Monthly Archives: September 2011

Poll: Americans Trust Military, But Not Congress

Posted on September 30, 2011 by Troy| Leave a comment

Congress may be in the doghouse with the American public, but a new poll suggests the military, gets high marks for keeping the nation safe and secure.  The public’s contempt for Congress exceeds that of other American institutions, including banks, major corporations and the media.  The military earned the most respect in the survey, with 54 percent of responses saying they are deeply confident in the institution.  To read more about the public trust in our military, please go to: http://news.yahoo.com/poll-americans-trust-military-not-congress-165344167.html

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Posted in Why We Serve

Photo of the Day – A Fundamental Change

Posted on September 30, 2011 by CJ| Leave a comment

The last time I deployed, maybe one in five of our HMMWVs were up-armored. I remember initially rolling to the border of Kuwait and Iraq in a four seater, cloth-covered M-1097. It looked just like this one, only painted in desert tan.

Thankfully, prior to crossing the border for the invasion into Iraq, our First Sergeant swapped trucks with us since we were going to be on the front lines of the invasion and needed more armor. We didn’t get an armored truck, but we got the 1036 model which was hard-topped to at least SLOW the bullets down and prevent some shrapnel from coming through the material.

As you know, I was injured in Iraq and wasn’t able to deploy for a long time. Even with this deployment, I had to request and fight for a waiver. Now that I’m here, I don’t even recognize most of the vehicles in the Army inventory. Keep in mind, for many years I wasn’t in the conventional forces, so I didn’t have your typical motor pool. Our vehicles were up-armored civilian 4-wheel drive trucks.

The Army has come a long way from the days of deploying with “the Army you have, not the one you want.” Our trucks are now so well armored that we’re able to bring more troops home. And they’re mean looking. I don’t think we have one HMMWV in our unit. We use MATVs, MaxxPros, and RG-31 MRAP something or others (I saw one today for the first time). I’m happy to see that our country is doing what it takes to keep our Soldiers alive.

This image was taken today while prepping for a convoy to another FOB.

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Posted in Life in the Military, Photo of the Day

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Bill Approved To Make VA Service-Dog Friendly

Posted on September 29, 2011 by Troy| Leave a comment

A House committee has approved legislation that would allow service dogs to be used on any VA property or in any VA facility, including any facility or property receiving VA funding.  Under current law and regulation, VA is required only to allow guide dogs for the blind onto its property and into its facilities because those are the only type of assistance animals specifically covered in federal law. Individual facilities directors can be more flexible, if they wish.  In addition to opening the buildings and grounds to service dogs, the bill would create a three-year pilot program in which veterans with post-traumatic stress or other post-deployment mental disorders would be involved in training service dogs for other veterans. The idea of the test is to see if being a dog trainer has any rehabilitation benefits for veterans. To read this article in its entirety, please go to: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2011/09/military-veterans-affairs-service-dogs-091211w/

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Posted in Life in the Military, Veteran Benefits

Photo of the Day – Teach A Man To Fish

Posted on September 29, 2011 by CJ| Leave a comment

We’re not always going to be here in Afghanistan (I hope). There will come a time when the American people decide that we’ve given the Afghan people enough time to get it right. The government will have to stand on its own two feet at some point. But, I have no doubt that even after we leave, there will be turmoil. The Taliban will attempt to assert their dominance through violence and people will injured or killed.

It’s important, therefore, that important life saving skills are learned. In the US, anyone can attend a CPR or first aid course. Now, we’re trying to help the Afghan people help themselves. Sgt. Lizette Hart took this photo of a medical clinic here training on just that.


Students and staff of the Jaji Aryoub District Hospital practice suturing an arm and torso during a three-day medical seminar held at the Jaji District Center, Sept. 25-27. The seminar was attended by 14 students and covered medical classes on emergency room procedures, dental health and preventive medicine.

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Posted in Photo of the Day

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Study Links Gulf War Vets’ Illnesses to Area of Service

Posted on September 28, 2011 by Troy| Leave a comment

I am one of these soldiers. I took the PB tablets they made us take. I was forced to take the unapproved Anthrax shot, and I was near the huge Ammo dump at Khamisiyah. As I mentioned in the 2008 blog post I wrote on this site at http://www.vamortgagecenter.com/blog/2008/03/23/possible-gulf-war-syndrome-cause/ who knows what effects any of this has had on me, if anything?

All I know is that it was not come scam cooked up by 700,000 plus live and now many dead Gulf War veterans.  Continue reading →

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Posted in Life in the Military, Military History, Military News, Veteran Benefits

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Photo of the Day – Kid Patrol

Posted on September 28, 2011 by CJ| Leave a comment

I remember the moment when I knew we had done something good in Iraq. We were on a patrol in Baghdad and this kid starts walking with us. A few minutes later another kid shows up, then two. Within a few blocks, a bunch of kids are walking with us, holding our hands. These kids were thankful we were there. They wanted to be with us.

