Officer Qualification Record

The Officer Qualification Record (OQR), NAVMC 123a, is one of the best sources of information concerning US Marine officers. It is similar to the enlisted Service Record Book (SRB) with only minor differences. This "record presents a cumulative and concise summary of basic events in the officer's career from the time of acceptance of appointment to separation. The OQR also serves as the basis for reporting information into the Marine Corps Total Force System and provides commanders with background information to assist them in officer personnel planning and assignment."
An officer's OQR contains, at a minimum, his NAVMC 763 (Appointment Acceptance) (essentially the officer version of a contract), NAVMC 118(3) (Chronological Record), NAVMC 118(11) (Administrative Remarks), Record of Emergency Data (RED), and Servicemembers Group Life Insurance (SGLI) Beneficiary Election Form. In addition to this, if the officer is a "mustang", prior enlisted, his enlistment contract(s), and DD Form 214. A NAVMC 10922 (Dependency Affidavit) is also included for married officers.
Standard Side of the SRB/OQR.
The documents located on the right hand side of the folder are in every record and can serve as a basis for comparison. A standard page may consist of more than one page and is often identified by its NAVMC form number rather than its title or actual position in the sequence.
DD Form 4 enlistment/reenlistment contract.
The first standard page is the basic agreement which establishes the legal relationship between the servicemember and the United States government. An officer will have an Appointment Acceptance and Record page (NAVMC 763) in place of an enlistment contract. This document represents the legal relationship between an officer and the Government.
NAVMC 118 (3).
The Chronological record page is a historical record of a servicemember's career listing all significant billets held and all units with whom they served. Periods of TAD as well as nonduty (UA, confinement, and hospitalization) will be reflected. Proceed, travel and leave are not recorded.
Record of service.
This page is a printout of the manpower management data base and lists all sets of proficiency and conduct marks that a Marine received while serving in the rank of corporal or below. The computer will figure and present the average marks in service and the average marks in grade. On this page you will also find a Marine's current composite score, which is used in calculating a Marine's eligibility for each promotion through the grade of sergeant. Officers/sergeants and above are not given pro/con marks, therefore this is not a standard page in an OQR. This recommendation is a portion of your participation in the enlisted promotion process. Guidelines from the IRAM are provided in Appendix A.
NAVMC 118 (8a).
The Military and civilian occupational specialties page is used in both SRBs and OQRs. In addition to specialties a Marine's education, both civil and military, is recorded here. The civilian education portion is not updated after initial entry. The page was automated and moved to the document side. All changes are now done electronically in the Marine Corps Total Force System (MCTFS).
NAVMC 118 (9).
The Combat history, expeditions and awards page (page nine) is used to record this important information in both SRBs and OQRs. This page was automated for the Marine Corps and moved to the document side of the SRB/OQR. All changes to the page 9 are now done through Unit Diary transactions into the Marine Corps Total Force System(MCTFS).
NAVMC 118 (11).
The Administrative remarks page is used in both SRBs and OQRs. The overall intent is to record any matter forming an essential and permanent part of a Marine's military history which is not recorded elsewhere in the SRB or OQR. There are more than thirty specific entries which can be made. Use the guidance offered in the IRAM for when and how entries must be made, especially when recording the results of a counseling session or a negative recommendation for promotion or reenlistment.
NAVMC 118 (12).
The Offenses and punishment page is used in both records to record VA, declaration of desertion, the results of non-judicial punishment (NJP) and to record good conduct, selected marine corps reserve (SMCR), and armed forces reserve medal periods. Officers will not have NAVMC 118 (12) in the field OQR.
Record of conviction by court-martial (NAVMC 118 (13)). This page is used in both records to record this information. If a Marine has never been convicted at a court martial he will not have a page thirteen.
Record of emergency data (RED). This page is next in both records. It contains the most current information on a Marine's next-of-kin and any insurance companies that the Marine wishes to have notified in the event of death or serious injury.
Serviceman's group life insurance election document.
This page follows the RED, and it must always be kept up-to-date because it designates to whom this insurance will be awarded in the event of the Marine's death.
Permanent record of enlisted flight time (OPNAV form 1326/2). This page is maintained as the last document on the standard pages side of an SRB for those Marines who have performed duty as naval aircrewmen.
Document Side of the SRB/OQR. This half of the record is reserved for inserting superseded standard pages, official letters, certificates, and various other documents. The IRAM lists more than fifty examples of documents which may be filed on this side of the record. Any document placed here must be of permanent value. The order in which they will be placed will be determined by the local command.
The commanding officer's copy(s) of a Marine's leave and earnings statement (LES) will normally be kept as the first document(s) on this side. These will be retained until the annual LES verification is completed; this takes place during the month which coincides with the last digit of a Marine's social security number. Until a period of leave or delay is reflected on a Marine's LES, a copy of the orders which authorized the leave period will be retained here.
Basic training record (BTR).
For the Marine Corps this is a computer generated printout of the Marine Corps Total Force System(MCTFS). The local admin section produces the record using the on-line diary system. The printout is now a permanent part of the SRB/OQR and should be updated at least once a year. The BTR contains the following information on a Marine:
Basic individual record (BIR).
This document is also computer generated printout of the Marine Corps Total Force System(MCTFS). organized in the following manner:
State and federal tax filing forms such as the IRS W-4 form will be located on the document side along with a State of Legal Residence Certificate.
NAVMC 10922.
The dependency application form, located on the document side, certifies a servicemembers right to Basic Allowance for Housing at the "with dependents rate."
DD Form 1172.
An Application for uniformed services ID card-DEERS enrollment, when completed, certified, and keyed into the unit diary system will enter a Marine's dependents on the DEERS program. Failure to enroll one's dependents in DEERS can result in the denial of medical or other benefits. Marines may also enroll their families in the dependents dental plan with DD form 2494.
NAVMC 11051.
Assignment to government quarters, is completed when a Marine accepts government quarters in lieu of BAQ.
Official letters authorizing alternate body weight standards must be filed on the document side of the record. It is essential for Marines granted a waiver to have this letter as part of their permanent record. Failure could result in lost promotions or duty assignments for the Marine concerned.
DD Form 1561.
Statement to substantiate payment of family separation allowance, when completed and filed in a service members record entitles them to FSA. The form must be completed every time a service member is deployed for thirty or more consecutive days.
As part of their record, dual service parents and single parents must file a special power of attorney on the document side of their OQR/SRB. This special power of attorney will detail the Marine's care plans for minor children in the event of deployment.
When a Marine is given special authority for reenlistment or extension of enlistment or when awarded a remedial promotion, the appropriate documentation must be retained on the document side of the SRB. A career planning contact record should be filed on the document side of the SRB of first term Marines to document counseling with the command's career planner.
For Marines who work with classified material a number of important documents may be retained. These include the record of personnel reliability program (PRP), the PRP screening and evaluation record, security termination statements, national agency check requests, requests for personnel security investigations, and personal history statements.
Punitive and non-punitive letters of reprimand as well as page 11 entry rebuttals will be filed near the end of the document side.
As the last document retained, there will be a record of disclosure, OPNAV FORM 5511/14, to record to whom and on what date information from the record has been released
Summary. This handout has examined the most common and useful personnel records available in the Marine Corps. Take care of your Marines and yourself by ensuring their accuracy and completeness at all times.


Hampton Roads Naval Museum

The Hampton Roads Naval Museum is one of ten Navy museums that are operated by the Naval History & Heritage Command. It celebrates the long history of the U.S. Navy in the Hampton Roads region of Virginia and is co-located with Nauticus in downtown Norfolk, Virginia.
In December 2008, the Hampton Roads Naval Museum was accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, the gold standard for museum accreditation.
Collections.
The museum's permanent exhibits include material on the Battle of the Chesapeake (1781), the American Civil War in Hampton Roads, the Great White Fleet, World War II and the Cold War. Museum holdings are strong in the areas of naval prints, ship models and underwater archaeology. The Hampton Roads Naval Museum is the official repository of the remains of two Civil War shipwrecks: USS "Cumberland" and CSS "Florida".
History.
The museum opened on August 31, 1979, in the historic Pennsylvania House. This building, a replica of Independence Hall, is one of the state pavilions remaining from the 1907 Jamestown Exposition, a world's fair. A major effort during the museum's tenure at Pennsylvania House was the 1984 installation of a large exhibit on the Civil War in Hampton Roads.
During the 1980s, the city of Norfolk invited the museum to relocate to a new downtown maritime center. The Navy accepted the offer, and in 1994 the Hampton Roads Naval Museum opened in the Nauticus National Maritime Center. With the move, the museum's exhibit space increased significantly, while also increasing the number of educational programs.
In 2000, the museum undertook management of the battleship USS "Wisconsin", which was berthed next to Nauticus that year and opened to the public on April 16, 2001. In December 2009, the Navy donated the battleship to the city of Norfolk, ending the museum's supervision of the ship.
Museum programs and resources.
Special temporary exhibits in recent years have included "Animals and the US Navy", "Cuba Libre: The Spanish–American War in the Caribbean" and "Pax Americana: The US Navy in the Era of Violent Peace". The museum also offers guided tours, a lecture series, and educational programs. An active volunteer corps participates in all museum functions. A reference library, archive and photographic collection specializing in regional naval material are open to the public by appointment.
The museum maintains a weekly historical blog post on a variety of naval history topics related to the Hampton Roads, Virginia area. The blog is maintained by their staff historian, and associated content is contributed from the museum's volunteers, educators and staff members. The blog can be accessed here:
Hampton Roads Naval Museum Blog


