(Prudent Press Agency) --- On September 10th, while Patriots' Run participants in Olathe, KS, are enjoying a pasta dinner, 3000 soldiers at two bases in Afghanistan will be swapping their combat boots for running shoes. Though thousands of miles apart, these two groups are drawn together on 9/11 to commemorate the tragic events of September 11, 2001.

In Afghanistan soldiers will run 9.11 kilometers to commemorate Patriot Day. Soldiers must run during the early morning hours to complete their events and return the bases to normal operations. Because of the time difference, when the soldiers run on the morning of September 11, it is the evening of September 10 in Olathe.

(Prudent Press Agency) --- In connection with a January 2009 edict prohibiting alcohol-based hand sanitizer products on board US submarines, procurement staff across various Navy divisions have since been migrating their purchases to alcohol-free hand sanitizer products, which are recognized for being equally-effective, yet non-irritating to the skin and non-flammable.

A favored product is “Hy5,” a foam-format, fragrance-free antibacterial/antiseptic product that uses the organic compound Benzalkonium Chloride as the active ingredient and manufactured for MGS Brands, Inc., a Connecticut-based, minority-owned enterprise. The Hy5 product is currently the only alcohol-free hand sanitizer with National Stocking Number designations provided by the US Defense Logistics Agency.

(Prudent Press Agency) ---Advanced Management Strategies Group (AMSG), a Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) providing Program Support Services, including Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) processes and tools, Acquisition Logistics, Systems Engineering, and IT Services, today announced it has won an indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity (IDIQ) Global Battlestaff and Program Support sub contract from SRA International, Inc. that will support the United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Florida, as a subcontractor to Prime Contractor, SRA International, Inc. As a subcontractor on this multi-award contract, the estimated value to AMSG is $30 million over five years, if all options are exercised.

USSOCOM’s mission is to provide fully capable Special Operations Forces to defend the United States and its interests, and to plan and synchronize operations against terrorist networks. AMSG will provide global special operations-unique services and expertise to support the USSOCOM in three functional areas: operations and intelligence, acquisition and logistics, and financial management and business operations.

(Prudent Press Agency) --- Bradley-Morris, Inc. (BMI), the largest military-focused recruiting firm in the U.S., announced Q3 dates for their ConferenceHire® events today. The contingency hiring events are efficient recruiting solutions for employers hiring military for careers in Management / Engineering, Technician / Supervision / Field Service and Sales / Business Development. In addition, employers who hire military via these events can realize relocation cost savings.

According to a 2008 Harvey Research Reader Preference Study, SHRM's HR Magazine subscribers have an average annual budget of $320,000 for relocation products and services. BMI clients can reduce these costs by hiring military as many military job seekers have a government paid-for move included as part of their transition to civilian life. The ConferenceHire events will take place on the following dates:
July
- 7/19 Austin, Texas
- 7/19 Norfolk, Virginia
August
- 8/02 Atlanta, Georgia
- 8/02 San Diego, California
- 8/23 Chicago, Illinois
- 8/23 Providence, Rhode Island
- 8/30 Atlanta, Georgia
September
- 9/20 San Diego, California
- 9/27 Austin, Texas
- 9/27 Norfolk, Virginia

(Prudent Press Agency) --- The history of the Army Challenge coin dates back sometime around World War I. Since then, there has been a proud tradition in the Army to use unit coins, also known as challenge coins. To the best of my knowledge, all units at the battalion level or higher have unit coins. Coins are presented to soldiers for specific achievements. Once a soldier has been awarded a coin, he or she is expected to carry it on them at all times.

At any time, another soldier can challenge the soldier. If the soldier is challenged and has his coin on him, he wins the challenge. If he is challenged, but doesn't have the coin in his possession, he loses the challenge. Usually, losing a challenge means buying the other person a beer. However, sometimes the beer is replaced for push-ups or something else. Units smaller than the battalion level seldom have their own unit coin. This includes companies, troops, detachments, and smaller elements such as platoons or squads. Occasionally, one of these smaller units will create their own coin. Usually the commander and first sergeant or OIC and NCOIC will chip in their own funds to purchase the coin.

