View allAll Photos Tagged Command

A member of the U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) Para-Commandos parachute demonstration team flies in the US Air Force flag at the 2016 Oregon International Air Show held August 5-7, 2016, in Hillsboro, Oregon.

Command Sgt. Maj. Jeffery Stitzel, U.S. Army Africa command sergeant major, gives thanks to those who have helped him throughout his tour and highlights some of his many accomplishments while serving as USARAF's command sergeant major during a change of responsibility ceremony at Hoekstra Field, Caserma Ederle, Jan. 8. (U.S. Army Africa photo by Spc. Craig Philbrick)

 

To learn more about U.S. Army Africa visit our official website at www.usaraf.army.mil

 

Official Twitter Feed: www.twitter.com/usarmyafrica

 

Official Vimeo video channel: www.vimeo.com/usarmyafrica

 

Join the U.S. Army Africa conversation on Facebook: www.facebook.com/ArmyAfrica

 

U.S. Army Africa photo by David Ruderman

 

U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) hosted its second annual C4ISR Senior Leaders Conference Feb. 2-4 at Caserma Ederle, headquarters of U.S. Army Africa, in Vicenza, Italy.

 

The communications and intelligence community event, hosted by Brig. Gen. Robert Ferrell, AFRICOM C4 director, drew approximately 80 senior leaders from diverse U.S. military and government branches and agencies, as well as representatives of African nations and the African Union.

 

The conference is a combination of our U.S. AFRICOM C4 systems and intel directorate,” said Ferrell. “We come together annually to bring the team together to work on common goals to work on throughout the year. The team consists of our coalition partners as well as our inter-agency partners, as well as our components and U.S. AFRICOM staff.”

 

The conference focused on updates from participants, and on assessing the present state and goals of coalition partners in Africa, he said.

 

“The theme for our conference is ‘Delivering Capabilities to a Joint Information Environment,’ and we see it as a joint and combined team ... working together, side by side, to promote peace and stability there on the African continent,” Ferrell said.

 

Three goals of this year’s conference were to strengthen the team, assess priorities across the board, and get a better fix on the impact that the establishment of the U.S. Cyber Command will have on all members’ efforts in the future, he said.

 

“With the stand-up of U.S. Cyber Command, it brings a lot of unique challenges that we as a team need to talk through to ensure that our information is protected at all times,” Ferrell said.

 

African Union (AU) representatives from four broad geographic regions of Africa attended, which generated a holistic perspective on needs and requirements from across the continent, he said.

 

“We have members from the African Union headquarters that is located in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; we have members that are from Uganda; from Zambia; from Ghana; and also from the Congo. What are the gaps, what are the things that we kind of need to assist with as we move forward on our engagements on the African continent?” Ferrell said.

 

U.S. Army Africa Commander, Maj. Gen. David R. Hogg, welcomed participants as the conference got under way.

 

“We’re absolutely delighted to be the host for this conference, and we hope that this week you get a whole lot out of it,” said Hogg.

 

He took the opportunity to address the participants not only as their host, but from the perspective of a customer whose missions depend on the results of their efforts to support commanders in the field.

 

“When we’re talking about this group of folks that are here — from the joint side, from our African partners, from State, all those folks — it’s about partnership and interoperability. And every commander who’s ever had to fight in a combined environment understands that interoperability is the thing that absolutely slaps you upside the head,” Hogg said.

 

“We’re in the early stages of the process here of working with the African Union and the other partners, and you have an opportunity to design this from the end state, versus just building a bunch of ‘gunkulators.’ And so, the message is: think about what the end state is supposed to look like and construct the strategy to support the end state.

 

“Look at where we want to be at and design it that way,” Hogg said.

 

He also admonished participants to consider the second- and third-order effects of their choices in designing networks.

 

“With that said, over the next four days, I hope this conference works very well for you. If there’s anything we can do to make your stay better, please let us know,” Hogg said.

 

Over the following three days, participants engaged in a steady stream of briefings and presentations focused on systems, missions and updates from the field.

 

Col. Joseph W. Angyal, director of U.S. Army Africa G-6, gave an overview of operations and issues that focused on fundamentals, the emergence of regional accords as a way forward, and the evolution of a joint network enterprise that would serve all interested parties.

 

“What we’re trying to do is to work regionally. That’s frankly a challenge, but as we stand up the capability, really for the U.S. government, and work through that, we hope to become more regionally focused,” he said.

 

He referred to Africa Endeavor, an annual, multi-nation communications exercise, as a test bed for the current state of affairs on the continent, and an aid in itself to future development.

 

“In order to conduct those exercises, to conduct those security and cooperation events, and to meet contingency missions, we really, from the C4ISR perspective, have five big challenges,” Angyal said.

 

“You heard General Hogg this morning talk about ‘think about the customer’ — you’ve got to allow me to be able to get access to our data; I’ve got to be able to get to the data where and when I need it; you’ve got to be able to protect it; I have to be able to share it; and then finally, the systems have to be able to work together in order to build that coalition.

 

“One of the reasons General Ferrell is setting up this joint information enterprise, this joint network enterprise . . . it’s almost like trying to bring together disparate companies or corporations: everyone has their own system, they’ve paid for their own infrastructure, and they have their own policy, even though they support the same major company.

 

“Now multiply that when you bring in different services, multiply that when you bring in different U.S. government agencies, and then put a layer on top of that with the international partners, and there are lots of policies that are standing in our way.”

 

The main issue is not a question of technology, he said.

 

“The boxes are the same — a Cisco router is a Cisco router; Microsoft Exchange server is the same all over the world — but it’s the way that we employ them, and it’s the policies that we apply to it, that really stops us from interoperating, and that’s the challenge we hope to work through with the joint network enterprise.

 

“And I think that through things like Africa Endeavor and through the joint enterprise network, we’re looking at knocking down some of those policy walls, but at the end of the day they are ours to knock down. Bill Gates did not design a system to work only for the Army or for the Navy — it works for everyone,” Angyal said.

 

Brig. Gen. Joseph Searyoh, director general of Defense Information Communication Systems, General Headquarters, Ghana Armed Forces, agreed that coordinating policy is fundamental to improving communications with all its implications for a host of operations and missions.

 

“One would expect that in these modern times there is some kind of mutual engagement, and to build that engagement to be strong, there must be some kind of element of trust. … We have to build some kind of trust to be able to move forward,” said Searyoh.

 

“Some people may be living in silos of the past, but in the current engagement we need to tell people that we are there with no hidden agenda, no negative hidden agenda, but for the common good of all of us.

 

“We say that we are in the information age, and I’ve been saying something: that our response should not be optional, but it must be a must, because if you don’t join now, you are going to be left behind.

 

“So what do we do? We have to get our house in order.

 

“Why do I say so? We used to operate like this before the information age; now in the information age, how do we operate?

 

“So, we have to get our house in order and see whether we are aligning ourselves with way things should work now. So, our challenge is to come up with a strategy, see how best we can reorganize our structures, to be able to deliver communications-information systems support for the Ghana Armed Forces,” he said.

 

Searyoh related that his organization has already accomplished one part of erecting the necessary foundation by establishing an appropriate policy structure.

 

“What is required now is the implementing level. Currently we have communications on one side, and computers on one side. The lines are blurred — you cannot operate like that, you’ve got to bring them together,” he said.

 

Building that merged entity to support deployed forces is what he sees as the primary challenge at present.

 

“Once you get that done you can talk about equipment, you can talk about resources,” Searyoh said. “I look at the current collaboration between the U.S. and the coalition partners taking a new level.”

 

“The immediate challenges that we have is the interoperability, which I think is one of the things we are also discussing here, interoperability and integration,” said Lt. Col. Kelvin Silomba, African Union-Zambia, Information Technology expert for the Africa Stand-by Force.

 

“You know that we’ve got five regions in Africa. All these regions, we need to integrate them and bring them together, so the challenge of interoperability in terms of equipment, you know, different tactical equipment that we use, and also in terms of the language barrier — you know, all these regions in Africa you find that they speak different languages — so to bring them together we need to come up with one standard that will make everybody on board and make everybody able to talk to each other,” he said.

 

“So we have all these challenges. Other than that also, stemming from the background of these African countries, based on the colonization: some of them were French colonized, some of them were British colonized and so on, so you find that when they come up now we’ve adopted some of the procedures based on our former colonial masters, so that is another challenge that is coming on board.”

 

The partnership with brother African states, with the U.S. government and its military branches, and with other interested collaborators has had a positive influence, said Silomba.

 

“Oh, it’s great. From the time that I got engaged with U.S. AFRICOM — I started with Africa Endeavor, before I even came to the AU — it is my experience that it is something very, very good.

 

“I would encourage — I know that there are some member states — I would encourage that all those member states they come on board, all of these regional organizations, that they come on board and support the AFRICOM lead. It is something that is very, very good.

 

“As for example, the African Union has a lot of support that’s been coming in, technical as well as in terms of knowledge and equipment. So it’s great; it’s good and it’s great,” said Salimba.

 

Other participant responses to the conference were positive as well.

 

“The feedback I’ve gotten from every member is that they now know what the red carpet treatment looks like, because USARAF has gone over and above board to make sure the environment, the atmosphere and the actual engagements … are executed to perfection,” said Ferrell. “It’s been very good from a team-building aspect.

 

“We’ve had very good discussions from members of the African Union, who gave us a very good understanding of the operations that are taking place in the area of Somalia, the challenges with communications, and laid out the gaps and desires of where they see that the U.S. and other coalition partners can kind of improve the capacity there in that area of responsibility.

 

“We also talked about the AU, as they are expanding their reach to all of the five regions, of how can they have that interoperability and connectivity to each of the regions,” Ferrell said.

 

“(It’s been) a wealth of knowledge and experts that are here to share in terms of how we can move forward with building capacities and capabilities. Not only for U.S. interests, but more importantly from my perspective, in building capacities and capabilities for our African partners beginning with the Commission at the African Union itself,” said Kevin Warthon, U.S. State Department, peace and security adviser to the African Union.

 

“I think that General Ferrell has done an absolutely wonderful thing by inviting key African partners to participate in this event so they can share their personal experience from a national, regional and continental perspective,” he said.

 

Warthon related from his personal experience a vignette of African trust in Providence that he believed carries a pertinent metaphor and message to everyone attending the conference.

 

“We are not sure what we are going to do tomorrow, but the one thing that I am sure of is that we are able to do something. Don’t know when, don’t know how, but as long as our focus is on our ability to assist and to help to progress a people, that’s really what counts more than anything else,” he said.

 

“Don’t worry about the timetable; just focus on your ability to make a difference and that’s what that really is all about.

 

“I see venues such as this as opportunities to make what seems to be the impossible become possible. … This is what this kind of venue does for our African partners.

 

“We’re doing a wonderful job at building relationships, because that’s where it begins — we have to build relationships to establish trust. That’s why this is so important: building trust through relationships so that we can move forward in the future,” Warthon said.

 

Conference members took a cultural tour of Venice and visited a traditional winery in the hills above Vicenza before adjourning.

 

To learn more about U.S. Army Africa visit our official website at www.usaraf.army.mil

 

Official Twitter Feed: www.twitter.com/usarmyafrica

 

Official YouTube video channel: www.youtube.com/usarmyafrica

 

This photo - probably taken in the mid 1920s shows the steamer Jap loading timber at the public wharf at Tuncurry. Wright's sawmill can be seen in the background. Forster resident Tina Gogerly has made available the album of photos taken by Lionel Gogerly and collated by her Great Aunt Elsie. Elsie Gogerly grew up and lived her life at Ellerslie property at Whoota in the early 1930s

 

The Jap, a schooner of 200 tons, was built at Failford, NSW, by John Gregory & Son under the supervision of Henry Miles Breckenridge (son of John Breckenridge) for John Breckenridge, sawmiller of Failford. In 1911 she was converted to a steamer in Sydney.

 

Details

Name: JAP - as a schooner 1905 - 1911

Type: three masted schooner with topsails

ON: 121105

Registered Sydney: 33/1905 (July)

Microfilm Reference Reel: Reel C2/10

Length overall: 124.8 ft

Beam: 29.0 ft

Depth: 7.0 ft

Gross tonnage: 200 tons

Builder: John Gregory & Son under supervision of Henry Miles Breckenridge - Failford

Owner: John Breckenridge, Failford

 

Name: JAP - as a steamer 1911 - 1934

Type: Twin screw steamer

ON: 121105

Registered Sydney ON: 121105 18th April 1911; No.11 of 1911

Microfilm Reference Reel: Reel C2/11

Length overall 124.8 ft

Beam 29.0 ft

Depth 7.0 ft

Gross tonnage: 242 tons

Net tonnage: 136 tons

Builder: Messrs Chapman and Co., Druitt St., Sydney, installed the engines, boilers etc. The engines are twin surface condensing engines, nines and eighteens, and are capable of developing up to 250 h.p. The shipwright work, rendered necessary by the alterations, was entrusted to Mr. David Drake, of Balmain, and the joinery work was carried out by Mr. W. Fletcher. The Wingham Chronicle and Manning River Observer - Saturday 20 May 1911

 

Ownership:

Schooner

1905 - 1911 John Breckenridge, Failford

 

Steamer

1911 - 1917 John Breckenridge, Failford

1917 - 1929 John Breckenridge & Sons Ltd, Drummoyne

1930 John Breckenridge & Sons Ltd, Drummoyne (in liquidation)

1930 - 1932 Graham Cecil Harwood Newell & John Raymond Einersen

1933 - 1934 Percy Harwood Newell

1934 Coastal Steamships Ltd.

 

LIFE AS A STEAMER

 

Maiden Voyage

The "new" steamer Jap departed Sydney on her maiden voyage to Failford on 18th May 1911. The anticipation of the crowd was electric: "On Friday morning last (19th May), notwithstanding the inclemency of the weather, the quietude of our village was somewhat disturbed by hearing the tooting from several whistles, the mill and steamers evidently having a contest to see which could out-blow the other. Many of our residents not being accustomed to so many whistles at one time concluded that the multiplicity of screeches indicated that the steamship Jap, which had been expected on her maiden voyage, had arrived. This surmise proved correct and the whistling announced her arrival, accorded a welcome to the new ships and in a measure congratulateous to the popular and enterprising owner, Mr. John Breckenridge, on his success.The Wingham Chronicle and Manning River Observer - Saturday 20 May 1911

 

Detailed Description

Prior to conversion she was dependent on the winds for propulsion. After due consideration, the course of conversion into a twin screw steamer was adopted, and the vessel was placed in the hands of Messrs Chapman and Co., Druitt St., Sydney, for the installation of the engines, boilers etc. The engines are twin surface condensing engines, nines and eighteens, and are capable of developing up to 250 h.p. There are two boilers, and two funnels abreast, similarly to those of the s.s. Commonwealth. No expense has been spared in any of the machinery or accessories, nor, it may be said, in any of the reconstructing work. The ship-wright work, rendered necessary by the alterations, was entrusted to Mr. David Drake, of Balmain, and the joinery work was carried out by Mr. W. Fletcher. The alterations effected, otherwise than the installation of boilers and engines, consist of fitting cabins, lockers, lavatories etc., on the same level as the main deck, and cabins and officer's quarters on the upper or promenade deck, and the whole of the work has been carried out on up-to-date lines. She has a roomy, well ventilated saloon, and two state cabins to accommodate eight gentlemen passengers, and four lady passengers respectively below, and a state room on the upper deck, to accommodate four more passengers. The officers’ quarters are also on the upper deck. The promenade deck is roomy and replete with every convenience. The berths on the upper deck are almost ideal; but all are comfortable and as every other modern convenience has been provided the vessel should become very popular. The Wingham Chronicle and Manning River Observer - Saturday 20 May 1911

 

Early Operation

TheJap and the Commonwealth were marketed under the “Breckenridge's Line” with the Jap given over to the Camden Haven trade while the Commonwealth took up the running between Sydney and Cape Hawke. Captain Driscoll, formerly Master of the Commonwealth, was transferred over to the Jap.

 

The Jap traded regularly along the coast for the next ten years with only minor incidents reported. One such rather amusing incident was reported as a regrettable misunderstanding: “The small steamer Jap was attempting to enter the Heads at 6:30 a.m. yesterday [17th Aug 1914] when a misunderstanding occurred and a shot was fired across her bow from the fort at South Head. The vessel stopped, but she was afterward allowed to proceed up the harbor.” Northern Star (Lismore) - Wed 19 Aug 1914.

 

Ownership transferred to John Breckenridge and Sons Ltd

The company John Breckenridge and Sons Ltd. was formed in 1911 with John Breckenridge as Chairman of Directors and both John Wylie and Henry Miles Breckenridge as Directors. John Breckenridge died in 1917 and in the ownership of the Jap was transferred to the Company in the same year.

 

Collision with ferry Kiamala - 1920

A collision with the ferry Kiamala was to have a lasting impact on the Master, Captain Michael Driscoll). “Certificate Suspended - Captain of Steamer Jap

As a result or the collision between the ferry steamer Kiamala and the steamer Jap off Milson's Point on the night of July 24, the Marine Court (Judge Backhouse, with Captains H. C. Chudleigh and C. W. Davidson as assessors) to-day suspended the certificate of the master of the Jap (Captain Michael Driscoll), for two months, from the date of the accident, and ordered him to pay reasonable costs of the inquiry to the master of the Kiamala.

Mr. Curtis had informed the Court that the captain of the Jap had an unblemished record, and his reputation was of the highest.

Judge Backhouse said that the Court had dealt leniently with Captain Driscoll on account of his excellent record.

If the Court had seen its way not to suspend the certificate, it certainly would have done so.” Evening News - Fri 3 Sep 1920

 

By 1923, Captain Driscoll, who continued as Master of the Jap retired. “Captain Driscoll, of the steamer Jap, who has been trading on the Camden Haven River for many years, and occasionally visiting the Richmond, has made his last trip, he having retired from the service of John Breckenridge and Sons.” The Richmond River Herald and Northern Districts Advertiser - Tue 5 Jun 1923.

 

By 1928 Jap had virtually ceased trading and the vessel was essentially mothballed. Following financial troubles in 1929 it appears that the Company was put into liquidation and the Jap was put up for sale.

 

Sold to lightering contractors Newell and Einersen

In 1930 the steamer JAP was sold to Graham Cecil Harwood Newell & John Raymond Einersen. “STEAMER JAP RECOMMISSIONED.

After being laid up at Sydney for a considerable time the steamer Jap has been commissioned. Formerly employed in the timber trade by John Breckenridge Ltd the vessel was recently purchased by Newell and Einersen lightering contractors. Under the command of Captain Coe she sailed for Newcastle yesterday to load coal and is due back at Sydney to day. The Jap is of 246 tons gross and was built in 1905”. The Sydney Morning Herald - Saturday 5 July 1930

 

Attempt to Rescue Newton Elm

"NEWTON ELM FIRM ON SAND

The small coastal steamer, Jap, which reached Newcastle late last night, was the first vessel to reach the stranded Newton Elm. Coming down the coast from the Macleay River, a lookout man on the coaster noticed the plight of the larger vessel, Captain W. Benson immediately put in closer to shore to render what assistance he could.

