Petraeus Receives American Legion Distinguished Service Medal

August 27, 2009 By CJ
Posted in Military News, Top Posts

The CENTCOM Commander, GEN David Petraeus, receiving the American Legion Distinguished Service Medal during the 91st Annual American Legion Convention in Louisville, KY.

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Keeping Perspective

August 26, 2009 By Claire
Posted in Spouse and Family

I found and posted this more than 2-years ago on my own blog (the now graveyard of posts of the past), but it bears repeating. It’s a great reminder put together by a Chaplain to help civilians understand how much the war zone changes your perspective. It changed my own to a degree, and I was not the one experiencing if first hand. Even vicarious exposure to combat puts a lot of things into perspective and it makes your ears very sensitive to ingratitude and complaining.

Anyway, take a peek and pass it along if you like it.64073-KEEPINGITINPERSPECTIVE-1-1-1

Keeping Perspective

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Home school and PCSing; Considerations for your ‘wish list’

By Claire
Posted in Life in the Military, Spouse and Family

Home schooling is not just a growing alternative education movement among civilians. It is also a fast growing education movement among military families. Some families home school only for a short time, for example, when a PCS happens close to the end of a school year. The family may choose to home school instead of trying to start a new school so late in the year. Other families turn to home school for a variety of reasons; religious, personal, or otherwise. I know my husband and I chose to home school for a few reasons — one being that we would like our daughter to have a classical education and home school is the only way to do that in our area.

If you are a military family and are considering home schooling your child there are some good resources out there for your use. There are a lot of online support sites and you can easily continue your child’s home education for both CONUS and OCONUS stations. These sites offer practical support to the brand new home educator to the experienced and seasoned one.

When we were leaving Tennessee to our first PCS to Ft. Sill OK, I had already started thinking ahead regarding home school. One thing you must consider is that you must comply with state laws and regulations around home education. You may want to consider picking installations for your “wish list” in states with fewer regulations. Particularly you are going to want to know ahead of the game if you have been homeschooling in a low regulation state .

The following information and lists are from The Military Homeschooler: Continue reading this post…

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Golden Rules of Receiving Care Packages

By LL
Posted in Guest Blogger

You know, my friend JP wrote a seminal piece on how not to send crappy care packages when he was in Afghanistan about 5 years ago (It is tongue-in-cheek and STILL riles up the masses). He pulls it out, dusts it off, and updates it occasionally, to remind all us supporters to mind our p’s and q’s.

Well, I think it’s time to give a tat for his tit. (Whoa, that SO didn’t come out right, but you know what I mean)

1. Don’t ask for electronics. I’m way better looking than Bill Gates, even though HE could probably get you the iPods and such, and I will send stuff to you, but asking for electronics is greedy. I have 2 kids to fulfill the greedy need-need-wanna-gotta-have hole in my life, m’kay? Unless I squeezed you outta my hoohah, you’re not getting a new iPod, thankyouverymuch, so stop asking.  (By the way, I still don’t have one, so I’m considered a luddite in JP’s eyes.  Whatever)

2. Generic food items should be appreciated. Oh my gosh, do you know how many starving children in Africa one generic instant mac & cheese cup could feed? 20. That’s how many. Stop yer whinin’! You can always go back to MREs and not poop for 3 weeks. Our bowels work just fine and we’re happy to send that stuff to someone else. (Yes, I’m a mother, and yes, that “starving children in Africa” phrase is in the Mom Handbook as a legitimate use phrase.)

3. Any clothing item requests should include colors and sizes. I’m used to buying for 3 people-a 13 year old girl, a 7 year old boy, and myself. Unless you want white t-shirts in Boys Youth M, or underwear with the Twilight motif, or a push up bra in size 38DD, be S.P.E.C.I.F.I.C.

4. Communication is our strong suit. Here’s a clue…if you ask us how we’re doing, we’re gonna tell you. Most of us are girls. We like to talk. We will tell you how we’re doing, what we’re doing, what we’ve done, what our dog just did, and what color we painted our toenails. If long boring emails or letters aren’t your thing, don’t ask.

5. Communication is a two way street. Don’t assume you’re the only soldier we support and that we know your every tiny like and dislike. If you didn’t tell us that cheese-in-a-can and crackers are your favorite snack EVAH and we just by luck threw some in a box and now you’re disappointed cuz the second box didn’t have it…blame yourself. If you TELL us you can’t live without sourpatch kids, we will send you 30 bags of it. If you don’t, you’re left sucking on butterscotch disks and cursing the gods for a crappy supporter who doesn’t know your proclivities. Bad communicator. Bad, bad communicator!

