This is a great story that has been largely ignored by much of the media. Not surprising since the media benefits from military commanders running their mouths. The story was covered by ABC but there just has not been a lot of talk about it.

You can read the entire story at http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2012/02/navy-seal-commander-advised-to-get-the-hell-out-of-the-media/

However make sure you watch the video below to watch and listen to LTG (ret) James Vaught rip into Admiral McRaven about a continuing release of information from Top Secret Special Operation missions which all seemed to be focused on Navy Seals.

Nick from Ranger Up has just released the second in a series of four videos for Veterans on How to get a Job. This one focuses on the resume and is a “must-see” for any veterans who do not have extensive experience on resume writing.

Past You Served Radio guest and true Soldiers’ Soldier, GEN Peter Chiarelli retired today. As is said in this video clip he did do more than another other leader to help our soldiers, combat soldier suicides and help remove the stigma of PTS and PTSD from our ranks.

I don’t know who will be stepping in to fill his shoes but I hope they can live up to the task and the high bar GEN Chiarelli has set by his service. I have no doubt that he will continue to serve our country in other way and am excited to see where he will end up. He has done more than his fair share, but he will be missed in the ranks.

Well then you need to check out the new video series that Nick Palmisciano (past guest on You Served Radio) , who is a former Army Ranger and CEO of Ranger Up has come out with. Nick has released the first of four videos giving sage advice and guidance on how to sell yourself as a veteran to a potential employer.

Since I wrote about the potential elimination of 5 A-10 squadrons earlier, I wanted to come clean and show some of the love I have for the plane. Yes all of these are and have been on my computer as part of my desktop wallpaper and screensaver rotation.

They are just too good not to share.

I got an email from Air Force Times newspaper about the following cuts that the Air Force is going to implement as part of these cuts.

As part of the Defense Department’s efforts to trim close to $500 billion in spending over the next decade, defense officials said Friday that the service intends to cut five A-10 tactical squadrons and two other squadrons as well.

The Thunderbolt squadrons to be stood down encompass one active-duty, one Reserve and three National Guard units. The remaining two squadrons disappearing are a Guard F-16 tactical unit and an F-15 training squadron.

The move was part of a series of proposed budget cuts announced Jan. 26 at the Pentagon. Also on the chopping block are the C-27 and the Global Hawk Block 30; and as the ground force shrinks, the service plans to retire the oldest of its aging transport aircraft.

I can tell you as a career Infantryman I saw first hand the power of the Air Force and specifically the A-10 Thunderbolt. After crossing the breach from Saudi Arabia into Iraq in 1991 well before the ground war started I listened on the radio to the pilots talking as they came in on gun run after gun run “softening” up our objective before we cleared it.

I witnessed the power of the A-10 on many other occasions during my career both stateside and overseas. Most recently I watched A-10s deliver death and destruction upon Taliban who were trying to kill me in Ghazni Province Afghanistan in 2006.

This breaking news from the Air Force will not sit well with the Army, with the grunts who do the dirty fighting of war. It may be slow, not sexy looking and ability to fight air-to-air really well, but the A-10 is the premier combat multiplier with the grunts on the ground. If the Air Force takes away A-10s, it will cost lives on the ground, that I can guarantee.

Several weeks back we had we had Shane Hudella on You Served Radio from the charity Defending the Blue Line (http://www.blogtalkradio.com/youserved/2011/10/05/episode-162-defending-the-blue-line-kerry-kachejian).

Defending The Blue Line (DTBL) a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization in the spring of 2009 to help military families with the high costs of hockey and help ensure that children of military members are afforded every opportunity to participate in the great sport.

I have personally seen the benefits for military families from this organization. Well they recently announced that they are in the running as one of 20 finalists that help military families. The White House is looking to pick one of the twenty to recognize for the great support they do. They are looking for America to vote and I ask that you take the time to check them out and cast the vote for DTBL. You can learn more about DTBL at their newly revamped website at http://www.defendingtheblueline.org/

Defending The Blue Line was 1 of 20 national finalists in a White House competition to recognize a non profit that supports military families. The White House is leaving it up to America to vote for the winner over the next 30 days, similar to the contest we recently supported for the VA here in MN.

Please log on and vote via the following link, and ask your friends to do the same. Better yet, add it to your Facebook, Twitter, or other social media page. Make sure you go to the site once a day for the next 30 days to vote. When you get to the Joining Forces Community Challenge Website, type Defending The Blue Line in the search box.

Vote here now: http://joiningforces.challenge.gov/submissions?page=1

Stars and Stripes reports that Army Knowledge Online (AKO) is recommending that users monitor their credit card statements and change online passwords, especially if they used their Stratfor password with other accounts. Hackers recently published hundreds of thousands of registered email addresses and Stratfor usernames online, along with thousands of credit card numbers. If users find fraudulent activity on their credit cards, AKO recommended contacting one of the three main credit bureaus and submitting a fraud alert.  Stratfor is providing 12 months of identity theft coverage to all of its paid customers.  For more tips on avoiding financial and computer scams, visit: http://mnstr.me/A2m9Bk

This was originally posted on bouhammer.com but in order to get the word out I am posting it here too.

SPREAD THE WORD!!

Banana Republic stores are doing a little something to honor our military and give them a break on clothes. If you are a military member, retired, veteran, or a military family member they are giving you 50% off of up to three full-price items through Sunday, January 22nd. Sorry for the late notice but tomorrow is the last day.

After that they are giving the same folks 15% off all items from January 23-31.

Please check out http://bananarepublic.gap.com/browse/info.do?cid=76923&mlink=5001,4470740,21&clink=4470740 to learn more.

Spread the word, tell your friends, family, family readiness groups and units about this awesome deal

When military Servicemembers shop their commissary, they not only have the opportunity to save a substantial amount of money, but they also contribute to the improvement of the commissary system. For almost 60 years, Congress has required commissaries to collect a surcharge which has been set at 5 percent for more than 28 years.  This surcharge is used to build replacement stores, renovate and repair existing stores, and purchase equipment such as freezers and cash registers. These funds help maintain and modernize stores at a reduced cost to taxpayers, and by law, they cannot be used for any other purpose. For more details on this surcharge, please click: http://www.commissaries.com/press_room/press_release/2012/DeCA_01_12.cfm