-Caveat Lector- WJPBR Email News List [EMAIL PROTECTED] Peace at any cost is a prelude to war! 991836. National Missile Defense conducts successful intercept test WASHINGTON (AFPN) -- The Ballistic Missile Defense Organization's National Missile Defense Joint Program Office announced Oct. 2 it successfully completed the first test involving a planned intercept of an intercontinental ballistic missile target. The test took place over the central Pacific Ocean. A modified Minuteman intercontinental ballistic missile target vehicle was launched from Vandenburg Air Force Base, Calif., at 7:02 p.m. PDT, and a prototype NMD interceptor was launched approximately 20 minutes later and 4,300 miles away from the Kwajalein Atoll in the Republic of the Marshall Islands. The intercept occurred at approximately 7:32 p.m. PDT. The test successfully demonstrated "hit to kill technology" to intercept and destroy the ballistic missile target. An exoatmospheric kill vehicle, or EKV, weighing about 120 pounds, equipped with two infrared sensors, a visible sensor, and a small propulsion system, located and tracked the target, guiding the missile interceptor to an impact with the target. The body-to-body impact resulted in the target destruction using only the kinetic energy of the collision. This "hit to kill' intercept demonstrates that a warhead carrying a weapon of mass destruction --nuclear, chemical or biological -- can be totally destroyed and neutralized. The United States has no active defense against a long-range ballistic missile aimed at any of our 50 states. Numerous nations are developing or seeking to acquire long-range ballistic missiles carrying weapons of mass destruction, which could reach the United States. The current NMD program is being developed to provide a defense of the United States against a limited missile attack from a rogue nation able to develop or acquire an ICBM, or an accidental or unauthorized missile launch from a current nuclear power. The Department of Defense is scheduled to conduct a deployment readiness review beginning next summer to review the status of the NMD program including potential program costs, an assessment of the ballistic missile threat to the United States, and the status of arms reduction efforts involving Russia. After receiving the results of this review, the secretary of defense will make a recommendation to the president regarding whether or not to deploy the NMD system. If the president concurs, the NMD system could be operational in 2005. If it appears more development and testing needs to take place, deployment planning will continue and actual deployment would be held in abeyance. The NMD program consists of several different space and ground-based elements which are integrated to provide the means to detect a ballistic missile launch, locate it high in space, track a warhead directed at any of our 50 states, and destroy it before it can reach its intended target. The successful intercept test Oct.2 was the first of about 20 planned intercept tests to demonstrate NMD system technology, effectiveness and reliability over the next six years. Another test of the EKV is scheduled to take place early next year, followed by additional tests incorporating the different elements of a proposed NMD system, including the interceptor, space-based early warning satellites, ground-based early warning radars, ground based X-band radars for precise target tracking, and a battle management, command, control and communications network to operate the system. The successful Oct. 2 intercept used representatives or prototypes of these other elements in a "shadow" mode. They did not provide information to the interceptor as they would during a full-system test or during an actual missile attack. The rocket motors used to launch the interceptor are test assets used for test purposes and will be replaced later in the test program by commercial off-the-shelf boosters selected by BMDO last summer. 991837. AFRL to induct five scientists as fellows by Fred Coleman Air Force Research Laboratory Public Affairs WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio (AFPN) -- The Air Force Research Laboratory recently chose five of its scientists and engineers as AFRL Fellows. The award, which confers a lifetime status, recognizes outstanding contributions in research and development and/or exceptional technical program management. Selected from a field of 24 nominees for the annual award were: Dr. Charles Y-C Lee, Air Force Office of Scientific Research, Arlington, Va.; Dr. Richard W. Linderman, Information Directorate, Rome, N.Y.; Dr. Melvin C. Ohmer, Materials and Manufacturing Directorate, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio; Dr. LaVerne A. Schlie, Directed Energy Directorate, Kirtland AFB, N.M.; and Dr. Michael C. Wicks, Sensors Directorate, Rome Research Site, N.Y. The five will be honored during the AFRL Fellows induction ceremony and banquet Oct. 26, a day-long event at the Engineers Club of Dayton, Ohio. "As our top researchers, our fellows lead and take part in special activities which enhance the laboratory's image," said Dr. Kenneth E. Harwell, AFRL chief scientist. "The lab commander encourages them to advise him on substantial issues. The lab relies on these leaders to represent it in significant endeavors in the national and scientific engineering communities." Lee is an internationally recognized expert in polymer and organic materials research. His research in the electro optical polymer area made substantial progress in improving the properties of the materials. He recently initiated research into polymer matrix composites, which are key technologies for stealth and space structure applications. Linderman is a distinguished leader in