Briefs

Advertiser Staff

ARMY

Stryker unit arrives in Kuwait

The Army's first operational Stryker brigade arrived in Kuwait Wednesday on its way to a deployment to Iraq.

The eight-wheeled vehicles based in Fort Lewis, Wash., were scheduled to convoy to Camp Udari in northern Kuwait. From there, the brigade will head into Iraq.

The Iraq deployment is seen as a major test for the Stryker armored vehicle, which has armor capable of withstanding a 14.5 mm heavy machine gun round, but which critics say is vulnerable to rocket-propelled grenade fire.

Army officials have said the new Stryker is not a tank, affords more protection than a Humvee, and will be able to use advanced communications and speed to safely deliver soldiers.

A brigade of 300 Stryker vehicles is expected in Hawai'i in 2007.

NAVY

Navy drug use down sharply

The Navy said it has achieved a significant decrease in drug use during the past two years and a 50 percent reduction in alcohol-related incidents since January 2002.

There was a 9 percent increase in urinalysis samples submitted in fiscal 2003 compared with the previous year, and a 20 percent increase over fiscal 2001. The data showed an 18 percent decrease in positive tests compared with 2002, on top of a 23 percent decrease from fiscal 2001, the Navy said.

Ecstasy use showed a decline, with 45 percent fewer sailors testing positive compared with 2002.

Alcohol incidents also declined from 60 between January and March 2002, to 30 between June and September 2003. A Navy report did not define an alcohol "incident."

Shipyard wins workplace award

Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard recently was recognized by the Hawai'i Psychological Association as a safe, secure and psychologically healthy workplace, the Navy said.

HPA, in cooperation with the American Psychological Association, selected the shipyard as the winner of its 2003 Healthy Workplace award in the category of government agency.

The association highlighted the yard's efforts to recognize and reward employees.

Five major areas — health, safety and security, employee involvement, career development and family support and community involvement — were evaluated.