BOULDER CITY, NEV. – The Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation and representatives from all seven Colorado River Basin states gathered today and signed completed drought contingency plans for the Upper and Lower Colorado River basins at Hoover Dam. These completed plans are designed to reduce risks from ongoing drought and protect the single most important water resource in the western United States.

The Hanukkah Menorah, lit on the final day of the "Festival of Lights." A candle lighting ceremony was held at COB Basra, Dec. 19, 2009, celebrating the holiday.

Gen. Lloyd Austin, commanding general for United States Forces-Iraq, coins Sgt. Tara De la Fuente of the 4th Sustainment Brigade, 310th Expeditionary

Sustainment Command Nov. 24 at Contingency Operating Base Adder, Iraq. Austin visited with Col. Ron Kirklin, commander for the 4th Sust. Bde., while also coining soldiers and taking time to talk with them and take photos.

NOVO SELO TRAINING AREA, Bulgaria – Generators provide power to U.S. Army Europe's Contingency Command Post, established as a rapidly deploying, forward command and control element in support of missions directed by USAREUR, during Saber Guardian 2014. This year's exercise is hosted by USAREUR and the Bulgarian Land Forces, is a multinational military exercise involving approximately 700 military personnel from twelve participating nations including Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bulgaria, Georgia, Moldova, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Ukraine, Turkey and the U.S., as well as representatives from NATO. The exercise, which runs until April 4, 2014, is designed to strengthen international agency and military partnering while fostering trust and improving interoperability between NATO and partner nations involved in foreign consequence management and peace support operations with U.S. forces. Saber Guardian 2014 is part of the U.S. Army Europe annual training and exercise program and has been planned for since 2013. Last year’s iteration of the training exercise was conducted at the Romanian Land Forces Combat Training Center in Cincu, Romania. The training at Saber Guardian 2014 will reinforce USAREUR commitment to increasing regional flexibility, preserving and enhancing NATO interoperability, and facilitating multinational training. (Photo by Sgt. Brooks Fletcher, U.S. Army Europe Public Affairs)

Northrop Grumman RQ-4 Global Hawk

Mission

The RQ-4 Global Hawk is a high-altitude, long-endurance unmanned aircraft system with an integrated sensor suite that provides intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, or ISR, capability worldwide. Global Hawk's mission is to provide a broad spectrum of ISR collection capability to support joint combatant forces in worldwide peacetime, contingency and wartime operations. The Global Hawk complements manned and space reconnaissance systems by providing near-real-time coverage using imagery intelligence or IMINT, sensors.

Features

Global Hawk offers a wide variety of employment options. The Global Hawk system consists of the RQ-4 aircraft with an integrated sensor suite, launch and recovery element, or LRE, mission control element, or MCE, sensors, communication equipment mission planning equipment, support element and trained personnel. The IMINT sensors include synthetic aperture radar, electro-optical and medium-wave infrared sensors. The Global Hawk will eventually carry the airborne signals intelligence payload. One version of Global Hawk will carry the Radar Technology Insertion Program active electronically scanned array radar.

The LRE, located at the aircraft base with the aircraft, launches the aircraft until handoff to the MCE contains functions required to launch, recover and operate an aircraft while en route to or from the target area. The LRE contains one pilot station providing the capability to operate one aircraft with no sensor operations.

The MCE controls the Global Hawk for the bulk of the ISR mission. Like the LRE, the MCE is manned by one pilot, but adds a sensor operator to the crew. Command and control data links enable complete dynamic control of the mission aircraft. The pilot workstations in the MCE and LRE are the control and display interface (cockpit) providing aircraft health and status, sensors status and a means to alter the navigational track of the aircraft. From this station, the pilot communicates with outside entities to coordinate the mission (air traffic control, airborne controllers, ground controllers, other ISR assets).

The sensor operator workstation provides capability to dynamically update the collection plan in real time, initiate sensor calibration, and monitor sensor status. The sensor operator also assists the exploitation node with image quality control, target deck prioritization and scene tracking to ensure fluid operations.

The system offers a wide variety of employment options. The long range and endurance allow tremendous flexibility in meeting mission requirements.

Background

Global Hawk began as an Advanced Concept Technology Demonstration in 1995. The system was determined to have military utility and provide warfighters with an evolutionary high-altitude, long-endurance ISR capability. While still a developmental system, the Global Hawk deployed operationally to support the global war on terrorism in November 2001. The Global Hawk UAS provides near-continuous all-weather, day/night, wide area surveillance and will eventually replace the U-2.

In the RQ-4 name, the "R" is the Department of Defense designation for reconnaissance and "Q" means unmanned aircraft system. The "4" refers to the series of purpose-built remotely piloted aircraft systems.