the fields of high-performance computing architectures and signal/image processing. His single wafer scale signal processor recently demonstrated a record-breaking power efficiency, and his short stack memory designs were transitioned to several Department of Defense programs. This technology is now used commercially to significantly increase the memory density of the Cray J90 super computer. Ohmer is internationally recognized for his expertise in the areas of electrical and magnetic/optical properties of materials, and the interaction of electromagnetic radiation with solids. He was pivotal to the development of component technologies that were used in a new tunable laser source. The tunable laser source is an integral part of future infrared countermeasures systems that will protect weapons systems from heat-seeking missiles. Schlie made noteworthy contributions to laser technology development. His work across the entire spectrum of laser development influences national laser efforts. His photolytic iodine laser research is a key technology which makes high-energy, high-beam quality laser systems possible. These lasers are crucial to several Defense Department applications. Wicks is the leading Air Force expert in a number of radar technologies. He has invented ultra-wideband antennas, signal generation devices, receivers and clutter-suppression techniques. His work has the potential to significantly enhance the survivability and performance of advanced radar sensors. This year's award ceremony will be part of day-long celebration of the work done by this year's fellows, as well as the work of laboratory scientists and engineers awarded fellow status in previous years. "This year's program promises to be a huge success and will highlight the outstanding research done by AFRL," said Maj. Gen. Dick Paul, AFRL commander. "I'm extremely proud of our five recipients; all are very deserving of this prestigious honor -- the highest honor we can bestow." The award selection committee considers both military and civilian scientists and engineers, comprising about 55 percent of the AFRL workforce of 5,700. To be eligible, participants must be assigned to AFRL for the past three consecutive years and have at least seven years of active federal service. The work recognized must have been performed at the laboratory or one of its predecessors, and meet one or more of the following criteria: -- Fundamental or important discovery of sufficient magnitude to warrant recognition in the scientific or engineering community as a pioneering breakthrough. -- Recognition as a national or international authority in one or more fields, including widespread recognition in the Air Force. -- Sustained high-level achievements in programs of extraordinary importance to AFRL, the Air Force or national defense. -- Continued significant personal contributions to the lab beyond normal expectations. -- Exceptional record of scientific and technical achievements, creativity and leadership, patents, publishing in refereed publications, organizational skills, and development of lab programs. (Courtesy of Air Force Materiel Command News Service) 991835. Aerial spray unit deploys to Virginia to zap mosquitoes YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (AFPN) -- A C-130 Hercules from the 910th Airlift Wing's aerial spray unit, Youngstown-Warren Airport Air Reserve Station, flew to Langley Air Force Base, Va., early Oct. 3 to begin combating mosquito infestation caused by Hurricane Floyd. A second specially equipped C-130H aircraft and crew from the Air Force Reserve Command unit will join the first aircraft and crew later in the week to assist in spraying infested areas of North Carolina and Virginia. Equipped with the removable Modular Aerial Spray System, these aircraft can each spray 80,000 to 100,000 acres of land per day. The 910th AW is the only Department of Defense agency capable of performing this mission. Lt. Col. Terry L. Biery, research entomologist, and other unit entomologists arrived at Langley before the aircraft to assess the severity of the mosquito problem. The Youngstown unit has a routine mission to control the mosquito population in the Hampton, Va., area and had just completed that mission in the middle of September. The applications used in the Hampton Roads, Williamsburg and Portsmouth area have been proven to be 99.7 percent effective in killing the mosquito population without harm to the civilian population. This is not the first time the 910th AW has been called on to assist in mosquito control after a hurricane. At the request of the State of Florida and the Federal Emergency Management Agency, unit reservists conducted aerial spray operations in South Florida in September and October 1992 following Hurricane Andrew. The first two spray operations achieved a 99 percent mosquito control rate. (Courtesy of AFRC News Service) 991838. DOD studies mission, family needs by Linda D. Kozaryn American Forces Press Service WASHINGTON (AFPN) -- Mission readiness depends on family readiness. This message came through loud and clear at a recent Healthy Parenting Design Conference in suburban Washington that brought together about 80 parents, teens, family support providers, commanders and civilian human resource experts. The meeting was the latest DOD effort to deal with the strains placed on military families by today's frequent deployments and other pressures. Military families and mission readiness are strongly linked, said Air Force Col. John Nelson, the family advocacy program manager for the Air Force who is heading DOD's Healthy Parenting Initiative. "The most powerful thing emerging here is an agreement that we're at the beginning of a culture shift and we need to accelerate it," he