(Prudent Press Agency) --- Companies of any size can reap the rewards of a fighter pilot's Culture of Performance by driving a culture focused on performance and execution. A rapidly changing environment isn't a phenomenon that only fighter pilots face. With increasing health, energy, and education costs combined with increasing global competition, developing a strong Culture of Performance is essential for all organizations. Sticking to proven Continuous Improvement processes, combined with developing High Performing Organization behaviors, will allow you to concurrently satisfy customer requirements while maintaining sustainable growth, and profitable financial margins ensuring your current and future organizational long-term health.

Navy and Marine Corps fighter pilots' performance and effectiveness in the challenging, dynamic air combat arena have long been characterized by Leadership, Discipline, Continuous Improvement, Performance, and an Esprit de Corps. Our goal was to always achieve an end result as efficiently and productively as possible. High Performing Organizations know that understanding and leveraging these same principles in their own organizations can make the difference between survival and defeat. Anything less can take you out of the fight. Most leaders and managers that we work with have heard about the benefits of having a performance-based culture. What we are often asked though, is "How does my organization achieve this 'High Performing Organization Culture' and reap the benefits that you've talked about?

(Prudent Press Agency) --- Quantum3D, Inc., a leading provider of Commercial-off-the-Shelf (COTS) real-time visual computing solutions, announced today an agreement with Honeywell to continue to supply the NVIDIA Quadro4 500GoGL chipset in support of Military Fighter Programs.

Quantum3D successfully concluded negotiations for a substantial order with NVIDIA to restart the Quadro4 500GoGL production line, thereby securing delivery for Honeywell and the Military Fighter programs. Qantum3D will supply the original Quadro4 500GoGL to Honeywell beginning in the second quarter of 2010. This chip was first used by Honeywell in 2002. Though production of the chips was ended by NVIDIA in 2006, Honeywell continues to use the device.“Quantum3D is a leader in the visual simulation and training market, and long term support of our customers is a prime objective. Restarting the production line for our Honeywell customer will extend the life-cycle of Military Fighter programs,” said Arthur Yan, President and COO of Quantum3D.

(Prudent Press Agency) --- Friends and family members of soldiers stationed overseas now have an excitingly simple way to send care packages to their loved ones who are deployed. TroopCarePack.com was created for just this purpose. The site allows users to choose individual items as well as packages to send directly overseas to an APO or FPO address they provide. These packages are sent complete with a handwritten card.

Co-Founder of TroopCarePack.com, James Newton, shares how the service was conceived. "Having family stationed overseas ourselves, we recognized the time it took to shop, pack, and send a package overseas and we wanted to make it easier for others. We found a lot of sites that accepted donations, but very few that would allow you to send a package directly to a soldier you knew. We knew that by making it easier for people to send packages, the troops would see more support in the form of packages."

(Prudent Press Agency)--- The law firm of Hissey Kientz, LLP wishes to alert Veterans of the U.S. Navy and Merchant Marines that they may be at risk of developing mesothelioma or other forms of cancer if they were exposed to asbestos during their time in the military. According to some estimates, Veterans account for 30% of all mesothelioma victims in the United States, including many Naval Veterans and former Merchant Marines.

Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer caused by exclusively by exposure to asbestos, a naturally occurring mineral that was once commonly used for insulation and heat protection. Beginning in the 1930s, nearly all ships built by the U.S. Navy contained insulation or other machine parts containing asbestos. Thousands of U.S.Navy Veterans and former Merchant Marines who served during World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War and other conflicts were exposed to harmful levels of asbestos, placing them at risk of developing mesothelioma, lung cancer, asbestosis or other asbestos diseases. Shipyard workers who handled asbestos products are also at risk of developing one of these diseases.

(Prudent Press Agency)--- For the second consecutive year, USAA is the only financial services and insurance provider selected to receive the nation’s Most Valuable Employers for Military award from among thousands of U.S.-based companies based on their track record of attracting and hiring a military-experienced workforce. Created by CivilianJobs.com, the Most Valuable Employers for Military recognition helps military-experienced job seekers identify and target top employers for civilian careers. The finalists are selected annually based on survey criteria documenting company recruiting, training and retention plans that best serve military service members and veterans.

“We’re honored to win this prestigious award a second time. But the real winners are USAA members who will continue to be served by current or former warriors who have walked a mile in their boots and understand their needs,” said Bob Lockett, assistant vice president for USAA Military Programs. “Our military heritage is the cornerstone of USAA’s culture and we constantly strive to improve our already robust recruiting, training and mentoring programs for veterans.”

