Archive for February, 2010
February 26, 2010 By LL
Posted in Uncategorized
Most people who read here or listen to the Youserved Podcast know that there is an ebay auction site where you can buy items donated by guests or fans and all the money is donated to a great charity, Soldiers Angels.
You probably also know the guys talk a lot of smack.
So Marcus threw down the gauntlet. The engravable Marine medallion went for slightly under $20 last week in bidding. He said if anyone can bid on any of the other coins and beat that amount, he would shave his head.
Bald.
It hasn’t taken long for the current medallion to get up to $22. Now, I am not beneath public humiliation and peer pressure. That’s just the kind of girl I am. So I will say this, in chat, I suggested that we video record Marcus getting his head shaved in DC. This is for a GREAT cause and really, what’s a pair of clippers between friends, huh?
So I think we should all comment and email bomb Marcus and try to convince him to allow us to do this. It will be fun! And hilarious!
So go here and bid (there will be other coins coming up, so if you prefer your own military branch, hang tight for the following weeks, and if you want one of the other items like books, you can find the Youserved store here) and leave comments and just a poo-poo disclaimer, Marcus says no members of Youserved, their families, myself or our good buddy SK can bid. The rest of ya’ll are welcome to have at it!
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February 25, 2010 By CJ
Posted in Uncategorized
This is a great step forward. The Afghan flag was raised over the town of Marjah on February 25 in what U.S. commanders called a new beginning for the former Taliban stronghold.
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February 24, 2010 By CJ
Posted in Uncategorized
I had no idea this existed, but it couldn’t have come at a more convenient time. Last week, we got our tax refund (which is already spent) and paid off some bills. We are now almost completely debt free and it feels good. This week is National Military Saves Week. I’ll let LTG Robert Cone tell you what it is, but first I want to tell you how we’ve managed to get out of debt.
When I first joined the Army, my TAKE HOME pay was a little less than $300 every two weeks. With this nearly $600 each month, I had to pay a car payment, insurance, gas, and food. My wife and I were newly married and she became pregnant immediately. With a baby on the way, all we had to live off of was ramen and spaghetti for a LONG time.
We made a bunch of stupid decisions beginning with the decision to purchase a brand new vehicle (Suzuki Esteem) instead of finding a cheap used one. When our family grew, we tried to trade into a bigger car (Suzuki Esteem Wagon) but owed more money than it was worth and ended up added that cost to the new vehicle. Things went downhill from there. We (meaning me most of the time) ended up charging a lot of stuff and digging ourselves into debt. Fingerhut owned us and Sears wouldn’t stop calling.
After about five years of almost unmanageable debt, I started working with our creditors to get out of debt. We began by convincing the credit card companies it was in their best interest to lower our interest rates so we could pay the cards off as opposed to just filing bankruptcy. Filing, of course, would have ruined my security clearance and there was no way I was going to do that but they didn’t know that.
Once rates were lowered, we targeted our smallest bill and made minimum payments on everything else until that bill was paid off. Then, we took the money we WERE paying each month on that bill and applied it to the next bill ON TOP OF the minimum payment. Once that one was paid off, we rolled that monthly payment to the next and so on. We got to a point where we were literally paying $600 a month on ONE bill with a minimum payment of about $20. The snowball effect of such a tactic is amazing!
On top of this, we continued to pay our tithing, which according to biblical scripture is 10%. We did so regardless of our financial situation and I believe we were blessed because of it. We are now almost completely debt free from unsecured debt. We still – for just a few more months – owe on our cars and still have house payments, of course. It’s taken us less than five years to get rid of more than ten years of debt this way.
Now to the point of National Military Saves Week. This is from LTG Robert Cone, III Corps and Fort Hood commanding general.
As Soldiers, you work very hard for your money, and most of the time it never seems like you have enough. How many times have you looked around at the end of each month and asked yourself where did it go? Every month you pay your utility bills, car payments, insurance premiums, rent or home mortgage and credit cards bills, BUT are you paying yourself?
If you’ve ever been to a financial planning seminar the advice they always tell you up front is to “pay yourself first.”
