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PHOTO BY SGT. 1ST CLASS STEPHEN M. LUM Spc. Alan D. Pascua, a 298th Engineer Detachment electrician from Waipahu, evens the roof line of a newly built porch at the 173rd Support Battalion headquarters, Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan.

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Troops upgrading
Afghan airfield

More than 50 soldiers from the Hawaii Army National Guard's 298th Engineer detachment are working on upgrading Kandahar Airfield's infrastructure in Afghanistan. The project includes expanding the motor pool and flight line and providing security forces. The Army says that 59 percent of its engineer construction capability is in the Army National Guard.

The Hawaii Army National Guard's 117th Public Affairs Detachment reported that Staff Sgt. Gulstan Poepoe of Ewa, who normally works as a carpenter, said "the logistics were the biggest challenge." Staff Sgt. Kirk Halemano of Kalihi said the soldiers from Hawaii rebuilt an entryway, constructed a roofed porch with benches and finished a conference room and a work area at the 173rd Support Battalion headquarters.

Lt. Gen. William E. Ward, who commanded the 25th Infantry Division from July 1999 to November 2000, has been nominated for his fourth star and a position as deputy commander of U.S. European Command in Germany. Ward is now the deputy commanding general and chief of staff of U.S. Army Europe and Seventh Army in Germany, with temporary duty as security coordinator for Palestinian peace negotiations.

At Hickam Air Force Base, Lt. Gen. Victor E. Renuart Jr., vice commander of Pacific Air Forces, has been selected to become assistant director of strategic plans and policy on the Joint Staff in Washington, D.C. He will be replaced by Maj. Gen. David A. Deptula, who has been nominated for appointment to the rank of lieutenant general. Deptula is currently serving as director of air and space operations at Headquarters Pacific Air Forces.

At Pearl Harbor, Rear Adm. Stephen S. Voetsch will become deputy chief of staff for operations, plans and policy for the U.S. Pacific Fleet. Voetsch is currently executive assistant to the commander of U.S. Northern Command in Colorado Springs, Colo.

At Camp Smith, Rear Adm. David J. Dorsett, director for intelligence for U.S. Pacific Command, has been assigned director of Joint Staff Defense Intelligence Agency in Arlington, Va.

USO-Hawaii will host its annual 5K/10K base race fund-raiser Aug. 14 at Wheeler Army Air Field. In addition to operating centers at Honolulu Airport and Hickam Air Force Base for military personnel and their dependents, USO-Hawaii frequently provides refreshments to military units as they deploy from Hawaii to overseas locations or transit through the state.

Participants may enter either the 10K or 5K. Both timed races begin at 7 a.m. Teams of five to 10 runners may enter the 10K in one of six categories: military, police/fire, corporate, male, female or mixed.

Registration is $20 for individuals and team members, $10 for children under 14. Entry forms are in running stores, military base fitness centers and at www.uso.org/hawaii and www.active.com.

Moving Up

Pearl Harbor

» Capt. Taylor Skardon will become the new commanding officer of Pearl Harbor Naval Station on Aug. 26, relieving Capt. Ron Cox.
» Cmdr. Daniel Coleman has assumed command of Mobile Diving and Salvage One, relieving Cmdr. Bette Bush.
» Cmdr. Philip Davis has assumed command of the Navy Reserve Center, relieving Cmdr. Samuel Tate.

Fort Shafter
» Col. John Peabody has assumed command of the Pacific Division of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, relieving Brig. Gen. Robert Davis.
Schofield Barracks
» Lt. Col. Roosevelt Corpening has assumed command of 125th Finance Battalion, relieving Lt. Col. Domenico Rossi.
» Col. Kathi Kreklow has assumed command of the 599th Transportation Group, relieving Col. Thomas A. Harvey.

Pohakuloa Training Area
» Lt. Col. Kimberly Rapacz has assumed command of the Pohakuloa Base Support Battalion, relieving Lt. Col. Fred Clarke.