Normandie-Niemen


The Royal Canadian Mounted Police in Quebec

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police in Quebec, which is commonly referred to as "C" Division, plays a federal policing role in the Province of Quebec. Approximately 1,500 police officers, civilian members and public servants dedicate their efforts to a number of business lines, including financial integrity, national and border security, and organized crime enforcement. The RCMP in Quebec relies on dedicated resources to conduct investigations, provide VIP protective services and undertake crime prevention initiatives in communities in all areas of Quebec.
The role of the RCMP in Quebec is strictly to enforce federal statutes. "C" Division differs in that respect from its RCMP counterparts in most Canadian provinces and from its policing partners in Quebec, that are guided by the concept of community policing. However, by joining forces and intelligence capabilities with its partners in Canada and abroad, "C" Division is able to conduct successful interterritorial investigations.
Structure.
In addition to its headquarters located in Montreal, "C" Division is composed of detachments that are divided geographically into two districts, namely East and West districts.
History.
In 1920, the Federal Government authorized the Royal Canadian Mounted Police to establish its first detachment in Quebec, specifically in Montreal. Staffed with ten members, this office with barracks was housed in an old building located at 283 Sherbrooke Street, across from the main entrance of McGill University. The building was demolished in 1940. The officer commanding this detachment was a superintendent named Wilcox, who was known mostly for his work in Western Canada. Later that year the RCMP opened a one-man detachment in Quebec City, thus serving the two largest urban centres in the province. Shortly after, the RCMP provided police presence along the international border to collect customs fees and to secure the border from illegal immigrants.
Back then, "C" Division was tasked with the responsibility of enforcing some forty federal statutes. Around 1921, the RCMP opened a few detachments near Indian reserves for the purposes of maintaining law and order and enforcing the Indian Act, governing in particular the control and sale of alcoholic beverages.
Between 1920 and 1932, the RCMP considered the Province of Quebec as a simple district without alphabetical designation, whereas Eastern Ontario was designated as "A" Division and Western Ontario as "O" Division. Back then the letter "C" was used to designate the Province of Manitoba, whose divisional post was located in Brandon. Detachment work consisted mainly in the application of Indian legislation, the Customs Act and the Migratory Birds Convention Act, while drug and counterfeit currency enforcement was an important part of police work in Montreal.
The first major change for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in Quebec occurred in 1932, when it absorbed the Customs and Excise Preventive Service. All 175 members and 35 vessels and crews that were once the responsibility of that department came under the direction of the RCMP. This is how the RCMP Marine Service came to be.
Operating with a limited complement of 33 members and 4 detachments in 1931, the RCMP then grew to a membership of 156 men and 31 detachments in Quebec. Given the additional duties brought about by the merger with the Customs and Excise Preventive Service, RCMP officers had to patrol the territory by land, sea and air to fight against alcohol smuggling and other forms of contraband, or to provide assistance to vessels in distress.
Due to the increased workforce, the RCMP had to rethink its district structure. The term district, used by the Force to designate its area of jurisdiction in the Province of Quebec, which was then under the command of Superintendent Dawn, was replaced by "C" Division.
Defining events of their role and history.
RCMP participation was required in numerous events of major importance that took place in the Province of Quebec, as the responsibilities of the Force include protecting VIPs during their visits to Canada and providing assistance to other police departments in the province during major events.
In 1943, as the Second World War was raging in Europe, US troops joined their Canadian and European allies on the front lines. Since 1939, the two heads of state have held five conferences for the purpose of developing strategies to defeat the enemy’s devastating offensive. They chose Québec City for their sixth conference. So from August 17 to 24, 1943, US President Franklin Delano Roosevelt and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill met within the walls of this fortified town for the Québec Conference, hosted by Canadian Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King. Along with high-ranking officers of their respective armies, they planned military operations that led to the Allied victory over Axis forces.
During his trip to America a few weeks after the Allied landings in Normandy, General Charles de Gaulle visited Québec City and Montréal. Even though his stop in Montréal lasted only a few hours, he attended a formal reception held in his honour at the Windsor Hotel. A number of dignitaries gathered for the occasion, including Quebec Premier Adélard Godbout.
With the opening of the Universal Exhibition in Montréal, Expo 67, Quebec became the focus of attention worldwide for an entire summer. The President of France, General Charles de Gaulle, made an official visit to Quebec on that occasion. From the balcony of Montréal City Hall, he said "Vive le Québec libre!" [Long Live Free Quebec], drawing cheers from an ecstatic crowd.
On July 17, 1976, the entire world watched on as the opening ceremonies of 21st Olympic Games unfolded in Montréal. The world-renowned Olympic Stadium, Montréal's architectural landmarks, was built for that occasion. The building features the world's highest leaning tower.
From April 20 to 22, 2001, 34 democratically elected heads of state and government of North America, Central America, South America and the Caribbean met in Québec City for the third Summit of the Americas. The meeting is probably best remembered for the security measures put in place for the event and for the numerous public demonstrations that were held as the meetings took place. The Québec Summit attracted more than 50,000 demonstrators from across the Americas, ranking it among the top alterglobalist protest events to this day. This international event, in which the RCMP played a key role, was marked by the largest security operation in Canadian history.
In October 2008, the largest ceremonial event ever to be held in Canada took place in Québec City, as 70 heads of state attended the 12th Conference of Heads of State and Government of Countries Using French as a Common Language, commonly called the Francophonie Summit.
This Summit provides world leaders sharing the French language with an opportunity to discuss topics such as international policy, the environment, Francophone cooperation, human rights, education, culture and democracy. The Summit is held every two years and is the highest authority in La Francophonie.
Security for the Francophonie Summit, which was provided by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Service de police de la Ville de Québec and Sûreté du Québec, also required the collaboration of several federal, provincial and municipal partners and agencies.
RCMP services in Quebec.
Although its primary focus is on the fight against major organized crime at the national and international levels, the RCMP has diverse responsibilities in Quebec. This section provides an overview of the duties performed by RCMP officers in "C" Division.
Organized crime enforcement.
Organized crime is one of five strategic priorities established by the RCMP. It is defined by the Criminal Code as crime committed by any group of at least three people that has as one of its main purposes or activities the facilitation or commission of one or more serious offences where the primary motive is profit. Organized crime networks are an international problem that ignores national boundaries. This is why the RCMP advocates partnerships with the public and other Canadian and foreign law enforcement organizations to carry out its investigations.
Integrated Proceeds of Crime Unit (IPOC).
IPOC investigators hit criminal organizations by targeting the proceeds of crime and the very motivation behind any criminal activity, i.e. profit, by seizing the assets purchased by criminal elements with "dirty" money. IPOC investigators work in conjunction with other RCMP units and several outside agencies, police departments, foreign enforcement agencies, banks and professional corporations.
Combined forces Special Enforcement Unit (CFSEU).
The Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit (CFSEU) is tasked with investigating major crime in partnership with local, national and international agencies in an effort to curtail the expansion and development of organized crime in Quebec.
Aboriginal Combined forces Special Enforcement Unit (A-CFSEU).
Its goal is to investigate, pursue and dismantle criminal organizations whose negative impact and intimidation methods pose a direct threat to the best interests and well-being of Quebec’s Aboriginal communities.
Financial Integrity.
Their role is to prevent what is known as “white collar crime”, whether national or international in scope, through federal law enforcement.
Federal Investigation Section.
The strategic objective of the Federal Investigation Section program is to ensure the health and safety of communities, protect the public and maintain Canada's economic integrity.
The primary mandate of the Federal Investigation Section is to enforce federal statutes and related regulations through a combination of proactive and reactive strategies. The proactive program combines prevention, education and enforcement measures partnered with affected client communities. Reactive investigations are initiated in response to requests for RCMP assistance received from other federal departments and agencies.
The Federal Investigation Section investigates criminal offences under federal statutes with the help of the appropriate federal department. Through the provisions of 18 Memoranda of Understanding, the Section also provides assistance to partner agencies as well as various federal agencies and stakeholders in conducting investigations under any one of some 250 federal statutes. The program is enforced through five sub-sections.
Integrated Technological Crime Unit (ITCU).
The Integrated Technological Crime Unit (ITCU) is composed of police investigators and civilian members and is responsible for investigating computer crimes of national or international scope and providing technical assistance to other investigative units. The ITCU investigates offences such as unauthorized access to a computer or computer network (computer intrusion or hacking), mischief in relation to data (theft, manipulation, deletion, etc.), and possession of equipment or passwords facilitating these offences. The mandate of the ITCU is four-fold: investigation, computer support, intelligence and prevention.
Commercial Crime Section.
Commercial Crime Section members investigate, control and prevent what is known as "white collar crime", whether national or international in scope, through federal law enforcement. Their efforts are focused on the following areas: counterfeiting, bribery and corruption, fraudulent bankruptcy and major general fraud.
Integrated Market Enforcement Team (IMET).
The mandate of the Integrated Market Enforcement Team (IMET) is to investigate major cases of financial fraud involving large-cap companies for which allegations of fraud could significantly shake or undermine investor confidence in Canadian financial markets. Investigations deal with major financial crime offences, i.e. fraud, fraudulent manipulation of stock market operations, false financial statements, fraudulent bankruptcies, secret commissions, etc.
Border Integrity.
The "C" Division Border Integrity Program contributes to the national security of Canada and protects Canadians from terrorism, organized crime and other border-related criminality, while allowing for the secure and effective international movement of people and goods. To achieve this goal, “C” Division works in close partnership with provincial, national and international government agencies as well as the community at large.
The various sections and teams contributing to ensure border security include:
The members of Immigration and Passport Section focus their efforts on detecting and disrupting the main criminal activities relating to immigration, passport and citizenship: organized migrant smuggling, services provided by so-called immigration consultants, fraudulent corporate use of the immigration program, human trafficking, forgery of citizenship cards, visas, passports and other documents. The RCMP works in close partnership with Citizenship and Immigration Canada and Foreign Affairs.
The members of Customs and Excise Section fight all forms of smuggling activity involving national and international organized crime. Their investigations focus mainly on illicit alcohol, tobacco products, firearms and jewelry.
The Integrated Border Enforcement Teams work in close cooperation with their partners in Canada and the United States. The IBET mandate is to target criminal activity and to ensure national security at the border.
The Coastal/Airport Watch Program was established to assist in the identification of persons, vessels, vehicles and aircraft that may constitute a threat to Canada’s national security, or that may be involved in illegal activity.
The National Ports Strategy is part of the organization's overall mandate to ensure border integrity. In "C" Division, the investigators’ role consists in coordinating the collection of intelligence for the
Members of the Airport Federal Investigation Section are responsible for fighting organized crime at the Montreal – Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport and for assisting airport partners and authorities and co-operating with them to ensure passenger safety.
This joint marine security initiative is led by the RCMP and the Canadian Coast Guard to further enhance national security and strengthen Canada's response to potential threats. It strengthens marine enforcement presence in a region heavily traveled by both small and large craft. It involves the deployment of vessels conducting joint security patrols on the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence waterway.
National security.
Integrated National Security Enforcement Team (INSET).
