By John J. Kruzel

American Forces Press Service

 

July 1, 2008 - With competitive salaries, a top-notch retirement package, and now the option to share education benefits with family members, a career in the U.S. military has become far more attractive since the days of the draft. Thirty-five years ago today, the armed forces ended involuntary enlistment and the all-volunteer force was born. Just as military equipment and tactics have evolved since the Vietnam War era, so have the incentives that entice and sustain men and women who volunteer to wear their nation's uniform.

 

"When you put the whole package together, it's becoming very attractive to join the military," Army Lt. Gen. Thomas F. Metz, director of the Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Organization, said in an interview yesterday. "It can be a wonderful life."

 

When Metz volunteered for the Army in 1966, he was one of only two men in his basic training company who had not been drafted.

 

"There was one kid from Baltimore and myself. The rest of the company was draftees," he recalled. "I don't want to go back to that."

 

The general cited a combination of reasons why people enlist today: patriotism, the opportunity for worldly experience, and valuable training. But the lure of benefits, which have expanded since the advent of the all-volunteer force and continue to grow, also is an important draw.

 

"The first, and most tangible, was getting the pay scale on an equal footing with your counterpart on your civilian side," Metz said, describing the evolution of military incentives. "That takes that differential off the table."

 

Disparity between civilian and military salaries used to be a stumbling block for recruiters. But this is a nonissue now that servicemembers' pay -- based on their education and job experience -- is roughly equal to what they would make out of uniform, Metz said.

 

As pay scales equalized, servicemembers tended to replace their concerns about compensation with a less urgent focus on levels of job satisfaction. On a daily basis, the general said, the onus is with commanders and noncommissioned officers to create an environment in which military members feel fulfilled being part of the unit.

 

But in the long-term view of military careers, he added, the recruiting system has evolved since the draft to better match military members with an occupation in which they're more likely to find enduring satisfaction.

 

This is contrary to the armed forces' days of yore, when draftees not only were forced into service, but also had no latitude to select their military job.

 

"When you force somebody to come into the service, then you force the military skill on them that they may or may not be interested in," Metz said, "you've got a real uphill battle in the training and education of that soldier."

 

Now, however, recruiters use aptitude tests to steer enlistees into jobs they're most likely to enjoy, making them easier to train and educate. "It's just better for all concerned," Metz said.

 

Capping a military career is a retirement package which the general characterized as America's gold-standard pension.

 

"Once a person gets beyond those teenage years and begins to think a little bit deeper about their life, [they realize] you cannot build an annuity that matches the retirement of an armed forces member in the United States," he said.

 

The most recent enhancement to military benefits came yesterday, when President Bush signed legislation that will increase servicemembers' education package and, for the first time, allows troops to transfer unused portions to family members.

 

Metz predicted the bill will have a direct impact on recruiting. He added that because military members now can obtain degrees as easily in uniform as they can as civilians, servicemembers could attend programs like those offered at the College of the American Soldier, and transfer unused GI Bill benefits to a spouse or child.

 

"The transfer of that GI educational benefit is a double win, because you could become a soldier, get an education, and get a family member's education," he said. "You're really getting a 'twofer.'"

 

The 42-year career soldier offered his praise for today's all-volunteer force. "They're doing an unbelievably good job," he said, "and we have got to have them continue."

NAVY

 

Lockheed Martin Integrated Systems, Inc., Bethesda, Md., is being awarded a $36,893,216 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, cost-plus-incentive-fee/cost-plus-fixed-fee, performance-based contract with provisions for firm-fixed price orders to provide Joint Medical Information Systems information assurance technical support services, including, but is not limited to, Network Operations, Network Security, Computer Network Defense, Security Life Cycle Management, Identity Management, Public Key Infrastructure Implementation and Engineering Support, Security Policy and Standards Guidance and Development, Secure Wireless Network Infrastructure Support, Secure Network Infrastructure Systems and Applications, Governance, Certification and Accreditation, Risk Management, Security Engineering, Cryptographic Repair, Crypto Modernization, and Cross Domain solutions that Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center Charleston and Naval Network Warfare Command support. This contract includes four one-year option periods, which, if exercised, will bring the cumulative value of the contract to an estimated amount of $189,865,750. Work will be performed in Charleston, S.C., and work is expected to be completed by May 2009 (May 2013 with options exercised). Contract funds will not expire at the end of the fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured using full and open competitive procedures via the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center E-commerce website, with six offers received. The Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center, Charleston, S.C., is the contracting activity (N65236-08-D-6801).