said. "That culture shift is one that demonstrates that healthy families equal readiness." Healthy, adaptive parenting is critical for the military of the future, Nelson said. "We need to support families in order to support the mission. We need a toolbox of programs, services and information that emphasize family fitness and family readiness." More than 780,000 of the military's 1.4 million active-duty personnel are married and another 100,000 are single parents. There are 2 million family members, 1.24 million of them children. Family support has steadily increased as the number of spouses and children has grown, according to DOD officials here. The challenge also includes supporting a community that includes dual-military couples, single parents and a growing number of elderly dependents. Conferees, including experts from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in Blacksburg, Va., assembled recently in Leesburg, Va. The group first looked at how the military community has changed over the decades and then developed action plans for the 21st century. Conferees met in small groups to prepare and present recommendations. Along with the adult presentations, a group of teens aged 14 to 18 presented skits illustrating their concerns about military life. Shouting "Bam! Bam! Bam!" as they entered the room, the teens simulated gunfire to demonstrate how they feel when military parents deploy to war zones. "Everybody thought they were talking about the recent school shootings," said Linda Smith, Office of Family Policy director. "But they were talking about their parents being over in Kosovo. Their view was that the media is overplaying the shootings. They feel safe in their schools. What they're really concerned about is what's happening in these other places where their parents are at high risk." The conference goal was to help develop resources to support healthy parenting among active duty military families. Based in part on conference suggestions, Virginia Tech will solicit proposals from land-grant universities across the country to produce a variety of resources to enhance existing parenting support programs. These materials would reach the field in 2001. Family policy officials want to coordinate existing services and programs into an overarching, comprehensive DOD-wide effort. Conferees agreed that installation, service and civilian community programs need to collaborate, Nelson said. Some conferees recommended empowering families through life skills development such as conflict resolution, stress management and goal setting. Recognizing a need to go beyond offering traditional parenting classes at fixed locations, DOD officials aim to use the Internet and other communication modes to reach working parents. This could include CD-ROMs, interactive Web-based tutorials, chat rooms, videotapes, books on tape and other products. Nelson cautioned against relying too much on technology to provide information to families. He stressed that "high-tech" must be balanced with "high-touch" efforts. Face-to-face education is more important than online virtual education, he said. "Many people here are emphasizing the critical importance of personal connections and the importance of building community networks and social supports to help people take care of themselves and others," he noted. "We see a strong emphasis on personal connections and community building that I find very heartening." Conferees called for a professional marketing campaign to promote healthy military parents and families, and stressed the need for command support at all levels. "If you don't have command support, all the marketing in the world isn't going to help you," said Sally McErlean, director of the new parent support program at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md. "Our goal is for the command to own up to family readiness as an issue. That's a combination of family fitness and military mission. Family readiness is a first line of defense against all enemies -- foreign, domestic and in your home. "We want the command to look at the family as a resource, not as a problem," the veteran pediatric nurse said. "We need to focus on what they're doing right. We need to understand that families require maintenance. They require occasional upgrades and sometimes they need to be retooled. If you use that kind of terminology out on the flight line, they're going to understand what you're talking about. It's not all touchy-feely." The group also stressed the need to develop ways to recognize the positive impact of families, instead of focusing on such negative factors as DWIs, early return of dependents, suicide attempts, domestic violence and child abuse statistics. The way to obtain command interest, they said, is to look at the number of volunteers, participation in youth activities, new parent programs and chaplain-, school- and community-sponsored programs. Kendra Jackson, whose husband Scott is a senior airman at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., summed up what the conference meant to her. "I want to see families be more important to the military, because when my family isn't stable and set, then my husband doesn't do well when he's deployed," she said. "When he's not doing well, then we don't do well." **COPYRIGHT NOTICE** In accordance with Title 17 U. S. C. Section 107, any copyrighted work in this message is distributed under fair use without profit or payment to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for nonprofit research and educational purposes only.[Ref. http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml ] DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion and informational exchange list. 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