia Pacific and we look forward to engaging regional navies on another level in the coming months,” said Carney

Later this month, Freedom will participate in the upcoming International Maritime Defense Exhibition and Conference (IMDEX) in Singapore. In the months following IMDEX, Freedom will join regional navies and other 7th
Fleet units as a participant in select phases of exercises Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) and Southeast Asia Cooperation and Training (SEACAT). Occurring throughout Southeast Asia, both exercises
provide Freedom opportunities to train extensively with comparable-sized ships.

Fast, agile, and mission-focused, LCS platforms are designed to operate in near-shore environments and employ modular mission packages that can be configured for three separate purposes: surface warfare, mine
countermeasures, or anti-submarine warfare.

Freedom is initially manned by her “Gold” crew of 91 Sailors to include mission package personnel and an aviation detachment to operate an embarked MH-60 helicopter.

Freedom will remain homeported in San Diego throughout this rotational deployment to Southeast Asia. Midway through Freedom’s deployment, a crew-swap will be conducted with her “Blue” crew.

Article source: http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=74065

This year marks the 60th anniversary of the bond between the two nations, a bond Rear Adm. Michael White, commander, CSG 11, said has only strengthened with time.

“It is always a pleasure when we have the opportunity to meet with our allies in the Republic of Korea,” said White. “I’m looking forward to deepening the close friendship enjoyed by the Republic of Korea and the United States.”

Sailors from the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz will have an opportunity to visit with the local community and businesses and take in a variety of sight-seeing activities while in Busan.

“It’s great to be able to meet our friends from the Republic of Korea,” said, Capt. Jeff Ruth, Nimitz’s commanding officer. “This port visit will provide our Sailors and Marines the opportunity to experience this beautiful city.”

CSG 11 is currently deployed in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of responsibility conducting maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts, and is comprised of the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) along with embarked Carrier Air Wing 11, Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Preble (DDG 88) and Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruisers USS Princeton (CG 59) and USS Chosin (CG 65).

For more news from Commander Task Force 70, visit www.navy.mil/local/ctf70/.

Article source: http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=74062

Be an Eagle, Not a Duck!

Ken Krogue
Contributor

1 Thing Eagle Scouts and Competitive Athletes Have in Common

Ken Krogue
Contributor

McDonalds Slaps Every Other Fast Food Restaurant Across the Face

Ken Krogue
Contributor

The year was 1978.

I was still twelve. Almost thirteen. We had a Scoutmaster named Dave Watson.

We nicknamed him “Swat.”

Why? We heard he had blown his thumb off in an accident with a shotgun and had it sewn back on.  When he reached out with his big hand he couldn’t quite grab you, he just swatted you. (I don’t know to this day if that story was true.)

Swat was a big bear of a man. We always hiked behind him in the mountains because he cleared a big path and made it easy.

But he taught me to do hard things.

To hike one more step when I couldn’t. To plan for an activity when my friends were all out playing. To stick by my “buddy” even when he wasn’t the coolest kid to hang out with. To clean up after they went home.

I’ll never forget Swat.

He helped me finish my eagle, along with my mom. He impacted dozens and dozens of boys. I still remember his stories around the campfire at the end of a weeklong scout camp on Friday night. They were welded into my soul.

His example shaped my life. I want every young person to have a positive experience like that.

Starting your own business is hard. Keeping it going is very hard. Being an entrepreneur is hard. But because of Swat, it doesn’t seem quite as hard.

For several years I worked closely with a woman in my church whose son wrote home to her once and mentioned something about that first word of the Scout Law…

Trustworthy.

She read the letter to several of us and I paraphrase what the young man said:

“Mom, I’ve come to learn that being trustworthy is even more important than being loved. A parent loves every child in the family, but they need to be able to count on those children to do what they are asked to do… that is trustworthy.

I’d say that the Boy Scouts of America did its job in that family. There are thousands of stories just like that for every value in the Scout Law.

I’ve had several employees who didn’t learn that…. I had a few business partners who didn’t learn that. One cost me $70,000, I call it my “MBA” from the School of Hard Knocks.

There are 12 values that provide the boundaries within which the Boy Scouts try and operate, based on the mission and vision of the Scout Oath.

Stephen R. Covey taught us that values are neutral unless you measure them against something. They are, by definition, what we “value,” or care about. People care about very different things, sometimes completely opposite things. Some values diametrically oppose each other. Everyone chooses the values they will live by.

Mother Theresa had values. Hitler had values. Martin Luther King had values. Ted Bundy had values. Lord Baden Powell had values. Lenin had values.

