MEDIA RELEASE

POHAKULOA TRAINING AREA, Hawaii—Oahu-based military units will convoy
from Pōhakuloa Training Area to Kawaihae Harbor on Jan. 28, Jan. 30, Feb. 1 and Feb. 2 between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. via Saddle Road, Mamalahoa Highway, Waikoloa Road, Queen Kaahumanu Highway and Akoni Pule corridor.

The convoys include large military vehicles, some with trailers. Motorists are advised to be alert and drive with care.

The PTA Department of Army police are working closely with local authorities and military units to coordinate this activity in support of unit training.

For more information, call Bob McElroy, Public Affairs Officer, at (808) 969-2427 or (808) 756-2501, e-mail: robert.h.mcelroy@us.ar…

A convoy of military vehicles on Saddle Road. Photo by Sgt. Bryanna Poulin 25th CAB Public Affairs

MEDIA RELEASE

POHAKULOA TRAINING AREA, Hawaii—Oahu-based military units will convoy from Pōhakuloa Training Area to Kawaihae Harbor on Thursday, Jan. 26, between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. via Saddle Road, Mamalahoa Highway, Waikoloa Road, Queen Kaahumanu Highway and Akoni Pule corridor.

The convoys include large military vehicles, some with trailers. Motorists are advised to be alert and drive with care.

The PTA Department of Army police are working closely with local authorities and military units to coordinate this activity in support of unit training.

For more information, call Bob McElroy, Public Affairs Officer, at (808) 969-2427 or (808) 756-2501, e-mail: Robert.h.mcelroy@us.ar….

Photography by Baron Sekiya | Hawaii 24/7

Drivers along the Saddle Road may have seen some smoke in the sky from some airbursts over Pohakuloa Training Area impact area Thursday (Jan 19). The military is conducting training maneuvers at PTA. The Marines are shooting 155mm high explosive rounds as well as 155mm illumination rounds (parachute flares at night) according to PTA Public Affairs Officer Bob McElroy. The units fire smoke rounds (white puffy bursts) and high explosive rounds (gray bursts).

Photos by Cpl. Demetrius Munnerlyn | Marine Forces Pacific Combat Camera

MEDIA RELEASE

POHAKULOA TRAINING AREA – Hunting activities at Pohakuloa Training Area will be closed indefinitely due to military live-fire training exercises. This closure is effective Jan. 7 until further notice.

Hunter’s are encouraged to plan alternate hunting activities on Hawaii island during the closures.

For more information, call Mike Egami, Public Affairs Officer, at 808 656-3152 or the PTA hunter’s hotline at 808 969-3474.

A convoy of vehicles from 209th Aviation Support Battalion, 25th Combat Aviation Brigade is driven over Saddle Road. Photo by Sgt. Bryanna Poulin 25th CAB Public Affairs

MEDIA RELEASE

POHAKULOA TRAINING AREA (PTA), Hawaii—Military units will convoy from Kawaihae Harbor to Pohakuloa Training Area, Jan. 4, 6, 8 and 10, 2012, between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., via Akoni Pule Corridor, Queen Kaahumanu Highway, Waikoloa Road, Mamalahoa Highway and Saddle Road. Motorists are advised to be alert and drive with care.

The PTA Department of Army police are working closely with local authorities and military units to coordinate this activity in support of unit training.

The aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln is underway as evening falls during a transit of the Pacific Ocean. U.S. Navy photo by MC2 James R. Evans

MEDIA RELEASE

An F/A-18F Super Hornet assigned to the "Bounty Hunters" of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 2 breaks to enter the landing pattern over the flight deck of Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72). U.S. Navy photo by MC2 James R. Evans

Navy aircraft are scheduled to conduct live-fire training Monday, Dec. 19 and Tuesday, Dec. 20 at Pohakuloa Training Area.

The training will occur between 10 a.m. and 11 p.m. each day and will include bombing exercises.

The aircraft are from Carrier Air Wing TWO embarked aboard USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72), which is deploying to the Western Pacific and Central Command area of responsibility.

People in neighboring communities can expect to hear aircraft noise and see the glow of flares and explosions during the training periods.

PTA police, emergency services and range operations will monitor the training to ensure motorists driving through PTA on Saddle Road are safe.

For more information, call Jack Wiers, public affairs media relations, at 656-3157 or cell 542-9489.

