Archive for April, 2008
April 12, 2008 By CJ
Posted in Military News, Top Posts
I left off just before the introductory speakers began speaking. As things were getting set up, I made it a point to look around and see who was watching our noble endeavor. I figured it must have been cold for the fairweather protesters that like to counter our efforts. Surprisingly, even WBC stood this one out. It was going to be a peaceful event without distractions. This was the only one I could really find to talk with. Can anyone say Manson?
Medal of Honor nominee and Silver Star recipient David Bellavia got things started.
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April 11, 2008 By You Served Editorial Staff
Posted in News, Veteran Benefits
Much like the temporary increase that was granted for the FHA loan program last month, some amended legislation is on the fast track in Congress currently that would raise the VA Loan limit in some areas to $730,000 temporarily. This comes in response to an admitted ‘oversight’ of Veterans and service members with the FHA expansion.
Additionally, the bill — which passed the Senate on Thursday by an 84-12 vote — expands two veterans’ home programs and would allow the cap on veterans’ home loans, now set at $417,000, to temporarily rise as high as $730,000 by matching the caps of the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation. Loans at the higher limit would be available through the end of the calendar year.
Track HR 3221 as it moves to the House, and read the full story at NavyTimes.com.
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April 9, 2008 By CJ
Posted in Military News, Top Posts, Top Posts - My Post
Okay, so I couldn’t liveblog the VOTH event like I had planned. I learned something the past few days: the more you pay (or Vets For Freedom pays) for a hotel, the more expensive the extras become. The Sheraton National Hotel where we stayed wanted $9.95 per day for internet access!! In case you haven’t noticed, I’m a cheap homie! I ain’t paying ta blog. Heck, I don’t even get paid to blog!
Instead, I opened up my Microsoft Word and began typing away. Below is my after action review of the Vets For Freedom, “Vets On The Hill” event. I hope you enjoy reading about it as much as I loved living it!!
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By You Served Editorial Staff
Posted in Life in the Military, MilBlogger Interviews, News
Jami from AmericanBabble.com took the time to provide some great answers this week for our ongoing features on female MilBloggers. Thanks for taking the time to talk to us here on VAMC’s You Served Jami!
You Served: What led you to be a Mil Blogger?
Jami: I had been in the National Guard for 5 years before I was deployed to Iraq in 2005. I never thought about blogging until my deployment to the Middle East. I think I started maintaining a blog mostly to keep in touch with everyone back home. I knew they would be worrying
about how I was or what I was doing. Even though I wasn’t able to update my blog during that deployment as much as I do today, I think it still helped people understand what was going on with me and with the war in Iraq.
Part of me also maintained the blog to help document the experience. Today I’m so glad that I did! Memories tend to fade and distort with time. It’s my own personal time capsule.
YS: Do you feel that being a female Mil Blogger adds a unique perspective to your blog? If yes, how so?
J: I think that the vast majority of my blogging could have easily have been written by a male soldier. But I think the simple fact that I am a female soldier writer, regardless of what I write, makes it unique. I don’t believe that my writing speaks in any particular female voice. It’s simply another soldier’s perspective.
YS: In what ways did your time in Iraq change your perspectives?
J: When I arrived in the Middle East, I instantly recognized how sheltered I was as an American. This alone opened my eyes beyond anything else that had previously happened to me in my life. I also realized that being gone from home for so long taught me the importance of self reliance. I could also see what it really meant to be poor and it left me with disdain towards America’s culture of materialism. Most importantly, my time in Iraq changed my perspective on life and it helped me understand the importance of living it with fervor.
YS: What is the main message you seek to share with visitors to your blog?
J: I write mostly observational posts. With that being said, I suppose my main message would be for people to take a moment to let these observations roll around in their heads so that they can see that the world isn’t so black and white.
YS: What have you learned from your experience as a Mil Blogger?
J: I’ve learned that writing publicly is both fulfilling and intrusive. Sometimes I forget that it’s more than just myself who can read the posts. The first time a stranger approached me to talk about my blog in person, (specifically about a few emotional posts) I didn’t quite know how to react. It’s an unusual feeling knowing that the stranger in front of you knows you far better than you know them.
YS: What advice would you give to a woman who wants to start her own MilBlog?
J: Try to write as honestly as possible but be mindful of the eyes who will be reading it. Also, for every negative comment you may get, you’ll received 10 more positive ones. Be sure you allow those 10 positive comments to out weight the one measly negative one.
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April 6, 2008 By CJ
Posted in Military News
April is the DoD’s Month of the Military Child. Most people probably don’t even know (or care) anything about it. But, I want to take this time to send a special note to my military children. As a military child myself, I know the sacrifices that military children make throughout their lives. As a father during a time of war, I can only imagine the thoughts that go through my kids’ minds each day I walk out that door for an extended period of time.