6. The word “entertainment” covers a lot of ground. I have it on good authority that some soldiers find tossing pebbles into each others mouths and torturing boobahs entertaining. These were infantry guys, so take THAT fact however you like, but we supporters are not mind readers. If you like to read Maxim for entertainment, let us know. If you need a deck of cards and some poker chips, sound off. If sudoku is your thing to while away the time, a head’s up is nice. Otherwise, you may end up with a box of pebbles. And I’m not talkin’ about the fruity cereal kind either!

7. Expect the occasional prank box. Ummm, some of us have a sense of humor. We can and WILL send inappropriate items such as pedicure kits, flip flops with daisies on them, or if you are arachnaphobic, you may get…..spidery things, etc. If you are a Serious Dexter, maybe you should tell us up front so you don’t have to explain the blinking pink princess crown to your buddies. We’re just trying to make you laugh and lighten things up a little. Barbie band aids handed out by medics amuse us. You have been forewarned. (Oh, and all items listed have been sent by myself or a small group of supporters that I coordinate with, so I’m really not kidding that if you don’t have a sense of humor, I’m not your gal or tell me you have no sense of humor. Then again, I may just send a prank box and have your buddy video record you opening it. I’m evil that way)

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Laptops For Flattops

August 25, 2009 By CJ
Posted in Charities/Contests

They’re doing it again – a contest to get some nice laptops with awesome webcams into the hands of two families with deployed troops. Here are the details:

WHO: Online retailer, AllAmericanDirect.com

WHAT: A re-launch of the popular ‘Laptops for Flat Tops’ contest that chooses two military families to win a laptop with and embedded webcam (for the family) and an additional webcam (for the soldier) to help improve communication with their loved one while they are deployed. Interested parties may simply go to the site and tell us why they deserve to win.

WHEN: Now through September 4th!

SITE: To enter go to www.allamericandirect.com/military

WHY: After the success of their first two contests in April and June, AllAmericanDirect.com is even more excited and committed to saluting those in uniform by giving them the means to ‘see’ their family while they are thousands of miles away. Everyone knows how difficult separation from a loved one can be, especially when deployments are long and/or extended.

This is a way for AllAmericanDirect.com to say thank you to the soldiers and military families that have sacrificed so much to serve the USA.

AllAmericanDirect.com, a leading e-commerce provider of consumer electronics and satellite services, today announces the company’s third Laptops for Flat Tops contest, which will award one laptop with an embedded Webcam (for the family) and an additional Webcam (for the soldier) to two families who have an immediate family member serving in any branch of the U.S. military overseas.

This contest arrives on the heels of April and June’s successful Laptops for Flattops contests, which provided multiple military families the opportunity to more intimately connect with their loved ones. The popular contest re-launches on August 3 to provide another opportunity for two more deserving military families.

To enter, all participants need to do is submit a short explanation, either in written or video format, of why their family deserves to win, and how a laptop can improve their lives and communication with their loved one serving overseas. Families must be able to verify their loved one’s military enlistment.

You may also submit an entry by going to http://www.youtube.com/group/laptopsforflattops, joining our group, and submitting a one minute video. When you submit your video, please remember to begin it with your name, and then submit an entry to www.allamericandirect.com/military with the words “see video”, so we can send you your laptop when you win!

“In our first two contests we set out to raise awareness and support for our troops, and the response was overwhelming,” said Mike Mountford, CEO of AllAmericanDirect.com. “The stories that we have heard have inspired us, and reassured us that something as simple as a laptop can lift a family’s spirits in a time of great need. We salute the families that have sacrificed so much to serve our country.”

Entries for the contest can be submitted as early as 12:00 AM EDT (24:00 GMT) on Monday, August 3 via allamericandirect.com/military for written submissions and via www.youtube.com/group/laptopsforflattops for video submissions. The contest closes at 11:59 PM EDT (15:59 GMT) on Friday, September 4.

Judging will be done by a panel of three judges including: Col. (Ret.) Dale A. Kissinger, partner at MilitaryAvenue.com and a colonel (retired) in the U.S. Air Force, Mr. Scott Davis, an Air Force veteran of Operation Desert Storm and father of Army PFC Sean Davis, who is stationed in Vicenza, Italy, and is preparing for his second tour of duty in Afghanistan, and Ms. Jenna Richards, the sister of Capt. Phillip Richards and his wife Capt. Michelle Richards who are active in the Army’s 82nd Airborne Division and will be deployed to Iraq for their second tour of duty in September 2009.