Everywhere in its jurisdiction, the Integrated National Security Enforcement Team (INSET) is responsible for enforcing the laws relating to criminal activity that constitutes a direct or indirect threat to national security or interests, or that may interfere with the conduct of government business. Its scope includes espionage, sabotage, insurgency, treason, terrorism, extremism, offences committed against Canadian or foreign VIPs or diplomats, and offences committed for the purpose of supporting or funding individuals involved in the commission of such offences.
Criminal Intelligence.
The Criminal Information Analytical Section is responsible for collecting and analyzing information on the criminal elements operating in the province. The Section offers direct intelligence support to all other RCMP sectors in Quebec, in addition to providing sound advice to management on the development of national and provincial crime control strategies.
Protective Services.
The RCMP claims to be a leader in the delivery of protective services, a significant area of activity for federal police in Quebec that leaves no room for error. RCMP officers carry out high-risk duties while protecting VIPs and their spouses, including the Prime Minister of Canada and the Governor General, foreign heads of state and dignitaries visiting Quebec.
The second mandate of VIPSS relates to Internationally Protected Persons (IPPs), as defined in the Criminal Code, who must be provided with varying levels of protection while in Canada. Consequently, VIPSS provide physical protection to foreign heads of state, ambassadors and consuls visiting Quebec.
VIPSS also provide personal protection to the Prime Minister of Canada, the Governor General, two former Prime Ministers as well as the leaders of Canadian political parties during federal elections. Members of VIPSS carry out the following duties:
Overview of major investigations over the past 15 years.
The history of the RCMP is marked with numerous major investigations of national and international scope. Below is an overview of some of the investigations that have made the RCMP in Quebec famous.
Project Colisée.
Project Colisée, the most expensive RCMP investigation costing $35 million, and the largest raid against the Italian Mafia in Canadian history, took place on the morning of November 22, 2006 by 700 police officers, after lasting four years. The partners of the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit dealt a serious blow to traditional organized crime by conducting numerous searches on that day in the Montreal region. Among the 90 people arrested, were Nicolo Rizzuto, Paolo Renda, Rocco Sollecito, Francesco Arcadi, Lorenzo Giordano and Francesco Del Balso; over 1,000 charges of crimes committed between 2003 and 2006 were laid, including gangsterism, conspiracy to import drugs, drug trafficking, illegal gambling, extortion, corruption of civil servants and tax evasion. The RCMP had fitted the Rizzuto crime family's headquarters, the Consenza Social Club, with microphones and cameras to amass sufficient evidence against the organization. Almost everyone arrested pleaded guilty. Project Colisée collected more than a million hours of wiretap evidence, and a total of $4 million was seized in the raid.
Project Colisée was a wide-ranging investigation aimed at curbing the growth and development of organized crime in Canada. Project Colisée was led by the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit (CFSEU), a joint unit coordinated by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and also involving the Sûreté du Québec, Service de police de la ville de Montréal (SPVM), Service de protection des citoyens de Laval, Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), and Canada Revenue Agency.
Through Project Colisée, CFSEU investigators were able to infiltrate the criminal organization and to take it by surprise in various ways by identifying and arresting the leaders of the organization, by uncovering conspiracies to import cocaine via the Montréal Trudeau Airport. In 2005, a 300 kilogram shipment of a total 1,300 kilograms of cocaine, co-organized by Rizzuto confidante, Francesco Del Balso and West End Gang member, Richard Griffin, was intercepted in Boucherville, Quebec by police. Online bookmaking and sports betting businesses run by the Rizzutos, were allegedly estimated to generate over $26 million over a period of 18 months.
Project Celsius.
On April 18, 2012, a police operation conducted by the RCMP resulted in the arrest of nine suspects in connection with the importation of a series of hashish shipments totalling 43.3 metric tonnes. This international police operation was conducted with the collaboration of law enforcement authorities in Pakistan, Italy, Belgium and the United States.
This investigation, dubbed Project CELSIUS, was initiated in the summer of 2010 by the Montréal RCMP Drug Section jointly with the RCMP National Ports Enforcement Teams in Montréal and Halifax. It serves as an example of the firm commitment made by the RCMP to fight domestic criminal organizations with international ramifications that infiltrate legitimate businesses in our country in order to engage in criminal activity, thus compromising the safety of our communities.
The investigation was initiated after the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) found drugs in offshore containers at the ports of Montréal and Halifax in 2009 and 2010.
This investigation shows that the criminal organization involved purchased drugs from Asia, primarily originating in Afghanistan and transported via Pakistan. The hashish was hidden in containers that were shipped by boat and transited through several ports before being routed to Canada. Some of the suspicious containers were seized in Pakistan, while others were intercepted en route to Canada, specifically in Italy and Belgium.
Project Chabanel.
On May 10, 2006, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police conducted a one-of-a-kind police operation, seizing off the shores of Africa an impressive 22.5-ton shipment of hashish intended for the Canadian market directly from the hands of its suppliers. Three conspirators linked to the West End Gang criminal organization were arrested, resulting in the elimination of an 'import" cell of this Montreal-based criminal organization.
This operation, dubbed Project "Chabanel", was carried out in close cooperation with Canada's Department of National Defence and RCMP liaison officers in England, Morocco, Pakistan, the United Arab Emirates and Spain. For more than a year and a half, the investigators of Montreal and Halifax RCMP Drug Sections carefully worked out every detail of this international police operation.
The investigation was launched on the basis of information to the effect that a subject linked to the West End Gang was involved in a major hashish importation conspiracy from Africa. The organization first had to find a crew and ship suitable for deep-water navigation and for transporting the drugs.
Project “Chabanel” was therefore initiated by the RCMP. A vessel was chartered for the purposes of the operation. The vessel traveled to a predetermined location approximately 200 miles off the coast of Angola in Southern Africa. At this point the drugs were transferred from the supply vessel, whose crew was primarily made up of Filipino sailors, to the RCMP vessel. The RCMP complement spent more than 43 days at sea in order to seize the 22.5 tons of hashish and thus prevent its distribution to communities in Canada.
HMCS Fredericton, a Department of National Defence frigate, followed the RCMP vessel at a distance and provided necessary assistance throughout the journey, ensuring the safety of the police officers and serving as command post.
Once transhipment was completed to the RCMP vessel, the drugs were brought into Canada and taken to Montreal under heavy police escort. The drug shipment was to be delivered to the West End Gang on June 2, 2006. This is when the arrests were made. The federal police seized the 22.5 tons of hashish and CAN$195,000 from the criminal organization.
"C" Division of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, which is responsible for the enforcement of federal statutes in Quebec and southeastern Ontario, was proud to be the recipient of the IACP/ChoicePoint Award for Excellence in Criminal Investigations that was awarded to its Montreal Drug Section by the International Association of Chiefs of Police for this operation carried out in the open sea. The RCMP shared this award with the Department of National Defence.
Project Compote.
In 1990, the RCMP Integrated Proceeds of Crime Unit conducted an investigation, dubbed Project Compote, in which the police opened its own phony currency exchange office, the Centre international monétaire de Montréal, for the purpose of arresting drug traffickers using this exchange office to launder drug money. All employees in that office were in fact RCMP officers who had been trained beforehand by the National Bank of Canada to act as professional tellers. This police investigation ended in late August 1994 with a total of 46 people arrested, including Sabatino Nicolucci and a Rizzuto crime family lawyer, Joseph Lagana. $160 million, including $140 million from criminals, were intercepted through this storefront operation.
Project Cléopâtre.
In June 2006, more than 350 police officers took part in a large-scale operation aimed at dismantling a criminal organization specializing in the trafficking and exportation of marijuana and ecstasy to the United States, as well as money laundering. A total of 42 searches were conducted in the Estrie and Montreal regions, leading to the arrest of 36 subjects, including the alleged leader of this ring, a resident of Kanesetake.
This major investigation, dubbed "Project CLÉOPÂTRE", was carried out by members of the Aboriginal Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit (A-CFSEU). The members of this network were charged with criminal organization offence, drug trafficking, conspiracy to traffic in drugs, money laundering, and possession of prohibited weapons. A total of 125 charges were laid against 36 suspects.
As a result of this major international police operation, the A-CFSEU was awarded on October 16, 2006 the prestigious Motorola Webber Seavey Award for Quality in Law Enforcement at the IACP Annual Conference in Boston. The award recognizes innovative policing programs that can serve as models for law enforcement agencies worldwide.
The Norbourg case.
On June 18, 2008, Montréal RCMP confirmed the conclusion of its investigation into criminal wrongdoings that affected approximately 9,200 shareholders of mutual funds managed by Norbourg. This criminal investigation showed that six persons allegedly participated in or facilitated the commission of fraud offences for a total of approximately 95 million dollars. This investigation conducted by the Integrated Market Enforcement Team (IMET) led to the arrest of six persons with close ties to Norbourg, including Norbourg CEO Vincent Lacroix.
The six suspects were charged with conspiracy to commit fraud, conspiracy to commit forgery, forgery, fraud and money laundering. The crimes for which the suspects were charged were allegedly committed between September 20, 2002, and August 25, 2005. A total of 922 counts of indictment were laid as a result of this IMET criminal investigation.
This investigation was a strategic priority intended not only to establish the alleged wrongdoings, but also to prove the criminal intent of the perpetrators. It was launched on the basis of a search of Norbourgs business premises carried out on August 25, 2005.
The search led to the seizure and analysis of approximately 1,500 boxes containing more than one million miscellaneous documents and millions of computer files. The criminal investigation focussed on the analysis of 125 questionable transactions from which the IMET identified 112 alleged misappropriations of funds recorded between 2002 and 2005.
The evidence gathered as part of the IMET investigation also demonstrated that the accused developed and implemented a system by which documents were allegedly forged and used to conceal evidence of misappropriation of funds and the origin of those funds, enabling Vincent Lacroix to make a number of personal and corporate acquisitions.
Commitment to communities and employees.
In addition to conducting investigations, RCMP members also strive to attend a variety of community and multicultural events. The commitment of "C" Division to regional events includes various educational initiatives, charitable activities and national/international conferences.
Healthy Enterprise – Elite Certification.
In 2012, the RCMP was awarded the Healthy Enterprise – Elite certification by the Bureau de normalisation du Québec (BNQ). Through this certification, the BNQ acknowledged the commitment made by “C” Division to take concrete action to better the health and wellness of its employees.).
The RCMP is the first federal agency and the first police force in Canada to be awarded this certification. The BNQ praised the RCMP for the quality of its infrastructure, including fitness facilities in almost all of its detachments, and for taking steps to promote healthy living among its employees.
The RCMP is now part of a group of only 14 businesses and organizations in Quebec boasting the Healthy Enterprise – Elite certification.
International Peace Operations.
Since 1989, Canada has deployed police officers to international peace missions around the world. They assist in rebuilding and strengthening police services in countries that have experienced conflict or upheaval.
The RCMP manages the deployment of Canadian police, including planning and evaluating missions, selecting and training personnel from across the country as well as providing support throughout deployment.
Canadian police who serve abroad come from municipal, provincial and regional police forces as well as the RCMP, and represent a variety of backgrounds.
"C" Division Ceremonial Troop.
Created in 1988, the RCMP Ceremonial Troop is composed of volunteers posted to various sections in "C" Division.
Troop members visit homes for the elderly and children's hospitals, help collect funds on behalf of non-profit organizations, and represent Canada in a variety of public events at home and abroad.
Corp "C" Division Ceremonial Troop.
The "C" Division Pipes & Drums Band is based at the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Headquarters in Montréal and serves communities in the region.
The Band is composed of police and civilian volunteers.
The Band performs for the public and in support of regional and local community events, including charity fund raisers, sports and cultural ceremonies, fairs, festivals, parades, memorial services and ceremonial functions on behalf of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and other organizations.
The performances are adapted to specific occasions requiring:


RAF Waddington Voluntary Band

The Royal Air Force Waddington Voluntary Band is the largest of the RAF's eight voluntary bands. It has been based at RAF Waddington for a number of years although it was previously based at RAF Scampton. The band currently has a membership of approximately 60 musicians. In the history of Voluntary Bands, membership been open to only serving members of the RAF who would play as a secondary duty. Modern Voluntary Bands have a wide range of members including serving members as well as retired service personnel, local civilians, students and many dependents. The band openly welcomes enquiries from all members of the public and RAF looking for more information on joining.
In addition, the base also has a separate voluntary pipe band, RAF Waddington Pipes and Drums, which won the 2009 RAF Pipe Band Championships.
Ensembles.
The main band is a Military Band, although this is style of ensemble now more commonly referred to as a concert or wind band. Some of the larger works recently performed by the band include The Light Cavalry Overture and Crown Imperial. The band also enjoys performing a number of selections including show music and jazz standards. All these are included in regular concerts in and around the county and wider.
Other ensembles the band have available to provide for engagements are a Woodwind Quintet, Clarinet Quartet and a Brass Quintet. These smaller ensembles contained within the organisation play a vital role by attending smaller functions that. The Saxophone Ensemble have had the privilege of playing in the British embassy in Washington D.C. and other functions in the US capitol.
Events and recordings.
The band performs at many events annually as well as a large number of dinner nights and concerts around the country. Regular events where the band can be seen include the Freedom of Lincoln Parade, the Lincolnshire Festival of Remembrance, the RAF Conningsby Battle of Britain Parade and the RAF Waddington International Airshow
Under the leadership of Bandmaster David Jackson, the band has produced a number of widely available recordings - "Eye in the Sky" (2005) and "Wings Over Lincoln" (2008). These include a selection of popular music ranging from James Bond themes to traditional military marches.


USCGC Elm (WAGL-260/WLI-72260)

USCGC "Elm" (WAGL-260/WLI-72260) was an inland buoy tender used maintain aids to navigation by the United States Coast Guard.
Construction.
"Elm" was designed for maintaining aids to navigation in the shallow waters of New Jersey rivers. She was meant to replace the wooden USLHT "Pine". She was built by Defoe Boat and Motor Works of Bay City, Michigan. The contract price was $77,177. "Elm" was long, with a beam of , and a draft of . At full load, her displacement was 77 tons. Her hull was built of steel plates. Her derrick had a working capacity of .
"Elm" had two propellers which were driven by two 150 hp Diesel engines.
Sea trials for the new ship were held on November 17, 1937 off Bay City.
Operational history.
After launch and sea trials, "Elm" left Bay City on November 19, 1937. She sailed down through the New York Barge Canal and Hudson River to reach her new homeport of Atlantic City, New Jersey.
The ship was ordered, launched. and commissioned by the United States Lighthouse Service. On July 1, 1939, the US Lighthouse Service, including "Elm", was merged into the United States Coast Guard. "Elm" changed her moorage in Atlantic City as a result of this reorganizational. She moved from a municipal dock to the new Coast Guard base in 1940.
While her primary mission was maintaining aids to navigation, she also supported the Coast Guard's other missions. She was involved in search and rescue operations throughout her career.
As part of the Coast Guard, "Elm" was designated WAGL, classifying her as an auxiliary vessel, buoy tender. In 1966 the ship designation scheme was changed and the ship was redesignated WLI, buoy tender, inland.
"Elm" was decommissioned at Governor's Island, New York on July 30, 1969. After a brief ceremony she was towed to the Coast Guard Yard in Baltimore for storage. The ship was replaced by USCGC "Brier", which was moved from Brunswick, Georgia to Atlantic City. "Elm" was struck on June 19, 1972.


Movement for the National Independence of Angola

The Movement for the National Independence of Angola (in Portuguese: "Movimento para a Independência Nacional de Angola") was a political party in Angola, formed in 1958. MINA later merged with other parties to form the Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA).


USCGC Gresham

USCGC "Gresham" has been the name of more than one cutter of the United States Revenue Cutter Service or United States Coast Guard:


Hanau order of battle

The Hanau order of battle shows the forces engaged at the 1813 battle of Hanau, during the War of the Sixth Coalition, when a French force under Emperor of the French Napoleon I defeated a vastly superior Austro-Bavarian force commanded by General Karl Philipp von Wrede.
Order of battle.
Coalition army.
Austrian Corps.
The Austrian and Bavarian army at the battle of Hanau numbered 42,000 men: 33,000 infantrymen, 9,000 cavalrymen and 94 artillery pieces. These men were under the overall command of Bavarian General Karl Philipp von Wrede and comprised two Army Corps, one Austrian and one Bavarian.
The Austrian Corps, under the command of Field-Marshal-Lieutenant Baron Fresnet, numbered 24,000 men: 18,000 infantrymen (18 battalions), 6,000 cavalrymen (32 squadrons) and 34 artillery pieces. These men were organised in three divisions:
Bavarian Corps.
The Bavaria Corps came under the direct command of General von Wrede, and included 18,000 men: 15,000 infantrymen (17 battalions), 3,000 cavalrymen (20 squadrons) and 60 artillery pieces. They were divided into 2 infantry divisions, a cavalry reserve and an artillery reserve:
The French Army.
The French Grande Armée was in full retreat after a decisive defeat at the battle of Leipzig, where it sustained high losses. In theory, Napoleon could count on 110 battalions and numerous cavalry, however, in practice many of the French battalions and squadrons numbered no more than 100 men and some were reduced to cadres, with entire regiments aligning no more than 10 men. In total, Napoleon had no more than 30,000 men available for the battle and not all of these men were committed. These men were divided in several army Corps, each under the command of a Marshal or very senior General of Division. At the battle of Hanau, only one division of MacDonald's XIth Corps and one division of Victor's IInd Corps were engaged, alongside the Guard infantry, cavalry and artillery.
II Corps.
The IInd Corps was under the command of Marshal Victor. The only unit engaged was:
XI Corps.
The XIth Corps was under the command of Marshal Jacques MacDonald. The only unit engaged was:
II Cavalry Corps.
The II Cavalry Corps (around 3,000 men) was under the command of General Horace François Bastien Sébastiani de La Porta:
Imperial Guard.
Imperial Guard infantry and artillery (6,000 men), under the command of General Antoine Drouot:
Imperial Guard cavalry (4,000 men), under the command of General Etienne de Nansouty:


Lyndon Spencer

Lyndon Spencer (January 26, 1898 - April 12, 1981) was a Vice Admiral in the United States Coast Guard.
Career.
Spencer graduated from the United States Coast Guard Academy in 1918. His early assignments included serving aboard the USCGC Tampa.
From 1922 to 1925, he served on the staff at the Coast Guard Academy. Later, he became Executive Officer of the USS Cummings (DD-44). He remained there until he took over command of the USS Monaghan (DD-32) in 1926. Later, he would command the USS Abel P. Upshur (DD-193) and USCGC Ingham (WHEC-35).
During World War II, Spencer commanded the USS Bayfield (APA-33). While in command, the Bayfield served as the flagship of the Naval Task Force during Operation Overlord. For his services during this time, Spencer was awarded the Legion of Merit and the Croix de guerre of France.
Later in his career Spencer served as the President of the Lake Carriers' Association, an organization tasked with representing the interests of U.S.-flag vessel operators on the Great Lakes.
References.
Connecticut Death Index, 1949-2001


