Green Beans Coffee Cup of Joe

So, I registered for this "Cup of Joe" promotion through Green Beans Coffee. Basically, when a service member registers for this promotion he will get an email for a 2 dollar coupon for Green Beans Coffee provided by a donor. Along with the coupon is a personal message from the donor supplying the two dollar coupon. Well, I feel like sharing some of these messages with the public. I really appreciate these messages.

"As I sit here in my comfortable kitchen, I feel like supplying you with coffee is such a small way to show my appreciation for the sacrafices you make everyday. One of my favorite lines from movies is Jack Nicholson's "You can't handle the truth" from A Few Good Men. I know it is true. What you all face everyday is something most of us can't imagine. So I hope that while you enjoy your cup of Joe you can close your eyes and imagine that this mother of 2, sitting in her kitchen just outside of San Jose California, really and truly appreciates the service you give our country. We may not always agree with the battles our government chooses, but everyday I appreciate the men and women who serve. God Bless you and keep you safe. Thank you..."

This is amazing stuff.

Steve

We must remember that what is popular or universally accepted may not always be right and true.

Beret for EOD Career Field

Another update for the EOD Beret.

This message was sent by: CMSgt ROBERT C HODGES a member of the AF EOD Program Management CoP

EOD Team,

I'm getting asked many more questions about the movement for the EOD Beret. I'm glad to see more and more EOD Airmen embracing this action as the right thing for the EOD Career Field. I've tried to explain why I feel this is the right thing to do for the EOD team and still I'm asked from time to time, "Do you want a beret?" This is not a matter of if "I" want a beret or not. The question should be "Is the EOD Career Field deserving of the recognition provided by a beret?"

I say emphatically, yes. Here are some thoughts for us all to consider:

The beret is a symbol of achievement and recognition in the United States military services. Many elite groups within all branches of military service have adopted the beret for this same reason. No matter what the color or insignia, the beret has been the trademark that identifies a particular group as being special and apart from the average military soldier, sailor, or airman.

Within the Air Force the beret signifies those specialties having unique skills ensuring the ability to recover protect and operate airfields in austere environments; conduct operations with joint forces and provide unique force protection skills saving lives and property.

USAF Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) technicians possess these unique skills and specialties in the performance of their duties and the Airmen in the EOD career field deserve the recognition that is symbolized by the beret.

If any EOD Airmen believes they do not possess these unique skills and perform these specialized missions it would truly surprise me. Each and every one of you have done remarkable things for our Nation and our AF. You are all deserving of this recognition.

For additional information in an effort to better inform everyone on this program we are posting the EOD Beret proposal package on the EOD Program CoP today. Please go to the CoP and read the three page proposal. I hope this answers your questions and brings us all together on this issue.

The Airmen in the EOD career field are deserving of the recognition that is symbolized by a beret worn with our uniform.

Working with CE senior leaders we hope to have this meet the uniform board in the spring of 2011.

Serving you with pride and honor,

TCB
Chief Hodges

Message from MG Byers

From: Byers, Timothy A Maj Gen USAF AF/A7C

Sent: Thursday, November 04, 2010 6:56 AM
To:

Subject: EOD Personnel Health & OPTEMPO

Civil Engineers,

Recent tragic events highlighted the stresses and dangers our EOD operators are experiencing in combat and at home. The current conflict in which our Nation is engaged has EOD forces as critical enablers to ground combat forces placing them on the front lines of combat. As our Nation takes the fight to the enemy and tries to root out the Taliban and ingrained insurgency throughout Afghanistan, it will continue to place our EOD Airmen in some of the most dangerous missions imaginable. All of our EOD Airman and their families continue to make extraordinary sacrifices to ensure our Nation is safe from those who would harm us. We honor those who have made the ultimate sacrifice, and it's their sacrifice that is driving me to reduce the stress for every EOD individual where I can. This includes those working home station missions to ensure safe air operations, range clearance operations, and those reinvigorating the nuclear enterprise as well as those personnel deployed who are making the combat environment safer for others to operate. I want you to get the word to the force that I am working a number of actions to address accessions, retention, and more importantly, the operations tempo.

