Home Care In Fort Shafter, HI

FORT SHAFTER, Hawaii — United States Army Pacific commander, Gen. Charles A. Flynn, constantly reminds people wherever he goes that the Indo-Pacific region is the most consequential theater for the United States this century. The Army was listening, and today activated its third multi-domain task force, the second such formation to be aligned to the Pacific.

On historic Palm Circle, the 3rd Multi-Domain Task Force unfurled its colors in front of assembled leaders and Soldiers, and took its place among the other units that make up U.S. Army Pacific, a command region that stretches over half the world’s surface.

“While they may not have a distinguished and storied history yet, this unit is quite special and unique,” said Flynn. “The multi-domain task force is a perfect example of how the Army creates warfighting advantages for the Joint Force.”

Multi-Domain Task Forces are the signature formations for the Army’s transformation, and are theater-specific units that employ long-range precision effects, including cyber, electronic warfare, intelligence and long-range fires. The concept of the MDTF brings together existing lethal and non-lethal capabilities by integrating and synchronizing them across multi-domains — air, land, water, space, cyber — in order to overcome a specific target.

The first MDTF became operational in 2017 at Joint Base Lewis McChord in Washington state, focusing on the Indo-Pacific. The second MDTF is in Germany aligned with U.S. Army Europe and Africa. This third MDTF will call Fort Shafter home, and becomes the second specialty unit to operate in the Indo-Pacific, or what the Department of Defense has labeled, its “priority theater.”

“Our MDTFs are essential to building joint readiness, strengthens interoperability with our allies and partners, and denying adversaries key terrain,” said Flynn.

The unit’s first commander is Col. David Zinn, an officer with experience in the theater having served in Hawaii and in Korea.

“Our activation in Hawaii reflects the Army’s commitment to this theater as our nation’s priority. We bring increased capacity, and complementary capability to the joint force in the Pacific. Our formation will provide capability to synchronize long-range precision effects, with long-range precision fires, providing increased freedom of action for the Joint Force,” said Zinn.

U.S. Army Pacific has set a goal for the new MDTF to reach full operational capability in fiscal year 2023, and are currently evaluating opportunities for the unit to integrate itself with Theater Army exercises such as Operation Pathways, and to also work with allies and partners in the region.

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FORT SHAFTER, Hawaii — The installation of solar panel clusters is expected to begin in July at 200 homes in the Army’s Aliamanu Military Reservation in Honolulu, an energy resiliency project that is planned for thousands of military residences on Oahu.

Lendlease Communities, which operates nearly 8,000 homes on Oahu under a partnership between its subsidiary Island Palm Communities and the U.S. Army, has contracted with Holu Hou Energy, a Delaware-based company, to install photovoltaic and battery systems in four- to six-home clusters on the island.

The panel-battery system within any single cluster is optimally sized so that most of the power generated is used within that group of homes, Brad Hansen, chief executive officer for Holu Hou, said by phone April 14.

Each cluster will use about 75% to 80% of the power generated by its system, he said. Homes remain connected to the grid for shortfalls in the solar supply.

A major investor in Holu Hou, China-based Borqs Technology Inc., is being forced to divest in the company due to national security considerations. Borqs acquired 51% of Holu Hou in October 2021.

Borqs announced in December that the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, an inter-agency governmental committee with jurisdiction over foreign acquisitions of U.S. businesses involved with technologies critical to national security, had reviewed the acquisition and required divestiture.

“We never had any products or services or anything from Borqs,” Hansen said. “They were a passive investor, so the unwinding is pretty simple.”

First 200 homes

Holu Hou first tested the cluster concept a few years ago at a 134-unit low-income housing development on the island of Kauai, he said. Then, through most of 2022, Holu Hou conducted a pilot project with a cluster of six homes at Aliamanu.

With that successful trial, Lendlease plans to set up clusters throughout all the housing managed by Island Palm Communities on Schofield Barracks, Wheeler Army Air Field, Fort Shafter, Tripler Army Medical Center, Helemano Military Reservation, Red Hill and Aliamanu.