USCGC Bering Strait (WAVP-382)


Storekeeper

Storekeeper (SK) is an enlisted rating in the United States Coast Guard; until 2009 it was also a United States Navy rating, the most common supply rate in US Navy vs. CS (culinary specialist) and SH (Ship's Serviceman) and very much equivalent to the MOS 92 of the US Army. In the Navy this rate, together with PC (postal clerk), has been renamed or superseded by the rate logistics specialist (LS).
Function.
Substantiated in 1916, Storekeepers are tasked with maintaining ship or company military supply stores. Their responsibilities generally include purchasing and procurement, shipping and receiving, and issuing of equipment, tools, consumable items or anything else obtained through the Naval Supply System.
Chain of command.
Storekeepers that fall under the authority of a Naval supply officer are attached permanently or temporarily to a Supply Department, either ashore or afloat. There are exceptions to this practice as is the case of the Independent Storekeeper NEC which trains E-5 and above to operate independent of a Supply Officer, such as, or while deployed with surface or aviation units that operate in remote areas where no Supply Officer is present. Additionally, in Aviation Squadrons, the storekeeper falls under the chain of command of the Aircraft Maintenance Officer and his designate; the Maintenance Material Control Officer. The best example of this is the Storekeeper(s) tasked with operating the Naval Air Station Sigonella Weapons Department in Sicily, Italy. The department, a semi-autonomous entity within NAS Sigonella, is headed by a weapons officer to whom the Storekeepers report. Since there is no Supply Officer within a weapons department either ashore, or afloat, the tasks of material control, inventory control, financial accounting, material custody, issuing, receiving and warehousing and disposition actions all fall within the storekeeper's scope of work, validating, initiating and signing requisitions falls upon the Independent Storekeeper.
Rank and recognition.
Storekeepers are referred to, as all other Navy rates, by rate and rank combined. If a sailor is a Petty Officer Third Class holding the rate of Storekeeper, he or she would be referred to as Storekeeper Third Class or more commonly, SK3. With the recent merger of Storekeepers (SK) and Aviation Storekeepers (AK), Storekeepers can be found serving any Naval platform. For this reason, Storekeepers can be found with virtually every warfare pin offered by the Navy with only a few exceptions. Of the warfare qualification held by storekeepers, included are Aviation Warfare (AW), Surface Warfare (SW), Seabee Combat Warfare (SCW), Submarine Warfare Specialist (SS). The SK rate is also a source rating for Explosive Ordnance Disposal, the Navy SEALS, Navy Divers and SWCC. Thus Storekeepers can be stationed virtually anywhere and take on diverse duties.
Training.
Storekeepers are trained at the Naval Technical Training Center in Meridian, Mississippi. Undesignated or non-rate sailors may also strike for SK without attending NTTC Meridian's Storekeeper "A" School. Coast Guard Storekeepers get training in Petaluma, California.
Rating merger.
Effective 1 October 2009, The Ratings of Storekeeper (SK) and Postal clerk (PC) in the Navy have merged to become Logistics Specialist (LS).


List of equipment of the United States Navy

The Equipment of the United States Navy have been subdivided into: watercraft, aircraft, munitions, vehicles, and small arms.
Watercraft.
Commissioned surface ships and submarines (arranged by class and displacement)
Land vehicles.
In addition to the vehicles listed here, the Navy Seabees operate a number of trucks and construction vehicles.


Operational Distinguishing Device

The Operational Distinguishing Device ("O" device) is a miniature silver inch letter "O" that is authorized by the United States Coast Guard as a ribbon device which may be authorized for wear on certain awards and decorations of the United States Coast Guard.
The "O" device is either centered on the suspension and service ribbon of the medal or unit award ribbon, or to the middle-right if there are an even number of letter devices on the ribbon. Any authorized gold Inch Stars alternate around the "O" device. The first star is placed to the wearer’s right of the "O" device and the second star is placed to wearer's left of the "O" device. Only one "O" device may be worn per ribbon.
Eligibility criteria are based on a member's or unit's direct participation in missions of an operational "hands on" nature. To qualify for this device on a decoration, both the person's work and unit must be operational in nature.
Such examples include search and rescue, fire fighting, maritime law enforcement, disaster relief, pollution response, and aids to navigation maintenance and operations.
The decision to authorize an Operational Distinguishing Device is made by the award approving authority, giving a wide discretion as to what actions may qualify.
Authorized awards.
The Operational Distinguishing Device may be authorized for wear on the following awards:
Personal awards
Unit awards


Assistant Secretary of the Air Force (Acquisition, Technology and Logistics)

The Assistant Secretary of the Air Force (Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics) (SAF/AQ) is a civilian position in the Department of the Air Force that is appointed by the President of the United States and confirmed by the United States Senate. This position is established under Title 10 US Code Section 8016 and is one of four Assistant Secretary positions under the Secretary of the Air Force. The Assistant Secretary reports to the Secretary of the Air Force.
Under the law a Principal Military Deputy serves with the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition. The Principal Military Deputy is required to be an active duty officer with a background in acquisition and program management. If the Assistant Secretary position is vacant the law permits the Principal Military Deputy to serve up to a year as the Acting Assistant Secretary. Of the four Assistant Secretary positions established by law, only the Assistant Secretary for Acquisition is required to have a Principal Military Deputy.
On February 12, 2014, Dr. William A. LaPlante, Jr. was confirmed by the United States Senate to be the next Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition.
President Obama nominated Dr. William A. LaPlante, Jr. on October 30, 2013. At the time, Dr. LaPlante had been the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition since May 2013. Prior to serving in the Air Force, Dr. LaPlante was the Missile Defense Portfolio Director at the MITRE Corporation from 2011 to 2013.
Dr. LaPlante resigned from office in November 2015. From November 2015 to February 2018, the civilian Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition performed the duties of the Assistant Secretary. From November 2015 to February 2016, Mr. Richard Lombardi was the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary. From February 2016 on, Ms. Darlene Costello served as the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary. In 2018 Dr. Will Roper was confirmed to the role, serving from February 2018 to January 2021. Darlene Costello is again serving as acting Assistant Secretary until a new appointee is confirmed.
Responsibilities.
The Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition serves as the single service acquisition executive (SAE) and the Senior Procurement Executive for the Department of the Air Force. They are responsible for acquisition and product support for all Air Force acquisition programs and manages the Air Force science and technology program.
They provides direction, guidance and supervision of all matters pertaining to the formulation, review, approval and execution of acquisition plans, policies and programs. The Assistant Secretary oversees $40 billion annual investments that include major programs like the KC-46A Pegasus, F-35 Lighting II, B-21 Raider, as well as capability areas such as information technology and command and control, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (C4ISR) systems.
History.
The Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition position was created in 1987 by National Security Decision Directive 219, following recommendations from President Reagan's Blue Ribbon Commission on Defense Management. The Commission recommended the Department of Defense have clear lines of authority for acquisition management and outlined roles and responsibilities between the Office of the Secretary of Defense and the military departments. This move established the Defense Acquisition Executive, the Service Acquisition Executives for each military department, Program Executive Officers who manage execution for a portfolio of programs.
Prior to 1987, similar duties and responsibilities now carried out by the Assistant Secretary for Acquisition were performed by offices in the Headquarters Secretariat with the following names and dates:
Assistant Secretary for Material - May 1951 to February 1964
Special Assistant for Research and Development - September 1950-February 1955
Assistant Secretary for Research and Development - March 1955 to May 1977
Assistant Secretary for Research, Development and Logistics - May 1977-April 1987