We worked with the AF/A1 community to increase retention bonuses. Currently EOD personnel in Zones A (up to 6yr), Zone B (6-up to10yr) and Zone C (10-14yr) get a re-enlistment bonus that is seven times their base pay, times the numbers of years they reenlist up to the maximum of $90K. Also EOD personnel that fall in Zone E (18-20yr) get a reenlistment bonus that is 4.5 times their base pay, times the number of years they reenlist up to the maximum of $90K. Further, EOD personnel are now authorized Special Duty Assignment Pay (SDAP) in addition to the monthly Hazardous Duty Pay. Their SDAP ranges from $150 to $375 per month depending on grade and skill levels. Although these incentives are well earned, I realize to sustain this critical career field we must bring some reasonable order to the operational tempo, both at home station and in the combatant commander missions. EOD assigned manning sits at 73 percent with 940 enlisted EOD operators assigned against 1,289 authorizations; over 700 have less than 10 years in the service. AF EOD lost a significant amount of experience over the last 6 years for which OPSTEMPO is a key factor. This lack of experience will create significant training curve when trying to reset the force and train Airmen on core AF EOD mission sets. Within the last year we have had two major range safety mishaps with one person killed and two significantly injured--safety guidelines were not followed in both instances which can be attributed to lack of training and lack of continuity for basic EOD skills. One way to get at this is through reduced deployment requirements allocated to the Air Force team. Currently there are 268 EOD deployment requirements, and my goal is to get that number down substantially.

I personally contacted Joint Forces command in August to request relief from EOD tasking ordered by the Secretary of Defense in Fiscal Year 2011. We were successful in getting relieved of a 32-person requirement effective Dec 2010. That is great news, but I am pushing hard to off-ramp another two missions totaling an additional 64 personnel in FY11 and beyond. This will be a tough challenge since all the Services report similar operational commitments. My staff is building the case which I believe is a strong one when compared to the proportional manpower in each Service. I am working this at the most senior levels within Air Force leadership and we should get the decisions through the Global Force Management process over the next 30 days However, getting this much needed relief to our EOD forces is paramount to sustaining the career field.

This is a joint fight, and the Air Force is "all in," but please know I am committed to achieving parity in the sourcing process and will provide regular updates on our progress. I need you to use commander calls and other forums to get the word out that this is a top priority of mine. Please keep all of our Civil Engineer Airmen deployed around the world in your thoughts and pray for their safe return.


VR, MG B

TIMOTHY A. BYERS, Maj Gen, USAF
The Civil Engineer

DCS/Logistics, Installations & Mission Support

"Build to Last...Lead the Change"

Why a beret for the EOD career field?

See the email from our wonderful CFM. What do you think?

This message was sent by: CMSgt ROBERT C HODGES a member of the AF EOD Program Management CoP

EOD Airmen, Leaders and Warriors,

I’ve been asked on several occasions by EOD Airmen, “Why is EOD trying to get a beret?” I want to try to answer this for the whole EOD career field and any others who may ask. Short answer is: The Airmen in the EOD career field perform a unique skill that very few have the capability or desire to do and EOD warriors should be recognized by the USAF for their specialized skill.

Here is a little bit more on this initiative. The beret's purpose while being worn with the USAF uniform is to recognize Airmen who are members of a unique specialty and perform uncommon, extraordinary missions. I’ve been performing the EOD mission for 26+ years and I believe all EOD Airmen have earned the right to be recognized as having a unique and extraordinary mission.

If there is an Airman who will tell me that EOD should not be recognized by the whole USAF as a career field that is unlike any other, please give me a call or email. You may want to talk with your fellow EOD warriors before you make that call. I believe and will argue with anyone that EOD Airmen perform a unique mission and should be recognized for the very special mission we have. It is not only because y’all have earned it; if we had to earn it we have far exceeded that need and each of you deserves this recognition.

So, with all of us believing in these things, why should I not work to have EOD recognized for what you all do every day? In the past, EOD were recognized across the base or when we walked into a room because we wore BDUs before anyone else did. Our EOD Crab made us stand out because it was one of very few badges that Airmen wore. We didn't need a hat to make us stand out, but we had one anyway. We stood out and we liked it. That has all changed.

In today's AF we blend in with our fellow Airmen. I am a proud member of our USAF and I love wearing my uniform. However, after talking with many of you I believe our EOD Techs still want to be recognized. If not, why do I keep getting requests for EOD to wear special uniforms or some type of baseball cap? We don't want to just wear them in combat; we want to wear them all of the time. We still have some units that wear black flight suits so everyone knows they are EOD. Why? Because they are not only functional, but the special uniforms are cool and make us look special and make us stand out; get us recognized. While wearing our uniform the USAF allows members with a special mission to be recognized with a beret.

