Around DoD: 10 things to know in May

By Rhonda Apple, Pentagram Staff WriterMay 19, 2014

Around DoD: 10 things to know in May
(Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

JOINT BASE MYER-HENDERSON HALL, Va. -

1. Fourteen names added to Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Family members of 14 service members gathered at The Wall on May 11 to honor the addition of the names of their loved ones to the memorial. When the wall was unveiled in 1982, the names of 58,195 service members killed or still missing in action in the Vietnam War were inscribed on it. Since then, 105 names, including the recent 14, have been added.

2. "Make it Matter" Dempsey encourages grads

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Martin E. Dempsey emphasized leadership, partnership and responsibility as he addressed graduates at the May 11 ceremony at Duke University in Durham, N.C.

"America needs you. It needs each of you, if it hopes to remain what it is and what it needs to be," said the chairman, also a Duke alumni. "We are and have it within us to remain exceptional. But you've got to make this wonderful education you've just consumed matter."

3. Hagel defends America

Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel defended America as the world's dominant force, speaking on the May 11 television program, "This Week with George Stephanopoulos." "We are still the dominant power. No one's in our universe, whether you apply a metric or measurement of an economic power or military power," Hagel said. "But that doesn't mean the United States can solve every problem alone."

4. Remembering the "Lion of Fallujah," Maj. Douglas A. Zembiec

May 11 marked the seventh anniversary of the death of Maj. Douglas A. Zembiec, who was killed in action during his fourth deployment to Iraq on May 11, 2007, while serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom. The Zembiec Pool on the Henderson Hall portion of JBM-HH is named in his honor.

5. The Washington Monument reopens in style

The Old Guard's Fife and Drum Corps performed at the re-opening of the Washington Monument on the National Mall May 12. The 555-foot obelisk was closed for repairs after a magnitude 5.8 earthquake caused more than 150 cracks in its structure in August 2011.

6. 10th Soldier awarded Medal of Honor since 9/11

Former Army Sgt. Kyle White was awarded the Medal of Honor by President Barack Obama at a White House ceremony May 13, making him the sixth living Army recipient and the 14th from all services, to earn the medal from actions during deployment to Iraq or Afghanistan.

7. Navy gets high marks in NCAA sports rankings

Twenty-two of Navy's 25 National Collegiate Athletic Association-sponsored varsity sports programs rank above the national average in their respective sport in the academic progress rate report released May 14 by the NCAA. The Academic Progress Rate is a real-time measure of eligibility and retention of student-athletes competing on every Division I sports team. The APR awards two points each term to student-athletes who meet academic-eligibility standards and who remain with the institution.

8. Sailors learn about SALT

The save a life tour (SALT) visited Naval Station Norfolk, May 13, to educate Sailors on the dangers of drunk and distracted driving. The high-impact alcohol awareness event featured intense videos, real-life accounts from speaker and program manager C.J. Rich, and a drunk driving simulator that gave Sailors a sober perspective on driving intoxicated. "We continue to have too many Sailors affected by either drunk or distracted driving," said Force Master Chief Kenneth Daniels, commander, Naval Air Force Atlantic. "The SALT visit is a reminder for us all to act responsibly for ourselves and each other. Remember, Keep what you have earned. Drink one and you're done."

9. Marine Corps wife honored on JBM-HH

Lakesha Cole, wife of Marine Corps Gunnery Sgt. Deonte Cole, was honored as the 2014 Military Spouse of the Year recipient during an awards luncheon at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall, Va., May 9.

10. Pocket guide lists specifics of clothing allowance

A pocket guide is now available and explains the specifics of the Army's annual clothing replacement allowance. The pamphlet spells out exactly what uniform items Soldiers are required to maintain. It provides the expected useful life of each item, the standard annual replacement allowance for each item and recommended replacement intervals. The guide is available online at: http://usarmy.vo.llnwd.net/e2/c/downloads/344187.pdf.