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| TOUCHDOWN — Boatswain's Mate 2nd Class (SW) Linwood Turner Jr. directs an Australian H-60 helicopter onboard the USS Hopper. The helicopter delivered members of the Australian Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defense Trade for a visit with the crew. Photo by Chief Photographer's Mate (NAC/DV) Johnny R. Wilson, USN |
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Rumsfeld: Transformation of
Military is Critical to Success |
| 'Our enemies are sharpening their swords' |
| By Sgt. 1st Class Kathleen T. Rhem, USA / American Forces Press Service |
WASHINGTON, Aug. 6, 2002 — If transformation of the U.S. military was important on Sept. 10, 2001 — which it was — then it is even more so now, U.S. Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld told Pentagon employees Tuesday in a town hall-style meeting in the Pentagon.
The secretary called accomplishments of the America-led international coalition in Afghanistan "truly remarkable." "Certainly every man and woman (in the Defense Department), military and civilian, can be proud of making a contribution to those successes," Rumsfeld said, but added that this is no time for complacency.
"To prevent the next attacks we have to be vigilant," he said. America has to hunt down the terrorists and put them out of business, Rumsfeld said. To do that, the Defense Department needs to transform its capabilities, "the capabilities of our military as well as the way this department functions."
This will take U.S. military forces that are "faster, more agile, more balanced, more interoperable," he said.
"We don't need services running off in four directions, and then, when the balloon goes up, wondering why they aren't as effective a joint force as they could be," Rumsfeld said, "or even worse, (wondering) why the phone doesn't ring and they're left behind."
The secretary said transformation is shifting resources from bureaucracy to the battlefield. He first described his goal in those terms in a Sept. 10 Pentagon speech. "I said that a person engaged in an unnecessary or redundant task is one who could be countering terrorism or nuclear proliferation," he said today of that speech the day before the deadliest terrorist attack in American history.
He noted that life in the Pentagon is almost returning to normal. "But that we must not do," Rumsfeld said. "Our enemies, without question, are sharpening their swords." More |
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| Mission at Sea |
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| The USS Cushing sails between two foreign vessels in the Persian Gulf |
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Aug 06, 2002
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| Profile |
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| Master Sgt. Susie McEuen |
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| Susie McEuen retired from the U.S. Air Force after 21 years of service, but after the terrorist attacks last Sept. 11, she became one of many retirees who rejoined under the Voluntary Return Entrance to Active Duty program. She has some advice for those thinking about getting out: “Don’t leave prematurely." Story
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New Nuclear/Bio/Chem
Protection for Hospitals |
| A new kit designed by the U.S. Army's Soldier and Biological Chemical Command labs will be able to protect field hospitals from the effects of a nuclear, biological or chemical attack. The portable units are designed to serve as a barrier for as many as 375 patients and staff for up to three days. Details
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| National Public Health Rehabilitation
- The Coalition Joint Civil Military Operations Task Force
is working closely with the Afghan Ministry of Public
Health in Kabul to assist in rebuilding the health care
infrastructure. They are currently executing projects
in Kabul to assist the School of Pharmacy, the Kabul Medical
Institute, the National Biomedical Technology Repair facility
and the Kabul Dental Hospital. These represent the lead
institutions for the nation in their respective areas. |
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| Tamara Thurman |
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U.S. Army Sgt. Tamara Thurman, 25, worked in
the Pentagon as an assistant in the office of
the deputy chief of staff for personnel.
She enlisted out of high school
and served in Bosnia, Korea and Germany. She
was awarded the Army Commendation Medal, Army
Achievement Medal and Army Good Conduct Medal.
She loved basketball and music. Her mother,
Saundra Woolen, described her as "a sweet
girl" and said, "I am very proud of
her."
We will not forget her.
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