Forgive me for being so hard on this, but it really annoys me when people thank me for my service on Memorial Day weekend upon finding out I’m in the Army. I don’t fault those people because they just want to support our troops, but I just think that the American people don’t quite get what Memorial Day is about. It’s not about me. It’s not about the guys and gals I serve with. It’s about those that will never read this blog post because they’ve already paid the ultimate sacrifice.
In 2000, Gallup asked Americans why we celebrate Memorial Day. Only 28% of those surveyed knew exactly what Memorial Day was for – to honor our nations veterans who paid the ultimate sacrifice fighting this nation’s wars. That sounds like a low number, but the same study also noted that two-thirds of Americans at least go close, mentioning either our fallen heroes or honoring vets as the reason for the holiday. But, if anyone is still confused about what Memorial Day means, this photo by LCpl Bryan Nygaard should sum it up for you.
Lt. Cmdr. Stephen Coates, the chaplain for Regional Command Southwest, delivers a pastoral reflection during the memorial service for Lt. Col. Benjamin “Chili” Palmer aboard Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan, May 25. Palmer was killed while working with a mentoring team that provides support to 5th Brigade, Afghan National Civil Order Police.
Posted in Military Life, Photo of the Day
Tagged Camp Leatherneck, ceremony, Marines, memorial, Palmer, police
Committed to attracting the best job candidates, the Defense Department (DoD) is making good on last year’s Presidential mandate to improve the federal hiring process. DoD launched its own hiring reform initiative two years ago, and it is revolutionizing the way the department processes approximately 250,000 hiring actions a year. The typical timeframe for hiring new employees has already been reduced from an average of 155 days to 116. The broad, 10-step DoD hiring reform initiative covers the full spectrum of the hiring process to make it not only faster, but also simpler, less bureaucratic and more transparent. It makes applying for a DoD job more in line with what the private sector offers and ensures hiring managers have the tools they need to advertise and fill vacancies. To read this article in full, please go to: http://www.defense.gov/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=63979
Posted in Military Strategy
Growing up in the Navy, I can understand how what I’m about to write is going to sound very confusing. Heck, it’s still confusing to me! So, before I get started a few definitions:
riparian - of, pertaining to, or situated or dwelling on the bank of a river or other body of water.
riverine - of or pertaining to a river.
supporting fires – fire delivered in support of part of a force.
The rest of it should be pretty easy to understand. The Navy’s Riverine Force falls under the Navy Expeditionary Combat Command, a rapid deployable and agile expeditionary force. They are comprised of both active and reserve component forces and provide them to warfare commanders in support of maritime security operations around the globe.
Categorized as a direct action unit, this force is designed to serve as a maneuver element to conduct combat operations and augment land forces within the operational commander’s riparian maneuver space. The riverine force is capable of combating enemy riverine forces by applying fires directly or by coordinating supporting fires while operating with joint and multinational forces.
These missions are directly tailored to the individual mission for which they are needed. The Riverine Force was stood up five years ago with Rivine Group 1 in Virginia Beach, VA. A year later, they Group deployed it’s first personnel in support of the Global War on Terrorism in Iraq to integrate with II Marine Expeditionary Force. This was the first time a riverine squadrine was deployed since the Vietnam War when they patrolled the Mekong Delta.
Now, five years later, Riverine Sailors are celebrating their fifth birthday with a 5K run and birthday celebration. In those five years, the squadrons have completed seven deployments in support of OIF and OND (Operation New Dawn). They’ve completed more than 600 combat missions, more than 430 Riverine combat patrols, more than 366 boat missions, and more than 196 convoys. It’s truly an accomplishment.
I wanted to share these photos today from Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael Hinchcliffe because I was as stunned as you are that Sailors can actually run (and sweat!). 
Riverine sailors celebrated Navy Riverine Force’s fifth birthday with a 5k run on board Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story May 25. The Riverines were reactivated in 2006 to provide river patrol, interdiction and tactical troop movement on inland waterways. The Riverine Force is responsible for providing an offensive combat component to Navy Expeditionary Combat Command and Navy brown water operating areas.
Posted in Military Life, Photo of the Day
Tagged brown water, expeditionary, NECC, riverine
A general installed just last month as the Army’s top officer is President Obama’s surprise choice to become the next chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, two people familiar with the selection process said Wednesday.
Gen. Martin Dempsey, an accomplished veteran of the Iraq war, would succeed Navy Adm. Mike Mullen as the president’s top military adviser when Mullen’s term as chairman ends Sept. 30. Dempsey would have to be confirmed by the Senate.
Two people familiar with the choice, who spoke on condition of anonymity because it has not been announced by the White House, said it is scheduled to be made public on Tuesday.
Dempsey is a surprise choice because he just began a four-year term as Army chief of staff on April 11.
