Archive for July, 2010

A Note from Governor Strickland; You Can Use the Other Side for Scrap Paper

Executive Order 2008–17S
Immediate Adoption of Rule to Honor Veterans’ Service and Attract Them to Ohio’s Workforce
o The United States Has a Rich and Proud History of Its Citizens Serving in the Armed Forces. Throughout our nation’s history, millions of Americans have defended and protected the United States and its people through their brave and selfless service in the Armed Forces.
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To Kill an American

You probably missed this in the rush of news, but there was actually a report that someone in Pakistan had published, in a newspaper, an offer of a reward to anyone who killed an American, any American.

So an Australian dentist wrote an editorial the following day to let everyone know what an American is. So they would know when they found one.
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Recession? What Recession?

Lockheed Martin Corp., Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Fort Worth, Texas, is being awarded an advance acquisition contract with an estimated value of $522,200,000 to provide for long-lead efforts and materials associated with the production and delivery of 42 low-rate initial production Lot V F-35 Joint Strike Fighter aircraft.

General Dynamics Bath Iron Works, Bath, Maine, is being awarded a $105,353,508 modification to a previously awarded contract (N00024-06-C-2303) for long-lead time construction for DDG 1001; long-lead time material for DDG 1002; and engineering and production support services.

General Dynamics Information Technology, Inc., Fairfax, Va., is being awarded a $12,670,466 task order #0048 under previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract (M67854-02-A-9014) to provide general engineering and scientific support to the Marine Corps Systems Command, Operational Forces Systems, Product Group 09 (PG09), Program Manager, Ground Combat Systems (PM-GCS), for item unique identification (IUID) marking of legacy ground non-mission essential principal end items (PEIs) and applicable assemblies/subassemblies, e.g., secondary repairables (SECREPS).

General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products, Inc., Burlington, Vt., was awarded on June 30 a $136,609,009 firm-fixed-price contract for fiscal 2010 production for the HYDRA-70, 2.75-inch rocket system.

BAE Systems, U.S. Combat Systems, York, Pa., was awarded on June 3 a $69,994,441 firm-fixed-price contract.

John Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, Laurel, Md., was awarded a $35,911,097 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract. The contractor will advance; build, and field demonstrate an optical modem that will allow multi-gigabit per second, hybrid laser-RF communications at long range, and under extreme atmospheric turbulence and cloudy conditions.

General Electric Co., GE Aviation Division, Cincinnati, Ohio, was awarded on June 28 a $31,722,530 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract.

Keiland Construction, LLC, Lake Charles, La., was awarded on June 28 a $16,859,584 firm-fixed-price contract for “Storm Proofing Measures for Carrollton Water Plant Power Complex, Old River intake stations, and New River intake stations, Orleans Parish, La.

Lockheed Martin, MS2 Integrated Defense Technologies, Bothell, Wash., was awarded on June 28 a $14,699,206 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract.

BAE Systems, Nashua, N.H., was awarded on June 28 a $13,700,000 firm-fixed-price contract for 80 advanced threat infrared countermeasure quick reaction capability A-kits and 24 B-kit line replaceable units.

CACI-WGI, Inc., Vienna, Va., was awarded on June 30 a $10,314,714 cost-plus-fixed fee contract for professional support services in support of the Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Organization.

BAE System Information Solutions, Inc., Herndon, Va., was awarded on June 30 a $9,774,816 firm-fixed-fee contract to integrate, test and deploy the information technology capabilities for the multi-domain dissemination system and cross-domain intelligence release Phase II.

Innovative Emergency Management, Inc., Baton Rouge, La., was awarded on July 1 a $9,678,701 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract to implement a public outreach program that is conducted as an integrated government contractor team focused on interaction and public involvement.

General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems, Marion, Ill., was awarded on June 28 a $9,336,321 firm-fixed-price contract for 258,843 25MM projectile gun unit cartridges.

ImmixTechnology, Inc., was awarded on June 28 a $9,090,671 firm-fixed-price contract for 45,555 Citrix licenses with three years of maintenance.

Huikala, JV, LLC, Honolulu, Hawaii, was awarded on June 30 a $9,075,000 firm-fixed-fee-contract.

General Dynamics Robotics Systems, Westminster, Md., was awarded on June 29 a $9,400,000 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract.

Raytheon Co., Space and Airborne System, El Segundo, Calif., was awarded on June 24 a $9,057,931 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for the Robust Electric Laser Initiative (RELI).

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Love To, But I’m Hung Over From Dean Martin Day

Ray Saikus walks point for Viet Nam veterans and he posted this provocative query:

AND WHY NOT VIETNAM VETERANS DAY?????

