American Forces Press Service
Oct. 30, 2008 - The deadline is tomorrow for servicemembers to apply for the Sears "Heroes at Home Wish Registry." In consultation with the Defense Department, Sears has expanded the popular program, enabling America to fulfill holiday wishes for up to 20,000 servicemembers and their families.
military personnel can log on to www.sears.com/wish through tomorrow to apply for the Wish Registry. Between Nov. 2 and Dec. 25, Sears will invite America to help fulfill their wishes with a Sears gift card.
"Since 1916, Sears has been committed to America's servicemen and women with programs to employ veterans, reserve pay differential and benefits for full-time associates called up for active duty," said Don Hamblen, chief marketing officer for the retailer. "Last year, Sears launched Heroes at Home to help military personnel renovate and rebuild their homes. Today, we are pleased to expand the Heroes at Home Wish Registry to incorporate elements to make the wishes of our military come true for the holidays and enable our customers provide a direct 'thank you' to members of the military."
The first 20,000 servicemembers who apply and can be validated with an active duty military status can become part of the Wish Registry. Active service personnel who participate will remain anonymous to ensure compliance with the military's standards of conduct regulations.
Ultimately, all 20,000 registrants will be granted Sears gift cards in equal amounts, which will be determined based on the number of entries and donations. The gift card denominations will not exceed $550, officials said.
Sears officials said they created the Wish Registry to thank servicemembers and their families at home and abroad for their service. Sears worked with the United Service Organizations to help communicate the Wish Registry to military members, and will make a $250,000 donation to support USO programs and services around the world.
"The Heroes at Home Wish Registry allows us to connect with the military community on a very personal level, and gives Americans the opportunity to fulfill their wishes," said Bill Kiss, divisional vice president of program development for Sears Holdings Corporations. "It's an extremely powerful program, with the potential to produce extremely meaningful results."
The program starts with the Sears family, not just their customers, officials said, noting that the first donations the registry received were from Sears associates, senior executives and vendors featured at the retailer.
The Heroes at Home program also provides support to servicemembers, veterans and their families through joint efforts with various nonprofit organizations. Sears Holdings has spearheaded nationwide fundraising efforts in the spring and holiday seasons over the past year, officials said, and has raised more than $5 million through the Heroes at Home program for Rebuilding Together, a nonprofit organization that rehabilitates homes.
Showing posts with label heroes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label heroes. Show all posts
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Berlin Airlift Veterans Return to Germany for Anniversary
By Air Force Staff Sgt. Julie Weckerlein
Special to American Forces Press Service
June 27, 2008 - For 50 years, Dub Southers recalled the grueling hours he worked at an air base in northern Germany at the start of the Berlin Airlift, not the historical significance of what he helped to achieve as a flight engineer and crew chief. He remembered well the coal being shipped in from local coal fields, the 196 missions he flew over Berlin and being a 20-year-old Air Force staff sergeant keeping the C-54 Skymaster aircraft flying.
"Coal was our basic cargo," said Southers, now 81 and living in Texas. "Occasionally, we flew flour, but I can't recall anything other than coal."
It wasn't until 1998 that Southers started really thinking about the importance of the airlift mission, which lasted from June 1948 to May 1949 and provided vital resources to the German city cut in half by Soviet rule, he said.
As the anniversary approached, he asked his daughter to search online for activities happening in Berlin. Her search found the Berlin Airlift Veterans Association, and he became its secretary.
He ended up visiting Germany that year for the 50th anniversary, and he and seven other association members have returned to take part in 60th anniversary observances.
They will re-enact the first flight of the airlift, he said, and visit the memorial at Rhein-Main Air Base, get on a C-47 and fly the corridor from Frankfurt to Templehof Air Base in Berlin, where there will be another memorial service.
"I was amazed [in 1998] how much progress had been made in the Western sector of Berlin, and how little had been made in the Eastern Zone at that time," he said. "By the time I went again in 2004, it was better, though, and quite a bit more had been done."
In November 1948, Germany was much different. Southers arrived at Celle Air Base from his duty station at McChord Field, Wash., as part of the initial group of airmen sent in for the airlift mission. The Memphis, Tenn., native said he couldn't believe the amount of fog that blanketed the area.
"That was really surprising to me," he said. "It was actually a very nice area. After a few months, when we had enough people, we were allowed to go off base into the town, where there were actually some good places to eat and catch a show."
The area hadn't been bombed. "I heard that the British monarchy actually owned a castle in the area," Southers said, "and they didn't want that destroyed."
Those short trips to the city were a brief respite from the busy work hours that dominated Southers' time at Celle Air Base. The base was located near coal fields, which were connected to the base. A platform was built right onto the bays along the flightline so the coal could be stacked and supplied to the aircraft right away. The team of airmen was very short of personnel, especially mechanics, Southers recalled.
"When I first got over there, we were working around the clock, 12 [hours] on, 12 off, seven days a week. They eventually hired local German aircraft mechanics who worked alongside us. I remember them being very good, as they were older and more experienced."
Southers returned to the United States in July 1949. He left the military after three years, earned a degree in chemical engineering and settled down with his family. He now works as part-owner of a small software company.