It was 11:30 a.m. on Saturday when the Jap ranged alongside the Newton Elm. A south-easterly wind was blowing, and the sea wash lumpy and rising, Displaying skill and seamanship, the skipper took the Jap as close as possible, and a line was thrown aboard, To this a hawser from the Newton Elm was fastened, and the small Jap attempted to tow the steamer into deeper water. For four and a half hours the Jap stood by. But while thee firemen worked at terrific speed and the little vessel exerted all her strength, she failed to move the stranded steamer." Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate - Mon 21 Dec 1931

 

Salvage of Northern Firth - Brush Island

In her new guise as a lighter, the Jap was involved in some interesting tasks. On February 21st 1932 the steamer Northern Firth was wrecked on Brush Island that lies just off Broulee on the South Coast of NSW. Lloyds instructed the Patrick Co., from London, to attempt salvage work and the Jap was sent to the scene to transfer the cargo, which consisted of wine, spirits, canned fruits, jams, beer, maize, syrup, silks and furniture.

 

In 1933 she caused considerable disruption to communications along the NSW North Coast.

“About 5 On Friday afternoon word was received at Taree post office that the mast of the steamer Jap, which was proceeding through Coopernook bridge to go up the Lansdowne, had broken about 18 telephone lines which cross the river at this point.

These lines connect Sydney with the whole coast further north right up to Brisbane. It is only last November that the lines were taken from the cable and put across the river. Mr. Coleman, who is in charge of this work at Taree office, and his assistant, Mr. Burgman, at once proceeded go to Coopernook, and it is to their credit that by 10 o'clock the service was restored. The Manning River Times - Wed 21 Jun 1933.

 

Sold to Coastal Steamships Ltd

In September 1933 it was announced that the Jap had been sold. “Coastal Steamships, Ltd. announce that the steamer 'Jap' will commence a weekly service to Taree, Wingham, Coopernook and all parts of the Manning River direct without transhipment, sailing from No. 38 Wharf Darling Harbour, next wharf to James Patrick & Co. Ltd., on Tuesday, 19th September, 1933 and every Tuesday thereafter, weather and circumstances permitting”. The Wingham Chronicle and Manning River Observer - Fri 15 Sep 1933.

 

Wrecked on the Tuncurry Bar

Her time with Coastal Steamships was brief. In April 1934, loaded with timber, she became stuck on the bar at the entrance to Cape Hawke Harbour while being towed out by the tug Forster. Reports of the day described the scene. “When being towed out by the tug Forster on Monday night [2nd April] about ten o’clock, the Coastal Steamship Company’s steamer Jap struck a sand bar just before reaching the outer play. The vessel was proceeding to Sydney and was taken out at the top of high tide. She was carrying a good cargo of timber from the Manning River and this Port. She left the Manning on Friday night half loaded and crossed here on Saturday, completing her loading from the district sawmills on Monday.

After she had been caught end-on, on the bar, it was recognized that the tug could have been no use to her and to save the tug from being pulled into a similar difficulty the tow rope was let go and it was then hoped that the vessel, disabled for the time being, would float off during the next morning or evening, at the latest.

However, within an hour after the mishap occurred, it was found by the master that she was leaking badly and the Pilot Station was signaled to keep a look out for the night in case relief was wanted by the crew.

On Tuesday morning, conditions had not materially improved and though the seas were not high the vessel was leaking badly and towards mid-day the onrushing waters in the openings made in the timbers caused the fires to be extinguished and the crew signalled for immediate assistance, as they had decided to abandon the ship.

With the aid of Mr. James Nicholson’s lobster launch [Hawke], the pilot lifeboat was towed to the disabled ship, and the crew of ten were rescued after some little difficulty, and brought ashore. Mr. Nicholson and his crew are to be commended for the splendid help they rendered and their work was warmly praised by the crew and others who witnessed the heroic rescue of the ships company.

Dungog Chronicle - Friday 6th April 1934

 

With the ship breaking up little could be done. On behalf of the Underwriters' Association, Mr. Bratz, of Porter's sawmills, Tuncurry, received a contract to salvage the cargo. Porter’s log punt, the St. Olive, was used to transfer the cargo and salvage fittings from the wreck.

 

Image Source: Lionel Gogerly, courtesy Tina Gogerly from the Gogerly family album.

 

Acknowledgements. The assistance of Mori Flapan (Mori Flapan boatregister) by providing access to his extensive database is greatly appreciated.

 

All Images in this photostream are Copyright - Great Lakes Manning River Shipping and/or their individual owners as may be stated above and may not be downloaded, reproduced, or used in any way without prior written approval.

 

GREAT LAKES MANNING RIVER SHIPPING, NSW - Flickr Group --> Alphabetical Boat Index --> Boat builders Index --> Tags List

Col. Mark Miera assumed command of the 93rd Troop Command Brigade from Col. Donnie Quintana Oct. 19 at the Onate Complex, Santa Fe, N.M. As part of the change of command ceremony, the 93rd conducted a Military Pass in Review of Troops for the Adjutant General, Brig. Gen. Andrew Salas; the deputy adjutant general, Brig. Gen. Juan Griego and other senior leaders of the New Mexico National Guard. (Released, U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Eric Martinez, 200th PAD)

GULF OF THAILAND (Oct. 29, 2014) - The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Mustin (DDG 89), front, steams in formation with the Royal Cambodian Navy Stenka-class patrol fast-attack craft 1131 and 1134 during the Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) Cambodia 2014 exercise. In its 20th year, CARAT is a series of bilateral naval exercises between the U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps and the armed forces of nine partner nations in South and Southeast Asia. (U.S. Navy photo by MC2 Declan Barnes) 141029-N-TG831-720

** Interested in following U.S. Pacific Command? Engage and connect with us at www.facebook.com/pacific.command and twitter.com/PacificCommand and www.pacom.mil/

 

NORTHERN LUZON STRAIT, Philippines (Feb. 19, 2015) - Aviation Boatswain’s Mates unchain an MV-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft from the flight deck of the forward-deployed amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6). Bonhomme Richard is currently deployed in the U.S. 7th Fleet Area of Operations. (U.S Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Cameron McCulloch) 150219-N-RU971-068

 

** Interested in following U.S. Pacific Command? Engage and connect with us at www.facebook.com/pacific.command and twitter.com/Pacific Command and www.pacom.mil/

P365-289

 

Finally got a new lap top. I'm not a fan boy but I've got one of the new Macbook Airs.

  

My computer room, this is where I connect to you guys and the world.

 

Show me yours.

I work on a MacBook Pro laptop that plugs into the Apple Cinema Display monitor. Next to that is a Fujitsu ScanSnap scanner for digitizing everything. Apple keyboard and basic Logitech mouse (I had a MagicMouse but it just plain hurt my hand). Also featured: World of Warcraft stuffed gryphon, Kindle, iPad, ubiquitous moleskine (Pac Man edition).

Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Karl Schultz visits the Coast Guard Academy, Sept. 18, 2020.

 

U.S. Coast Guard photos by Petty Officer 2nd Class Lauren Laughlin

 

A silk for the gala performance by command of His Majesty the King in honour of the visit of the President of the French Republic at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden on 7th July 1903.

 

Rigoletto with Melba and Bonci.

 

Carmen with Calve and Alvarez.

 

Romeo et Juliette with Melba and Alvarez.

 

RODRIGUEZ LIVE FIRE COMPLEX, South Korea (Feb. 5, 2015) - A Bradley Fighting Vehicle, from B Company, 3rd Squadron, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, fires its main gun at targets at Rodriguez Live Fire Complex. Bradley and M1A2 Abrams tank crews from 3-8 Cav. conducted gunnery skills training to ensure unit readiness before rotating out this summer. (U.S. Army Photo by Sgt. Samuel Northrup, 1ABCT)

 

** Interested in following U.S. Pacific Command? Engage and connect with us at www.facebook.com/pacific.command and twitter.com/PacificCommand and www.pacom.mil/

WHITE BEACH, Okinawa (April 6, 2017) - Marines, assigned to the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, disembark the amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) while pier side at White Beach Naval Facility. Bonhomme Richard, flagship of the Bonhomme Richard Amphibious Ready Group is on a patrol, operating in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region to enhance warfighting readiness and posture forward as a ready-response force for any type of contingency. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Jeanette Mullinax/Released) 170406-N-TH560-121

 

** Interested in following U.S. Pacific Command? Engage and connect with us at www.facebook.com/pacific.command | twitter.com/PacificCommand |

instagram.com/pacificcommand | www.flickr.com/photos/us-pacific-command; | www.youtube.com/user/USPacificCommand | www.pacom.mil/

 

Sgt. Victor Aguirre, 509th Signal Battalion (rear), observes Spc. James Lagerstrom adjust cables on a satellite dish on communications gear associated with the U.S. Army Africa Forward Command Element.

 

Photo by Rich Bartell, U.S. Army Africa Public Affairs Office

 

To learn more about U.S. Army Africa visit our official website at www.usaraf.army.mil

 

Official Twitter Feed: www.twitter.com/usarmyafrica

 

Official Vimeo video channel: www.vimeo.com/usarmyafrica

 

Join the U.S. Army Africa conversation on Facebook: www.facebook.com/ArmyAfrica

 

When the U.S. Army Africa Forward Command Element rolls onto a C-130 to head to Ghana in August, it will be with state of the art electronics allowing worldwide communications.

 

The USARAF FCE, similar to a tactical operations center with sophisticated internet and video teleconference capabilities, is a flexible command post that responds to deployment requests through U.S. Africa Command.

 

“The USARAF FCE can move out and be in any given African country in less than 72 hours,” said Sgt. Maj. Aaron Miller, non-commissioned officer in charge of the USARAF Contingency Command Post.

 

During a recent tour of the mobile command center, USARAF Commander, Maj. Gen. David R. Hogg saw firsthand the power and flexibility of the mobile command post.

 

“Our C-130 version of a crisis command headquarters makes USARAF capable of deploying anywhere in the world if needed, but more specifically, anywhere in Africa. We can roll off the plane and within two hours have a fully operationally command and control system to cover any environment, Army pure, joint or inter-agency. We have tremendous capability now,” Hogg said.

 

Hogg expressed his gratitude to Soldiers of the USARAF G-6, Communications and Information Services and higher headquarters.

 

“Colonel Joe Angyal and his G-6 staff have done a wonderful job and none of this would have happened without the support of Headquarters Department of the Army. So we definitely want to thank them,” Hogg added.

 

NEW COMMUNICATIONS GEAR GIVES WORLDWIDE REACH

 

Recently, USRAF communications Soldiers with the FCE took on the challenges that new electronics can pose. The new system provides worldwide communications capability along with the added ability to work from a remote location with few amenities.

 

“We have about two weeks of training to smooth out some of the wrinkles” said Maj. Gary Philman, the USARAF signal operations officer and acting chief of the CCP. “We’ve been fortunate to get the new communications package and we’re integrating it with some of our existing systems.”

 

Philman said the FCE is the deployable headquarters for USARAF, and can be the first organization to hit the ground in advance of a joint task force.

 

“The FCE staff size depends on the mission request and can vary from eight to more than 20 personnel,” Philman said. “Our commanding general comes with the FCE when requested by an ambassador, [but] it can be commanded by a USARAF staff colonel or the CCP chief,” Philman said.

 

USARAF Spc. James Lagerstrom, information technology specialist with the CCP, deploys with FCE as one of the Soldiers ensuring the command element’s communications gear is up and running.

 

“Wherever we go … we can communicate,” Lagerstrom said. “We have internet and even have video teleconference ability [as well as] highly mobile.”

 

In August the FCE will get a chance do a live shakedown test of its communications equipment in the Republic of Ghana.

  

U.S. Army Africa photo by Sgt. 1st Class Kyle Davis

 

U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) hosted its second annual C4ISR Senior Leaders Conference Feb. 2-4 at Caserma Ederle, headquarters of U.S. Army Africa, in Vicenza, Italy.

 

The communications and intelligence community event, hosted by Brig. Gen. Robert Ferrell, AFRICOM C4 director, drew approximately 80 senior leaders from diverse U.S. military and government branches and agencies, as well as representatives of African nations and the African Union.

 

“The conference is a combination of our U.S. AFRICOM C4 systems and intel directorate,” said Ferrell. “We come together annually to bring the team together to work on common goals to work on throughout the year. The team consists of our coalition partners as well as our inter-agency partners, as well as our components and U.S. AFRICOM staff.”

 

The conference focused on updates from participants, and on assessing the present state and goals of coalition partners in Africa, he said.

 

“The theme for our conference is ‘Delivering Capabilities to a Joint Information Environment,’ and we see it as a joint and combined team ... working together, side by side, to promote peace and stability there on the African continent,” Ferrell said.

 

Three goals of this year’s conference were to strengthen the team, assess priorities across the board, and get a better fix on the impact that the establishment of the U.S. Cyber Command will have on all members’ efforts in the future, he said.

 

“With the stand-up of U.S. Cyber Command, it brings a lot of unique challenges that we as a team need to talk through to ensure that our information is protected at all times,” Ferrell said.

 

African Union (AU) representatives from four broad geographic regions of Africa attended, which generated a holistic perspective on needs and requirements from across the continent, he said.

 

“We have members from the African Union headquarters that is located in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; we have members that are from Uganda; from Zambia; from Ghana; and also from the Congo. What are the gaps, what are the things that we kind of need to assist with as we move forward on our engagements on the African continent?” Ferrell said.

 

U.S. Army Africa Commander, Maj. Gen. David R. Hogg, welcomed participants as the conference got under way.

 

“We’re absolutely delighted to be the host for this conference, and we hope that this week you get a whole lot out of it,” said Hogg.

 

He took the opportunity to address the participants not only as their host, but from the perspective of a customer whose missions depend on the results of their efforts to support commanders in the field.

 

“When we’re talking about this group of folks that are here — from the joint side, from our African partners, from State, all those folks — it’s about partnership and interoperability. And every commander who’s ever had to fight in a combined environment understands that interoperability is the thing that absolutely slaps you upside the head,” Hogg said.

 

“We’re in the early stages of the process here of working with the African Union and the other partners, and you have an opportunity to design this from the end state, versus just building a bunch of ‘gunkulators.’ And so, the message is: think about what the end state is supposed to look like and construct the strategy to support the end state.

 

“Look at where we want to be at and design it that way,” Hogg said.

 

He also admonished participants to consider the second- and third-order effects of their choices in designing networks.

 

“With that said, over the next four days, I hope this conference works very well for you. If there’s anything we can do to make your stay better, please let us know,” Hogg said.

 

Over the following three days, participants engaged in a steady stream of briefings and presentations focused on systems, missions and updates from the field.

 

Col. Joseph W. Angyal, director of U.S. Army Africa G-6, gave an overview of operations and issues that focused on fundamentals, the emergence of regional accords as a way forward, and the evolution of a joint network enterprise that would serve all interested parties.

 

“What we’re trying to do is to work regionally. That’s frankly a challenge, but as we stand up the capability, really for the U.S. government, and work through that, we hope to become more regionally focused,” he said.

 

He referred to Africa Endeavor, an annual, multi-nation communications exercise, as a test bed for the current state of affairs on the continent, and an aid in itself to future development.

 

“In order to conduct those exercises, to conduct those security and cooperation events, and to meet contingency missions, we really, from the C4ISR perspective, have five big challenges,” Angyal said.

 

“You heard General Hogg this morning talk about ‘think about the customer’ — you’ve got to allow me to be able to get access to our data; I’ve got to be able to get to the data where and when I need it; you’ve got to be able to protect it; I have to be able to share it; and then finally, the systems have to be able to work together in order to build that coalition.

 

“One of the reasons General Ferrell is setting up this joint information enterprise, this joint network enterprise . . . it’s almost like trying to bring together disparate companies or corporations: everyone has their own system, they’ve paid for their own infrastructure, and they have their own policy, even though they support the same major company.

 

“Now multiply that when you bring in different services, multiply that when you bring in different U.S. government agencies, and then put a layer on top of that with the international partners, and there are lots of policies that are standing in our way.”

 

The main issue is not a question of technology, he said.

 

“The boxes are the same — a Cisco router is a Cisco router; Microsoft Exchange server is the same all over the world — but it’s the way that we employ them, and it’s the policies that we apply to it, that really stops us from interoperating, and that’s the challenge we hope to work through with the joint network enterprise.

 

“And I think that through things like Africa Endeavor and through the joint enterprise network, we’re looking at knocking down some of those policy walls, but at the end of the day they are ours to knock down. Bill Gates did not design a system to work only for the Army or for the Navy — it works for everyone,” Angyal said.

 

Brig. Gen. Joseph Searyoh, director general of Defense Information Communication Systems, General Headquarters, Ghana Armed Forces, agreed that coordinating policy is fundamental to improving communications with all its implications for a host of operations and missions.

 

“One would expect that in these modern times there is some kind of mutual engagement, and to build that engagement to be strong, there must be some kind of element of trust. … We have to build some kind of trust to be able to move forward,” said Searyoh.

 

“Some people may be living in silos of the past, but in the current engagement we need to tell people that we are there with no hidden agenda, no negative hidden agenda, but for the common good of all of us.

 

“We say that we are in the information age, and I’ve been saying something: that our response should not be optional, but it must be a must, because if you don’t join now, you are going to be left behind.

 

“So what do we do? We have to get our house in order.

 

“Why do I say so? We used to operate like this before the information age; now in the information age, how do we operate?

 

“So, we have to get our house in order and see whether we are aligning ourselves with way things should work now. So, our challenge is to come up with a strategy, see how best we can reorganize our structures, to be able to deliver communications-information systems support for the Ghana Armed Forces,” he said.

 

Searyoh related that his organization has already accomplished one part of erecting the necessary foundation by establishing an appropriate policy structure.

 

“What is required now is the implementing level. Currently we have communications on one side, and computers on one side. The lines are blurred — you cannot operate like that, you’ve got to bring them together,” he said.

 

Building that merged entity to support deployed forces is what he sees as the primary challenge at present.

 

“Once you get that done you can talk about equipment, you can talk about resources,” Searyoh said. “I look at the current collaboration between the U.S. and the coalition partners taking a new level.”

 

“The immediate challenges that we have is the interoperability, which I think is one of the things we are also discussing here, interoperability and integration,” said Lt. Col. Kelvin Silomba, African Union-Zambia, Information Technology expert for the Africa Stand-by Force.

 

“You know that we’ve got five regions in Africa. All these regions, we need to integrate them and bring them together, so the challenge of interoperability in terms of equipment, you know, different tactical equipment that we use, and also in terms of the language barrier — you know, all these regions in Africa you find that they speak different languages — so to bring them together we need to come up with one standard that will make everybody on board and make everybody able to talk to each other,” he said.

 

“So we have all these challenges. Other than that also, stemming from the background of these African countries, based on the colonization: some of them were French colonized, some of them were British colonized and so on, so you find that when they come up now we’ve adopted some of the procedures based on our former colonial masters, so that is another challenge that is coming on board.”

 

The partnership with brother African states, with the U.S. government and its military branches, and with other interested collaborators has had a positive influence, said Silomba.

 

“Oh, it’s great. From the time that I got engaged with U.S. AFRICOM — I started with Africa Endeavor, before I even came to the AU — it is my experience that it is something very, very good.

 

“I would encourage — I know that there are some member states — I would encourage that all those member states they come on board, all of these regional organizations, that they come on board and support the AFRICOM lead. It is something that is very, very good.

 

“As for example, the African Union has a lot of support that’s been coming in, technical as well as in terms of knowledge and equipment. So it’s great; it’s good and it’s great,” said Salimba.

 

Other participant responses to the conference were positive as well.

 

“The feedback I’ve gotten from every member is that they now know what the red carpet treatment looks like, because USARAF has gone over and above board to make sure the environment, the atmosphere and the actual engagements … are executed to perfection,” said Ferrell. “It’s been very good from a team-building aspect.