The Global Hawk is operated by the 12th Reconnaissance Squadron. The 1st RS provides formal training; both squadrons are located at Beale Air Force Base, Calif.

General Characteristics:

Primary function: High-altitude, long-endurance ISR

Contractor: Northrop Grumman (Prime), Raytheon, L3 Comm

Power Plant: Rolls Royce-North American AE 3007H turbofan

Thrust: 7,600 pounds

Wingspan: RQ-4A 116 feet (35.3 meters); RQ-4B 130.9 feet (39.8 meters)

Length: RQ-4A 44 feet (13.4 meters); RQ-4B, 47.6 feet (14.5 meters)

Height: RQ-4A 15.2 (4.6 meters); RQ-4B, 15.3 feet (4.7 meters)

Weight: RQ-4A, 11,350 pounds (5,148 kilograms); RQ-4B, 14,950 pounds (6,781 kilograms)

Maximum takeoff weight: RQ-4A, 26,750 pounds (12,133 kilograms ); RQ-4B, 32,250 pounds

(14628 kilograms)

Fuel Capacity: RQ-4A, 15,400 pounds (6,985 kilograms); RQ-4B, 17,300 pounds (7847 kilograms)

Payload: RQ-4A, 2,000 pounds (907 kilograms); RQ-4B, 3,000 pounds (1,360 kilograms)

Speed: RQ-4A, 340 knots (391 mph); RQ-4B, 310 knots (357 mph)

Range: RQ-4A, 9,500 nautical miles; RQ-4B, 8,700 nautical miles

Ceiling: 60,000 feet (18,288 meters)

Armament: None

Crew (remote): Three (LRE pilot, MCE pilot and sensor operator)

Unit Cost: RQ-4A, $37.6 million; RQ-4B, $55-$81 million

Initial operating capability: fiscal 2012 (multi-aircraft control capability)

Inventory: Active force, RQ-4A: 7; RQ-4B: 3

RF-86F Haymaker

The RF-86F filled an important gap until more capable reconnaissance aircraft became available. The Sabre, originally built as a day fighter, was first modified for reconnaissance during the Korean War. USAF personnel custom-fitted cameras to about a dozen F-86 fighters (known as "Honeybuckets" or "Ashtrays") to replace the slower RF-80 for missions in northwestern North Korea -- "MiG Alley" -- and into Manchuria.

After the Korean War, a handful of F-86Fs received more capable cameras under Project Haymaker. In order to fit the film magazines for the vertically mounted cameras, the aircraft acquired a distinctive bulge on both sides of the forward fuselage. The armament was removed to allow for the cameras, and the RF-86F "Haymakers" had painted-on gun ports to appear as if they were armed.

In March 1954 the 15th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron deployed to Komaki Air Base, Japan, receiving eight newly-modified "Haymakers." With these aircraft, they secretly overflew Soviet, North Korean and communist Chinese territory in the mid-1950s.

The RF-86F "Haymaker" on display (S/N 52-4492) participated in these critical overflight missions. It was transferred to the South Korean air force (ROKAF) in 1958, which flew it into the 1980s. Arriving at the museum in 1998 for restoration, it was placed on display in 2005. It is marked as it appeared while assigned to the 15th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron.

Specifications:

Engine: 5,910-lbs. thrust J47-GE-27 jet engine

Maximum speed: Approx. 650 mph

Range: Approx. 1,900 miles

Ceiling: 54,000 ft.

Serial number: 52-4492

BOULDER CITY, NEV. – The Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation and representatives from all seven Colorado River Basin states gathered today and signed completed drought contingency plans for the Upper and Lower Colorado River basins at Hoover Dam. These completed plans are designed to reduce risks from ongoing drought and protect the single most important water resource in the western United States.

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs (MRP) Ed Avalos speaks to local officials, stakeholders, and Arizona Congressman Ron Barber at the celebration for the completion of the USDA Animal Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)Livestock Contingency Inspection Facility along the Mexican border in Douglas, AZ on Sep. 25, 2014. USDA photo by Abby L. Fritz.

BOULDER CITY, NEV. – The Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation and representatives from all seven Colorado River Basin states gathered today and signed completed drought contingency plans for the Upper and Lower Colorado River basins at Hoover Dam. These completed plans are designed to reduce risks from ongoing drought and protect the single most important water resource in the western United States.

