Briefs
Advertiser Staff and News Services
ARMY
Increase in traffic expected
Soldiers of the 1st Battalion, 14th Infantry Regiment at Schofield Barracks will take part in company-level combined arms live-fire exercises Thursday, Saturday and Monday at Makua Military Reservation.
Residents can expect to see an increase in vehicle traffic during the training, the Army said.
The training is being conducted to hone infantry tactical battle-drill skills with aviation and artillery assets.
Top enlisted soldier retires
The top noncommissioned officer in U.S. Army Pacific, retired Thursday after more than 32 years of service.
Command Sgt. Maj. Jackie L. Cunningham, who has been USARPAC's command sergeant major since November 1998, received the Distinguished Service Medal upon his retirement.
"Being a soldier, to me, is the most important job in our country," Cunningham said. "I know that doctors and lawyers probably take exception to that, but a doctor's not the one who makes our country free."
Command Sgt. Maj. Mark L. Farley will take Cunningham's place as the new U.S. Army Pacific command sergeant major.
Cunningham has taken a position as area manager of the Pacific and Far East for Dell Computers.
NAVY
911 system implemented
Navy Region Hawai'i recently implemented "911" for all emergency calls from military installations and housing areas.
The 911 system is designed to immediately route calls to the Regional Operations Command and Control Center and indicates a caller's address and phone number.
In the past, callers from military installations and housing areas would call 471-7117 for emergency assistance. People who call that number will continue to receive emergency assistance.
The regional operations center falls under the Federal Fire Department, and is based at Pearl Harbor.
The center began operations in February 2002 and incorporates fire, security, and ambulance services under one roof. Federal Fire provides emergency services to all Army, Navy and Marine Corps facilities in Hawai'i.
MILITARY FAMILIES
'Homefront' project started
Home Depot has started up "Project Homefront," a national effort to help military families repair and maintain their homes while a family member is deployed during Operation Iraqi Freedom.
In cooperation with Rebuilding Together, a volunteer home rehabilitation organization, and USA Freedom Corps, a White House volunteer service initiative, Home Depot will commit $1 million to the project and 1 million hours of service through its Team Depot volunteer corps.
The $1 million pledged by Home Depot will provide cash and materials to support Rebuilding Together in meeting home improvement needs of military families.
Family members of more than 1,700 Home Depot employees are deployed in the conflict.
More information can be found at www.homedepot.com or www.ProjectHomefront.org.
