Archive for the ‘Military News’ Category
November 6, 2009 By Claire
Posted in Military News, Spouse and Family
Soldier’s Angels was on top of things. This was posted to Facebook yesterday — please do what you can.
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Soldiers’ Angels is assessing the needs and–with our founder currently residing in Texas–standing by to offer physical and emotional support to our heroes and their families at Fort Hood.
RIGHT NOW: Collecting encouraging notes and NEW stuffed animals for the families and children of the injured or killed. Please send cards/letters and stuffed animals (and anything NEW that may brighten the life of a child) to:
Soldiers’ Angels
4408 PanAm Expressway
San Antonio, TX 78218
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November 4, 2009 By Claire
Posted in Military News, Spouse and Family
I know this has been on the table for sometime — it started a couple of years ago.
ALEXANDRIA, Va., Nov. 3 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Military Officers Association of America (MOAA)President Vice Admiral Norb Ryan, Jr., USN-Ret, praised Congress for its action to approve the Military Spouse Residency Relief Act and send it to the President for signature into law.
“MOAA is proud to have worked with congressional leaders for two years on this important legislation to allow military spouses the option to elect the same state of domicile as their active duty spouse,” said Ryan. “We’re grateful for the leadership of Rep. John Carter (R-TX) for shepherding it to a successful vote in the House of Representatives on Nov. 2, and to Senators Richard Burr (R-NC) and Diane Feinstein (D-CA) for their efforts to win Senate approval earlier this fall. Their bipartisan efforts will make a huge difference for military spouses.”
The new legislation would let the spouse claim the servicemember’s state for voting, tax, and other purposes. Under current law, many spouses must change their residency when the servicemember is reassigned to a different state.
“This is fantastic news for our service families worldwide,” said Rep. Carter. “We should have done this long ago, but at least we are now on track to have a new law in 2009.”
“This legislation is one small way we can help ease the burden of military families, who make sacrifices everyday to support our men and women in uniform and to keep our country safe,” said Senator Burr.
“What a great way to kick off Military Family Appreciation Month,” said Joy Dunlap, MOAA’s Deputy Director of Government Relations. “Our thanks go to all the spouses and servicemembers – past and present – who spoke out on this issue.”
MOAA’s president spoke at the bill’s introductory press conference, and provided testimony, briefings, e-mails and phone calls to Hill staffers. Most recently, MOAA highlighted every legislator’s support status in the November issue of its Military Officer magazine.
SOURCE Military Officers Association of America
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By CJ
Posted in Military News
In a sign of times – and the progress American forces have brought to the nation of Iraq – female troops are invading the male dominated world of the Iraqi military. Historically, women have not been permitted in the military and their place in society has been reduced to education and other menial positions.
However, women are training the Iraqi military just as much as the men are. And it’s working! Check this out from U.S. Air Forces Central.
by Senior Airman Alyssa C. Miles
U.S. Air Forces Central Public Affairs
CAMP TAJI, Iraq — A female Air Force pilot deployed from Andrews Air Force Base, Md., works in a male dominated environment training Iraqi helicopter pilots.
Capt. Kacey Grannis, 721st Air Expeditionary Advisory Squadron, is the Iraqi air force’s first female Mi-17 instructor pilot at Camp Taji, a job which she describes as one of a kind.
“My primary duty as an air advisor is to train, advise and assist their pilots by expanding their knowledge base,” she said. “I’m an American Air Force pilot flying in an Iraqi air force bird built by Ukrainians with an Iraqi co-pilot in a combat zone. Everything from the challenges we have to deal with, to the rewards that we reap from our relationships with the Iraqi co-pilots and the sheer ‘cool’ factor of the flying we get to do is rather unique.”
In the Iraqi military female pilots are scarce, and upon notification their new advisor would be female, some Iraqi pilots doubted Captain Grannis’ ability to handle the helicopter’s large frame. However, the captain decided to let her skills speak for themselves.