“We can get the maximum benefit sharing at about six units,” Hansen said. “Beyond that, you can add more units if you want, but you've already reached the maximum benefit of the sharing.”

Homes will be clustered primarily based upon their proximity. Trenching will be required to bury electric cables connecting the cluster, but groupings will be arranged to avoid trenching across asphalt as much as possible.

Holu Hou is partnering with at least two large Hawaii-based firms to perform the installations.

Work on the first 200 homes is expected to begin in July and be completed by the end of the year, Hansen said.

Solar ‘sweet spot’

Multi-dwelling unit housing has been a “dead space for the solar industry” until now, Hansen said.

“The most difficult thing to do in solar is put it on multi-dwelling unit properties, especially rental properties, where you've got load uncertainty,” he said. “You can have a high-load tenant or family on one month, and the next month a low load tenant lives in that unit.”

Clustering creates a more stable load.

“You want to get 75 to 80% of the electricity for the residents to be coming from solar,” he said. “That's kind of the magic number. The sharing allows you to do that and be at that sweet spot while not exporting [to the main grid] … because in California or Hawaii you don’t get paid very much for that.”

In 2015, the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission issued a rule that slashed the amount customers could get for exporting surplus solar energy to Hawaiian Electric Co., which supplies most of the state’s electricity.

More stable grid

Hawaii’s electricity prices are roughly three times the U.S. national average, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. In September, Hawaiian Electric ended the use of its last coal-fired power plant and forecasted an average increase of 7% for individual electric bills.

The state is working toward transitioning its energy generation to 100% renewable sources by 2045.

“We’re providing backup power to our residents so if there's a power outage, they essentially are not impacted by that,” Matt Lynn, senior vice president of energy and utilities for Lendlease, told Stars and Stripes in January.

“These systems can help to stabilize the electrical grid on the island by lowering demand on the grid to help avoid power outages in the future,” he said.

Fort Shafter, Hawaii — Gen. Charles A. Flynn assumed command of U.S. Army Pacific from Gen. Paul J. LaCamera in a ceremony held June 4, 2021, on Historic Palm Circle at Fort Shafter, Hawaii.

Flynn comes to Fort Shafter after serving as deputy chief of staff for U.S. Army operations, plans and training at the Pentagon. He succeeds LaCamera, who was confirmed last month by the U.S. Senate to be the next U.S. Forces Korea commanding general.

Flynn’s return to Hawaii is a homecoming, as he commanded the 25th Infantry Division at Schofield Barracks from 2014-2016 and served as U.S. Army Pacific deputy commanding general from 2016-2018.

“From the President and the Secretary of Defense to the combatant commands and the Chief, our nation’s defense leaders have directed that we must think, act, and operate differently – and in so doing – we will as history’s taught us time and again – more effectively compete, deter, and if necessary, win in the Indo-Pacific.”

Adm. John C. Aquilino, commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, presided over the ceremony and reflected on the significance of this command.

“U.S. Army Pacific Command is a vital part of our approach to generate a lethal, Combined Joint Force, distributed west of the International Date Line that can be protected, sustained, and capable of fully integrating with all of our allies and partners,” he said.

Army Chief of Staff Gen. James C. McConville expressed confidence that Flynn will lead U.S. Army Pacific’s men and women to continued success.

“I know that General Flynn will continue to make sure that this command and these soldiers are ready to fight tonight and continue the momentum of delivering new capabilities for the future. General Flynn is a proven leader that can work in an inter-agency, multi-national environment. He understands the importance of this region,” McConville said.

McConville also thanked Gen. LaCamera for his dedication and devotion to U.S. Army Pacific and the great team he assembled during his tenure.

“I could not be more proud of the men and women of the U.S. Army Pacific for all you have accomplished over the last couple of years, especially this last year despite many significant challenges,” said McConville. “You remained responsive to our allies and partners in times of crisis and natural disasters. You truly understand how critical your efforts are for a nation, and you maintained that sense of urgency no matter what adversity you faced.”

LaCamera, who took command of U.S. Army Pacific in November 2019, is slated to replace Gen. Robert Abrams as the next United Nations Command, R.O.K.-U.S. Combined Forces Command, and U.S. Forces Korea commander.