Airmen from the Kentucky Air National Guard’s 123rd Contingency Response Group carry whole blood to a waiting U.S. Air Force C-130 Hercules at Léopold Sédar Senghor International Airport in Dakar, Senegal, Oct. 22. The blood is being sent to Liberia to support U.S. troops deployed for Operation United Assistance, the U.S. Agency for International Development-led, whole-of-government effort to respond to the Ebola outbreak in West Africa. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Maj. Dale Greer)

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

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

(From left) U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Casey Jones, Senior Airman James Weimer and Staff Sgt. Dustin Pavleski prepare to hoist a container of dive equipment from a next generation small loader April 26, 2012, at Sydney, Nova Scotia. The three were deployed to provide air mobility cargo handling expertise to the U.S. Navy’s Explosive Ordinance Disposal Mobile Unit 12, based at Little Creek, Va., for their deployment to Exercise Ardent Sentry 2012. The Airmen are air transportation journeymen assigned to the 621st Contingency Response Wing at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Parker Gyokeres)

©JaneBrown2019 All Rights Reserved. This image is not available for use on websites, blogs or other media without explicit written permission

my flickr problems continue - I am able to access some of your photos, but others come up without the option to fave or comment .

Pictured: A crewman talks the pilot down to land.

Ten Tors is one of the biggest multi-agency, tri service civil contingency exercises in Britain. It is run by more than nine hundred military personnel - almost all of them Reservists - from all three branches of the Armed Forces, led by the Army’s 43 (Wessex) Brigade with its HQ in Tidworth, Wiltshire.

The 54th running of the event this year comes just months after military personnel, including Reservists from the South West , assisted local authorities, the Environment Agency and blue-light services during the floods, carrying out a range of tasks from sandbagging to engineering.

As a military exercise Ten Tors provides the Armed Forces with an invaluable opportunity to practice these life-saving civil contingency responsibilities, to enable the military - assisted by the emergency services, including The British Red Cross and the Dartmoor Search and Rescue Group - to be ready to help when they are called upon during a national emergency.

Brigadier Piers Hankinson MBE, Director of Ten Tors, is the Commander of 43 (Wessex) Brigade and was the Joint Military Commander for the South West during the flooding.

“The severe flooding across parts of the South West earlier this year clearly demonstrates the importance of such training and the ability to react to fast changing conditions and working in a multi-agency tri-service team. It also highlights the way that Reservists, who have wide ranging civilian experience and employment (from plumbers to accountants), train to operate with their regular counterparts under a One-Army ethos.”

Ten Tors:

As well as a vital high-level military exercise, The Ten Tors Challenge is also one of the biggest outdoors adventure events for young people in Britain today. In all, 2400 youngsters aged between 14 and 19 will take part in Ten Tors, with a further 300 youngsters with physical or educational needs taking part in the Jubilee Challenge.

The majority of the teams who enter Ten Tors are from schools and youth groups from Bristol, Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Gloucestershire, Somerset and Wiltshire. As usual, scores of scout groups, sports and ramblers teams and Armed Forces cadet units have accepted the challenge and are taking part.

Those teenagers taking on the Ten Tors Challenge will trek unaided over 35, 45 or 55 miles of some of the toughest terrain and highest peaks in Southern England relying on their navigational skills and carrying all their food, water, bedding, tents and other essentials as they go.

It is a feat they must complete as a team and without any help from adults and they’ll remain entirely self-sufficient during their arduous expeditions, including camping out overnight on the moor.

They do it for the challenge; to test themselves against one of the last remaining wildernesses in Britain. What they get in return for their months of hard training and commitment, as well as determination and bravery during the event itself, is an experience they’ll remember forever and the chance to learn a set of skills and values which will stay with them for the rest of their lives.

It’s a rite of passage which has played a positive and formative role in shaping the lives of more than a quarter of a million people.

NOTE TO DESKS:

MoD release authorised handout images.

All images remain Crown Copyright 2013.

Photo credit to read - Cpl Si Longworth RLC (Phot)

Email: simonlongworth@mediaops.army.mod.uk

richardwatt@mediaops.army.mod.uk

shanewilkinson@mediaops.army.mod.uk

Si Longworth - 07414 191994

Richard Watt - 07836 515306

Shane Wilkinson - 07901 590723

Pride Month and the Run Off from a large Summer Thunder Storm has made for a picturesque scene at the Current River Dam. The Led Lights are on from 6:00pm to 12:00am and during pride month are multi changing colours.

The Repairs are finally done By Concrete Walls the lead contractor and PDR Contracting . Original contract was The tender amount awarded to construction firm Concrete Walls, at a cost of just over $7.2 million, inclusive of HST and a $900,000 contingency fund. There was cost increases to $8.5 million by the end of the project. Thunder Bay Testing and Engineering Ltd was a part of the design Subcontracts and produced the design for the lighting of the walkway & and design outside the Box of the accent lighting which is drawing a lot of " That's What I'm Talking ABout " .