Army of the United States

The Army of the United States is one of the four major service components of the United States Army (the others being the Regular Army, the United States Army Reserve and the Army National Guard of the United States), but it has been inactive since the suspension of the draft in 1973 and the U.S. military's transition to a volunteer force. Personnel serving in the United States Army during a major national emergency or armed conflict (either voluntarily or involuntarily) were enlisted into the Army of the United States, without specifying service in a component. It also includes the "Retired Reserve". Those are retired soldiers that have reached the required years of creditable service, "or" creditable service and age; regardless of the component, or components they formerly served in.
The term "Army of the United States" or "Armies of the United States" is also the legal name of the collective land forces of the United States, as prescribed by the United States Constitution. In this concept, the term "Army of the United States" has been in use since at least 1841, as in the title "General Regulations for the Army of the United States".
History.
World War I.
The original concept of a non-Regular Army component, existing to augment the standing military, can trace its origins to the United States Volunteers. State volunteer forces were used extensively to augment the Regular Army throughout the 19th and early 20th century. During World War I and dictated by the provisions of the National Defense Act of 1916, states contributed men to the "Volunteer Army" (more commonly known as the National Army). During World War I, a standard practice developed for Regular Army officers to serve in higher positions within the National Army, and thus hold two ranks - a permanent rank and a temporary rank. This concept was related to the idea of the brevet rank, which had generally fallen into disuse by the time of the First World War. The National Army was suspended after World War I.
World War II.
In September 1940, the United States reintroduced conscription in response to the increasing likelihood of entry into World War II. Personnel voluntarily enlisting into the United States Army could choose to voluntarily enlist into the Regular Army, National Guard of the United States, or Organized Reserve. On 14 May 1940, legislation provided that all voluntary enlistments in the United States Army during a time of national emergency or war were to be in the Army of the United States "without specification of any particular component or unit thereof." The "Army of the United States" as a service component was formally activated in February 1941. It was legally considered the successor to the National Army.
The Army of the United States saw a major expansion following the 7 December 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor. On 13 December 1941, legislation provided that personnel inducted into the United States Army under the terms of the Selective Training and Service Act of 1940 were, both retroactively and from that date on, considered to be serving in the Army of the United States.
The first commissioned officers serving in the Army of the United States were appointed from the Regular Army, generally southerners. The standard practice that these officers held a "permanent rank" within the Regular Army as well as a higher "temporary rank" while serving in the Army of the United States. A typical situation might be a colonel in the AUS holding the permanent rank of captain in the Regular Army. Another term for rank held in the Army of the United States was "theater rank."
Promotions within the Army of the United States were sometimes very rapid, and some officers were promoted as many as four to five times in the space of just three to four years. Dwight D. Eisenhower, who served as General of the Army, rose from a colonel to five-star general in three years. However, rank in the AUS could be revoked just as easily, with senior commanders who were relieved reverting to their permanent Regular Army rank. This was known as "loss of theater rank", with some instances of generals returning to the United States in disgrace or at least under a cloud, as only colonels or majors.
Divisions of the Army of the United States.
In 1946, with postwar demobilization, the Army of the United States was suspended, along with the draft. Officers from that point reverted to Regular Army rank and all enlisted personnel either were discharged from the Army of the United States and returned to civilian life, or accepted the offer to reenlist in the Regular Army. Units raised in the Army of the United States were deactivated; if the Army chose to activate them again permanently, they were allotted to the Regular Army.
Korean War and Vietnam War.
The Army of the United States was demobilized in 1946, but still maintained as a component of the Army. Upon the outbreak of the Korean War, the Army of the United States consisted of conscripts in the Regular Army, with the National Guard and Army of the United States existing simultaneously in the same theater. The system of prefixes before service numbers was as follows:
The last use of the Army of the United States (AUS) was during the Vietnam War. It was disbanded in 1974.
Administrative usage.
The Army Reserve (USAR) and Army National Guard (ARNG) remained separate components during the modern era of conscription, and their members continued to use their unique identifiers, except in those cases in which officers were appointed or commissioned into a higher grade of rank while on active duty serving in a Regular Army unit. For example, during the war in Vietnam, a graduate of Army ROTC, commissioned as a USAR 2d lieutenant and serving his initial active duty tour, could be promoted to 1st lieutenant, or even captain, with a "temporary", active duty (i.e., AUS) commission, while still holding the permanent, USAR rank of 2d lieutenant. Another example would be an ARNG officer serving on active duty, who might accept a commission in the Regular Army (RA), and then might be promoted one or two grades in the AUS above their RA grade. This possibility could result in situations in which an Army National Guard captain could be called to active duty and accept a commission as a Regular Army major, then be promoted in the AUS, holding a "temporary", active duty commission at a higher rank, and then could retire after 20 or more years of active duty as a lieutenant colonel or colonel, while actually only having met the time-in-grade requirements (and passed the promotion board selection screening process) for the "permanent", Regular Army rank of major.
Service equivalents.
There is no equivalent to the Army of the United States in the Navy, Marine Corps, or Coast Guard. During WWII, officers who joined one of these branches were typically commissioned into the "Naval Reserve," "Marine Corps Reserve," or "Coast Guard Reserve" respectively (the last of these being newly created in the run up to the war), with the understanding that their active service would be only for the duration of the hostilities. In 1948, for a very brief period, a component known as the "Air Forces of the United States" (AFUS) existed to augment Army Air Forces personnel, who held AUS ranks, into the newly created United States Air Force.


Ross Landry

Peter Ross "Ross" Landry is a Canadian retired police officer and politician.
A native of Trenton, Nova Scotia, Landry is a retired police officer, having served in the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
Political career.
In December 2008, Landry successfully ran for the Nova Scotia New Democratic Party nomination in the riding of Pictou Centre. Landry was elected in the 2009 provincial election and represented the riding until his defeat in the 2013 provincial election.
Landry was appointed to the Executive Council of Nova Scotia on June 19, 2009 where he served as Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Nova Scotia until October 22, 2013.
On July 13, 2015, Landry announced that he was seeking the New Democratic Party nomination in the Central Nova riding for the 42nd Canadian federal election. He won the nomination on July 26 and finished in third place behind Conservative Fred DeLorey and Liberal Sean Fraser.


USCGC Kimball

USCGC "Kimball" (WMSL-756) is the seventh of the United States Coast Guard. "Kimball" is named for Sumner Increase Kimball, who was the organizer of the United States Life-Saving Service and the General Superintendent of the Life-Saving Service from 1878–1915.
History.
Original planned commission ceremony was on January 19, 2019, but ceremony cancelled due to the government shutdown. On August 24, 2019, "Kimball" was commissioned in Honolulu with USCGC Midgett (WMSL-757).


Marine Corps Base Camp Blaz

Marine Corps Base (MCB) Camp Blaz is a U.S. Marine Corps facility located in the village of Dededo in northwest Guam. MCB Camp Blaz was activated on October 1, 2020, becoming the first new Marine Corps facility since the predecessor of Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany was commissioned on March 1, 1952. The base will house Marines relocated from installations in Okinawa Prefecture, Japan, with the final relocation planned for 2025. Joint Region Marianas is the installation management authority for MCB Camp Blaz, as well as Naval Base Guam and Andersen Air Force Base.
MCB Camp Blaz is named after Brigadier General Vicente T. "Ben" Blaz. Blaz was the first person of an ethnic minority to reach general rank in the USMC and the highest ranking Chamorro ever, as well as Guam's delegate to Congress from 1985 to 1993.
The main dormitories will be located next to Naval Computer and Telecommunications Station Guam, with the final base to house 1,300 permanently stationed Marines and support 3,700 additional Marines on rotating assignment. Base construction includes multiple new ranges and training facilities, schools, housing, and other support facilities. The Department of Defense spent $365 million in FY2020 on relocation expenses, with the total cost expected to be $8 billion, of which the Government of Japan will provide $2.8 billion. The Governor and Legislature of Guam have been engaged with the Guam Military Buildup.


Chemical Biological Incident Response Force

The Chemical Biological Incident Response Force (CBIRF) is a unit in the United States Marine Corps responsible for countering the effects of a chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, or high-yield explosive (CBRNE) incident. They were activated in April 1996 by General Charles C. Krulak, then Commandant of the Marine Corps. The unit is based at Naval Support Facility Indian Head in Indian Head, Maryland and falls under the command of the United States Marine Corps Forces Command.
Mission.
When directed, a CBIRF unit will forward-deploy and/or respond to a credible threat of a chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, or high-yield explosive (CBRNE) incident in order to assist local, state, or federal agencies and Unified Combat Commanders in the conduct of consequence management operations.
CBIRF accomplishes this mission by providing capabilities for CBRN agent detection and identification, casualty search and extraction, technical rescue, personnel decontamination, and emergency medical care and stabilization of contaminated victims. All CBIRF Marines and sailors are basically trained to perform both casualty extraction and decontamination. The lifesaving competencies required of personnel serving at CBIRF are taught during CBIRF Basic Operations Course (CBOC). By completing CBOC, the Marines and Sailors earn their CBIRF unit patch and may begin wearing it on their flight suits and search and rescue vests.
History.
Since its inception CBIRF has trained many local agencies. It has also had a presence at the following:
1996 Summer Olympic Games
1997 Presidential Inaugural Ceremony
1997 Denver Summit of the Eight
1997-2019 Presidential State of the Union Addresses
1999 Pope Visit to St Louis, MO
1999 NATO Summit
2001 Presidential Inaugural Ceremony
2001 Cleaned Anthrax out of the Longworth House Office Bldg in Washington, DC
2001 Cleaned Anthrax out of the Hart Senate Bldg in Washington DC
2004 Ricin Incident Attack on Dirksen Senate Building
2004 Dedication of World War II Memorial
2004 Lying In State of President Ronald W. Reagan
2005 Presidential Inaugural Ceremony
2008 Republican National Convention in St. Paul, MN
2009 Presidential Inaugural Ceremony
2011 Operation Tomodachi
2012 NATO Summit
2013 Presidential Inaugural Ceremony
2016 State of the Union Address
2016 Republican and Democratic National Conventions
2017 Presidential Inaugural Ceremony
2018 State of the Union Address
2019 State of the Union Address
2020 State of the Union Address
2020 Republican and Democratic National Conventions
2021 Presidential Inaugural Ceremony
2021 Presidential Address to Congress


Joint Operations Command (Serbia)

Joint Operations Command (JOC) (Serbian: "Združena operativna komanda" "/ Здружена оперативна команда") is organizational unit of the Serbian Armed Forces directly subordinated to the General Staff of the Armed Forces. The main duty of the Command is to conduct operational command over Armed Forces. Operations Command has a flexible formation, which is expanded by the representatives of other organizational units of the General Staff, and, if there is a need, operational level commands. In peacetime, the commander of the Joint Operations Command is at the same time Deputy of Serbian Armed Forces General Staff. Although Joint Operations Command’s main function is a command function, Command also performs tasks from planning, organizational, control and operational function.
The duties of the Joint Operational Command (JOC) are,
Organizational structure.
The units directly subordinated to the Joint Operations Command are,
Peacekeeping Operations Center.
The Peacekeeping Operations Center (PKOC) is a unit directly subordinated to the Joint Operations Command of the Serbian Armed Forces General Staff intended for the training, selection, equipping, preparation and deployment of individuals and units from the Ministry of Defence and the Serbian Armed Forces to multinational operations outside the borders of the Republic of Serbia.
The Center is a full member of the European Association of Peace Operations Training Centers and the International Association of Peacekeeping Operations Training Centers. The Peacekeeping Operations Center, as the legal successor of the National Center for Peacekeeping Missions, was established on January 1, 2005, and since it is directly subordinated to the Joint Operations Command of the General Staff. The Operations Center comprises from five departments,
Defence System Operational Center.
The Operational Center of the Defence System (OC DS) is a subordinate unit of the Joint Operations Command with the purpose to monitor activities within Ministry of Defence and Serbian Armed Forces and force engagement in operations. In accordance with the organizational and structural changes, the Operational Center of the Defence System was subordinated to the Joint Operations Command in March 2007. Before that, the Operational Center of the Defence System was within the Directorate of Operations (Ј-3) of the Serbian Armed Forces General Staff. The Operational Center comprises 3 organizational units,
The main duties of the Operational Center are organization of operational duty, data base management, management of operational and functional capability data, regulation of waterways and air space traffic as well as recording and providing statistical analysis of emergency situations.
Military Technical Agreement Implementation Commission.
Military Technical Agreement Implementation Commission (MTA IC) controls the implementation of MTA regulations, cooperates with KFOR and maintains continuous communication between the Republic of Serbia security forces and KFOR. Based on the Agreement Article 4, Joint Commission for the implementation of the MTA (JIC) was established, composed of KFOR representatives and Serbian Armed Forces and Serbian Ministry of Internal Affairs representatives. By signing the Military Technical Agreement between then Yugoslav Armed Forces and NATO, and adopting the UNSC Resolution 1244, on 10  June 1999, NATO forces air attacks against the FR Yugoslavia were discontinued. NATO was authorized to establish multinational forces for conducting peace operation in Kosovo and Metohija. These multinational units became international security forces – KFOR (Kosovo Force), with headquarters in Priština.