“There have been other female air advisors, but not in this air frame,” she said. “For the guys I was flying with, I think they were maybe not really sure what I could do, but they were at least willing to let me fly with them and let me demonstrate my skills. I was fortunate enough to have the best training in the world, so I was able to do what I know how to do. I believe I’ve garnered the respect I needed.
“One of my very good friends here is a member of Squadron 4’s leadership,” the Sturgis, S.D., native continued. “He’s one of the most experienced Iraqi pilots here – he’s an absolute wizard in the Mi-17 and he’s known for being skilled for hovering without the flight control assist system. When I first got here, he wanted to fly with me to kind of gauge my skills. As we were out flying, I asked him if we could do some hovering with the auto pilot off, simply because I knew it was something he would find valuable if I could do it properly. I feel like the fact that I was able to one – do it, and two – do it well, I feel like he responded well to that.”
Captain Grannis, who has more than 50 hours in the Mi-17, trains Iraqi pilots who have many more hours in the aircraft than she.
“Pilots as a whole tend to be competitive and respect number of hours and skill level,” she explained. “The dynamic itself is very interesting – the pilots we fly with have a lot more experience in the aircraft specifically than we do; there are definitely things that we have as coalition advisors to learn from these guys. They are definitely the experts on the aircraft systems and the performance handling characteristics. However, we’re not necessarily trying to teach them how to fly, we’re trying to teach them how to employ the aircraft in ways that are different from what they’ve done in the past.”
Outside of the learning environment, the Iraqis have come to view Captain Grannis as family.
“I get a lot of attention because I’m a female, but it’s very respectful attention,” she said. “A lot of times these guys kind of treat me like their little sister which is a great honor to me because I know in Iraqi culture, family is very important. I’m honored that these guys consider me a sister. But I tell them ‘outside the aircraft, I’m a woman, inside the aircraft, I’m a pilot. And because I’m your instructor pilot, you’re going to do what I tell you to do.’”
One student who has responded well to the Captain’s training is Iraqi air force Capt. Jabbar, who says he has no qualms working with another female advisor “if they are as talented as Captain Grannis.”
“Captain Grannis is the first female pilot I’ve worked with,” he said. “She’s a very good instructor and she has good experience for training and teaching. She always gives good advice and she never gives up.”
With the training he and his peers are receiving, Captain Jabbar has high hopes for his country.
“We’re making good progress with our training, and I hope the Iraqi air force is a strong air force for this country,” he said. “I wish peace for Iraq and I wish the Americans a good and happy life, and I hope they wish the same for us.”
Captain Grannis does.
“This has been a great experience,” she said. “I’m very fortunate to have been able to come here and meet all these great people. I’m honored to work with the officers, warrant officers and airmen of the Iraqi air force. Without exception, every one of them is highly patriotic and dedicated to the job they’re doing and dedicated to the idea of a free peaceful Iraq, and I think that’s amazing.”
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October 30, 2009 By CJ
Posted in Military History, Military News
Catchy title huh? Well, it’s true. Then-Capt. John “Jack” Nicholson, veteran of the Vietnam War, was awarded the Silver Star for actions over 40 years ago.
Dec. 27, 1963 had already been a devastating day.
Of the 240 men then-Capt. John “Jack” Nicholson was with, only 39 were able to walk away from an eight-hour battle with the Viet Cong.
But for Nicholson, the night wasn’t over.
He would lead his men to save the lives of nine people.
The Struble native’s actions that evening were honored this week at Fort Myer, Washington D.C. — more than 45 years later — where he was awarded the Silver Star, the third-highest U.S. military honor.
Nicholson is now a retired Brigadier General. To read more of General Nicholson’s story, check out the Le Mars Daily Sentinel.
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October 28, 2009 By CJ
Posted in Military News
Marine Corps veteran and now-former Foreign Service officer Matthew Hoh has resigned from his position because he fails “to see the value or worth” of continued engagement in Afghanistan.
“It is with great regret and disappointment I submit my resignation from my appointment as a Political Officer in the Foreign Service and my post as the Senior Civilian Representative for the U.S. Government in Zabul Province…I did not enter this position lighltly or with any undue expectations nor did I believe my assignment would be without sacrifice, hardship or difficulty. However, in the course of my five months of service in Afghanistan, in both Regional Commands East and South, I have lost understanding of and confidence in the strategic purposes of the United States’ presence in Afghanistan. I have doubts and reservations about our current strategy and planned future strategy, but my resignation is based not upon how we are pursuing this war, but why and to what end. To put simply: I fail to see the value or worth in the continued U.S. casualties or expenditures of resources in support of the Afghan government in what is, truly, a 35-year old civil war.”
I have reservations about the intentions of Mr. Hoh and find it hard to believe he didn’t move into the post with a pre-conceived agenda. After all, he refers to U.S. involvement as an “occupation” similar to the Soviet Union. He mentions that Afghanis don’t want our system of government. Really? Is that why record numbers of citizens have voted in every election we’ve secured since we invaded the country in 2001? I find that hard to believe. If they didn’t want our system of government they wouldn’t be protesting the last election results! They’d just accept the Taliban style of governing and just accept it. What Mr. Hoh neglects to inform us is exactly what kind of government, then, that the Afghanis do “want.”
Hoh used the same tactics in his letter that the rest of the anti-war crowd used in Iraq to explain the insurgency there.
“The U.S. and NATO presence and operations in Pashtun valleys and villages, as well as Afghan army and police units that are led and composed of non-Pashtun soldiers and police, provide an occupation force against which the insurgency is justified.”
In other words, the reason there is violence in Afghanistan is because we are there. It’s our fault! He continues,
“The United States military presence in Afghanistan greatly contributes to the legitimacy and strategic message of the Pashtun insurgency. In a like manner, our backing of the Afghan government in its current form continues to distance the government from the people. The Afghan government’s failings, particularly when weighed against the sacrifice of American lives and dollars, appear legion and metastatic…”
Another blame America first defeatest? I think so. Hoh uses the entire anti-war playbook. He questions why we go into Afghanistan but not other nations where terrorists are located. Remember when the anti-Iraq War hippies were complaining that we didn’t go into the Sudan or other nations?
Hoh is worried about how we’re assisted a failed and corrupt state without recognizing a primary mission of the conflict there, which is to train the government and military how to operate without corruption. Our military and government expend great amounts of energy to defeat a mindset that, worse than that of Iraq, has been ingrained in the Afghan culture for centuries. His letter says, “if we bear our military and financial contributions [because of poverty and corruption in] Afghanistan, we must reevaluate and increase our commitment to and involvement in Mexico.” This is a non-argument as Mexico didn’t – yet – train and send terrorists to kill thousands of Americans (drugs excepted). Apples and oranges, but the media is reporting it lock step, of course.
I question Mr. Hoh’s intentions. I’ll be keeping an eye on this. As is customary with this White House, they are feigning ignorance about yet another big story that is a potential black eye to the President’s strategy in Afghanistan – or lack of one!
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By CJ
Posted in Military News
Congress has approved the posthumous award of the Medal of Honor to a Maui man who died fighting in the Korean War.
The 2010 National Defense Authorization Act includes a provision to award the medal to Pfc. Anthony T. Kahoohano-hano for his “acts of valor” during combat in Korea. The bill for the act has been forwarded to President Barack Obama, who was expected to sign it today in the White House Rose Garden.
Kahoohanohano, who already was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, served with Company H, 2nd Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division, during the Korean War.
According to the Military Times’ Hall of Honor, Kahoohanohano was in charge of a machine-gun squad in the vicinity of Chup’a-ri, Korea, on Sept. 1, 1951.
On that day, his squad faced a numerically superior enemy force. And, as American forces undertook a limited withdrawal, Kahoohanohano ordered his men to take up more secure positions to provide covering fire for fellow troops.
Then, although he had been wounded in the shoulder, he stayed behind, gathered gre-nades and ammunition and fought the enemy alone. He continued fighting until his ammunition was gone, and he engaged in “hand-to-hand” combat until he was killed.
His stand inspired his comrades who launched a counterattack to completely repulse the enemy.
The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration and is given to those who risk their lives “above and beyond the call of duty.” Most medals are awarded posthumously.
The Distinguished Service Cross is the second highest military decoration that can be awarded to a person in the U.S. Army.
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October 23, 2009 By CJ
Posted in Military News
Maybe we need a new military occupational specialty that calls for having Soldiers accompany all equipment being shipped across the sea to ensure things like this don’t happen again!
KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan – Soldiers of the newly arrived 575th Aerial Support Medical Company discovered at Kandahar Airfield Oct. 1 that roughly $2 million worth of their company’s medical equipment had been stolen in transit.
The six overseas shipping containers left Fort Lewis, Wash., in June and were delivered Oct. 1 to the 575th ASMC here where they discovered the contents of four containers were missing. When opened, one or two of the containers held pallets of radio antennas not belonging to the unit, and the other containers were empty. One of the empty containers had once held troops’ personal items, such as mementos, electronics and military-issued gear.
“Even though all my Soldiers took a huge hit, you can’t see it when they do their jobs,” said Capt. Constantine Voyevidka, the 575th ASMC company commander.
Scheduled to open their clinic Oct. 15, the approximately 80 Soldiers of the 575th ASMC deployed with two missions. Primarily they plan to use their clinic to support American troops from units that do not have medical assets, currently about 50 percent of troops on KAF. A secondary undertaking is to send teams forward to provide medical support to forward operating bases and military locations throughout Regional Command-South.
“For now we can still support Kandahar Airfield like we need to,” said Voyevidka.
Besides medical equipment they still have, the company hopes to use supplies from a medical equipment warehouse next door, as well as acquire medical materiel being transferred from Iraq due to the troop drawdown. The command surgeon from the Joint Sustainment Command-Afghanistan has already pledged support to help the 575th ASMC replace supplies they need to accomplish their mission.
Thanks to Specialist Elisebet Freeburg for the story!
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October 21, 2009 By CJ
Posted in Military News, Veteran Benefits
I’m completely against giving special pays to people who signed a contract. Everyone that enlists into the military signs a contract that makes it crystal clear that regardless of how long you enlist for, you are undertaking an 8-year commitment. But, the entitlement society that we live in doesn’t want to just hold people to legal contracts they signed. Instead, we have to baby people because they were “extended” with stop-loss orders.
Now, I’m not completely against this pay. For example, I think that if a service member has already served their 8-year active duty and IRR commitment but were still stop-lossed, then they DO deserve that money. Absolutely! Because they were kept beyond their obligation. We’re not doing that. We’re giving extra money to ANYONE that was stop-lossed beyond their active duty commitment, regardless of how much time they still owed in IRR. Just insane.
Anyway, here’s the information you stop-loss troops are looking for.
The Defense Department announced today the services’ implementation plans to provide retroactive stop loss special pay. Active, reserve and former service members who had their enlistment extended or retirement suspended due to stop loss are eligible for this special pay, if they served on active duty between Sept. 11, 2001 and Sept. 30, 2009.
Service members may begin submitting their claim for retroactive stop loss special pay on Oct. 21, 2009. In accordance with the 2009 Supplemental Appropriations Act, all applications must be submitted to the respective services no later than Oct. 21, 2010. Eligible personnel will receive a payment of $500 per month for each month (or any portion of a month) that a member was retained on active duty due to stop loss. Applicants for retroactive pay who are no longer in the military had to be honorably discharged, and for those who were stop lossed in fiscal 2009, may only receive payment from one stop loss authority – either the money appropriated for stop loss special pay in the Duncan Hunter National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2009, or the money allocated for retroactive stop loss special pay in the 2009 Supplemental Appropriations Act, but not both.
Service members must provide documented proof they were stop lossed with their claim. Family members of deceased service members should contact the appropriate military service for assistance in filing their claim.
Information on how to contact each of the services is listed below:
Army: Go to https://www.stoplosspay.army.mil or email RetroStopLossPay@CONUS.Army.Mil
Navy: Email NXAG_N132C@navy.mil
Marine Corps: Go to https://www.manpower.usmc.mil/stoploss or email stoploss@usmc.mil
Air Force: Go to http://www.afpc.randolph.af.mil/stoploss/
Stop loss provides a valuable and critical tool to quickly retain and generate forces to surge in a major conflict. However, as deployment schedules stabilize, the department must then adapt and minimize its use of stop loss. The secretary of defense announced in March a comprehensive plan to eliminate the current use of stop loss, while retaining the authority for future use under extraordinary circumstances.
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October 19, 2009 By CJ
Posted in Military News, Patriotism
When Sergeant First Class Gregory Stube volunteered to deploy to Afghanistan in 2006, the Special Forces trained medic was expected to fill a civil affairs role. When he was asked to serve as the medic for an upcoming mission, he knew he had no other choice than to help the 3rd Special Forces Group. It was a decision that would change the course of the rest of his life.
On Sept. 6, 2006, as Stube was en route to set up a triage area for Soldiers wounded during the five-day Operation Medusa in Kandahar, his vehicle was hit by a remotely detonated improvised explosive device. A one-pound piece of shrapnel penetrated his leg, traveling through his pelvis and abdomen.
Despite his injuries, the NCO continued to focus on accomplishing the mission and the welfare of his fellow Special Forces Soldiers, even crawling out of the burning wreckage to fire his weapon at the enemy. Also, because he remained conscious throughout the incident, he was able to guide his fellow Soldiers through the care he needed, a benefit of his medical training. Reflecting on the day, Stube said he was not heroic, simply focused on self-preservation.
After being airlifted to Germany and eventually flown to Brook Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas, Stube had a long road to recovery ahead of him. In the past three years, he has undergone 17 procedures and surgeries. As a result of the shrapnel injury, Stube suffered devastating internal injuries, in addition to third-degree burns on his lower back and legs.
Throughout his recovery, he has chosen to focus on his capabilities instead of disabilities. The Soldier could have medically retired from the Army, but chose to use his story to help others. Stube is committed to helping other wounded warriors and their families get the care and support that they need.
“I’ve been very well cared for, and so, now I have to occupy myself in any way I can to continue to support that system and make sure that Soldiers who are wounded behind me get the same kind of treatment that I did,” said Stube.
A native of Memphis, Tenn., Stube is currently assigned to the Special Operations Command Public Affairs Office at Fort Bragg, N.C., and lives in Cameron, N.C., with his wife Donna and their young son, Gregory Jr. The Purple Heart and Bronze Star Medal recipient has more than 21 years of service in the Army, and followed in the footsteps of his father, who served in the Navy during Vietnam.
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By CJ
Posted in Military News, Uncategorized
If you haven’t seen this on Blackfive, you should:
Senators diverted $2.6 billion in funds in a defense spending bill to pet projects largely at the expense of accounts that pay for fuel, ammunition and training for U.S. troops, including those fighting wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, according to an analysis.
Among the 778 such projects, known as earmarks, packed into the bill: $25 million for a new World War II museum at the University of New Orleans and $20 million to launch an educational institute named after the late Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, Massachusetts Democrat.
Really… Taking money meant for bullets and fuel for soldiers risking their lives in battle so you can build monuments to yourselves…
Have you no shame?
Senator Kennedy lived a free and prosperous life that he had been able to achieve based upon the blood and sweat that everyone like me who has served have used as the currency to pay for that freedom; and yet members of his party feel it necessary to insult me, say that my sacrifices are in vain and that the cause of freedom is no longer something worth buying with the fluids of my precious life.
Read the rest at Blackfive.
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