An F/A-18F Super Hornet assigned to the Blue Blasters of Strike Fighter Squadron 2 lands on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln 72. VFA-2 is part of the Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group. U.S. Navy Photo by MC2 Alan Gragg

MEDIA RELEASE

U.S. Sen. Daniel K. Akaka (D-Hawaii), a member of the Veterans’ Affairs and Armed Services Committees, issued the following statement today after the Senate approved the VOW to Hire Heroes Act by vote of 94-1.

This bill encourages businesses to hire unemployed veterans and wounded warriors and creates training programs to help them transition into the civilian workforce. Akaka cosponsored the bill and spoke at a press conference Thursday calling for its passage.

“I would not in the U.S. Senate today without the lessons I learned while serving and the opportunities I had when I returned home, such as the GI Bill and my first job after college as a teacher,” Akaka said. “This legislation will help veterans find jobs and contribute to our communities by providing tax credits for businesses that do the right thing and hire unemployed veterans and wounded warriors. This is something we should all agree on. I urge our friends in the House to pass this bill as soon as they get back to Washington.

“As we commemorate Veterans Day, let’s focus on giving back to the men and women who have sacrificed so much for us.”

MEDIA RELEASE

Veterans Day originated as “Armistice Day” on Nov. 11, 1919, the first anniversary of the end of World War I. Congress passed a resolution in 1926 for an annual observance, and Nov. 11 became a national holiday beginning in 1938. President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed legislation in 1954 to change the name to Veterans Day as a way to honor those who served in all American wars. The day honors military veterans with parades and speeches across the nation. A national ceremony takes place at the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia.

Veterans

21.8 million
The number of military veterans in the United States in 2010.
Source: 2010 American Community Survey

1.6 million
The number of female veterans in 2010.
Source: 2010 American Community Survey

2.4 million
The number of black veterans in 2010. Additionally, 1.2 million veterans were Hispanic; 265,000 were Asian; 156,000 were American Indian or Alaska Native; 28,000 were Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander; and 17.5 million were non-Hispanic white. (The numbers for blacks, Asians, American Indians and Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians and Other Pacific Islanders, and non-Hispanic whites cover only those reporting a single race.)
Source: 2010 American Community Survey

9 million
The number of veterans 65 and older in 2010. At the other end of the age spectrum, 1.7 million were younger than 35.
Source: 2010 American Community Survey

When They Served

7.6 million
Number of Vietnam-era veterans in 2010. Thirty-five percent of all living veterans served during this time (1964-1975). In addition, 4.8 million served during the Gulf War (representing service from Aug. 2, 1990, to present); 2.1 million in World War II (1941-1945); 2.6 million in the Korean War (1950-1953); and 5.5 million in peacetime only.
Source: 2010 American Community Survey

49,500
Number of living veterans in 2010 who served during the Vietnam era and both Gulf War eras and no other period.
Other living veterans in 2010 who served during three wars:

• 54,000 served during World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam era.
• Living veterans in 2010 who served during two wars and no other period:
• 837,000 served during both Gulf War eras.
• 211,000 served during both the Korean War and the Vietnam era.
• 147,000 served during both World War II and the Korean War.

Source: 2010 American Community Survey

Where They Live

3
Number of states with 1 million or more veterans in 2010. These states were California
(2 million), Florida (1.6 million) and Texas (1.6 million).
Source: 2010 American Community Survey

14.1
Percent of people 18 and older in Alaska who were veterans in 2010. The percent of the 18 and older population who were veterans was 12 percent or more in Maine, Montana, Virginia and Wyoming.
Source: 2010 American Community Survey

Education

26%
Percent of veterans 25 and older with at least a bachelor’s degree in 2010. In comparison,
28 percent of the total population had a bachelor’s degree or higher.
Source: 2010 American Community Survey

92%
Percent of veterans 25 and older with a high school diploma or higher in 2010, compared with
86 percent of the population as a whole.
Source: 2010 American Community Survey

Income

$35,367
Annual median income of veterans, in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars, compared with
$25,605 for the population as a whole.
Source: 2010 American Community Survey

On the Job

9.6 million
Number of veterans 18 to 64 in the labor force in 2010.
Source: 2010 American Community Survey

Disabilities

26%
Percent of veterans for whom poverty status is determined with a disability in 2010.
Source: 2010 American Community Survey

3.4 million
Number of veterans with a service-connected disability rating. Of this number, 698,000 have a rating of 70 percent or higher. Severity of one’s disability is scaled from 0 to 100 percent and eligibility for compensation depends on one’s rating.
Source: 2010 American Community Survey