 

“We’ve had very good discussions from members of the African Union, who gave us a very good understanding of the operations that are taking place in the area of Somalia, the challenges with communications, and laid out the gaps and desires of where they see that the U.S. and other coalition partners can kind of improve the capacity there in that area of responsibility.

 

“We also talked about the AU, as they are expanding their reach to all of the five regions, of how can they have that interoperability and connectivity to each of the regions,” Ferrell said.

 

“(It’s been) a wealth of knowledge and experts that are here to share in terms of how we can move forward with building capacities and capabilities. Not only for U.S. interests, but more importantly from my perspective, in building capacities and capabilities for our African partners beginning with the Commission at the African Union itself,” said Kevin Warthon, U.S. State Department, peace and security adviser to the African Union.

 

“I think that General Ferrell has done an absolutely wonderful thing by inviting key African partners to participate in this event so they can share their personal experience from a national, regional and continental perspective,” he said.

 

Warthon related from his personal experience a vignette of African trust in Providence that he believed carries a pertinent metaphor and message to everyone attending the conference.

 

“We are not sure what we are going to do tomorrow, but the one thing that I am sure of is that we are able to do something. Don’t know when, don’t know how, but as long as our focus is on our ability to assist and to help to progress a people, that’s really what counts more than anything else,” he said.

 

“Don’t worry about the timetable; just focus on your ability to make a difference and that’s what that really is all about.

 

“I see venues such as this as opportunities to make what seems to be the impossible become possible. … This is what this kind of venue does for our African partners.

 

“We’re doing a wonderful job at building relationships, because that’s where it begins — we have to build relationships to establish trust. That’s why this is so important: building trust through relationships so that we can move forward in the future,” Warthon said.

 

Conference members took a cultural tour of Venice and visited a traditional winery in the hills above Vicenza before adjourning.

 

To learn more about U.S. Army Africa visit our official website at www.usaraf.army.mil

 

Official Twitter Feed: www.twitter.com/usarmyafrica

 

Official YouTube video channel: www.youtube.com/usarmyafrica

 

Command Sgt. Major Perlisa Wilson, senior enlisted leader for the Maryland National Guard, visits senior enlisted leaders and cadets at the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina Training and Doctrine Command, in Travnik, BiH, on June 23, 2021. Wilson discussed AFBiH noncommissioned officer education processes and potential opportunities for the MDNG to facilitate training for AFBiH NCO cadets. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Sarah M. McClanahan)

Gov. Andrew Cuomo, of New York State, conducts a press briefing in the Incident Command Center, after which U.S. Army Spc. Alysia Bernard, a combat medic specialist assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company 1 Battalion 69th Infantry, 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 42nd Infantry Division, administers vaccinations, in support of state efforts to provide mass COVID-19 vaccinations administered by the New York State Department of Health, at the Javits Convention Center in Manhattan, New York, March 08, 2021.

Cuomo presented a challenge coin to U.S. Army Spc. Samuel Harris, a military police officer assigned to the 442nd Military Police Company, 104th Military Police Battalion, 53rd Troop Command, inscribed with the Latin words “e pluribus unum”, to Service Members, which means “out of many, one” to show that we are stronger together.

The National Guard has hundreds of Guardsmen and women deployed to the vaccination site to support staffing for the site. The New York State Department of Health conducts vaccination efforts for essential workers and members of the community over age 65 beginning January 13, 2021. Eligible members of the public, 18 and over, can register for a vaccine appointment through the Department of Health website: am-i-eligible.covid19vaccine.health.ny.gov/. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Sebastian Rothwyn)

www.twitter.com/Memoire2cite #recherche #archives #Banlieue #socialhousing #logement #Collectif #Copropriété #Habitation #Habitat #HLM #Quartier #Béton #immeuble #Cité #Moderne #Europe #World #Mémoire2Cité #Mémoire2Ville @ Les 30 Glorieuses . com l' #Urbanisme d'Antan, et ses belles cartes postales @ mais aussi les clichés d'Archilaid, comme les "prix citron" de la France moche.. ou encore la laideur architecturale en Françe et Ailleurs. Dans le triste sillage des cités de banlieue construites ds les années 50, 60, 70... @ l'apres guerre.. dans l'urbanisation massive des territoires via l'industrialisation du logement @ le Logement Collectif* 50,60,70's dans tous ses états..Histoire & Mémoire de l'Habitat / Rétro-Villes / HLM / Banlieue / Renouvellement Urbain / Urbanisme @ De grandes barres d’immeubles, appelées les grands ensembles, sont le symbole de nos banlieues. Entrée Libre revient sur le phénomène de destruction de ces bâtiments banlieue89 ANRU1 ANRU2 bientot ANRU3 @ le Renouvellement urbain, la rénovation urbaine, des "Ensembles Tout Béton" qui reflètent aujourd’hui la misere www.youtube.com/watch?v=mCqHBP5SBiM L'urbanisation à marche forcée des années 60 est devenue synonyme de bétonnage et d'enlaidissement. Dans L'Express du 23 août 1971 @ "La loi du 7 juillet dernier relative à la liberté de la création, à l'architecture et au patrimoine a ainsi créé un label spécifique permettant de veiller sur cet héritage architectural récent, que le Comité du patrimoine mondial de l'Unesco vient lui aussi de mettre en lumière", ajoute la ministre de la Culture.

Pas un village, dans la plus reculée des provinces, qui ne soit atteint. C'est comme une lèpre qui, peu à peu, prolifère sur l'épiderme du paysage urbain français. Un des plus beaux du monde, disait-on. Agressive médiocrité des bâtiments publics, des écoles, des postes, des administrations, monotonie concentrationnaire des grands ensembles, prétention et passéisme débile des maisons individuelles : le bilan architectural des dix dernières années est, en France, catastrophique. Jamais on n'a autant construit. Jamais si mal, si pauvre, si triste. A de rares exceptions. Cela devient si flagrant à la lumière de l'été, que même l'O.r.t.f. s'en est ému. Après Vivre aujourd'hui, l'émission de Jacques Frémontier (dimanche, consacrée à "la rue"), La France défigurée, de Michel Péricart et Louis Bériot, a donné l'alerte : par milliers, des témoignages ont afflué. Les Français prennent conscience du mal et s'interrogent : "Comment, pourquoi, en est-on arrivé là ?" Spéculation Que "cet avachissement, cet avilissement de la qualité architecturale", comme le définit M. Michel Denieul, directeur de l'Architecture au ministère des Affaires culturelles, ne soit pas l'exclusivité de la France, personne ne le conteste. Le monde entier connaît un malaise architectural. Après avoir, des siècles durant, bâti pour le seigneur, le prince, le mécène, l'architecture ne sait pas encore bâtir pour la masse, le peuple, "l'innombrable", comme le dit l'architecte Emile Aillaud. En Grande-Bretagne, en Allemagne, en Italie, aux Etats-Unis, aussi, elle tâtonne. Ce n'est pas une consolation. Ni une raison suffisante pour admettre comme une fatalité la piètre architecture française. Ni pour excuser ceux qui l'ont laissée pousser comme les mauvaises graines, à tous les vents. Le premier des responsables, avant les architectes dépassés (voir page suivante l'opinion de Pierre Schneider) et les promoteurs avides, c'est l'Etat. Qui, par le jeu des servitudes, des permis de construire, etc., contrôle et, le plus souvent, paralyse la totalité de ce qui se bâtit en France. Qui est lui-même le premier client des architectes, le premier maître d'ouvrage des nouveaux édifices (hôpitaux, écoles, logements sociaux). Qui, à ce titre, aurait pu, et ne l'a pas fait, promouvoir une politique de l'habitation qui soit une politique d'embellissement. "Construire beaucoup, c'est une occasion d'embellir", dit Bertrand de Jouvenel.Au lieu de cela, que voit-on, en dépit de la réaction amorcée depuis quelques années par le ministère des Affaires culturelles ? La médiocrité primée, la création handicapée, la spéculation triomphante. Les grands ensembles sont une erreur, mais nous ne savons pas pourquoi. Colin Davidson, professeur à l'Ecole d'architecture de l'université de Montréal.Dans un vieux pays comme la France, pour lutter contre la laideur, il y a deux méthodes : une stratégie de choc qui favorise la qualité architecturale ; une stratégie défensive qui prévient la détérioration du patrimoine ancien. La première n'a jamais été définie. Comment s'étonner des résultats ? On ne s'est même jamais soucié d'en jeter les bases en pratiquant une politique d'urbanisme conséquente. "Une ville comme Paris, dit M. Denieul, se caractérise par une propension à accorder les permis de construire, quand ils sont demandés, au coup par coup. Et cela, faute de documents d'urbanisme suffisamment précis, souples et contraignants en même temps."Appréciation Contre ce système du n'importe quoi, n'importe où, n'importe comment, M. André Malraux avait voulu réagir. Il avait demandé à l'architecte urbaniste Gaston Leclaire d'étudier l'aménagement du quartier de la rotonde de La Villette, et spécialement des abords du bassin, appelé à devenir le pôle d'attraction d'un site urbain peu connu et insolite. L'étude a été menée à terme, mais ses conclusions sont restées lettre morte. De telles études, faites systématiquement, auraient pu freiner bien des désastres, non seulement à Paris, mais sur la Côte d'Azur, autre victime notoire d'une urbanisation désordonnée. Et servir de tremplin à une architecture raisonnée, sinon réussie, alors que celle dont nous souffrons n'est ni l'un ni l'autre. C'est aussi M. André Malraux qui, par la loi du 4 août 1962, dite des secteurs sauvegardés, tenta de consolider la stratégie défensive. De fait, à l'intérieur des quartiers préservés, au voisinage des monuments historiques on ne peut construire ni détruire n'importe quoi. Un immeuble tout en verre où se reflète la cathédrale d'Amiens ? Soit : le mélange des siècles n'est pas prohibé, au contraire, c'est la vie même des villes. A condition que les deux architectures soient, comme c'est le cas, bien intégrées l'une à l'autre. La R.a.t.p., en revanche, n'a pas reçu le droit de construire sur les quais de la Seine, déjà si meurtris, une tour de bureaux qui viendrait s'inscrire entre celles de Notre-Dame. Il y aurait donc sauvegarde sans le drame des dérogations laissées à l'appréciation des administrations. A cause d'une de ces dérogations, va s'élever, rue de l'Université, l'immeuble de bureaux réservé aux membres de l'Assemblée nationale. On le verra, de la place de la Concorde, se profiler derrière les deux étages de l'hôtel de Lassay, résidence du président de l'Assemblée. Dérogation aussi pour la barre massive des immeubles de Maine-Montparnasse et la tour de 200 m qui les couronnera : quand la maquette fut présentée devant la Commission des sites, un ministre et cinq préfets étaient présents pour l'appuyer de leur autorité politique. Il n'y eut pour ainsi dire pas de discussion. Quant à la tour de la Halle aux vins, autre pont aux ânes architectural, c'est l'enfant bâtard d'un grand projet : une flèche hélicoïdale, construite par l'architecte Edouard Albert, et couverte de mosaïque par Georges Braque. Hélas ! Albert et Braque sont morts, et les Parisiens n'ont sous les yeux que la tour sans génie d'Henri Coulomb. Bénédiction A Strasbourg, c'est le maire lui-même, M. Pierre Pflimlin, qui s'est obstiné à permettre la construction, à deux pas de la cathédrale, d'un complexe immobilier de 60 m de haut et de plus de 60 millions de Francs. La Commission départementale des sites, les Monuments historiques, la direction départementale de l'Equipement ont émis un avis défavorable. Les P.t.t. aussi, car cette tour fera écran aux liaisons hertziennes entre Strasbourg et Paris. Rien n'y a fait. M. Pflimlin a gagné. Les P.t.t. devront déplacer le relais de leurs ondes hertziennes, situé à Saverne, et la flèche rose de la cathédrale, point de ralliement de toute l'Alsace, se verra fâcheusement disputer le ciel. La Côte d'Azur regorge, hélas ! d'exemples tout aussi significatifs. Le dernier en date n'est pas le moins accablant. A Mandelieu-La Napoule, sur un terre-plein de 10 ha gagné sur la mer, vient d'être construit un "complexe" d'une quinzaine d'immeubles, hauts de sept étages, et d'une médiocrité affligeante, qui dépare un des plus beaux panoramas de la Côte, entre le massif de l'Esterel et les îles de Lérins. Avant de voir le jour, ce projet a reçu toutes les bénédictions officielles. Quinze organismes différents ont été consultés par le Conseil municipal, et, parmi eux, la Commission des sites. Pas un souffle de protestation ne s'est élevé. L'affaire est remontée à Paris. Finalement, le ministre de l'Equipement lui-même a signé le permis de construire et la concession d'endigage du port. Aujourd'hui, l'Association pour la défense des sites de Cannes et des environs distribue la photo du chantier à des milliers d'exemplaires. "Ce que nous voulons empêcher désormais." Et Mme Louise Moreau, élue maire de La Napoule aux dernières élections, est formelle : "Si, alors, j'avais été maire, je n'aurais jamais permis cela."

Répétition D'une part, l'Etat protège peu ou mal, d'autre part, loin de promouvoir la recherche et la qualité, il impose les normes d'une architecture concentrationnaire. Ainsi par le système des Cos (Coefficients d'occupation des sols), dans Paris et dans les grandes villes, où la pression de la rentabilité est énorme, on construit au maximum, même si c'est dépourvu de toute plausibilité, même si, du point de vue architectural. c'est une hérésie. "Il faudrait, dit M. Denieul, créer des zones de discontinuité : des Cos de 3 à un endroit, et, à d'autres, des Cos de 0 à 5, ce qui donnerait au faciès urbain un modelé, un relief. Au lieu de cela, le mot d'ordre est de 'bourrer' partout. Et le XVIe arrondissement de Paris, entre autres victimes, devient un immense chantier où se multiplient les surélévations intempestives." A quoi M. Jean Chapon, directeur du cabinet de M. Albin Chalandon, rétorque : "Il faut bâtir au maximum, sinon, où logera-t-on les milliers de gens qui affluent dans les villes ?" On touche, ici, au coeur du problème. Parce que les besoins étaient immenses et impérieux, on a construit beaucoup. Très vite. Sans se préoccuper du plaisir de vivre des futurs habitants. Comme si un environnement harmonieux était un luxe, cet environnement que les arbres et les champs fournissaient naturellement aux gens d'autrefois. Comme si l'on ne savait pas que la laideur monotone sécrète l'ennui, la morosité, le désespoir. Était-il impossible, au même prix, de construire bien ? Les réussites d'Emile Aillaud, par exemple, à Grigny-la-Grande-Borne, ou de Michel Andrault et de Pierre Parat à Sainte-Geneviève-des-Bois prouvent le contraire. Même avec les crédits limités des H.l.m., même en respectant les normes étouffantes de l'urbanisme réglementaire, on peut créer des habitations à l'échelle de l'homme, du paysage, des architectures favorables à la détente et au bien-être. Ce n'est pas une question de crédits, ni de servitudes ni de préfabrication. C'est une question d'audace, d'invention. Malheureusement, les inventeurs, en cette époque de conformisme, sont rares, et on les encourage peu. Sauf dans les cas où l'obstination d'un créateur a réussi à vaincre les résistances pour modeler un univers vraiment neuf, on s'est contenté d'additionner, de juxtaposer les machines à vivre, les cités dortoirs, de confondre industrialisation et répétition, fonctionnalisme et monotonie. Multiplication "Quand je me promène autour de Paris, disait, peu de temps avant sa mort, le grand architecte américain Richard Neutra, j'ai l'impression que ceux qui bâtissent n'ont jamais été à l'école maternelle. Ils ne savent pas où le soleil se lève, ni où il se couche. Ils ont oublié que l'homme a besoin de chlorophylle comme les arbres et d'espace comme les oiseaux. Ils ne savent faire que des prisons." Le ministère de l'Equipement, pour sa part, est fier d'avoir mis au point un catalogue de grands ensembles --boîtes géantes et tours de tous calibres -- qui permet aux maires et aux offices d'H.l.m. de choisir sur photos et sur plans des immeubles types, spécialement étudiés par des architectes (certains sont renommés) qui en garantissent la qualité de la fabrication et le prix. Au ministère de l'Education nationale qui, à lui seul, dépense 3 milliards par an pour construire 4 millions de m2 (un C.e.s. par jour), on prône la préfabrication (sauf dans les établissements de l'enseignement supérieur). Chaque année, parmi les propositions des trente-cinq entreprises agréées, qui se sont engagées à ne pas dépasser le prix plafond de 520 Francs le m2, on choisit trois ou quatre types nouveaux de C.e.s. On les expérimente en petite série l'année suivante. Puis, on se lance dans la fabrication industrielle. En soi, le système pourrait être bon. S'il n'aboutissait pas à la multiplication de bâtiments déprimants. Même à Cajarc (Lot), cher à M. Georges Pompidou, le C.e.s. offense la vue. L'Education nationale, à qui incombe, entre autres tâches, le soin de former l'oeil et le goût des enfants, ne s'en émeut pas. "Elle n'accepte, dit un haut fonctionnaire, aucun conseil, et se drape dans sa dignité de gros consommateur d'architecture." Subvention Le ministère de l'Agriculture n'agit pas avec plus de discernement. Il n'impose pas de modèles. Mais les prix plafonds des bâtiments agricoles ont été calculés si bas (en partant de la tôle ondulée et du parpaing non enduit) que l'agriculteur qui souhaiterait construire convenablement ne peut le faire, sans risquer de perdre le bénéfice de la subvention. Ainsi, la campagne française s'est couverte peu à peu de bergeries et d'étables qu'on dirait échappées de bidonvilles. Aucun site n'est épargné. Ni la Bretagne ni la Lozère. Si le classement de Colombey-les-Deux-Eglises n'était pas intervenu à temps, un hangar de tôle ondulée serait venu boucher la perspective historique qui s'étend devant la Boisserie... Une grande part de ces diverses calamités est due à l'incompétence des maîtres d'ouvrage - fonctionnaires et élus - desquels dépend la commande publique. "Le sens de l'architecture est aussi rare chez eux que le bon sens", disait quelqu'un qui les pratique. Et Raymonde Moulin, dans sa récente étude sur l'Etat et les architectes, l'a noté : "L'intérêt pour la qualité architecturale appartient sinon à l'ordre du rêve, du moins de ce qui peut être considéré comme un hasard heureux." Les promoteurs privés ne sont pas plus royalistes que le roi. Pas plus que l'Etat, ils ne se soucient d'apporter aux Français le plaisir que procure un heureux agencement de l'espace. Pour la plupart, ils se contentent d'appâter avec du clinquant - baies vitrées, travertin dans le hall, céramique dans la salle de bains - et offrent des immeubles de (faux) prestige, mal insonorisés, mal compris, étriqués, qui n'ont que de lointains rapports avec l'architecture, même s'ils portent des signatures connues.

Impulsion Peut-on enrayer l'épidémie de laideur ? Alertés par les avertissements de la Commission du VIe Plan, les Pouvoirs publics semblent vouloir secouer leur torpeur. Pas question de définir une politique. "On ne peut imposer une architecture officielle, comme en U.R.S.S., se défend M. Chapon. Nous sommes en pays de liberté." Mais on éprouve la nécessité d'agir. Premier essai de stratégie dynamique : le plan-construction, lancé, en mai, conjointement par MM. Chalandon, Jacques Duhamel et François-Xavier Ortoli. Son objectif avoué : rechercher un habitat qui réponde mieux au besoin de l'homme d'aujourd'hui. En fait, il s'agit de trouver des remèdes à l'échec des grands ensembles.