From: http://codes.ohio.gov/orc/gp5.228
5.228 Korean War Veterans’ day.
The twenty-seventh of July is designated as “Korean War Veterans’ Day,” in honor of those who fought, died, or are still unaccounted for in the Korean war.
Effective Date: 03-11-1996

From: http://codes.ohio.gov/orc/gp5 and many more there
5.222 General Pulaski memorial day.
The eleventh day of October shall be designated as “General Pulaski Memorial Day,” in honor of General Casimir Pulaski, Polish patriot and American Revolution military commander.
Effective Date: 03-14-1985
5.2243 Ohio boy scout week.
The calendar week including the eighth day of February is designated as “Ohio Boy Scout Week.”
Effective Date: 2008 SB243 04-07-2009
5.2251 Internet safety day.
The fourth Sunday in September is designated as “Internet Safety Day.”
Effective Date: 2008 SB243 04-07-2009
5.2256 U.S.S. Hocking day.
The twenty-second day of October shall be designated “U.S.S. Hocking Day,” in honor of the distinguished career of the U.S.S. Hocking, a World War II attack transport ship, the Navy crew who served on it, and the Marines who were carried into battle on it.
Effective Date: 2008 SB243 04-07-2009
5.2265 Ohio military family month.
The month of August is designated as “Ohio Military Family Month.”
Added by 128th General Assembly File No. 9, HB 1, § 101.01, eff. 10/16/2009.
Added by 128th General Assembly ch. 8, HB 150, § 1, eff. 7/15/2009.
5.227 Destroyer escort day in Ohio.
The third Saturday in June is designated as “Destroyer Escort Day in Ohio,” in honor of the destroyer escort ships and the Ohioans who served on them during World War II, the Korean conflict, and the war in Vietnam.
Effective Date: 03-11-1996
5.229 Gold Star Mothers Day.
The last Sunday in September shall be designated “Gold Star Mothers Day,” to honor mothers whose sons or daughters have been killed while serving on active duty in the armed forces of the United States.
Effective Date: 08-08-1996
5.2216 Ohio National Guard day.
The twenty-fifth of July is designated as “Ohio National Guard day,” in honor of those who have served and contributed to the distinguished service and contributions of the Ohio National Guard to this state and the people of Ohio.
Effective Date: 07-09-1998
5.2220 Dean Martin day.
The seventh day of June is designated as “Dean Martin Day,” in honor of the Steubenville, Ohio native, Dino Paul Crocetti, born on that day in 1917, for his achievements as a nationally and internationally famous singer, actor, and radio and television personality.
Effective Date: 09-26-2001
5.2224 School bus drivers appreciation day.
The first Monday in May is designated as “School Bus Drivers Appreciation Day” to increase public recognition of the important function that school bus drivers serve in safely transporting the children of this state to and from school.
Effective Date: 07-23-2002
5.2225 Teacher appreciation day.
The first Tuesday of the first full week in May is designated as “Teacher Appreciation Day.”
Effective Date: 08-14-2002
5.2233 Ohio public safety employee day.
The eleventh day of September shall be designated as “Ohio Public Safety Employee Day,” in honor of the men and women who selflessly place their own lives in danger to protect the lives and property of the people of Ohio.
Effective Date: 04-05-2007
5.2238 Heritage and freedom flag of the former republic of Vietnam day.
The twenty-ninth day of April is designated as “Heritage and Freedom Flag of the Former Republic of Vietnam Day” in honor of the heroes who gave the ultimate sacrifice for freedom.
Effective Date: 2008 HB55 08-14-2008

5.2240 Crohn’s and colitis awareness day.
The twenty-third day of May is designated as “Crohn’s and Colitis Awareness Day.”
Effective Date: 2008 HB150 09-12-2008

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War’s a Bitch. Living through one ain’t a walk in the park, either.

(Sent to us by Captain Michelle Smith, Ohio National Guard)

Capt. Michelle Smith
Captain Michelle Smith enlisted in the Ohio National Guard when she was 18 years old. Sixteen years later she decided to become an officer. Four months after receiving a direct commission as a 2nd Lieutenant, she was leading a Military Police platoon in Iraq. The year was 2003.

Describing her experience, Capt. Smith said, “My unit was mortared everyday. We spent our time patrolling the roads, on constant alert for Improvised Explosive Devices (IED), ambushes and attacks. During an insurgency, you can’t tell who the enemy is, and because of the Rules of Engagement, we could not defend ourselves unless we could identify who was attacking us. One day we were ambushed and an IED went off right beside our vehicle and the vehicle behind us. Fortunately, it wasn’t a well made bomb. This is how we lived for ten months, never knowing what might happen next. Added to this stress was the knowledge that I was responsible for the lives of the 32 soldiers in my Platoon. Adrenalin flowed through my veins constantly, whether I was awake or asleep.” Read the rest of this entry »

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Why I Love My VA Hospital

Over the years, a number of friends and acquaintances have been leveled with shingles. Terribly painful and not all that attractive, either. Turns out the virus that levels sufferers has been sitting around for years and years, not taking up much space or making any noise.

