Update:
ABC News has an extended update on the toothpaste tube bomb threat, here.
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Original Post
With just hours to go before the start of the Sochi Winter Olympics and with jitters and warnings about security, it is useful to review and update the roles and participation of our military at Sochi 2014 — both from an athletic angle (Bring home the Gold) and from a security standpoint (Protect the American athletes and spectators).
First, safety of the Games.
Yesterday, the Military Times reported, “A top U.S. counterterrorist official says there are ‘a number of specific threats’ aimed at the Winter Olympics that start this week in Sochi, Russia — with the greatest danger coming from the Caucasus Emirate, which has threatened to attack the games.”
And, “Matthew Olsen, director of the National Counterterrorism Center, told Congress on Tuesday that the U.S. and Russia are tracking threats of ‘varying degrees’ of credibility. He said potential attacks seem more likely outside the venues for the games, and instead in the area or region around Sochi.”
Tonight, there are reports that the Homeland Security Department is warning “airlines flying to Russia that terrorists may try to smuggle explosives on board hidden in toothpaste tubes.”
The threat was passed onto airlines that have direct flights to Russia, including some that originate in the United States, according to a law enforcement official speaking Wednesday on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss details of the warning.
The official said the airlines were warned that explosive devices could be assembled in flight or upon arrival at the Olympics.
The U.S. Navy in the meantime reports that the U.S. 6th Fleet flag ship USS Mount Whitney, with 300 Sailors and Military Sealift Command civil service mariners on board, arrived in the Black Sea Feb. 4 “to conduct scheduled maritime security operations.”
Closely behind, the USS Taylor with a crew of approximately 200 sailors is scheduled to arrive in the Black Sea today.
The guided-missile frigate USS Taylor (FFG 50) departs Naval Station Mayport for a seven-month deployment to the U.S. 5th and 6th Fleet areas of responsibility. This is Taylor’s final deployment as the ship is scheduled to be decommissioned in 2015. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Marcus L. Stanley)
NBC News reports that the ships are part of Pentagon security measures ahead of the Sochi Olympics. However, NBC adds, “U.S. officials said they did not see any scenario in which military force would be used, but had instead been sent to the region to offer assistance if American athletes are forced to evacuate the winter games by a major terrorist attack.”
Finally, NBC reports that both ships have small landing decks that can handle single helicopter landings, but that if competitors were forced to evacuate “they would be more likely to leave by either commercial flights or on planes chartered by the State Department.”
Now to our military athletes.
Above video, produced by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of International Information Programs, showcases U.S. Olympians, Paralympians, and recreational athletes of various backgrounds.
As we have been reporting, six of the 230 athletes on Team USA competing at the Sochi Olympics are military athletes from the Army World Class Athlete Program and all competing in the high-speed competitions of bobsled and luge.
The following are snapshots of these athletes, abbreviated from those provided by The Stars and Stripes:
Sgt. Nick Cunningham, 28, with the New York National Guard, will be heading to his second winter Olympics, driving the USA-2 bobsled in both the two- and four-man events.
“It’s not just me I’m representing when I’m in the sled,” said Cunningham, of Monterey, Calif., in a DOD release. “I have all U.S. soldiers behind me as I slide down every track worldwide.”
Army Sgts. Nick Cunningham and Dallas Robinson speed through en route to a second place finish behind former WCAP driver Steven Holcomb and WCAP brakeman Army Capt. Chris Fogt in the two-man event at the International Bobsled & Skeleton Federation”s 2013 World Cup stop at Utah Olympic. Photo DOD.
Capt. Christopher Fogt, 30, will be brakeman for the USA-1 bobsled driven by former WCAP athlete Steven Holcomb, who is the defending gold medalist in the four-man event from the 2010 Vancouver Olympics.
After competing in the 2010 Olympics, Fogt spent a year deployed in Iraq before returning to rededicate to making the 2014 team.
Sgt. Preston Griffall. , 29, made the 2006 Olympics in Turin but not the 2010 team for doubles luge. His teammate in Sochi will be Sgt. Matt Mortensen.
After qualifying for Team USA in December, the Salt Lake City, Utah, native said he and Mortensen accomplished the goal they have had for the past seven years.
Sgt. Matt Mortensen, 28, will be making his first Olympics trip this year but he has been paired with Griffall in the men’s double luge since 2007.
The Huntington Station, N.Y., native enlisted in the Army National Guard in 2010.
Sgt. Matt Mortensen of the U.S. Army World Class Athlete Program will compete in luge doubles for Team USA at the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia. Courtesy photo provided by DOD
Sgt. Justin Olsen, like USA-1 driver Holcomb, is a returning gold medalist for Team USA from that four-man bobsled team that made history in 2010. When healthy, the Texas native said in a DOD press release he is “one of the best left-side pushers in the world.”
The 26-year-old will be one of three pushers on USA-1. He enlisted with the New York Army National Guard in 2011.
Sgt. Dallas Robinson, 31, will be making his first Olympic appearance as a pusher for the USA-2 bobsled. In a recent release from the Army, the Owensboro, Ky., native said he couldn’t be more proud to be a soldier-athlete.
Related articles:
EUCOM commander: US troops ready if called to assist in Sochi
US military has escape plan for athletes at Sochi Olympics