 

Au ministère des Affaires culturelles, dans la même foulée réformatrice on prépare deux projets de loi : l'un sur la profession d'architecte, l'autre sur les conditions de la commande publique. Toujours sous l'impulsion de M. Duhamel, la Fondation de France finance un concours d'architecture agricole qui sera lancé à l'automne en Franche-Comté, en Bourgogne et en Bretagne. Enfin, une étude a été menée pour voir de quelle façon on pourrait, dès l'école maternelle, sensibiliser les enfants aux problèmes de volumes et d'espaces. Il reste à convaincre l'Education nationale d'inscrire cet enseignement nouveau à ses programmes.A la direction de l'Architecture, malgré les faibles moyens financiers dont il dispose, M. Denieul souhaite influer plus directement sur la qualité de la construction, en développant les services de la création architecturale. Dans les trente prochaines années, la France va construire autant de logements qu'il en existe actuellement. Il est temps de se souvenir que le degré de civilisation d'un peuple se juge à la qualité des édifices qu'il laisse à la postérité. "La France n'est ni belle ni laide", Vasarely "La France n'est ni belle ni laide. C'est le point de vue où nous nous plaçons qui décide. Celui qui se promène à New York ne voit qu'une ville chaotique et sale. Mais si, le soir, on arrive de l'aéroport, on découvre les gratte-ciel illuminés qui émergent au-dessus du fog. C'est un spectacle inoubliable. La Courneuve ou Sarcelles, vues d'avion, présentent des aspects intéressants.""Remédier à la laideur est une tâche extrêmement complexe qui se place sur d'innombrables plans, sociologiques, psychologiques, esthétiques. Le gouvernement actuel est favorable à l'esthétique, mais peut-on imposer la beauté comme on a imposé la vaccination obligatoire ? Actuellement on construit partout des habitations du genre clapier. Ce phénomène est universel. Sarcelles et Saint-Denis ressemblent à Sydney ou à Tokyo." Le droit à la beauté, par Pierre Schneider Le mot "esthétique" a mauvaise presse. Mais l'esthétique, dans la bouche des architectes, c'est ce que font les autres... En réalité, jamais l'architecture n'a été plus préoccupée de beauté. Elle peut prendre les formes les plus diverses. Ici, elle est dans l'intense présence d'un édifice ; là, dans un agencement heureux de l'espace obtenu par des moyens insignifiants. Tantôt harmonieuse, tantôt agressive. L'élégance du chemin le plus court, mais aussi l'extravagance du chemin des écoliers : Ludwig Mies Van der Rohe ne nie pas Antonio Gaudi. L'essentiel est de ne pas se soumettre passivement aux idées reçues, d'exprimer son temps - fût-ce en s'efforçant de le réorienter. "Lorsqu'une oeuvre est à son maximum d'intensité, de proportions, de qualité d'exécution, de perfection, il se produit un phénomène d'espace indicible, les lieux se mettent à rayonner, physiquement. C'est du domaine de l'ineffable." Cette définition du beau est due au père du fonctionnalisme : Edouard Le Corbusier. L'absence de volonté créatrice se traduit par des formes inertes. Et l'inertie démoralise. Le jour n'est pas loin où le plus fanatique des technocrates sera contraint d'inclure le droit à la beauté dans ses frais généraux. A quelques exceptions près, l'histoire de l'architecture moderne - celle du dernier quart de siècle, surtout - ne s'est pas écrite en France. Pourquoi ? La raison la plus évidente est qu'elle n'a pas voulu ou su produire des architectes. La faute en incombe, en premier lieu, à l'Ecole des beaux-arts. La formation, ou plutôt la déformation qu'elle dispensait à ses élèves, était, depuis cent cinquante ans, résolument passéiste : on se référait à Versailles ou au Parthénon, oubliant que leur pouvoir de fascination venait de ce qu'ils avaient été, en leur temps, des bâtiments modernes. Le premier travail des élèves utilisant l'acier, le verre, fut présenté à l'Ecole en 1950.Vers 1956, un groupe d'élèves qui proposaient à Nicolas Untersteller, directeur de l'Ecole, d'organiser une exposition Mies Van der Rohe, s'entendirent répondre : "Je ne connais pas cette demoiselle." Un promoteur définit assez brutalement le produit de cet enseignement figé : "Les architectes ? Ils se croient des artistes. Ils ignorent la vie." Effectivement, l'Ecole n'a pas su assimiler la révolution industrielle. Vers 1840, un divorce s'opère entre architecte et ingénieur. Le premier n'a que mépris pour le second. Lorsque, au début du siècle, Fulgence Bienvenüe, ingénieur en chef du métropolitain, veut enseigner aux élèves de l'Ecole la technique du béton armé, ceux-ci le chahutent au cri de : "Tu nous prends pour des entrepreneurs ?" Bibliothèque nationale, Halles de Baltard, viaduc de Garabit - les chefs-d'oeuvre de la construction industrielle du XIXe siècle sont si peu considérés comme de l'architecture, que le premier d'entre eux à avoir été classé monument historique fut la tour Eiffel. Depuis quelques générations, les architectes apprenaient les techniques modernes, mais comme un mal nécessaire. "Un tuyau, ça se cache", dit l'un d'eux. Ils acceptaient de construire une usine ou une H.l.m. - il faut bien vivre - mais leur rêve restait de bâtir pour un prince. Aucune place n'était faite, dans l'enseignement, à l'économie, à la sociologie - en un mot à la donnée humaine qui est à la fois le grand problème de l'époque et sa chance de renouvellement : les nombres. Que pèsent ces rêveurs anachroniques en face de gens qui ont le sens des réalités - ceux-là mêmes qui les font travailler : les promoteurs ? Rien. Dans les pays anglo-saxons, l'architecte est respecté ; chez nous, c'est le pauvre type qui oublie un escalier. Un promoteur explique : "Comment je choisis un architecte ? C'est simple : je prends celui qui fait ce que je veux." Et ce qu'il veut, c'est ce qui se vend, c'est-à-dire le "standing". Il n'y a pas de grand architecte sans grand client, note l'architecte Michel Bezançon. Or, à l'encontre des Etats-Unis ou de l'Italie, en France, l'architecture ne se vend pas comme image de marque." M. Claude Alphandéry, P.d.g. de la Banque de la construction et des travaux publics, confirme : "Les gens d'affaires français ne considèrent pas encore l'architecture comme le bon signe extérieur de la réussite." Créer, dans ces conditions, tient du miracle. L'architecture abdique ou se condamne à périr de faim. Dans le secteur public, l'accueil à l'architecture vivante n'est pas meilleur que dans le privé. L'architecte, pour faire aboutir un projet, doit avoir l'obstination des personnages de Kafka. Un disciple connu de Le Corbusier se voit refuser une commande parce que, selon les mots du financier désolé, "il n'a personne dans sa manche". Savoir se débrouiller est plus important que savoir créer. "Le secteur public est démembré en parties qui doivent négocier entre elles", explique M. Alphandéry. D'excellentes réalisations, toutes dues à la volonté d'individus, soulignent d'autant plus cruellement la formidable indifférence des hommes politiques (qu'ils soient de droite ou de gauche) et des technocrates à "la dimension poétique". Les ministres se préoccupent de pouvoir proclamer à la fin de l'année qu'on a construit tant de logis, mais II ne vient à l'idée de personne de supposer que ces logis devraient, en toute justice, tomber sous le coup de la loi qui interdit de déposer des ordures sur la voie publique. Pourtant, il est des raisons d'espérer. La principale est l'apparition d'une génération d'architectes pour qui l'industrie n'est plus l'ennemi - pas plus que la panacée - mais un instrument. Un instrument qui, bien utilisé, peut libérer l'architecture de ses servitudes. Ici et là, surgissent des bâtiments, des ensembles dont la réussite démontre qu'aujourd'hui les contraintes techniques et budgétaires ne sont plus que l'alibi facile des médiocres. L'imagination est humainement nécessaire. Elle est techniquement possible. A nous de savoir l'exiger. www.lexpress.fr/culture/1971-architecture-et-urbanisme-la... Métamorphoses des villes : d'hier à aujourd'hui L'oeuvre de Le Corbusier classée au patrimoine mondial de l'Unesco Marseille, d'hier à aujourd'hui Lille d'hier à aujourd'hui... www.lexpress.fr/culture/en-images-l-oeuvre-de-le-corbusie... Dix-sept réalisations de l'architecte franco-suisse, dont dix situées en France, sont désormais inscrites au patrimoine mondial de l'organisation. Une proposition adoptée par consensus et sans changement par le comité en charge du classement. La troisième aura été la bonne. Après deux tentatives infructueuses, l'oeuvre architecturale de Le Corbusier a été inscrite au Patrimoine mondial, a annoncé dimanche l'Unesco. La décision a été prise lors de la 40e session du Comité du patrimoine mondial de l'Unesco à Istanbul. Cette réunion a été suspendue samedi en raison de la tentative de putsch militaire, avant de reprendre dimanche matin. Le classement porte sur dix-sept réalisations de l'architecte franco-suisse dans sept pays. Dix d'entre elles sont situées en France. Parmi elles figure la Maison de la Culture de Firminy A ces réalisations s'ajoutent les Maisons La Roche et Jeanneret à Paris, la Villa Savoye et loge du jardinier à Poissy, l'Immeuble locatif à la Porte Molitor à Boulogne-Billancourt, la Manufacture à Saint-Dié-des-Vosges, le couvent Sainte-Marie-de-la-Tourette à Eveux. Le Corbusier : hommage au virtuose de la modernité www.cotemaison.fr/chaine-d/deco-design/le-corbusier-un-ar... frontières françaises, d'autres créations de Le Corbusier ont également été classées. L'immeuble Clarté à Genève, la petite villa au bord du lac Léman à Corseaux (Suisse), la maison Guiette à Anvers (Belgique), les maisons de la Weissenhof-Siedlung à Stuttgart (Allemagne), la Maison du Docteur Curutchet à La Plata (Argentine), le musée national des beaux-Arts de l'Occident à Taito-Ku à Tokyo (Japon) et le complexe du capitole à Chandighar (Inde)."Cette bonne nouvelle survient après plus de dix ans de travail, de concertation et deux échecs", s'est félicité dans un communiqué Benoît Cornu, premier adjoint à Ronchamp (Haute-Saône), qui préside depuis 2016 l'Association des Sites Le Corbusier créée en 2010. Le Corbusier: hommage au virtuose de la modernité Interrogé par Le Monde, le même interlocuteur considère que Icomos, le Conseil international des monuments et des sites, avait par le passé jugé la série proposé "trop pléthorique et éclectique, et surtout, déploré l'absence du site de Chandigarh en Inde, qui révélait la dimension urbanistique de l'oeuvre". En intégrant ce site qui comprend un quartier, sa maison de la culture, son stade, sa piscine et son église -le plus grand conçu par l'architecte- les promoteurs du dossier de candidature ont tiré parti des expériences passées. La ministre de la Culture et de la Communication, Audrey Azoulay, s'est réjouie de la décision de l'Unesco, en relevant qu'elle soulignait "l'importance de la préservation et de la valorisation du patrimoine récent, de moins de cent ans". l'architecture moderne au rang d'art majeur. L'occasion de revisiter son oeuvre architecturale avec notamment la Cité radieuse à Marseille, sans oublier son parcours de peintre et de designer. L'Express Styles est aussi parti à la rencontre d'artistes comme India Mahdavi ou Ora-ïto qui s'en sont inspirés... Découverte ! L'architecte de tous les possibles est aussi celui de tous les paradoxes. Mort en eaux troubles - on a retrouvé son corps noyé sur la plage de Roquebrune-Cap-Martin le 27 août 1965 -, Le Corbusier est, aussi, l'homme solaire qui a accouché de la Cité radieuse et un "visionnaire persuadé de pouvoir apporter la joie de vivre", affirme Sylvie Andreu, directrice de collection du livre Cher Corbu... (1). Cinq décennies après sa disparition, son aura continue de briller et son héritage est intact, de la villa Savoye, à Poissy (Yvelines), à l'unité d'habitation de Firminy (Loire), en passant par la chapelle de Ronchamp en Franche- Comté ou la ville nouvelle de Chandigarh en Inde. Et pourtant, l'homme n'a pas que des admirateurs... La Cité radieuse à Marseille.La Cité radieuse à Marseille.SDP La ville nouvelle de Chandigarh, en Inde, construite en 1947.La ville nouvelle de Chandigarh, en Inde, construite en 1947.Narinder Nanu/AFP

Critiquant ses excès et sa mégalomanie, ses détracteurs lui reprochent également, encore aujourd'hui, son approche fonctionnaliste trop radicale et d'être à l'origine de l'urbanisme des banlieues. Autant dire que le mystère autour de Charles-Edouard Jeanneret- Gris, dit Le Corbusier - né en Suisse en 1887 -, reste entier. Qui était vraiment cet autodidacte insatiable et obstiné dont l'oeuvre attend toujours son classement à l'Unesco, au titre de sa "contribution exceptionnelle au mouvement moderne"? Un virtuose de l'architecture bien qu'il n'ait pas le diplôme (il a quitté l'école à 13 ans) ? Un grand designer ? Un peintre compulsif ("Le dessin est fait avant que je ne l'aie pensé") ? Un sculpteur majeur ?

De toute évidence, un artiste surdoué et protéiforme "qui a profon dément marqué le XXe siècle et bouleversé notre façon d'habiter, explique Sylvie Andreu. Il sera guidé toute sa vie par l'esprit nouveau de son époque et n'au ra de cesse de combattre les conservatismes". A partir du 29 avril 2015, l'exposition du Centre Pompidou propose une relecture de ses créations - plus de 300 dessins, tableaux, sculptures, photos, meubles, dont certaines pièces réalisées dès 1923 avec Pierre Jeanneret... - qui seront présentées via le prisme de la mesure du corps humain. La villa Savoye (1928-1931), à PoissyLa villa Savoye (1928-1931), à PoissyArcaid/Corbis

Empreinte du modulor dans le béton, visible a Rezé (Loire-Atlantique)Empreinte du modulor dans le béton, visible a Rezé (Loire-Atlantique)SDP "L'homme a toujours été au centre de ses préoccupations, explique Jacques Sbriglio, architecte urbaniste et commissaire de l'exposition organisée à Marseille, en 2013, Le Corbusier et la question du brutalisme. Il a inventé un langage et fait basculer l'architecture dans le XXe siècle. Chacune de ses réalisations inter - rogeait le rapport de l'homme aux usages quotidiens. Quand il dessinait les plans d'une ville, il indiquait l'échelle, mais aussi le temps de déplacement d'un point à un autre." Et Olivier Cinqualbre, commissaire de l'exposition du Centre Pompidou, d'ajouter : "La cellule d'habitation pensée par Le Corbusier est petite mais pratique, à taille humaine. Pour épouser les mouvements du corps, le mobilier devient réglable (dès 1929), modulable ou encastrable." La chapelle Notre-Dame-du-Haut (1950-1955), à RonchampLa chapelle Notre-Dame-du-Haut (1950-1955), à RonchampCalle Montes/Photononstop

Avant-gardiste, ce bâtisseur souhaite libérer l'individu des contraintes, du mal-logement, de l'inconfort. Car, ne l'oublions pas, au lendemain de la guerre, chaque mètre carré compte! Pour modifier la perception des volumes, il use en plus de couleurs franches. Là aussi, il connaît sa palette... Depuis qu'il s'est installé à Paris en 1917, il peint tous les jours et manie le nuancier avec finesse. Voilà qui explique sans doute qu'il ait autant d'influence auprès des créateurs tous azimuts : designers et stylistes de mode! La preuve, ci-contre, en cinq témoignages... . Le Corbusier. Mesures de l'homme, du 29 avril au 3 août 2015, Centre Pompidou, Paris (IVe), www.centre pompidou.fr

Chandigarh, 50 ans après Le Corbusier, du 11 novembre 2015 au 14 mars 2016 à la Cité de l'architecture et du patrimoine, Paris (XVIe). www.citechaillot.fr

 

"Cher Corbu" Recueil de témoignages de 12 architectes contemporains sur le grand homme, dans lequel chacun lui écrit une lettre."Cher Corbu" Recueil de témoignages de 12 architectes contemporains sur le grand homme, dans lequel chacun lui écrit une lettre.SDP

 

(1) Cher Corbu..., un ouvrage collectif qui recueille le témoignage de 12 architectes contemporains sur le grand homme : de Paul Chemetov à Odile Decq en passant par Elisabeth de Portzamparc ou Claude Parent, qui lui ont chacun écrit une lettre. Bernard Chauveau éd., 48 p., 22,50 ?

Ils se sont inspirés du Corbusier...India Mahdavi, amoureuse d'innovation

India Mahdavi, architecte d'intérieur et designer. Vient de terminer le restaurant I Love Paris pour Guy Martin.India Mahdavi, architecte d'intérieur et designer. Vient de terminer le restaurant I Love Paris pour Guy Martin.SDP

L'Express Styles : Que représente pour vous le Corbusier ?

India Mahdavi : C'est un révolutionnaire et un provocateur, qui a fait renaître l'architecture moderne en mettant l'homme au centre de la vie et de la ville. Il a eu l'intelligence de s'interroger sur les modes de vie des gens bien avant tout le monde. Son rapport aux proportions m'a imprégnée. Sur mes chantiers, j'utilise aussi le Modulor. Ses références sont devenues les miennes. Il a cassé les normes bourgeoises de l'habitat. L'Express Styles : En quoi a-t-il inspiré vos créations ? India Mahdavi : J'aime beaucoup sa façon d'appliquer la couleur en aplats pour redessiner les volumes, rythmer les espaces, marquer les perspectives. C'était un formidable coloriste. L'ouvrage Le Corbusier. Polychromies architecturalesest d'ailleurs une de mes bibles. Il référence toutes les nuances et permet, grâce à une réglette, de les associer harmonieusement. C'est un outil dont je me sers sur tous mes chantiers.

L'Express Styles : Quelle est pour vous la pièce ou le bâtiment culte ? India Mahdavi : Le tabouret à poignées, en chêne, qu'il a conçu pour son cabanon, d'après une caisse à whiskys. On peut évidemment s'asseoir dessus, mais on peut surtout l'empiler pour séparer une pièce, le transformer en chevet ou en table basse. Il n'y a pas de meuble qui résume mieux son oeuvre. Le Corbusier : hommage au virtuose de la modernitéSDP Ora-ïto et sa fascination pour la minutie

Ora-ïto, architecte designer. Propriétaire du toit terrasse de la Cité radieuse à Marseille.Ora-ïto, architecte designer. Propriétaire du toit terrasse de la Cité radieuse à Marseille.SDP L'Express Styles : Que représente pour vous Le Corbusier ? Ora-ïto : Il est l'inventeur de la modernité. Pour chacune de ses réalisations, il a établi un vrai scénario de vie. La Cité radieuse en est le plus bel exemple. Tout y est pensé au millimètre près et à bonne hauteur grâce au Modulor-une grille de mesures qu'il a inventée et représentée par la silhouette d'un homme debout, le bras levé. C'était aussi un obsessionnel. D'ailleurs, quand il érige cette unité d'habitation, on le surnomme le "Fada". Mais il reste un grand monsieur qui m'a beaucoup influencé.

L'Express Styles : En quoi a-t-il inspiré vos créations ?

Ora-ïto : Je ne suis pas habité par Corbu, mais imprégné de ses concepts. Sa rigueur, sa façon d'organiser les espaces en lien avec les modes de vie et sa simplicité restent des valeurs essentielles. C'est le Steve Job de l'architecture !

