WASHINGTON (AP) — After three years of study and debate, Defense Secretary Ash Carter ordered the military Thursday to open all military jobs to women, removing the final barriers that kept women from serving in combat, including the most dangerous and grueling commando posts.
His landmark decision rebuffed requests by the Marine Corps to exclude women from certain infantry and combat jobs and signaled a formal recognition that thousands of women served, and many were wounded or killed, in the last 14 years of war in Iraq and Afghanistan.
From Honolulu Magazine
Pōhakuloa Training Area Quonset Huts
Quonset huts were designed during World War II as easy-to-assemble, temporary buildings that could be broken down and reassembled quickly. Many of the more than 100 huts at the Pōhakuloa Training Area were constructed during the 1950s and reportedly contain the only Quonset-hut chapel in the Army. The state says they make up one of the last remaining groups of huts still in use in the U.S., and it’s probable their materials were used on other military bases prior to coming to Pōhakuloa.
Governor David Y. Ige issued the following press release.
HONOLULU – Governor David Ige has appointed Rob Lee as protocol officer. Lee served with the United States Air Force from 1980 to 1988 before joining the Hawai‘i Air National Guard in 1988. He served as the senior enlisted leader at the Hawai‘i Air National Guard and is scheduled to retire in Febuary 2016 with 36 years of service.
Lee is a graduate of Wayland Baptist University. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in education and Master of Science degree in administration. Lee was raised in Kāne‘ohe where he graduated from James B. Castle High School. He coached youth football at Damien Memorial High School and for the Kahalu‘u – He‘eia Broncos. He currently resides in Kahalu‘u with his wife Kandi. He also has a son, Brandan.
“We are honored to have Rob on our team. He offers a wide range of knowledge and his military background will be an asset to my administration,” Governor Ige said.
Contributing editor Stephen Lum provided this article and the photographs for this Retiree News post.
Former Big Island armory was named after former 299th Infantry commander
click on photographs to enlarge
The Hawai‘i Army National Guard’s Honoka‘a Armory, constructed May 1965, was named the Lester W. Bryan Armory, after the former 299th Regiment Combat Team commander, Colonel Lester (Leicester Winthrop) “Bill” Bryan. The armory-gymnasium, built on the campus of Honoka‘a High and Intermediate Schools cost less than $300k. The gym was used by the Guard’s Company C, 2nd Battalion, 299th Infantry unit and the Honoka‘a schools. As part of the Base Realignment and Closure process by the U.S. federal government, the armory was officially turned over the Honoka‘a Schools October 13, 2006.
The Boston-born Bryan, who studied forestry at the Massachusetts College of Agriculture, came to Hawai‘i in 1921. The forester was soon assigned to Hawai‘i, where here stay until his retirement in 1961 and even continued as a consultant after he retired. Over the years he directed the planting of more than 10 million trees, established six nurseries and 22 arboreta, introduced many different species of plants, and helped launch the vanda orchid industry. He helped preserve many endangered plant species and planted many species of native trees at Manuka State Park, Ka‘ū. He also directed development of other state parks on the Big Island.
He began his military service in 1918, enlisting as an Army private and served in World War I. In 1933, he joined the Hawai‘i Army Guard as a second lieutenant. Bryan was a captain and commanded a rifle company when Hawai‘i Guard was activated October 15, 1940 for World War II. He rose to lieutenant colonel by deactivation of the Hawai‘i Guard.
He credited with the post-World War II reorganization of the 299th Infantry Regimental Combat Team on Hawai‘i, Maui and Moloka‘i. He retired from the Guard in 1955.
Two Minute Brief: Combat History of the U.S. National Guard
Watch Now (there’s a four second shaka in the video)
The 2016 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) was signed into law by President Obama on November 25, 2015. There are many pay and personnel changes in the new law; we will cover a few of the major changes here.
Gregory Wyatt Kuuipoikekaimalinookona “Greg” Crisafi, 58, of Kailua-Kona, a landscaper at Triple T Landscaping and an Army National Guard veteran, passed away in Kona Community Hospital on November 27, 2015. He was born in Kealakekua, Hawaii.