United States Secretary of the Air Force

The secretary of the Air Force, sometimes referred to as the secretary of the Department of the Air Force, (SecAF, or SAF/OS) is the head of the Department of the Air Force and the service secretary for the United States Air Force and United States Space Force. The secretary of the Air Force is a civilian appointed by the president, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate. The secretary reports to the secretary of defense and/or the deputy secretary of defense, and is by statute responsible for and has the authority to conduct all the affairs of the Department of the Air Force.
The secretary works closely with their civilian deputy, the under secretary of the Air Force; and their military deputies, the chief of staff of the Air Force and the chief of space operations.
The first secretary of the Air Force, Stuart Symington, was sworn in on September 18, 1947, upon the split and re-organization of the Department of War and Army Air Forces into an air military department and a military service of its own, with the enactment of the National Security Act.
On January 20, 2021, John P. Roth was appointed as the acting secretary of the Air Force.
Responsibilities.
The secretary is the head of the Department of the Air Force. The Department of the Air Force is defined as a "Military Department". It is not limited to the Washington headquarters staffs, rather it is an entity which includes all the components of the United States Air Force and United States Space Force, including their reserve components:
The exclusive responsibilities of the secretary of the Air Force are enumerated in Title 10 Section 9013 (b) of the United States Code. They include, but are not limited to:
By direction of the secretary of defense, the secretary of the Air Force assigns military units of the Air Force and Space Force, other than those who carry out the functions listed in "10 USC 8013 (b)", to the Unified and Specified Combatant Commands to perform missions assigned to those commands. Air Force and Space Force units while assigned to Combatant Commands may only be reassigned by authority of the secretary of defense.
However, the chain of command for Air Force and Space Force units for other purposes than the operational direction goes from the "president" to the "secretary of defense" to the "secretary of the Air Force" to the "commanders of Air Force and Space Force Commands". Air Force and Space Force officers have to report on any matter to the secretary, or the secretary's designate, when requested. The secretary has the authority to detail, prescribe the duties, and to assign Air Force and Space Force service members and civilian employees, and may also change the title of any activity not statutorily designated. The secretary has several responsibilities under the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) with respect to Air Force and Space Force service members, including the authority to convene general courts martial and to commute sentences.
The secretary of the Air Force may also be assigned additional responsibilities by the president or the secretary of defense, e.g. the secretary is designated as the "DoD Executive Agent for Space", and as such:
Office of the Secretary of the Air Force.
The secretary of the Air Force's principal staff element, the Office of the Secretary of the Air Force, has responsibility for acquisition and auditing, comptroller issues (including financial management), inspector general matters, legislative affairs, and public affairs within the Department of the Air Force. The Office of the Secretary of the Air Force is one of the Department of the Air Force's three headquarter staffs at the seat of government, with the others being the Air Staff and the Office of the Chief of Space Operations.
Composition.
The Office of the Secretary of the Air Force is composed of:


Henry Blake (lighthouse keeper)

William Henry Blake (1837–1871) was the first New Dungeness Lighthouse keeper.
Blake began his term after the New Dungeness Lighthouse was first lighted on December 14, 1858. Blake overcame the loneliness and dreariness associated with the profession of lighthouse keeping, serving for over a decade as the New Dungeness light's only attendant. He steadfastly kept the kerosene lantern lighted each night, and tolled the large bell constantly when fog rolled in to warn mariners away from the spit. In 1862 he married Mary Ann McDonnell. Blake is considered to be one of the first and best examples of commitment to mariners' safety.
A little known fact about Blake is how in 1868 he took in and cared for a pregnant Native American woman of the Tsimshian tribe after she and a group of her fellow tribesmen were ambushed by members of the Clallam tribe. Upon demands by the Clallam attackers to give up the pregnant woman, Blake refused. Later the Clallam attackers were punished, and the Tsimshian woman went home. It is said that in 1902 a Native American man came back to the lighthouse, paying his respects after explaining he was the baby inside the woman that night.
Blake and Mary Ann McDonnell had five children: Catherine, Richard, Clara, Mary and Hannah. The first three were born in the lighthouse.
A USCG coastal buoy tender WLM-563 based in Everett, Washington is named after him. The USCGC Henry Blake (WLM-563) honors his commitment to mariner safety in its name and motto, "The Keeper of Tradition."


Swedish Air Force

The Swedish Air Force ( or just "flygvapnet") is the air force branch of the Swedish Armed Forces.
History.
The Swedish Air Force was created on July 1, 1926 when the aircraft units of the Army and Navy were merged. Because of the escalating international tension during the 1930s the Air Force was reorganized and expanded from four to seven squadrons.
World War II.
When World War II broke out in 1939 further expansion was initiated and this substantial expansion was not finished until the end of the war. Although Sweden never entered the war, a large air force was considered necessary to ward off the threat of invasion and to resist pressure through military threats from the great powers. By 1945 the Swedish Air Force had over 800 combat-ready aircraft, including 15 fighter divisions.
A major problem for the Swedish Air Force during World War II was the lack of fuel. Sweden was surrounded by countries at war and could not rely on imported oil. Instead domestic oil shales were heated to produce the needed petrol.
About 250 aircrew were killed in crashes 1939-1945 according to statistics that were not disclosed during the war years but published afterwards.
Expansion during the Cold War.
The Swedish Air Force underwent a rapid modernization from 1945. It was no longer politically acceptable to equip it with second-rate models. Instead, the Air Staff purchased the best it could find from abroad, e.g. P-51D Mustangs, De Havilland Mosquito NF.19 night fighters and de Havilland Vampires, and supported the development of top performance domestic models. The Saab 29 Tunnan jet fighter was introduced around 1950.
In the late 1950s the Swedish Air Force introduced the Bas 60 air base system, which revolved around force dispersal of air squadrons across many wartime air bases in case of war in order to make it complicated for an opponent to destroy the air force on the ground. Road runways were also introduced as backup runways. Bas 60 was developed further into Bas 90 during the 1970s and 1980s.
During the Cold War large amounts of money (including funds intended for the Swedish nuclear weapons programme) were spent on the Swedish Air Force and domestic airplane production. In 1957 Sweden had the world's fourth most powerful air force, with about 1,000 modern planes in front-line service. During the 1950s, it introduced fighters such as the Saab J 29 Tunnan, Saab A 32 Lansen and Saab J 35 Draken.
In June 1952 the Swedish Air Force lost two aircraft on Cold War operations, in what became known as the Catalina affair. A signals intelligence Douglas DC-3 was intercepted by Soviet MiG-15s over the Baltic, and shot down with the loss of three aircrew and five civilian technicians. A PBY Catalina rescue seaplane was then also downed, the five-man crew being rescued from the sea by a freighter.
In the air defence role the Swedish Air Force also operated surface-to-air missiles. Svea Air Corps (F 8) operated de Havilland J-28B Vampire jet aircraft in 1949 being replaced in 1953 by Saab J-29 Tunnan and in 1957 by J-34 Hunter fighters. As of 1961 F 8 reroled into missile defence role becoming the air force technical training centre for using the new RB-68 Bloodhound systems in 2 squadrons until 1974.
These Swedish units also operated the RB-68 missile system (1 squadron each):
Death toll during the Cold War.
In the Cold War era, more than 600 Swedish fighter pilots were killed in crashes during peacetime exercises and training in the 1945–1991 period. In the 1950s–60s era the flight training curriculum was deficient and the training regimes were too risky and some aircraft types had design flaws. In the 1950s, about 21 pilots were killed annually.
In the 1960s the average number of killed were 13 per year, which meant Sweden had sixfold mortality rate per 100,000 flight hours compared to the United States. In the 1960s flight safety starts to become a consideration, not due to the death toll but because the aircraft were getting increasingly expensive. In October 1960, a Lansen fighter crashed into a farmhouse and killed 7 people. In the 1970s the death toll was reduced to 6–7 per year. In subsequent years, it continued to fall and from 1996 onwards, no fatal accident has been recorded.
War service.
The Swedish Air Force has seen involvement at some level in three wars, the Finno-Soviet Winter War in 1939–40, in which volunteers took part, the Congo Crisis, 1961–64, and in the 2011 Libyan civil war.
Finland 1940.
When the Soviet Union attacked Finland in November 1939, Sweden came to its neighbour's assistance in most ways short of joining the war outright. A Swedish volunteer infantry brigade and a volunteer air squadron fought in northern Finland from January to March 1940. The squadron was designated F 19 and consisted of 12 Gloster Gladiator fighters and four Hawker Hart dive-bombers.
Congo 1961–1964.
The Swedish Air Force saw combat as part of the United Nations peace-keeping mission ONUC during the Congo Crisis in 1961 to 1964. It established a separate air wing, F 22, equipped with a dozen Saab 29 Tunnans, which performed well under the rough conditions in central Africa. The secessionist adversaries possessed only a small number of aircraft with poor combat capabilities, e.g. Fouga Magister trainers.
1990s – restructuring.
With the end of the Cold War the Swedish Armed Forces underwent a massive restructuring process. During this time, several air bases were deemed unnecessary and closed with fighters like the Saab 37 Viggen retired prematurely. In 1994 the air force had over 400 fighters, by 2005 the number had sunk to fewer than 150.
Libya 2011.
On March 29, 2011, the Swedish prime minister announced that eight Saab JAS 39 Gripens would support the UN-mandated no-fly zone over Libya. The announcement responded to a NATO request for assistance. The Swedish fighters were limited to supporting the no-fly zone and were not authorized to engage in ground attack sorties. The deployment was approved by the Swedish Riksdag on April 1, 2011 and the first jets departed for Libya on April 2. A C-130 Hercules accompanied the fighters for mid-air refueling.
Current Inventory.
Aircraft.