Voting

15.8 million
Number of veterans who voted in the 2008 presidential election. Seventy-one percent of veterans cast a ballot in the presidential election.
Source: Voting and Registration in the Election of November 2008

www.census.gov/hhes/ww…

12.4 million
Number of veterans who voted in the 2010 congressional election. Fifty-seven percent of veterans voted in the 2010 congressional election.
Source: Voting and Registration in the Election of November 2010

www.census.gov/hhes/ww…

Business Owners

9%
Percentage of all U.S. nonfarm firms that are majority owned by veterans. Veteran-owned firms comprised an estimated 2.4 million of the 27.1 million nonfarm businesses nationwide in 2007.
Source: Survey of Business Owners: 2007 www.census.gov/econ/sb…

75%
Percentage of veteran owners of respondent firms who were 55 or older in 2007. This compares with 37 percent of all owners of respondent firms. Similarly, in 2007, 56 percent of veteran-owned respondent firms with employees reported that their businesses were originally established before 1990. This compares with 39 percent of all employer respondent firms.
Source: Survey of Business Owners: 2007 www.census.gov/econ/sb…

8%
Percentage of veteran owners of respondent firms who were disabled as the result of injury incurred or aggravated during active military service.
Source: Survey of Business Owners: 2007 www.census.gov/econ/sb…

A convoy of vehicles from 209th Aviation Support Battalion, 25th Combat Aviation Brigade is driven over Saddle Road. Photo by Sgt. Bryanna Poulin 25th CAB Public Affairs

MEDIA RELEASE

POHAKULOA TRAINING AREA (PTA), Hawaii-Oahu-based military units will convoy from Pohakuloa Training Area to Kawaihae Harbor Nov.7, between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., and Nov.8, between 8 and 10 a.m. via Saddle Road, Mamalahoa Hwy., Waikoloa Road, Queen Kaahumanu Hwy., and Kawaihae Road.

The PTA Department of Army police are working closely with local authorities and military units to coordinate these activities. Motorists are advised to be alert and drive with care.

For more information, call Mike Egami, Public Affairs Officer, at 656-3152.

File video by David Corrigan | Voice of Stephanie Salazar Big Island Video News

MEDIA RELEASE

The 25th Combat Aviation Brigade (CAB) concluded the flight operations portion of High Altitude Mountainous Environmental Training (HAMET) on the Island of Hawaii, today (Oct 28).

The training, which began Oct. 7, consisted of flying to three landing zones (LZs) on the slopes of Mauna Kea and three LZs on the slopes of Mauna Loa. Aviators and their aircraft must re-deploy to Oahu to complete the training in preparation for the upcoming deployment to Afghanistan.

Pilots practiced helicopter power management, approach, touch and go, and hovering tasks to prepare them for conditions they will encounter when deployed, such as weather and low oxygen.

“The 25th CAB is extremely pleased that the seventy-four CH-47F and UH-60 aviators who still required the training were able to successfully complete HAMET flight Ops on the Island of Hawaii,” said Col. Frank Tate, 25th CAB Commander. “With the help of the State of Hawaii, we are now able to look the parents, spouses and children of our aviators and their passengers in the eyes knowing we prepared them fully for their mission.”

Approximately 2,600 CAB Soldiers will deploy to Afghanistan in early 2012 for a one-year deployment. Familiarity with this specialized HAMET is critical to saving the lives of the Army’s aircrews and the Soldiers they will transport during the year ahead .

For more information, please call Mike Egami, U.S. Army Garrison-Hawaii Public Affairs, (808) 656-3152 or cell 387-8511.

MEDIA RELEASE

POHAKULOA TRAINING AREA, HI – The Army announces for public comment, the availability of the Draft Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) for modernizing of training infrastructure and construction and operation of an Infantry Platoon Battle Area (IPBA) at Pohakuloa Training Area (PTA).

The Army seeks public input in order to identify community concerns and issues as part of the PEIS process, which is being conducted pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA).

The proposed action involves upgrading existing ranges to current standards and constructing new ranges; updating and constructing new Soldier support facilities in the cantonment area; and, improving and constructing roads and utilities at PTA. The proposed action would improve the current shortfall in collective (group) live-fire training capabilities for units stationed in Hawaii. There is no proposed expansion or use above historic levels.

The PEIS also considers the No Action Alternative of not modernizing existing training ranges, training support infrastructure, and facilities at PTA, which would be a continuation of the present course of action for PTA. Under the “No Action” alternative, the Army would continue to utilizing current training lands and facilities at PTA as efficiently as possible.

