Army Offers Personal Information Theft Assistance
To help current and former service members determine whether their personal information was compromised in the May 3 theft of a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) laptop, the U.S. Department of the Army has established a secure Web site. Although current evidence does not indicate that data has been used illegally, soldiers and veterans should access the site and enter the requested information—name, date of birth and the last four digits of their social security number—in the specified format to ensure they receive a valid response to their queries. If their data has been compromised, they will be linked to the VA Web site, which explains recommended steps for credit protection. Additional information about how to protect against identity theft is available at www.militaryonesource.com.

Task Force Tackles Contracting Process in Iraq
The U.S. Defense Department’s Business Transformation Agency (BTA) has formed a task force to streamline and transform the department’s contracting process and systems in Iraq. The group will evaluate the department’s business enterprise processes and associated systems in Iraq that affect contracting, logistics, the distribution of funds and financial management. In addition, task force members will ensure that these procedures and systems can support theater commanders’ objectives for reconstruction and economic development in Iraq. The first step of the work involves determining recommendations, offering implementation plans concerning the deployment of a common system and business process, and establishing  an appropriate contracting authority. In addition, the task force will suggest possible changes to the Federal Acquisition Regulations and Defense Department Federal Acquisition Regulations Supplement to address future contingency operations.

U.S. European Command Expands Theater Security Strategy
More than 20 African nations are participating in a multinational event designed to facilitate and encourage interoperability and information sharing among the continent’s militaries. Africa Endeavor is a technical workshop currently underway at Wonderboom military base, near Pretoria, South Africa. Military communicators are working with their own equipment to assess, identify, test and document command, control, communications and information systems interoperability among their fielded strategic and tactical communication systems. The goal of this collective effort is to achieve a level of interoperability so partner nations can successfully conduct future multinational operations.

One-Stop Customer Service Comes to Pentagon
Visitors to the Pentagon are now likely to see service members lined up at a machine that looks like an ATM but dispenses something more valuable than money: information. The new Joint Services OneStop Kiosk, located at the Pentagon Metro entrance, enables users to access programs such as MyPay, the Air Force Portal and virtual military and civilian personnel flights. The U.S. Air Force is sponsoring the kiosk, which features a user-friendly menu that allows military, civilian, retired and active duty personnel to get information about money matters, family support, health and wellness, lodging and the local area.

Navy Releases NMCI Satisfaction Stats
Results of the Navy/Marine Corps Intranet (NMCI) customer satisfaction survey for the first quarter of 2006 reveal that satisfaction is at 74 percent, the same grade the program received for the last quarter of last year. The NMCI Program Management Office, which conducts the survey, says that results show customers are most satisfied with the professionalism of the EDS (Electronic Data Systems) corporate staff (87%) and least satisfied with the processes for changing to the new information technology environment (52%). Improving network performance was ranked as the best way to improve satisfaction with the intranet’s services. Information from the quarterly survey is used to track customer satisfaction performance trends, identify areas that need improvement and determine contractor incentives.
 
Digging Into Blogs
The U.S. Air Force is funding blog research in an effort to help information analysts and warfighters in the war on terrorism. Dr. Brian Ulicny and Dr. Mieczyslaw Kokar, both from Versatile Information Systems, Incorporated, are receiving $450,000 for a three-year project to analyze patterns in blogs. These patterns can include blog content as well as hyperlinks within the messages. The research aims to solve the problems analysts face when monitoring blogging, such as receiving too much actionable information to assess properly. The Air Force Office of Scientific Research is funding the work and will use the results to design a scientific and social discipline so insightful questions can be crafted to achieve timely data collection and processing.

Special Operations on the Move
The U.S. Air Force is beginning to announce its plans for various units in light of the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure decisions. By October 2007, the Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) will take over ownership of Cannon Air Force Base and the Melrose Air Force Range in New Mexico. Cannon will be the new home to the Air Force’s 16th Special Operations Wing, and while Hurlburt Field will continue as AFSOC headquarters, it also will regain its designation as the 1st Special Operations Wing. In addition, the 27th Fighter Wing at Air Combat Command will draw down forces to be deactivated after the F-16 Fighting Falcons are reassigned, a process that is expected to take from six to 12 months. While personnel who directly support the F-16 mission at Cannon will transfer to new assignments, mission support personnel will remain at the base to support the incoming AFSOC unit.

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