 

Communication and Ear Protection*, Enterprise, Ala., is being awarded a not-to-exceed $25,000,000 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for a Phase III Small Business Innovative Research Program under Topic N02-151, entitled "Passive Noise Reduction Technology to Improve Speech Intelligibility and Reduce Noise for Pilot and Deck Crew Helmet Mounted Systems." The contractor will provide services and materials for engineering tasks, including research and development, prototype and testing of the hearing protection devices. Work will be performed in Enterprise, Ala., and work is expected to be completed in May 2013. Contract funds in the amount of $451,714 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured using the SBIR Program Solicitation under Topic N02-151 and 16 offers were received. The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, Lakehurst, N.J., is the contracting activity (N68335-08-D-0013).

 

General Electric Co., Aircraft Engines Business Group, Lynn, Mass., is being awarded a $24,681,174 modification to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract (N00019-06-C-0088) to exercise an option for the Fiscal Year 2008 Lot 12 procurement of seven F-414-GE-400 spare engines for the F/A-18E/F and EA-18G aircraft. Work will be performed in Lynn, Mass., (50 percent); Madisonville, Ky., (22 percent); Hooksett, N.H., (13 percent); Albuquerque, N.M., (6 percent); Rutland, Vt., (5 percent); Dayton, Ohio, (2 percent); Evandale, Ohio, (1 percent); and Bromont, Canada, (1 percent), and work is expected to be completed in Jun. 2009. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity.

 

Communication & Power Industries, Inc., Palo Alto, Calif., is being awarded a $12,757,800 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for major repair/remanufacture of Traveling Wave Tubes (TWTs) and new TWTs for the AN/SLQ-32 Electronic Countermeasures System. The AN/SLQ-32 Electronic Countermeasures System performs deception jamming of missile seekers and noise jamming of targeting radars. It can track multiple emitters and provides ship protection from radar-directed anti-ship missiles as well as confusing targeting radars on hostile platforms. The TWTs are integral parts of the jammer. Work will be performed in Palo Alto, Calif., and work is expected to be completed by May 2013. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured with a minimum of four proposals solicited and one offer received via Federal Business Opportunities website and the Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) Crane Acquisition Department's website. The NSWC Crane, Crane, Ind., is the contracting activity (N00164-08-D-GR15).

 

Lockheed Martin-MS2, Liverpool, N.Y., is being awarded a $10,061,579 firm-fixed-price, cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for the production and support of Multi Function Towed Arrays for the AN/SQQ-89A(V)15 Antisubmarine Warfare Combat Systems. MFTA is the next generation passive and active sonar receiver. It affords several enhancements to the AN/SQR-19 Tactical Towed Array System (TACTAS) allowing greater coverage, increased capability/reliability, and reduced obsolescence. MFTA significantly contributes to the capability of surface ships to detect, localize, and prosecute undersea threats, and is a critical sensor to a combat systems suite. Work will be performed in Syracuse, N.Y., (60 percent); Baltimore, Md., (20 percent); Cleveland, Ohio, (14 percent); and Phoenix, Ariz., (6 percent), and work is expected to be complete by Dec. 2012. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured with one proposal solicited and two offers received via the Federal Business Opportunities website. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity (N00024-08-C-6282).

 

Vision Systems International*, San Jose, Calif., is being awarded a $6,235,379 firm-fixed-price, definitive-contract for the stand-up of an organic repair depot for the Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing System. The repair depot shall be established to provide Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) Crane with in-house repair capability for failed Display Units. Work will be performed in Crane, Ind., and work is expected to be completed by April 2013. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured. The solicitation was posted on Federal Business Opportunities website and the NSWC Crane website, with one proposal solicited and one offer received. NSWC Crane, Crane, Ind., is the contracting activity (N00164-08-C-JQ41).

