Army Wounded Warrior Transitions to DHS Post-Injury

At the 2011 Wounded Warrior Federal Employment Conference,  Army Wounded Warrior (AW2) veteran Cpt. Alvin Shell spoke about the challenges wounded warriors face when making the transition to civilian jobs. In Shell’s case, one of the many hurdles he dealt with was chronic pain from his severe burns and other combat-related injuries.

Shell is currently working at the Department of Homeland Security as the Acting Deputy Division Chief, Force Protection Branch, Office of the Chief Security Officer, Department of Homeland Security.  His transition to the civilian workforce parallels any career change: depart one job, take a minute to reconnect with Family and think through career goals and where you would like to go next, apply for that new job and begin to orient yourself to a new corporate culture.. See the full article: http://bit.ly/goIiR9

Army Wounded Warrior Program Holds Federal Resume Workshop

The Army Wounded Warrior (AW2) program held a two-day resume workshop to prepare applications for federal jobs. Experienced human resources counselors from the Office of Personnel Management provided tailored advice to soldiers in hands-on sessions.

Participants were also provided online resources that help translate military experience into civilian terms. This week, these Soldiers and Veterans will have the opportunity to network with federal officials at the 2011 Wounded Warrior Federal Employment Conference. See the full article: http://bit.ly/eSnafC

Energy Innovation in California

Jay Keasling, CEO of the Joint BioEnergy Institute, discusses feedstocks for advanced biofuels with Assistant Secretary of Defense Sharon Burke.

Last week, President Obama released his 2012 budget proposal.  In it, the President proposed doubling funding for energy efficiency and renewable energy innovation.    While the budget was being sent up to Capitol Hill, I was in California, learning how energy innovations will help the Department of Defense more strategically use energy today and in the future.

For the nation, accelerating energy innovation means new technologies for energy efficiency and new supplies of energy.  Both are critical if we are to transition to a clean energy future.  For the Department of Defense, the challenge is even more direct.  As the single largest consumer of fossil fuels in the Nation, the Department spent almost $13.5 billion last year to purchase energy.  While secure access to this energy enables us to protect the Nation, our dependence on fossil fuels comes at a cost in mission effectiveness and dollars.  And unfortunately, we’ve seen with attacks on fuel convoys in Iraq and Afghanistan, it can also cost U.S. military lives.

The good news is that a huge range of scientists and entrepreneurs have mobilized to transform the way we use energy.  At Stanford University, Former Secretary of State George Shultz and Former Secretary of Defense Bill Perry, and a team of military fellows, representing every service, have clearly articulated the connection between our national security and our energy security and are finding effective ways government can respond. (more…)

Episode #75: Weekly News Roundup for Feb. 25

In the “DoD This Week” podcast for Feb 25: Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Mike Mullen, along with commander of U.S. Central Command, Gen. James Mattis met with their counterparts in Oman as part of Mullen’s visit in the Middle East to reassure the U.S. commitment to regional stability there.

There have been some new changes to the Post 9/11 G.I. Bill. Those currently using their benefits on active duty will have a tiered structure applied to the amount of benefit they can receive.

The deadline for Retroactive Stop Loss Special Pay has once again been extended to March 4, 2011. Eligible members or their beneficiaries may submit claims to their respective military service to receive $500 for each or partial month served in Stop Loss status.

Sailors from the USS Theodore Roosevelt held a virtual mentoring program for kids in the Hampton Roads, Va., area.

Carol Kando-Pineda from the Federal trade Commission provides a special message as part of Military Saves Week.

Listen here.

Army Roundtable: New Army Physical and Combat Readiness Tests

Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling polls second lieutenants in Air Defense Artillery Basic Officer Leader Course B at Fort Sill.

Join the U.S. Army’s Online and Social Media Division for a Bloggers Roundtable in conjunction with the public reveal of the new Army Physical Readiness Test (APRT) and the Army Combat Readiness Test (ACRT), for Tuesday, March 1, 2011, at 10:30 a.m. EST.

U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command’s, deputy commanding general for Initial Military Training, Lt. Gen. Mark P. Hertling, will present the APRT and ACRT at Fort Jackson, S.C. Pilot programs for the new tests are scheduled to begin next month in various locations throughout the Army and are slated to replace the current Army Physical Fitness Test (APFT) Army-wide later this year. The U.S. Army Physical Fitness School (USAPFS), led by director, Frank Palkoska, will provide a live demonstration of both tests, marking the first public revealing.

Preceding the live demonstration at Fort Jackson, bloggers participating in the roundtable will be provided a brief background and overview of changes, addressing how the tests correlate with the Army’s Physical Readiness Training and how they better assess a soldier’s physical ability.

The current PT test, which consists of two minutes of pushups, two minutes of sit-ups and a two-mile run, has remained unchanged since 1980.

Listen live.