I could not think of a better selection to be the next CJCS. Admiral Mullen has done some really great things and some not so great things in my opinion. He started out strong calling leaders on their deficiencies when needed.
However I think putting in an experienced and highly respected leader like GEN Dempsey is exactly what the POTUS needs in order to keep him informed with sage advice and ground truth from the military point of view. I was honored to meet and interview GEN Dempsey last year and I truly left those few days of being around him being very impressed by his views and leadership. You can go to http://www.vamortgagecenter.com/blog/?s=dempsey to see all the videos form the interview.
So congrats GEN Dempsey, I think you will do an awesome job.
Posted in MilBlogger Interviews, Military News
LINCOLN, CALIF. (May 25, 2011) – Building on its legacy of supporting U.S. troops serving overseas including Afghanistan and Iraq, the Lincoln, Calif.-based Rogers Family Company (www.rogersfamilyco.com) is adding hospitalized military personnel in combat zones to its list of military units receiving free coffee from the gourmet coffee roaster.
In the new initiative, The Rogers Family Company is concentrating on brigade hospitals in Afghanistan and Iraq. The Rogers Family Co. – which produces ‘Responsibly Grown/Fairly Traded’ gourmet coffee and tea sold worldwide – sends coffee to wounded soldiers as well as hospital staff who work in extreme circumstances.
In the past decade, The Rogers Family Company — a family-owned and operated international gourmet coffee roaster — has shipped some 700,000 bags of coffee to troops in Iraq and Afghanistan and on ships at sea, established a program that provides permanent free shipping to troops for online orders, launched a “Letters To Our Troops” contest and contributed to the care packages of Operation Gratitude (www.opgratitude.com) and Adopt A US Soldier (www.adoptaussoldier.org/).
“We are honored to bring a small taste of home to these brave men and women who have taken a bullet, a piece of shrapnel or otherwise been injured or fallen ill while serving their country in harm’s way,” said Rogers Family Company President and Founder Jon B. Rogers, a former U.S. Army officer who served in Europe. “The hospital project in Afghanistan and Iraq underscores our appreciation for the hardships the troops endure every day.”
The new initiatives involve collaborative efforts with additional volunteer, nonprofit organizations including Soldiers Angels – which supports the work of military base chaplains – and Homefront America, Inc. (www.homefrontamerica.org) which sends coffee to troops through a program called Wounded Warriors.
“Homefront America is honored to be part of the Rogers Family coffee program,” said Arthur Hasselbrink, president and co-founder of Homefront America, Inc. “I know our military men and women appreciate the support. The coffee comes in real handy, especially during those late night duty watches.”
In addition, the company has launched a new program with Adopt a US Soldier – which it has supported for several years – called Operation Front Line. This program pools items from various sources and prepares gift baskets for soldiers in Forwarding Operating Bases (FOBs) – the front lines – and more importantly to remote Combat Operating Bases (COBs) where supplies are limited. The baskets will include gourmet coffee and tea.
The Rogers family has also sent postcards and 232,108 bags of coffee for the past two years to troops via Adopt a US Soldier – a not-for-profit organization staffed by a core group of 50 volunteers with approximately 569, 000 supporters from 117 countries.
Working with base chaplains and other community leaders, The Rogers family also sends its own care packages to some of the thousands of troops who have written the company to request additional items such as toothpaste, socks and other sundries.
During a past holiday season, the 32-year-old company organized a “Letters to Our Troops” contest in which heartfelt letters of thanks were enclosed with care packages to troops serving in Afghanistan and Iraq.
The troop-support programs are among the Rogers Family Co.’s social and environmental projects that help people and protect nature in local communities and those thousands of miles away. In cooperation with farmers, partners and customers, the company’s Community Aid program has completed hundreds of social and environmental projects in the coffee-growing regions of Latin America, Africa and Mexico in the last three decades. Projects include building schools, thousands of modern housing units as well as medical facilities and day care centers for workers. The company also protects myriad bird and wildlife species and has preserved thousands of acres of habitat in coffee growing regions.
Posted in Uncategorized
Our military is perhaps the most flexible in the world. We can fight a full scale war just as easily as we can clean up after a natural disaster. No matter where the disaster occurs, you can bet that there are military personnel assisting in some with the cleanup. Most of the time, those responsibilities fall to the National Guard of that state. So, while not only serving 18 month active duty call-ups for combat operations, these part time troops are also assisting in their states as shown in these photos by Bill Prokopyk.
Sgt. Mika Putz fills a sandbag held by Sgt. Laura Fajardo at the Missouri Valley Fairgrounds in Bismarck, N.D. on May 25, 2011. Both sergeants are members of Joint Force Headquarters, North Dakota National Guard.
Soldiers of the North Dakota National Guard are filling and loading sandbags along with volunteers at the Missouri Valley Fairgrounds in Bismarck, N.D.