Next week, February 21-28, is “National Military Saves Week.” Military Saves is a national campaign to persuade, motivate and encourage military families to save money every month, and to convince leaders and organizations to be aggressive in promoting automatic savings.
One of the main secrets to accumulating wealth, and more importantly financial stability and security in the long term, is consistent action over time. These actions include setting financial goals; creating, and sticking to, a budget; consolidating and paying down debt; and saving and/or investing your hard earned money.
One of the easiest and best ways to save money is to set up an automatic bank draft. By having a set amount of money deposited into a savings account each month you are effectively “paying yourself first.” Start out small and be realistic with your needs and goals. Look for ways to cut back on your spending and take personal responsibility for your financial future.
You can start right now by taking the Saver Pledge: “I will help myself by saving money, reducing debt, and building wealth over time. I will help my family and my country by encouraging other Americans to build wealth, not debt.”
There are a whole host of resources available here on Fort Hood to help you on your way to financial readiness and future wealth. From your unit command financial noncommissioned officer to the Personal Financial Assistance Center, located in the Resiliency Campus, professionals are standing by to help.
The Army Community Service Financial Readiness Branch offers classes about credit, savings, investing, home buying, banking, budgeting/debt management, insurance and consumer awareness/identity theft.
Financial readiness is a personal obligation for every Soldier. You cannot effectively focus on your mission if you are worried about finances and debt. Take charge of your fiscal future by taking advantage of these resources and developing healthy money management habits and routines.
I personally encourage all of you to begin saving this week and make it a lifelong commitment. Good luck on your quest to build wealth, eliminate debt, and achieve financial independence.
Pay Yourself First. Phantom Warriors!
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February 23, 2010 By LL
Posted in Uncategorized
There are a lot of resources for the military nowadays, but you can never have too many.
The Department of Defense, in conjunction with Veterans Affairs and Department of Labor have a central website called the National Resource Directory. From the About Us page:
The National Resource Directory (NRD) is a Web site for wounded, ill and injured Service Members, Veterans, their families and those who support them.
It provides access to services and resources at the national, state and local levels to support recovery, rehabilitation and community reintegration. Visitors can find information on a variety of topics including benefits & compensation, education & training, employment, family & caregiver support, health, homeless assistance, housing, transportation & travel and other services & resources
If you know a wounded warrior or you work with them, you might want to use this to help them get all the information and benefits and/or assistance they are entitled to. According to the DOD press release,
NRD users can also recommend additional resources. All resources are thoroughly vetted prior to inclusion on the National Resource Directory, and as always, content is updated and reviewed daily by a content management team which includes veterans and subject matter experts.
I think you can feel secure in that the DOD is taking the time to make sure these are legitimate and legal avenues of aid when it is necessary. That can only be a good thing.
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February 22, 2010 By Claire
Posted in Spouse and Family
Freedom Team Salute will be shutting down this Month. Here are the following announcments they have up on their sites, and a little bit about them for those who were not familiar with them. This struck me as particularly horrible timing. We are closing down operations in Iraq, gearing up operations in Afghanistan… now is not the time to back off on funding for troop support. This news comes the same week that milblogger David Belavia states “Our Mission is Finally Accomplished… Anyone Care?” I care David. I care greatly, and I hope that those who read this post and click over to David’s place will leave him a note telling him that.
In the meantime, they can shut down Gov’t funded troop support that does not stop our private sector cheerleaders like Soldier’s Angels, Sponsor the Troops, and Operation Gratitude. There are many out there. I know that FTS was more than that, but now is the time for families, Veterans and civilians who support our military to push forward and find new ways to get the message to our guys on the front lines. Don’t ever assume they know we care. Tell them. Show them.
From the FTS website:
Since its beginnings in 2005, FTS has recognized and honored the services of more than 2.3 million Parents, Spouses, Employers, Supporters and Army Veterans. While the Army will no longer be able to recognize individuals and organizations with FTS commendations, please know that we still appreciate the service and sacrifice of those who stand in support of our Soldiers and Veterans.