When I saw this photo from SSG Ryan Crane, I thought that we may be getting somewhere in Afghanistan too. It’s taken a lot longer, but Afghanistan is much less advanced culture. These kids have smiles on their faces and I can’t help but swell with pride at the bravery and tenacity of our troops to help create those smiles after such difficulties. We’re getting there. We’re winning the trust. We aren’t the enemy. These kids are the future and they recognize who gave that to them.


U.S. Army Capt. Brandon Delatorre, civil affairs team leader, and Staff Sgt. Jason Roberts, squad leader attached to Laghman Provincial Reconstruction Team walk and talk with a group of kids in Mehtar Lam district, Laghman province.

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Posted in Photo of the Day

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Photo of the Day – Big Jump

Posted on September 27, 2011 by CJ| Leave a comment

There is no doubt the United States military is the biggest, baddest fighting force in the world. We have the best troops, the best gear, the best leaders, and the greatest country in our care.

But, sometimes we need a little help from the least likely of sources.


After watching members of the Laghman Provincial Reconstruction Team struggle to slide down an embankment, local Afghan children in Mehtar Lam district, Laghman province demonstrate the quickest way down. The Police Transition Assistance Team attached to the PRT is responsible for the training and mentorship of the local Afghan police and routinely conducts training with side by side with them.


Members of the Laghman Provincial Reconstruction Team jump down an embankment while on a joint patrol in Mehtar Lam district, Laghman province.

Photos by Staff Sgt. Ryan Crane.

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Posted in Photo of the Day

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APO/FPO/DPO Christmas Mailing Dates

Posted on September 27, 2011 by Claire| Leave a comment

I love when these are posted early enough in the season to help with planning! If you have a loved one who is deployed or stationed overseas, you can use this to determine when to mail your packages off so he/she will get them in time! Oh, and I hate to be a buzz-kill, but Christmas is closer than we want to admit!

2011 International and Military Mail Christmas Mailing Dates

To ensure delivery of holiday cards and packages by December 25 to military APO/FPO/DPO and international addresses overseas, we suggest that mail be entered by the recommended mailing dates listed below. Beat the last-minute rush and take your mail to your U.S. Post Office® by these suggested dates. And don’t forget you can print postage, labels, and Cus­toms forms online 24/7 using Click-N-Ship® service at www.usps.com/clicknship.

Remember, all mail addressed to military and diplomatic post offices overseas is subject to certain conditions or restric­tions regarding content, preparation, and handling. APO/FPO addresses generally require Customs forms. To see a table of active APO/FPO/DPO ZIP Codes™ and associated mailing restrictions, go tohttp://pe.usps.com and click Postal Bulletins, or go to the current issue and see the article “Overseas Military/Diplomatic Mail.”

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Posted in Spouse and Family

Is it time to look for a new industry?

Posted on September 27, 2011 by Troy| Leave a comment

The boom times are over for the nation’s military.

After more than doubling in the past 10 years, Pentagon budgets are in for big cuts from Congress in coming years. No one yet knows exactly what will be cut or how deeply the cuts will go, but everyone knows they’re coming.
In North Carolina, where military communities already are preparing for the drawdown of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, officials wonder what cuts will mean for defense contractors and the size of the state’s force structure.
Across the nation, it’s a similar story, reflected by simple numbers: Defense spending hit a record high of $553 billion this year, excluding the cost of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. And it must be cut by $350 billion over the next 10 years because of the debt-limit agreement passed by Congress last month.
But that’s just the beginning: If Congress’ “supercommittee” doesn’t reach agreement in the next two months on a plan to reduce the nation’s deficit by at least $1.2 trillion, automatically triggered cuts would slash as much as $600 billion from defense and security programs over the next decade.
Read more at http://www.military.com/news/article/specter-of-big-defense-cuts-prompts-big-worries.html

 

Continue reading →

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Posted in Military News

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Retroactive Traumatic Injury Benefits No Longer Just for OEF/OIF Injuries

Posted on September 27, 2011 by Troy| Leave a comment

The VA is extending retroactive traumatic injury benefits to Servicemembers who suffered qualifying injuries during the period of 7 October  2001 to 30 November  2005, regardless of the geographic location where the injuries occurred.  Effective 1 October, the Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance (SGLI) Traumatic Injury Protection benefit, known as TSGLI, will pay for all qualifying injuries incurred during this period.  This retroactive benefit is payable for all qualifying injuries incurred during this period.  This retroactive benefit is payable whether or not the Servicemember had SGLI coverage at the time of the injury.  TSGLI provides a payment ranging from $25,000 to $100,000 to Servicemembers sustaining certain severe traumatic injuries.  To see the whole article please go to: http://www.va.gov/opa/pressrel/pressrelease.cfm?id=2169.

For more information or to apply for a TSGLI payment, Servicemembers and Veterans should go to: http://www.insurance.va.gov/sgliSite/TSGLI/TSGLI.htm or contact the local  branch of service TSGLI Office.

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Posted in Military News, Veteran Benefits