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ASSIGNMENTS / APPOINTMENTS / ANNOUNCEMENTS

SOURCE:  Volkswagen of America, Inc.

Volkswagen Group deliveries for period to October grow five percent to 8.24 million vehicles*

• New record: Deliveries in ten-month period top eight million for first time
• 842,700 vehicles delivered in October / +2.9 percent*
• Group Board Member for Sales Christian Klingler: “Outpaced the overall market. Growth in Western Europe and Asia-Pacific”

Wolfsburg – The Volkswagen Group handed over 8.24 (January-October 2013: 7.85; +5.0 percent)* million vehicles to customers from January to October, thus reporting a new record and delivering more than eight million vehicles for the first time in this ten-month period. The brands also reported a rise in deliveries in October, handing over 842,700 (October 2013: 818,900; +2.9 percent)* during that month. “So far this year the Volkswagen Group has outpaced the overall market. That is a pleasing development in light of the market situation in some regions which is at times still challenging. Our brands recorded further growth in Western Europe and Asia-Pacific in particular”, Group Board Member for Sales Christian Klingler said in Wolfsburg on Friday.

Group brands delivered a total of 3.24 (3.05; +6.2 percent) million vehicles to customers on the overall European market from January to October, of which 1.68 (1.56; +8.0 percent) million units were handed over in Western Europe (excluding Germany). 1.02 (0.96; +5.8 percent) million customers took possession of a new vehicle in the home market of Germany. Europe’s largest automaker delivered 535,200 (526,100; +1.7 percent) vehicles in Central and Eastern Europe. 217,600 (250,700; -13.2 percent) models were handed over to customers in Russia during the same period.

The Group delivered 728,700 (734,200; -0.7 percent) vehicles in the North America region in the period to October, of which 489,100 (508,300; -3.8 percent) were handed over to customers in the United States. The Volkswagen Group delivered 604,100 (757,700; -20.3 percent) vehicles to customer in the South America region during the same period, of which 470,700 (561,900;
-16.2 percent) were handed over to customers in Brazil.

The Group continued to record encouraging figures in the Asia-Pacific region, where 3.33
(2.95; +12.8 percent) million vehicles were handed over to customers in the period to October, of which 3.03 (2.65; +14.1 percent) million units were delivered in China (including Hong Kong), the Group’s largest single market.

Outline of developments at Group brands

The Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand delivered 5.08 (4.95; +2.6 percent) million vehicles to customers worldwide from January to October. The brand developed particularly well in the Asia-Pacific region, handing over 2.47 (2.20; +12.4 percent) million units there. Volkswagen Passenger Cars delivered 1.40 (1.37; +2.7 percent) million vehicles to customers on the overall European market, with deliveries increasing by 5.5 percent to 719,500 (682,200) units in Western Europe (excluding Germany).

Audi delivered 1.44 (1.31; +10.1 percent) million vehicles worldwide in the period to October. The premium brand from Ingolstadt developed well in the Asia-Pacific region, handing over 547,300 (470,700; +16.3 percent) models to customers there. Audi delivered 177,000 (154,200) vehicles in the North America region during the same period, an increase of 14.8 percent.

The sports car manufacturer Porsche delivered a total of 151,500 (133,100; +13.8 percent) vehicles in the ten-month period. Demand for models from the Stuttgart-based carmaker was particularly high in the Asia-Pacific region, where 48,200 (40,300; +19.7 percent) vehicles were delivered, and in Western Europe (excluding Germany), where 22,900 (18,600; +22.7 percent) models were handed over to customers.

ŠKODA delivered a total of 865,100 (768,700; +12.5 percent) vehicles worldwide from January to October. The Czech automaker was particularly successful on European markets, delivering 225,400 (191,900; +17.4 percent) units in Western Europe (excluding Germany) and 227,100 (204,400; +11.1 percent) vehicles in Central and Eastern Europe. The brand grew deliveries in Germany by 12.1 percent to 126,000 (112,400) units.

SEAT delivered 326,000 (295,100; +10.5 percent) vehicles worldwide in the period to October. The Spanish brand performed particularly well in Central and Eastern Europe, where deliveries increased by 50.5 percent to 20,400 (13,600) units, and in Western Europe (excluding Germany), where the company handed over 183,500 (164,000; +11.9 percent) vehicle to customers. In Germany, SEAT delivered 71,300 (64,100; +11.1 percent) units.