As I mentioned, some EOD Airmen want a tan ball cap with a crab on it. I’ve put some feelers out for this to some senior enlisted leaders and officers. The feedback I have gotten is all negative, it will not get approved. There is no legacy or precedence for it. Our RED HORSE teams had both a legacy and precedence to follow. I was pointed toward a beret if I wanted the EOD CF to be recognized. The interesting thing about this is, even the Airmen who want the ball cap want to be recognized as something special. We need to understand the beret is how the USAF does this in uniform.

Many EOD Airmen want a beret but some only want to wear it while in blues. If approved for wear it will be worn in ABU/BDU and blues while in garrison. Some EOD warriors complain because the beret will not give a shade from the sun. It is not approved for wear while deployed or in training events that simulate deployed locations or operations. It should not be worn while performing range ops or actual EOD operations when the ABU cap or other head gear is the more appropriate choice. If the beret is approved it will not be optional for when an Airmen wants to wear it. As mentioned before, it will be the designated head gear to be worn with ABUs and blues while in garrison.

I see a group of Airmen who are out in a fight everyday doing something that no one else could even imagine themselves doing and would never do. Our EOD Airmen are a very unique group of specialized operators and you should be recognized for all you do and how unique you are. In today's AF the only way for our Airmen to get that earned recognition is with a beret.

I was given this example by an EOD Airman who favors the beret. He explained to me that when we go to events on base or to special classes like PME everyone looks around at the Airmen as they walk in, mingle about or stand in formation. Everybody who walks in is an Airman. When an Airman walks in wearing a maroon beret everyone recognizes that a PJ walked in. The same goes for a red beret, everyone knows that a combat controller just walked in. They are looked at differently, looked at as being warriors. He mentioned that no one in the AF is doing what we do in this war and EOD should be recognized as being a unique warrior Airman. We aren't just part of the group; we are elite and should be recognized for it. I happen to agree with this TSgt.

The reason I selected the symbolic tan color and recommended it as the proper color for the EOD beret is for it to serve as a tribute to honor the fallen EOD Airmen lost during Operations IRAQI and ENDURING FREEDOM. These combat operations have altered the USAF EOD operational concepts and will forever be recognized as the time when the EOD operators engaged in hostile operations far reaching outside of the bounds of the air base perimeter. The bravery, KIA, WIA and sacrifices of EOD Airmen in today’s conflicts warrant the recognition a beret brings to a particular specialty as it does for other elite Airmen.

Some Airmen have recommended using the money for the beret and get more SRBs or SDAP. These actions are not linked. Uniforms and incentive pay are different pots of money. The USAF EOD Airmen are getting more incentive money than ever. We work very hard with senior staff at HQ AF to evaluate and engage on every opportunity for more incentives. In this time of serious budget cuts, the USAF EOD Airmen are being very well taken care of. We will continue to fight for monetary incentives. The beret has nothing to do with money. The beret will cost almost the same amount at the BDU cap; it is considered a zero-cost program.

Please understand I’m not trying to sell the beret to anyone. The reasons above are why I feel now is the right time for a beret for our career field. I’ve had the honor to serve y’all in this very special job as your Career Filed Manager. I want to ensure EOD Airmen get every bit of recognition you have earned.

Thanks for your time. I’m honored to serve.

EOD, GCF TCB

RCH
Robert C. Hodges, CMSgt, USAF
EOD Career Field Manager

Yesterday, 9 September 2010, I graduated the Tyndall AFB NCO Academy. During my six weeks there, I met some interesting people that I would probably like to stay in contact with but won't, and I met some people that I wish that I had never met.

There are some things that I find amusing about the whole experience. The first one being that the academy makes the late CMSAF Airy a deity. Granted, he is the first Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force and that is admirable; however, when his image is engraved on everything everywhere it is a little creepy. The NCOA staff also tends to idolize any Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force. I am not sure if it is wrong, but it sure is creepy. During my attendance at the "Airey NCO Academy" our class was often forced to to respond "Always first" when a staff member yelled "Airey!" That is quite strange.

On the positive side, CMSAF Airey does deserve recognition in the history books because when he was alive, he was always promoting the well being of the enlisted Air Force person. I say, let's add his name to the Airman's Creed.