 

ARMY

 

C. Martin Co., Inc., Las Vegas, N.V., was awarded on May 8, 2008, a $12,609,094 firm-fixed price incentive fee contract for installation support services.  Work will be performed in Dugway Proving Ground, Utah, and is expected to be completed by Jun. 1, 2015.  Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. 21 bids were solicited on Jun. 27, 2007, and three bids were received. Department of the Army, Installation Contracting Command, Dugway, Utah, is the contracting activity (W911S6-08-C-0003).

 

AAI Corp., Hunt Valley, Md., was awarded on May 8, 2008, a $45,386,253 firm-fixed price contract for two SHADOW unmanned aerial vehicle systems and associated support equipment.  Work will be performed in Hunt Valley, Md., and is expected to be completed by May 15, 2010.  Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year.  One bid was solicited on Aug. 16, 2007. U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command, Redstone Arsenal, Ala., is the contracting activity (W58RGZ-08-C-0023).

 

Laughlin-Thyssen, Inc., Houston, Texas, was awarded on May 9, 2008, a $23,448,135 firm-fixed price contract for construction of a channel improvement project.  Work will be performed in San Antonio, Texas, and is expected to be completed by Oct. 31, 2009.  Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year.  Web bids were solicited on Feb. 4, 2008. U.S. Army Engineer District, Fort Worth, Texas, is the contracting activity (W9126G-08-C-0020).

 

Harper Construction Co., Inc., San Diego, Calif., was awarded on May 9, 2008, a $22,022,448 firm-fixed price contract for re-stationing of 31st Air Defense Artillery including construction of primary infrastructure and site development.  Work will be performed at Fort Sill, Okla., and is expected to be completed by Mar. 1, 2010.  Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year.  Web bids were solicited on Sept. 21, 2007, and two bids were received. U.S. Army Engineer District, Tulsa, Okla., is the contracting activity (@912BV-08-C-2002).

 

MWH Construction Inc., Broomfield, Colo., was awarded on May 9, 2008, a $15,000,000 firm-fixed price contract for design and construction of three company operation facilities.  Work will be performed at Fort Sill, Okla., and is expected to be completed by Nov. 5, 2009.  Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year.  Six bids were solicited on Dec. 18, 2007, and five bids were received. U.S. Army Engineer District, Savannah, Ga., is the contracting activity (W912HN-08-D-0019).

 

K&S Associates, Inc., St. Louis, Mo., was awarded on May 8, 2008, a $10,170,000 firm-fixed price contract for design and construction of squadron operations facilities.  Work will be performed at Scott Air Force Base, Ill., and is expected to be completed by Nov. 2, 2009. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year.  Web bids were solicited on Mar. 3, 2008, and six bids were received.  Corps of Engineers, Louisville, Ky., is the contracting activity (W912QR-08-C-0017).

 

Turner Denny Construction Co., Virginia Beach, Va., was awarded on May 9, 2008, a $5,811,295 firm-fixed price contract for an information systems server farm addition.  Work will be performed at Fort Lee, Va., and is expected to be completed by Dec. 31, 2009.  Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year.  Two bids were solicited on Dec. 21, 2007, and two bids were received. U.S. Army Engineer District, Norfolk, Va., is the contracting activity (W91236-05-D-0054).

 

NAVY

 

Innovative Technical Solutions, Inc.*, dba NovaSol, Honolulu, Hawaii, is being awarded a $27,475,062 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for the development of a reconnaissance and data exploitation system in support of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle sensor efforts within the Naval Air Systems Command Avionics Department. Work will be performed in Honolulu, Hawaii, and work is expected to be completed in May 2013. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was procured via a Broad Agency Announcement. The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, Lakehurst, N.J., is the contracting activity (N68335-08-C-0110).