Winners of the contest will be announced on Monday, September 14. Families may re-submit a new essay for each bi-monthly contest if they were not previously selected. The contest will continue every other month through December 2009.

To learn more about Laptops for Flattops, visit http://www.allamericandirect.com/military. Further information on AllAmericanDirect.com’s products and services is available online at http://www.allamericandirect.com/?pr.

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Old School versus New School

By LL
Posted in Uncategorized

This article triggered a fierce debate among some military guys I know in a back channel email and I’m very curious what you military out there think.

The debate was not about these men (that the article is about) or the soldier who committed suicide per se.  (NOTE:  We are NOT going to discuss the guilt or innocence of the 4 NCOs nor the character of the young soldier who killed himself, so please stay on topic or comments will deleted.  Until we know all the facts, it is wrong to disparage any of them.  We weren’t there)  The discussion morphed when I asked, “At what point does it become abusive, in your opinion?  Is there no line?” when PT or physical correction was brought up.

The New School says that physical correction is not necessary.  Mentoring and corrections through good leadership without forcing a soldier/marine to “drop and give me 20″ is not only possible, but very effective.

The Old School says on-the-spot correction with 20 pushups, sometimes with the leader joining in and addressing the issue before and/or after is just as effective and a lot of times necessary.

The point of this argument, I think, is the belief in different leadership styles.

Now, I have to say that the Old School group has a lot of experience, time-in-service wise, but the New School makes good arguments because he says the non-corporal-punishment idea is a branch wide philosophy and it works well, up to and including senior cadre who have lead using both styles.

I’ve read blogs where NCOs have had a slacker troop untangle a huge ball of 55o cord for punishment and others where senior NCOs made troops stand in daily formations as punishment for one tiny infraction.  I’ve read them where NCOs regularly drop their guys if they screw up and others where verbal counseling combined with taking away perks has worked just as effectively in getting the point across.

Both sides, Old School and New School agree that abusive behavior by leaders is not to be tolerated.  The difference is that one side thinks dropping soldiers/marines IS abusive and not treating their teams as adults.

I’d like to see what you others out there think.  Is dropping someone abusive?  Is there a line?  Who determines when someone has had enough?  Can the same goal be accomplished without the physical reinforcement?  If one branch of the military chooses to do things differently, but is just as effective as a fighting force, is this evidence that one or the other system is bad?  What say you?

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Louisiana Honoring Her Veterans

August 24, 2009 By Troy
Posted in Veteran Benefits, Wall of Honor

A great story came out last weekend about the state of Louisiana and how the state is honoring its citizens who are honorable veterans from all wars.

The Louisiana Veterans Honor Medal is a medal created by the State of Louisiana to honor all residents who have been killed in combat or who have served and has received an honorable discharge.

The medals are part of a program started by Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal in 2008.

Jindal "is honoring our veterans to let them know they are appreciated for what they have done," said Sonya Aucoin, activities director at the Southeast Louisiana War Veterans Home in Reserve. "They protected our freedom."

Read the whole story and see some great pictures of Gov. Jindal presenting the medals to some well-deserving veterans at

http://www.nola.com/news/index.ssf/2009/08/louisiana_veterans_honor_medal.html

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Fear Not the Thingamajig

By LL
Posted in Guest Blogger, Spouse and Family

A couple of weeks ago, ArmyWifeToddlerMom, one of my favorite milspouse bloggers out there, posted triumphant video of her slaying the broken toilet and like a phoenix, it rose anew, to be flushed with glee and ease (she also has a suggestion for earning brownie sash patches for successful things accomplished and it’s a funny post).

I started thinking that single moms like me (newly divorced or not) and military wives could really help each other out. See, some of us are pretty handy with tools. I have a toolbox that is overflowing (I keep meaning to buy a bigger one) and I’ve changed the brakes on my car, fixed many a toilet, fixed my dryer, replaced power switches and on and on. My friend, who was newly separated, she was clueless about a lot of stuff and I made her at least TRY to fix things. She’s a veritable Tim the Toolman Taylor after 2 years (or maybe I should say Al cuz she’s pretty successful in her repairs, unlike the grunty one).