L'Express Styles : Quelle est pour vous la pièce ou le bâtiment culte ? Ora-ïto : La villa Savoye à Poissy. Art déco, cette première maison de week-end est spectaculaire : une "boîte en l'air" montée sur pilotis, qui a tout pour elle. Elle est lumineuse, élégante et intemporelle.

Le Corbusier : hommage au virtuose de la modernitéSDP

Pierre Charpin, sensibilité des couleurs Pierre Charpin, designer. Prépare une exposition pour la galerie Kréo à Londres.Pierre Charpin, designer. Prépare une exposition pour la galerie Kréo à Londres.SDPL'Express Styles : Que représente pour vous Le Corbusier ?Pierre Charpin : Ce n'est pas un maître à penser, mais un grand architecte et aussi un étonnant plasticien doué d'une sensibilité aux formes hors pair. La chapelle de Ronchamp - tout en courbes et en harmonie avec le paysage - en est un des plus beaux exemples, le contraire d'un bâtiment standardisé. L'Express Styles : En quoi a-t-il inspiré vos créations ? Pierre Charpin : Je ne sais pas s'il m'a influencé, mais son travail sur les couleurs m'a beaucoup intéressé. Il utilise une gamme de coloris plus subtile et sophistiquée que celle des primaires. Comme lui, je n'aime pas les fausses couleurs et les demi-teintes, ni les objets trop lisses. J'apprécie sa façon d'appréhender le béton, notamment à la Cité radieuse. Il en a fait une surface vivante et pas si brutale que ça ! Pour y avoir séjourné, je suis frappé par la sophistication et la simplicité de ce grand vaisseau. Corbu fait partie, avec Sottsass, des gens qui comptent pour moi. C'est à la fois un théoricien et un être très sensible. L'Express Styles : Quelle est pour vous la pièce ou le bâtiment culte ? Pierre Charpin : Son cabanon de Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, de 3,66 mètres sur 3,66, est un modèle d'intelligence : il a optimisé chaque centimètre carré. Cette réalisation démontre à quel point il était libre. Eux aussi l'apprécient... Jérome Dreyfuss, créateur de sacs"Mes grands-parents étant les voisins de Jean Prouvé, à Nancy ; j'ai été sensible, très jeune, à l'architecture et à Corbu, qui a toujours eu une longueur d'avance. A chaque problème il trouvait une solution. Il avait cette capacité d'inventer des concepts et des principes de construction. Il était à la fois rationnel et créatif. Quand j'ai aménagé mon cabanon à Fontainebleau, j'ai optimisé chaque mètre carré. Chaque objet a sa fonction et sa raison d'être." www.jerome-dreyfuss.com Frédérique Dessemond, créatrice de la marque de bijoux Ginette NY "Je vis aujourd'hui à New York mais j'ai grandi - juqu'à 28 ans - à la Cité radieuse, dont je garde un souvenir ému. On vivait en autarcie, entre copains, c'était mieux que le Club Med ! Les appartements étaient très lumineux, remarquablement bien étudiés. J'ai conçu ma future boutique [66, rue des Saints-Pères, Paris VIe] à partir du Modulor. Et mes bijoux sont simples, faciles à vivre et sans ostentation, comme l'étaient ses réalisations." www.ginette-ny.com - www.ladepeche.fr/article/2010/11/02/940025-140-ans-en-arc... dreux-par-pierlouim.over-blog.com/article-chamards-1962-9... missionphoto.datar.gouv.fr/fr/photographe/7639/serie/7695...

Official Trailer - the Pruitt-Igoe Myth: an Urban History

www.youtube.com/watch?v=g7RwwkNzF68 - la dérive des continents youtu.be/kEeo8muZYJU Et la disparition des Mammouths - RILLIEUX LA PAPE & Dynacité - Le 23 février 2017, à 11h30, les tours Lyautey étaient foudroyées. www.youtube.com/watch?v=W---rnYoiQc

Ginger CEBTP Démolition, filiale déconstruction du Groupe Ginger, a réalisé la maîtrise d'oeuvre de l'opération et produit les études d'exécution. L'emblématique ZUP Pruitt Igoe. vaste quartier HLM (33 barres de 11 étages) de Saint-Louis (Missouri) USA. démoli en 1972 www.youtube.com/watch?v=nq_SpRBXRmE … "Life is complicated, i killed people, smuggled people, sold people, but perhaps in here.. things will be different." ~ Niko Bellic - cité Balzac, à Vitry-sur-Seine (23 juin 2010).13H & Boom, quelques secondes plus tard, la barre «GHJ», 14 étages et 168 lgts, s’effondrait comme un château de cartes sous les applaudissements et les sifflets, bientôt enveloppés dans un nuage de poussière. www.youtube.com/watch?v=d9nBMHS7mzY … - "La Chapelle" Réhabilitation thermique de 667 logements à Andrézieux-Bou... youtu.be/0tswIPdoVCE - 11 octobre 1984 www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xk-Je1eQ5po

DESTRUCTION par explosifs de 10 tours du QUARTIER DES MINGUETTES, à LYON. les tours des Minguettes ; VG des tours explosant et s'affaissant sur le côté dans un nuage de fumée blanche ; à 13H15, nous assistons à l'explosion de 4 autres tours - St-Etienne Métropole & Montchovet - la célèbre Muraille de Chine ( 540 lgts 270m de long 15 allees) qui était à l'époque en 1964 la plus grande barre HLM jamais construit en Europe. Après des phases de rénovation, cet immeuble a été dynamité en mai 2000 www.youtube.com/watch?v=YB3z_Z6DTdc … - PRESQU'ILE DE GENNEVILLIERS...AUJOURD'HUI...DEMAIN... (LA video içi parcours.cinearchives.org/Les-films-PRESQU-ILE-DE-GENNEVI... … ) Ce film de la municipalité de Gennevilliers explique la démarche et les objectifs de l’exposition communale consacrée à la presqu’île, exposition qui se tint en déc 1972 et janvier 1973 - le mythe de Pruitt-Igoe en video içi nextcity.org/daily/entry/watch-the-trailer-for-the-pruitt... … - 1964, quand les loisirs n’avaient (deja) pas le droit de cité poke @Memoire2cite youtu.be/Oj64jFKIcAE - Devenir de la ZUP de La Paillade youtu.be/1qxAhsqsV8M v - Regard sur les barres Zum' youtu.be/Eow6sODGct8 v - MONTCHOVET EN CONSTRUCTION Saint Etienne, ses travaux - Vidéo Ina.fr www.ina.fr/video/LXF99004401 … via - La construction de la Grande Borne à Grigny en 1969 Archive INA www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=12&v=t843Ny2p7Ww (discours excellent en seconde partie) -David Liaudet : l'image absolue, c'est la carte postale" phothistory.wordpress.com/2016/04/27/david-liaudet-limage... … l'architecture sanatoriale Histoire des sanatoriums en France (1915-1945). Une architecture en quête de rendement thérapeutique..

passy-culture.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/Les-15-Glori... … … & hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/tel-01935993/document … explosion des tours Gauguin Destruction par implosion des Tours Gauguin (quartier de La Bastide) de Limoges le dimanche 28 novembre 2010 à 11 heures. Limoges 28/11/2010 youtu.be/cd0ln4Nqqbs … 42 Roanne - c'etait le 11 novembre 2013 - Souvenirs des HLM quartier du Parc... Après presque 45 minutes de retard, les trois dernières tours Chanteclair sont tombées. Le tir prévu etait à 11h14 La vidéo içi www.leprogres.fr/loire/2013/11/01/roanne-les-3-dernieres-... … … www.leprogres.fr/loire/2013/11/01/roanne-une-vingtaine-de... …Besançon (25) - la Nouvelle cité d'HLM La Planoise en 1960 avec la video des premiers habitants de Planoise en juin 1968 www.youtube.com/watch?v=LVKAkJSsCGk … … … archive INA … BEGIN Japanology - les utopies de l'extreme et Kenzo Tange l'architecte japonnais - la video içi www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZlAOtYFE4GM … 71 les Prés Saint-Jean a Chalon-sur-Saône - L'Implosion des 3 tours HLM de 15 etages le 5 décembre 2009 par FERRARI DEMOLITION içi www.youtube.com/watch?v=oDsqOjQJS8E … … … & là www.youtube.com/watch?v=ARQYQLORBBE … 21 DIJON Cité des Grésilles - c'etait l'implosion de la residençe HLM Paul Bur le 19 02 2010 www.youtube.com/watch?v=fAEuaq5mivM … … & la www.youtube.com/watch?v=mTUm-mky-sw … 59 - la technique dite du basculement - Destruction de l'immeuble Rhone a Lille avec pleins de ralentit içi video-streaming.orange.fr/actu-politique/destruction-de-l... … 21 Chenôve (le GRAND DIJON) - Implosion de la barre François RUDE le 3 nov 2010 (top video !!) www.youtube.com/watch?v=ClmeXzo3r5A … …Quand l histoire çe repete et çe repetera autant de fois que nesçessaire quand on voie la quantitée de barres 60 70's...dans le collimateur de l'ANRU2.. 77 MEAUX 3 grandes tours..& puis s'en vont.. Démolition Pierre Collinet Batiment Genêt, Hortensia et Iris - Reportage Journal le 26 juin 2011 youtu.be/fpPcaC2wRIc 71 CHALON SUR SAONE C'etait les Prés Saint Jean le 05 décembre 2009 , pour une implosion hlm hors du commun !!! Caméra mise à même le sol , à une vingtaine de mètres de la première tour .... www.youtube.com/watch?v=kVlC9rYU-gs … 78 les MUREAUX le 3 octobre 2010 ,Les dernières minutes de la Tour Molière aux Mureaux (Yvelines) et sa démolition par semi-foudroyage, filmés du quartier de la Vigne Blanche. www.youtube.com/watch?v=u2FDMxrLHcw …71 MACON LES GRANDES PERRIERES C'etait un 30 juin 2013, avec l'implosion de la barre HLM des Perrières par GINGER www.youtube.com/watch?v=EzYwTcCGUGA … … une video exceptionnelle ! c'etait Le Norfolk Court un ensemble résidentiel, le Norfolk Court, construit dans les années 1970, a été démoli à Glasgow en Ecosse le 9 mai 2016 . Il rate la démolition d'un immeuble au tout dernier moment LES PASSAGERS DU BUS EN PROFITE A SA PLAçE lol www.20minutes.fr/tv/t-as-vu/237077-il-rate-la-demolition-... … 69 LYON Quand La Duchère disait adieu à sa barre 230 le jeudi 2 juillet 2015 www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSwidwLw0NAwww.youtube.com/watch?v=BdLjUAK1oUkwww.youtube.com/watch?v=-DZ5RSLpYrM …Avenir Deconstruction : Foudroyage de 3 barres HLM - VAULX-EN-VELIN (69) www.youtube.com/watch?v=-E02NUMqDno Démolition du quartier Bachelard à Vaulx-en-Velin www.youtube.com/watch?v=DSAEBIYYpXY Démolition des tours du Pré de l'Herpe (Vaulx-en-Velin)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=fG5sD1G-QgU REPORTAGE - En sept secondes, un ensemble de 407 appartements à Vaulx-en-Velin a été détruit à l'explosif dans le cadre du renouvellement urbain... www.youtube.com/watch?v=Js6w9bnUuRM www.youtube.com/watch?v=MCj5D1NhxhI - St-QUENTIN LA ZUP (scic)- NOUMEA - NOUVELLE CALEDONIE historique de la cité Saint-Quentin içi www.agence-concept.com/savoir-faire/sic/

 

www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Gt6STiH_pM …[VIDEOS] Trois tours de la cité des Indes de Sartrouville ont été démolies dans le cadre du plan de rénovation urbaine du quartier Mille quatre cent soixante-deux détonateurs, 312 kilos le 06/06/2010 à 11 heures. la belle video içi www.youtube.com/watch?v=fY1B07GWyDE VIGNEUX-SUR-SEINE, VOTRE HISTOIRE, VOS SOUVENIRS. içi www.youtube.com/watch?v=8o_Ke26mB48 … , Film des Tours et du quartier de la Croix Blanche, de 1966 à 1968. Les Tours en train de finir de se construire, ainsi que le centre commerciale. Destruction de la Tour 21, pour construire de nouveaux HLM... l'UNION SOCIALE POUR L HABITAT fete ses 90 ans "TOUT savoir tout voir, tout connaitre, sur le LOGEMENT SOCIAL des HLM aux HBM avec le Musée HLM" en ligne sur le WEB içi musee-hlm.fr/ www.banquedesterritoires.fr/lunion-sociale-pour-lhabitat-... … içi www.banquedesterritoires.fr/lunion-sociale-pour-lhabitat-... … De grandes barres d’immeubles, appelées les grands ensembles, sont le symbole de nos banlieues. Entrée Libre revient sur le phénomène de destruction de ces bâtiments qui reflètent aujourd’hui la misere www.youtube.com/watch?v=mCqHBP5SBiM twitter.com/Memoire2cite/status/1121877386491043840/photo... Avril 1993, 6 ans après l'implosion de la tour DEBUSSY des 4000, 30% seulement des travaux de rénovation ont été réalisés et le chômage frappe toujours 1/3 des hbts. C'est un échec. A Mantes la Jolie, 6 mois après la destruction des 4 tours du Val Fourré, www.youtube.com/watch?v=ta4kj05KJOM … Banlieue 89, Bacalan à Bordeaux 1986 - Un exemple de rénovation urbaine et réhabilitation de l'habitat dans un des quartiers de Bordeaux La Cité Claveau à BACALAN. A l'initiative du mouvementla video içi www.youtube.com/watch?v=IN0JtGBaA1o … L'assoçiation de ROLLAND CASTRO @ Le Plan Banlieue 89 - mode d'emploi - Archive INA - La video içi. TRANSFORMER LES PAYSAGES URBAINS AVEC UNE APPROCHE CULTURELLE www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aw-_f-bT2TQ … SNCF les EDITIONS DU CABRI PRESENTE PARIS LA BANLIEUE 1960-1980 -La video Içi. www.youtube.com/watch?v=lDEQOsdGjsg … Içi la DATAR en 1000 clichés missionphotodatar.cget.gouv.fr/accueil - Notre Paris, 1961, Réalisation : André Fontaine, Henri Gruel Les archives filmées de la cinémathèque du ministère de 1945 à nos jours içi www.dailymotion.com/video/xgis6v?playlist=x34ije

31 TOULOUSE - le Mirail 1962 réalisation : Mario Marret construction de la ville nouvelle Toulouse le Mirail, commentée par l'architecte urbaniste Georges Candilis le film www.dailymotion.com/video/xn4t4q?playlist=x34ije Il existe de nos jours, de nombreux photographes qui privilégient la qualité artistique de leurs travaux cartophiles. A vous de découvrir ces artistes inconnus aujourd’hui, mais qui seront peut-être les grands noms de demain.Les films du MRU - Le temps de l'urbanisme, 1962, Réalisation : Philippe Brunet www.dailymotion.com/video/xgj2zz?playlist=x34ije … … … … -Les grands ensembles en images Les ministères en charge du logement et leur production audiovisuelle (1944-1966) MASSY - Les films du MRU - La Cité des hommes, 1966, Réalisation : Fréderic Rossif, Albert Knobler www.dailymotion.com/video/xgiqzr?playlist=x34i - Les films du MRU @ les AUTOROUTES - Les liaisons moins dangereuses 1972 la construction des autoroutes en France - Le réseau autoroutier 1960 Histoire de France Transports et Communications - www.dailymotion.com/video/xxi0ae?playlist=x34ije … - A quoi servaient les films produits par le MRU ministère de la Reconstruction et de l'Urbanisme ? la réponse de Danielle Voldman historienne spécialiste de la reconstruction www.dailymotion.com/video/x148qu4?playlist=x34ije … -les films du MRU - Bâtir mieux plus vite et moins cher 1975 l'industrialisation du bâtiment et ses innovations : la préfabrication en usine, le coffrage glissant... www.dailymotion.com/video/xyjudq?playlist=x34ije … - TOUT SUR LA CONSTRUCTION DE NOTRE DAME LA CATHEDRALE DE PARIS Içi www.notredamedeparis.fr/la-cathedrale/histoire/historique... -MRU Les films - Le Bonheur est dans le béton - 2015 Documentaire réalisé par Lorenz Findeisen produit par Les Films du Tambour de Soie içi www.dailymotion.com/video/x413amo?playlist=x34ije