And then — ka-bloowey! Substantial portions of your torso suddenly look like fried pork rinds brushed with barbecue sauce. Like barbecue sauce it can come in mild, medium, or “Did you say suicide is painless?” Modern medicine is working on this case, but to date, there’s not much it can do about it. Pain pills and steroids are about it.

Except MM has developed a vaccine.

When I turned 60, VA Brecksville called and offered the vaccine. I went. Hope it works. What impressed me was the hospital’s diligence. Staff there pays attention to this Ramblin’ Wreck from Ol’ West Tech.

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“Each One Reach One, Teach One”

(Sent to us by “NAMI Ohio” )

Vet2Vet is a national recovery movement specifically for veterans. Its founder, Moe Armstrong explains, “Vet2Vet is based on the concept of mutual help. Each One Reach One Teach One. We are a group of people with mental illness or psychiatric conditions who happen to be veterans. We are dedicated to helping other veterans and all people who have psychiatric conditions establish meaningful lives in the community.”
Like the SOAR program being developed by Capt. Smith and the Ohio National Guard, Vet2Vet believes the best way to reach veterans is through other veterans and their organizations. “Veterans have unique experiences and are, in a way, a unique breed. They need to find others who get what it is like to experience war or service-related trauma. By collaborating with mental health providers and programs such as the Guard program, we can bring veterans into a healing environment that they are comfortable with,” stated Walter Hudson. Walter is deeply involved in veteran issues, serving on the NAMI National’s Veteran Council as Area Coordinator for VISN 10 (the Veterans Integrated Service Network of which VISN 10 includes most of Ohio). Like Armstrong, he is a veteran. He is recovering from service-related Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Depression. Walter has been very active in Ohio’s consumer-led recovery efforts and was one of the first people trained in WRAP (Wellness Recovery Action Plan) that provides an individual recovery road map for individuals living with various forms of mental illness. He has also contributed to a number of publications focused on wellness recovery and community supports, and is a nationally recognized trainer in this area.
As part of his passion and his role on the NAMI Veteran Council, Walter is leading efforts to make Vet2Vet programs available throughout Ohio, “Vet2Vet in Los Angeles has served over 30,000 veterans. We need to do that in Ohio.” His goal is for Ohio Vet2Vet to offer peer-facilitated support groups in all areas of Ohio, including VA hospitals and clinics as well as community-based veteran organizations. “My first step to making Ohio Vet2Vet a reality is to form a steering committee,” said Hudson. “I am looking for veterans, family members of veterans or others who have a deep commitment to veterans to serve on the steering committee.”
NAMI Ohio is pleased to support this effort in Ohio and is asking any of our Stigma Buster readers with an interest in serving on the Ohio Vet2Vet Steering Committee to contact Walter Hudson as soon as possible. He can be reached at (330) 749-8283 or whudson54@aol.com.

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But if the cause be not good, the King himself hath a heavy reckoning to make

(Excerpted with permission from Combat Veterans: Bringing It Home, by Bill DeWitt MA, MFT, Viet Nam 1967-1968)

War: The Clean Machine
Paul Fussell survived his service in WWII Europe as an infantry combat officer to return home and earn a Ph.D. from Harvard. He eventually became a professor of English Literature at the University of Pennsylvania. He is one of the very few academics in the field who can write about war, based upon intimate knowledge and personal experience. His clear-eyed honesty cuts through a lot of the official bullshit.

In his book, Wartime, he sets the stage for war:
“In the popular and genteel iconography of war during the bourgeois age, all the way from 18th and 19th century history paintings to 20th century photographs, the bodies of the dead, in inert, are dead. Bloody, sometimes sprawled in awkward positions, but except for the absence of life, plausible and acceptable simulacra of the people they once were. But there is a contrary and much more ‘realistic’ convention represented in, say, the Bayeux Tapestry, where an ornamental border displays numerous severed heads and limbs. That convention is honored likewise in Renaissance awareness of what happens to the body in battle.
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Who Needs a Merry-Go-Round When We Have the Federal Government?

Ms. Laura Pechaitis
Constituent Services Liaison
Office of Senator Sherrod Brown
Erieview Tower
1301 East 9th St., Suite 1710
Cleveland, Ohio 44114

Dear Laura:

Thank you for your prompt return of my call. Per your request, I will detail what my inquiries have resulted in so far, to try and locate a DSN # for the Greater Cleveland area and, hopefully, all of Ohio.

