Monthly Archives: November 2011

Thanksgiving, more than a holiday…

Posted on November 22, 2011 by Claire| Leave a comment

This was written by a friend of mine and posted at Wives in Bloom. This is a military family who has seen multiple deployments and their resiliency and joy through it all is inspiring! Take a moment to read Carlie’s reflections. What are you most grateful for this Thanksgiving Holiday?

Thanksgiving: A Lifestyle, A Choice, Not Just A Holiday

EXCERPT

by: Carlie Kercheval

Thanksgiving.

When most people hear this word, the first thing that comes to mind is a massive table -full of food shared with family and good friends. Or maybe some people think about the Pilgrim’s and Native American’s celebration of their first successful harvest in 1621. Either way, it is a season that most American’s thoroughly enjoy.

But my suggestion to you, is that thanksgiving should be a lifestyle, rather than a seasonal holiday. I know sometimes it is hard to be thankful when things don’t seem to be going your way. I know it is difficult to be thankful when your husband is thousands of miles away fighting a war – AGAIN – when he could be home with you.  CONTINUE READING

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Spouse and Family

Is The VOW To Hire Heroes Act Enough?

Posted on November 21, 2011 by Marcus the Redshirt| Leave a comment

President Obama signed into law The VOW To Hire Heroes Act today marking a rare occurrence of bipartisan legislation in Washington. While I applaud both sides of the aisle for their dedication to solving the veteran unemployment problem, the act fails many veterans in the first key weeks after leaving military service. Before I expand upon this failure, let’s look at how the act does help many veterans.

Continue reading →

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Military News

Tagged , ,

Photo of the Day – AV-8B Harrier

Posted on November 21, 2011 by CJ| Leave a comment

There are a lot of advantages to being based on a large FOB. For one, I have access to just about any service I need in the Army. There are also comfort items I’m able to enjoy that the smaller FOBs don’t, among those the education center.

However, living on a major airfield also has its drawbacks. On KAF, for example, we probably get more indirect fire than many smaller FOBs. We also have a 24-hour mission. There is constant aviation movement on KAF that responds to everything from personnel movement to MEDEVAC to close-air support.

That sort of activity is very loud. We are also near a major range. Maybe it’s me, but it feels like they don’t start their range activities until midnight. The ranges are used to zero in the AC-130 gunships, A-10s, and other aircraft. It’s loud.

But, not as loud as a Harrier jet taking off. I don’t know what it is about the Marines, but everything they do seems to have a need to be louder than everyone else. I love these planes, though.


An AV-8B Harrier with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 268 (Reinforced) lands on USS Makin Island here Nov. 18. The squadron is the aviation combat element for the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, embarked USS Makin Island, USS New Orleans and USS Pearl Harbor in San Diego Nov. 14 beginning a seven-month deployment to the Western Pacific and Middle East regions. Photo by Sgt. Elyssa Quesada.

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Photo of the Day

Final Cooking with the Troops Fundraiser Push

Posted on November 20, 2011 by LL| Leave a comment

Cooking with the Troops has a roundup of the event in NYC at the NASDAQ. Please pay attention to the photos because you will see what they do. Chefs and smiling uniformed men and women. It is a great thing!

All charities need donations to keep running and this one is no exception. They need donations, big and small (even $5 will help keep things going!!) to keep sharing food, culinary career help, healthy eating/cooking training, and cooking equipment! Everyone has to eat and doing it either for free at one of the CWtT events or learning how to create a nutritious meal at home for your family is a good thing.

Things are very tight financially across the nation, but if each of you readers donated just a little bit, it would keep the awesome momentum going and fund some upcoming events! By the way, CWtT is also looking for administrative help in several positions. If you are one to volunteer your time and energy and skills to a great organization, please contact Blake at the email on that post and talk to him about helping out!

300x250

 

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Charities/Contests, Podcast, Uncategorized, You Served Radio

Photo of the Day – Marine Ball Goes Hollywood

Posted on November 20, 2011 by CJ| 1 Comment

A few days ago, I wrote about Marine Corps Cpl. Kelsey De Santis taking Justin Timberlake to the Marine Corps Ball. Justin was invited after calling out his co-star Mila Kunis when she was asked to the ball by another Marine, Sergeant Scott Moore.

Well, Ms. Kunis also held up her end of the bargain and was seen having a great time at the ball herself. These pictures by Lance Cpl. Johnny Merkley show the two in their best dress enjoying themselves.



