posted by admin on Oct 31
When it’s about ship-boarding, the Coast Guard is the authority to train and teach first hand tactics and techniques. The said branch of the U.S. Military is known to be the expert or the experienced in such a field. According to Coast Guard officers, boarding a ship is a dangerous operation. Hence, things can quickly go wrong. Ship-boarding teams have to be prepared any time for terrorists and armed pirates. That is why the Navy seek for training help to learn what have to be done in specific situations during boarding a ship.
Eventually, four veteran Coast Guardsmen established a training school for boarding teams in an island in the Persian Gulf. They already have provided servicemen and other soldiers an opportunity to improve their skills, and learn the recent trend in carrying out missions. They also give refresher courses for members of the Coast Guard cutter teams that are deployed to the gulf. Accordingly, countries like Bahrain and United Arab of Emirates have sent their own teams to be taught by the experts.
The school, which is actually a makeshift classroom, is located along the pier. It is made of stacks of empty cargo crates that are transformed into an inside of a ship. During the mock operation, teams should be able to clear rooms of any forms of threats, learn when to execute deadly force, and how to avoid getting hurt or killed.
posted by admin on Oct 31
A research study of Harvard Medical School shows that 1.8 million U.S. Military Veterans are uninsured or do not have health care coverage. The figure defines an increase of 290,000 since 2000. Researchers also said that most of veterans are coming from the middle class. Hence, they cannot qualify for any VA care because of their incomes. Some of them can’t even afford copayments. Also, some places lack VA centers.
One of every eight veterans who are under 65 years old is not insured. This opposes the idea that all veterans are qualified for free health care. The said research is based on the analysis of government surveys in 1988-2005. The study has also noted that VA in January 2003 put a stop on the enrollment of most veterans. The action was to decrease the backlog of patients waiting for health care. In turn, this has caused problems to millions of veterans. Thus, the recommendation of the researchers is to come up with a universal health coverage in the United States.
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.