“Maintaining a world class Army is critical to regional security in the Indo-Pacific. My predecessors and I were dedicated to that, and I know General Flynn will take it to the next level,” said LaCamera. “Our Soldiers are serving in some of the most remote and austere locations in the Indo-Pacific and building trust and capability with our allies and partners. We learn from each other; we build combat readiness together. Building trust with like-minded allies and partners is critical to preserving this free and open Indo-Pacific.”

In addition to commanding an infantry division in Hawaii, Flynn commanded troops at the battalion and brigade levels with the famed 82nd Airborne Division, serving combat tours in both Iraq and Afghanistan. Flynn is the 38th commanding general of U.S. Army Pacific, the largest service component command in the U.S. Army.

Fort Shafter, HAWAII—Col. Erik C. Johnson assumed command of the 402nd Army Field Support Brigade during the brigade’s change of command ceremony on July 9, 2021. The U.S. Army Sustainment Command’s commanding general, Maj. Gen. Christopher Mohan, presided over the ceremony, during which Col. Anthony T. Walters relinquished command to Johnson.

In addition to distinguished guests, Johnson’s wife, a retired Army major, kids, parents and in-laws for the ceremony joined the ceremony. Walters’ wife, kids and mother, attended the ceremony as the 402nd thanked the family for their support and service over the past two years.

During his tenure as the 402nd’s commander, Walters was known for his leadership style, which focused around taking care of Soldiers, civilians, contractors and their families.

“Tony has a well-earned reputation as a ‘people first’ sort of leader,” said Mohan during the ceremony. “He’s someone who doesn’t see the uniform you’re wearing or the rank on your shoulders first – who doesn’t treat you differently based on whether you’re a soldier or a civilian or a contractor or a family member – he sees the person first, and so treats people with the dignity and respect that we all deserve.”

In the face of a global pandemic, Walters’ “people-first” mentality did not falter.

“Through the COVID-19 pandemic, Col. Walters ensured mission performance never faltered while keeping the health and safety of the team, and their families, at the forefront of his mind. He is mission first, but people always,” said Lt. Col. Detrice Mosby, the executive officer for the 402nd. “Even when we had to get creative, our team persevered, leaving no stone unturned, and we are a better organization because of it.”

The 402nd’s achievements over the last two years will leave a lasting impression on the brigade’s mission and the mission of U.S. Army Pacific.

“Col. Walters really set the conditions for the 402nd’s capabilities in supporting the warfighter west of the International Date Line,” said Will Hanlin who leads the brigade’s operations and training section.

“His vision for how the brigade can best support the initiatives of U.S. Army Pacific, commonly referred to as USARPAC, west of the IDL led to the growth of the 402nd’s force structure,” said Joe Schulz, deputy to the commander for the 402nd AFSB. “Col. Walters knew we needed the right people in the right positions in order to ensure the 402nd is postured for large-scale combat operations in support of USARPAC.”

As a result, the 402nd AFSB expanded their footprint to accommodate suitable workspaces for brigade personnel.

The expansion and success of the brigade, said Hanlin, was due in large part to the relationships Walters built.

“Not many people understood the mission of the 402nd prior to Col. Walters’ arrival, but because of his relationships and dedication to the 402nd’s mission, he made our brigade relevant. Everyone not only knows who the 402nd is, but what we do,” said Hanlin.

Walters’ priorities also included providing the best support possible to the Soldiers in Hawaii and Alaska.

“Col. Walters pushed the ball further than any past commander at the 402nd in regards to supporting unit readiness,” said 402nd support operations officer Ron Ellis. “The establishment of the Modernization Displacement and Repair Sites in Hawaii and Alaska were a huge win for the 402nd under Col. Walters’ leadership.”

The 402nd is a better place because of Walters’ leadership said 402nd Command Sgt. Maj. Adam Lepley.

“Working alongside Col. Walters for the past 18 months has been an honor,” said Lepley. “Col. Walters, with his people-oriented, mission-first focus, certainly left the jersey in a better place.”