The success of FTS can be attributed to the Army’s Leadership; Veterans Service Organizations at the local, state, and national levels; Army units and installation leadership; and Soldiers themselves who took the opportunity to recognize those who supported them. FTS owes special thanks to our nearly 1,000 Ambassadors who unselfishly volunteered their time to support this program—much of the success of FTS can be directly attributed to their efforts.
The FTS staff and I want to personally thank all of those who supported our efforts. You have all made a difference in the lives of our Soldiers, Veterans, and the Army Family. Please continue to thank them for their service and sacrifice.
Sincerely,
COL David M. Griffith
Director, U.S. Army Freedom Team Salute
Thank you for your interest in the Freedom Team Salute (FTS) Program. We have been proud of the accomplishments of FTS—however, due to the Army’s multiple competing missions and demands on resources, FTS will cease operations at the end of February 2010. In order to allow time to process commendations before the program ends, FTS will stop taking commendation requests after 11 February 2010.
LINK TO HOMEPAGE
LINK TO FACEBOOK PAGE
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By Troy
Posted in Uncategorized
You may remember that we had BG Abrams on You Served Radio a few months back. You can hear the interview here, http://www.blogtalkradio.com/youserved/2009/10/22/episode-61–general-abrams-and-darrell-griffith-1.
As my old Commander from Desert Storm and one hell of a leader, I am glad to see BG Abrams engaging new media and doing his part to support it.
Fort Irwin/National Training Center Commanding General Brig. Gen. Robert “Abe” Abrams checks his Twitter page after appearing on 88.3FM’s “Newsmakers” program with Fort Irwin/NTC Media Relations Officer Etric Smith on Feb. 3, 2010.
FORT IRWIN, Calif.- Fort Irwin/National Training Center Commanding General Brig. Gen. Robert “Abe” Abrams is a regular on 88.3FM KNTC, Fort Irwin and the National Training Center’s post radio station, but his Wednesday morning appearance wasn’t his usual show.
Instead of just fielding questions from callers, Brig. Gen. Abrams, who has a Twitter page himself, took questions from the Fort Irwin/National Training Center Facebook page and Twitter page, demonstrating yet another way the installation is using Social Media.
As he spoke about a wide variety of topics ranging from the value of Social Media to the current Canadian rotation and the installation’s DUI prevention and awareness efforts, Brig. Gen. Abrams fielded a question from the Fort Irwin/NTC Facebook page about one of the many on-going construction projects on the installation.
Although Brig. Gen. Abrams didn’t have an immediate answer to the question, it didn’t take long for him to provide the correct answer to the question about the improvements being done to one of the many recreational fields at Fort Irwin.
“There is great power for us because of our remote location and our ability to communicate using a combination of Facebook and Twitter primarily to help message to the community,” he said. “It’s a way to quickly get out short bursts of information on what’s going on: road closures, if there’s an incident or accident.”
Before the current rotation began, there was an incident at the front gate that provided an opportunity for the installation to leverage and quickly send out information to the community, he said.
“If we can leverage our Social Media, following NTC_UPDATE on Twitter, you like me would have gotten an immediate message on what’s going on,” he said. “It’s just another way leverage what we have and get the word out on things. It’s a great tool from a command information standpoint to be able to get the message out.”
Currently, Canadian soldiers are conducting training at Fort Irwin and the National Training Center as they prepare to deploy to Afghanistan and Brig. Gen. Abrams said the Canadian military leadership has been impressed with the quality of training at the National Training Center.
“It’s been a fantastic rotation. Great opportunity for a joint, intergovernmental, multi-national training experience right here at the world’s finest combat training center,” Brig. Gen. Abrams said.
Several high profile Canadian military leaders including the Canadian Chief of Defense have come to the National Training Center to see the ongoing training and have been pleased, he said.
“They came down here and they just couldn’t say enough good things about all the good support and the great training their soldiers are receiving,” Brig. Gen. Abrams said. “They just couldn’t be more pleased.”
One thing most people don’t know is that the Canadian Army has been side-by-side U.S. Forces in Afghanistan since the beginning, he said.
