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Feb 27, 2004

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DOMINATE EYE — U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Roger Braithwaite demonstrates how to determine one's dominate eye for USS Theodore Roosevelt Ship's Self Defense Force Academy students. Theodore Roosevelt is the first ship in the fleet to create and implement a school which provides sailors with knowledge and qualifications necessary to provide anti-terrorism/force protection security for the ship. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate Airman Aaron Burden

War on Terrorism: Homeland Defense is a 'Must Win' Game

By U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Doug Sample /American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Feb. 26, 2004 — The mission of homeland security is like playing an "away game and a home game," said the U.S. military's homeland defense commander. In war, just as in sports, it's the away game that you "want to win," but it is the home game that you "must win."
Air Force Gen. Ralph Eberhart, head of U.S. Northern Command at Peterson Air Force Base, Colo., used the analogy to explain his views on how to handle the nation's security challenges. He spoke Feb. 25 at the 2004 Armed Forces Communication and Electronics Association Homeland Security Conference here. More

Iraq Progress: 'Tide of Change' Now Inevitable, Sanchez Says

By Gerry J. Gilmore / American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Feb. 26, 2004 — Attacks on U.S., coalition and Iraqi security forces in Iraq will not stop the country's march toward self-governance and democracy, a senior U.S. military officer said today at a Baghdad press conference.
"Those who attempt to prevent a free and democratic state (in Iraq) will definitely fail," Army Lt. Gen. Ricardo Sanchez, commander of Combined Joint Task Force 7, told reporters. More

Coalition Provides Details on
Terrorist's Death, Updates Ops

By Jim Garamone / American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Feb. 25, 2004 — Coalition officials this morning gave more details about the death of Abu Mohammed Hamza, a bomb expert for al Qaeda ally Abu Musab Zarkawi.
Hamza was killed Feb. 19 near Habbaniya, a Sunni stronghold west of Baghdad. Officials only revealed the incident yesterday. An armored platoon chanced on Hamza's bomb-making den during a civil affairs mission. When the soldiers knocked on the door, someone inside opened fire, wounding a soldier. More Briefing

Iraq Weekly Progress Update (Governance, Electricity, Education, Oil, Security, Economics, Health Care)

U.S. Defense Dept. slides with facts &
figures on reconstruction efforts in Iraq.

. White House Fact Sheet: Progress in Iraq

. Iraq Update . Maps of Iraq

. Iraq's 55 Most Wanted

Defense Leaders Speak

Defense Secretary
Donald H. Rumsfeld

"...Twenty-five million Iraqis are liberated and finding their way towards a freer economy and a freer political system. And they no longer have to fear the killing fields that we found in Iraq -- where tens of thousands of Iraqis are buried, one on top of another. The world is a vastly better place with Saddam Hussein in prison, and the Iraqi people free."

Remarks in Kazakhstan, Feb. 25, 2004

Defense Views

Defense Dept. Introduces
Global War on Terror Medals

WASHINGTON, Feb. 26, 2004 — Military members serving at home and abroad in the war on terrorism will now be recognized for that service. Defense officials announced today the final approval of two new medals and their criteria. More

Task Force Detains Suspects

MOSUL, Iraq, Feb. 26, 2004 — Soldiers from 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division under the operational control of Task Force Olympia detained personnel suspected of anti-coalition activities in northern Iraq Wednesday, according to Combined Joint Task Force-7 officials. More

Homeland Security Official
Lists Accomplishments, Goals

WASHINGTON, Feb. 25, 2004 — "Our enemies are not idle, and neither are we," said Homeland Security Deputy Secretary James Loy today, echoing the words of President Bush.
Loy, a retired Coast Guard commandant, cited accomplishments and explained his department's goals for making America safe. Story

Saddam's Capture - A Video from Golf Troops' Perspective

Radio

Television

The Striped Beagle

U.S. Army Reserve Maj. David L. Barber recently deployed to the Persian Gulf with the 172nd Corps Support Group. Along with his duties as the unit's legal advisor, Barber began publishing his own newsletter The Striped Beagle. With his permission, DefendAmerica.mil will publish excerpts giving you another glimpse of what daily life is like for America's troops in the field.

Kuwaiti Campout Provides Message from Space
UDAIRI RANGE, Kuwait -- Sleeping under the dessert sky on a clear night is an awesome experience. I spent 25-27 January 04 at the Udari Range receiving additional training in convoy operations and defensive tactics in close quarters.
The range is in the middle of nowhere with Bedouin shepherds and their camels and goats as your only neighbors. In the Udari dessert you sense that things haven’t changed much over the last 8000 years, other than some Bedouins now have an old pickup truck outside their tent. More

Vet Care in Roza Sharif 4 More Photos

Army Col. Earl Morgan, a veterinarian with Headquarters Company, Combined Joint Civil Military Operations Task Force, gets ready to give dewormer to a monkey brought to the site during a civil medical assistance misison by the Task Force's civil affairs team in the village of Kuhday Dad , Afghanistan, Feb. 16, 2004. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Gul A Alisan
Photo Essay Archive

Hospital Corpsmen Receive
Bronze Star for Actions in Iraq

By Judy Lazarus / Naval Service Training Command

NAVAL STATION GREAT LAKES, Ill., Feb. 25, 2004 (NNS) — Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Alan P. Dementer and Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class Kenneth W. Ball were both awarded the Bronze Star with Combat "V" for heroic action during Operation Iraqi Freedom, in a ceremony Feb. 23 at Naval Hospital Corps School at Naval Station Great Lakes.
Rear Adm. Ann E. Rondeau, Commander, Navy Region Midwest/Naval Service Training Command presented the medals. "This is a great Navy day," Rondeau said. "We are honoring two enlisted Sailors. They walked the walk of honor, courage and commitment." More

