posted by admin on May 27
According to an April 2008 Rand Corp. Report, about 20 percent of military service members who have returned from Iraq and Afghanistan are suffering from major depression or post traumatic stress disorder. PTSD can lead to other, more serious, mental illnesses that can have major negative effect on the veterans and their families. PTSD can also lead to homelessness and suicide. As the U.S. military is short on therapists, thousands of private counselors have decided to offer free services to troops returning from the dreadful war places, namely Iraq and Afghanistan. In cooperation of the American Psychiatric foundation, 40,000 more volunteers are expected to join the cause in the next 3 years.
posted by admin on May 26
Before he was out of his teens, Jeremy Mack, 20, witnessed horrors no one should ever see.
An Army medic, Mack, of New Milford, was in Iraq from August 2006 to October 2007. When he returned it wasn’t long before his mother, Terry Mack, noticed a change in him.
He was mistrustful. When he sat down he didn’t like people behind him. In stores he would constantly look over his shoulder. He also did not want to talk about his experiences.
“I can’t tell how horrible it was,” his mother recalled him saying. “Am I supposed to tell people I went around picking up body parts because I’m a medic?”
Jeremy Mack is one of an increasing number of young veterans of the Afghanistan and Iraq wars. Many have returned with permanent wounds. Others, like Mack, though their bodies may have returned the same, have been forever changed on the inside by what they saw.
Read the full story here.
posted by admin on May 20
As tens of thousands of veterans of the fighting in Afghanistan and Iraq try to collect on their promised college benefits, they finding that their combat experience complicates the transition from soldier to student.
Some have trouble collecting the government money that is supposed to pay for college, or they discover that the benefits aren’t nearly enough to cover tuition and other bills. While their classmates complain about homework and hangovers, many vets struggle with post-traumatic stress disorder, the effects of traumatic brain injury, lost limbs and a range of chronic medical problems. With 1.5 million service members coming out of military duty in Afghanistan and Iraq since October 2001, universities across the state and the nation have been anticipating a postwar influx and looking for ways to welcome veterans to campus.
posted by admin on May 19
Veterans area a very important part of the society, they fought valiantly to defend the country. Most of them lost friends in the wars that they fought, some of them even lost limbs. Now that they are in the twilight years of their lives isn’t it just right that the government give them the benefits that they have rightfully earned.
Veterans and widows of veterans may qualify for a little-known, little-used benefit through the Department of Veterans Affairs. Wartime veterans and widows may qualify for up to $22,000 a year in tax-free funds to pay for assisted living expenses. It’s been available since 1951 and no one knows about it. Only a little over 200,000 people are using it. According to a report, only 27 percent of veterans and 14 percent of widows receive the benefit. A VA study says that veterans generally “are completely unaware that the program exists.”
However, military service and financial requirements must be met for eligibility. Military requirements call for 90 days of continuous active duty with at least one day served during a declared time of war, including World War II, Korean War, Vietnam War and Gulf War. Veterans may have any kind of discharge except dishonorable. They must also be disabled or at least 65 years old.
Benefits are available in the amount of $18,654 for an unmarried veteran, $22,113 for a married veteran and $11,985 for a widow of a veteran. The benefit increases each year.
posted by admin on Feb 1
Soldiers, who had worked so much in securing peace in the Fahama region in Iraq, had made a great impact as they focused on rebuilding and helping local citizens with several projects. Soldiers from Company D, 1st Platoon, 4th Infantry Division assisted the local school as they brought many supplies for the schoolchildren as well as their families. Soldiers give out pencils, pens, paper, schoolbags and even stuffed toys and snacks.
Not only the local citizens were delighted about the goodwill, but also, soldiers themselves were just as happy. In fact, the scenes remind them of children back home in the United States.
Such small projects are small steps that gain and build trust as well as promote goodwill between the locals and the coalitions.
posted by admin on Jan 23
US Navy Reserve is a good option for just anybody who are interested in military experience. The great thing about it is that it is a part-time commitment, allowing sailors to pursue or continue with a civilian career at the same time receive a military training. Being in the US Navy Reserve does not mean being lesser than an active sailor. Reservists are still at par with Active Duty Sailors.
One of the benefits while being in the US Navy and Navy Reserve is education. Sailors could pursue education either on base or on a campus.
Generally, US Navy promotes its core values which are honor, courage, and commitment.
posted by admin on Jan 3
Getting into the service has certain requirements. Interested patrons should be at least 17 to 34 years old. They should have a high school diploma or equivalent. If married, they should only have less than 2 children. The should have a US citizenship. Resident alien could also qualify under I-551. Applicants also need to pass the ASVAB test or the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery. The US Army and Army Reserve also provide many ways to guide or help soldiers who are interested in college education. Thus, some of the applicants qualify for a full tuition coverage.
posted by admin on Dec 30
It an undeniable fact that the US Army and Army Reserve have the best soldiers on the planet. Since 1700, the US Army has been into several missions throughout the world. Army soldiers have defeated America’s opponents, settled foreign issues, and brought relief to third-world countries. The Army together with the Army Reserve is mainly composed of infantry, which also has several support roles. For instance, they are in charge with support vehicles, medical teams, pilots, tanks, artillery, indirect-fire support and other array of specialties that make use of the highest level of technology.
Generally, the US Army offers every soldier with two primary choices: Army Reserve or Active Duty. The Army Reserve is a part-time commitment that enables soldiers to work in the community, and only serve full-time when the service is needed. Thus, it allows soldiers to have a civilian and a military career at the same time. On the other hand, Active Duty is the traditional US Army career basically for full-time commitment.
posted by admin on Nov 18
The US Army as well as the Army Reserve has three major parts: enlisted, warrant officer, and commissioned officer. Generally, US Army are enlisted personnel. They mostly consist of the ranks of Private to Sergeant Major of the US Army. Enlisted soldiers has specialization in a specific department or area of knowledge, and eventually follow the orders of their officers. Warrant officers are the same with commissioned officers, except that warrant officers are knowledgeable in a specific area of expertise. Hence, officers offer leadership to enlisted personnel. Their ranking mostly depend on the unit they are commanding. In becoming a commissioned officer in the US Army: taking ROTC in college or being in the Officer Candidate School.
posted by admin on Oct 31
Air Force runners beat the Marines during the Marine Corps Marathon. It was such a disappointment for the Marines, since they hosted the said event. Both Air Force men’s and women’s team have dominated the distant running challenge. The Air Force aced a 20-minute edge over the Marines, with a combined time of 16:19:36.
The first to finish the race was Lt. Brian Dumm from Osan Air Base of Korea. However, he placed sixth in the overall ranking with an outstanding time of 2:28:27. On the other hand, Maj. Brenda Schrank of Andrews Air Force Base won the female division with a time of 3:00:19.