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles delivered 363,900 (378.700; -3.9 percent) vehicles to customers from January to October, of which 142,000 (133,200; +6.6 percent) were handed over in Western Europe (excluding Germany). Deliveries in Germany during the same period ran at 97,400 (91,200; +6.7 percent) units.

*) excluding MAN and Scania

Soldiers, Civilians Salute Native Americans’ Contributions

SOURCE:  DoD News, Defense Media Activity for U.S. Department of Defense

By Walter T. Ham IV
20th Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, Explosives Command

ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md. – Soldiers and U.S. Army civilian employees celebrated Native Americans’ contributions to the U.S. military at a 20th Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, Explosives Command-hosted ceremony on Nov. 13, 2014.

The event, part of National Native American Month observances held this month, featured food tasting,

William Jones performs a Piscataway Indian Nation dance during the National Native American Heritage Month ceremony at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md., Nov. 13, 2014. U.S. Army photo by Walter T. Ham IV

exhibits and performances.  Army Lt. Col. Nathele J. Anderson, the commander of the 4th Battalion, 321st Regiment at Redstone Arsenal adjacent to Huntsville, Alabama, was the guest speaker.

A U.S. Army Reserve officer who has served in South Korea, Afghanistan and Qatar, Anderson described growing up in the Navajo Nation in the four corners area of the southwestern United States where Utah, Arizona, New Mexico and Colorado come together.

Anderson described the influence her culture had on her decision to join the U.S. Army and noted that Native Americans have the highest record of military service per capita in the nation.

‘Warrior Spirit is Alive and Well’

“The warrior spirit is alive and well and indeed it is a part of our military history and traditions,” Anderson said. “The warrior spirit of strength, honor and courage is a part of my heritage.”

Army Brig. Gen. JB Burton, commanding general of the 20th CBRNE Command, said that Native American troops have served with distinction.

Burton leads more than 5,000 soldiers and civilians in his command.

Native American Contributions to Defense

“We gather to honor the incredible contribution that Native Americans have made in the defense of our nation,” said Burton, a native of Tullahoma, Tennessee.

During his address, Burton highlighted the Choctaw and Navajo code talkers, as well as the 28 Native Americans who have the earned the Medal of Honor, the nation’s highest decoration for military valor.

“In many Native American languages, the translation for soldier, warrior, protector and helper are all the same word,” Burton said.

Native Americans have served with distinction from the country’s earliest days to the present-day, in “the cold mountains of Afghanistan to the burning deserts of Iraq,” he said.

“Native Americans have historically answered our nation’s call,” Burton said.

General Officer Assignments

SOURCE:  DOD

PHOTO(s) OF THE DAY

SOURCE:  Department of Defense /Defense News Lead Photo

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi and U.S. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey meet in Baghdad, Iraq, Nov. 15, 2014. Dempsey visited Baghdad to discuss the progress and achievements of Iraqi Security Forces and the U.S.-led coalition in the fight against ISIL. (DOD photo by D. Myles Cullen/Released)

Shawkat B. Zebari meets with U.S. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey at the Ministry of Defense in Baghdad, Iraq, Nov. 15, 2014. Dempsey visited Erbil to discuss the progress and achievements of Iraqi Security Forces and the U.S.-led coalition in the fight against ISIL. (DOD photo by D. Myles Cullen/Released)

WASHINGTON (Nov. 14, 2014) — Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel departs Joint Base Andrews on a trip to several US military instillations Nov. 14, 2014. DoD photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Sean Hurt/Released

BILOXI, MS – 2/20 Special Forces Group soldiers participate in a night assault exercise in Biloxi, MS Nov. 7, 2014 in support of Exercise Southern Strike 15 (SS15). Working with the Navy’s Special Boat Team 22, the soldiers traveled by night upriver to a simulated village. A USAF AC-130 Spectre provided cover as the team moved in. Following an exchange of fire between themselves and the enemy, the team was then ex-filtrated by the boat team and returned to base.
SS15 is a total force; multiservice exercise hosted by the Mississippi National Guard’s Combat Readiness Training Center. SS15 emphasises air-to-air; air-to-ground and special operations forces training opportunities. These events are integrated into demanding hostile and asymmetric scenarios with actions from specialized ground forces and combat and mobility air forces.; (New York Air National Guard / Senior Airman Christopher Muncy / unreleased)