Enterprise Carrier Strike Group Returns Home

NORFOLK, Va., Feb. 25, 2004 (NNS) — The lead ship in the Enterprise Carrier Strike Group, USS Enterprise, will return to its homeport of Norfolk, Va., Feb. 29.
The Enterprise Carrier Strike Group deployed in support of the global war on terrorism Oct. 2. Commander, Cruiser Destroyer Group 12, Rear Adm. J. G. Stavridis commands the Carrier Strike Group. More

Spc. Oscar Torres meets his three month old son, Oscar Jr., for the first time. Torres was one of about 150 soldiers from the 173rd Airborne Brigade to arrive at Caserma Ederle, Vicenze, Italy, from Iraq Feb. 19, 2004. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Tara Sherlock 5 More Photos

War on Terrorism

. U.S. Still Faces Terror Threat Despite Damage to al Qaeda

. Homeland Security Official Cites Challenges, Success

. Guantanamo Detainees Face Conspiracy Charges

. Ridge Announces New System, Database

. Marshall Center Launches Counterterrorism Course

Iraq

. Rumsfeld in Kazakhstan; Talks Focus on Military Relationship

. Polling Data Shows Majority Of Iraqis Want U.S. to Stay

. Coalition Raids Lead to Several Captures

. Bremer Calls U.N. Report on Iraqi Elections 'Constructive'

. Task Force Collects 5,000 Munitions, Detains 21

Military News

. Battle Dress Uniforms in Short Supply

. Service Members Can Apply for Expedited U.S. Citizenship

. More Pay for 1,500 Soldiers in War Zone

. National Guard, Reserve Update

West Point Grad Shares
Iraq Experiences with Cadets

Lt. Col. Rock Marcone, commander of the lead 3rd Infantry Division task force into Iraq last March, shares his units accomplishments with the West Point cadets in the class of 2005. U.S. Military Academy courtesy photo

WASHINGTON, Feb. 25, 2004 (Army News Service) — As the junior class at the U.S. Military Academy marked the passing of the 500-days-to-graduation mark with a formal dinner, Lt. Col. Rock Marcone, a 1985 West Point graduate, shared tales of the hardship and bravery of his soldiers as they led the 3rd Infantry Division attack into Iraq last spring. Story

Transformation

Deployed Marines Tote Tiny
Technology to Pass Time

From left to right, Cpl. Cesar D. Guerra, 24, of Miami, Lance Cpl. Cody S. Braun, 20, of New Philadelphia, Ohio, and Lance Cpl. Mike P. Cellini, 19, of Buffalo, N.Y., watch a movie on a portable DVD player Feb. 19, 2004, at Camp Victory, Kuwait. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Samuel Bard Valliere

CAMP VICTORY, Kuwait — It used to be that a deck of cards, a paperback and conversation was all a Marine needed to enjoy the down time of deployments. Today deployed Marines and sailors have taken advantage of new smaller, more portable technology. Story

More Transformation News

Sign an On-line Thank You Note

Airmen Handle Army,
Marine Airlift Needs

SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. (AFPN) — When Army and Marine units receive orders to deploy, a small group of airmen is often called upon to turn their air mobility needs into reality. Story

More Afghanistan Update Details

. Maps of Afghanistan

Profile

U.S. Marine Corps
Cpl. Joel Holmes

Marine Cpl. Joel Holmes, of Chico, Calif., works as an electronic-switching-equipment technician at Marine Corps Base, Quantico, Va. Holmes joined the Marine Corps in 1996 and attributes some of his successes in life from experiences gained as a former member of the Future Farmers of America. Marine Corps photo by Staff Sgt. Marc Ayalin

MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, Va. — As a youth growing up in a rural Northern California community, it was one country boy's dream to experience more of what the world had to offer. It wasn't a surprise to friends and family when, at age 18, Joel Holmes, of Chico, Calif., decided to become a U.S. Marine. More

More Profiles

In Iraq

Rumsfeld Meets with Task
Force Troops, Iraqi Soldiers

U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld meets with Iraqi Civil Defense Corps soldiers at Camp Muleskinner during a tour of the facility Feb. 24. The secretary also met with soldiers of the 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment

BAGHDAD, Iraq — The Office of the Secretary of Defense sent word to the military leadership in Iraq earlier this month. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld was coming to Iraq, and he specifically wanted to see the 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment, which is assigned to Task Force 1st Armored Division. More

Signal Battalion
Stays Combat Ready

Sgt. Heather McFarland, a radio operator/maintainer team chief with B Company, 141st Signal Battalion, shows Sgt. Dolphus Banks, a route team chief with C Company, 141st Signal Battalion, key areas to clean on the M-16 rifle. U.S. Army photo by Cpl. Todd Pruden

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Training and readiness play vital roles in today’s Army. Instruction and training in basic combat skills are necessary to ensure soldiers are prepared to deal with situations they may encounter in a combat environment. More

Deployed Airmen
Dispose of Munitions

TALLIL AIR BASE, Iraq (USAFENS) — Within the last six weeks, coalition explosive ordnance disposal specialists here have rid the country of more than 1,900 projectiles and mortars that could be used as improvised explosive devices. Story

'On The Ground' Archive