 

Oceaneering International, Inc., Chesapeake, Va.; East Coast Repair and Fabrication, Inc.*, in joint venture with Tecnico Corp.*, Norfolk, Va.; and Q.E.D. Systems, Inc.*, Va. Beach, Va., are each being awarded a $22,500,000 time-and-material, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity multiple award contract for furnishing the necessary management, technical services, labor, material, support services, and equipment to provide production support and maintenance for the accomplishment of repairs and maintenance onboard U.S. Navy and other military type vessels, including submarines in support of Norfolk Naval Shipyard. Each contractor will receive $100,000.00 at time of award. Work will be performed in Portsmouth, Va., and work is expected to be completed by May 2009. Contract funds in the amount of $300,000will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This multiple award contract wascompetitively procured with 24 proposals solicited and sixoffers received via the Navy Electronic Commerce Online website. The Mid-Atlantic Regional Maintenance Center, U.S. Navy, Portsmouth, Va., is the contracting activity (Oceaneering International, Inc.: N40025-08-D-8008), (East Coast Repair & Fabrication, Inc. in joint venture with Tecnico Corporation: N40025-08-D-8009), (Q.E.D.Systems, Inc.: N40025-08-D-8010).

 

Motorola, Inc., Columbia, Md., is being awarded a $20,000,000 modification to a previously awarded contract (N65236-06-D-5196) for hand-held radios to support the Enterprise Land Mobile Radio infrastructure. The cumulative value of this contract, including this modification, is $43,105,144. Work will be performed in Columbia, Md., and work is expected to be completed by Sept. 2009. Contract funds in the amount of $20,000,000 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured through the Federal Business Opportunities website and the Space and Naval Warfare e-Commerce Central website, with six offers received. The Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center, Charleston, S.C., is the contracting activity.

 

ARMY

 

Kellogg, Brown & Root Services, Inc., Houston, Texas, was awarded on May 6, 2008, a $24,625,839 firm-fixed price and cost-reimbursement contract for Kosovo support services. Work will be performed in Texas, Germany and Kosovo, and is expected to be completed by July 31, 2011.  Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year.  66 bids were solicited on Sep. 29, 2003, and three bids were received. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Winchester, Va., is the contracting activity (W912ER-05-D-0003).

 

Tetra Tech FC, LLC, Alexandria, Va., was awarded on May 5, 2008, a $7,606,400 firm-fixed price contract for modifications for Building 61, the Annex, and 59.  Work will be performed at Fort McNair, Washington, D.C., and is expected to be completed by May 5, 2009. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Competitive, unrestricted bids were solicited on Jul. 17, 2007, and five were received.  U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore, Md., is the contracting activity (W912DR-08-C-0024).

 

Weeks Marine, Inc., Covington, La., was awarded on May 6, 2008, a $5,120,000 firm-fixed price contract for dredging activities.  Work will be performed in St. Mary Parish, La., and is expected to be completed by Dec. 30, 2008.  Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year.  Web bids were solicited on Oct. 1, 2007, and two bids were received. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New Orleans, La., is the contracting activity (W912P8-08-C-0055).

 

AIR FORCE

 

Northrop Grumman Mission Systems of Clearfield, Utah, is being awarded a modified cost plus fix fee contract for $7,742,385. This action will provide intercontinental ballistic missile Minuteman Minimum Essential Emergency Communications Network upgrade program for the SDD Phase. The MMPU will provide an improved terminal operator control function, continue to be backward compatible with current Extremely High Frequency low data rate communications, add a future high data rate advanced Extremely High Frequency communications capability and address other system improvements in accordance with the system design and development technical requirement document. Northrop Grumman's role in this modification is to provide the system engineering oversight needed to the radio vendor (Raytheon). One Lot. At this time $1,224,548 has been obligated. Hill Air Force Base, Utah, is the contracting activity (F42610-98-C-0001).

 

General Atomics-Aeronautical Systems, Incorporated of San Diego, Calif., is being awarded a cost plus fixed fee contract for $5,948,515. This contract action will provide support for the Lynx Continuous Look Attack Management Predator Reaper MQ-9. At this time $2,619,712 has been obligated. Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity (FA8620-05-G-3028 0043).

 

Rolls-Royce Corp., of Indianapolis, Ind., is being awarded a contract for $5,882,181.78. This action will provide for Sole-Source Commercial Contract with Rolls Royce for Replenishment Spares Parts for the T56 Engine Program Qty of 166 each, shafts, and turbin. At this time $0 has been obligated. Tinker Air Force Base, Okla., is the contracting activity (FA8104-08-C-0090).

This is such a bullshitted ruling!  I am not saying the guy doesn't need to pay but dayum!  What happened to no debter prision in the US? And I am sorry the family is right!  This pure racism at work.......again! All us folks struggling to pay our bills could be next in line for 15-20 years in prision because we dont' check our accounts very often!

