DoD /IG finds that America Supports You.mil misused tax dollars for 2006/2007 Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl

DoD /IG finds that America Supports You.mil misused tax dollars for 2006/2007 Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl

by Robert L. Hanafin, Major, U.S. Air Force-Retired

The Pentagon PR Firm, Susan Davis International (SDI) helped create a partnership with the Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl organizers for the America Supports You.mil (ASY) Program, SDI tasks included promoting the ASY program, obtaining shout-outs from the troops for the bowl game, and featuring the Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl on the ASY e-newsletter.

This is the continuation of an in-depth, multi-post expose on what the Department of Defense Inspector General found distasteful about America Supports You.mil operations and fraud, waste, and abuse of tax payer dollars.

To read the introduction and earlier post on this topic go to these LINKS:

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TO THOSE AMERICANS WHO SINCERELY SUPPORT OUR TROOPS WITHOUT GETTING PAID TO DO SO, I say

The 2006 and 2007 Armed Forces Bowl displayed an ASY logo on the football field during the event, free of charge to U.S. taxpayers, but is anything really FREE?

Figure 7 [at left] shows a picture of the ASY logo on the football field at the 2007 Armed Forces Bowl. According to bowl organizers, the ASY ad on the field was provided free of charge, in return for the ASY program getting the bowl coverage on Armed Forces Radio and Television Service [AFRTS] , provided contact information for the Secretary of the Army, who was honored at halftime of the game and shout-outs from the troops that could be aired during the game.

However, the Army was charged to have its logo advertised on the field based on its package with ESPN.

Lt. General John F. Regni, [at left] superintendent of the U.S. Air Force Academy, speaking at the Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl pre-game press conference. In the fifth annual Bowl event, Air Force Academy played against University of California Berkeley. ASY corporate supporter Bell Helicopter joined forces with America Supports You [screened and approved for political correctness] homefront groups to support our military members and their families at the Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl. A pep rally took place on December 30th at the Armed Forces Adventure Zone, which included displays of military vehicles and aircraft.
In addition to the free ad on the field, the ASY program also received: two 30-second public service announcements that were aired on the stadium video board; ASY signage in the North and South end zones and a rotating ASY logo on stadium display; full-page print ad in Game Day Program and Visitor’s Fan Guide; ASY article and logo in bowl e-newsletter; ASY logo and Web link on bowl Web site; on-site ASY and homefront group display areas (inside and outside stadium) as part of Armed Forces Adventure Zone; on-site space for ASY trailer in Adventure Zone; and ASY flag on an Air Force parachute jumper onto the field.

[Note that the DoD/IG Report highlights the role played by homefront (and I do mean front) groups throughout its report. Frankly, the America Supports You.mil archives of public release photos has been downloaded on lord only knows how many legal, constitutional, and charity watchdog sites to be reviewed later. It is very important to note which homefront groups appeared in this Pentagon screening program. Each and every group was selectively screened to ensure they (1) did not question let alone oppose the War on Terror. This will be covered in the DoD/IG report section on homefront groups being given PREFERRENTIAL TREATMENT by senior Pentagon officials at tax payer expense. Major Hanafin]

Corporate America, and that of course includes our Defense Industry does not do anything for FREE.

In return, [defense industry] bowl organizers requested participation from military branches to include transportation to attend the game, attendance by senior and local members for bowl kickoff luncheon coin toss, halftime ceremonies, golf tournaments, parade, and team announcement party. Bowl organizers requested Armed Forces hardware and displays from each branch, flyovers and parachute teams, and military bands. Bowl organizers also requested participation from the Armed Forces Network and other DoD media assets to include a live game broadcast on Armed Forces Network; air non-commercial/public service announcements for Bell Helicopter and others;[in direct violation of Pentagon ethics rules against DoD endorsment of corporate America] promote bowl awareness on the Pentagon Channel, American Forces Press Service, ASY Web site, Stars and Stripes, DoD/Military Internet sites, and other Defense media outlets.

[current President-elect Obama’s, Deputy Secretary of Defense, Gordon England played a prominent role in collaboration with acquaintances in the Defense Industry that would make what former Congressman Duke Cunningham of CA was charged with seem like small potatoes]

DoD/IG Recommendation: The Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs needs to determine whether funding special events held stateside to promote the ASY program is an appropriate and cost effective way to meet the primary mission of communicating public support to the troops.

This recommendation to an administrative survey NOT a criminal investigation appears to point more so to a Pentagon cover up. No readers, the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs does not need to determine if tax payer funding for special partisan propaganda events held stateside to promote a direct relationship between September 11th and Iraq [among other lies] is an appropriate and cost effective way to accomplish any mission – regardless how noble the cause.

It is WE the American tax payer via our Congressional representatives and moreso incoming President who promised CHANGE in Washington, DC.

WE THE PEOPLE decide if what any Pentagon department is doing equates to FRAUD, WASTE, and ABUSE of tax dollars. To allow such a judgment to be left up to any partisan political appointee still remaining within the Pentagon leads to nothing short of a COVER UP using the smoke screen of an Administrative Report.

How dumb does the Pentagon really think American tax payers are?

Don’t answer that, I really shouldn’t have to ask.

Robert L. Hanafin
Major, U.S. Air Force-Retired

Robert L. Hanafin

Readers are more than welcome to use the articles I’ve posted on Veterans Today, I’ve had to take a break from VT as Veterans Issues and Peace Activism Editor and staff writer due to personal medical reasons in our military family that take away too much time needed to properly express future stories or respond to readers in a timely manner.

My association with VT since its founding in 2004 has been a very rewarding experience for me.

Retired from both the Air Force and Civil Service. Went in the regular Army at 17 during Vietnam (1968), stayed in the Army Reserve to complete my eight year commitment in 1976. Served in Air Defense Artillery, and a Mechanized Infantry Division (4MID) at Fort Carson, Co. Used the GI Bill to go to college, worked full time at the VA, and non-scholarship Air Force 2-Year ROTC program for prior service military. Commissioned in the Air Force in 1977. Served as a Military Intelligence Officer from 1977 to 1994. Upon retirement I entered retail drugstore management training with Safeway Drugs Stores in California. Retail Sales Management was not my cup of tea, so I applied my former U.S. Civil Service status with the VA to get my foot in the door at the Justice Department, and later Department of the Navy retiring with disability from the Civil Service in 2000.

I’ve been with Veterans Today since the site originated. I’m now on the Editorial Board. I was also on the Editorial Board of Our Troops News Ladder another progressive leaning Veterans and Military Family news clearing house.

I remain married for over 45 years. I am both a Vietnam Era and Gulf War Veteran. I served on Okinawa and Fort Carson, Colorado during Vietnam and in the Office of the Air Force Inspector General at Norton AFB, CA during Desert Storm. I retired from the Air Force in 1994 having worked on the Air Staff and Defense Intelligence Agency at the Pentagon.