“Per capita they have sacrificed more blood and treasure and human life than we have,” Brig. Gen. Abrams said. “They are true professionals. They are absolutely incredible fighters. They’re great coalition partners and they don’t get a lot of recognition in our national press, but as soldiers we stand by and recognize their competence, their confidence, the professionalism of a great Army and a true friend to the United States of America.”
In January Fort Irwin and the NTC had its first DUI-free month in 13 months, Brig. Gen. Abrams said.
“I think we’re doing a much better job than we had previously. We went the month of January without a DUI,” he said. “That’s a significant accomplishment, especially based on the numbers. We averaged seven a month.”
The DUI awareness and prevention effort is an ongoing campaign that the installation must keep going, he said.
“This is about taking care of each other. This is about protecting the force and protecting the great soldiers and families at Fort Irwin,” Brig. Gen. Abrams said. “We’re only one DUI away from killing somebody and that’s the sad reality of things. I just ask that everybody on Fort just keep their eye on the ball and continue to press.”
2 Comments »
February 20, 2010 By Claire
Posted in Life in the Military, Spouse and Family
FROM: Operation Military Kids
Military pediatricians and youth professionals developed DVD’s to helpmilitary children understand and deal with the emotions related to a family member’s deployment.
The United States Army Medical Command and the American Academy ofPediatrics produced “Military Youth Coping with Separation: When FamilyMembers Deploy,” to address a variety of deployment-related concerns for teens. For elementary age children there is a, “Mr. Poe and Friends Discuss Reunion After Deployment” DVD. The animated host, Mr. Poe, mentors and provides guidance to children and family members as they discuss deployment.
For more information about the DVDs visithttp://www.tricare.mil/pressroom/news.aspx?fid=396.
Both videos are available for online viewing on the American Academy of Pediatrics Deployment Support Web site at www.aap.org/sections/unifserv/deployment/index.htm.
They are also available for ordering, in DVD format, through Military One Source at 1-800-342-9647 orhttp://www.militaryonesource.com/skins/MOS/home.aspx
Military pediatricians and youth professionals developed DVDs to help military children understand and deal with the emotions related to a family member’s deployment.
The United States Army Medical Command and the American Academy of Pediatrics produced “Military Youth Coping with Separation: When Family Members Deploy,” to address a variety of deployment-related concerns for teens. For elementary age children there is a, “Mr. Poe and Friends Discuss Reunion After Deployment” DVD. The animated host, Mr. Poe, mentors and provides guidance to children and family members as they discuss deployment.
For more information about the DVDs visit: http://www.tricare.mil/pressroom/news.aspx?fid=396.
Both videos are available for online viewing on the
American Academy of Pediatrics Deployment Support Web site at:www.aap.org/sections/unifserv/deployment/index.htm.
They are also available for ordering, in DVD format, through Military One Source at: 1-800-342-9647 or http://www.militaryonesource.com/skins/MOS/home.aspx
1 Comment »
By Claire
Posted in Charities/Contests, Spouse and Family
Pay close attention to the deadline… I just found this. The entry has to be postmarked by this coming Friday, February 26th!
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The MCEC’s 2010 Call for the Arts:
The Art of Being a Military Child
The Military Child Education Coalition (MCEC) seeks to promote the Arts by featuring the great works of military children. Each year children are asked to submit work that can be utilized in the MCEC’s publications, conferences, and other activities. Included in the request for work from military-connected children, kindergarten through high school, are artwork, film, and writing (essays, poetry, and short stories).
Artwork in the visual arts is featured at the MCEC’s national conference each year. It is utilized in the On The Move magazine, the annual calendar, the conference program, and other MCEC publications.
Writing, including essays, poetry, and short stories, is featured in the national conference program, the On The Move magazine, the annual calendar, and other MCEC publications.
Film is considered for the “Reel Military” Youth Film and Video Festival at the national conference each year.
Please see the attached documents for details. All submissions must be postmarked no later than February 26, 2010.