For the first modernization project, the PEIS specifically evaluates constructing and operating an Infantry Platoon Battle Area (IPBA) that would include an Infantry Platoon Battle Course (IPBC), Live-fire Shoothouse, and Military Operations on Urban Terrain (MOUT) facility. The Army considers three possible alternative locations within the PTA impact area to construct the IPBA. The Army further considers a No Action alternative of not constructing and operating an IPBA at PTA.

The public is invited to attend the public meetings and encouraged to provide written or oral comments on environmental issues addressed in the PEIS.

At the meetings, there will be table-top poster displays and subject matter experts available to answer questions during the open-house session, and an open-microphone session for oral comments. Court recorders will be available for those who choose to have their comments recorded.

All written comments must be postmarked or received during the 45-day comment period to be considered in the Draft Programmatic EIS for the Modernization of Training Infrastructure and Construction and Operation of an Infantry Platoon Battle Area at Pohakuloa Training Area, Hawai`i. Written comments must be postmarked by November 30, 2011 and mailed to: PTA PEIS, P.O. Box 514, Honolulu, HI 96809. Comments may also be submitted by facsimile to (808) 545-6808, via e-mail to PTAEIS@bah.com, online at www.garrison.hawaii.ar…, or at the public meetings.

Date: Tuesday, 8 November 2011
Aunty Sally’s Kaleohano’s Luau Hale
799 Piilani Street
Hilo, HI 96720
6:30-7:30 P.M. Poster Session
7:30-9:30 P.M. Open Microphone Session (4 minutes per speaker)

Date: Wednesday, 9 November 2011
Waimea Elementary School (cafeteria)
67-1225 Mamalahoa Highway
Kamuela, HI 96743
6:30-7:30 P.M. Poster Session
7:30-9:30 P.M. Open Microphone Session (4 minutes per speaker)

For more information, call Mike Egami, Public Affairs Officer, at 656-3152 or cell 387-8511.

A convoy of vehicles from 209th Aviation Support Battalion, 25th Combat Aviation Brigade is driven over Saddle Road. Photo by Sgt. Bryanna Poulin 25th CAB Public Affairs

MEDIA RELEASE

POHAKULOA TRAINING AREA (PTA), Hawaii—Military units will convoy from Kawaihae Harbor, to Pohakuloa Training Area, Tuesday Oct. 25, between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m., via Akoni Pule Corridor, Queen Kaahumanu Highway, Waikoloa Road, Mamalahoa Highway and Saddle Road.

Motorists are advised to be alert and drive with care.

The PTA Department of Army police are working closely with local authorities and military units to coordinate this activity in support of unit training.

For more information, call Mike Egami, Public Affairs Officer, at 656-3152.

MEDIA RELEASE

POHAKULOA TRAINING (PTA), Hawaii-Oahu-based military units will convoy between Keaukaha Military Reserve (KMR) and Pohakuloa Training Area, Oct. 15, between 6 – 9 a.m. and redeploy from PTA on Oct. 16 between 8:30 – 11:30 a.m.

Roadways affected include Hilo Airport Road, Kanoelehua Avenue, Highway 11, West Puainako Street, Komohana Avenue, Puainako Extension Route 2000 and Saddle Road Highway 200.

Motorists are advised to be alert and drive with care.

The PTA Department of Army police are working closely with local authorities and military units to coordinate this activity in support of unit training.

For more information, call Jack Wiers, Media Relations Chief, at 656-3157.

MEDIA RELEASE

HAMET exercises at Pohakuloa Training Area. Photo by Big Island Video News

POHAKULOA TRAINING AREA (PTA), HI – The 25th Combat Aviation Brigade (CAB) will conduct High Altitude Mountainous Environmental Training (HAMET) for 20 days (weekends and holidays excluded), Oct.11-Nov.7, 2011, to prepare for deployment to Afghanistan.

The training will consist of flying to three landing zones (LZs) on the slopes of Mauna Kea and three LZs on the slopes of Mauna Loa.

Once in the LZ areas, pilots will practice power management, approach, touch and go, and hovering tasks to prepare them for weather and low oxygen conditions they will encounter when deployed.

There will be no more than two helicopters in the Mauna Kea LZ areas and three helicopters in the Mauna Loa LZ areas at any one time. Pilots and aircrews will remain in the helicopters, and no ammunition or heavy loads will be carried during this training.

Helicopters that transit over occupied palila habitat will do so at 2,000 feet above ground level.

Familiarity with this specialized HAMET is critical to save the lives of the Army’s aircrews and the Soldiers they transport when operating in support of operations in Afghanistan.