So I want to encourage you women out there whose husbands have deployed and you are looking at the lawn in terror cuz the grass is getting high and you’re not sure WHAT to do to even get the mower started, let alone how to use the trimmer or how to wield a screwdriver, BE CONFIDENT. You actually CAN do things without testosterone coursing through your veins and without having a hairy chest (If you do have the unfortunate latter, I suggest plucking). This is not rocket science. It’s so easy a Man can do it, ok? Even the 12 year old neighbor boy can do it because you see HIM out there mowing. Or trimming. Or edging.

So pull up your big girl panties and look things over (my daughter read this over, laughed at this part in particular and said, “Even put on some boxers if it makes you feel better!”). Instead of spending $50-$100 on a service call for the repairman to get behind your dryer to plug it back in (only to later find out your kids were playing hide & seek and accidentally unplugged it), look around. What’s the worst that can happen? You have to call a repairman to come fix it? Yeah.

Email friends. Ask if they’ve ever come across something like “this.” Have a Mowing Party! Invite your girlfriends over and, with pitchers of sangria or mojitos, look over the lawn mower, read the instructions on it, look your model up online for a user’s manual. BE FEARLESS. Teach each other. Support each other. Get greasy and dirty!

When hubby comes home and sees that not only is the lawn mowed, it’s edged neatly, and you can tell him you did it yourself, his eyes may pop out of his head, but you will feel such a sense of accomplishment. You can show him that scar on your thumb and say, “Honey, this is where the torque wrench slipped when I was changing the brakes. I hit my thumb on the lugnut bolt. But I got it done and saved us $300 at Midas!” He will most likely faint, but then you can be the Rhett Butler to his Scarlett and help him get over the vapors. It will be a defining moment in your relationship, trust me.

Above all, know this, we are all out here supporting you. Any one of you are welcome to email me, or some male milblogger, and ask, “Hey, listen, this weird thingamajig fell out of the dishwasher and I want to try to fix it myself. Have any clue what it is and how to put it back in?” (A picture is always helpful in these instances). We may not know what to do, but then again, we may. Or we may know someone who is an outstanding mechanic or repairman who could walk you through the process over the phone.

Be confident in yourself. You have such huge burdens, keeping the homefires burning for your deployed husbands, and worrying them is something that I know a lot of you try to avoid. So reach out. Learn how a toilet works. Learn how to replace a doorknob. Find hubby’s secret stash of WD-40 so your front door will stop squeaking and making you nuts. (Word of advice, if you go digging around his workbench, leave it the way you found it. Men are territorial about that kind of stuff. If you inhale deeply, you might smell pee where he marked the legs of His Space, m’kay?)

Anyway, as they say, DRIVE ON. We’re here when you need us, and we might even let you borrow our tools.

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Silver Star Awarded to Veteran 40 Years Later

August 22, 2009 By CJ
Posted in Military History, Military News

By Jennifer Borrasso

11:55 AM EDT, August 22, 2009
It was an honor for a former soldier from Lackawanna County forty years after his time in Vietnam.

It was a special ceremony at Genetti’s in Wilkes-Barre to honor one man’s heroism.

“The president of the United States of America has awarded the Silver Star to Private First Class Paul J. Wedlock, United States Army. . . ” the loudspeaker sounded on Friday evening.

Congressman Paul Kanjorski, D-Nanticoke, pinned the Silver Star onto Paul Wedlock of Scranton.

In 1969 Wedlock was 19 years old and serving with the U.S. Army in South Vietnam. During one firefight, he crawled across a battlefield to pull his severely wounded commanding officer to safety.

“I don’t feel like I’m a hero, no not at all, not at all, it’s just one of the things we do that’s our job being in infantry,” PFC Wedlock said of his bravery.

Read the rest here.

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Gold Star Mom Hacked

By CJ
Posted in News

Debbie Lee, the mother of fallen hero Marc Allen Lee, has been hacked. Her son was the first Navy SEAL killed in Iraq. She has sacrificed a lot for this country as a Gold Star Mom. Her advocacy has taken from DC to the halls of Berkeley City Council to a Tim McGraw song presence. She’s the president of “America’s Mighty Warriors” whose mission is to “honor, thank, support, and encourage the troops and their families and remember the sacrifice of my “Mighty Warrior” Marc Alan Lee, the first Navy SEAL killed in Iraq.”

But, that doesn’t mean anything to those peacenik hippies that could care less. After all, “Marc wouldn’t have died had we not illegally invaded Iraq.” Instead of just opposing her, they’ve hacked into her Facebook page and taken control of her email sending out racial emails and posting disturbing comments on her profile.

This is despicable!

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