I have a connection to the beginning and end as well. Back in the early 1960's I was working for Boyles Bros Diamond Drilling and I were supposed to work on the original test holes in the dam but got called to a job on the Kam River. And A young lady Stephanie Pesheau (just received her accreditation As an ALA lighting consultant.. for TBT engineering. ) worked on the project team is the daughter of one of my former Clients and Daughter in Law of an Old Friend and Colleague. Well done you guys !

In 1901-1902, a dam was constructed on the Current River, as a source of electric power. This dam resulted in the creation of the Boulevard Lake reservoir.

In 1893, the town of Port Arthur purchased the first acres of land from Mr. James Lyon for $395. Port Arthur continued to acquire land from Lyon: 77.7 acres in 1901 for $521.26, 23.77 acres in 1911 for $2380, and 23 acres in 1914 for $51,000.

Mr. Lyon attached a few conditions to the sale on June 23, 1914:

That a public roadway be constructed and that it surrounds the reservoir, and that it is called "Lyon Boulevard"

That the City is free to sell not more than one third of the land surrounding Lyon Boulevard

That the City name the parkland "Lyon Park" and that it would be maintained as a public park

By July 1914, the gravel road, Lyon Boulevard, was complete. On July 15, 1914, 61 cars ceremoniously paraded from the Whalen building around Lyon Boulevard to Current River Park.

1911, the City of Port Arthur constructed the Black Bay Bridge. It was the first single span concrete bridge in Canada.

In 1936, the "Current River Reservoir" was renamed "Boulevard Lake." Also this year, Council decreed that pulpwood could no longer be kept in Boulevard Lake.

A boathouse and dressing rooms were constructed in 1936.

1936 was also the first year that swimmers at Boulevard Lake Park were protected by a lifeguard.

In 1937, a bathing beach opened.

In 1939, a boat rental business opened, renting out 3 buckhorn rowing boats, 3 Lake Queen Canoes, and 3 punts.

The picnic locations at Boulevard Lake Park were named in 1962. They became:

Lakeview Park,

Birch Point Park,

Evergreen Park,

River Bend Park,

Current River Park.

In 1963, Black Bay Bridge was widened.

In 1975, a new Multi-Service Building was constructed. This building replaced one which was severely burned in a fire in 1967.

Charles Henry Ritchie bequeathed 4.24 acres of land in 1979. The four parcels of land stretched from the Black Bay Bridge to the edge of the Lyon property.

The 1981 Jeux Canada Games held waterskiing competitions at Boulevard Lake.

As part of the Millenium Project, Birch Point Park was bestowed park status in 2000. It is home to walking paths, a number of public art installations, and Thunder Bay's first disk golf course

U.S. Air Force Airmen with the 615th Contingency Response Wing based at Travis Air Force Base, Calif., participate in a training simulation at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash. during Air Mobility Rodeo 2011. The Air Mobility Rodeo is Air Mobility Command's biennial readiness competition that focuses on improving the professional core abilities of air mobility forces from the U.S. Air Force and allied nations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Elizabeth Concepcion)

Karen Durham-Aguilera (second from right), P.E., the Director of Contingency Operations and Office of Homeland Security for the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers Headquarters, speaks with Kim Thomas (right), chief of the readiness branch for the Corps’ Omaha District, and other Corps personnel during a site visit in Jamestown, Colo., Sept. 27, 2013. Durham-Aguilera visited Jamestown, a town in Colorado’s Front Range impacted by recent flooding, following meetings with officials from the Federal Emergency Management Agency in Denver.

The Corps has deployed personnel to Colorado under the direction of FEMA. The Corps is part of the federal government's unified national response to disasters and emergencies and serves as the designated lead for ESF #3 – public works and engineering-related support. (U.S. Army photo by Carlos J. Lazo/Released)

Members of the 123rd Contingency Response Group, Kentucky Air National Guard, offload materiel from a U.S. Air Force C-130J from the California Air National Guard during Exercise Arctic during Eagle-Patriot 2022. Joint Exercise Arctic Eagle-Patriot 2022 increases the National Guard’s capacity to operate in austere, extreme cold-weather environments across Alaska and the Arctic region. AEP22 enhances the ability of military and civilian inter-agency partners to respond to a variety of emergency and homeland security missions across Alaska and the Arctic. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. LeAnne (Ian) Withrow)

Capt. Paula Moore hugs a friend along with Staff Sgt. Amanda Galdo, right, during their welcome home ceremony for the 1978th Contingency Contracting Team, South Dakota Army National Guard, Sept. 24, 2013, on Camp Rapid in Rapid City, S.D. The 1978th returned from a nearly 10-month deployment to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Michael Beck/Released)

JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. -- Staff Sgt. Ryan Boyles, an aircraft maintenance craftsman from the 621st Contingency Response Wing, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J. waits during sling load training with a CH-53E Super Stallion transport helicopter assigned to Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 772 at JBMDL Feb 9, 2014. Sling load training enables both air and ground units the opportunity to practice moving large or urgent cargo into areas where aircraft cannot reach, such as aid supplies inside disaster areas. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Parker Gyokeres)

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Manoj Khatiwada, 21st Medical Operations Squadron aerospace medical technician, stands in the terminal at the Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, Nepal, May 8, 2015. Manoj joined a team from the 36th Contingency Response Group to assist U.S. Air Force, U.S. Department of State and U.S. Agency for International Development operations by assisting with communicating with the Nepalese Army as they process relief supplies following a magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck the region April 25, 2015. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Melissa White/Released)

BOULDER CITY, NEV. – The Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation and representatives from all seven Colorado River Basin states gathered today and signed completed drought contingency plans for the Upper and Lower Colorado River basins at Hoover Dam. These completed plans are designed to reduce risks from ongoing drought and protect the single most important water resource in the western United States.

Father Magnuson conducts Mass.

CONTINGENCY OPERATING SITE MAREZ, Iraq – Chaplain Capt. Sean Magnuson, a priest assigned to U.S. Forces-Iraq, conducts Catholic Mass with parishioners at Contingency Operating Site Marez, Feb. 6, 2011. Magnuson visited COS Marez to conduct Mass for the first time since deploying to U.S. Division-North in January. Magnuson, from the St. Paul-Minneapolis, Minn. Archdiocese, said that as one of a handful of Army priests in Iraq, it is important to visit the faithful at the various bases across the country to conduct Mass. “It means a lot,” he said. “To me, it’s the core of being a chaplain, particularly a Catholic chaplain - to bring the sacraments to the Soldiers and to the people.”

(U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Shawn Miller, 109th MPAD, USD-N PAO)

Airmen from the 435th Contingency Response Group load a U.S. Air Force C-17 for movement of the Rwanda Defense Force, equipment and supplies to the Central African Republic to participate in peace keeping operations. (U.S. Army Africa photos by Master Sgt. Thomas Mills)

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

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

Photographer - Cpl Wes Calder RLC

Pictured - The armoured vehicles arrive in Hohenfels from Grafenwöhr by cargo trains.

Exercise BAVARIAN CHARGER is the first of three large contingency operation exercises being undertaken by 20th Armoured Brigade between May – October 2013. Contingency Operations training is known as Hybrid Foundation Training or HFT.

The aim of this exercise is to train the 5 Rifles, The Queens Dragoon Guards (QDG) Battle Groups and 1 Logistic Support Regiment in combined arms manoeuvre.

The exercise is split into 3 main phases. The first phase consists of a two week live firing exercise in Grafenwoer, Southern Germany, that enables the units and soldiers to refine their skills with their equipment and weapons. Training is constructed to develop skills from the individual level through to the Battlegroup level and culminates in a final attack that sees the use of helicopters, tanks, artillery and infantry combined.

The second phase will see all the exercising units transition from Grafenwoer to Hohnfels, some 100 km further south and simulates the kind of movements that are undertaken when moving an Armed force into hostile territory.

The third, and final phase is designed to test the planning and execution of combined arms manoeuvre operations in a hostile environment. The units will execute orders based on the delivery of Brigade Orders to defeat the enemy within the scenario.

2100 personnel with upto 768 vehicles ranging from Landrover, to Tanks to Apache helicopters are being exercised from 20th Armoured Brigade whose Headquarters are based in Sennelager, Germany. Approximately 500 personnel are required to support those training to ensure that supplies are maintained, vehicles are fixed and soldiers fed.

NOTE TO DESKS:

MoD release authorised handout images.

All images remain crown copyright.

Photo credit to read - Cpl Wes Calder RLC

Email: wescalder@mediaops.army.mod.uk

richardwatt@mediaops.army.mod.uk

shanewilkinson@mediaops.army.mod.uk

Richard Watt - 07836 515306

Shane Wilkinson - 07901 590723

BOULDER CITY, NEV. – The Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation and representatives from all seven Colorado River Basin states gathered today and signed completed drought contingency plans for the Upper and Lower Colorado River basins at Hoover Dam. These completed plans are designed to reduce risks from ongoing drought and protect the single most important water resource in the western United States.