1. The 2010 Olympic Winter Games were held February 12th to the 28th in Vancouver, British Columbia. Typically figure skating, skiing, and hockey take the spotlight during the winter Olympics, but the winter Olympics have other events that can be just as exciting. One of these events is an obscure sport called curling. The purpose of this paper is to introduce the reader to the history of Olympic curling, and the origins and rules of the sport. First, this paper will briefly discuss Olympic history. Next, this paper will discuss the history and controversies of Olympic curling. Lastly, this paper will discuss the origins and rules of curling. How did the Olympic Games begin?
2. According to the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) webpage, the first ancient Olympic Games can be traced back to 776 BC, and were dedicated to the Greek gods. The games continued for 12 centuries until the Romans, after conversion to Christianity, banned pagan ceremonies. The first modern Olympic Games were held in 1896 in Athens, Greece and attracted athletes from 14 nations. In comparison, the 2010 Olympic Winter Games attracted athletes from 83 nations. The first Winter Games were held in 1924 in Chamonix, France. Olympic Games were held every four years since 1896, unless prevented because of world events. Examples of world events disrupting the Games’ schedule are those that were scheduled between 1936 and 1948 because of World War II. In 1986, the IOC changed the schedule of the Games so that the Winter Games occurred on the even years between the Summer Games. The new schedule took effect starting with the 1992 Games (IOC).
3. According to the World Curling Federation (WCF) website, curling was introduced in the first Winter Games. Curling appeared in the Winter Games again in 1932, 1988, and 1992 but only as a demonstration sport. In 1992, the IOC made curling an Olympic sport to start effective with the 2002 Winter Games, with an option to start in the 1998 Winter Games. In 1993, the organizing committee for the Nagano Olympic Winter Games agreed to include curling into the event scheduled for the 1998 Winter Games. Since curling was not accepted by the IOC as a medal event until the 1998 Games, the events that took place in 1924, 1932, 1988, and 1992 did not earn medals. This changed in 2006 when the IOC declared that the curling event in the 1924 Games was an official Olympic event, and retroactively awarded Great Britain the gold, Sweden the silver, and France the Bronze. The curling events in 1932, 1988, and 1992 remain categorized as a demonstration and therefore did not qualify for medals. Today, curling is gaining popularity especially with the television time and news coverage devoted to the Games.
4. According to the United States Curling Association (USCA) website, curling was first documented in Scotland during the 1500’s. The game originated by skipping stones over frozen ponds as a way to pass the time (WCF). The Scottish people further developed the game, and by the early 1800’s the rules were formalized and in 1838 a governing body was established (WCF and USCA). In the late 1800’s curling was thriving in the cold northern states of the United States (USCA). In 2006, the US Olympic curling team won the Bronze medal, marking the first time a US team won a medal in the curling event. Curling has evolved from skipping stones over a pond to an official Olympic sport with a set of definite rules.
5. The WCF’s mission statement says that the Federation “represents curling internationally and facilitates the growth of the sport through a network of Member Associations/Federations.” The WCF is the governing body of the Olympic Winter Sport of Curling organization (WCF), and posts the rules of curling on its website. The following information is derived from The Olympic Winter Sport, the Rules of Curling and Rules of Competition posted on the WCF page. Equipment needed for curling consists of the stone (or rock), broom, and shoes. The rock is a piece of granite that weighs 38 to 44 pounds. The rock is round, with a circumference of no greater than 36 inches and height not less than 4.5 inches. Attached to the rock is a handle that the player holds when the stone is thrown, or delivered. The stones are delivered on a sheet of ice from one side to the other. Targets and lines are painted or inlayed on the ice. Two 4-man teams compete against each other; the goal of the game is to get the rocks closest to the center of the target. The players use brooms after the rock is delivered to sweep the ice in order to move debris out of the path of the rock. The captain of the team, called the skip, stands behind the target and directs the team on how to move the rocks to the target. The game periods are called ends. Each team delivers 8 rocks per end. The end is over after the last rock is delivered and scored. Each game lasts either 8 or 10 ends, but a minimum of 6 ends must be played to finish the game. After 6 ends, a team may concede the game. Curling is different in this aspect from other sports, because the losing team is encouraged to concede the game when it is impossible to win. In the event of a tie, an extra end is played until a team wins. The shoes are special shoes made specifically for curling. The shoes should grip the ice well. Teflon covers are sometimes put over the soles of the shoes to allow the players to slide across the ice. Remember “the spirit of curling demands good sportsmanship, kindly feeling and honourable conduct.” (Rules of Curling, 2008).
6. As you have read, curling is an old sport with unique customs and traditions that is relatively new to the winter Olympics. First, this paper briefly discussed Olympic history. Then, this paper discussed the history and controversies of Olympic curling. Last, this paper discussed the origins and rules of curling. Hopefully, this paper piqued your interest curling. Now you have been introduced to the origins and rules of the sport in the chance you see it on TV or in person.