Sgt. Scott Moore and his guest, actress Mila Kunis attend the 236th Marine Corps birthday ball for 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division in Greenville, N.C.

→ 1 Comment

Posted in Photo of the Day

Tagged , ,

GI Jobs – 2012 Top 100 Friendly Employers® Released

Posted on November 18, 2011 by Claire| Leave a comment

First of all I am very proud of Amazon.com! They ranked number one with a 25% Veteran hiring quota! So, this year when I order for Christmas I will enjoy sending my business to Amazon that much more! My husband DBS also works at Eastman Chemical Company and they ranked 61! I know Eastman was very supportive of DBS when he joined the military and when he came home from the military.

G.I. Jobs 2012 Top 100 Military Friendly Employers®

The Top 100 Military Friendly Employers list is a priceless resource for transitioners mapping out a new career path. Use the list to make this crucial mission successful.

CLICK HERE TO SEE LIST

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Spouse and Family

Photo of the Day – Sharpshooting Squids

Posted on November 17, 2011 by CJ| Leave a comment

For those out there that didn’t the Navy knew how to handle firearms, I thought I’d show that they actually do fire weapons…sometimes. For my next mythbuster, I’ll try to find an illusive photo of the Navy doing PT! ;)

Petty Officer John Minor, attached to 30th Naval Construction Regiment, Task Force Forager, engages his target under balance to complete battle zero range operations aboard Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, Nov. 11, 2011. The 30th Naval Construction Regiment is currently deployed to Afghanistan executing general engineering, infrastructure construction and project management in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Photo by Chief Petty Officer Jared Young.

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Photo of the Day

Photo of the Day – Justin Time for the Ball

Posted on November 16, 2011 by CJ| Leave a comment

On July 12, Marine Corps Cpl. Kelsey De Santis called out Justin Timberlake on YouTube to take her to the ball after the singer egged on co-star Mila Kunis to go to the ball with Marine Sgt. Scott Moore. On November 12, 2011, singer/actor Justin Timberlake made good on his promise to attend the Marine Corps Ball.


Cpl. Kelsey De Santis, a Marine Corps Martial Arts Program instructor for the Martial Arts Center of Excellence, Instructor Battalion, and Justin Timberlake share a few moments in the V.I.P. room before the formal ceremonies began at the Instructor Battalion Marine Corps Ball in Richmond, Va. on Nov. 12. The ball celebrated the traditions of honor, courage and commitment that Marines have so valiantly displayed for the past 236 years.

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Photo of the Day

Tagged , , ,

Free Online Tutoring for Military Families with Tutor.com

Posted on November 15, 2011 by Troy| 1 Comment

Tutor.com for U.S. Military Families is an online tutoring and homework program sponsored by the Department of Defense (DoD) that allows eligible Servicemembers and their families to get 24/7 assistance and support , from elementary school concepts to advanced high school coursework. If you are active duty or on active duty in the Guard or Reserve in a deployed status (or even a DoD civilian in a deployed status), you and your family are eligible for this program.  Carefully screened professional tutors who are also subject matter experts provide assistance through Tutor.com’s online interface, and can also assist with introductory college courses, adult learning, and career transitions.  For further information about Tutor.com or to read this article in full, please go to: http://www.dodlive.mil/index.php/2011/08/family-focus-friday-tutor-com/

→ 1 Comment

Posted in Spouse and Family, Veteran Benefits

The Home School Foundation Announces New Military Fund

Posted on November 15, 2011 by Claire| Leave a comment

Please pass the following information on to any military families who home school their children. The following excerpt is from HSF’s website:

New Military Fund

EXCERPT

The Home School Foundation is proud to announce the start of a new fund—our Military Fund. This fund assists military homeschool families who are struggling financially to meet their children’s educational needs.In early 2011, God put it on the hearts of the HSF board members and leadership to start a fund specifically for military families. The details began to come together while simultaneously we heard from donors who wanted to help military homeschoolers.

“We kept hearing stories in the news about families in the military who were being affected by the ongoing conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.  Many focused on the fact that a fair number of military families are struggling financially,” said Chuck Hurst, executive director of HSF. “We realized that the homeschooling military community, as a microcosm of the larger military community, was in need of assistance to encourage them in homeschooling.” READ MORE

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Spouse and Family