BOULDER CITY, NEV. – The Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation and representatives from all seven Colorado River Basin states gathered today and signed completed drought contingency plans for the Upper and Lower Colorado River basins at Hoover Dam. These completed plans are designed to reduce risks from ongoing drought and protect the single most important water resource in the western United States.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers from the El Paso Field Office board a U.S. Air Force C-17 aircraft at El Paso International Airport for transport to California in support of CBP’s Operation Secure Line. CBP is moving hundreds of additional personnel into place to ensure the ability to safely address multiple potential contingencies, at and between the Southern California ports of entry. November 15, 2018. CBP photo by Roger Maier

Senior U.S. Army Africa NCOs recently conducted an on-the-ground training observation and exchange of ideas with their counterparts in the United Republic of Tanzania.

Photo by U.S. Army Africa

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

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

At the invitation of the Tanzania People Defense Force Land Forces, Army Africa Command Sgt. Maj. Gary J. Bronson and Equal Opportunity Officer, Sgt. Maj. Osvaldo Del Hoyo, with most of the TPDF’s noncommissioned and warrant officer corps to discuss the importance of leadership development at the NCO level as key to building force cohesion and soldier confidence in their leadership.

“They’re highly disciplined NCOs, and they really want to develop the corps,” Del Hoyo said.

The Army Africa NCOs toured the Tanzanian Peace Keeping Center to observe training activities and facilities, and share their insights on possible approaches to improve training.

They also traveled to the African Contingency Operations Training and Assistance site at Msata to observe a TPDF battalion a gearing up for deployment to peacekeeping operations in Rwanda.

Bronson and Del Hoyo were briefed on the battalion’s upcoming mission, its readiness and a variety of training issues and concerns. The Army Africa NCOs observed each training event at the ACOTA, and ended the day with a roundtable discussion with TPDF officers and senior NCOs.

“This was time well spent both in terms of observing the TPDF training activities in person, and in building our partnership for peace and stability with the land forces leadership,” said Bronson.

The Army Africa NCOs ended their trip with a visit with Col. Tim Mitchell, senior defense official and defense attaché, and Lt. Col. Kevin Balisky, Office of Security Cooperation, and other military leaders at the American Embassy in Dar es Salaam to discuss future engagements.

“I’ll be traveling there again in September to assess their enlisted development program,” said Del Hoyo.

Personnel at Manda Bay Airfield, Kenya, held a dedication ceremony to rename the location’s morale, welfare and recreation facility the Spc. Henry J. Mayfield Jr. Recreation Center at Manda Bay Airfield, Kenya, May 21, 2020. The facility’s namesake, U.S. Army Spc. Henry J. “Mitch” Mayfield Jr., was killed in action Jan. 5, 2020, during an attack on Manda Bay Airfield by a terrorist organization. Mayfield, a Chicago native, was deployed to Kenya with the 1st Battalion, 58th Aviation Regiment, 164th Theater Airfield Operations Group, from Fort Rucker, Alabama. (U.S. Army Photo by Chief Warrant Officer 2 Bryan Nelson)

Operations planning.

CONTINGENCY OPERATING SITE WARRIOR, Iraq – Capt. Kim Walter, operations officer, 101st Brigade Support Battalion, 1st Advise and Assist Task Force, 1st Infantry Division, from Fort Riley, Kan., works on her daily reports at Contingency Operating Site Warrior, Kirkuk, Iraq, March 7, 2011. Walter has served in Iraq during three separate deployments during Operation Desert Shield/Storm, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and currently in support of Operation New Dawn.

(U.S. Army photo by Pfc. Alyxandra McChesney, 1st AATF PAO, 1st Inf. Div., USD-N)

Members from the 451st Expeditionary Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron Detachment 1 Contingency Aeromedical Staging Facility (CASF) load a wounded Marine onto an ambulance at Camp Bastion, Afghanistan. The CASF team is responsible for taking care of patients and transporting them from the staging facility and hospital to a waiting aircraft that takes the patients to the next level of medical care. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Adrian Cadiz)

Artillery aiming for the future with training for Afghanistan and beyond

Regular and Reserve Army units preparing for Afghanistan and for future contingency operations working alongside French military teams.

With the restructuring of the Army and a new strategic alliance with the French, training with Regular and Reserves operating alongside French military units will be increasingly important to prepare our troops for future operations. Around 1500 personnel are taking part in the exercise over two weeks, and media will be able to see live firing and the team working between fire support teams and artillery firepower.

The Artillery already integrates Reservists into Regular units on operations, and this will become increasingly important as the contribution of the Reserves to our fighting force increases. French Fire Support Teams, who work alongside their infantry units calling in artillery support, will be learning to work with the Royal Artillery to call in heavy firepower from their British allies. Female personnel already work in all areas of the Royal Artillery, and media will be able to meet women playing their part in this vital frontline combat support capability.

