posted by admin on Oct 30
Just today, Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice met at the Pentagon to talk about proposals regarding the coordination and control of private contractors entering the Iraqi territories. The press secretary of Pentagon said that it was the first meeting of the two since the DoD fact-finding trip to Iraq.
The highlight of the meeting was that Rice and Gates, along with the working group recommendation, have settled that the Multinational Force Iraq should be involved in all contractor operations. The working group was actually co-chaired by Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte and Deputy Defense Secretary Gordon England. They eventually helped in seeking better options to coordinate and supervise the Defense and State Department contract employees in the war zones. Also, anything agreed upon should include general standards or common rules which are essential for the use of the force, as well as for the coordination of every contractor movement.
posted by admin on Oct 30
Ivan’s in Jost Van Dyke, British Virgin Islands became the recent destination of injured war veterans. The group of retirees has stopped over on the said island for a two-night R and R. The trip was actually a 12-mile and round-trip kayak adventure.
Some of the veterans said that it was like being in a deserted nice island, but then you knew that you are going to be rescued. This was actually a personal comment of Peter Rooney, whose both legs were amputated because of a roadside bomb explosion near Ramadi, Iraq.
One of the highlights of Ivan’s is a Local Flavor Stress Free Bar that always works on an honor system – take a drink, write it down and pay it before leaving. The place is decorated entirely with shells and shell art from previous visitors, which completely radiates comfort and pleasure.
Most of the veterans lost their legs. Being in such places and experiencing such adventures has given them greater motivation and gladness to stand fast further in life.
posted by admin on Oct 30
On October 28, 2007, seven sheiks were kidnapped in northern Baghdad. After two days, they were rescued by soldiers of the 9th Iraqi Army Division. The rescue operation was also supported by U.S. Military advisors and soldiers from 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment and 82nd Airborne Division. The four abductors were also captured during the mission. Unfortunately, three extremists died while the body of the eighth sheik was discovered.
The victims were then taken to the nearest Iraqi army facility, where they got medical attention. Most of them suffered injuries they obtained from being beaten with a tire iron. The sheiks revealed that their abductors were members of the Shiite extremists’ group.
Military officials said that the execution and success of the mission has shown how Iraqi security forces have improved. They also acknowledged the speedy response and action such forces.
posted by admin on Oct 30
Improvised Explosive Device (IED) has been one of the primary concerns of the military. U.S. Defense Department has challenged the experts in the industry, the military, the national laboratories and even the acedemia to destroy the terrorists’ latest deadly weapons. The Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Organization has organized a conference, which was designed to come up with better solutions in confronting IED problems.
The goals of the conference were directed to three areas: attack the network; defeat the device; and, train the force. Apparently, there were about 750 participants who are willing to pitch in their expertise on the matter.
Defense Department officials said that IEDs have already killed almost half of all casualties in Iraq, and nearly 30% of the casualties in Afghanistan.
Most of the conference sessions advocate information that helps in coming up with the most plausible solutions,. The assembly also intends to decrease redundancy of effort, as well as to hone or cross out actions that have been already taken.
posted by admin on Oct 30
In 1980, Maj. Marcia A. Potter has enlisted in the Air Force right after graduation. She served for four years and then decided to leave the military to pursue her education. Consequently, she earned a master’s degree in nursing and eventually became a family nurse practitioner.
She was already a mother of three when she decided to go back in the service. It was the terrorist attack in September 11, 2001 that ignited Potter’s decision. After consulting with her family, she rejoined the Air Force in 2003. She even received a commission for her medical and professional expertise.
Now at age 46, it was patriotism and a sense of duty that made Potter return. In fact, she is a part of a military outreach program called “Why We Serve.” She was selected from those who have already served in Afghanistan and Iraq. Along with other 10 servicemembers, Potter tells military stories to the American people at local events, veterans organizations, community assemblies and other gatherings.
According to Potter, the Why We Serve program is an excellent military program that lets service men and women tell their experiences directly to the public.
posted by admin on Oct 30
When the massive fire hit California, the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) or the Defense Department’s biggest combat support agency, has supported and helped the fire victims. In fact, the agency has supplied the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) with meals and other needs to help evacuees as well as put out the fire.