Spc. Samantha Jo Longfeather, 957th Engineer Company (Mult-Role Bridge) ties up a sandbag at the Northern Plains Commerce Center in Bismarck, N.D.
Posted in Military Life, Photo of the Day
Tagged fairgrounds, flood, Missouri, NDFlood11, North Dakota, sandbags
Every deployment needs a ‘deploymate’ to make it more bearable. You know… a friend you don’t have to explain anything to? A buddy who knows you miss your soldier and doesn’t ever ask if you get lonely? Or someone who drops by right when you need a friend, walks into your kitchen and starts unloading your dishwasher because she just knows you are overwhelmed that day? They are out there and they do exist.
This is one reason why jumping right into the community after a PCS is so vital. We know, as spouses and family members, that vital connections must be made and cultivated before deployment. Once deployment happens many of us find the wind in our sails is lacking for a while. I have always said that the military is a family forced together through necessity and kept together our of mutual empathy and respect.
Deploymate: What Military Spouses Really Appreciate
May 20th, 2011 by Jacey Eckhart
EXCERPT
SOURCE LINKSisterfriend? Deployment twin? Secret Weapon? What do you call the woman who partners you during deployment? The one who has seen your preschooler pick his nose every hour on the hour yet seems to still find him cute. The one who makes soothing noises when you whine about how long it has been since you heard from your beloved (even when you heard from him yesterday). The one who takes the screaming baby from your fevered hands and utters the four most beautiful words in the English language: Go Take a Nap.
What do you call that angel woman?
I call her much appreciated. During Military Spouse Appreciation month, I have read over and over how much everyone appreciates the way we spouses hold down the fort while our service members are deployed. Which is great. But the truth is that secretly what I would really, really appreciate is some hands-on, in-person, active duty kinda HELP, please.
I know some women handle deployment with ease. Me? I’m kalunking around the field man-down. I don’t want people just telling me to call if I need anything. Assume I need stuff every day–even if that “stuff” is someone to tell me about the cute thing my son said and how dumb my boss is. Frankly, I need a deploymate.
So what is a deploymate? I’m not completely sure. But here is what I am thinking so far—feel free to add to my list.
I think a deploymate can’t be earned, can’t be demanded, can’t be deserved. A deploymate is a woman who you find right next to you, a gift of the universe, magically willing to blend her life and your life when you need it most.
A deploymate can be a mom, a sister, a neighbor, a friend. She can be older or younger. Another military family member or a complete civilian. She just has to live close enough to temper the loneliness of Sunday with chick flicks and Wordfeud and cookies baked in person. Deploymates cannot be long distance.
A deploymate is cool about your dog, your weight and the funky smell in your car. READ MORE
Posted in Spouse and Family
Over the years, I’ve heard a lot of complaint from people about why we’re building schools in Iraq and Afghanistan when we have so many issues with our schools back here. My first response is to ask them if they even know how much we spend on education in this country each year?! In spite of the large amount of money states and federal government spend, I still find myself having to help teachers pay for paper, ink, and other classroom supplies. The year we left Alabama, our school’s budget for classroom supplies was…$0!!
One of the reasons we have so many issues in the Middle East is because of a lack of literacy in those nations. It’s no secret that illiteracy leads to crime and ignorance. That ignorance in the Middle East is used for the benefit of jihadists who teach kids to grow up and hate. That hate translates into terrorist attacks which ultimately affect the same people asking me this question. Helping to build schools and promote literacy and education in third world Arab nations and helping children to learn and provide them clothing will protect our children and promote a safer national security environment.
This photo by SSG Stacy Haga shows children in a boys and girls school in Kabul, Afghanistan that we have helped to build and supply. Under the Taliban, these kids would not have had a chance.
I think this is long overdue and well-warranted. As someone that travels all the time, and someone that has also went through TSA in uniform I hate it when a service-member has to take off boots, top, belt, etc. etc. to go through the security line. I mean cops don’t have to take all their uniform off, TSA agents don’t so why do the US military. Especially if they are in uniform and have a valid ID Card? I really hope that Rep. Cravaack can get this bill through Congress.
A Navy veteran in Congress wants expedited screening procedures created so Servicemembers in uniform are not delayed when going through airport screening. His proposal would give the TSA six months from the time the bill becomes law to develop and implement a policy for Servicemembers that does not require an additional screening. Guidelines would be established for the screening of military uniforms to include combat boots and other items containing metal. Currently, TSA rules for Servicemembers require Class A uniform jackets and metal belt buckles to be removed and all metal items be removed from their pockets. Rules also say that Servicemembers in uniform with a valid military identification are not required to remove their footwear unless the shoes or boots set off the metal detector. To read this article in full, please go to: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2011/05/military-airport-security-screening-bill-051311w/
Posted in Military Life, Veteran Benefits
You Served's Claire talks about the life of a military spouse - the hardships, the joys, and everything in between.
Join the discussion in our new Spouse and Family section!