Units taking part include:

7 (Para) RHA based Colchester. Equipped with 105mm Light Gun.

26 Regt RA based Germany. Equipped with AS90.

29 (Cdo) Regt RA based Plymouth. Equipped with 105mm Light Gun.

39 Regt RA based Newcastle. Equipped with MLRS.

47 Regt RA based Thorney Island (Hants). Equipped with Mini UAV.

101 Regt RA(V) based Newcastle. Equipped with 105mm Light Gun.

104 Regt RA based Newport (Wales). Equipped with Desert Hawk 3.

105 Regt RA based Edinburgh. Equipped with 105mm Light Gun.

BOULDER CITY, NEV. – The Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation and representatives from all seven Colorado River Basin states gathered today and signed completed drought contingency plans for the Upper and Lower Colorado River basins at Hoover Dam. These completed plans are designed to reduce risks from ongoing drought and protect the single most important water resource in the western United States.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers arrive at Brown Field, near San Diego, California in support of CBP’s Operation Secure Line. CBP is moving hundreds of additional personnel into place to ensure the ability to safely address multiple potential contingencies, at and between the Southern California ports of entry. November 15, 2018. CBP photo by Karina Leyva

CONTINGENCY OPERATING SITE WARRIOR, Iraq – Spc. Shane Darst, an armor crewmember serving with Company D, 2nd Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment, attached to the 1st Advise and Assist Task Force, 1st Infantry Division, shakes hands with a young child at a checkpoint near Contingency Operating Site Warrior, Iraq, April 3, 2011.

(U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Robert DeDeaux, 1st AATF PAO, 1st Inf. Div., USD-N)

Artillery aiming for the future with training for Afghanistan and beyond

Regular and Reserve Army units preparing for Afghanistan and for future contingency operations working alongside French military teams.

With the restructuring of the Army and a new strategic alliance with the French, training with Regular and Reserves operating alongside French military units will be increasingly important to prepare our troops for future operations. Around 1500 personnel are taking part in the exercise over two weeks, and media will be able to see live firing and the team working between fire support teams and artillery firepower.

The Artillery already integrates Reservists into Regular units on operations, and this will become increasingly important as the contribution of the Reserves to our fighting force increases. French Fire Support Teams, who work alongside their infantry units calling in artillery support, will be learning to work with the Royal Artillery to call in heavy firepower from their British allies. Female personnel already work in all areas of the Royal Artillery, and media will be able to meet women playing their part in this vital frontline combat support capability.

Units taking part include:

7 (Para) RHA based Colchester. Equipped with 105mm Light Gun.

26 Regt RA based Germany. Equipped with AS90.

29 (Cdo) Regt RA based Plymouth. Equipped with 105mm Light Gun.

39 Regt RA based Newcastle. Equipped with MLRS.

47 Regt RA based Thorney Island (Hants). Equipped with Mini UAV.

101 Regt RA(V) based Newcastle. Equipped with 105mm Light Gun.

104 Regt RA based Newport (Wales). Equipped with Desert Hawk 3.

105 Regt RA based Edinburgh. Equipped with 105mm Light Gun.

JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. -- Airmen from the 818th Contingency Response Group, 621st Contingency Response Wing, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J. perform sling load training with a CH-53E Super Stallion transport helicopter assigned to Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 772 at JBMDL Feb 9, 2014. Sling load training enables both air and ground units the opportunity to practice moving large or urgent cargo into areas where aircraft cannot reach, such as aid supplies inside disaster areas. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Parker Gyokeres)

Members of the 435th Contingency Response Group huddle together to discuss their plans for action during the 435th CRG exercise at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, Jan. 31, 2012. The exercise was held in order to train first response members in constructing a deployment airfield. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Caitlin O'Neil-McKeown)

CONTINGENCY /kənˈtinjənsē/

- a provision for an unforeseen event or circumstance

Check out some of my favorited photos, you'll discover I have an appreciation for Lego hitmen/secret agents/assassin OCs. Well, this is MY organization of gimmicky, well-dressed killers. They are just a back-up team hired by enemies of the League of Lego Heroes that don't like to get their hands dirty. Their roster is always fluctuating, due their success lying within sheer numbers, not their individual, unmatched skill (so is the case for most members, at least). To be perfectly frank, any of these gentlemen trying to make a name solely for themselves would end in their hasty demise.

*I will be adding individual bios to the League of Lego Heroes group, 2 a day, so as to not exceed the guidelines.

JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. -- Airmen from the 818th Contingency Response Group, 621st Contingency Response Wing, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J. perform sling load training with a CH-53E Super Stallion transport helicopter assigned to Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 772 at JBMDL Feb 9, 2014. Sling load training enables both air and ground units the opportunity to practice moving large or urgent cargo into areas where aircraft cannot reach, such as aid supplies inside disaster areas. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Parker Gyokeres)

BOULDER CITY, NEV. – The Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation and representatives from all seven Colorado River Basin states gathered today and signed completed drought contingency plans for the Upper and Lower Colorado River basins at Hoover Dam. These completed plans are designed to reduce risks from ongoing drought and protect the single most important water resource in the western United States.

BOULDER CITY, NEV. – The Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation and representatives from all seven Colorado River Basin states gathered today and signed completed drought contingency plans for the Upper and Lower Colorado River basins at Hoover Dam. These completed plans are designed to reduce risks from ongoing drought and protect the single most important water resource in the western United States.

BOULDER CITY, NEV. – The Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation and representatives from all seven Colorado River Basin states gathered today and signed completed drought contingency plans for the Upper and Lower Colorado River basins at Hoover Dam. These completed plans are designed to reduce risks from ongoing drought and protect the single most important water resource in the western United States.

BOULDER CITY, NEV. – The Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation and representatives from all seven Colorado River Basin states gathered today and signed completed drought contingency plans for the Upper and Lower Colorado River basins at Hoover Dam. These completed plans are designed to reduce risks from ongoing drought and protect the single most important water resource in the western United States.

CONTINGENCY OPERATING SITE WARRIOR, Iraq – Specialist Luz Natalia Gonzalez, far left, and Staff Sgt. Richard Medina, far right, both military police Soldiers assigned to “Punishers” Provincial Police Transition Team, 1st Advise and Assist Task Force, 1st Infantry Division, conduct a pre-mission brief at their vehicle motorpool on Contingency Operating Site Warrior, Iraq, July 31, 2011.

(U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Robert DeDeaux, 1st AATF PAO, 1st Inf. Div., USD – N)

CONTINGENCY OPERATING SITE WARRIOR, Iraq – Specialist Luz Natalia Gonzalez, a military police Soldier from Providence, R.I., assigned to “Punishers” Provincial Police Transition Team, 1st Advise and Assist Task Force, 1st Infantry Division, enters a vehicle after conducting security operations outside of the Domies Police Station in Kirkuk City, Iraq, July 31, 2011.

(U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Robert DeDeaux, 1st AATF PAO, 1st Inf. Div., USD – N)

A soldier carries a duffle bag to send home into the Army Post Office on Contingency Operating Base Adder, Nov. 11.

U.S. Soldiers, assigned to 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, get equipment issued during Exercise Combined Resolve III at Grafenwoehr, Germany, Oct. 6, 2014. The equipment is part of the European Activity Set (EAS), a battalion-sized set of equipment pre-positioned on the Grafenwoehr Training Area to outfit and support U.S. Army forces rotating to Europe for training and contingency missions in support of the U.S. European Command. Combined Resolve III is a U.S. Army Europe-led, multi-national exercise at the Joint Multinational Training Command's Hohenfels and Grafenwoehr training areas in Germany. The exercise focuses on maintaining and enhancing interoperability during unified land operations in a decisive action training environment. (U.S. Army photo by Visual Information Specialist Gertrud Zach/released)

GULF OF THAILAND (Feb. 18, 2018) Aviation Boatswain's Mate (Handling) 3rd Class Tiffanie Allenderriley, from Joplin, Mo., signals to the pilot of a Royal Thai Navy S-70B Sea Hawk helicopter as it takes off from the flight deck of the amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) during Exercise Cobra Gold 2018. Bonhomme Richard is participating in CG18 alongside Royal Thai Navy ships and personnel, conducting a range of amphibious operations that will enhance the tactical expertise of participants and rehearse combined capabilities to respond to contingencies. Cobra Gold is an annual exercise conducted in the Kingdom of Thailand held this year from Feb. 13-23 with seven full participating nations. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Kyle Carlstrom/Released)

JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. -- Airmen from the 818th Contingency Response Group, 621st Contingency Response Wing, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J. clear the area during sling load training with a CH-53E Super Stallion transport helicopter assigned to Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 772 at JBMDL Feb 9, 2014. Sling load training enables both air and ground units the opportunity to practice moving large or urgent cargo into areas where fixed-wing aircraft cannot reach, such as aid supplies inside disaster areas. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Parker Gyokeres)

BOULDER CITY, NEV. – The Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation and representatives from all seven Colorado River Basin states gathered today and signed completed drought contingency plans for the Upper and Lower Colorado River basins at Hoover Dam. These completed plans are designed to reduce risks from ongoing drought and protect the single most important water resource in the western United States.