He is survived by son Gregory Jr.; daughter Shanell; brothers Michael, Roland Jr. and Roger; sisters Beatrice Van Wyngarden, Jocye and Crisann Crisafi, RossieAnn Crisafi-Scharfman, and Kanani Minamishin; and two grandchildren.
Private services. Condolences may be sent to the family at P.O. 3, Captain Cook, HI 96704.
Off the Air Force Magazine website
In keeping with the Air Force Association’s mission of educating the public on the critical need for unmatched aerospace power, AFA is committed to ensuring its products reach the widest possible audience. Therefore, Air Force Magazine and its archived Daily Report columns are now free for anyone to read.
The USAF Almanac, which appears in the May issue of Air Force Magazine, however, is a special research tool that will remain available only to members. Non-members can purchase the Almanac for $20.
Please bookmark www.airforcemag.com and sign up to receive the Daily Report to stay up to date with the latest Air Force, airpower, and national security news
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ICYMI: In Case You Missed It
During November, the following postings received a high number of viewings.
Governor Ige’s new Military Affairs Liaison Thomas Kahalu Lee, Jr. knows what it means to be a “Wounded Warrior.” He lost his right leg above the knee in Iraq but not his commitment to return to serve his island home.
Retiree Update: Dennis Takeshita After serving in the Air Force, Dennis Takeshita joined the Hawaii Air National Guard.
Check Six: Major Carlos Willard Bonham The Pacific Missile Range Facility on Barking Sands, Kauai was once named, Bonham Air Force Base (June 1, 1953), after Maj. Carlos Willard Bonham, 199th Fighter Squadron commander in the 1950s.
Turn off this new iPhone feature Do you love your iPhone? I love mine, and I just can’t wait to get a new one as soon as they are released. But isn’t the bill a BUMMER?
Retiree News photo
Roxanne “Rocky” Bruhn retired as a senior master sergeant from the Hawai‘i Air National Guard a few months ago. Her 30-year military career started in maintenance, with later assignments in finance and military personnel. Her last assignment was with the Human Resources Office as the HIANG AGR manager.
Along the way, Rocky earned a Bachelor in Public Administration with Distinction in 2014. She was the class speaker at the University of Hawai‘i, West Oahu’s first graduation ceremony at the new campus in Kapolei.
Rocky recently started as the secretary to the Director, Hawai‘i State Office of Veterans Services. Ronald Han is the Director, so it is a reunion of sorts. Congratulations to Rocky on her new position.
The Office of Veterans Service is located in the E-Wing of Tripler Army Medical Center, Room 1-A103.
Remember when the Hawaii Air National Guard crews flew to the Boeing plant to pickup the brand new C-17s.
click on photographs to enlarge
The last Boeing C-17 Globemaster III cargo plane built at the company’s Long Beach plant departed from the facility Sunday, ending production — at least for now — of the last military or civilian aircraft to be built in California.
Roy John “Dickie” Fontes, 74, of Hilo, an Orchid Isle Ford employee and an Army National Guard veteran, passed away in Life Care Center, Hilo on November 12, 2015. He was born in Hilo.
He is survived by wife Young, son Chad, daughter Rochelle Grantz, brother Wendell, sister Lorraine Duarte and three grandchildren.
Visitation: 8:30 a.m. Thursday at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Hilo. Mass: 10 a.m. Casual attire. No flowers.
As 2015 draws to a close, now is the perfect opportunity to review the year and determine whether or not you’re satisfied with your financial standing. If your bank accounts don’t have the balances you’d planned for, or if you aren’t as far ahead in retirement saving as you’d like to be, now is the right time to plan for next year.
This article was taken from the AAFMAA website. American Armed Forces Mutual Aid Association (AAFMAA) is a not-for-profit, tax-exempt, member-owned association that provides life insurance and survivor services to the U.S. Armed Forces communities. No endorsement implied or given.