There were 214 active-duty personnel, 72 Defense Department civilians and 2,492 National Guardsmen who have come to make firefighting, security and relief operations possible.
All in all, DLA has provided 120,600 packaged meals as support to the entire operation, not to mention that it has also sent fire retardant coveralls and gloves.
Generally, DLA is the main agency that provides technical and logistic support to the United States Military Services and other federal civilian agencies. The headquarters of DLA is located in Fort Belvoir, Virginia. DLA is said to be the primary source for consumable items. They usually supplies these goods as aid to emergency preparedness, combat readiness or even simply daily operations in the Defense Department.
posted by admin on Oct 30
Iraqis in the northern part of Iraq has finally made a decision to help their government and the coalition to fight terrorism. Division soldiers have discovered a big explosively-formed projectile factory in the province of Diyala. One Iraqi resident told the policeman about a particular house in his village. When the U.S. Troops and other coalition soldiers checked the area, they found a huge cache of the killer projectiles that included 130 pre-made weapons and copper plates which make the projectiles themselves. The coalitions also found more than 600lbs. of rockets, C-4 explosives, mortar tubes and mortar rounds. Army officials said that cooperation from all commands made the raid successful.
The military authorities also disclosed that they have two jobs left Northern Iraq: One is to keep the al Queda “on the ropes,” and two is to help the local as well as the provincial Iraqi government settle down. Take note that under the former Hussein administration, the central government is in-charged with the provinces’ governance and welfare.
posted by admin on Oct 30
One of the major issues of Air Force members and their families is “domestic violence.” In 2006, there were about 3,914 cases of domestic abuse that involved Airmen (either the offender or the victim). 50% of the cases qualified for spouse or partner abuse. Hence, there were 40 cases that involved sexual abuse and assault of a spouse or partner. Air Force officials connected high level of job stress to such domestic abuses.
As the month of October ends, the Air Force has established an advocacy on Domestic Violence Awareness. The goal of the program is to help Airmen cope with risk factors, such as stress, which can increase the possibilities of domestic abuse or violence.
Generally, the Family Advocacy of the Air Force is a program that helps its members confront domestic violence treatment and its relative prevention. In connection with other military programs, Family Advocacy offers a variety of treatment options for both victims and offenders.
posted by admin on Oct 30
The military can no longer access YouTube, MySpace and other community-based websites. Pentagon authorities say that access to these sites consume huge part of the bandwidth and pose security risks. However, YouTube officials urge the Pentagon to reconsider the blocked access. Unfortunately, Army officials have no intentions of reconsidering, and may even block more social websites.
The Defense Information System Agency, the department which manages Defense Department communications and computing resources, said that the access blocking is an operational precaution. Yet, troops in bases can get through the websites from kiosks which access commercial Internet.
Instead, military officials admire and promote Army Knowledge Online (AKO), an internal military website that enables soldiers to send video clips to family and friends. AKO is an alternative to YouTube, if the point of watching videos is sending visual messages to significant others.
posted by admin on Oct 30
On October 29, 2007, the United States Army honored the children of the fallen heroes who had served in Iraq and Afghanistan. Among them are the children of Chief Warrant Officer 4 John W. Engeman. It was a double ceremony, both held at the Pentagon and in Baghdad. The event was very emotional as high ranking military officials presented the Gold Medal of Remembrance to Engeman’s daughter Nicole Engeman at the Pentagon. At the same time, Lt. Gen. Raymond T. Odierno, commander of Multinational Corps-Iraq, gave another medal to 1st Lt. Patrick Engeman, Engeman’s son and a platoon leader with the 10th Mountain Division, in Baghdad.
CW4 Engeman was part of a special transition team to advise and train Iraqi security forces while being assigned to the 1/312th Battalion, 30th Enhanced Separate Brigade. He died on May 14, 2006 when his vehicle ran through a roadside bomb.
The Gold Medal of Remembrance was created in 2006 by the White House Commission on Remembrance. The award is given to the children of servicemen who have lost a father or a mother during military operations in Afghanistan and Iraq. According to the commission director, the medal of honor is the first of its kind to acknowledge children and their military parents for their sacrifices in the wars.