(Prudent Press Agency)--- The Palm Center released the following statement in response to votes in the House of Representatives and the Senate Armed Services Committee allowing openly gay service in the military following a series of statutory triggers.

"It was never going to be easy to dismantle the gay ban, but the White House and Congressional leadership have launched a process that will do just that,” stated Aaron Belkin Director of the Palm Center. “For seventeen years, taxpayer money has gone to fire Arabic linguists, doctors and mission critical specialists in every field and every service because they are gay, lesbian or bisexual. Today, the House of Representatives and the Senate Armed Services Committee have said that prejudice cannot be more important than national security. Keeping good troops is good policy.”

Under the legislation passed by the full House and Senate Armed Services Committee, the ban on gays in the military would be lifted following report by a Pentagon Working Group, certification by President Obama, Secretary Gates and Admiral Mullen, and a 60 day review period by Congress.

(Prudent Press Agency)--- While the U.S. Congress considers repealing the ban on lesbians and gays in the military, a policy known as ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’, twenty-five of our nation’s allies already allow open gay military service. On Wednesday, May 19, during a public forum at the Brookings Institution, military commanders and scholars from Australia, Canada, Israel, the Netherlands, Sweden and the United Kingdom discussed their experiences with the service of gays in their militaries. Co-sponsored by the Palm Center, “Lessons Learned from the Service of Gays and Lesbians in Allied Militaries” evaluated the effects of gay military service on policy, unit cohesion, military readiness and morale.

Resources available:
Executive Summary with quotes and panel summaries
Full event transcripts
Audio of the panels
Video of the panels with full, broadcast-quality recordings available upon request

(Prudent Press Agency)--- We remember our soldiers and pay tribute to those who have served on Memorial Day every year. This year two young men who currently serve in the United States Military give back to their country by raising awareness and support for those that have been wounded by the war and have no financial support to pay for their care through the charitable foundation of the Wounded Warrior Project. This is truly a commemorable cause that will take these two young men on a 78 day journey across America 55 miles a day.

Both Akron natives, Finley was in the Air Force National Guard for six years and served in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Messenger, a Navy veteran, will trek across the country officially starting May 26th. They will ride from Florence, Oregon to Yorktown, Virginia, more than 3,000 miles between May and August.

When asked why they decided to ride across the country in support of the Wounded Warrior Project they simply stated: “We decided to do this for several reasons. We have both served in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Neither of us saw combat, but we got a close look at the sacrifices that have been made by so many. We both knew we wanted to support veterans in some way, and we also knew we wanted some adventure in the process. We discussed a few different event ideas that were a little less ambitious, such as a cross-state walk or run, but neither of us felt that excited about those ideas. We realized that we both wanted to do something bigger. A long story short, we got off the phone with nothing more than a very serious commitment to helping our fellow veterans and a wild idea to ride our bikes across the nation”.

(Prudent Press Agency)--- After the disastrous oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, opposition to more offshore drilling has increased more every day. This includes a huge percentage of U.S. troops. A persuasive new poll conducted by VoteVets.org, shows that 73% of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans support clean energy and climate change legislation.

In addition, 70% believe that ending our dependence on foreign oil is critical to our national security. Unlike Sarah Palin, who believes her "drill, baby, drill" mantra is the best for national security, a majority of U.S. troops and veterans believe that investing in renewable energy sources to wean the country off dependence on foreign oil--is the best thing for national security--not more drilling.

“This poll confirms what we always knew was true. Veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan know first-hand, the destructive effect our dependence on oil has on our national security, and on the battlefield,” said Jon Soltz, Iraq War Veteran and Chairman of VoteVets.org.

(Prudent Press Agency)--- Mission Essential Personnel, LLC (MEP) announced today that the U.S. Air Force Expeditionary Operation School awarded MEP a contract to provide 30 full-time instructors to support the Combat Airmen Skills Training course at Joint Base Dix-McGuire-Lakehurst, NJ.

The instructors will train Airmen in basic combat skills including marksmanship, land navigation, convoy operations/vehicle roll over procedures, Survival Escape Resistance and Evasion (SERE), radio procedures, and squad level battle drills.

The initial award is for one year, with the likelihood of an additional 4 years. MEP is the U.S. Department of Defense’s leading provider of translators, interpreters and cultural advisors in Afghanistan, with more than 5,000 personnel in theater and hundreds more in Africa, Asia, Europe and the Middle East.