“The 402nd has been my dream command from the time it was established in Hawaii, it has been an honor to serve the Army in my hometown, where I first started my career as a Soldier,” said Walters. “I’m going to miss the people here the most. The 402nd’s culture has a hometown feel. Connecting with people has been the best part of the last two years.”

Walters leaves the 402nd to become the G4 for U.S. Army North. The 402nd AFSB’s new commander is Col. Erik C. Johnson. Johnson assumes command of the 402nd after overseeing 8th Theater Sustainment Command’s support operations.

“We are certainly sad to see Col. Walters go, but we know Col. Johnson will be an exceptional leader for this team,” said Mosby.

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FORT SHAFTER, Hawaii – Thousands of soldiers and family members living on Schofield Barracks in central Oahu are being asked to drastically reduce their electricity use in the coming months as the Army grapples with repairing an antiquated substation.

Last week, Army officials asked residents to avoid using multiple major appliances, such as dryers, stoves and ovens during the hours of 4 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. They were also asked to forgo charging electric vehicles or using nonessential electrical appliances or lights during that time period.

The Menoher electrical substation, which serves about 3,500 homes, a number of barracks and other buildings on Schofield, has been operating at half capacity since June 10 when one of its two transformers failed, Army Garrison Hawaii announced on its Facebook page Aug. 4.

The situation has grown acute as Hawaii entered its hottest months of August and September when air conditioning demand peaks.

“After an extensive search for existing transformers to replace the failed one, we have located a manufacturer from the mainland and are awaiting a transformer to be built and delivered,” the post stated.

The catch? It is expected to take several months before it is delivered to Hawaii, the Army said.

“In the electric industry, substation-class transformers are typically custom designed and built to meet the needs of the overall grid where they are intended to be installed,” Lt. Col. Jamie Dobson, spokeswoman for U.S. Army Hawaii, said Friday in an emailed response to a query by Stars and Stripes.

“Schofield Barracks’ electrical system is not widely found in the industry, in part due to how old it is,” she said. “The transformer has to match the system in order to function safely and efficiently.”

Corrosion from the weathering effects from Oahu’s tropical climate led to the failure of the transformer, Dobson said.

Until recently, the Army had owned all the electrical infrastructure on Schofield, with the power provided by Hawaiian Electric, which supplies energy to roughly 95% of the state’s residents.

The garrison has been working several years toward a partnership with Hawaiian Electric, Dobson said. In March, the base’s electrical infrastructure was transferred to the company, which has the expertise for maintenance and improvements to bring the electrical system to current industry standards, she said.

Maj. Gen. Joseph Ryan, commander of Army Garrison Hawaii and the 25th Infantry Division, has prioritized supplying power to homes and barracks. He directed that nonessential military facilities be either removed from the power grid or significantly reduce their electrical usage.

Dobson declined to specify the number of facilities affected due to “operational security concerns.”

She said the command is continuing to look for ways to reduce demand during peak hours by “identifying additional military facilities to take offline or place on generator power, extensive planning of rerouting individual circuits to other substations, employing military power generation assets, and monitoring the electrical load hourly each night to adjust mitigation efforts.”

On Thursday, the Army Corps of Engineer’s Alpha Company, 249th Engineer Battalion, coordinated with Hawaiian Electric and the Army’s Directorate of Public Works to hook up generators to the base’s power grid, Dobson said.

Dubbed “Prime Power,” the battalion is tasked with providing commercial-level electrical power to military units and federal relief organizations, according to its website.

Army Garrison Hawaii’s Facebook posting from last week had garnered more than 250 comments as of Friday, most of them expressing dissatisfaction with the request to cut electrical use.

“I know we should try to conserve energy as much as possible but asking people who work during the day to not do laundry at night when that’s the time they have … or asking families to not use their stove from 4 to 10 pm?” wrote a Facebook user named Candace Jade May. “When do you want us to eat dinner? At 330 pm?”

Commenter Alexandria Aldape-Ramirez thanked the garrison command for providing ways the Schofield community could help reduce power usage.

“Now, a way command can help is maybe giving the people effected meal per diems for dinner?” she wrote. “Eating out every night and/or guessing when to make food for several months is not practical living.”