Note: Three C-17 Globemaster III's are available through the Heavy Airlift Wing based in Hungary.
The Air Force has deployed the Gripen in service. Designated Saab JAS 39 Gripen— JAS standing for "Jakt" (Air-to-air), "Attack" (Air-to-surface) and "Spaning" (Reconnaissance), and means every Gripen can fulfill all three mission types—, it is a modern multi-role fighter designed to replace the Draken and Viggen. Capabilities of Gripen include a short runway requirement, advanced data link equipment, and canard delta design with lateral instability and fly-by-wire.
Sweden originally ordered 204 Gripen aircraft. Out of these 80 remain in service in the Air Force today and an additional 28 are leased to the Czech and Hungarian Air Force (14 each), with an option to acquire them when the lease period expires. Furthermore, 12 aircraft were sold to the Royal Thai Air Force.
Organization.
Fighter units.
There are three wings of fighters:
Helicopter units.
The aviation units that were formerly under the Swedish Army (""Arméflyget") and the Swedish Navy ("Marinflyget"") have been merged with the helicopter units of the Air Force to form the single Helicopter Wing ("Helikopterflottiljen", abbreviated "Hkpflj") for the entire Armed Forces. The wing has been placed under the authority of the Air Force and consists of:
Air transport and special units.
The air transport units perform airlift operations, and are used in both national and in international missions. The unit also organizes the Swedish part of the Heavy Airlift Wing in Hungary. Signals reconnaissance units conduct electronic combat reconnaissance and intelligence gathering.
Future of the Swedish Air Force.
The Swedish Air Force is being adapted to new future tasks. With the collapse of the only military threat, the Soviet Union, and the end of the Cold War, the Swedish government has cut the Swedish armed forces budget, including the Air Force and its fighters. Today about 80 Gripen C/D fighters remain in service. Some orders have been made on the helicopter side and about 40 new units will join the air force in the coming years. Saab has also joined the primarily French project for the unmanned future stealth plane Dassault nEUROn.
In 2008 and 2010, the Swedish armed forces wanted to retire even more fighters and close air bases to relocate money to other branches. However, because of negative response from the public and pressure from the Swedish government, no cuts happened .
Defense Minister Sten Tolgfors responded to the Russian purchase of Mistral-class amphibious assault ships by saying that the Swedish Air Force would need "sea targeting capabilities".
In 2013, the USMC introduced Swedish helicopter units to the forward air control airborne mission profile for better air-ground coordination. In the same year, 60 further modified E class Gripens were ordered with the first plane to join the Air force in 2018. In April 2014, the Swedish government proposed another 10 fighters making the total order 70 planes.
By 2019 there were also plans to keep some of the Gripen C planes in service to keep to numbers of fighters to current levels.
Saab JAS 39 Gripen E.
Today the Swedish Air Force main fighter is the Saab JAS 39 Gripen, in the C/D versions. By 2018 95 fighters were active with about 30 of these being updated from the A version.
The heavily modernised E version will replace the current fleet of Gripen Cs. The new aircraft includes a new Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar, and is powered by the General Electric F414G. It carries more fuel and weapons. The upgrade also includes new weapon systems like the Meteor missile system. In 2013, Saab signed an agreement with the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration for 60 new Gripen in the E version. The first aircraft is to join the Swedish Air Force by 2018. There are also plans to buy further 10 aircraft.
Military transport aircraft.
The Swedish C-130 Hercules (TP 84) were bought from the United States in the 1960s and has been updated several times. By 2020 the current version will not be able to fly because of new restrictions to civilian air space. The Swedish Defence Materiel Administration has been tasked to update the aircraft so they can remain in service to 2030. There are also plans to buy new aircraft by 2024 to replace the current fleet. As part of the Heavy Airlift Wing cooperation, Sweden also operate three Boeing C-17 which are located at Pápa Air Base in Hungary.
Training aircraft.
Sweden uses the Saab 105 as the primary jet-trainer. About 40 planes are today operational. Designed in the 1960s the aircraft is starting to show its age and will gradually be replaced. The Swedish Air Force has selected the Grob G 120TP as its new Basic Trainer Aircraft, designated SK 40. Seven aircraft and one computer-based training system are on order, with delivery expected in 2022 and service starting in 2023. The Saab JAS 39 Gripen D will be used as Advanced Trainer Aircraft.


Coast Guard Station New Bedford

United States Coast Guard Station New Bedford was a United States Coast Guard station located in New Bedford, Massachusetts.
The station was a sub-unit of Sector Southeast New England.


USS Cassin (DD-43)

The first USS "Cassin" (DD-43) was the lead ship of s in the United States Navy during World War I. She was later transferred to the United States Coast Guard, where she was designated CG-1. She was named for Stephen Cassin.
Construction.
"Cassin"s keel was laid down on 1 May 1912, by Bath Iron Works, Bath, Maine, who later launched her on 20 May 1913. She was sponsored by nine year old Miss Helen Cassin Carusi, Stephen Cassin's great granddaughter; who would later sponsor the second in 1935. Commissioned on 9 August 1913 with Lieutenant Commander Harris Laning in command, she reported to the Atlantic Torpedo Flotilla.
Pre-World War I.
From her arrival at Key West, Florida from 5 December 1913 – 16 June 1914, "Cassin" sailed with the 6th Division in the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico in fleet maneuvers and exercises. On 19 May 1914, she sailed to the rescue of SS "Atlantis", wrecked north of Tampico, Mexico. Taking the stricken ship's passengers on board, she landed them at Tampico. After overhaul, "Cassin" operated along the east coast from 21 October 1914 to 27 January 1915, when she returned to the Caribbean for winter maneuvers.
World War I.
Operations along the east coast on Neutrality patrol and drills and surveillance patrol in the Caribbean were "Cassin"s employment until April 1917, when she was immediately prepared for overseas deployment. She arrived at Queenstown, Ireland on 17 May, and began operations which called for her to rendezvous with American troop convoys at sea and escort them to ports in England and France. On 15 October, she sighted the German submarine about south of Mine Head Lighthouse, Monagoush, County Waterford, Ireland, and pursued her. At 13:30, "Cassin" was struck on her port stern by a torpedo.
According to the report issued by the Secretary of the Navy, the torpedo would have missed the "Cassin" entirely, except it breached the surface of the water on two occasions and turned to the left each time. The torpedo struck above the water line, and ignited several depth charges.
Gunner's Mate First Class Osmond Ingram was killed. When he saw the approaching torpedo, he ran to where the depth charges were and began throwing them overboard. He was killed in the explosion. For his actions, he received a posthumous Medal of Honor. Nine other men received minor wounds, but miraculously, though there were more than 20 men sleeping in compartments that were completely destroyed by the torpedo, no one else was killed. In fact, Fireman First Class F. W. Kruse is reported to have wandered out of his living compartment while completely unconscious after having had of frame blown away immediately adjacent to his bunk. One other casualty is attributed to the action, in that Dr. Dudley Walton Queen was seized with cerebrospinal meningitis caused by exposure to the elements, and died four days later on 19 October.
"Cassin", her rudder blown off and stern extensively damaged, began to circle. This did not prevent her, however, from firing four rounds at the submarine when she spotted its conning tower at 1430. The submarine, thus discouraged from further attack, submerged and was not contacted again. Through the night, "Cassin" was guarded by the American destroyer and the British sloop HMS Jessamine and HMS Tamarisk, a disguised sloop under Captain Ronald Niel Stuart. In the morning, took "Cassin" in tow for Queenstown. After repairs there and at Newport, England, "Cassin" returned to escort duty on 2 July 1918.
Inter-war period.
"Cassin"s war service received a well-deserved honor on 12–13 December, when she was chosen as one of the escorts for , carrying President Woodrow Wilson into Brest, France, for his attendance at the Versailles Peace Conference. "Cassin" returned to Boston, Massachusetts on 3 January 1919.
After winter maneuvers in the Caribbean, "Cassin" cleared New York City on 1 May for the Azores, where she took station guarding the route of the Navy's historic transatlantic NC-4 flight. She returned to Boston, Massachusetts for repairs, then sailed on to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania where she was placed in reserve on 18 June for more extensive repairs. Reactivated at Charleston, South Carolina on 14 February 1921, "Cassin" joined Destroyer Flotilla 5 for operations along the New England coast until 11 October, when she returned to Charleston. Returning to Philadelphia on 29 March 1922, she was decommissioned there on 7 June.
Transferred to the Treasury Department on 28 April 1924 for service in Coast Guard. Redesignated CG-1 on 7 June 1924, she was commissioned on 30 August and arrived in Bath, Maine for repairs on 11 September. Repairs were completed on 15 October 1924 and she was homeported in New London, Connecticut as part of the Rum Patrol. On 1 Jun 1930, "Cassin" was transferred to Division 3, Destroyer Force, serving as the flagship. On 27 May 1933, she arrived at Philadelphia Navy Yard, where she was decommissioned on 5 June 1933.
Fate.
"Cassin" was returned to naval custody on 30 June 1933; lost her name on 1 November 1933; struck off on 5 July 1934; and sold for scrap on 22 August 1934.
The ship's bell is mounted outside the Harrison County Courthouse, in Cynthiana, Kentucky. An accompanying stone marker recognizes both the first and second USS "Cassin" and is dedicated to those killed during the attack on Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941.