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ARMY
Schofield unit in mock battle
The 3rd Brigade Combat Team at Schofield Barracks deployed Nov. 12 to the fictional country of Cortina to do battle with terrorists as part of exercise "Lightning Thrust Bronco."
The exercise, which used Dillingham Airfield, included an air assault by the 2nd Battalion, 5th Infantry Regiment and a ground assault convoy from the 2nd Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment.
The soldiers battled the Cortinian Liberation Front, which was trying to destabilize and possibly overthrow the local government.
Lt. Col. Burt Thompson said the exercise had two purposes: to train for the 3rd Brigade Combat Team's rotation to the Joint Readiness Training Center in Fort Polk, La., in January, and to prepare for real-world contingencies.
"Yes, we're getting ready for JRTC, but really, the end state is that we have a combat capable unit that can deploy anytime, anywhere," Thompson said.
Maj. Michael Webb said the exercise was the first opportunity for many of the soldiers of the 3rd Brigade Combat Team to work as a whole, including engineers, air defense artillery, military intelligence, civil affairs and psychological operations.
In addition to the combat units, support units also participated, including 50 soldiers from Company B, 325th Forward Support Battalion, which set up at the airfield on Nov. 13.
NAVY
Smoke-free rules to begin
The Navy and all government-owned facilities should be cigarette-smoke free effective Dec. 7.
President Clinton signed the order in 1997 and put in place a timeline so that military installations and government-owned properties worldwide could implement the plan.
In 1999 the Defense Department drafted a three-year extension to give the Navy time to modify indoor areas to be enclosed so that cigarette smoke can be exhausted outside using negative air pressure.
Commanding officers are responsible for offering tobacco use cessation classes, discouraging the use of tobacco, and discussing the dangers of using it.
AIR FORCE
Airmen getting extended tours
The Air Force said that as Hawaii Air National Guard and reserve members continue to be demobilized, "Air Expeditionary Force" rotations for how long and when airmen can expect to deploy will require a higher level of active duty commitment.
More than 600 Hawaii Air Guard members were mobilized after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks to support deployments at home and worldwide.
More than a dozen remain deployed to the Middle East in excess of six months, the Air Force said.
But although another approximately 60 or more Air Guard personnel expect to be mobilized in the near future, approximately 550 have been demobilized, officials said.
As a result, the fewer Air Guard and reserve personnel available have caused Pacific Air Forces based at Hickam Air Force Base to anticipate more active duty airmen to serve extended tours beyond 90 days.
The war on terrorism has increased strain on the Air Force's Air Expeditionary Force, or AEF, which is based on a three-month deployment with 12 months at home.
Those in "stressed" or high-demand careers can remain in theater for 135 to 179 days.
Stressed fields include security forces, office of special investigations, civil engineers, command post, fuels, transportation, intelligence, operations, weather, supply and some aircraft platforms.
Currently, 128 Pacific Air Forces airmen out of approximately 1,500 are serving 135- to 179-day AEF tours.
"We are committed to using the AEF framework to spread the deployment load," said Lt. Gen. Steve Polk, Pacific Air Forces vice commander. "Rotations will be 90 days to the maximum extent possible, but many career fields simply must now deploy longer to meet mission needs."
