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| FINAL CHECK — U.S. Air Force
Reserve crew chiefs perform their final checks on
an A-10 Thunderbolt II before it departs on a Close
Air Support mission from Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan,
in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Photo
by Staff Sgt. Ricky A. Bloom, USAF |
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Rumsfeld Praises India's
Moves to Lessen Tension |
| U.S. Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld wrapped up his visit to India Wednesday by praising Indian leaders for their concern and interest in resolving the Kashmir dispute with Pakistan "in an appropriate way." Story |
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| Plane Crashes in Afghanistan |
| A U.S.
Air Force MC-130H Combat Talon II aircraft crashed on takeoff
Wednesday night in southeast Afghanistan with 10 Americans aboard.
Early indications were that there were some survivors. U.S.
search and rescue personnel were on the scene. U.S. Central
Command officials said the crash did not appear to be the result
of enemy fire. Story |
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Gen. Myers Challenges
'Class of September 11' |
| By Linda D. Kozaryn / American
Forces Press Service |
WASHINGTON
— The 495 U.S. military officers, civilians and international
students who graduated Wednesday from the National Defense University
here have forged a special bond, according to U.S. Air Force
Gen. Richard B. Myers, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
"You watched the Pentagon burn on Sept.
11," he reminded the students. On that day, the 451 Americans
and 44 international students became known as the "September
11 Class" and they took on a new role in the war on terrorism.
"You have forged bonds that you're going
to need as we continue this fight globally against terrorism,"
Myers said. "My challenge to you is to build those relationships
and to keep your minds receptive to new ideas."
He urged the students to think about what kind of leaders they'll be. "Are you going to encourage your supporters to be innovative or are you going to squelch them?" he asked.
Myers told the students to reject those who resist change by saying, "We've never done it that way." He said the graduates need to be flexible, adaptable and smart. "We want folks who can tell the chain of command what they need to do, not what they want to hear."
No matter where they're assigned next, he stressed, the war on terrorism must be their primary focus.
"You can be guaranteed one thing," he said. "We know the terrorist pressure is going to be relentless. So our pressure must be relentless."
U.S. defense officials have learned the terrorists
are patient, disciplined and shrewd. "They think and they adapt,"
he said. "They've adapted to our initial weapons in Afghanistan
and they'll keep adapting. That's what we're up against." More |
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| Force Protection |
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| Soldiers
build a wall of barriers at Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan |
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Jun 12, 2002
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Rice Asks Military Grads
To Bring Ideas, Energy |
By Linda D. Kozaryn
American Forces Press Service |
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WASHINGTON — New perspectives,
new ideas and new energy are needed to combat global
terrorism, U.S. National Security Adviser Condoleezza
Rice said Wednesday during commencement ceremonies at
the National Defense University.
"Today, our nation and the cause
of freedom need all that you have to offer — your
ideas, your learning and your dedication," Rice
told the graduating class of nearly 500 students. "Wars
are decided as much by the supremacy of the mind as
by the supremacy of the military technology that we
often think of as winning wars. And, of course, wars
are won by people." More
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Pentagon: Under
Budget,
Ahead of 9-11 Schedule |
| The project to rebuild
the Pentagon, damaged in the Sept. 11 terrorist attack,
is under budget and ahead of schedule. "People don't
really pay that much attention to what their title is,
what their job is, what they've been specifically told
to do or what the normal constraints are in the way they
operate," says the manager. "Everyone's there
to make that project successful." Story Related Story |
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| Sultan Rasia Girls School Work
- Work continues on the Sultan Rasia Girls School main
building (phase II). The two-story building is a two-section
construction project. In section A, the concrete roof
has been poured and the first floor windows and door frames
have been installed. In section B, walls on the first
floor are in place and the framework is being installed
to support the pouring of concrete for the second floor.
After repairs are complete, the two sections will be adjoined
to form one building.
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| Marsha D. Ratchford |
|
 Marsha
D. Ratchford, 34, worked at the Pentagon as
an information technician for the U.S. Navy.
She joined the Navy about
15 years ago. She was a friendly, quiet woman
who had many loves in her life, including working
with computers and the challenge of handling
crucial military messages at the Navy Command
Center in the Pentagon. But few equaled her
devotion as a mother. "She was a mother
from her heart," said her husband Rodney.
Survivors include her husband,
a son and two daughters.
We will not forget her.
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| Due to a technical problem,
this site was not accessible to users at the DefendAmerica.gov
address Tuesday. Access to the site via DefendAmerica.mil
was not affected. We regret the inconvenience. |
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