archipostcard.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2009-02-13T... -Créteil.un couple à la niaiserie béate exalte les multiples bonheurs de la vie dans les new G.E. www.youtube.com/watch?v=FT1_abIteFE … La Ville bidon était un téléfilm d'1 heure intitulé La Décharge.Mais la censure de ces temps de présidence Pompidou en a interdit la diffusion télévisuelle - museedelacartepostale.fr/periode-semi-moderne/ - archipostalecarte.blogspot.com/ - Hansjörg Schneider BAUNETZWOCHE 87 über Papiermoderne www.baunetz.de/meldungen/Meldungen_BAUNETZWOCHE_87_ueber_... … - ARCHITECTURE le blog de Claude LOTHIER içi leblogdeclaudelothier.blogspot.com/2006/ - - Le balnéaire en cartes postales autour de la collection de David Liaudet, et ses excellents commentaires.. www.dailymotion.com/video/x57d3b8 -Restaurants Jacques BOREL, Autoroute A 6, 1972 Canton d'AUXERRE youtu.be/LRNhNzgkUcY munchies.vice.com/fr/article/43a4kp/jacques-borel-lhomme-... … Celui qu'on appellera le « Napoléon du prêt-à-manger » se détourne d'ailleurs peu à peu des Wimpy, s'engueule avec la maison mère et fait péricliter la franchise ...que dire de RICARDO BOFFIL Les meilleures balades que j’ai fait autour de Paris je les ai faites dans l’application Plans. Je ne minore pas le rôle de Google Maps, révolution cartographique sans précédent et sans égale, qui aura réalisé nos fantasmes d’Aleph borgesien — l’idée d’un point d’où le monde serait visible en totalité — parachevé Mercator et permis d’explorer des parties du globe inconnues de Cook, Bougainville et Amundsen. Je n’oublie pas non plus cet exercice de cartographie au collège, qui nous avait démontré que nous étions à 3 cartes IGN de la capitale, et que le tissu urbain était de plus en plus serré à mesure que nous avancions vers le nord. Mais Plan possédait une fonctionnalité inédite, le Flyover, technologie à l’origine destinée aux pilotes de chasse, et qui fournissait des rendus 3D spectaculaire des bâtiments survolés — ainsi que des arbres et des déclivités du sol On quittait enfin les champs asphyxiants de la photographie aérienne pour des vues à l’oblique des villes visitées : après un siècle d’écrasement — la photographie aérienne est étroitement contemporaine du bombardement aérien — les villes reprenaient enfin de la vigueur et remontaient vers le ciel. J’avais d’ailleurs effectué moi-même une manœuvre de redressement similaire le jour où j’étais parti, à pied depuis Paris, visiter à Nanterre une exposition sur la photographie aérienne. J’étais à la quête des premières vues de Paris qu’avait prises Nadar depuis un ballon captif. À défaut de ces images, définitivement manquantes, j’avais parcouru, après la Grande Arche, les derniers kilomètres de la Voie Royale, cette prodigieuse perspective historique partie du Louvre — rare exemple de frise chronologique implémentée dans une structure urbanistique.J’avais en réalité un peu dévié de la ligne droite pour aller voir les tours Nuages d’Emile Aillaud, le Facteur Cheval du modernisme, dont je connaissais déjà les autres chefs d’œuvres d'architecture naïve, les nouilles chinoises de Grigny et le spaghetti de Pantin.C’était précisément l’usage que j’avais fait de l’application Plans : j’étais parti à la recherche de tous les groupements de tour qu’elle m’avait permis d’identifier, sur mon iPad. Je les faisais tourner avec deux doigts, comme un éclaireur qui marcherait autour d’un donjon, avant de les immortaliser, sous leur plus bel angle, par une capture d’écran.Un éclaireur autour d’un donjon : c’était exactement cela, qui m’avait fasciné. Les guerres territoriales entre Les Tarterêts de Corbeil et les Pyramides d’Evry avaient marqué mon enfance. La notion de cité, telle qu’elle avait été définie, à partir des années 80, dans le second âge des grands ensembles, l’âge du déclin, avait conservé un cachet médiéval. Ici, vivaient guetteurs et trafiquants, condottieres à la tête d’une écurie de go-fast et entretenant des chenils remplis de mâtins rares et dangereux. Ici, l’État central ne remplissait plus ses tâches régaliennes, ici la modernité laïque était entrée en crise. Mais ce que j’avais découvert, en collectionnant ces captures d’écran, c’était à quel point l’urbanisme de la banlieue parisienne était, strictement, d’obédience médiévale. On était passé, d’un seul mouvement et sans même s’en rendre compte de Château-Gaillard à la Cité 4000, du Donjon de Vincennes aux tours de Sarcelles, du château de Gisors aux choux fleurs de Créteil.J’ai même retrouvé la colonne détruite du désert de Retz dans le babylonien château d’eau de Noisiel.Des hauteurs de Rosny à celle de Chanteloup, du plateau de Clichy à la dalle d’Argenteuil, on avait bizarrement livré des pastiches inconscients de la grande architecture militaire médiévales : les environs de Paris s’étaient retrouvés à nouveau fortifiés, la vieille tour de Montlhéry n’était plus solitaire, et même les immeubles de briques rouges qui avaient succédé à l’enceinte de Thiers évoquaient des murailles.Et ce que j’avais initialement pris pour des anomalies, des accidents malheureux du post-modernisme, les grand ensembles voûtés et cannelés de Ricardo Boffil, étaient peut-être ce qui exprimait le mieux tout cela — ou du moins qui clôturaient avec le génie le plus clair cet âge des grands ensembles.Car c’était cela, ces Carcassonnes, ces Acropoles, ces Atlandides qui surnageaient avec le plus de conviction au milieu des captures d’écrans de ruines médiévales qui s’accumulaient sur mon bureau.Si décriées, dès leur construction, pour leur kitch intolérable ces mégastructures me sont soudain apparues comme absolument nécessaires.Si les Villes Nouvelles n’ont jamais existé, et persisteront dans la mémoire des hommes, elles le doivent à ces rêveries bizarres et grandioses, à ces hybridations impossibles entre les cités idéales de Ledoux et les utopies corbuséennes.L’Aqueduc de Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, les Espaces d’Abraxas à Marne-la-Vallée, les Colonnes de Saint-Christophe à Cergy-Pontoise sont les plus belles ruines du Grand Paris. www.franceculture.fr/emissions/la-conclusion/ricardo-bofill immerssion dans le monde du logement social, l'univers des logements sociaux, des H.B.M au H.L.M - Retour sur l'histoire du logement collectif d'apres guerre - En Françe, sur l’ensemble du territoire avant, 4 millions d’immeubles étaient vétustes, dont 500.000 à démolir; au total 10% des logements étaient considérés comme insalubres et 40% réputés d’une qualité médiocre, et surpeuplés. C’est pour ces raisons que, à partir de 1954, le Ministre à la Reconstruction et au Logement évalue le besoin en logements à 2.000.660, devenant ainsi une priorité nationale. Quelques années plus tard à l’appel de l’Abbé Pierre, le journaliste Gilbert Mathieu, en avril 1957 publiait dans le quotidien Le Monde une série d’articles sur la situation dramatique du logement : Logement, notre honte et dénonçant le nombre réduit de logements et leur impitoyable état. Robert Doisneau, Banlieue après-guerre, 1943-1949 /Le mandat se veut triple : reconstruire le parc immobilier détruit durant les bombardements essentiellement du printemps/été 1944, faire face à l’essor démographique et enfin résorber l’habitat insalubre notamment les bidonvilles et les cités de transit. Une ambition qui paraît, dès le début, très élevée, associée à l’industrialisation progressive de la nation entre autre celle du secteur de la construction (voir le vidéo de l’INA du 17 juillet 1957 intitulée La crise du logement, un problème national. Cela dit, l’effort pour l’État français était d’une ampleur jamais vue ailleurs. La double nécessité de construire davantage et vite, est en partie la cause de la forme architecturale excentrique qui constituera les Grands Ensembles dans les banlieues françaises. Cinq caractéristiques permettent de mieux comprendre ce terme : la rupture avec le tissu urbain ancien, un minimum de mille logements, une forme collective (tours, barres) de quatre jusqu’à vingt niveaux, la conception d’appartements aménagés et équipés et enfin une gestion destinée pour la plupart à des bailleurs de logement social.Pour la banlieue parisienne leur localisation s’est opérée majoritairement dans la périphérie, tandis que dans les autres cas, plus de la moitié a été construite dans le centre ville, le plus souvent à la limite des anciens faubourgs. Architecture d’Aujourd’hui n° 46, 1953 p. 58-55 C’est le triomphe de l’urbanisme fonctionnel et rationaliste cher à Le Corbusier. Entre 1958 et 1973, cent quatre-vingt-quinze Zones à Urbaniser en Priorité (ZUP)

COMBAT TOWN, OKINAWA, Japan (Mar. 21, 2017) - U.S. Marines with Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) Platoon, G-3, 3d Marine Division, protect themselves from debris caused by the MV-22 on Landing Zone Dodo, Camp Hansen, Okinawa. The CBRN Platoon conducts response drills to enhance the commander’s capabilities by exercising the operability and efficiency of the consequence management set within the 3d Marine Division CBRN response element. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by MCIPAC Combat Camera Lance Cpl. Jesus McCloud) 170321-M-NV775-0080

 

** Interested in following U.S. Pacific Command? Engage and connect with us at www.facebook.com/pacific.command | twitter.com/PacificCommand |

instagram.com/pacificcommand | www.flickr.com/photos/us-pacific-command; | www.youtube.com/user/USPacificCommand | www.pacom.mil/

here active at the 2 alarm fire at 375 Dundas Street East on March 24th 2010

POHANG, South Korea (Mar. 11, 2017) - Marines with 3rd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion discuss their preparations at an artillery school in Pohang, Republic of Korea, before heading to Camp Mujuk as a part of Korea Marine Exercise Program (KMEP) 17-6. The purpose of KMEP 17-6 is to enhance and improve the interoperability of both Marine Corps at the tactical level to build war fighting capabilities as partners. This includes ground combat element staff planning, mechanized maneuvers, mountain warfare training, bilateral tank operations and live fire ranges. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Bernadette Wildes) 170311-M-GT736-002

 

** Interested in following U.S. Pacific Command? Engage and connect with us at www.facebook.com/pacific.command | twitter.com/PacificCommand |

instagram.com/pacificcommand | www.flickr.com/photos/us-pacific-command; | www.youtube.com/user/USPacificCommand | www.pacom.mil/

 

Hosts and guests of the U.S. AFRICOM C4ISR Senior Leader Conference tour a winery in the hills above Vicenza, Italy, Feb. 3, 2011.

 

U.S. Army Africa photo by David Ruderman

 

U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) hosted its second annual C4ISR Senior Leaders Conference Feb. 2-4 at Caserma Ederle, headquarters of U.S. Army Africa, in Vicenza, Italy.

 

The communications and intelligence community event, hosted by Brig. Gen. Robert Ferrell, AFRICOM C4 director, drew approximately 80 senior leaders from diverse U.S. military and government branches and agencies, as well as representatives of African nations and the African Union.

 

The conference is a combination of our U.S. AFRICOM C4 systems and intel directorate,” said Ferrell. “We come together annually to bring the team together to work on common goals to work on throughout the year. The team consists of our coalition partners as well as our inter-agency partners, as well as our components and U.S. AFRICOM staff.”

 

The conference focused on updates from participants, and on assessing the present state and goals of coalition partners in Africa, he said.

 

“The theme for our conference is ‘Delivering Capabilities to a Joint Information Environment,’ and we see it as a joint and combined team ... working together, side by side, to promote peace and stability there on the African continent,” Ferrell said.

 

Three goals of this year’s conference were to strengthen the team, assess priorities across the board, and get a better fix on the impact that the establishment of the U.S. Cyber Command will have on all members’ efforts in the future, he said.

 

“With the stand-up of U.S. Cyber Command, it brings a lot of unique challenges that we as a team need to talk through to ensure that our information is protected at all times,” Ferrell said.

 

African Union (AU) representatives from four broad geographic regions of Africa attended, which generated a holistic perspective on needs and requirements from across the continent, he said.

 

“We have members from the African Union headquarters that is located in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; we have members that are from Uganda; from Zambia; from Ghana; and also from the Congo. What are the gaps, what are the things that we kind of need to assist with as we move forward on our engagements on the African continent?” Ferrell said.

 

U.S. Army Africa Commander, Maj. Gen. David R. Hogg, welcomed participants as the conference got under way.

 

“We’re absolutely delighted to be the host for this conference, and we hope that this week you get a whole lot out of it,” said Hogg.

 

He took the opportunity to address the participants not only as their host, but from the perspective of a customer whose missions depend on the results of their efforts to support commanders in the field.

 

“When we’re talking about this group of folks that are here — from the joint side, from our African partners, from State, all those folks — it’s about partnership and interoperability. And every commander who’s ever had to fight in a combined environment understands that interoperability is the thing that absolutely slaps you upside the head,” Hogg said.

 

“We’re in the early stages of the process here of working with the African Union and the other partners, and you have an opportunity to design this from the end state, versus just building a bunch of ‘gunkulators.’ And so, the message is: think about what the end state is supposed to look like and construct the strategy to support the end state.

 

“Look at where we want to be at and design it that way,” Hogg said.

 

He also admonished participants to consider the second- and third-order effects of their choices in designing networks.

 

“With that said, over the next four days, I hope this conference works very well for you. If there’s anything we can do to make your stay better, please let us know,” Hogg said.

 

Over the following three days, participants engaged in a steady stream of briefings and presentations focused on systems, missions and updates from the field.

 

Col. Joseph W. Angyal, director of U.S. Army Africa G-6, gave an overview of operations and issues that focused on fundamentals, the emergence of regional accords as a way forward, and the evolution of a joint network enterprise that would serve all interested parties.

 

“What we’re trying to do is to work regionally. That’s frankly a challenge, but as we stand up the capability, really for the U.S. government, and work through that, we hope to become more regionally focused,” he said.

 

He referred to Africa Endeavor, an annual, multi-nation communications exercise, as a test bed for the current state of affairs on the continent, and an aid in itself to future development.

 

“In order to conduct those exercises, to conduct those security and cooperation events, and to meet contingency missions, we really, from the C4ISR perspective, have five big challenges,” Angyal said.

 

“You heard General Hogg this morning talk about ‘think about the customer’ — you’ve got to allow me to be able to get access to our data; I’ve got to be able to get to the data where and when I need it; you’ve got to be able to protect it; I have to be able to share it; and then finally, the systems have to be able to work together in order to build that coalition.

 

“One of the reasons General Ferrell is setting up this joint information enterprise, this joint network enterprise . . . it’s almost like trying to bring together disparate companies or corporations: everyone has their own system, they’ve paid for their own infrastructure, and they have their own policy, even though they support the same major company.

 

“Now multiply that when you bring in different services, multiply that when you bring in different U.S. government agencies, and then put a layer on top of that with the international partners, and there are lots of policies that are standing in our way.”

 

The main issue is not a question of technology, he said.

 

“The boxes are the same — a Cisco router is a Cisco router; Microsoft Exchange server is the same all over the world — but it’s the way that we employ them, and it’s the policies that we apply to it, that really stops us from interoperating, and that’s the challenge we hope to work through with the joint network enterprise.

 

“And I think that through things like Africa Endeavor and through the joint enterprise network, we’re looking at knocking down some of those policy walls, but at the end of the day they are ours to knock down. Bill Gates did not design a system to work only for the Army or for the Navy — it works for everyone,” Angyal said.

 

Brig. Gen. Joseph Searyoh, director general of Defense Information Communication Systems, General Headquarters, Ghana Armed Forces, agreed that coordinating policy is fundamental to improving communications with all its implications for a host of operations and missions.

 

“One would expect that in these modern times there is some kind of mutual engagement, and to build that engagement to be strong, there must be some kind of element of trust. … We have to build some kind of trust to be able to move forward,” said Searyoh.

 

“Some people may be living in silos of the past, but in the current engagement we need to tell people that we are there with no hidden agenda, no negative hidden agenda, but for the common good of all of us.

 

“We say that we are in the information age, and I’ve been saying something: that our response should not be optional, but it must be a must, because if you don’t join now, you are going to be left behind.

 

“So what do we do? We have to get our house in order.

 

“Why do I say so? We used to operate like this before the information age; now in the information age, how do we operate?

 

“So, we have to get our house in order and see whether we are aligning ourselves with way things should work now. So, our challenge is to come up with a strategy, see how best we can reorganize our structures, to be able to deliver communications-information systems support for the Ghana Armed Forces,” he said.

 

Searyoh related that his organization has already accomplished one part of erecting the necessary foundation by establishing an appropriate policy structure.

 

“What is required now is the implementing level. Currently we have communications on one side, and computers on one side. The lines are blurred — you cannot operate like that, you’ve got to bring them together,” he said.

 

Building that merged entity to support deployed forces is what he sees as the primary challenge at present.

 

“Once you get that done you can talk about equipment, you can talk about resources,” Searyoh said. “I look at the current collaboration between the U.S. and the coalition partners taking a new level.”

 

“The immediate challenges that we have is the interoperability, which I think is one of the things we are also discussing here, interoperability and integration,” said Lt. Col. Kelvin Silomba, African Union-Zambia, Information Technology expert for the Africa Stand-by Force.

 

“You know that we’ve got five regions in Africa. All these regions, we need to integrate them and bring them together, so the challenge of interoperability in terms of equipment, you know, different tactical equipment that we use, and also in terms of the language barrier — you know, all these regions in Africa you find that they speak different languages — so to bring them together we need to come up with one standard that will make everybody on board and make everybody able to talk to each other,” he said.

 

“So we have all these challenges. Other than that also, stemming from the background of these African countries, based on the colonization: some of them were French colonized, some of them were British colonized and so on, so you find that when they come up now we’ve adopted some of the procedures based on our former colonial masters, so that is another challenge that is coming on board.”

 

The partnership with brother African states, with the U.S. government and its military branches, and with other interested collaborators has had a positive influence, said Silomba.

 

“Oh, it’s great. From the time that I got engaged with U.S. AFRICOM — I started with Africa Endeavor, before I even came to the AU — it is my experience that it is something very, very good.

 

“I would encourage — I know that there are some member states — I would encourage that all those member states they come on board, all of these regional organizations, that they come on board and support the AFRICOM lead. It is something that is very, very good.

 

“As for example, the African Union has a lot of support that’s been coming in, technical as well as in terms of knowledge and equipment. So it’s great; it’s good and it’s great,” said Salimba.

 

Other participant responses to the conference were positive as well.

 

“The feedback I’ve gotten from every member is that they now know what the red carpet treatment looks like, because USARAF has gone over and above board to make sure the environment, the atmosphere and the actual engagements … are executed to perfection,” said Ferrell. “It’s been very good from a team-building aspect.

 

“We’ve had very good discussions from members of the African Union, who gave us a very good understanding of the operations that are taking place in the area of Somalia, the challenges with communications, and laid out the gaps and desires of where they see that the U.S. and other coalition partners can kind of improve the capacity there in that area of responsibility.

 

“We also talked about the AU, as they are expanding their reach to all of the five regions, of how can they have that interoperability and connectivity to each of the regions,” Ferrell said.

 

“(It’s been) a wealth of knowledge and experts that are here to share in terms of how we can move forward with building capacities and capabilities. Not only for U.S. interests, but more importantly from my perspective, in building capacities and capabilities for our African partners beginning with the Commission at the African Union itself,” said Kevin Warthon, U.S. State Department, peace and security adviser to the African Union.

 

“I think that General Ferrell has done an absolutely wonderful thing by inviting key African partners to participate in this event so they can share their personal experience from a national, regional and continental perspective,” he said.

 

Warthon related from his personal experience a vignette of African trust in Providence that he believed carries a pertinent metaphor and message to everyone attending the conference.

 

“We are not sure what we are going to do tomorrow, but the one thing that I am sure of is that we are able to do something. Don’t know when, don’t know how, but as long as our focus is on our ability to assist and to help to progress a people, that’s really what counts more than anything else,” he said.

 

“Don’t worry about the timetable; just focus on your ability to make a difference and that’s what that really is all about.

 

“I see venues such as this as opportunities to make what seems to be the impossible become possible. … This is what this kind of venue does for our African partners.

 

“We’re doing a wonderful job at building relationships, because that’s where it begins — we have to build relationships to establish trust. That’s why this is so important: building trust through relationships so that we can move forward in the future,” Warthon said.

 

Conference members took a cultural tour of Venice and visited a traditional winery in the hills above Vicenza before adjourning.

 

To learn more about U.S. Army Africa visit our official website at www.usaraf.army.mil

 

Official Twitter Feed: www.twitter.com/usarmyafrica

 

Official YouTube video channel: www.youtube.com/usarmyafrica

  

SOUTH CHINA SEA (July 7, 2014) - The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers USS John S. McCain (DDG 56), USS Kidd (DDG 100), and USS Stethem (DDG 63) are underway in the South China Sea. The ships are currently on patrol in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of responsibility supporting regional security and stability in the Indo-Asia Pacific region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Declan Barnes) 140708-N-TS381-578

 

** Interested in following U.S. Pacific Command? Engage and connect with us at www.facebook.com/pacific.command and twitter.com/PacificCommand and www.pacom.mil/

U.S. Army Africa photo by Sgt. 1st Class Kyle Davis

 

U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) hosted its second annual C4ISR Senior Leaders Conference Feb. 2-4 at Caserma Ederle, headquarters of U.S. Army Africa, in Vicenza, Italy.

 

The communications and intelligence community event, hosted by Brig. Gen. Robert Ferrell, AFRICOM C4 director, drew approximately 80 senior leaders from diverse U.S. military and government branches and agencies, as well as representatives of African nations and the African Union.

 

“The conference is a combination of our U.S. AFRICOM C4 systems and intel directorate,” said Ferrell. “We come together annually to bring the team together to work on common goals to work on throughout the year. The team consists of our coalition partners as well as our inter-agency partners, as well as our components and U.S. AFRICOM staff.”

 

The conference focused on updates from participants, and on assessing the present state and goals of coalition partners in Africa, he said.

 

“The theme for our conference is ‘Delivering Capabilities to a Joint Information Environment,’ and we see it as a joint and combined team ... working together, side by side, to promote peace and stability there on the African continent,” Ferrell said.

 

Three goals of this year’s conference were to strengthen the team, assess priorities across the board, and get a better fix on the impact that the establishment of the U.S. Cyber Command will have on all members’ efforts in the future, he said.

 

“With the stand-up of U.S. Cyber Command, it brings a lot of unique challenges that we as a team need to talk through to ensure that our information is protected at all times,” Ferrell said.