Today organizations and famous people espouse their values. Hollywood has values. Professional sports has values. Bill Gates has values. Oprah has values. Mitt Romney has values. Barack Obama has values.

The other night I again watched the 1972 movie The Cowboys with John Wayne.

Article source: http://www.forbes.com/sites/kenkrogue/2013/05/10/boy-scouts-john-wayne-and-the-united-states-naval-academy/

 The Fenelon was one out of almost 18,000 applicants;
the academy only accepted 1,200 new appointments. She’s continuing a family
legacy of military service and says she hopes to study something in math or
science.  Fenelon said she’s excited to
start in the fall.

“This means that the past year
and a half of applying to this has paid off incredibly and that I get to go
spend the next four years at Annapolis Maryland, which is kind of my version of
Hogwarts,” Fenelon said.

 Fenelon has the equivalent of a full,
four-year scholarship, equal to more than $350,000.

Article source: http://centralillinoisproud.com/fulltext?nxd_id=322702

Operations Specialist 1st Class Megan Garcia, assigned to PRT Farah as a tactical operations center watchstander, is one of the command’s two primary Sexual Assault Prevention and Response (SAPR) victim advocates and helps to raise awareness throughout the command and across a multi-national, interagency base which houses other U.S., Italian and Slovenian military organizations as well as hundreds of civilians who work at the FOB.

“It’s very important to me that our commander has made it clear to us, and everyone else on the FOB, that no matter where you’re from or what you do, sexual assault has no place on FOB Farah,” said Garcia.

Deployments, whether at sea or boots-on-ground in Afghanistan, can be challenging enough for sailors and soldiers alike, but the effects of sexual assault and sexual harassment on command climate are incredibly damaging. For this reason, Garcia uses awareness campaign materials from the Navy as well as senior leader videos from all branches to ensure that all service members and employees at the FOB know about the consequences of sexual assault and the resources that are available.

“The best feedback I received about the program happened while I was walking around the FOB hanging up new signs each week,” said Garcia. “Most of the questions were from the junior soldiers in the security force about basic types of reporting, resources and that sort of thing, but it let me know that the message was getting out.”

Army Capt. Jacob Estrada, commander of Bravo Battery, 2-12 Field Artillery Regiment and the security force commander for PRT Farah, was complimentary of Garcia’s continued efforts to highlight and educate troops.

“Garcia has done a great job of making sure that she reaches everyone on the FOB so they’re aware of the signs of sexual assault, how to be a good team player when someone is in a bad spot and how to access resources that are available to them if and when they’re needed,” said Estrada.

Part of Garcia’s passion toward educating sailors and soldiers about the program stems from an experience she had when she was first assigned on the regional SARC watch bill as an advocate. The first time she received a call she was nervous and almost didn’t know what to do for one very specific reason – it was a male on the other end of the line.

“The first time I got a call, it was a male – something I didn’t expect,” said Garcia. “I kept the SARC regional coordinator’s contact information right by the phone as I talked to the victim on the phone. Unfortunately, the guy on the phone was very junior and didn’t really know the process. He’d already talked to his chain of command and didn’t realize the difference between restricted and unrestricted reporting. We had to go forward with an unrestricted report even though he really wanted to keep it restricted.”

Sexual assault victims can disclose the assault to specified individuals (i.e., SARC, SAPR Victim Advocate, or healthcare personnel) and receive medical treatment, including emergency care, counselling, and assignment of a SARC and SAPR VA, without triggering an official investigation. However, once the chain of command or non-designated personnel are told of the incident, they have an obligation to move forward with a formal investigation.

Continued incidents of sexual assault and situations like the one faced by the young Sailor in Garcia’s story are reasons why the Department of Defense has worked hard to raise awareness and understanding of sexual assault through continued information campaigns.

“It’s just as important that service members understand their rights and DoD policies that keep them safe whether we’re training in CONUS, deployed on a ship or if we’re on a base in western Afghanistan,” said Lt. Cmdr. Jeff Kortazkoswski, executive officer of PRT Farah.

To access information and resources about the DoD’s Sexual Assault and Prevention program check out their website at www.SAPR.mil .

PRT Farah’s mission is to train, advise, and assist Afghan government leaders at the municipal, district, and provincial levels in Farah province, Afghanistan. Their civil-military team is comprised of members of the U.S. Navy, U.S. Army, the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). For more information about the PRT follow their page on Facebook at www.facebook.com/PRTFRH .

For more news from Provincial Reconstruction Team-Farah, visit www.navy.mil/local/prtf/.

Article source: http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=73873