Information Link to the .pdf file with all Entry Information
MCEC’s 2010 Call for the Arts: The Art of Being a Military Child
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1 Comment »
February 19, 2010 By Claire
Posted in News
This definitely increases the worries I talked about in my earlier post. The gross incompetence displayed here is beyond scary… it’s outright disgusting. Your hard earned tax dollars at work, people…
Homeland Security Lost Dozens of Guns, According to Internal Report
Absent-Minded Officers Left Guns in Bowling Alley, Lunch Box; Recovered Guns Had Gang Signs Engraved
By LEE FERRAN
Feb. 18, 2010
msm-ABCNEWS
Guns meant to help safeguard America found their way into the hands of known criminals after absent-minded federal officers left firearms unsecured everywhere from fast-food restaurants to bowling alleys, according to a report by the Department of Homeland Security.
Nearly 300 guns were misplaced by or stolen from federal officials between fiscal years 2006 and 2008, some of which were never reported lost, the report concluded. Some of the guns were recovered later by local law enforcement from suspected gang members after they had been engraved with gang signs.
“The Department of Homeland Security, through its components, did not adequately safeguard and control its firearms,” according to the January report, which looked at seven of the department’s agencies.
Firearms were left unattended in an idle vehicle in a parking lot, the restroom of a fast-food restaurant, a clothing store, a lunch box and a bowling alley, the report said.
One gun was locked in the trunk of an officer’s car along with body armor and radio equipment, but the key to the trunk was left next to the vehicle’s windshield wipers.
http://abcnews.go.com/TheLaw/homeland-secu…tory?id=9875383
1 Comment »
By Claire
Posted in Spouse and Family
I have always said, and proven by example, that mothers can bring worry and neurotic fears to a whole new level of angst and suffering. We can’t help it. It’s who we are. I fight hard against allowing fear and anxiety to rule my life. I sleep well, most nights, and I am getting better about praying when I am anxious.
I worried when my oldest son joined in ‘04. I worried that the shoulder he broke in Jr. High would give him fits when it was pushed to the limits at his Infantry OSUT. It did give him fits, and he gave it fits right back. He made it through and worked through the pain. He is stronger for it.
I worried when he told me he was going to deploy. I didn’t go ballistic. I knew it was coming. I still worried. The casualties coming out of Iraq at that time were at a peak, and it was going to be a hard deployment for me. He’s a Stryker Soldier and an Infantry dude. He kicks in doors and does dangerous things. He loves his job. I worried. He buried more friends than I ever have. He saw more horrific death than I ever will. The surge and the war gave him hell. He gave it right back. He’s deployed again. This time the conditions are different, but I still worry about it. He’s fine though. I know it.
I worried when my youngest signed up. I knew it was coming. He was wearing a high and tight for the last 2-years of high school. He talked in TLAs. He went Reserves and then told me he was planning on going Active. I worry, but less so as I grow used to the military life. I am learning to live with the threat and the most important thing I have learned is that the military did not increase the risk of harm to sons that much. Really what it did is it greatly increased my own awareness and understanding of the frailty of human life. I have read many stories of young soldiers coming home from 2 and 3 deployments to be killed in a car accident. It can happen to anyone at any time. I don’t worry as much now because if I did it would be a lifestyle of fret. What kind of a life is that?
I found something new to worry about lately though. It’s funny but through all of this military life, when my husband was in, when my son was fighting in the surge, when I was counting the number of men lost in his Company, I never thought I would have to worry so much about him when he’s in garrison.
There was a terror plot on Ft. Dix a few years ago. There was a terror attack on Ft. Hood several months ago, and now I read today that three of the five being detained at Ft. Jackson for poisoning the food our soldiers eat have been cleared. Two have not been. My soldier ate at that DFAC up until December. The investigation started in December. This tells me he was there and eating the food that was potentially being threatened with poison.
The news is saying that the Army is purporting that “no one was ever in danger.” Funny, but that’s the same BS line we got about how the warning signs of Nidal Hasan were handled too. I’m not buying it.
It really sucks when you have to worry about terrorist attacks while in garrison. Maybe I am jumping the gun with my conclusions to the stuff going on at Ft. Jackson, but what if I’m not. What is the Army going to do?
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