Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Preparation is Key in Transitioning to Civilian Life
Preparation is Key in Transitioning to Civilian Life
by MarcusPenn on January 23, 2012
The transition from military service to life as a civilian can be very jarring and stressful. Murphy’s Law, anything that can go wrong will go wrong, can become the driving force in life. Here are some tips on how to ease the transition.
Attend transition classes
Each service branch sponsors many different classes to educate you on your benefits, train you on how to succeed in finding post-service employment, and moving from your duty station to your new home. Congress has mandated that every service member attend pre-separation counseling and each branch has different requirements for attending a Transition Assistance Program class so check with your leadership on what classes you’re required to attend. The best idea is to attend as many classes as possible regardless of what is required by your branch!
Begin your VA disability claim as soon as possible
You will quickly learn that VA disability offices are undermanned and always have a backlog of claims to process. Your wait for any disability payment will be greatly reduced if you’re proactive and respond to any requests for additional information quickly. Ensure you complete all physicals when scheduled to avoid further delays. Mostly importantly, be polite and patient.
Make copies of everything
Many say documentation beats conversation and that is especially true with military service. Everything you did is somehow documented. Make copies of your service record, medical records, dental records, and any other paperwork that is important. It isn’t uncommon for some things to be lost. Protect yourself and maintain physical and digital copies of everything. Make sure to keep your records safe, since some of the information in your records could be used to steal your identity.
Check and double check all paperwork
Ensure you look at and understand all paperwork, especially your DD-214. There are processes for getting corrections made to your service record, but it can be a long and difficult process. Take the time as you transition to make any changes needed so you aren’t rushing as your transition date approaches or having to communicate with your old duty station over the phone or email to correct mistakes.
Ask questions!
Asking questions is the most important part of the transition process. Do not leave the front gate wondering what the next step will be. A vast majority of people separating are doing so for the first time and don’t have past experience to draw upon. Your may think your question isn’t important, but this is your transition and you must have all information to make it as easy as possible.
Good luck on your transition and thank you for your service!
Photo thanks to WarriorForge under creative commons license on Flickr.
Read more: http://vabenefitblog.com/preparation-is-key-in-transitioning-to-civilian-life/#ixzz1kUzhew8c
by MarcusPenn on January 23, 2012
The transition from military service to life as a civilian can be very jarring and stressful. Murphy’s Law, anything that can go wrong will go wrong, can become the driving force in life. Here are some tips on how to ease the transition.
Attend transition classes
Each service branch sponsors many different classes to educate you on your benefits, train you on how to succeed in finding post-service employment, and moving from your duty station to your new home. Congress has mandated that every service member attend pre-separation counseling and each branch has different requirements for attending a Transition Assistance Program class so check with your leadership on what classes you’re required to attend. The best idea is to attend as many classes as possible regardless of what is required by your branch!
Begin your VA disability claim as soon as possible
You will quickly learn that VA disability offices are undermanned and always have a backlog of claims to process. Your wait for any disability payment will be greatly reduced if you’re proactive and respond to any requests for additional information quickly. Ensure you complete all physicals when scheduled to avoid further delays. Mostly importantly, be polite and patient.
Make copies of everything
Many say documentation beats conversation and that is especially true with military service. Everything you did is somehow documented. Make copies of your service record, medical records, dental records, and any other paperwork that is important. It isn’t uncommon for some things to be lost. Protect yourself and maintain physical and digital copies of everything. Make sure to keep your records safe, since some of the information in your records could be used to steal your identity.
Check and double check all paperwork
Ensure you look at and understand all paperwork, especially your DD-214. There are processes for getting corrections made to your service record, but it can be a long and difficult process. Take the time as you transition to make any changes needed so you aren’t rushing as your transition date approaches or having to communicate with your old duty station over the phone or email to correct mistakes.
Ask questions!
Asking questions is the most important part of the transition process. Do not leave the front gate wondering what the next step will be. A vast majority of people separating are doing so for the first time and don’t have past experience to draw upon. Your may think your question isn’t important, but this is your transition and you must have all information to make it as easy as possible.
Good luck on your transition and thank you for your service!
Photo thanks to WarriorForge under creative commons license on Flickr.
Read more: http://vabenefitblog.com/preparation-is-key-in-transitioning-to-civilian-life/#ixzz1kUzhew8c
Cycling Duo to Cross US to Raise Veterans Awareness
Cycling Duo to Cross U.S. to Raise Veteran Awareness
Posted by Levi Newman on January 25, 2012
If you were assembling a team to bike across the entire continental United States, the duo of Jeremy Staat and Wesley Barrientos might not be the typical choice.
Barrientos (not pictured) will be using a similar hand-crank bicycle.
But if you wanted to honor veterans, the idea behind “The Wall to Wall Cross Country Bicycle Ride,” they’re the perfect fit.
Jeremy Staat is an ex-NFL and Arizona State defensive lineman who also happens be have been a teammate of Pat Tillman, former NFL player and fallen U.S. Army soldier.
Wesley Barrientos is a U.S. Army Iraq war veteran, and a double amputee. Barrientos served three tours of duty in Iraq, in 2005, ’06 and ’07, the last one resulting in the loss of his legs due to an improvised explosive device (IED). Barrientos will use a hand-cranked bicycle and wear an eight-pound Kevlar helmet to honor his comrades.
While this group doesn’t fit the mold of a conventional biking team, its primary goal is to remind everyone that this 4,000-plus mile ride is nothing compared to what service men and women have endured over the years.
The two men will embark on the 4,000-plus mile trek through 15 states, 62 towns and nine military bases. They call it “The Wall to Wall Cross Country Bicycle Ride.”
This idea began on Memorial Day in 2011, when Staat was addressing a crowd of school kids. He had asked the children if they knew what a veteran was and received nothing but blank stares. It was then that he realized he needed to make a difference.
Staat cites Tillman as his inspiration to form the Jeremy Staat Foundation. The foundation’s goal is to raise awareness and educate young people about veterans and the sacrifices they have made. He hopes the ride is just one more reminder to keep veterans on the minds of the civilian population.
Staat’s ultimate goal is to see a more efficient Veterans Affairs system. He believes that the support network veterans have when they return home, whether it’s help finding a job, getting proper health care or returning to society after experiencing unimaginable psychological and physical trauma, is the most important step in providing proper care. He is also attempting to raise funds through his foundation to build a private facility to provide specific care to veterans upon their return home.
Staat said the trip is already laid out, but that they would be willing to visit other towns along the planned route if it would help raise further awareness in that specific area.
The trip begins Feb. 19 at the Wall of Valor in Bakersfield, California. It is scheduled to end on Memorial Day 2012 at the Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial in Washington, D.C.
Photo thanks to Official U.S. Air Force under creative commons license on Flickr.
Posted by Levi Newman on January 25, 2012
If you were assembling a team to bike across the entire continental United States, the duo of Jeremy Staat and Wesley Barrientos might not be the typical choice.
Barrientos (not pictured) will be using a similar hand-crank bicycle.
But if you wanted to honor veterans, the idea behind “The Wall to Wall Cross Country Bicycle Ride,” they’re the perfect fit.
Jeremy Staat is an ex-NFL and Arizona State defensive lineman who also happens be have been a teammate of Pat Tillman, former NFL player and fallen U.S. Army soldier.
Wesley Barrientos is a U.S. Army Iraq war veteran, and a double amputee. Barrientos served three tours of duty in Iraq, in 2005, ’06 and ’07, the last one resulting in the loss of his legs due to an improvised explosive device (IED). Barrientos will use a hand-cranked bicycle and wear an eight-pound Kevlar helmet to honor his comrades.
While this group doesn’t fit the mold of a conventional biking team, its primary goal is to remind everyone that this 4,000-plus mile ride is nothing compared to what service men and women have endured over the years.
The two men will embark on the 4,000-plus mile trek through 15 states, 62 towns and nine military bases. They call it “The Wall to Wall Cross Country Bicycle Ride.”
This idea began on Memorial Day in 2011, when Staat was addressing a crowd of school kids. He had asked the children if they knew what a veteran was and received nothing but blank stares. It was then that he realized he needed to make a difference.
Staat cites Tillman as his inspiration to form the Jeremy Staat Foundation. The foundation’s goal is to raise awareness and educate young people about veterans and the sacrifices they have made. He hopes the ride is just one more reminder to keep veterans on the minds of the civilian population.
Staat’s ultimate goal is to see a more efficient Veterans Affairs system. He believes that the support network veterans have when they return home, whether it’s help finding a job, getting proper health care or returning to society after experiencing unimaginable psychological and physical trauma, is the most important step in providing proper care. He is also attempting to raise funds through his foundation to build a private facility to provide specific care to veterans upon their return home.
Staat said the trip is already laid out, but that they would be willing to visit other towns along the planned route if it would help raise further awareness in that specific area.
The trip begins Feb. 19 at the Wall of Valor in Bakersfield, California. It is scheduled to end on Memorial Day 2012 at the Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial in Washington, D.C.
Photo thanks to Official U.S. Air Force under creative commons license on Flickr.
The War on PTSD is Just Beginning
Benefits /
The War on PTSD is Just Beginning
Posted by Levi Newman on December 29, 2011
Veterans have finally come home after nine long, hard-fought years in Iraq. Celebrations of their return, tearful family reunions and parties in their honor have all come to a close, but now is the time they need us more than ever.
Post-traumatic stress disorder has already begun to set in on the veteran, allowing haunting memories and dreams to leave scars you may never see. It’s no secret that PTSD is a major issue surrounding veterans today. The Department of Veterans Affairs has reported treating more than 212,000 combat veterans for PTSD since the beginning of the Iraq and Afghanistan campaigns.
Though the number of Iraq-era veterans treated for PTSD is only a fraction of those from the Vietnam era, their experiences are different based on a number of factors, including a rise in the use of improvised explosive devices (IED).
Often, those with PTSD or brain injuries suffer silently. Veterans avoid counseling because they have difficulties in admitting a mental disorder. Troops who are taught to be fearless might feel that they are viewed as weak if they admit to any health problems, especially one so closely related to emotions. This stigma is one we, as a national community, can help them overcome.
Without proper treatment their relationships can deteriorate, educational opportunities get pushed aside and everyday life becomes a struggle. Drugs or alcohol are often used to fill the emptiness that a veteran suffering from PTSD may hold inside, which can lead to them losing their family, job and even their life.
It is our job as veterans, friends and family members to help combat this terrible affliction. I challenge you to learn as much as you can about PTSD, because knowing how PTSD affects people may help you understand what your friend or family member is going through. There are many programs out there to help veterans, so don’t let these resources go to waste.
Here are some ways you can help a veteran if you think they might suffer from PTSD:
1.Offer to go to doctor visits with them. You can help keep track of medicine and therapy to make sure they receive help, as well as being there for support.
2.Listen intently to what the veteran says and understand if he or she doesn’t feel like talking. Don’t push, but don’t always let things go unsaid either.
3.Plan activities like dinner, movie nights, bowling or other relaxing events. Physical activities can also alleviate stress so try walking or riding bikes. Exercise is important for health and helps clear the mind.
4.Encourage contact with family, friends and challenge them to meet new people. A strong support system can help a veteran get through difficult changes and stressful times.
Photo thanks to The U.S. Army under creative commons license on Flickr.
The War on PTSD is Just Beginning
Posted by Levi Newman on December 29, 2011
Veterans have finally come home after nine long, hard-fought years in Iraq. Celebrations of their return, tearful family reunions and parties in their honor have all come to a close, but now is the time they need us more than ever.
Post-traumatic stress disorder has already begun to set in on the veteran, allowing haunting memories and dreams to leave scars you may never see. It’s no secret that PTSD is a major issue surrounding veterans today. The Department of Veterans Affairs has reported treating more than 212,000 combat veterans for PTSD since the beginning of the Iraq and Afghanistan campaigns.
Though the number of Iraq-era veterans treated for PTSD is only a fraction of those from the Vietnam era, their experiences are different based on a number of factors, including a rise in the use of improvised explosive devices (IED).
Often, those with PTSD or brain injuries suffer silently. Veterans avoid counseling because they have difficulties in admitting a mental disorder. Troops who are taught to be fearless might feel that they are viewed as weak if they admit to any health problems, especially one so closely related to emotions. This stigma is one we, as a national community, can help them overcome.
Without proper treatment their relationships can deteriorate, educational opportunities get pushed aside and everyday life becomes a struggle. Drugs or alcohol are often used to fill the emptiness that a veteran suffering from PTSD may hold inside, which can lead to them losing their family, job and even their life.
It is our job as veterans, friends and family members to help combat this terrible affliction. I challenge you to learn as much as you can about PTSD, because knowing how PTSD affects people may help you understand what your friend or family member is going through. There are many programs out there to help veterans, so don’t let these resources go to waste.
Here are some ways you can help a veteran if you think they might suffer from PTSD:
1.Offer to go to doctor visits with them. You can help keep track of medicine and therapy to make sure they receive help, as well as being there for support.
2.Listen intently to what the veteran says and understand if he or she doesn’t feel like talking. Don’t push, but don’t always let things go unsaid either.
3.Plan activities like dinner, movie nights, bowling or other relaxing events. Physical activities can also alleviate stress so try walking or riding bikes. Exercise is important for health and helps clear the mind.
4.Encourage contact with family, friends and challenge them to meet new people. A strong support system can help a veteran get through difficult changes and stressful times.
Photo thanks to The U.S. Army under creative commons license on Flickr.
Special Forces Social Networking and Other News
Special Forces social networking & other news
Saturday, January 21, 2012, 04:33 AM - News Stories
Special Forces Get Social in New Psychological Operation Plan. The elite forces of the U.S. military think they’ve found a new way to sway opinion in the Pentagon’s preferred directions: a voice-based social networking app that’s a cross between talk radio and Twitter...
(Wired News)
Show turns war stories into works of art. An art show put together by PIENSA: Art Company, 701 Whaley and Hidden Wounds will feature works of art showing off stories told by returning American soldiers. Robert LeHeup, a sergeant in the United States Marine Corps and one of the organizers of the event, says the show gives audience members an introspective view on the impacts of war told through visual interpretations of the stories of those who have lived them...
(WIS TV)
Mobile Civil War exhibit headed to Va state Capitol.The Virginia Civil War 150 HistoryMobile is scheduled to roll into the state Capitol next week. The interactive museum on wheels is housed in a 53-foot expandable tractor-trailer. It will be at the state Capitol Jan. 23 to Jan. 27. The HistoryMobile was developed in partnership with the Virginia Historical Society and the National Park Service. It draws together stories from all over Virginia and uses state-of-the-art technology and immersive exhibit spaces to present individual stories of the Civil War from the perspectives of those who experienced it...
(The Republic)
Editorial: Don't defend Marines in Taliban desecration video. In the week since video surfaced depicting Marines urinating on the corpses of what appear to be Taliban fighters, a big backlash of support has emerged for the four men. Their defenders ask: How dare anyone criticize brave American troops who lost comrades in battle? What about atrocities committed by the Taliban? Don't people understand that war is hell? And how could urinating on a corpse be worse than killing someone in the first place?
(USATODAY)
Nurse tells inspirational war story. Terri Arthur, of East Falmouth, had always wanted to write a book. But being a nurse kept her too busy to write — for 40 years. When Arthur retired from Jordan Hospital in Plymouth, she wasn't content to sit back and eat the proverbial bonbons. She was determined to write a book. Arthur found her inspiration when she stumbled upon a set of vintage postcards depicting a young British
Saturday, January 21, 2012, 04:33 AM - News Stories
Special Forces Get Social in New Psychological Operation Plan. The elite forces of the U.S. military think they’ve found a new way to sway opinion in the Pentagon’s preferred directions: a voice-based social networking app that’s a cross between talk radio and Twitter...
(Wired News)
Show turns war stories into works of art. An art show put together by PIENSA: Art Company, 701 Whaley and Hidden Wounds will feature works of art showing off stories told by returning American soldiers. Robert LeHeup, a sergeant in the United States Marine Corps and one of the organizers of the event, says the show gives audience members an introspective view on the impacts of war told through visual interpretations of the stories of those who have lived them...
(WIS TV)
Mobile Civil War exhibit headed to Va state Capitol.The Virginia Civil War 150 HistoryMobile is scheduled to roll into the state Capitol next week. The interactive museum on wheels is housed in a 53-foot expandable tractor-trailer. It will be at the state Capitol Jan. 23 to Jan. 27. The HistoryMobile was developed in partnership with the Virginia Historical Society and the National Park Service. It draws together stories from all over Virginia and uses state-of-the-art technology and immersive exhibit spaces to present individual stories of the Civil War from the perspectives of those who experienced it...
(The Republic)
Editorial: Don't defend Marines in Taliban desecration video. In the week since video surfaced depicting Marines urinating on the corpses of what appear to be Taliban fighters, a big backlash of support has emerged for the four men. Their defenders ask: How dare anyone criticize brave American troops who lost comrades in battle? What about atrocities committed by the Taliban? Don't people understand that war is hell? And how could urinating on a corpse be worse than killing someone in the first place?
(USATODAY)
Nurse tells inspirational war story. Terri Arthur, of East Falmouth, had always wanted to write a book. But being a nurse kept her too busy to write — for 40 years. When Arthur retired from Jordan Hospital in Plymouth, she wasn't content to sit back and eat the proverbial bonbons. She was determined to write a book. Arthur found her inspiration when she stumbled upon a set of vintage postcards depicting a young British
War Widow Shares Her Story
War widow shares story of loss in blog post
Sunday, January 22, 2012, 10:04 AM
Patty Gutierrez posted a blog to the GilroyPatch about her story of love and loss.
Her husband, SSG David H. Gutierrez, was killed on Christmas Day 2009, by an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) in Afghanistan.
Patty writes:
We had a wonderful life and a great marriage. We went from Georgia to Tennessee to Hawaii to Washington state. David was in Korea for a year before he was deployed to Iraq with his fellow Wolfhounds, and then to Afghanistan with the 2-1 Infantry out of Ft. Lewis.
The first five months of his deployment were hard because we had to rely on letter and phone calls for communication. But once his unit arrived at their permanent Forward Operating Base (FOB) they got Internet! For almost one month, David and I Skyped everyday, although we downgraded to Yahoo Instant Messenger on the days that I was at work. It was a wonderful blessing to have that option. We talked, laughed, cried and even argued—but we we were able to actually see each other.
David got to see our boys and they were able to share moments with their father. One of his last statements was, “Just a couple more weeks till R&R.”
The last time we talked was Christmas Eve his time and Christmas Eve Eve our time. He watched me wrap presents and heard me yell at the tree in the background as it was starting to tip over. After some laughter, he told me he had to go to a leadership meeting, and then patrol. He said that he’d be right back on the computer to wish us a "Merry Christmas.”
You can read the entire story here.
Sunday, January 22, 2012, 10:04 AM
Patty Gutierrez posted a blog to the GilroyPatch about her story of love and loss.
Her husband, SSG David H. Gutierrez, was killed on Christmas Day 2009, by an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) in Afghanistan.
Patty writes:
We had a wonderful life and a great marriage. We went from Georgia to Tennessee to Hawaii to Washington state. David was in Korea for a year before he was deployed to Iraq with his fellow Wolfhounds, and then to Afghanistan with the 2-1 Infantry out of Ft. Lewis.
The first five months of his deployment were hard because we had to rely on letter and phone calls for communication. But once his unit arrived at their permanent Forward Operating Base (FOB) they got Internet! For almost one month, David and I Skyped everyday, although we downgraded to Yahoo Instant Messenger on the days that I was at work. It was a wonderful blessing to have that option. We talked, laughed, cried and even argued—but we we were able to actually see each other.
David got to see our boys and they were able to share moments with their father. One of his last statements was, “Just a couple more weeks till R&R.”
The last time we talked was Christmas Eve his time and Christmas Eve Eve our time. He watched me wrap presents and heard me yell at the tree in the background as it was starting to tip over. After some laughter, he told me he had to go to a leadership meeting, and then patrol. He said that he’d be right back on the computer to wish us a "Merry Christmas.”
You can read the entire story here.
Red Tails
George Lucas's battle to bring the story of black WW2 pilots the Red Tails to the big screen. They were among the most heroic fighter pilots in World War Two. The courageous and daring US Red Tail squadrons destroyed 112 German planes in the air, another 150 on the ground, hundreds of trains and trucks, even a ship. Their bravery was the stuff of legend. Their devotion to their country unquestionable. Scores of pilots were awarded medals. Yet there was no heroes’ return for them after the war. Because the pilots, more than 400 of them, were all black...
(Mirror)
(Mirror)
Veterans and Their Sacrifice Film
Pleasant Hill man's film experience shines spotlight on veterans and their sacrifice. Shining a spotlight on veterans and their sacrifice turned into a rewarding creative outlet for Joe Springer. The Pleasant Hill man wrote the script for "Honor Restored," a World War II documentary just-released on DVD, and worked on the production of "The Wereth Eleven," a docudrama which aired on National Geographic and was reworked and released on DVD last fall. "It's some of the best fun I ever had," said Springer, who retired after 25 years in the Air Force and moved back home to Pleasant Hill...
(Whig)
(Whig)
Invisible War
"Invisible War" exposes widespread rape in U.S. military. Rape in the American armed forces is an issue that has quietly been gathering attention over the past decade. But it exploded with the power of suppressed fury at the Sundance festival's Friday afternoon screening of the documentary "The Invisible War," a devastating indictment of the government's inaction on the issue...
(Chicago Tribune)
(Chicago Tribune)
Military Blogging for Jan. 24, 2012
Welcome to Milblogging.com
DoD blogger joins wife of Vice President Biden
Tuesday, January 24, 2012, 06:11 PM - News Stories
Family Matters Blog: Blogger Joins Bidens’ West Coast Trip. Last week, I traveled to California to join Dr. Jill Biden, wife of Vice President Joe Biden, as she embarked on a West Coast Joining Forces tour. Dr. Biden had arrived with her husband a day earlier than me, so I caught up with her at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, where she was participating in a roundtable discussion on military kids and how schools across the nation can better support them...
(Department of Defense)
Army Asks Soldiers to be Cautious on Facebook. Facebook. It seems like everyone, and everything, has a Facebook page. From middle school students to U.S. Army Chief of Staff Gen. Raymond T. Odierno to Camp Atterbury Joint Maneuver Training Center, millions of people, businesses and military organizations log on to Facebook every day to share information, interests and news...
(Military.com)
Edmunds.com Advises Military Personnel to Watch out for Deceptive Car Sales Practices. Edmunds.com, the premier online resource for automotive information, reports that members of the U.S. military are particularly vulnerable to deceptive practices by unscrupulous car salespeople. Trained to respect authoritative figures and say "yes, sir!" or "yes, ma'am" in response to direction, service members are at unique risk in a high-pressure sales environment. Edmunds.com Senior Consumer Advice Editor Philip Reed warns that crafty salespeople may even demonstrate patriotism just to lower resistance to a sales pitch...
(MarketWatch)
Story of Civil War traveling on wheels. Civil War history, for a change, seems to be going over well with the diverse sample of humanity who pour through the former Confederate capital each day. That’s the impression one gets from talking with people—state workers, lawmakers, teachers and out-of-town visitors—who saw Virginia’s museum-on-wheels on Day 1 of its visit to Richmond’s Capitol Square...
(The News Desk)
Gamers are enlisted to battle bugs in military weapons. Software bugs can prove deadly on the battlefield — a lesson learned when a buggy Patriot missile defense system failed to intercept a Scud missile that killed 28 American soldiers during the first Gulf War in 1991. To prevent such weapons disasters, the U.S. military wants to transform dull bug-hunting tasks into fun problem-solving games that attract swarms of online players...
(MSNBC)
Military Vet Who Needs New Kidney Scoops $14m Lottery Jackpot. A military veteran in dire need of a kidney transplant has won a cool $14.3 million in Wisconsin’s Megabucks lottery. Napolean Elvord scooped the jackpot on January 14, yet didn’t realize he was a millionaire until several days after the draw had taken place. Indeed, the winning $1 ticket was still on Elvord’s dining table when it was announced the winning ticket had been sold at a Wisconsin Mobil station...
(The Inquisitr)
Protesters feel time ripe to launch second uprising. In sharp contrast to their unison during a revolt that swept long-standing president from power, Egypt's protesters and the military are at odds what shape the first anniversary of the uprising should take. Increasingly sceptical about the military junta's agenda, several protest groups see the anniversary a fresh occasion to "launch a second revolution"...
(gulfnews)
DoD blogger joins wife of Vice President Biden
Tuesday, January 24, 2012, 06:11 PM - News Stories
Family Matters Blog: Blogger Joins Bidens’ West Coast Trip. Last week, I traveled to California to join Dr. Jill Biden, wife of Vice President Joe Biden, as she embarked on a West Coast Joining Forces tour. Dr. Biden had arrived with her husband a day earlier than me, so I caught up with her at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, where she was participating in a roundtable discussion on military kids and how schools across the nation can better support them...
(Department of Defense)
Army Asks Soldiers to be Cautious on Facebook. Facebook. It seems like everyone, and everything, has a Facebook page. From middle school students to U.S. Army Chief of Staff Gen. Raymond T. Odierno to Camp Atterbury Joint Maneuver Training Center, millions of people, businesses and military organizations log on to Facebook every day to share information, interests and news...
(Military.com)
Edmunds.com Advises Military Personnel to Watch out for Deceptive Car Sales Practices. Edmunds.com, the premier online resource for automotive information, reports that members of the U.S. military are particularly vulnerable to deceptive practices by unscrupulous car salespeople. Trained to respect authoritative figures and say "yes, sir!" or "yes, ma'am" in response to direction, service members are at unique risk in a high-pressure sales environment. Edmunds.com Senior Consumer Advice Editor Philip Reed warns that crafty salespeople may even demonstrate patriotism just to lower resistance to a sales pitch...
(MarketWatch)
Story of Civil War traveling on wheels. Civil War history, for a change, seems to be going over well with the diverse sample of humanity who pour through the former Confederate capital each day. That’s the impression one gets from talking with people—state workers, lawmakers, teachers and out-of-town visitors—who saw Virginia’s museum-on-wheels on Day 1 of its visit to Richmond’s Capitol Square...
(The News Desk)
Gamers are enlisted to battle bugs in military weapons. Software bugs can prove deadly on the battlefield — a lesson learned when a buggy Patriot missile defense system failed to intercept a Scud missile that killed 28 American soldiers during the first Gulf War in 1991. To prevent such weapons disasters, the U.S. military wants to transform dull bug-hunting tasks into fun problem-solving games that attract swarms of online players...
(MSNBC)
Military Vet Who Needs New Kidney Scoops $14m Lottery Jackpot. A military veteran in dire need of a kidney transplant has won a cool $14.3 million in Wisconsin’s Megabucks lottery. Napolean Elvord scooped the jackpot on January 14, yet didn’t realize he was a millionaire until several days after the draw had taken place. Indeed, the winning $1 ticket was still on Elvord’s dining table when it was announced the winning ticket had been sold at a Wisconsin Mobil station...
(The Inquisitr)
Protesters feel time ripe to launch second uprising. In sharp contrast to their unison during a revolt that swept long-standing president from power, Egypt's protesters and the military are at odds what shape the first anniversary of the uprising should take. Increasingly sceptical about the military junta's agenda, several protest groups see the anniversary a fresh occasion to "launch a second revolution"...
(gulfnews)
Mail Call!Supporting the Troops: While you go about your Wednesday, a Veteran is be...
Mail Call!Supporting the Troops: While you go about your Wednesday, a Veteran is be...: From the Oregonian: Burial for indigent Navy veteran scheduled for Willamette National Cemetery on Wednesday Per the story above, today ...
Military Veterans Join Occupy Wall Street West
Military Veterans Join Occupy Wall Street West
Wednesday, January 18, 2012, 6:47:45 PM | dottie lou
Posted to:
San Francisco
For Immediate Release
Media Contacts:
Dottie Guy, Iraq Veterans Against the War, Bay Area Chapter: dottie.guy@gmail.com, 415-290-5447
Emily Yates, Iraq Veterans Against the War, Bay Area Chapter: emjyates@gmail.com
Military Veterans Join Occupy Wall Street West
Members of Iraq Veterans Against the War Highlight Misuse of Taxpayer Funds and NDAA
SAN FRANCISCO (January 18, 2012)- The Bay Area chapter of Iraq Veterans Against the War will be participating in Occupy Wall Street West on January 20, 2012. IVAW will be protesting at Bechtel Corporation’s headquarters in San Francisco to bring attention to the misuse of more than $2 billion in U.S. taxpayer funds that was meant to fund infrastructure rebuilding projects in Iraq. The company received the contract in 2003, and, according to a January 9, 2012 Al Jazeera article, many of the construction projects, which included reconstruction of water treatment systems, electricity plants, sewage systems, airports and roads, are still incomplete. IVAW members will be joined by several anti-war allies in this action including the Campaign for New Priorities, Global Exchange, Code Pink, Seminary of the Streets, the Iraqi Student Project of Dominican University and the Fellowship of Reconciliation.
In addition to the Bechtel protest, members will be conducting Operation First Casualty; a guerrilla theater squad that will perform in multiple areas of San Francisco’s Financial District. This will highlight the indefinite detainment without trial of the 99% in the countries which the United States are currently occupying and what could happen here now that the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) has passed. This action will start at 10:30 and locations of these actions will be available by request. There will also be a teach-in at Bechtel at 3:00PM with veterans and experts speaking out on the costs of war.
Members of IVAW’s Bay Area chapter will be protesting to draw attention to the financial and human costs of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The goal of this action is to remind Americans that social and economic issues at home are directly affected by overinflated, under-regulated government spending by private contractors in Iraq and Afghanistan. One of the many domestic effects of this irresponsible practice is that military contractors profit from incomplete defense contracts while funding is cut from government programs aimed at providing health care, education and other benefits for veterans returning home from war.
#####
Iraq Veterans Against the War is nonprofit 501(c)3 advocacy group of veterans and active-duty US military personnel who have served in the U.S. Military since September 11, 2001. IVAW currently has over 1,400 members in fifty states, as well as in Canada, Europe, Iraq and Afghanistan.
Wednesday, January 18, 2012, 6:47:45 PM | dottie lou
Posted to:
San Francisco
For Immediate Release
Media Contacts:
Dottie Guy, Iraq Veterans Against the War, Bay Area Chapter: dottie.guy@gmail.com, 415-290-5447
Emily Yates, Iraq Veterans Against the War, Bay Area Chapter: emjyates@gmail.com
Military Veterans Join Occupy Wall Street West
Members of Iraq Veterans Against the War Highlight Misuse of Taxpayer Funds and NDAA
SAN FRANCISCO (January 18, 2012)- The Bay Area chapter of Iraq Veterans Against the War will be participating in Occupy Wall Street West on January 20, 2012. IVAW will be protesting at Bechtel Corporation’s headquarters in San Francisco to bring attention to the misuse of more than $2 billion in U.S. taxpayer funds that was meant to fund infrastructure rebuilding projects in Iraq. The company received the contract in 2003, and, according to a January 9, 2012 Al Jazeera article, many of the construction projects, which included reconstruction of water treatment systems, electricity plants, sewage systems, airports and roads, are still incomplete. IVAW members will be joined by several anti-war allies in this action including the Campaign for New Priorities, Global Exchange, Code Pink, Seminary of the Streets, the Iraqi Student Project of Dominican University and the Fellowship of Reconciliation.
In addition to the Bechtel protest, members will be conducting Operation First Casualty; a guerrilla theater squad that will perform in multiple areas of San Francisco’s Financial District. This will highlight the indefinite detainment without trial of the 99% in the countries which the United States are currently occupying and what could happen here now that the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) has passed. This action will start at 10:30 and locations of these actions will be available by request. There will also be a teach-in at Bechtel at 3:00PM with veterans and experts speaking out on the costs of war.
Members of IVAW’s Bay Area chapter will be protesting to draw attention to the financial and human costs of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The goal of this action is to remind Americans that social and economic issues at home are directly affected by overinflated, under-regulated government spending by private contractors in Iraq and Afghanistan. One of the many domestic effects of this irresponsible practice is that military contractors profit from incomplete defense contracts while funding is cut from government programs aimed at providing health care, education and other benefits for veterans returning home from war.
#####
Iraq Veterans Against the War is nonprofit 501(c)3 advocacy group of veterans and active-duty US military personnel who have served in the U.S. Military since September 11, 2001. IVAW currently has over 1,400 members in fifty states, as well as in Canada, Europe, Iraq and Afghanistan.
When Soldiers Return
1/21/2012 10:45 AM
When Soldiers Return: Part One
By: Lara Greenberg
As the economy has continued to struggle, more and more people are counting themselves among the unemployed. And many of those without jobs are veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Officials said veterans should be the first to get hired but it’s not always so easy.
In part one of our series, When Soldiers Return, Lara Greenberg tells us why vets are having such a hard time finding work.
As the economy has continued to struggle, more and more people are counting themselves among the unemployed. And many of those without jobs are veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
SOUTHERN TIER, N.Y. -- These soldiers fight for our country every day. But when it’s time to come home and leave the military, it is often a tough transition.
Chesapeake Energy Field Foreman Kevin Schwin said, “You get just a different culture. Going out of the military, being in the military for 11 years, that’s a whole huge transition for any of our veterans. So there’s always a fear of the unknown. You don’t know what’s going to happen.”
Often that fear of the unknown is what keeps these men and women from finding steady work.
Dawn Smith, Bath VA OEF, OIF, OND Program Manager said, “They’re coming back not quite sure whether they want to go to school, whether they want to go to work, even what their benefits are, what they’re entitled to.”
The US Labor Department said the national unemployment rate for non-veterans was 9.4 percent in 2010. But for veterans who served in the military between 2001 and 2010, the jobless rate was much higher, 11.5 percent.
Veterans themselves have a few ideas about why that number is so high.
Jake Swanson, Chesapeake Energy Completions Foreman said, “I’m from Spokane, Washington. I would have loved to have gone home. But you know I needed to be employed. And this was a great opportunity. So I moved to Pennsylvania and started to work for Chesapeake. Where I think a lot of people put up a road barrier or a road block and they only want to find jobs that are within 20 miles of their house.”
“It’s hard to take military language and then convey that into civilian world. So it’s really getting that first in the door and then your actions will speak once you get into a job. But tailoring your resume to corporate America is a challenge,” said Schwin.
Putting together a good resume is something that can be taught. Veteran Affairs and places like CareerLink in Pennsylvania help vets get on their civilian feet.
Rob Shannon supervises CareerLink in Tioga County, Pennsylvania.
Shannon said, “It’s not something they’ve ever done before. I was a veteran myself. I was stationed in Fort Drum myself. And when I left the force, they never taught me how to write a resume. So that’s one of the main barriers here in the office.”
Shannon said of the people who come through the CareerLink Center, about ten percent of them are veterans. Those veterans get priority service and a case manager to help see them through until they find a job.
“Right now in our system we have about 130 open job orders which totals about 460 jobs because most of those openings are for more than one opening. There’s room for them. We just need them to come down and talk to us so we can get them out there,” said Shannon.
Sometimes getting the veterans to come through the door is the hardest part. Shannon said some show up within a few weeks of leaving the service. Others are just starting the process, after being discharged in 2005 and 2006. But whenever they’re ready, he and hundreds of employers are ready to help get them back to work.
And Lara tells us there’s one industry in our region that’s been hiring veterans by the hundreds. Sunday, she’ll explain why this controversial business appears to be a perfect fit for veterans.
Related Stories1/23/2012 When Soldiers Return: Part Three
When Soldiers Return: Part One
By: Lara Greenberg
As the economy has continued to struggle, more and more people are counting themselves among the unemployed. And many of those without jobs are veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Officials said veterans should be the first to get hired but it’s not always so easy.
In part one of our series, When Soldiers Return, Lara Greenberg tells us why vets are having such a hard time finding work.
As the economy has continued to struggle, more and more people are counting themselves among the unemployed. And many of those without jobs are veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
SOUTHERN TIER, N.Y. -- These soldiers fight for our country every day. But when it’s time to come home and leave the military, it is often a tough transition.
Chesapeake Energy Field Foreman Kevin Schwin said, “You get just a different culture. Going out of the military, being in the military for 11 years, that’s a whole huge transition for any of our veterans. So there’s always a fear of the unknown. You don’t know what’s going to happen.”
Often that fear of the unknown is what keeps these men and women from finding steady work.
Dawn Smith, Bath VA OEF, OIF, OND Program Manager said, “They’re coming back not quite sure whether they want to go to school, whether they want to go to work, even what their benefits are, what they’re entitled to.”
The US Labor Department said the national unemployment rate for non-veterans was 9.4 percent in 2010. But for veterans who served in the military between 2001 and 2010, the jobless rate was much higher, 11.5 percent.
Veterans themselves have a few ideas about why that number is so high.
Jake Swanson, Chesapeake Energy Completions Foreman said, “I’m from Spokane, Washington. I would have loved to have gone home. But you know I needed to be employed. And this was a great opportunity. So I moved to Pennsylvania and started to work for Chesapeake. Where I think a lot of people put up a road barrier or a road block and they only want to find jobs that are within 20 miles of their house.”
“It’s hard to take military language and then convey that into civilian world. So it’s really getting that first in the door and then your actions will speak once you get into a job. But tailoring your resume to corporate America is a challenge,” said Schwin.
Putting together a good resume is something that can be taught. Veteran Affairs and places like CareerLink in Pennsylvania help vets get on their civilian feet.
Rob Shannon supervises CareerLink in Tioga County, Pennsylvania.
Shannon said, “It’s not something they’ve ever done before. I was a veteran myself. I was stationed in Fort Drum myself. And when I left the force, they never taught me how to write a resume. So that’s one of the main barriers here in the office.”
Shannon said of the people who come through the CareerLink Center, about ten percent of them are veterans. Those veterans get priority service and a case manager to help see them through until they find a job.
“Right now in our system we have about 130 open job orders which totals about 460 jobs because most of those openings are for more than one opening. There’s room for them. We just need them to come down and talk to us so we can get them out there,” said Shannon.
Sometimes getting the veterans to come through the door is the hardest part. Shannon said some show up within a few weeks of leaving the service. Others are just starting the process, after being discharged in 2005 and 2006. But whenever they’re ready, he and hundreds of employers are ready to help get them back to work.
And Lara tells us there’s one industry in our region that’s been hiring veterans by the hundreds. Sunday, she’ll explain why this controversial business appears to be a perfect fit for veterans.
Related Stories1/23/2012 When Soldiers Return: Part Three
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
RIT Men's Basketball Team Honor Local Veterans and Soldiers Killed In Action
01.18.2012
Men's Basketball
RIT men's basketball will honor soldiers killed in action on Saturday
ROCHESTER, NY -- The RIT men’s basketball team will honor local veterans and soldiers killed in action on Saturday, Jan. 21 in their game versus Vassar College at 4 pm at Clark Gymnasium.
men's basketball will honor soldiers killed in action on Saturday
Stephen Jaynes - Sports Information Director
1/18/2012 3:15:00 PM
ROCHESTER, NY -- The RIT men’s basketball team will honor local veterans and soldiers killed in action on Saturday, Jan. 21 in their game versus Vassar College at 4 pm at Clark Gymnasium.
The Tigers will wear camouflaged warm-up shirts with the names of 17 Rochester area soldiers who were killed in action.
The team will also honor veterans in attendance as well as taking donations for the Veterans Outreach Center of Rochester.
Veterans Outreach Center is an independent community-centered non-profit providing premier supportive services to veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces and their families in the greater Rochester area. They serve by helping them to achieve their goals and realize their full potential.
Below is a list of soldiers from the Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse area who have been killed in action since 2001. We honor their memory:
Army Staff Sgt. Nekl B. Allen – Rochester, NY
Marine Cpl. Reynold Armand – Rochester, NY
Army Sgt. 1st Class Moses E. Armstead – Rochester, NY
Air Force Master Sgt. Steven E. Auchman – Waterloo, NY
Army Spc. Brian K. Baker – West Seneca, NY
Army Staff Sgt. Aram J. Bass – Niagara Falls, NY –
Army Sgt. Daniel J. Beard – Buffalo, NY
Marine Sgt. Jerome C. Bell, Jr. – Auburn, NY
Army Sgt. Edward H. Bolen – Chittenango, NY
Marine Pfc. Tamario D. Burkett – Erie, NY
Army Pfc. Charles E. Bush, Jr. – Buffalo, NY
Army Staff Sgt. Steve Butcher, Jr. – Rochester, NY
Army Pfc. Dwane A. Covert, Jr. – Tonawanda, NY
Army Pfc. Patrick A. Devoe II – Auburn, NY
Army Spc. Alan N. Dikcis – Niagara Falls, NY
Army Staff Sgt. Christopher W. Dill – Tonawanda, NY
Marine Captain Phillip J. Dykeman – Brockport, NY
Army Pvt. 2nd Class David Evans, Jr. – Buffalo, NY
Army Sgt. Steven C. Ganczewski – Niagara Falls, NY
Army Sgt. Cari Ann Gasiewicz – Depew, NY
Army Spc. Kenneth W. Haines – Fulton, NY
Army Cpl. Lorne E. Henry, Jr. – Niagara Falls, NY
Army Staff Sgt. Christopher T. Howick – Hamburg, NY
Navy Elect. Tech 3rd Class Benjamin Johnson – Rochester, NY
Army Spc. Jason M. Johnston – Albion, NY
Army Spc. Matthew A. Koch – West Henrietta, NY
Army Pfc. Travis C. Krege – Cheektowaga, NY
Army Staff Sgt. Michael S. Lammerts – Tonawanda, NY
Marine Gunnery Sgt. Shawn A. Lane – Corning, NY
Army Spc. Jeff LeBrun – Buffalo, NY
Army Sgt. Jonathan E. Lootens – Lyons, NY
Marine Lance Cpl. Howard S. March, Jr. – Buffalo, NY
Army Spc. David McKeever – Buffalo, NY
Army Sgt. Heath A. McMillin – Canandaigua, NY
Army Cpl. Kevin S. Mowl – Pittsford, NY
Marine Lance Cpl. Eric J. Orlowski – Buffalo, NY
Army Spc. Jacob M. Pfister – Buffalo, NY
Army Sgt. Christopher M. Pusateri – Corning, NY
Army Staff Sgt. Steven C. Reynolds – Jordan, NY
Army Pfc. Daniel J. Rivera – Rochester, NY
Marine Staff Sgt. Javier O. Ortiz Rivera – Rochester, NY
Army Spc. David L. Roustum – West Seneca, NY
Marine Lance Cpl. Timothy G. Serwinowski – North Tonawanda
Marine Cpl. Kyle R. Schneider – Phoenix, NY
Marine Lance Cpl. Brian K. Schramm – Rochester, NY
Army Pfc. Benjamin C. Schuster – Williamsville, NY
Army Sgt. Daniel J. Shaw – West Seneca, NY
Army Chief Warrant Officer Eric A. Smith – Rochester, NY
Army Sgt. 1st Class Peter P. Tycz II – Tonawanda, NY
Army Spc. Michael S. Weger – Rochester, NY
Army Spc. Blake D. Whipple – Williamsville, NY
New York Army National Guard Spc. Michael L. Williams – Buffalo, NY
Army Spc. Phillip L. Witkowski – Fredonia, NY
Marine Sgt. Frank J. World – Buffalo, NY
Men's Basketball
RIT men's basketball will honor soldiers killed in action on Saturday
ROCHESTER, NY -- The RIT men’s basketball team will honor local veterans and soldiers killed in action on Saturday, Jan. 21 in their game versus Vassar College at 4 pm at Clark Gymnasium.
men's basketball will honor soldiers killed in action on Saturday
Stephen Jaynes - Sports Information Director
1/18/2012 3:15:00 PM
ROCHESTER, NY -- The RIT men’s basketball team will honor local veterans and soldiers killed in action on Saturday, Jan. 21 in their game versus Vassar College at 4 pm at Clark Gymnasium.
The Tigers will wear camouflaged warm-up shirts with the names of 17 Rochester area soldiers who were killed in action.
The team will also honor veterans in attendance as well as taking donations for the Veterans Outreach Center of Rochester.
Veterans Outreach Center is an independent community-centered non-profit providing premier supportive services to veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces and their families in the greater Rochester area. They serve by helping them to achieve their goals and realize their full potential.
Below is a list of soldiers from the Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse area who have been killed in action since 2001. We honor their memory:
Army Staff Sgt. Nekl B. Allen – Rochester, NY
Marine Cpl. Reynold Armand – Rochester, NY
Army Sgt. 1st Class Moses E. Armstead – Rochester, NY
Air Force Master Sgt. Steven E. Auchman – Waterloo, NY
Army Spc. Brian K. Baker – West Seneca, NY
Army Staff Sgt. Aram J. Bass – Niagara Falls, NY –
Army Sgt. Daniel J. Beard – Buffalo, NY
Marine Sgt. Jerome C. Bell, Jr. – Auburn, NY
Army Sgt. Edward H. Bolen – Chittenango, NY
Marine Pfc. Tamario D. Burkett – Erie, NY
Army Pfc. Charles E. Bush, Jr. – Buffalo, NY
Army Staff Sgt. Steve Butcher, Jr. – Rochester, NY
Army Pfc. Dwane A. Covert, Jr. – Tonawanda, NY
Army Pfc. Patrick A. Devoe II – Auburn, NY
Army Spc. Alan N. Dikcis – Niagara Falls, NY
Army Staff Sgt. Christopher W. Dill – Tonawanda, NY
Marine Captain Phillip J. Dykeman – Brockport, NY
Army Pvt. 2nd Class David Evans, Jr. – Buffalo, NY
Army Sgt. Steven C. Ganczewski – Niagara Falls, NY
Army Sgt. Cari Ann Gasiewicz – Depew, NY
Army Spc. Kenneth W. Haines – Fulton, NY
Army Cpl. Lorne E. Henry, Jr. – Niagara Falls, NY
Army Staff Sgt. Christopher T. Howick – Hamburg, NY
Navy Elect. Tech 3rd Class Benjamin Johnson – Rochester, NY
Army Spc. Jason M. Johnston – Albion, NY
Army Spc. Matthew A. Koch – West Henrietta, NY
Army Pfc. Travis C. Krege – Cheektowaga, NY
Army Staff Sgt. Michael S. Lammerts – Tonawanda, NY
Marine Gunnery Sgt. Shawn A. Lane – Corning, NY
Army Spc. Jeff LeBrun – Buffalo, NY
Army Sgt. Jonathan E. Lootens – Lyons, NY
Marine Lance Cpl. Howard S. March, Jr. – Buffalo, NY
Army Spc. David McKeever – Buffalo, NY
Army Sgt. Heath A. McMillin – Canandaigua, NY
Army Cpl. Kevin S. Mowl – Pittsford, NY
Marine Lance Cpl. Eric J. Orlowski – Buffalo, NY
Army Spc. Jacob M. Pfister – Buffalo, NY
Army Sgt. Christopher M. Pusateri – Corning, NY
Army Staff Sgt. Steven C. Reynolds – Jordan, NY
Army Pfc. Daniel J. Rivera – Rochester, NY
Marine Staff Sgt. Javier O. Ortiz Rivera – Rochester, NY
Army Spc. David L. Roustum – West Seneca, NY
Marine Lance Cpl. Timothy G. Serwinowski – North Tonawanda
Marine Cpl. Kyle R. Schneider – Phoenix, NY
Marine Lance Cpl. Brian K. Schramm – Rochester, NY
Army Pfc. Benjamin C. Schuster – Williamsville, NY
Army Sgt. Daniel J. Shaw – West Seneca, NY
Army Chief Warrant Officer Eric A. Smith – Rochester, NY
Army Sgt. 1st Class Peter P. Tycz II – Tonawanda, NY
Army Spc. Michael S. Weger – Rochester, NY
Army Spc. Blake D. Whipple – Williamsville, NY
New York Army National Guard Spc. Michael L. Williams – Buffalo, NY
Army Spc. Phillip L. Witkowski – Fredonia, NY
Marine Sgt. Frank J. World – Buffalo, NY
Veteran Tickets Foundation
Uniondale, NY - Tuesday, January 24th 2012
Event Status:
Tickets are available!
New York Islanders vs Toronto Maple Leafs...VETERAN of the Game 1/24
(1 Tickets Were Donated, 0 Tickets Are Still Available)
New York Islanders vs Toronto Maple Leafs...VETERAN of the Game 1/24
Tuesday 24 January 2012 @ 7:00pm...One ticket = One Family up to six members!
The New York Islanders wish to say "Thank You" to those serving our nation. In doing so they are donating tickets to select homes games this season for a service member to attend the game with his/her family and for that service member to be recognized in front of the entire crowd during the first period of play!
This is good for ONE package that will include tickets for the Veteran and family to attend plus a Vet Tix "VETERAN" tee shipped directly to the home address in our system...please be sure your address is up to date!
The veteran awarded this package will need to provide the following to Veteran Tickets Foundation:
*3-4 pictures of you in uniform
*Names of people attending with you and their relation to you
*Bio of your time in service...Please include the following:
Rank, Branch of service, Dates of service, Where you were stationed during your service, List of awards & decorations. This information will be passed along to the New York Islanders to be used during the in game recognition.
***Please Note: This is an HONOR and needs to be treated as such. If this is not taken seriously you jeopardize this honor for all the other veterans that would have been recognized by the New York Islanders in the future.
****Also NOTE: If you have already been confirmed for a 2011-2012 New York Islanders "VETERAN" recognition you are NOT eligible for the remainder of the 2011-2012 season.
Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum
1255 Hempstead Turnpike
Uniondale, NY 11553
Event Status:
Tickets are available!
New York Islanders vs Toronto Maple Leafs...VETERAN of the Game 1/24
(1 Tickets Were Donated, 0 Tickets Are Still Available)
New York Islanders vs Toronto Maple Leafs...VETERAN of the Game 1/24
Tuesday 24 January 2012 @ 7:00pm...One ticket = One Family up to six members!
The New York Islanders wish to say "Thank You" to those serving our nation. In doing so they are donating tickets to select homes games this season for a service member to attend the game with his/her family and for that service member to be recognized in front of the entire crowd during the first period of play!
This is good for ONE package that will include tickets for the Veteran and family to attend plus a Vet Tix "VETERAN" tee shipped directly to the home address in our system...please be sure your address is up to date!
The veteran awarded this package will need to provide the following to Veteran Tickets Foundation:
*3-4 pictures of you in uniform
*Names of people attending with you and their relation to you
*Bio of your time in service...Please include the following:
Rank, Branch of service, Dates of service, Where you were stationed during your service, List of awards & decorations. This information will be passed along to the New York Islanders to be used during the in game recognition.
***Please Note: This is an HONOR and needs to be treated as such. If this is not taken seriously you jeopardize this honor for all the other veterans that would have been recognized by the New York Islanders in the future.
****Also NOTE: If you have already been confirmed for a 2011-2012 New York Islanders "VETERAN" recognition you are NOT eligible for the remainder of the 2011-2012 season.
Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum
1255 Hempstead Turnpike
Uniondale, NY 11553
501st Ordance Battalion
Paul Post
Special to The Record
SCOTIA — Thirteen months ago they went to Iraq for one of the military’s most dangerous missions: neutralizing roadside bombs and explosive devices.
Back home safe and sound, and surrounded by loved ones, members of the Army National Guard’s 501st Ordnance Battalion celebrated a job well done during a Freedom Salute ceremony at Stratton Air National Guard Base on Saturday.
Time alone will tell how Iraq does on its own following the recent withdrawal of U.S. troops. But soldiers who served there, left knowing they did everything possible to bring stability to the Middle East nation.
"It was a real transitional time while we were there, turning a lot of authority over to the Iraqis," said Maj. Douglas Baker of Saratoga Springs. "They really needed our help. We played a pivotal role. We taught them the best that we could. I’m confident that we did everything that we could to help them govern their own people military-wise. We gave them the tools, the know-how. It’s really up to them to make it happen now."
The unit was commanded by Lt. Col. Robert Mitchell of Ballston Lake.
"In the spirit of the minuteman, this outfit laid down their plows, picked up their muskets and served their country," he said. "We still have a need for citizen-soldiers."
Several other Saratoga County soldiers went to Iraq with the unit - Ssg. Arthur VanNess of Providence, 1st Lt. Salvatore Cautela of Saratoga Springs, Master Sgt. Kevin Conklin of Ballston Spa, Spc. Jeffrey Gipe of Corinth and Pfc. Sean Gailor of the Saratoga area.
Cautela, 38, spent eight years in the Marines before joining the Guard full-time in 2005. The recent Iraq mission was his third deployment, but possibly not his last.
"With the way things are in Afghanistan, another combat deployment certainly is more probable than improbable," he said.
The 501st - an explosive ordnance disposal unit - was based in Basra, in southeast Iraq. Continued...
12See Full Story
"Any travel on roads was very harrowing," Cautela said. "Convoys were getting blown up all the time. We were actually rocketed at the airport, with 90 minutes to go while waiting to leave the country."
Kind of a parting shot from insurgents.
Compared to eight or 10 years ago, however, Iraq now is relatively peaceful. Cautela said that he, too, is confident about the country’s future.
"If things go as they’re going right now, yes," he said. "The Iraqi army and police are a lot more professional."
The 501st, which returned home on Oct. 15, has been awarded a Meritorious Unit Commendation and each soldier was presented with individual honors including medals, certificates, a U.S. flag and gifts such as a handsome mantle clock.
"You’ve done something you should be proud of all the rest of the days of your life," Brig. Gen. Michael Swezey said.
"This mission is accomplished," said Maj. Gen. Patrick Murphy, 52nd adju¬tant general of New York State
Special to The Record
SCOTIA — Thirteen months ago they went to Iraq for one of the military’s most dangerous missions: neutralizing roadside bombs and explosive devices.
Back home safe and sound, and surrounded by loved ones, members of the Army National Guard’s 501st Ordnance Battalion celebrated a job well done during a Freedom Salute ceremony at Stratton Air National Guard Base on Saturday.
Time alone will tell how Iraq does on its own following the recent withdrawal of U.S. troops. But soldiers who served there, left knowing they did everything possible to bring stability to the Middle East nation.
"It was a real transitional time while we were there, turning a lot of authority over to the Iraqis," said Maj. Douglas Baker of Saratoga Springs. "They really needed our help. We played a pivotal role. We taught them the best that we could. I’m confident that we did everything that we could to help them govern their own people military-wise. We gave them the tools, the know-how. It’s really up to them to make it happen now."
The unit was commanded by Lt. Col. Robert Mitchell of Ballston Lake.
"In the spirit of the minuteman, this outfit laid down their plows, picked up their muskets and served their country," he said. "We still have a need for citizen-soldiers."
Several other Saratoga County soldiers went to Iraq with the unit - Ssg. Arthur VanNess of Providence, 1st Lt. Salvatore Cautela of Saratoga Springs, Master Sgt. Kevin Conklin of Ballston Spa, Spc. Jeffrey Gipe of Corinth and Pfc. Sean Gailor of the Saratoga area.
Cautela, 38, spent eight years in the Marines before joining the Guard full-time in 2005. The recent Iraq mission was his third deployment, but possibly not his last.
"With the way things are in Afghanistan, another combat deployment certainly is more probable than improbable," he said.
The 501st - an explosive ordnance disposal unit - was based in Basra, in southeast Iraq. Continued...
12See Full Story
"Any travel on roads was very harrowing," Cautela said. "Convoys were getting blown up all the time. We were actually rocketed at the airport, with 90 minutes to go while waiting to leave the country."
Kind of a parting shot from insurgents.
Compared to eight or 10 years ago, however, Iraq now is relatively peaceful. Cautela said that he, too, is confident about the country’s future.
"If things go as they’re going right now, yes," he said. "The Iraqi army and police are a lot more professional."
The 501st, which returned home on Oct. 15, has been awarded a Meritorious Unit Commendation and each soldier was presented with individual honors including medals, certificates, a U.S. flag and gifts such as a handsome mantle clock.
"You’ve done something you should be proud of all the rest of the days of your life," Brig. Gen. Michael Swezey said.
"This mission is accomplished," said Maj. Gen. Patrick Murphy, 52nd adju¬tant general of New York State
New York's Iraq War Vets weigh the war's price in blood and treasure
1/8/12
news by AM New York
By Sheila Anne Feeney
New York's Iraq War vets weigh the war's price in blood and treasure
Photo credit: photo courtesy of James O'Leary
The Iraq war is over, but the questions may never end.
After eight years, nearly 4,500 American deaths, 32,000 U.S. injuries and a cost that some experts argue will top $3 trillion, many still wonder if it was all worth it.
For New York soldiers who served in Iraq, the end of the war prompts a kaleidoscope of confusing, often conflicting feelings: pride, anger, survivor guilt, patriotism, resentment, regret. The feelings are all mixed up, resistant to easy parsing.
They hope they left Iraq a better place than it was under the tyranny of Saddam Hussein, but also wonder what the enduring repercussions will be not just for Iraqis, but for their fellow fighters who have returned home and those who continue to serve.
Ann Little, 32, Dongan Hills, Staten Island
U.S. Army carpentry and masonry specialist
In light of the violence that has rocked Iraq since the departure of U.S. troops on Dec. 18, Ann Little is wondering more than ever, “What was it all for?”
Little mightily resents the massive amounts of public funds that went to private contractors such as Halliburton, Titan Corp. and Blackwater Worldwide. Private employers, she said, profited at the expense of soldiers who performed far more perilous jobs for a fraction of the wages, and who returned to find their own country had changed, too – with record rates of unemployment and wage compression.
Little, who is now pursuing a master’s degree in history and works as a veterans-support assistant at CUNY’s College of Staten Island, consoles herself that the war helped the Kurds, “who are not getting gassed in their villages anymore.” But the country’s infrastructure has been decimated, leaving many without critical services such as water or electricity and nostalgic for the predictability of life under Hussein, she noted.
“How many lives have we lost?” Little asked. “How much debt have we gone into? I don’t want to say it wasn’t worth it because, otherwise, what was my time there for? The people I knew there who didn’t make it would have died for nothing.”
While “Arab Spring” democracy movements bode well for the Middle East, Little argues that if the Iraqis are able to sustain a democracy, “it will be a very different democracy from what we have.”
Allyson Parla, 29, New Hyde Park
Photojournalist for The Expeditionary Times in the U.S. Army Reserve'a 77th Sustainment Brigade
“From my perspective, we helped them. … Anytime you’re able to improve someone’s life by giving them food, training and teaching them English, it’s worth it,” said Parla, who documented the final training of Iraqi security forces before the handover.
Her departure, she said, was “bittersweet. I would have liked to stay and keep helping.” The Iraqis she encountered, she said, were delighted by the assistance U.S. troops provided and “wanted us to stay there . . . .I can’t even describe the emotions. They cried when we left.”
She conceded that her experience differed from that of many soldiers. “I always felt safe,” she said, adding that she had “the best job ever,” with far more autonomy, authority and excitement than her stateside job as a paralegal.
Two credits short of a master’s degree in school psychology, Parla credits the military with providing generous educational benefits that have allowed her to better herself. She is confident that her service record and military experience will be a boon in her career. “A lot of people look very highly upon veterans,” she said.
Andy Cheng, 27, Jackson Heights
U.S. Army Specialist, team leader and “mortar man”
The Iraq war “should have ended a long time ago,” said Cheng, who joined the army at the age of 17. His parents “signed me in,” as he needed their consent, but in retrospect, he and others motivated to join up after 9/11, “should have gone to college,” he said ruefully.
What most concerns Cheng, an operations director for Four Block, an organization that helps arrange internships for veterans, is how returning veterans will create new career paths in a ravaged – and often isolating – economy. Soldiers are used to built-in support systems and camaraderie, he explained, and know little about career building skills such as “networking.“
"The minute you sign your discharge papers, you're on your own," noted Cheng.
“If you shoot through school with an MBA, what is it going to get you when you get out?” Cheng asked. “There’s no middle class anymore. And the cost of living is much higher than it was. We have a lot of veterans in homeless shelters. That was really a shock for me.”
Cheng said he loved the army and is proud to have served. But it hurts, he said, to think of what vets have endured in going to a country where “little kids would come up to you and draw their fingers across their throats like they wanted to kill you.”
James O’Leary, 27, Upper West Side,
U.S. Army specialist
O’Leary received a medical discharge in 2006 after losing part of a lung and shoulder in a 2004 mortar attack in which two people died. It was an event of such spectacular, unadulterated chaos (“the tents caught fire, and all our ammo was cooking on top of that”), it is still seared in his mind.
He is not celebrating because he is too worried about other soldiers facing threats in Afghanistan. “That,” O’Leary intoned, “is a really tough place to be. I just lost a good friend over there, and I feel guilty I’m not there.”
From his vantage point as an outreach coordinator for the Wounded Warrior Project, it’s only “the physical war in Iraq” that has really ended, anyway.
“We’re still fighting a war here with all the PTSD [post-traumatic stress disorder]. … Left untreated, it can ruin a whole generation,” he said. “We have a lot of triple amputees, and guys with traumatic brain injuries. A lot of women are coming back hurt, too.”
O’Leary has had his own struggles resuming life stateside, mostly with PTSD and “constant lung and chest infections.”
“I want to believe in my heart we did the right thing,” said O’Leary, noting that the Shiites are now better off in Iraq’s sectarian-based society. But he conceded, “I don’t see democracy working over there because – let’s be honest – it’s never worked.”
O’Leary laughed when asked if the invasion of Iraq could be termed a victory.
“I don’t know what winning a war is, to be honest,” he said. “I’ve lost good friends in both wars. If I start to think that it’s not [worth it], then it just seems like such a waste.”
news by AM New York
By Sheila Anne Feeney
New York's Iraq War vets weigh the war's price in blood and treasure
Photo credit: photo courtesy of James O'Leary
The Iraq war is over, but the questions may never end.
After eight years, nearly 4,500 American deaths, 32,000 U.S. injuries and a cost that some experts argue will top $3 trillion, many still wonder if it was all worth it.
For New York soldiers who served in Iraq, the end of the war prompts a kaleidoscope of confusing, often conflicting feelings: pride, anger, survivor guilt, patriotism, resentment, regret. The feelings are all mixed up, resistant to easy parsing.
They hope they left Iraq a better place than it was under the tyranny of Saddam Hussein, but also wonder what the enduring repercussions will be not just for Iraqis, but for their fellow fighters who have returned home and those who continue to serve.
Ann Little, 32, Dongan Hills, Staten Island
U.S. Army carpentry and masonry specialist
In light of the violence that has rocked Iraq since the departure of U.S. troops on Dec. 18, Ann Little is wondering more than ever, “What was it all for?”
Little mightily resents the massive amounts of public funds that went to private contractors such as Halliburton, Titan Corp. and Blackwater Worldwide. Private employers, she said, profited at the expense of soldiers who performed far more perilous jobs for a fraction of the wages, and who returned to find their own country had changed, too – with record rates of unemployment and wage compression.
Little, who is now pursuing a master’s degree in history and works as a veterans-support assistant at CUNY’s College of Staten Island, consoles herself that the war helped the Kurds, “who are not getting gassed in their villages anymore.” But the country’s infrastructure has been decimated, leaving many without critical services such as water or electricity and nostalgic for the predictability of life under Hussein, she noted.
“How many lives have we lost?” Little asked. “How much debt have we gone into? I don’t want to say it wasn’t worth it because, otherwise, what was my time there for? The people I knew there who didn’t make it would have died for nothing.”
While “Arab Spring” democracy movements bode well for the Middle East, Little argues that if the Iraqis are able to sustain a democracy, “it will be a very different democracy from what we have.”
Allyson Parla, 29, New Hyde Park
Photojournalist for The Expeditionary Times in the U.S. Army Reserve'a 77th Sustainment Brigade
“From my perspective, we helped them. … Anytime you’re able to improve someone’s life by giving them food, training and teaching them English, it’s worth it,” said Parla, who documented the final training of Iraqi security forces before the handover.
Her departure, she said, was “bittersweet. I would have liked to stay and keep helping.” The Iraqis she encountered, she said, were delighted by the assistance U.S. troops provided and “wanted us to stay there . . . .I can’t even describe the emotions. They cried when we left.”
She conceded that her experience differed from that of many soldiers. “I always felt safe,” she said, adding that she had “the best job ever,” with far more autonomy, authority and excitement than her stateside job as a paralegal.
Two credits short of a master’s degree in school psychology, Parla credits the military with providing generous educational benefits that have allowed her to better herself. She is confident that her service record and military experience will be a boon in her career. “A lot of people look very highly upon veterans,” she said.
Andy Cheng, 27, Jackson Heights
U.S. Army Specialist, team leader and “mortar man”
The Iraq war “should have ended a long time ago,” said Cheng, who joined the army at the age of 17. His parents “signed me in,” as he needed their consent, but in retrospect, he and others motivated to join up after 9/11, “should have gone to college,” he said ruefully.
What most concerns Cheng, an operations director for Four Block, an organization that helps arrange internships for veterans, is how returning veterans will create new career paths in a ravaged – and often isolating – economy. Soldiers are used to built-in support systems and camaraderie, he explained, and know little about career building skills such as “networking.“
"The minute you sign your discharge papers, you're on your own," noted Cheng.
“If you shoot through school with an MBA, what is it going to get you when you get out?” Cheng asked. “There’s no middle class anymore. And the cost of living is much higher than it was. We have a lot of veterans in homeless shelters. That was really a shock for me.”
Cheng said he loved the army and is proud to have served. But it hurts, he said, to think of what vets have endured in going to a country where “little kids would come up to you and draw their fingers across their throats like they wanted to kill you.”
James O’Leary, 27, Upper West Side,
U.S. Army specialist
O’Leary received a medical discharge in 2006 after losing part of a lung and shoulder in a 2004 mortar attack in which two people died. It was an event of such spectacular, unadulterated chaos (“the tents caught fire, and all our ammo was cooking on top of that”), it is still seared in his mind.
He is not celebrating because he is too worried about other soldiers facing threats in Afghanistan. “That,” O’Leary intoned, “is a really tough place to be. I just lost a good friend over there, and I feel guilty I’m not there.”
From his vantage point as an outreach coordinator for the Wounded Warrior Project, it’s only “the physical war in Iraq” that has really ended, anyway.
“We’re still fighting a war here with all the PTSD [post-traumatic stress disorder]. … Left untreated, it can ruin a whole generation,” he said. “We have a lot of triple amputees, and guys with traumatic brain injuries. A lot of women are coming back hurt, too.”
O’Leary has had his own struggles resuming life stateside, mostly with PTSD and “constant lung and chest infections.”
“I want to believe in my heart we did the right thing,” said O’Leary, noting that the Shiites are now better off in Iraq’s sectarian-based society. But he conceded, “I don’t see democracy working over there because – let’s be honest – it’s never worked.”
O’Leary laughed when asked if the invasion of Iraq could be termed a victory.
“I don’t know what winning a war is, to be honest,” he said. “I’ve lost good friends in both wars. If I start to think that it’s not [worth it], then it just seems like such a waste.”
Monday, January 23, 2012
Fire at Stewart Air National Guard Base extinguished with minor damage and no injuries
Fire at Stewart Air National Guard Base extinguished with minor damage and no injuries
by New York State Division of Military & Naval Affairs
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The bay door of the 105th Airlift Wing vehicle maintenance building ventilated by fire fighters on Saturday, Jan. 14. Photo by Tech Sgt. Michael O'Halloran. (Released) STEWART AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, NEWBURG, NY (01/16/2012)(readMedia)-- A fire in the vehicle maintenance building of the New York Air National Guard's 105th Airlift Wing here was extinguished with damage to a section of the building and one vehicle on Saturday night. There were no injuries to base personnel or fire fighters.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
The New York state civilian fire fighters of the 105th Airlift Wing's Fire Department responded to an alarm at the vehicle maintenance building at 10:15 p.m. on Saturday, January 14. The fire fighters ventilated the building and extinguished the fire.
Orange County fire investigators also responded to the scene afterwards.
Brig. Gen. Paul Genereux Completes Nearly 40 Years of Military Service
CORRECTION: Brig. Gen. Paul Genereux Completes Nearly 40 Years of Military Service
Army Guard Senior Leader presented with Distinguished Service Cross at Retirement Ceremonyby New York State Division of Military & Naval Affairs
LATHAM, NY (01/18/2012)(readMedia)-- New York Army National Guard Brig Gen. Paul Genereux ended nearly four decades of uniformed service on Saturday, Jan. 14 with a retirement ceremony at West Point surrounded by friends, family and fellow Soldiers. He has led New York Army National Guard Soldiers through the Army's transition from the Cold War, through the Gulf War and into the new millennium's overseas contingency operations after 9/11.
Genereux has led Army National Guard Soldiers at the company, battalion, brigade and division command positions with the New York Army National Guard during his nearly 40 years of military service, including 34 years as a commissioned officer.
He was joined by the four past commanders of the 42nd Infantry Division which he led from 2006 to 2009 for the ceremony, including Maj. Gen. Steven Wickstrom and retired Maj. Gens. Joseph Taluto and Thomas Garrett. Their leadership of the "Rainbow Division," as it is known, stretches back more than a decade.
"When I think of words that best define Paul Genereux's service, loyalty comes first," Maj. Gen. Taluto, Genereux's commander while deployed in Iraq with the 42nd Infantry Division and former Adjutant General of New York said. "There is no one more loyal to his seniors, subordinates, Soldiers and unit than Brig. Gen. Genereux. I know that first hand."
His career has led to his most recent assignment from May 2009 until the present as the Assistant Adjutant General – Army for the New York National Guard. He was responsible for ensuring that New York Army National Guard units were prepared to mobilize in support of federal or state missions.
"I may have to finally stop wearing the uniform," Genereux said in his remarks at the retirement ceremony, "but I don't have to stop being a Soldier. I still live the Army values, think like a Soldier, still keep the memories of being a Soldier and still keep my friends who are Soldiers."
"I have seen the best and the worst of the Army and the Army Guard," Genereux said, reflecting on the Army's transition from the post-Vietnam era to the all-volunteer force, to height of the Cold War, the Gulf War and the National Guard's emergence after the 9-11 attacks as a prominent partner in America's miltiary force at home and overseas.
"I've had a great career, from a young private drafted in 1972 to commanding general of the 42nd Infantry Division. I worked with great Soldiers, NCOs and officers," he said, "and I've travelled to some of the garden spots of the world, Iraq, Afghanistan, Egypt, but also to Iceland, Greenland, South Africa and Europe."
In his role as Assistant Adjutant General, Genereux placed a special emphasis on reintegrating returning veterans to ensure a safe transition to civilian life and caring for families before, during and after mobilization.
"Leadership matters," Genereux said, "and those who've served with me have heard it more than once."
Genereux graduated from Manhattan College in 1972 with a degree in Civil Engineering, and entered military service in the Pennsylvania Army National Guard in October of that year. After five years enlisted service, he was commissioned a first lieutenant in the Army Reserve in February 1978. Genereux was first assigned as the Operations Officer for the 300th Civil Affairs Group in Riverdale, Maryland.
He served in numerous command and staff positions as an armor officer with the Army National Guard's 1st Battalion, 101st Cavalry from 1983 until 1995. He commanded the battalion from 1996 until 2000.
Genereux later served as deputy commander for the 53rd Troop Command in 2001 and deputy commander of Joint Task Force-42 during the National Guard's response to the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in New York City. He then commanded the 3rd Armored Brigade, 42nd Infantry Division in 2002 before assuming duties as the division's deputy commander in 2003.
Genereux mobilized for federal service in May 2004 with the 42nd Infantry Division Headquarters for Operation Iraqi Freedom as the deputy commander for maneuver with the Multinational Division North Central Iraq and Task Force Liberty. During his deployment to Iraq, Genereux was responsible for the tactical operations of more than 22,000 Army, Army Reserve and Army National Guard Soldiers.
He took command of the division in April, 2006, leading the division headquarters during its redeployment to Cairo, Egypt in 2007 for the joint multinational training Bright Star exercise.
Genereux is a graduate of the Infantry Officer Basic Course, the Infantry Officer Advanced Course, the Armor Officer Basic Course, and the Command and General Staff College. He is a graduate of the Army War College in 2001 and awarded a Master of Strategic Studies degree.
His awards include the Distinguished Service Cross, presented at his retirement ceremony on Jan. 14, Bronze Star Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters, Army Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters, the Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal with seven oak leaf clusters, the National Defense Service Medal with two stars, and National Defense Service Ribbon.
Genereux, a Project Director for Torcon Incorporated, Redbank, N.J., resides in Bloomsburg, Penn. with his wife Rosalie, an employee of Geisinger Health Plan.
"Paul, you did good," Taluto said. "Roe, you can have him back now full time. It is time for you two to enjoy the fruits of your labor."
Historic 369th Sustainment Brigade Soldiers Will Deploy to West African Nation
by New York State Division of Military & Naval Affairs
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NEW YORK CITY, NY (01/20/2012)(readMedia)-- Thirty-seven New York Army National Guard logistics specialists assigned to the 369th Sustainment Brigade, headquartered at the Fifth Avenue Armory in Harlem, will be heading to the African nation of Mali in February as part of exercise Atlas Accord 12.
The Soldiers from the brigade will be providing support to American and Malian military forces participating in a joint coalition training exercise and also serve as trainers for their Malian Defense Force counterparts.
The commander of the 369th, Col. Reginald Sanders, a Sackets Harbor, New York resident, will serve as the American co-commander of Task Force Atlas, along with Malian Col. Coulibaly, and also serve as deputy exercise director.
"This is huge," said Warrant Officer MicheleDiGeso, the personnel officer for the 369th. "For the brigade to be able to provide command and control for a joint task force, it is a major step for us," DiGeso, a Milford, NY resident, explained. "This is a big stepping stone as far as our operations go."
"Each of the Soldiers of the 369th will enjoy a very challenging and rewarding training event in an environment that they may someday need to function in," Sanders said. "This is a great way to get training with our Africa Command and NATO coalition partner nations."
The 400 Malian Defense Force members and 125 Americans participating in Atlas Accord will focus on training in logistics command and control, air drop preparation and helicopter resupply. The New York Soldiers will be on the ground in Sevare, Mali from Feb. 1 to Feb 17.
The 369th Soldiers will be working under the control of United States Army Africa and alongside Air Force units as well.
Historic 369th Sustainment Brigade Soldiers Will Deploy to West African Nation
Sustainment Brigade Soldiers Will Deploy to West African Nationby New York State Division of Military & Naval Affairs
Related Media
NEW YORK CITY, NY (01/20/2012)(readMedia)-- Thirty-seven New York Army National Guard logistics specialists assigned to the 369th Sustainment Brigade, headquartered at the Fifth Avenue Armory in Harlem, will be heading to the African nation of Mali in February as part of exercise Atlas Accord 12.
The Soldiers from the brigade will be providing support to American and Malian military forces participating in a joint coalition training exercise and also serve as trainers for their Malian Defense Force counterparts.
The commander of the 369th, Col. Reginald Sanders, a Sackets Harbor, New York resident, will serve as the American co-commander of Task Force Atlas, along with Malian Col. Coulibaly, and also serve as deputy exercise director.
"This is huge," said Warrant Officer MicheleDiGeso, the personnel officer for the 369th. "For the brigade to be able to provide command and control for a joint task force, it is a major step for us," DiGeso, a Milford, NY resident, explained. "This is a big stepping stone as far as our operations go."
"Each of the Soldiers of the 369th will enjoy a very challenging and rewarding training event in an environment that they may someday need to function in," Sanders said. "This is a great way to get training with our Africa Command and NATO coalition partner nations."
The 400 Malian Defense Force members and 125 Americans participating in Atlas Accord will focus on training in logistics command and control, air drop preparation and helicopter resupply. The New York Soldiers will be on the ground in Sevare, Mali from Feb. 1 to Feb 17.
The 369th Soldiers will be working under the control of United States Army Africa and alongside Air Force units as well.
"It is a challenge because you are working in an environment with many contractors, there is a language barrier, and it is a very undeveloped type of region," DiGeso said.
The official language of Mali is French and the main spoken language is Bambara, which is a tribal language spoken by 80 percent of the people. But there are 50 other dialects and tribal languages spoken in the country.
Keeping Soldiers healthy in this kind of environment will be a major challenge, Sanders said. The country is known for Malaria and other health risks.
The brigade has developed an aggressive health and safety plan for the Soldiers. The 807th Medical Team is providing support for the mission and has already inspected the Soldiers living areas and tested cooking areas and water supplies, Sanders explained.
The Soldiers going on the mission were selected by their first line supervisors based on their proven abilities and their potential, Sanders said.
"In some cases the command wanted to give some junior officers and subject matter experts an oportunity to show us their potential," Sanders said.
Many of the Soldiers have deployed overseas before, including a mission to Malaysia as well as combat rotations in Iraq and Afghanistan so they are used to dealing with cultural differences, Sanders said. The 369th Soldiers also went through Malian cultural training conducted by a team from Fort Huachuca.
Ensuring that the Task Force Soldiers are culturally aware is a key part of the preparation, Sanders said.
The United States is competing for influence with China in this part of the world and American Soldiers need to make a good impression, he said.
While the 369th's part of the exercise doesn't start until February, Soldiers from Mali began training for their part in Atlas Accord in December during a visit to West Virginia. Twenty-five Malian Defense Force members from the 33rd Parachute Infantry Regiment who will be part of the operations in their country trained on air drop resupply with Special Forces and quartermaster Soldiers from the West Virginia Army National Guard.
The 369th Sustainment Brigade traces its unit history back to the 369th Infantry Regiment of World War I. Known as the Harlem Hell Fighters, the all-black National Guard unit fought with the French Army instead of the U.S. Army because of racial prejudice. The unit distinguished itself in French service, earning a record number of French Croix de Guerre medals for heroism.
Related Media
NEW YORK CITY, NY (01/20/2012)(readMedia)-- Thirty-seven New York Army National Guard logistics specialists assigned to the 369th Sustainment Brigade, headquartered at the Fifth Avenue Armory in Harlem, will be heading to the African nation of Mali in February as part of exercise Atlas Accord 12.
The Soldiers from the brigade will be providing support to American and Malian military forces participating in a joint coalition training exercise and also serve as trainers for their Malian Defense Force counterparts.
The commander of the 369th, Col. Reginald Sanders, a Sackets Harbor, New York resident, will serve as the American co-commander of Task Force Atlas, along with Malian Col. Coulibaly, and also serve as deputy exercise director.
"This is huge," said Warrant Officer MicheleDiGeso, the personnel officer for the 369th. "For the brigade to be able to provide command and control for a joint task force, it is a major step for us," DiGeso, a Milford, NY resident, explained. "This is a big stepping stone as far as our operations go."
"Each of the Soldiers of the 369th will enjoy a very challenging and rewarding training event in an environment that they may someday need to function in," Sanders said. "This is a great way to get training with our Africa Command and NATO coalition partner nations."
The 400 Malian Defense Force members and 125 Americans participating in Atlas Accord will focus on training in logistics command and control, air drop preparation and helicopter resupply. The New York Soldiers will be on the ground in Sevare, Mali from Feb. 1 to Feb 17.
The 369th Soldiers will be working under the control of United States Army Africa and alongside Air Force units as well.
Historic 369th Sustainment Brigade Soldiers Will Deploy to West African Nation
Sustainment Brigade Soldiers Will Deploy to West African Nationby New York State Division of Military & Naval Affairs
Related Media
NEW YORK CITY, NY (01/20/2012)(readMedia)-- Thirty-seven New York Army National Guard logistics specialists assigned to the 369th Sustainment Brigade, headquartered at the Fifth Avenue Armory in Harlem, will be heading to the African nation of Mali in February as part of exercise Atlas Accord 12.
The Soldiers from the brigade will be providing support to American and Malian military forces participating in a joint coalition training exercise and also serve as trainers for their Malian Defense Force counterparts.
The commander of the 369th, Col. Reginald Sanders, a Sackets Harbor, New York resident, will serve as the American co-commander of Task Force Atlas, along with Malian Col. Coulibaly, and also serve as deputy exercise director.
"This is huge," said Warrant Officer MicheleDiGeso, the personnel officer for the 369th. "For the brigade to be able to provide command and control for a joint task force, it is a major step for us," DiGeso, a Milford, NY resident, explained. "This is a big stepping stone as far as our operations go."
"Each of the Soldiers of the 369th will enjoy a very challenging and rewarding training event in an environment that they may someday need to function in," Sanders said. "This is a great way to get training with our Africa Command and NATO coalition partner nations."
The 400 Malian Defense Force members and 125 Americans participating in Atlas Accord will focus on training in logistics command and control, air drop preparation and helicopter resupply. The New York Soldiers will be on the ground in Sevare, Mali from Feb. 1 to Feb 17.
The 369th Soldiers will be working under the control of United States Army Africa and alongside Air Force units as well.
"It is a challenge because you are working in an environment with many contractors, there is a language barrier, and it is a very undeveloped type of region," DiGeso said.
The official language of Mali is French and the main spoken language is Bambara, which is a tribal language spoken by 80 percent of the people. But there are 50 other dialects and tribal languages spoken in the country.
Keeping Soldiers healthy in this kind of environment will be a major challenge, Sanders said. The country is known for Malaria and other health risks.
The brigade has developed an aggressive health and safety plan for the Soldiers. The 807th Medical Team is providing support for the mission and has already inspected the Soldiers living areas and tested cooking areas and water supplies, Sanders explained.
The Soldiers going on the mission were selected by their first line supervisors based on their proven abilities and their potential, Sanders said.
"In some cases the command wanted to give some junior officers and subject matter experts an oportunity to show us their potential," Sanders said.
Many of the Soldiers have deployed overseas before, including a mission to Malaysia as well as combat rotations in Iraq and Afghanistan so they are used to dealing with cultural differences, Sanders said. The 369th Soldiers also went through Malian cultural training conducted by a team from Fort Huachuca.
Ensuring that the Task Force Soldiers are culturally aware is a key part of the preparation, Sanders said.
The United States is competing for influence with China in this part of the world and American Soldiers need to make a good impression, he said.
While the 369th's part of the exercise doesn't start until February, Soldiers from Mali began training for their part in Atlas Accord in December during a visit to West Virginia. Twenty-five Malian Defense Force members from the 33rd Parachute Infantry Regiment who will be part of the operations in their country trained on air drop resupply with Special Forces and quartermaster Soldiers from the West Virginia Army National Guard.
The 369th Sustainment Brigade traces its unit history back to the 369th Infantry Regiment of World War I. Known as the Harlem Hell Fighters, the all-black National Guard unit fought with the French Army instead of the U.S. Army because of racial prejudice. The unit distinguished itself in French service, earning a record number of French Croix de Guerre medals for heroism.
New York Air National Guard Airmen Speak to Media About South Pole Evacuation Flight
New York Air National Guard Airmen Speak to Media About South Pole Evacuation Flight
109th Airlift Wing Aircrew Flew Burned Fishermen from Antarctica to New Zealandby New York State Division of Military & Naval Affairs
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Major Josh Neilson (left) and Tech Sgt. Randy Powell played a role in the evacuation of fishermen badly injured off the Antarctic coast on Jan. 11, 2012 (Photo by Master Sgt. Corine Lombardo). Tech Sgt. Randy Powell, a C-130 loadmaster, demonstrates how a stretcher is rigged. (Photo by Master Sgt. Corine Lombardo)
full size STRATTON AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, SCOTIA, NY (01/20/2012)(readMedia)-- An LC-130 Hercules "Ski Bird" belonging to the New York Air National Guard's 109th Airlift Wing evacuated seven badly burned crew members of a South Korean ship from the United States McMurdo Station in Antarctica to Christchurch, New Zealand on Jan 13.
The seven crew members--four Vietnamese and three Indonesians--were injured when the crew compartment of the 167–foot long fishing vessel Jeong Woo 2 caught fire in the Ross Sea, 372 miles from McMurdo Station and 2,301 miles from New Zealand on Wednesday, Jan. 11.
"Most days we transport cargo and passengers to a variety of outposts. On this day, we were the ambulance driver," said Major Josh Neilson, the plane's pilot.
Neilson and Tech Sgt. Randy Powell, the loadmaster on the flight, spoke to Albany, NY-area reporters about the incident during a press conference on Friday, Jan. 20. They outlined the wing's role in the rescue.
The wing provides logistic support to National Science Foundation research efforts in Antarctica and Greenland.
Nearby vessels rescued 37 of the 40 crewmembers from South Korea, Vietnam, Russia and Indonesia. Three crewmembers died.
Responding to a request by the New Zealand Rescue Coordination Center, the National Science Foundation research vessel, the Nathaniel B. Palmer, transported the injured crewmen from the Jeong Woo 2, to McMurdo Station, the United States Antarctic Program's main research and logistical hub. Medical personnel at McMurdo then prepared the individuals for transport to Christchurch.
"When we loaded the patients, you could see the apprehension on their faces, knowing they had been rescued from a burning ship, flown by helicopter to the ice cap and loaded onto a C-130 with skis was way out of their routine," Tech Sgt. Randy Powell, the crew's loadmaster said.
"They didn't speak English so our only way to communicate was with hand signals. The thumbs up and smiles we received after the 2,300 mile, 8 ½ hour flight was a clear sign they were grateful and relieved to be rescued," Powell said.
The New York Air National Guard's 109th Airlift Wing, based here, flies the only ski-equipped aircraft in the United States Military.
This is not the first time the 109th Airlift Wing has been involved in rescue missions.
In November 2008 a crew from the 109th Airlift Wing transported an Australian Antarctic Division employee from Antarctica to Hobart, Australia after the Australian researcher suffered multiple fractures to his leg.
And in 1999 a crew from the 109th landed an LC-130 at the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station to pick up Dr. Jerri Nielsen who was treating herself for breast cancer. The crew landed earlier in the Arctic spring than had ever been done in the past.
Tracy Pauquette Receives an Officer's Commission in New York Army National Guard
Tracy Pauquette Receives an Officer's Commission in New York Army National Guard
Granville resident completes Officer Candidate School, earns commission as Second Lieutenantby New York State Division of Military & Naval Affairs
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Lt. Tracy Pauquette receives her gold bar as a newly commissioned second lieutenant from Capt. John Klimes during a commissioning ceremony at the Watervliet Arsenal Jan. 19. WATERVLIET, NY (01/20/2012)(readMedia)-- New York Army National Guard Lt. Tracy Pauquette received her gold bar as a newly commissioned second lieutenant from Capt. John Klimes during a commissioning ceremony at the Watervliet Arsenal Jan. 19. Pauquette, from Granville, N.Y., recently graduated from the National Guard's Accelerated Officer Candidate School.
She was previously assigned as a sergeant in the 1427th Transportation Company in Queensbury and will remain in the same company, serving now as an officer in charge of Soldiers. Klimes, from Clifton Park, N.Y., commands the 1427th and was joined by Maj. Michael Alfano, from Guilderland, N.Y., the New York Army National Guard officer accessions team chief.
Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Steven Petibone, New York Army National Guard (RELEASED)
Soldier Reunited with his 6 children
US Soldier Reunited With His 6 Children
PHP Freelancer
Want a thrill? Watch this soldier dad surprise five of his kids at school. He then goes with them and his wife to his oldest daughter’s middle school to complete this wonderful reunion. There is nothing sweeter to a soldier than coming home to his family. When you come back from war, you know the meaning of home and of family in ways that those who have never had that experience can ever know. Good job soldier.
http://isupportourveterans.com/us-soldier-reunited-with-his-6-children/
PHP Freelancer
Want a thrill? Watch this soldier dad surprise five of his kids at school. He then goes with them and his wife to his oldest daughter’s middle school to complete this wonderful reunion. There is nothing sweeter to a soldier than coming home to his family. When you come back from war, you know the meaning of home and of family in ways that those who have never had that experience can ever know. Good job soldier.
http://isupportourveterans.com/us-soldier-reunited-with-his-6-children/
VA Deploying 20 New Mobile Vet Centers
VA Deploying 20 New Mobile Vet Centers
Additions to Fleet Will Expand Veterans’ Access to VA Services Across U.S.
Early this year, the Department of Veterans Affairs deployed 20 additional Mobile Vet Centers.
The mobile Vet centers will increase access to readjustment counseling services for Veterans and their families in rural and underserved communities across the country.
The 20 new vehicles will be used in destinations across the continental United States, Hawaii and Puerto Rico. (List below)
“In fiscal year 2011, Mobile Vet Centers participated in more than 3,600 federal, state and locally sponsored Veteran-related events.”
These customized vehicles – which are equipped with confidential counseling space and a state of the art communication package—travel to communities to extend VA’s reach to Veterans, servicemembers and their families, especially those living in rural or remote communities.
The vehicles also serve as part of the VA emergency response program.
The 20 new, American-made vehicles will expand the existing fleet of 50 Mobile Vet Centers already in service providing outreach and counseling services.
Mobile Vet units are equipped as "offices on wheels," with the capacity to provide emergency support for natural disasters. Each motor coach houses a satellite dish that connects to communications and audio-visual equipment, six phone lines, a fax line, notebook computers, four encrypted computer lines and a wireless network.
In fiscal year 2011, Mobile Vet Centers participated in more than 3,600 federal, state and locally sponsored Veteran-related events.
VA has 300 permanent Vet Centers serving communities across the country, offering:
■Individual and group counseling for Veterans and their families
■Family counseling for military related issues
■Bereavement counseling for families who experience an active duty death
■Military sexual trauma counseling and referral
■Outreach and education
■Substance abuse assessment and referral
■Employment assessment and referral
■VA benefits explanation and referral
■Screening and referral for medical issues including traumatic brain injury and depression.
The 20 new mobile Vet Centers will be based at:
■Birmingham, Ala.
■San Diego, Calif.
■Atlanta, Ga.
■Western Oahu, Hawaii
■Cedar Rapids, Iowa
■Evanston, Ill.
■Indianapolis, Ind.
■Baltimore, Md.
■Pontiac, Mich.
■Kansas City, Mo.
■Jackson, Miss.
■Greensboro, N.C.
■Lakewood, N.J.
■Reno, Nev.
■Stark County, Ohio
■Lawton, Okla.
■Ponce, Puerto Rico
■Nashville, Tenn.
■Washington County, Utah
■Green Bay, Wis.
Coming Next: 230 Emergency Shuttle Vehicles
VA will also add 230 emergency shuttle vehicles over the next five years. The shuttles will provide routine transportation for Veteran patients in and around various metropolitan areas during normal operations. During disasters and emergencies, these shuttles can double as mobile clinics to evacuate patients and their care teams.
More than 190,000 Veterans and families made over 1.3 million visits to VA Vet Centers in fiscal year 2011.
To find out more about Vet Center services or find a Vet Center in your area, go to the Vet Centers web site.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs - 810 Vermont Avenue, NW - Washington, DC 20420
Reviewed/Updated Date: January 17, 2012
Officials Stand Behind U.S. Report on Pakistan Incident
Officials Stand Behind U.S. Report on Pakistan Incident
U.S. Department of Defense sent this bulletin at 01/23/2012 12:50 PM CST
You are subscribed to American Forces News Articles for U.S. Department of Defense. This information has recently been updated, and is now available.
Officials Stand Behind U.S. Report on Pakistan Incident
01/23/2012 12:05 PM CST
Officials Stand Behind U.S. Report on Pakistan Incident
By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Jan. 23, 2012 - U.S. officials stand by their assertion that the Nov. 26 attack that resulted in the deaths of 24 Pakistani soldiers was in self-defense, Pentagon spokesman Navy Capt. John Kirby said here today.
The Pakistani military issued a news release on the findings of its own investigation of the incident, and the Pakistani statement "that it was an unprovoked attack by American forces is simply false," Kirby said.
The Pakistani assertion directly contradicts the conclusions that U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Stephen A. Clark released Dec. 22 in his investigation report.
Clark said U.S. forces acted in self-defense and responded with appropriate force after being fired upon. "We stand 100-percent behind the findings of the investigation that General Clark did," Kirby said.
Clark said the incident was a result of inadequate coordination between U.S. and Pakistani military officers operating through the border coordination center. This includes relying on incorrect mapping information shared with the Pakistani liaison officer, which resulted in a misunderstanding about the true location of Pakistani military units. Clark's investigation also concluded that there were other gaps in information about the locations and activities of units on both sides of the border.
U.S. officials invited the Pakistani military to be part of the Clark investigation, but they refused, Kirby noted.
"We said then, and we say again today, that we desired Pakistani participation in the investigation," Kirby said. "We believed it certainly would have been more thorough if they had participated, but they decided not to."
The lack of Pakistani officials in the Clark investigation does not change the U.S. belief in the validity of the findings of the investigation, the captain said.
The United States wants to get past the incident and build a good cooperative relationship with the Pakistani military, Kirby said. "We still believe that coordination and communication with the Pakistani military -- particularly across that border -- remains vital to our success in Afghanistan," he added.
Pakistan has closed supply lines into Afghanistan that run through the country. "We would like to see the gates reopened. It makes supplying our troops and coalition partners easier," Kirby said. "But this is a decision that only Pakistani officials can make, and we respect that."
The relationship between the United States and Pakistan "is in a tough place" right now, Kirby acknowledged, adding that the two nations must work together to move beyond the current difficulties.
U.S. officials have expressed "deepest regrets" to the families of those killed in the incident.
U.S. Department of Defense sent this bulletin at 01/23/2012 12:50 PM CST
You are subscribed to American Forces News Articles for U.S. Department of Defense. This information has recently been updated, and is now available.
Officials Stand Behind U.S. Report on Pakistan Incident
01/23/2012 12:05 PM CST
Officials Stand Behind U.S. Report on Pakistan Incident
By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Jan. 23, 2012 - U.S. officials stand by their assertion that the Nov. 26 attack that resulted in the deaths of 24 Pakistani soldiers was in self-defense, Pentagon spokesman Navy Capt. John Kirby said here today.
The Pakistani military issued a news release on the findings of its own investigation of the incident, and the Pakistani statement "that it was an unprovoked attack by American forces is simply false," Kirby said.
The Pakistani assertion directly contradicts the conclusions that U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Stephen A. Clark released Dec. 22 in his investigation report.
Clark said U.S. forces acted in self-defense and responded with appropriate force after being fired upon. "We stand 100-percent behind the findings of the investigation that General Clark did," Kirby said.
Clark said the incident was a result of inadequate coordination between U.S. and Pakistani military officers operating through the border coordination center. This includes relying on incorrect mapping information shared with the Pakistani liaison officer, which resulted in a misunderstanding about the true location of Pakistani military units. Clark's investigation also concluded that there were other gaps in information about the locations and activities of units on both sides of the border.
U.S. officials invited the Pakistani military to be part of the Clark investigation, but they refused, Kirby noted.
"We said then, and we say again today, that we desired Pakistani participation in the investigation," Kirby said. "We believed it certainly would have been more thorough if they had participated, but they decided not to."
The lack of Pakistani officials in the Clark investigation does not change the U.S. belief in the validity of the findings of the investigation, the captain said.
The United States wants to get past the incident and build a good cooperative relationship with the Pakistani military, Kirby said. "We still believe that coordination and communication with the Pakistani military -- particularly across that border -- remains vital to our success in Afghanistan," he added.
Pakistan has closed supply lines into Afghanistan that run through the country. "We would like to see the gates reopened. It makes supplying our troops and coalition partners easier," Kirby said. "But this is a decision that only Pakistani officials can make, and we respect that."
The relationship between the United States and Pakistan "is in a tough place" right now, Kirby acknowledged, adding that the two nations must work together to move beyond the current difficulties.
U.S. officials have expressed "deepest regrets" to the families of those killed in the incident.
http://www.defense.gov/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=66776
http://www.defense.gov/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=66776
01/12/2012 02:28 PM CST
Military Study Aims to Aid Troops With Mild TBI
By Elaine Sanchez
American Forces Press Service
SAN ANTONIO, Jan. 12, 2012 - A team of experts at San Antonio Military Medical Center here has launched a military study aimed at improving outcomes for service members suffering from a signature wound of today's wars: traumatic brain injury.
01/12/2012 02:28 PM CST
Military Study Aims to Aid Troops With Mild TBI
By Elaine Sanchez
American Forces Press Service
SAN ANTONIO, Jan. 12, 2012 - A team of experts at San Antonio Military Medical Center here has launched a military study aimed at improving outcomes for service members suffering from a signature wound of today's wars: traumatic brain injury.
True strength is keeping everything together when everyone expects you to fall apart.
From the album: Wall Photos
By Positive Inspirational Quotes ( PIQ)
True strength is keeping everything together when everyone expects you to fall apart.
~Donnita~
By Positive Inspirational Quotes ( PIQ)
True strength is keeping everything together when everyone expects you to fall apart.
~Donnita~
Face of Defense: Detroit Native Draws on Experience
01/23/2012 08:24 AM CST
Face of Defense: Detroit Native Draws on Experience
By Marine Corps Cpl. Meredith Brown
2nd Marine Logistics Group
CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan, Jan. 23, 2012 - Nicholas Marchioni enlisted in the Marine Corps in 2000 as an infantryman. Like many others, he completed his four-year contract and headed back home to start a new chapter in his life.
Marine Corps Sgt. Nicholas Marchioni enjoys a game of cards with his Marines during some down time in a route reconnaissance mission, Jan. 2, 2012. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Meredith Brown
(Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available.
But just a few short months after he returned to his hometown of Detroit, Marchioni once again was called to serve.
"I was recalled, so I just re-enlisted and became an engineer," he explained.
Now, seven years later, Marchioni is a Marine Corps sergeant on his sixth deployment. He in Afghanistan for the second time, serving as a squad leader for the 2nd Marine Logistics Group's 2nd Platoon, Alpha Company, 9th Engineer Support Battalion.
Second platoon operates as the security platoon for 9th ESB, tasked with conducting route and site reconnaissance missions in addition to providing security for other combat engineers on the ground.
"Because our job is [so wide-ranging], you become the jack of all trades, master of none," Marchioni said with a laugh. "It seems like most of the time, I go back to my roots and teach people about machine guns and rifles and a lot of other things, because I learned how to be an [infantryman] first."
Spending time with his Marines and passing on his knowledge and life experiences is something the 30-year-old noncommissioned officer often does, even after the work for the day is complete.
Before the unit deployed to Afghanistan, Marchioni organized barbecues for the company every weekend outside of their barracks in Okinawa. "It's how I live," he said. "Second platoon is my close-knit family, and first squad is like my kids."
The special bond Marchioni shares with each of his Marines is evident from the moment you see them interacting.
"Most of [the Marines] have seen me go through some rough times, but I always seem to be having a good time," he said. "It's being able to get through all the craziness of normal life and still put a smile on your face, go to work and get done what you have to get done. Always keep driving forward."
For Marchioni, being there for his Marines and believing in them when they need him is key to being a successful leader.
"A lot of Marines know I'll do whatever I can for them and believe in them. If they are going to fail, it doesn't matter," he said. "I just want them to put forth whatever they can, give them the benefit of the doubt as much as I can. A lot of times, doubt is the only thing keeping the Marine from doing it. I mean we all got here somehow, trying to be the best."
His understanding and patience don't go unnoticed. Many of the Marines in the platoon look up to Marchioni as a leader.
"He is more like a father figure," said Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Andrew Nelson, a gunner and squad member. "With the kind of personality he has, before he chews you out, he'll talk to you about what you did wrong, instead of making you feel stupid. It's just the way he is, and it just works."
Marchioni said he plans to get out of the Marine Corps and move back to Michigan to spend time with his 7-year-old daughter and 5-year-old son when his current four-year contract expires.
Face of Defense: Detroit Native Draws on Experience
By Marine Corps Cpl. Meredith Brown
2nd Marine Logistics Group
CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan, Jan. 23, 2012 - Nicholas Marchioni enlisted in the Marine Corps in 2000 as an infantryman. Like many others, he completed his four-year contract and headed back home to start a new chapter in his life.
Marine Corps Sgt. Nicholas Marchioni enjoys a game of cards with his Marines during some down time in a route reconnaissance mission, Jan. 2, 2012. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Meredith Brown
(Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available.
But just a few short months after he returned to his hometown of Detroit, Marchioni once again was called to serve.
"I was recalled, so I just re-enlisted and became an engineer," he explained.
Now, seven years later, Marchioni is a Marine Corps sergeant on his sixth deployment. He in Afghanistan for the second time, serving as a squad leader for the 2nd Marine Logistics Group's 2nd Platoon, Alpha Company, 9th Engineer Support Battalion.
Second platoon operates as the security platoon for 9th ESB, tasked with conducting route and site reconnaissance missions in addition to providing security for other combat engineers on the ground.
"Because our job is [so wide-ranging], you become the jack of all trades, master of none," Marchioni said with a laugh. "It seems like most of the time, I go back to my roots and teach people about machine guns and rifles and a lot of other things, because I learned how to be an [infantryman] first."
Spending time with his Marines and passing on his knowledge and life experiences is something the 30-year-old noncommissioned officer often does, even after the work for the day is complete.
Before the unit deployed to Afghanistan, Marchioni organized barbecues for the company every weekend outside of their barracks in Okinawa. "It's how I live," he said. "Second platoon is my close-knit family, and first squad is like my kids."
The special bond Marchioni shares with each of his Marines is evident from the moment you see them interacting.
"Most of [the Marines] have seen me go through some rough times, but I always seem to be having a good time," he said. "It's being able to get through all the craziness of normal life and still put a smile on your face, go to work and get done what you have to get done. Always keep driving forward."
For Marchioni, being there for his Marines and believing in them when they need him is key to being a successful leader.
"A lot of Marines know I'll do whatever I can for them and believe in them. If they are going to fail, it doesn't matter," he said. "I just want them to put forth whatever they can, give them the benefit of the doubt as much as I can. A lot of times, doubt is the only thing keeping the Marine from doing it. I mean we all got here somehow, trying to be the best."
His understanding and patience don't go unnoticed. Many of the Marines in the platoon look up to Marchioni as a leader.
"He is more like a father figure," said Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Andrew Nelson, a gunner and squad member. "With the kind of personality he has, before he chews you out, he'll talk to you about what you did wrong, instead of making you feel stupid. It's just the way he is, and it just works."
Marchioni said he plans to get out of the Marine Corps and move back to Michigan to spend time with his 7-year-old daughter and 5-year-old son when his current four-year contract expires.
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