 

Civil rights unit probes black man’s sentence

Man convicted for first offense of writing bad checks gets 30 years in prison

THOUGHTS FROM WEEK ONE IN THE NFL . . .
bigger brother always bests little brother in the end. not only did peyton win but indy led the whole way. i know i know, eli had a higher qb rating, threw 2 tds to peyton's 1 but stats never tell the whole story. tell the folks over at sabermetrics and moneyball that if they ever listen

new england may not be the best team or even the most talented, and keeps losing players right and left (branch) and still finds a way to win. credit belichick and tom brady, as good a qb in the league as peyton even though not the same numbers. see above on overrated statistics.

bad guys
terrell owens (played pretty good), dallas cowboys 0--1.
randy moss, oakland raiders 0--1

good guys
marvin harrison, indy 1--0
chad johnson, cincinnati 1--0

i'm still trying to figure out if baltimore is that good, or tampa bay that bad (baltimore 26 tampa bay 0)

chicago's d is that good, and green bay's o that bad (bears 27-0) sorry bret favre.

i don't need to figure out that the chargers are pretty good (lt, gates and merriman) and the oakland raiders are so very, horribly bad.

sc' alums
welcome back carson, hello reggie bush!

arizona looks like they have finally turned the corner from mediocre into possibly something special. keep learning matt leinart, you're day will come sooner than later.

i like what i saw from atlanta, i did not like what i saw from carolina. i'm amending my super bowl pick; indy v. i'm now undecided. does it really matter though, the afc is so much better than the nfc.

REGGIE BUSH v. MARIO WILLIAMS
(fyi, reggie bush was the ..2 pick in the nfl draft by the new orleans saints after the houston texans selected williams ..1 despite the overwhelming chorus of experts, fans and insiders all ranking bush the best player to come out of college football)

The texans were soooo dumb.
Reggie Bush week one vs. Cleveland
14 carries for 61 yards, longest for 18
8 catches for 58 yards
3 punt returns for 22 yards
0 td's
0 fumbles
23 touches for total of 141 yards
IMPACT: proved the hype is real and can handle the load. has already sold more jerseys with his ..25 than any rookie in last 5 years and given moribund saints franchise a sign of life. was the focal point for the saints offense and compliments rb deuce mc callister and wr joe horn and gives qb drew brees someone to hand off and throw to on every play. he's still a rookie and will have downs as well as ups but given the expectations, should be good for at least 1500 all-purpose yards. im betting he breaks 2000.
get excited new orleans, reggie bush is mardi gras.

Mario Williams week one v. Philadelphia
3 tackles
0 sacks
0 forced fumbles
IMPACT: little if any. opposing qb donovan mc nabb had a great day throwing for 3 td's and making easy work of texans beleagured d. sorry houston. mario may very well turn out to be a good player, but you could have had reggie. projected rb dominique davis is out for the year and david carr still has little protection. how long before texans fans start showing up with bags on their heads and calling for regime change upstairs???

WEEK TWO TRIFECTA
(1) Sunday Studs
indy and cincinnati both at home big over houston and cleveland. c'mon, that's too easy. peyton will go for 4 td's and 350. marvin harrison, reggie wayne and dallas clark will all have big games. carson will go for 3 td's and 300. chad johnson will see the endzone more times than randy moss and terrell owens combined.

(2) Upset of the Day
arizona will beat seattle in seattle. laugh until about 4.30 pm sunday afternoon pacific time when it becomes official. arizona is a better team than detroit with a much more potent offense. expect another shootout, but since it's still early in the season, and kurt warner hasn't broken down (yet) he's good for another solid game and edge will keep the chains moving and shawn alexander off the field enough to keep it close. arizona wins it late in a shootout 31--28.

(3) Bolts' Home Opener
sunny socal, la dainian tomlinson (best rb in the game), antonio gates (best te in the game) and shawn merriman (best young de in the game) will be more than enough to power chargers over tennessee and keep building phillip rivers confidence. sd had no business letting drew brees go, but what's done is done. given how bad oakland is, that trent green of kc is out for several weeks and denver is already calling for plummer's head, this division could be ours for the taking. wishful thinking???