 

African Union (AU) representatives from four broad geographic regions of Africa attended, which generated a holistic perspective on needs and requirements from across the continent, he said.

 

“We have members from the African Union headquarters that is located in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; we have members that are from Uganda; from Zambia; from Ghana; and also from the Congo. What are the gaps, what are the things that we kind of need to assist with as we move forward on our engagements on the African continent?” Ferrell said.

 

U.S. Army Africa Commander, Maj. Gen. David R. Hogg, welcomed participants as the conference got under way.

 

“We’re absolutely delighted to be the host for this conference, and we hope that this week you get a whole lot out of it,” said Hogg.

 

He took the opportunity to address the participants not only as their host, but from the perspective of a customer whose missions depend on the results of their efforts to support commanders in the field.

 

“When we’re talking about this group of folks that are here — from the joint side, from our African partners, from State, all those folks — it’s about partnership and interoperability. And every commander who’s ever had to fight in a combined environment understands that interoperability is the thing that absolutely slaps you upside the head,” Hogg said.

 

“We’re in the early stages of the process here of working with the African Union and the other partners, and you have an opportunity to design this from the end state, versus just building a bunch of ‘gunkulators.’ And so, the message is: think about what the end state is supposed to look like and construct the strategy to support the end state.

 

“Look at where we want to be at and design it that way,” Hogg said.

 

He also admonished participants to consider the second- and third-order effects of their choices in designing networks.

 

“With that said, over the next four days, I hope this conference works very well for you. If there’s anything we can do to make your stay better, please let us know,” Hogg said.

 

Over the following three days, participants engaged in a steady stream of briefings and presentations focused on systems, missions and updates from the field.

 

Col. Joseph W. Angyal, director of U.S. Army Africa G-6, gave an overview of operations and issues that focused on fundamentals, the emergence of regional accords as a way forward, and the evolution of a joint network enterprise that would serve all interested parties.

 

“What we’re trying to do is to work regionally. That’s frankly a challenge, but as we stand up the capability, really for the U.S. government, and work through that, we hope to become more regionally focused,” he said.

 

He referred to Africa Endeavor, an annual, multi-nation communications exercise, as a test bed for the current state of affairs on the continent, and an aid in itself to future development.

 

“In order to conduct those exercises, to conduct those security and cooperation events, and to meet contingency missions, we really, from the C4ISR perspective, have five big challenges,” Angyal said.

 

“You heard General Hogg this morning talk about ‘think about the customer’ — you’ve got to allow me to be able to get access to our data; I’ve got to be able to get to the data where and when I need it; you’ve got to be able to protect it; I have to be able to share it; and then finally, the systems have to be able to work together in order to build that coalition.

 

“One of the reasons General Ferrell is setting up this joint information enterprise, this joint network enterprise . . . it’s almost like trying to bring together disparate companies or corporations: everyone has their own system, they’ve paid for their own infrastructure, and they have their own policy, even though they support the same major company.

 

“Now multiply that when you bring in different services, multiply that when you bring in different U.S. government agencies, and then put a layer on top of that with the international partners, and there are lots of policies that are standing in our way.”

 

The main issue is not a question of technology, he said.

 

“The boxes are the same — a Cisco router is a Cisco router; Microsoft Exchange server is the same all over the world — but it’s the way that we employ them, and it’s the policies that we apply to it, that really stops us from interoperating, and that’s the challenge we hope to work through with the joint network enterprise.

 

“And I think that through things like Africa Endeavor and through the joint enterprise network, we’re looking at knocking down some of those policy walls, but at the end of the day they are ours to knock down. Bill Gates did not design a system to work only for the Army or for the Navy — it works for everyone,” Angyal said.

 

Brig. Gen. Joseph Searyoh, director general of Defense Information Communication Systems, General Headquarters, Ghana Armed Forces, agreed that coordinating policy is fundamental to improving communications with all its implications for a host of operations and missions.

 

“One would expect that in these modern times there is some kind of mutual engagement, and to build that engagement to be strong, there must be some kind of element of trust. … We have to build some kind of trust to be able to move forward,” said Searyoh.

 

“Some people may be living in silos of the past, but in the current engagement we need to tell people that we are there with no hidden agenda, no negative hidden agenda, but for the common good of all of us.

 

“We say that we are in the information age, and I’ve been saying something: that our response should not be optional, but it must be a must, because if you don’t join now, you are going to be left behind.

 

“So what do we do? We have to get our house in order.

 

“Why do I say so? We used to operate like this before the information age; now in the information age, how do we operate?

 

“So, we have to get our house in order and see whether we are aligning ourselves with way things should work now. So, our challenge is to come up with a strategy, see how best we can reorganize our structures, to be able to deliver communications-information systems support for the Ghana Armed Forces,” he said.

 

Searyoh related that his organization has already accomplished one part of erecting the necessary foundation by establishing an appropriate policy structure.

 

“What is required now is the implementing level. Currently we have communications on one side, and computers on one side. The lines are blurred — you cannot operate like that, you’ve got to bring them together,” he said.

 

Building that merged entity to support deployed forces is what he sees as the primary challenge at present.

 

“Once you get that done you can talk about equipment, you can talk about resources,” Searyoh said. “I look at the current collaboration between the U.S. and the coalition partners taking a new level.”

 

“The immediate challenges that we have is the interoperability, which I think is one of the things we are also discussing here, interoperability and integration,” said Lt. Col. Kelvin Silomba, African Union-Zambia, Information Technology expert for the Africa Stand-by Force.

 

“You know that we’ve got five regions in Africa. All these regions, we need to integrate them and bring them together, so the challenge of interoperability in terms of equipment, you know, different tactical equipment that we use, and also in terms of the language barrier — you know, all these regions in Africa you find that they speak different languages — so to bring them together we need to come up with one standard that will make everybody on board and make everybody able to talk to each other,” he said.

 

“So we have all these challenges. Other than that also, stemming from the background of these African countries, based on the colonization: some of them were French colonized, some of them were British colonized and so on, so you find that when they come up now we’ve adopted some of the procedures based on our former colonial masters, so that is another challenge that is coming on board.”

 

The partnership with brother African states, with the U.S. government and its military branches, and with other interested collaborators has had a positive influence, said Silomba.

 

“Oh, it’s great. From the time that I got engaged with U.S. AFRICOM — I started with Africa Endeavor, before I even came to the AU — it is my experience that it is something very, very good.

 

“I would encourage — I know that there are some member states — I would encourage that all those member states they come on board, all of these regional organizations, that they come on board and support the AFRICOM lead. It is something that is very, very good.

 

“As for example, the African Union has a lot of support that’s been coming in, technical as well as in terms of knowledge and equipment. So it’s great; it’s good and it’s great,” said Salimba.

 

Other participant responses to the conference were positive as well.

 

“The feedback I’ve gotten from every member is that they now know what the red carpet treatment looks like, because USARAF has gone over and above board to make sure the environment, the atmosphere and the actual engagements … are executed to perfection,” said Ferrell. “It’s been very good from a team-building aspect.

 

“We’ve had very good discussions from members of the African Union, who gave us a very good understanding of the operations that are taking place in the area of Somalia, the challenges with communications, and laid out the gaps and desires of where they see that the U.S. and other coalition partners can kind of improve the capacity there in that area of responsibility.

 

“We also talked about the AU, as they are expanding their reach to all of the five regions, of how can they have that interoperability and connectivity to each of the regions,” Ferrell said.

 

“(It’s been) a wealth of knowledge and experts that are here to share in terms of how we can move forward with building capacities and capabilities. Not only for U.S. interests, but more importantly from my perspective, in building capacities and capabilities for our African partners beginning with the Commission at the African Union itself,” said Kevin Warthon, U.S. State Department, peace and security adviser to the African Union.

 

“I think that General Ferrell has done an absolutely wonderful thing by inviting key African partners to participate in this event so they can share their personal experience from a national, regional and continental perspective,” he said.

 

Warthon related from his personal experience a vignette of African trust in Providence that he believed carries a pertinent metaphor and message to everyone attending the conference.

 

“We are not sure what we are going to do tomorrow, but the one thing that I am sure of is that we are able to do something. Don’t know when, don’t know how, but as long as our focus is on our ability to assist and to help to progress a people, that’s really what counts more than anything else,” he said.

 

“Don’t worry about the timetable; just focus on your ability to make a difference and that’s what that really is all about.

 

“I see venues such as this as opportunities to make what seems to be the impossible become possible. … This is what this kind of venue does for our African partners.

 

“We’re doing a wonderful job at building relationships, because that’s where it begins — we have to build relationships to establish trust. That’s why this is so important: building trust through relationships so that we can move forward in the future,” Warthon said.

 

Conference members took a cultural tour of Venice and visited a traditional winery in the hills above Vicenza before adjourning.

 

To learn more about U.S. Army Africa visit our official website at www.usaraf.army.mil

 

Official Twitter Feed: www.twitter.com/usarmyafrica

 

Official YouTube video channel: www.youtube.com/usarmyafrica

 

Blood Command på Øyafestivalen 2013. Foto: Tom Øverlie, NRK P3

Hosts and guests of the U.S. AFRICOM C4ISR Senior Leader Conference tour a winery in the hills above Vicenza, Italy, Feb. 3, 2011.

 

U.S. Army Africa photo by David Ruderman

 

U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) hosted its second annual C4ISR Senior Leaders Conference Feb. 2-4 at Caserma Ederle, headquarters of U.S. Army Africa, in Vicenza, Italy.

 

The communications and intelligence community event, hosted by Brig. Gen. Robert Ferrell, AFRICOM C4 director, drew approximately 80 senior leaders from diverse U.S. military and government branches and agencies, as well as representatives of African nations and the African Union.

 

The conference is a combination of our U.S. AFRICOM C4 systems and intel directorate,” said Ferrell. “We come together annually to bring the team together to work on common goals to work on throughout the year. The team consists of our coalition partners as well as our inter-agency partners, as well as our components and U.S. AFRICOM staff.”

 

The conference focused on updates from participants, and on assessing the present state and goals of coalition partners in Africa, he said.

 

“The theme for our conference is ‘Delivering Capabilities to a Joint Information Environment,’ and we see it as a joint and combined team ... working together, side by side, to promote peace and stability there on the African continent,” Ferrell said.

 

Three goals of this year’s conference were to strengthen the team, assess priorities across the board, and get a better fix on the impact that the establishment of the U.S. Cyber Command will have on all members’ efforts in the future, he said.

 

“With the stand-up of U.S. Cyber Command, it brings a lot of unique challenges that we as a team need to talk through to ensure that our information is protected at all times,” Ferrell said.

 

African Union (AU) representatives from four broad geographic regions of Africa attended, which generated a holistic perspective on needs and requirements from across the continent, he said.

 

“We have members from the African Union headquarters that is located in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; we have members that are from Uganda; from Zambia; from Ghana; and also from the Congo. What are the gaps, what are the things that we kind of need to assist with as we move forward on our engagements on the African continent?” Ferrell said.

 

U.S. Army Africa Commander, Maj. Gen. David R. Hogg, welcomed participants as the conference got under way.

 

“We’re absolutely delighted to be the host for this conference, and we hope that this week you get a whole lot out of it,” said Hogg.

 

He took the opportunity to address the participants not only as their host, but from the perspective of a customer whose missions depend on the results of their efforts to support commanders in the field.

 

“When we’re talking about this group of folks that are here — from the joint side, from our African partners, from State, all those folks — it’s about partnership and interoperability. And every commander who’s ever had to fight in a combined environment understands that interoperability is the thing that absolutely slaps you upside the head,” Hogg said.

 

“We’re in the early stages of the process here of working with the African Union and the other partners, and you have an opportunity to design this from the end state, versus just building a bunch of ‘gunkulators.’ And so, the message is: think about what the end state is supposed to look like and construct the strategy to support the end state.

 

“Look at where we want to be at and design it that way,” Hogg said.

 

He also admonished participants to consider the second- and third-order effects of their choices in designing networks.

 

“With that said, over the next four days, I hope this conference works very well for you. If there’s anything we can do to make your stay better, please let us know,” Hogg said.

 

Over the following three days, participants engaged in a steady stream of briefings and presentations focused on systems, missions and updates from the field.

 

Col. Joseph W. Angyal, director of U.S. Army Africa G-6, gave an overview of operations and issues that focused on fundamentals, the emergence of regional accords as a way forward, and the evolution of a joint network enterprise that would serve all interested parties.

 

“What we’re trying to do is to work regionally. That’s frankly a challenge, but as we stand up the capability, really for the U.S. government, and work through that, we hope to become more regionally focused,” he said.

 

He referred to Africa Endeavor, an annual, multi-nation communications exercise, as a test bed for the current state of affairs on the continent, and an aid in itself to future development.

 

“In order to conduct those exercises, to conduct those security and cooperation events, and to meet contingency missions, we really, from the C4ISR perspective, have five big challenges,” Angyal said.

 

“You heard General Hogg this morning talk about ‘think about the customer’ — you’ve got to allow me to be able to get access to our data; I’ve got to be able to get to the data where and when I need it; you’ve got to be able to protect it; I have to be able to share it; and then finally, the systems have to be able to work together in order to build that coalition.

 

“One of the reasons General Ferrell is setting up this joint information enterprise, this joint network enterprise . . . it’s almost like trying to bring together disparate companies or corporations: everyone has their own system, they’ve paid for their own infrastructure, and they have their own policy, even though they support the same major company.

 

“Now multiply that when you bring in different services, multiply that when you bring in different U.S. government agencies, and then put a layer on top of that with the international partners, and there are lots of policies that are standing in our way.”

 

The main issue is not a question of technology, he said.

 

“The boxes are the same — a Cisco router is a Cisco router; Microsoft Exchange server is the same all over the world — but it’s the way that we employ them, and it’s the policies that we apply to it, that really stops us from interoperating, and that’s the challenge we hope to work through with the joint network enterprise.

 

“And I think that through things like Africa Endeavor and through the joint enterprise network, we’re looking at knocking down some of those policy walls, but at the end of the day they are ours to knock down. Bill Gates did not design a system to work only for the Army or for the Navy — it works for everyone,” Angyal said.

 

Brig. Gen. Joseph Searyoh, director general of Defense Information Communication Systems, General Headquarters, Ghana Armed Forces, agreed that coordinating policy is fundamental to improving communications with all its implications for a host of operations and missions.

 

“One would expect that in these modern times there is some kind of mutual engagement, and to build that engagement to be strong, there must be some kind of element of trust. … We have to build some kind of trust to be able to move forward,” said Searyoh.

 

“Some people may be living in silos of the past, but in the current engagement we need to tell people that we are there with no hidden agenda, no negative hidden agenda, but for the common good of all of us.

 

“We say that we are in the information age, and I’ve been saying something: that our response should not be optional, but it must be a must, because if you don’t join now, you are going to be left behind.

 

“So what do we do? We have to get our house in order.

 

“Why do I say so? We used to operate like this before the information age; now in the information age, how do we operate?

 

“So, we have to get our house in order and see whether we are aligning ourselves with way things should work now. So, our challenge is to come up with a strategy, see how best we can reorganize our structures, to be able to deliver communications-information systems support for the Ghana Armed Forces,” he said.

 

Searyoh related that his organization has already accomplished one part of erecting the necessary foundation by establishing an appropriate policy structure.

 

“What is required now is the implementing level. Currently we have communications on one side, and computers on one side. The lines are blurred — you cannot operate like that, you’ve got to bring them together,” he said.

 

Building that merged entity to support deployed forces is what he sees as the primary challenge at present.

 

“Once you get that done you can talk about equipment, you can talk about resources,” Searyoh said. “I look at the current collaboration between the U.S. and the coalition partners taking a new level.”

 

“The immediate challenges that we have is the interoperability, which I think is one of the things we are also discussing here, interoperability and integration,” said Lt. Col. Kelvin Silomba, African Union-Zambia, Information Technology expert for the Africa Stand-by Force.

 

“You know that we’ve got five regions in Africa. All these regions, we need to integrate them and bring them together, so the challenge of interoperability in terms of equipment, you know, different tactical equipment that we use, and also in terms of the language barrier — you know, all these regions in Africa you find that they speak different languages — so to bring them together we need to come up with one standard that will make everybody on board and make everybody able to talk to each other,” he said.

 

“So we have all these challenges. Other than that also, stemming from the background of these African countries, based on the colonization: some of them were French colonized, some of them were British colonized and so on, so you find that when they come up now we’ve adopted some of the procedures based on our former colonial masters, so that is another challenge that is coming on board.”

 

The partnership with brother African states, with the U.S. government and its military branches, and with other interested collaborators has had a positive influence, said Silomba.

 

“Oh, it’s great. From the time that I got engaged with U.S. AFRICOM — I started with Africa Endeavor, before I even came to the AU — it is my experience that it is something very, very good.

 

“I would encourage — I know that there are some member states — I would encourage that all those member states they come on board, all of these regional organizations, that they come on board and support the AFRICOM lead. It is something that is very, very good.

 

“As for example, the African Union has a lot of support that’s been coming in, technical as well as in terms of knowledge and equipment. So it’s great; it’s good and it’s great,” said Salimba.

 

Other participant responses to the conference were positive as well.

 

“The feedback I’ve gotten from every member is that they now know what the red carpet treatment looks like, because USARAF has gone over and above board to make sure the environment, the atmosphere and the actual engagements … are executed to perfection,” said Ferrell. “It’s been very good from a team-building aspect.

 

“We’ve had very good discussions from members of the African Union, who gave us a very good understanding of the operations that are taking place in the area of Somalia, the challenges with communications, and laid out the gaps and desires of where they see that the U.S. and other coalition partners can kind of improve the capacity there in that area of responsibility.

 

“We also talked about the AU, as they are expanding their reach to all of the five regions, of how can they have that interoperability and connectivity to each of the regions,” Ferrell said.

 

“(It’s been) a wealth of knowledge and experts that are here to share in terms of how we can move forward with building capacities and capabilities. Not only for U.S. interests, but more importantly from my perspective, in building capacities and capabilities for our African partners beginning with the Commission at the African Union itself,” said Kevin Warthon, U.S. State Department, peace and security adviser to the African Union.

 

“I think that General Ferrell has done an absolutely wonderful thing by inviting key African partners to participate in this event so they can share their personal experience from a national, regional and continental perspective,” he said.

 

Warthon related from his personal experience a vignette of African trust in Providence that he believed carries a pertinent metaphor and message to everyone attending the conference.

 

“We are not sure what we are going to do tomorrow, but the one thing that I am sure of is that we are able to do something. Don’t know when, don’t know how, but as long as our focus is on our ability to assist and to help to progress a people, that’s really what counts more than anything else,” he said.

 

“Don’t worry about the timetable; just focus on your ability to make a difference and that’s what that really is all about.

 

“I see venues such as this as opportunities to make what seems to be the impossible become possible. … This is what this kind of venue does for our African partners.

 

“We’re doing a wonderful job at building relationships, because that’s where it begins — we have to build relationships to establish trust. That’s why this is so important: building trust through relationships so that we can move forward in the future,” Warthon said.

 

Conference members took a cultural tour of Venice and visited a traditional winery in the hills above Vicenza before adjourning.

 

To learn more about U.S. Army Africa visit our official website at www.usaraf.army.mil

 

Official Twitter Feed: www.twitter.com/usarmyafrica

 

Official YouTube video channel: www.youtube.com/usarmyafrica

  

New Jersey State Police Superintendent, Colonel Patrick Callahan, and Lt. Col. Wayne Korte, lead the command staff meeting at the Log Cabin at division headquarters in West Trenton, N.J. on Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2022. Today was Lt. Col. Korte’s last command staff meeting before he retires at the end of the month. (New Jersey State Police / Tim Larsen)

Stock photo of Soldier wearing Regional Health Command Europe shoulder sleeve insignia.