For more information, call Mike Egami, Public Affairs Officer, at 656-3152 or cell 387-8511.

A convoy of vehicles from 209th Aviation Support Battalion, 25th Combat Aviation Brigade is driven over Saddle Road. Photo by Sgt. Bryanna Poulin 25th CAB Public Affairs

POHAKULOA TRAINING AREA (PTA), Hawaii – Military units will convoy from Kawaihae Harbor, K-Pier, to Pohakuloa Training Area, Wednesday Oct. 5, between 10 a.m. and noon, and Friday Oct. 7, between 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. and, also, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., via Akoni Pule Corridor, Queen Kaahumanu Highway, Waikoloa Road, Mamalahoa Highway and Saddle Road.

Motorists are advised to be alert and drive with care.

The PTA Department of Army police are working closely with local authorities and military units to coordinate this activity in support of unit training.

For more information, call Jack Wiers, Media Relations Chief, at 656-3157.

Video by Staff Sgt. Brandon Roth/U.S. Army

MEDIA RELEASE

For injured service members the recovery process is often as mental as it is physical. Wounded Marines at Kaneohe Bay in Hawaii are rehabilitating themselves with some unique friends. Dogs from Hawaii Fi-Do visit the Wounded Warrior Battalion on Oahu.

MEDIA RELEASE

WASHINGTON — Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today issued the following statement regarding National POW/MIA Recognition Day:

“Our freedom comes at a very high price. Throughout our nation’s history, the brave men and women of America’s military have made incredible sacrifices to defend our liberty, protect our security and uphold our democratic values. Too many of them never come home, or have been held as prisoners of war whose fate has never been resolved.

“Today, we pay tribute to our past and present prisoners of war and those missing in action, and we renew our promise to find those who are still unaccounted for and bring them home. As we pay them special honor, we also renew our commitment to caring for their families and to providing all of our veterans with the opportunity, dignity and respect they have rightfully earned.”

A convoy of vehicles from 209th Aviation Support Battalion, 25th Combat Aviation Brigade is driven over Saddle Road. Photo by Sgt. Bryanna Poulin 25th CAB Public Affairs

POHAKULOA TRAINING (PTA), Hawaii-Oahu-based military units will convoy from Pohakuloa Training Area to Kawaihae Harbor, Sept. 12, between 12 noon and 5 p.m., via the Saddle Road Hwy. 200, Mamalahoa Highway, Waikoloa Road, Queen Kaahumanu Highway and Akoni Pule Corridor to Kawaihae Harbor.

Motorists are advised to be alert and drive with care.

The PTA Department of Army police are working closely with local authorities and military units to coordinate this activity in support of recently completed unit training.

For more information, call Jack Wiers, Media Relations Chief, at 656-3157.

A convoy of vehicles from 209th Aviation Support Battalion, 25th Combat Aviation Brigade is driven over Saddle Road. Photo by Sgt. Bryanna Poulin 25th CAB Public Affairs

MEDIA RELEASE

POHAKULOA TRAINING AREA (PTA), Hawaii-Oahu-based military units will convoy from Kawaihae Harbor to Pohakuloa Training Area, Sept. 3, between 12 noon and 5 p.m., via Akoni Pule Corridor, Queen Kaahumanu Highway, Waikoloa Road, Mamalahoa Highway and Saddle Road.

Motorists are advised to be alert and drive with care.

The PTA Department of Army police are working closely with local authorities and military units to coordinate this activity in support of unit training.

Photography by Baron Sekiya | Hawaii 24/7

By Baron Sekiya | Hawaii 24/7

Words of praise, prayers for safety and long goodbyes echoed through the Hawaii National Guard center as the Hilo-based Blackhawk helicopter unit held its deployment ceremony to Iraq on Wednesday (Aug 31).

Fifty-two Company C, 1st Battalion, 207th Aviation Regiment of the Hawaii Army National Guard men and women will be loaded with their UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters aboard two C-5 Galaxy Air Force jets bound for Fort Hood, Texas where they will be training for a month-and-a-half before deploying to Iraq.

The Blackhawk helicopters are a familiar sight at Hilo International Airport and soon only a pair of Blackhawks will be left with crews that are not deployed.

This is the second tour to Iraq for the unit, with the first being in 2007. About 60 percent of the unit was part of the first tour in Iraq where they served for a year.

The unit conducted more than 1,100 missions and logged more than 4,800 combat hours that year. They also transported and escorted top Iraqi and U.S. officials.

Members of the unit are: