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A Soldier's Perspective
UPDATE: The Pentagon has added the morning after pill to the list of medications available at all military bases. There is no need for legislation now, I believe. —————————————— This is addressed more for the female military members like Army Sergeant, but it is open to everyone to debate (WITH...
As I sit here awaiting my turn to pee in a cup for the 100% company urinalysis, I started reading through some historical and inspirational documents. I was reminded of a letter that President Abraham Lincoln sent to Mrs. Bixby, a five time Gold Star Mom during the Civil War....
CSI: Miami – Promoting the Good in Iraq
Many of us have seen the MSM misrepresent or not even report the good things that our military is doing in Iraq. We see TV shows and movies on the big and small screen that stand on either side of the issue. Some are very elaborate and in your face...
Bar-S Foods, makers of quality meat products including hot dogs, lunch meat, corn dogs, sausages and bacon has kicked off a social media campaign for 2010 centered around the utilization of social media sites such as Twitter, Facebook, Digg, Flickr and YouTube. An essential feature of the company's social media...
Sleepy’s, the mattress retailer, is partnering with Give2TheTroops to give the men and women who serve our country a little piece of home. Beginning January 28, consumers who visit a Sleepy’s store and purchase a Tempur-Pedic pillow will automatically send a travel pillow to the troops overseas in a care...
The Military Blood Program was established as 1952 by Presidential Order as part of the National Blood Program. Today’s Armed Services Blood Program (ASBP) operates at 151 worldwide locations. These include 81 blood banks and blood donor centers, of which 36 are licensed by the Food and Drug Administration. All...
MilBlogs
Over at PBS - Point of View, I blog about the necessity of being vigilant in protecting the warrior legacy: It is important for all of us -- citizens who truly support the troops and who honor our veterans......
It's been a bit inactive on this site lately - but here is a good reason for at least the rest of the week.......
Did you know that most of the battleships sunk or damaged during the attack on Pearl Harbor came back to fight again? See here. Thank the salvors.......
Every year, this day has meant more to me.......
Welcome Back Veterans Video Thanks
I know you'll be celebrating Veteran's Day this Thursday. But if you are looking for an extra way to honor our Veterans, this might be up your alley. Major League Baseball and Welcome Back Veterans are asking people to share......
AfPak & Vietnam, what we should be reading
In a media dominated by Baby Boomers and their resulting cultural reference, it is little wonder that we hear a lot about Vietnam vs. Afghanistan; just like we did with Vietnam and Iraq. That is no shock, what is though......
ProPublica: Articles and Investigations
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Administration Signals It Won’t Push Legal Limits of Terrorism Detention
by Chisun Lee, ProPublica - The five-page letter (PDF) that U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder issued this week defending the decision to treat the Christmas Day bomber suspect as a criminal suspect, rather than as a wartime captive, offered new insight into the Obama administration's view of the limits of...
Recovery Data to Get a Checkup
by Jennifer LaFleur, ProPublica - February 4, 2010 1:39 pm EST It’s time once again for stimulus data. And it will be again. And again. This past weekend, the government’s stimulus Web site, Recovery.gov, released its second big batch of data on stimulus projects. But be careful: That data, which includes tidbits...
Chase Denied Loan Mods for Now Forbidden Reason—Homeowners in Limbo
by Paul Kiel, ProPublica - February 4, 2010 11:57 am EST On the Saturday before Thanksgiving, Lesa Herron of Santa Rosa, Calif., opened a letter from Chase Home Finance (PDF). She’d been denied a permanent modification under the federal government’s loan-mod program, Chase said, because “Your hardship is not of a...
February 3, 2010 4:14 pm EST To contact us with corrections, e-mail us at feedback@propublica.org. The Feb. 3, 2010 post, Lobbyists Help Smooth the Way for a Tax Break for Foreign Rum Maker, said Puerto Rico Resident Commissioner Pedro Pierluisi was stepping up his lobbying efforts. It should have said that...
Navy CyberSpace Blog
Last year, in his budget, President Obama proposed “to expand concurrent receipt of military retired pay and Veterans Disability Compensation to all retirees receiving disability retired pay.” We tracked the progress of the Retired Pay Restoration Act of 2009 closely, and we were disappointed when we found the bill failed,...
Average 4.2% Increase in 2011 BAH
President Obama’s 2011 budget request for Department of Defense, released officially today, requests an average housing allowance increase of 4.2 percent, as well as a variety of monthly special skill-based payments, enlistment and reenlistment bonuses, and other benefits. Family support programs grow over 3% – some of the main increases...
No Sea and Sub Pay Increase for 2011?
Congressman Jerry McNerney (D)(CA-11) introduced H.R. 4440, Combat Operations and Medical Benefit Authorization for our Troops (COMBAT) Act, on Jan. 13, 2010. The bill is to amend title 37, United States Code, to increase the maximum amount for the military special pays known as hostile fire pay, imminent danger pay,...
Navy SRB Guidance as of 22Jan2010
The latest Selective Re-enlistment Bonus (SRB) guidance, NAVADMIN 028/10. R 221611Z JAN 10 FM CNO WASHINGTON DC//N1// TO NAVADMIN INFO CNO WASHINGTON DC//N1// BT UNCLAS//N01300// NAVADMIN 028/10 MSGID/GENADMIN/CNO WASHINGTON DC/N1/JAN// SUBJ/SELECTIVE REENLISTMENT BONUS (SRB) UPDATE// REF/A/MSG/CNO WASHINGTON DC/271331ZAUG09// REF/B/DOC/OPNAV/30JAN07// REF/C/MSG/CNO WASHINGTON DC/091648ZJAN09// NARR/REF A IS NAVADMIN 250/09, FY10 SRB AWARD PLAN. REF B IS OPNAVINST 1160.8A, SRB PROGRAM INSTRUCTION. REF C IS...
The Navy has now decided to use the Body Mass Index (BMI) as a method of determining the minimum weight for an applicant who is joining. Prior to this change, a person would have to meet or exceed a minimum static number for their height. I have updated the height...
Yesterday, I called Congressman Joe Wilson’s office in DC to ask about the methodology he used to determine a 1.9% pay raise for 2011. As I thought, he used what congress has been doing since 1999 to help eliminate the pay gap and bring military pay more inline with the...
News Releases RSS Feed
Real-World Anthrax Scare Proves Readiness
The Joint Project Manager Guardian (JPMG) Chemical, Biological, Radiological Nuclear Installation Protection Program (CBRN-IPP), aimed at preparing U.S Military Installation First Responders to respond to chemical and biological threats, was put to the test during a Jan....
JLTV Prototype Builds Underway
The Joint Light Tactical Vehicle, or JLTV Technology Development phase industry teams have begun to build government prototypes, engineering an unprecedented blend of mobility, payload capacity and survivability -- building a light tactical vehicle that will withstand IED attacks, drive quickly through diverse terrain and transport beneath a CH-47 or...
Army bringing high-tech help to Haiti earthquake relief effort
The Army's PEO-EIS has called upon its technological expertise to help with relief efforts in earthquake-ravaged Haiti by setting up a disaster-information Web site, ensuring satellite communications reach damaged areas and making contingency arrangements to deploy additional units if called upon....
Communication technologies could prove to be vital assets in ongoing military operations
The U.S. Army's Acquisition Executive said communication technologies slated to field in the next several years, such as Joint Tactical Radio Systems (JTRS) and Warfighter Information Network - Tactical (WIN-T), could prove to be vital assets in the ongoing war in Afghanistan -- speaking to an audience of industry and...
Army Releases December Suicide Data
The Army released suicide data today for the month of December. Among active-duty Soldiers, there were ten potential suicides: one has been confirmed as suicide, and nine remain under investigation. For November, the Army reported 11 potential suicides among active-duty Soldiers. Since the release of that report, three have...
The U.S Army plans to buy its first increment of "networked" technologies as a key step toward outfitting the entire force with elements of the former Future Combat Systems (FCS) network, service officials said. Instead of merely focusing on FCS Brigade Combat Teams (BCT) as per the original plan, PEO...
ArmsControlWonk
Iran’s Missile (Development) Trajectory [4]
Iran’s aerospace program has been so active in the last few years it should be possible to say something about their development philosophy: the technological arc or trajectory they are following. For instance, why did they “jump” from SCUD-type missiles to the Shahab-3-type? Why didn’t they...
As you undoubtedly noticed, Iran launched a rocket on February 2. And released pictures of a space launch vehicle. Which may not be the same thing. As some of you may know, Geoff Forden is going through some personal stuff right now, which is why we are missing his...
Activists Breach Security at Kleine Brogel [17]
Holy crap. If you watch this video on YouTube it is very clear that a group of Belgian peace activists not only got inside the wire at Kleine-Brogel Airbase — where some US nuclear weapons may be stored — but they also got into the area where the hardened shelters...
Vasili Alexandrovich Arkipov [11]
The Soviet Navy viewed nuclear-tipped torpedoes as aircraft carrier killers. A Soviet Foxtrot class diesel submarine, B-59, had this ace-in-the-hole when it was being depth-charged to the surface by the U.S. Navy during the Cuban missile crisis. Did Adm. George Anderson, the Chief of Naval Operations (and the Navy’s...
IC Threat Report on Iran: Sifting Tea Leaves [9]
The Annual Threat Assessment of the U.S. Intelligence Community is out, and it’s official: cyber is the new black. (The version presented to the Senate is linked above. Here’s the basically identical House version.) Judging by the many threats ably described in this report, life is short, so let’s skip to the...
NNSA's Big Budget, START and CTBT [14]
The Administration has proposed a massive increase in funding for the nuclear weapons complex, increasing the budget for NNSA by 13.4 percent (over what the FY2010 appropriation.) John Fleck has an excellent write-up of the announcement in the Albuquerque Journal. The purpose of announcing the massive increases in funding for the nuclear...
The Life of the Wife
Okay, I hope this is the last depressing one
Okay, I am slowly coming to grips with my injury. I have devoured as much reading material as I can on the subject and have learned that if I don't take strict rest now, I could wind up with a hip replacement in less than a year. Putting me on...
Guess what this post is about??Well, I was given crutches to use all the damn time on Monday. I hate them. I already have huge welts on my arms and rib cage. Oh and bruises.Have you ever tried using crutches on ice/snow? It sucks.I went to a "doctor" on the...
There is something about the phrase "stress fracture" that makes people think you don't really have a broken bone. I found myself explaining repeatedly last night to my husband that I am 25 and have a broken hip.I'm going to be honest with you--I'm bummed about it. I won't be...
Well, my MRI was barely 12 hours ago. The doctor called all of my phone numbers trying to get a hold of me. I was excited at first because I had never received such treatment from Tricare! Then I thought about it...if they really want to get a hold of...
Well, I am now 25 years old. And this was the first birthday where I felt nothing! hahaFor my birthday, I went to work and mailed my husband a care package (this just in: I am the best wife ever). That night I did laundry, cleaned the house and gave...
I have been researching my symptoms in medical records and they are lining up with a labral tear in my hip. This would most likely require a surgical repair. I have already had one orthopedic surgery in my life...hated it! It was a really bad experience for me, despite having...
Stryker Brigade News
Memorial for 5/2 SBCT Soldier Kyle Wright
JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. - Family, friends, Service members and the Joint Base community will remember a Soldier who died while deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom with a ceremony to be conducted Friday, February 5, at 3......
A Second Time Around in the New Iraq
Story by Pfc. Adrian Muehe DIYALA, Iraq – "This is way easier than my last deployment," said Sgt. George Applegate, from Evergreen, Colo., a fire team leader for 2nd Platoon, Company C, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Stryker Brigade......
Soldier Gain Closure Through Operation Proper Exit
Story by Sgt. Bryce Dubee BAGHDAD – The last time they were here, they lost a piece of themselves. Years, and numerous surgeries later, they've returned to get a small piece back. Six Soldiers, each severely wounded during combat operations......
Army Working on Improved Stryker A1
The Army is working on a new and improved Stryker armored vehicle variant, known as the Stryker A1, that will boost the eight wheeled vehicle’s performance giving it a bigger engine, beefier transmission, brakes and suspension as well as......
On his Facebook page Michael Yon says he is now back with the 5/2 SBCT in Afghanistan after a brief break in the States.......
"On Point" is a monthly newsletter produced by the 3/2 SBCT, which is currently deployed to Iraq. Read the February edition here: On Point.......
Counterterrorism Blog
Bloody Friday: Anti-Shia Terror Violence Hit Karachi Again!
On the Chehlum day (40 days after the day of Ashura), Pakistan’s port city Karachi has witnessed twin bomb explosions that killed almost 25 people and scores of them injured, mostly from the monitory Shia community. The first explosion occurred......
I had a piece in Foreign Policy yesterday on the subject of why some seemingly committed jihadists have left terrorist organizations. This piece is drawn from my recent Washington Institute monograph, entitled "Terrorist Dropouts: Learning from those who have left."......
Assessing the Militant White Separatist Movement
Today the militant white separatist movement faces leadership and organizational challenges: after the deaths and arrests of significant movement leaders over the past decade, it is fractured and appears poorly led. Further, the movement’s recruitment and training capabilities appear......
Ft Hood's Terror: The US failed by its own experts
Ft Hood Terror Act: A Jihadi operation The Pentagon's review of the act of Terrorism committed at Fort Hood by Major Nidal Hasan deserves national attention not only regarding its important conclusions but also what it missed in terms......
Setback in Baghdad: Counter-Forensics and Counter-Terror
Counter-forensics has long been part of the terrorist playbook, so today’s attack on the central forensics lab in Baghdad is by no means unprecedented in the annals of terrorism. CSI Belfast According to Tony Geraghty’s fascinating The Irish War: The......
The following is an excerpt of my latest article, which appears in Foreign Policy. The Christmas Day pants bomber traveled a well-worn path to global terrorism: through Yemen. From the bombing of the U.S.S. Cole in the Gulf of Aden,......
Op For
Am now in Charlotte Airport, waiting on the flight to Lejeune. I am freaking exhausted. And I stink. But I have had beer.......
Shorn am I of two constant companions since mid-August of last year-- my 9mm and my M4. I turned both in today, duly cleaned (and with a small net gain of ammo, to boot). I feel oddly under-dressed without them.......
Since Tango Seven-Six got the humor ball rolling, and I'm pretty happy to be in Kuwait, here's a good one courtesy of "Abu Musa" at CSTC-A CJ-5.........
Nothing To Do With the Military But Too Funny Not To Post
My cousin in Ohio sent this, it is too funny not to share. Subject: The Best Story of the Year The pastor asked if anyone in the congregation would like to express praise for answered prayers. Suzie Smith stood and......
This was sent to me by a friend. For all who have had to serve as a notification officer the feelings and sentiments expressed by the author are familiar.......
The Making of New Dawn - Part 3
New Dawn nearly didn’t get published. After working with Berkley Publishing on my last book, Marines in the Garden of Eden, I assumed that they would pick up New Dawn for publication—they didn’t.......
Army Household6
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Special thanks to all those that entered and of course Borders that sponsored the contest! Stay tuned another contest coming in February !! : )...
UPDATE — Ah the power of social media and the WHO DAT Nation ..The NFL has backed off “WHO DAT ” ownership — Read about it here A couple of days ago , I came across a news article about the NFL requesting that non- NFL licensed merchandise with the WHO...
This is pretty much the scene that you will see for me lately — always busy working! Our internet went down for a few days but was still able to do some work thanks to my awesome Blackberry phone! Of course BIG THANKS to our local Starbucks and my friend Sara...
picture courtesy of loldogs.com...
picture courtesy of ihasahotdog.com...
Ask June!
Q: My husband and I have been discussing investing money for our children's college. We have a 9, 6, and 3 year old. We do not plan on funding their full tuition. We both were responsible for paying our own......
Divorce, Social Security, and Military Retirement
Q: I am a retiree with 23 years [military] service. After I retired I went through a divorce. I was married 20 years. My ex-wife gets 35 percent of my retired pay and I also agreed to continue SBP coverage......
Q: I will soon be entitled to my own Social Security benefits as I have worked most of my adult life. And I am currently receiving Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) benefits. Once I start receiving Social Security, will it affect......
Q: I understand you can sell a house tax free if you've lived in it for 2 of the last 5 years. But I also read that if you were in the military and received orders to another location, that......
Q: I am retired and 69 years old. Due to some financial obligations I would like to purchase a TERM life Insurance policy for the amount of $130,000. Are there any benefits available through the military for term life? If......
Q: My husband and I recently closed our restaurant and in an effort to avoid bankruptcy have ended up with about $40,000 in credit card debt. We have an excellent credit rating and are up to date on all of......
The Sandbox
SHORT Name: Six Foot Skinny Posting date: 2/5/10 Stationed in: Iraq Hometown: Minneapolis, MN Milblog: Lost in the Desert It’s gotten cooler here. I guess it’s “winter.” I hesitate to call it winter when back at home we occasionally have......
PEOPLE: THE DIFFERENCE Name: K Posting date: 2/4/10 Returned from: Afghanistan Milblog: Embedded in Afghanistan "It's not where you are but who you're with." The ANA tend to move around a fair bit. Some of the areas where they work......
BLASPHEMY Name: Old Blue Posting date: 2/1/10 Returned to: Afghanistan Milblog: Afghan Quest The idea’s being kicked around -- probably not by anyone who is capable or motivated to make a change in the policy -- but it has been......
COMFORT Name: RN Clara Hart Posting date: 1/28/10 Stationed in: a civilian military hospital in the U.S. Milblog: From Our Perspective Email: clarahart2@yahoo.com I’d like to bring to your attention the military personnel now deployed to Haiti. Unlike those deploying......
FLIGHT OF TEARS Name: America's 1st Sgt. Posting date: 1/25/10 Returned from: Iraq Milblog: Castra Praetoria Email: castrapraetoria1@gmail.com Flight of Tears and A List Of Countries That SuckSome months ago I recounted the tale of The Longest Day in which......
MARLEY AND ME Name: Eric Coulson Posting date: 1/22/10 Returned from: Iraq Milblog: The Long Walk Home Email: badger.six@gmail.com "Take a knife and cut this pain from my heart." I am a demonstrative person when it comes to my emotions.......
FOB Tacoma
FOB Tacoma has changed blogging systems and the URL. Please go here to check out the new site. Make sure to update any bookmarks or RSS feeds you had pointing to our old system as they will no longer work. New blog URL: http://blog.thenewstribune.com/military New RSS feed: http://blog.thenewstribune.com/military/feed New Atom feed: http://blog.thenewstribune.com/military/feed/atom...
The Washington Post this weekend published an obituary on retired Army Col. John J. Madigan III. Local folks might recognize that last name......
Runway work will mean more flights into McChord
The temporary closure of a runway in Moses Lake will mean more Air Force jets flying the night skies of Pierce County. Contractors working for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will begin working Monday on Grant County International Airport’s "assault strip" – called such because it is reinforced to...
UPDATE: The newest version of the story from the Associated Press confirms the two were embedded with 5th Stryker Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division: Bad news from the Associated Press: KABUL – A bombing has wounded two Associated Press journalists embedded with the U.S. military in southern Afghanistan. Photographer Emilio Morenatti and AP Television...
Sorry I haven't posted much lately. Been busy with some longer-term stuff I'm working on. But I do want to point you to a few stories. The Canwest News Service has a reporter in Kandahar province, where 5th Stryker Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division is located. Here are a couple of stories...
Strykers in Afghanistan, Texas
Fort Lewis' 5th Stryker Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division are in southern Afghanistan. An Associated Press photographer is embedded with the unit, and we've strung together a slideshow. Check it out here. Meanwhile, KFDM-TV reports about the Strykers of 4th Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division receiving extra armor at the Port of Beaumont...