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In the Military Gregg K. Kakesako |
See also: For Your Benefit
Lingle to christen
submarine HawaiiGov. Linda Lingle will be given the honor of christening the fast-attack submarine Hawaii, breaking a bottle of champagne against its hull.
The Hawaii is being built at General Dynamics Electric Boat in Groton, Conn. It is scheduled to enter the fleet in 2007. It will be the nation's third Virginia-class submarine.
As Hawaii's sponsor, Lingle will also speak at the submarine's keel-laying, christening and commissioning; and have her initials welded onto a metal plate affixed inside the hull, which marks the authentication of the submarine's keel. She also will approve the design of the submarine's official seal and, at commissioning, give the order to "man our ship and bring her to life," a Navy statement says.
>>>><<<< Lt. Gen. Paul V. Hester, Air Force Special Operations Command commander, will be promoted to a four-star general and will become the Pacific Air Forces commander, replacing Gen. Bill Begert, who will retire July 2. Hester is currently responsible for providing Air Force Special Operations Forces and Combat Search and Rescue.
>>>><<<< Beginning next year, the soldiers at Schofield Barracks and elsewhere will be sporting new battle dress camouflage fatigues similar in pattern and color now worn by Marines. Black was removed from the green and brown color scheme because it is not a color found in woodland areas. It has been replaced with a pixelated light green and tan color scheme -- the first change in almost three decades.
Also gone are buttons and belts, part of the 31 design changes. The new Army combat uniform will consist of a jacket, trousers, moisture wicking T-shirt and the brown combat boots. It also will replace the tan desert camouflage uniform. The bottom pockets on the jacket were removed and placed on the shoulder sleeves so soldiers can have access to them while wearing body armor. The pockets were also tilted forward so that they are easily accessible. Buttons were replaced with zippers that open from the top and bottom to provide comfort while wearing armor. The new uniform is being field tested by the 8,400 members of the Stryker Brigade in Iraq. They have been wearing an early version of the new uniform since October 2003. Current plans call for fielding to the total Army by December 2007.
>>>><<<< The Navy and Special Operations Command have delayed the building of a second Advanced SEAL Delivery System -- a minisub designed to deploy and retrieve SEALs covertly, which can be attached to larger host subs -- while more testing is done on the first vessel docked at Pearl Harbor.
Moving Up
Pearl Harbor:>> Reserve Rear Adm. Thomas L. Andrews III has been nominated for his second-star rank while serving as assistant to the deputy chief of staff for logistics, fleet supply and ordnance for U.S. Pacific Fleet.
>> Reserve Rear Adm. Lewis S. Libby III has been nominated for his second star while serving as fleet dental officer for the U.S. Pacific Fleet.
>> Capt. Charles Barker has assumed command of the Naval Clinic, replacing Capt. Joseph Moore, who will report to San Diego as force surgeon for Naval Surface Force Pacific, Coronado.
Schofield Barracks:
>> Col. Howard Killian has assumed command of U.S. Army Garrison Hawaii, replacing Col. David Anderson.
See the Columnists section for some past articles.
"In the Military" was compiled from wire reports and other
sources by reporter Gregg K. Kakesako, who covers military affairs for
the Honolulu Star-Bulletin. He can be reached can be reached by phone
at 294-4075 or by e-mail at gkakesako@starbulletin.com.