posted by admin on May 18
Driving by the Leeds Armory weekend before last, residents were bound to see north Alabama’s young Naval Sea Cadets Valor Division in training.
The Naval Sea Cadet Corps (NSCC) is a program for young men and women ages 13-17 who are interested in developing their skills in leadership, basic seamanship, courage, self-reliance and military discipline.
The main purpose is to foster good citizenship and an interest and appreciation of our nation’s sea services including the Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard and Merchant Marines.
Many residents are unaware that such a program exists in their own backyard.
Last year, the NSCC program prepared the Leeds Armory for training by painting, creating sleeping places and repairing issues within the Armory to make help update the facility. At some point, they hope to use the Armory as a two-week training facility during the summer.
Over 20 young men and women met recently at the armory for a two-day drill session. The two-day drills take place one weekend a month.
The Leeds Armory provides housing during drills, as well as a place where cadets learn and practice the skills needed for their training.
During the weekend’s sessions, cadets participated in drills including a victim recovery exercise, physical training exercises and swim qualifications.
Read the full story here.
posted by admin on May 16
STARKVILLE, Miss. — By the time he completed his four-year stint in the military three summers ago, Frank Wills had gotten used to taking orders, carrying a rifle and taking pictures of dead bodies as a combat photographer.
He knew how to be a Marine. He hadn’t a clue how a Marine becomes a college student.
Neither did anyone else on campus. Advisers at one school Wills attended gave him incorrect information. Officials at a second offered no help. Often, he says, he felt like “the new kid who didn’t fit in.”
The Serviceman’s Readjustment Act of 1944, better known as the GI Bill, helped turn a college education into a right of middle-class America. It covered the cost for millions of World War II veterans as compensation for having disrupted their lives to serve.
Today, with tuition climbing, and a college degree increasingly the ticket to economic security, the promise of money for education is no less important to service members. The Department of Defense says 95 percent of Marines, Army, Navy, Air Force and U.S. Coast Guard sign up for the GI Bill when they enlist.
For many, like Wills, 28, it is the reason they join. Yet his experience, and those of other recent veterans, suggests that often the road from combat to college can be riddled with potholes.
Read the full article here.
posted by admin on Apr 25
Just today a group of Filipino veterans, who had been American allies in WWII won the final battle in the U.S. Senate. Their appeal was delayed because of the intention of improving benefits for younger U.S. veterans. Fortunately, the senators voted to give a $300 per month pension to 15,000 Filipinos. Read the rest of the story here.
posted by admin on Mar 24
On March 23, the USS Theodore Roosevelt has traveled to the destroyers and cruisers of the TR Carrier Strike Group. The mission was to bring Easter joy to the crew on board. The Holy Helo provided by Helicopter Squadron (HS) 3 “Tridents,” and ferried a couple of chaplains and religious program specialist (RP) to the ships. According to Lt. Charles Johnson, TR Catholic chaplain., “For our faith and many others, Easter is the holiest of days.” Thus, providing the service to the Sailors of the ships enable them to observe the Lent services that they would at home.
posted by admin on Feb 22
Discipline and making kids learn its value is one of the most difficult things about being parents. Generally, discipline leads to a strong character in kids.
Parents should set the limits and establish the rules. And when they do, the rules should send a clear message to the kids about personal boundaries. Of course, parents have to hear what their teenagers think about the whole situation. Although parents have an absolute authority, kids have the right to say something. Besides, compromising for a set of rules also makes child-parent relationship even much stronger.
posted by admin on Jan 12
Technically, there are several programs and schools for teenagers with personal issues. Parents should choose the most appropriate military academy. However, a little help from someone could come in handy:
> Get an advice from someone who also been dealing with the same problem. The guidance counselor of your kid’s school could become a great help.
> Information from education authorities could also come handy. You could research online and call the schools’ information hotline.