My son, Maj. Thad D. Weist, was deployed for the fourth time now to Afghanistan approximately three weeks ago. Shortly after his arrival, he contacted me and asked if I could try and find the DSN # utilized by the military in Northeast Ohio so that he could dial up a 216 or 440 exchange. I first contacted the DFAS office at the Cleveland Federal Building and spoke with the director’s secretary. She was very helpful and sent out inquiries to several people to see if they had access to such a number. Two of their staff people responded back to me and informed me that such a number is not available. I then contacted the U.S. Coast Guard Station, Cleveland Headquarters, also located in the Federal Building. I explained my request and was transferred to one of their tech people who had been deployed himself and knew exactly what I needed. He called me back within the hour and said he had found the DSN # for Ohio deployed troops and that it was out of Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Dayton, Ohio. He gave me that number which is known as the “Ohio Morale Line” (787-1110). The tech’s name is Joe Dellarose and he can be reached at 216-902-6117.

I forwarded this information to my son via email. He emailed me back and explained that when he called this number, he was asked for his credit card number so that they could charge him for the long distance fees from Dayton to the Cleveland exchange area. I then contacted Lt. Cornell Blue’s office at Army recruiting command, Cleveland, also at the Federal Building. I had no luck there either. I find it hard to believe that soldiers deployed out of the Dayton area can enjoy the “Ohio Morale Line” and the rest of the our deployed military have to pay for this service.

I feel confident that Senator Brown can correct this oversight so that all of our deployed troops in Ohio can enjoy the Ohio Morale Line and not just those in the Dayton area code exchange.

Any assistance Senator Brown could provide would be greatly appreciated, not only for me, but for all of the men and women that are deployed from this great State.

Thank you for your prompt attention to this most important issue.

Daniel T. Weist
President, Cuyahoga County Veteran Service Commission
Office: 216-698-2646
Home: 440-835-2654
Cell: 440-241-0042
Email: danweist@wowway.com

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Cleveland State University Seeks Veteran Student Success Coordinator

NOTE: July 29th Deadline for applying. Please send it on to all Veterans and their families
Let us get the best candidates apply to serve our Veterans at Cleveland State University (CSU)

Mailing Address
Cleveland State University
2121 Euclid Avenue, AC 113
Cleveland, OH 44115-2214

Campus Location
Parker Hannifin
Administration Center
2300 Euclid Avenue
Suite 113
Phone: 216.687.3636
hr@csuohio.edu

Category:

Administrative & Professional
Start Date

08/23/2010 (ASAP)
Salary Grade:
4
Title:
Coord, Veteran Student Success
Department:
Student Life
Title of Immediate Supervisor:
Dean of Students
FLSA:
Non-Exempt
FTE:
1
Function:

Plans and coordinates orientation, retention and outreach initiatives with key institutional partners. Provides information and student services assistance related to university policies and procedures. Resolves administrative problems and inquiries; composes, edits, and proofreads correspondence, reports and surveys, and prepares a variety of administrative and fiscal documents. Establishes and maintains institutional information pertaining to veterans. Supervises assigned student and volunteer staff. Interacts professionally with all internal and external customers using strong interpersonal skills.

Minimum Qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree and administrative or student services experience in higher education. Strong customer orientation and excellent written, verbal and interpersonal skills. Ability to work successfully across a broad spectrum of the university and veterans communities. PC proficiency, including word processing, spreadsheet and database applications. Ability to maintain confidentiality. Ability to work independently, resolve problems in absence of supervisor, and prioritize workload to meet deadlines.

Preferred Qualifications:

Veteran status (Honorably discharged). Experience developing and implementing effective retention or recruitment programs.

Requisition Number:
0600288

Posting Open To:
All Applicants (External & Internal)
Position Funding:
Funds Available
If Funds Available, Date Grant Expires:
If Temporary, Date Position or Appointment Expires:
Special Notes:
Hours Per Week:
40
Work Schedule:
Required to work some evenings and weekends

Shift:
First
Hiring Range/Pay Rate:
$32,552 – $42,000
Bargaining Unit:
SEIU Represented
Full-time/Part-time:
Full-Time
Posting Date:
07-14-2010
Closing Date:
07-29-2010

Required Applicant Documents:
Resume
Cover Letter
Instructions to Applicants:
Applications will be exclusively accepted online at http://www.csuohio.edu/offices/hrd/employment.html Mailed or emailed application materials will not be accepted.

Review Begins:
Internal Job Category:
Professional

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