On O‘ahu, Hawaii

 

Brigadier General Gouverneur K. Warren Statue atop Little Round Top, overlooking the Valley of Death, in Gettysburg, PA.

 

Paratroopers assigned to the 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, U.S. Army Alaska, jump from a C-17 Globemaster III during a joint forcible entry exercise at Malemute Drop Zone on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, Aug. 23, 2016, as part of Exercise Spartan Agoge. Spartan Agoge is a brigade-level field training exercise that began Aug. 15, and focuses on an array of combat-related tasks from squad live-fire exercises to helicopter air insertion and airborne assault training. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Valerie Monroy)

 

** Interested in following U.S. Pacific Command? Engage and connect with us at www.facebook.com/pacific.command and twitter.com/PacificCommand and www.pacom.mil/

Click here to learn more about Camp Humphreys

 

U.S. Army photos by Anthony Langley

 

Ducks top Hoyas in Armed Forces Classic at Camp Humphreys

 

By Tim Hipps

U.S. Army Installation Management Command

 

CAMP HUMPHREYS, South Korea – In a season opener between teams led by newcomers, Joseph Young scored 24 points to lead No. 19 Oregon to an 82-75 victory over Georgetown in the 2013 Armed Forces Classic here.

 

The Ducks and Hoyas tipped off Nov. 9 at 10:16 a.m., on a Saturday morning in the Humphreys Community Fitness Center. For college basketball fans across America, the game was one of many season openers on Friday night. Only one, however, was played before 2,100 U.S. troops and their family members, along with a worldwide television audience on ESPN.

 

“We’re about to start the journey to determine who is the best team in college basketball, the best team in the country, and we’re doing it in front of the best team in the world,” ESPN announcer Jay Bilas said. “I’m in absolute awe of the commitment, the sacrifice, of our men and women in uniform.”

 

Young, a junior guard who transferred from Houston is a son of Michael Young, who played for the high-flying “Phi Slama Jama” teams of the early 1980’s. He grabbed five rebounds and was perfect on 12 free throws in his first game as a Duck.

 

Joshua Smith, a 6-foot-10, 350-pound junior center who transferred from UCLA, led Georgetown (0-1) with 25 points on 10-of-13 shooting and 5 of 9 free throws before fouling out of his first game as a Hoya with 9 seconds remaining.

 

Jason Calliste made all 11 of his free throws and scored 16 points for Oregon (1-0). Mike Moser added 15 points, seven rebounds and a career-high six steals, the most by an Oregon player in 15 seasons. Darius Wright was the last Duck to post six steals in a game against USC on Jan. 7, 1999.

 

“We came a long way, so we really didn’t want to lose this one,” Moser said. “It definitely feels good to go home – a 12-hour ride – with a win.”

 

Damyean Dotson grabbed eight rebounds and Johnathan Loyd had seven assists for Oregon. Loyd recorded his 304th career assist for a spot on the Ducks’ top 10 list.

 

The Hoyas shot 1 of 15 from 3-point range, failed to find much offensive continuity, and were outrebounded, 40-32.

 

“Things we can control, we have to control,” Georgetown coach John Thompson III said. “We had too many untimely unforced turnovers. We got our rhythm offensively, but we gave up a lot of threes in a row – it felt like four or five. The timing of that is what we have to learn. When we had to get a stop or a rebound, we didn’t.”

 

Oregon took an 18-7 lead via a 12-2 run, capped by two free throws by Calliste with 12:27 remaining in the first half. Calliste also converted a three-point play that gave the Ducks a 30-23 lead with 5:25 remaining in the period. Oregon led, 37-34, at halftime.

 

Georgetown took its first lead since 2-0 on a steal by Markel Starks and Smith’s feed to Jabril Trawick for a layup and a 40-39 lead with 18:06 left. D’Vauntes Smith-Rivera’s jumper put Georgetown ahead, 42-39. Loyd responded with a 3-pointer, Young followed with a layup, and the Ducks led the rest of the way.

 

Starks finished with 16 points and four assists for Georgetown. Trawick added 11 points and three rebounds. Before departing, Moser saluted the troops who welcomed the Ducks to Camp Humphreys, their most distant regular-season game site in school history.

 

“We had a lot of fun,” Moser said. “Getting a chance to hang out with the troops for a couple days inspired us to try and come out here and win this game.”

 

Played on Veterans Day weekend, the game featured a military theme throughout. Rather than players’ last names, Army values, such as “Courage,” “Integrity” and “Respect,” adorned the back of Georgetown’s camouflage-patterned jerseys. The backs of the Ducks’ camouflage-patterned jerseys displayed: “USA.” Members of both coaching staffs wore military-style cargo pants and combat boots.

 

“This was an unbelievable experience,” Thompson said. “It was a privilege to play in this environment, and it was a privilege to play in front of the Soldiers. One of the most rewarding times was serving lunch yesterday and getting the chance to interact with the young men and women stationed here at Camp Humphreys.”

 

Georgetown players Nate Lubick and Starks also were appreciative.

 

“This was a great opportunity to get a close-up look at what life is like for the men and women who protect our country,” Lubick said. “We’re very fortunate to have the opportunity to come here and play a game to thank them for all they do.”

 

“We’re blessed to have the chance to come here and see and tour the base and the helicopters,” Starks added. “It’s amazing all that they do and we’re really thankful to get the chance to meet everyone here.”

 

Folks at Camp Humphreys thought likewise.

 

“It’s such a blessing,” said Cassie Gaudette, wife of Army Capt. Brian Gaudette. “I don’t think that they can truly understand how exciting and wonderful it is to have a little piece of home and have the teams come here to South Korea. We’re originally from Eugene [home of the Oregon Ducks], so this was really exciting to see.”

 

Oregon played without sophomores Dominic Artis and Ben Carter, who were suspended nine games for violating NCAA rules by selling school-issued athletic apparel. If only they knew what they missed.

 

U.S. Army Africa photo by Sgt. 1st Class Kyle Davis

 

U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) hosted its second annual C4ISR Senior Leaders Conference Feb. 2-4 at Caserma Ederle, headquarters of U.S. Army Africa, in Vicenza, Italy.

 

The communications and intelligence community event, hosted by Brig. Gen. Robert Ferrell, AFRICOM C4 director, drew approximately 80 senior leaders from diverse U.S. military and government branches and agencies, as well as representatives of African nations and the African Union.

 

“The conference is a combination of our U.S. AFRICOM C4 systems and intel directorate,” said Ferrell. “We come together annually to bring the team together to work on common goals to work on throughout the year. The team consists of our coalition partners as well as our inter-agency partners, as well as our components and U.S. AFRICOM staff.”

 

The conference focused on updates from participants, and on assessing the present state and goals of coalition partners in Africa, he said.

 

“The theme for our conference is ‘Delivering Capabilities to a Joint Information Environment,’ and we see it as a joint and combined team ... working together, side by side, to promote peace and stability there on the African continent,” Ferrell said.

 

Three goals of this year’s conference were to strengthen the team, assess priorities across the board, and get a better fix on the impact that the establishment of the U.S. Cyber Command will have on all members’ efforts in the future, he said.

 

“With the stand-up of U.S. Cyber Command, it brings a lot of unique challenges that we as a team need to talk through to ensure that our information is protected at all times,” Ferrell said.

 

African Union (AU) representatives from four broad geographic regions of Africa attended, which generated a holistic perspective on needs and requirements from across the continent, he said.

 

“We have members from the African Union headquarters that is located in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; we have members that are from Uganda; from Zambia; from Ghana; and also from the Congo. What are the gaps, what are the things that we kind of need to assist with as we move forward on our engagements on the African continent?” Ferrell said.

 

U.S. Army Africa Commander, Maj. Gen. David R. Hogg, welcomed participants as the conference got under way.

 

“We’re absolutely delighted to be the host for this conference, and we hope that this week you get a whole lot out of it,” said Hogg.

 

He took the opportunity to address the participants not only as their host, but from the perspective of a customer whose missions depend on the results of their efforts to support commanders in the field.

 

“When we’re talking about this group of folks that are here — from the joint side, from our African partners, from State, all those folks — it’s about partnership and interoperability. And every commander who’s ever had to fight in a combined environment understands that interoperability is the thing that absolutely slaps you upside the head,” Hogg said.

 

“We’re in the early stages of the process here of working with the African Union and the other partners, and you have an opportunity to design this from the end state, versus just building a bunch of ‘gunkulators.’ And so, the message is: think about what the end state is supposed to look like and construct the strategy to support the end state.

 

“Look at where we want to be at and design it that way,” Hogg said.

 

He also admonished participants to consider the second- and third-order effects of their choices in designing networks.

 

“With that said, over the next four days, I hope this conference works very well for you. If there’s anything we can do to make your stay better, please let us know,” Hogg said.

 

Over the following three days, participants engaged in a steady stream of briefings and presentations focused on systems, missions and updates from the field.

 

Col. Joseph W. Angyal, director of U.S. Army Africa G-6, gave an overview of operations and issues that focused on fundamentals, the emergence of regional accords as a way forward, and the evolution of a joint network enterprise that would serve all interested parties.

 

“What we’re trying to do is to work regionally. That’s frankly a challenge, but as we stand up the capability, really for the U.S. government, and work through that, we hope to become more regionally focused,” he said.

 

He referred to Africa Endeavor, an annual, multi-nation communications exercise, as a test bed for the current state of affairs on the continent, and an aid in itself to future development.

 

“In order to conduct those exercises, to conduct those security and cooperation events, and to meet contingency missions, we really, from the C4ISR perspective, have five big challenges,” Angyal said.

 

“You heard General Hogg this morning talk about ‘think about the customer’ — you’ve got to allow me to be able to get access to our data; I’ve got to be able to get to the data where and when I need it; you’ve got to be able to protect it; I have to be able to share it; and then finally, the systems have to be able to work together in order to build that coalition.

 

“One of the reasons General Ferrell is setting up this joint information enterprise, this joint network enterprise . . . it’s almost like trying to bring together disparate companies or corporations: everyone has their own system, they’ve paid for their own infrastructure, and they have their own policy, even though they support the same major company.

 

“Now multiply that when you bring in different services, multiply that when you bring in different U.S. government agencies, and then put a layer on top of that with the international partners, and there are lots of policies that are standing in our way.”

 

The main issue is not a question of technology, he said.

 

“The boxes are the same — a Cisco router is a Cisco router; Microsoft Exchange server is the same all over the world — but it’s the way that we employ them, and it’s the policies that we apply to it, that really stops us from interoperating, and that’s the challenge we hope to work through with the joint network enterprise.

 

“And I think that through things like Africa Endeavor and through the joint enterprise network, we’re looking at knocking down some of those policy walls, but at the end of the day they are ours to knock down. Bill Gates did not design a system to work only for the Army or for the Navy — it works for everyone,” Angyal said.

 

Brig. Gen. Joseph Searyoh, director general of Defense Information Communication Systems, General Headquarters, Ghana Armed Forces, agreed that coordinating policy is fundamental to improving communications with all its implications for a host of operations and missions.

 

“One would expect that in these modern times there is some kind of mutual engagement, and to build that engagement to be strong, there must be some kind of element of trust. … We have to build some kind of trust to be able to move forward,” said Searyoh.

 

“Some people may be living in silos of the past, but in the current engagement we need to tell people that we are there with no hidden agenda, no negative hidden agenda, but for the common good of all of us.

 

“We say that we are in the information age, and I’ve been saying something: that our response should not be optional, but it must be a must, because if you don’t join now, you are going to be left behind.

 

“So what do we do? We have to get our house in order.

 

“Why do I say so? We used to operate like this before the information age; now in the information age, how do we operate?

 

“So, we have to get our house in order and see whether we are aligning ourselves with way things should work now. So, our challenge is to come up with a strategy, see how best we can reorganize our structures, to be able to deliver communications-information systems support for the Ghana Armed Forces,” he said.

 

Searyoh related that his organization has already accomplished one part of erecting the necessary foundation by establishing an appropriate policy structure.

 

“What is required now is the implementing level. Currently we have communications on one side, and computers on one side. The lines are blurred — you cannot operate like that, you’ve got to bring them together,” he said.

 

Building that merged entity to support deployed forces is what he sees as the primary challenge at present.

 

“Once you get that done you can talk about equipment, you can talk about resources,” Searyoh said. “I look at the current collaboration between the U.S. and the coalition partners taking a new level.”

 

“The immediate challenges that we have is the interoperability, which I think is one of the things we are also discussing here, interoperability and integration,” said Lt. Col. Kelvin Silomba, African Union-Zambia, Information Technology expert for the Africa Stand-by Force.

 

“You know that we’ve got five regions in Africa. All these regions, we need to integrate them and bring them together, so the challenge of interoperability in terms of equipment, you know, different tactical equipment that we use, and also in terms of the language barrier — you know, all these regions in Africa you find that they speak different languages — so to bring them together we need to come up with one standard that will make everybody on board and make everybody able to talk to each other,” he said.

 

“So we have all these challenges. Other than that also, stemming from the background of these African countries, based on the colonization: some of them were French colonized, some of them were British colonized and so on, so you find that when they come up now we’ve adopted some of the procedures based on our former colonial masters, so that is another challenge that is coming on board.”

 

The partnership with brother African states, with the U.S. government and its military branches, and with other interested collaborators has had a positive influence, said Silomba.

 

“Oh, it’s great. From the time that I got engaged with U.S. AFRICOM — I started with Africa Endeavor, before I even came to the AU — it is my experience that it is something very, very good.

 

“I would encourage — I know that there are some member states — I would encourage that all those member states they come on board, all of these regional organizations, that they come on board and support the AFRICOM lead. It is something that is very, very good.

 

“As for example, the African Union has a lot of support that’s been coming in, technical as well as in terms of knowledge and equipment. So it’s great; it’s good and it’s great,” said Salimba.

 

Other participant responses to the conference were positive as well.

 

“The feedback I’ve gotten from every member is that they now know what the red carpet treatment looks like, because USARAF has gone over and above board to make sure the environment, the atmosphere and the actual engagements … are executed to perfection,” said Ferrell. “It’s been very good from a team-building aspect.

 

“We’ve had very good discussions from members of the African Union, who gave us a very good understanding of the operations that are taking place in the area of Somalia, the challenges with communications, and laid out the gaps and desires of where they see that the U.S. and other coalition partners can kind of improve the capacity there in that area of responsibility.

 

“We also talked about the AU, as they are expanding their reach to all of the five regions, of how can they have that interoperability and connectivity to each of the regions,” Ferrell said.

 

“(It’s been) a wealth of knowledge and experts that are here to share in terms of how we can move forward with building capacities and capabilities. Not only for U.S. interests, but more importantly from my perspective, in building capacities and capabilities for our African partners beginning with the Commission at the African Union itself,” said Kevin Warthon, U.S. State Department, peace and security adviser to the African Union.

 

“I think that General Ferrell has done an absolutely wonderful thing by inviting key African partners to participate in this event so they can share their personal experience from a national, regional and continental perspective,” he said.

 

Warthon related from his personal experience a vignette of African trust in Providence that he believed carries a pertinent metaphor and message to everyone attending the conference.

 

“We are not sure what we are going to do tomorrow, but the one thing that I am sure of is that we are able to do something. Don’t know when, don’t know how, but as long as our focus is on our ability to assist and to help to progress a people, that’s really what counts more than anything else,” he said.

 

“Don’t worry about the timetable; just focus on your ability to make a difference and that’s what that really is all about.

 

“I see venues such as this as opportunities to make what seems to be the impossible become possible. … This is what this kind of venue does for our African partners.

 

“We’re doing a wonderful job at building relationships, because that’s where it begins — we have to build relationships to establish trust. That’s why this is so important: building trust through relationships so that we can move forward in the future,” Warthon said.

 

Conference members took a cultural tour of Venice and visited a traditional winery in the hills above Vicenza before adjourning.

 

To learn more about U.S. Army Africa visit our official website at www.usaraf.army.mil

 

Official Twitter Feed: www.twitter.com/usarmyafrica

 

Official YouTube video channel: www.youtube.com/usarmyafrica

 

USMA receives Colonel (P) Buzzard as the new Commandant for the Corps of Cadets at West Point New York on June 28, 2019. (US Army photo by Tarnish Pride).

BUSAN, Republic of Korea (Oct. 21, 2017) The Navy's forward-deployed aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) approaches Busan for a scheduled port visit after routine operations in waters off the coast of the Korean Peninsula. Ronald Reagan, the flagship of Carrier Strike Group 5, provides a combat-ready force that protects and defends the collective maritime interests of its allies and partners in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class MacAdam Kane Weissman) 171021-N-AC117-236

 

** Interested in following U.S. Pacific Command? Engage and connect with us at www.facebook.com/pacific.command | twitter.com/PacificCommand |

instagram.com/pacificcommand | www.flickr.com/photos/us-pacific-command; | www.youtube.com/user/USPacificCommand | www.pacom.mil/

 

JAKARTA, Indonesia (March 21, 2022) - Commander, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command Adm. John C. Aquilino and Indonesia Commander of the National Armed Forces (NAF) General Andika Perkasa take questions from media during a press conference. Aquilino is in Indonesia meeting with regional leaders to strengthen the U.S. Indonesia relationship and reaffirm the importance of a free and open Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Navy photo by Chief Mass Communication Specialist Joshua Bryce Bruns) 220321-N-TB410-0563

 

** Interested in following U.S. Indo-Pacific Command? Engage and connect with us at www.facebook.com/indopacom | twitter.com/INDOPACOM |

www.instagram.com/indopacom | www.flickr.com/photos/us-pacific-command; | www.youtube.com/user/USPacificCommand | www.pacom.mil/ **

 

KUNSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea (Sept. 10, 2014) - F-16 Fighting Falcons prepare to taxi to the runway. The jets will be temporarily operating flying missions out of Osan AB while the runway at Kunsan is under construction for repairs. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Taylor Curry) 140910-F-BN144-123

 

** Interested in following U.S. Pacific Command? Engage and connect with us at www.facebook.com/pacific.command and twitter.com/PacificCommand and www.pacom.mil/

SOUTH CHINA SEA (Oct. 22, 2014) - An E-2C Greyhound from the "Providers" of Fleet Logistics Support Squadron (VRC) 30, Detachment 5, taxis on the flight deck of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73). George Washington and its embarked air wing, Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 5, provide a combat-ready force that protects and defends the collective maritime interests of the U.S. and its allies and partners in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Paolo Bayas) 141022-N-TE278-142

 

** Interested in following U.S. Pacific Command? Engage and connect with us at www.facebook.com/pacific.command and twitter.com/PacificCommand and www.pacom.mil/

This is my seventh Lego Space set, and the first that is from the later generation of Lego Space Classic line. Introduced in 1984, this set comes with yellow, blue, and black astronaut minifigures (blue and black are new to me, and were new for 1984), an axle piece inside the rocket to hold the rocket together, and studless tiles for sliding the launchpad assembly.

 

The three minifigures, situated in and around the two completed vehicles: a jet scooter on top, and a plane on bottom. The scooter needs a pair of black cylindrical exhaust pieces, which are missing and will need to be acquired via Lego enthusiast sites later. The plane will be launched from a launchpad that is part of the base infrastructure.

3rd ALARM UNIT FIRE AT BLAIR ATHOL

1 2 ••• 5 6 8 10 11 ••• 79 80