When I got back from Iraq, leaving for more than a day was a tear-inducing event. I remember my kids asking if I was going back to the war. I would always convince them that I would not be gone long. I was not going to “fight the bad guys again.”
I work a long day, leaving the house around 0530 in the morning and usually not getting home again until after 1800 one a good day. It is a rare weekend that I do not have to answer a phone call, respond to an email, or go even go into the office for an hour or two (or four).
My greatest fear is letting them down as a father as I do my duty as a Soldier. I’m a self-acknowledged perfectionist and when I think I haven’t done something right at work, I’m like a psycho-worker until I fix it. But, I love my kids more than anything in the world and would leave the Army in a minute if I thought my service was negatively affecting them. I love my country, but I love my family more. So, to my kids:
I love you so much. I appreciate everything that you do while I’m gone. I love watching how excited you get when I come home from a long trip. I love telling you all about the many different places I’ve been and hope to one day take you to many of them. I feel fulfilled knowing that you have everything you need and that, while I’m gone, you are safe and taken care of.
Your life is harder than most kids have to worry about. I apologize that I cannot spend as much time with you as I’d like. I know that I come home very stressed out much of the time, but seeing your smiling faces reverses those feelings (until you start fighting – then I get stressed again!). From the bottom of my heart, I love you. Thank you for chosing me to be your father!
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By CJ
Posted in Uncategorized
Ahhh, the National Intelligence Estimate. We are probably the only country in the world who publishes one for the whole world to tear apart. Everyone remembers that last one that came out last summer.
After all, it was hailed by the defeatists in Congress.
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April 5, 2008 By CJ
Posted in Life in the Military, Military News
Hello all! This is going to be a great week for the military. General Petraeus is scheduled to brief Congress on the conflict in Iraq and I will be among 400 veterans heading to Congress to tell our story during Vets On The Hill. The purpose is twofold: convince Congress to give General Petraeus an objective listen and to tell our stories about the good Soldiers are doing in theater.
A few weeks ago, Iraq Veterans Against War went to DC to try and convince our elected officials that we’re all violent criminals without any real training and in over our heads. Amazingly, hardly anyone had any firsthand knowledge of anything they testified about.
Congressional leaders are already trying to undermine General Petraeus before he even gets to utter a single word. A noble and honorable General of the United States military is being sacrificed on the alter of political expediency by people who have no idea of what life on the ground is really like. I hear over and over from my friends who have returned to Iraq what a completely different country it is than when we were there the first time. I’m fed up with the notion that bad news equals honesty about Iraq, but good news equals politicism and shouldn’t be believed.
Among other recent successes:
•Iraqi forces succeeded in retaking the strategically vital port of Umm Qasr, which had been controlled by militia loyal to the Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr.
•Thousands of tribesmen in the southern city of Basra have volunteered to join Iraqi security forces since al-Sadr agreed to a cease-fire on Sunday.
•The U.S. Embassy plans to send reconstruction teams to southern cities such as Najaf and Karbala where militias have long been powerful.
Anyway, it’s a short, two-day trip but I’ll be posting photos and commentary from the event. Stay tuned.
Ambassador Ryan Crocker also cited recent political progress on “benchmark” legislation, including a law setting provincial elections for the fall. He said the decline in violence had allowed parliament to come together as a “lively … somewhat effective” body.
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April 3, 2008 By CJ
Posted in Military News, Top Posts
Well, it’s that time of year again – the required 6-month Iraq report. It’s become standard practice for the defeatists in the Democratic Party to discount the war reports before they’ve even been given. So, with General Petreaus scheduled to testify next week before Congress on progress (or lack thereof) in Iraq, Nancy Peloser is already warning him not to “put a shine on recent events” in the country.
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April 1, 2008 By You Served Editorial Staff
Posted in Charities/Contests
A quick reminder to all mil/Vets (or those that have qualifying family members) that are currently enrolled or planning to attend college next Fall – we are again accepting essays in conjunction with our Military Education Scholarship Program. This is the 3rd round of scholarships we have offered and it continues to be a rousing success!
Funded entirely by our employees, we are offering five $1,500 scholarships to students with personal or family military affiliation. Essays will be accepted between April 1st and May 12th, with the scholarships awarded a week later. Our essay prompt this time is:
“What leadership qualities have you derived from your service in the Armed Forces? How do you project that these qualities will help you in pursuing your education and beyond?”
We love reading about the lives and ambitions of our applicants, help spread the word. The costs of higher education are astronomical these days and every little bit helps. Thanks!
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