"I didn't even think about [the Berlin Airlift] much," he said. "I'm not even sure that my family knew I was involved in it until a few years before the 50th anniversary. Of course, the history books didn't have much about it either."
He said by observing the anniversary and remembering the 31 Americans who died in aircraft accidents during the mission, Americans learn about the importance of the Berlin Airlift.
"At this point, I'm very proud of being a part of it," he said. "I know that we affected history big-time. We call it the first victory of the Cold War. Because of the Berlin Airlift, Europe is free. All of Europe would have ended up communist if we were run out."
He said during his first return to Germany, Germans actually approached him with appreciation.
"We were wearing caps that identified us as Berlin Airlift veterans, and I don't know how many times we were stopped and thanked for what we did," he said.
He also pointed out that the Air Force today and the way it does business is shaped by the Berlin Airlift mission.
"The cargo aircraft today was designed based upon lessons we learned," he said. "At least, that's what they tell us. The technology has changed, but a lot about the airlift mission today is based upon what we learned back then."
Today's Air Force senior leaders agree the Berlin Airlift was a huge moment for the service.
"The Berlin Airlift was a seminal moment for airpower and a pivotal event in world history," said Gen. Duncan J. McNabb, the Air Force vice chief of staff, during a recent ceremony honoring another Berlin Airlift airman, retired Col. Gail Halvorsen, also known as "the Candy Bomber" for his drops of candy and chocolate for local children. "It showed the deep compassion of the American people and sent a message of hope and liberty to Berliners and to freedom-loving people around the world."
Southers said he does not feel like a hero, despite the pride he and fellow airmen share about their role in the mission.
"The real heroes were the German people in Berlin who suffered the things they put up with in the Eastern Zone," he said. "People just disappeared under the communist rule, because they were speaking out for freedom. We provided what they needed to get by. They are the ones who held out and persevered."
(Air Force Staff Sgt. Julie Weckerlein serves in the Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs Office.)
Special to American Forces Press Service
June 27, 2008 - For 50 years, Dub Southers recalled the grueling hours he worked at an air base in northern Germany at the start of the Berlin Airlift, not the historical significance of what he helped to achieve as a flight engineer and crew chief. He remembered well the coal being shipped in from local coal fields, the 196 missions he flew over Berlin and being a 20-year-old Air Force staff sergeant keeping the C-54 Skymaster aircraft flying.
"Coal was our basic cargo," said Southers, now 81 and living in Texas. "Occasionally, we flew flour, but I can't recall anything other than coal."
It wasn't until 1998 that Southers started really thinking about the importance of the airlift mission, which lasted from June 1948 to May 1949 and provided vital resources to the German city cut in half by Soviet rule, he said.
As the anniversary approached, he asked his daughter to search online for activities happening in Berlin. Her search found the Berlin Airlift Veterans Association, and he became its secretary.
He ended up visiting Germany that year for the 50th anniversary, and he and seven other association members have returned to take part in 60th anniversary observances.
They will re-enact the first flight of the airlift, he said, and visit the memorial at Rhein-Main Air Base, get on a C-47 and fly the corridor from Frankfurt to Templehof Air Base in Berlin, where there will be another memorial service.
"I was amazed [in 1998] how much progress had been made in the Western sector of Berlin, and how little had been made in the Eastern Zone at that time," he said. "By the time I went again in 2004, it was better, though, and quite a bit more had been done."
In November 1948, Germany was much different. Southers arrived at Celle Air Base from his duty station at McChord Field, Wash., as part of the initial group of airmen sent in for the airlift mission. The Memphis, Tenn., native said he couldn't believe the amount of fog that blanketed the area.
"That was really surprising to me," he said. "It was actually a very nice area. After a few months, when we had enough people, we were allowed to go off base into the town, where there were actually some good places to eat and catch a show."
The area hadn't been bombed. "I heard that the British monarchy actually owned a castle in the area," Southers said, "and they didn't want that destroyed."
Those short trips to the city were a brief respite from the busy work hours that dominated Southers' time at Celle Air Base. The base was located near coal fields, which were connected to the base. A platform was built right onto the bays along the flightline so the coal could be stacked and supplied to the aircraft right away. The team of airmen was very short of personnel, especially mechanics, Southers recalled.
"When I first got over there, we were working around the clock, 12 [hours] on, 12 off, seven days a week. They eventually hired local German aircraft mechanics who worked alongside us. I remember them being very good, as they were older and more experienced."
Southers returned to the United States in July 1949. He left the military after three years, earned a degree in chemical engineering and settled down with his family. He now works as part-owner of a small software company.
"I didn't even think about [the Berlin Airlift] much," he said. "I'm not even sure that my family knew I was involved in it until a few years before the 50th anniversary. Of course, the history books didn't have much about it either."
He said by observing the anniversary and remembering the 31 Americans who died in aircraft accidents during the mission, Americans learn about the importance of the Berlin Airlift.
"At this point, I'm very proud of being a part of it," he said. "I know that we affected history big-time. We call it the first victory of the Cold War. Because of the Berlin Airlift, Europe is free. All of Europe would have ended up communist if we were run out."
He said during his first return to Germany, Germans actually approached him with appreciation.
"We were wearing caps that identified us as Berlin Airlift veterans, and I don't know how many times we were stopped and thanked for what we did," he said.
He also pointed out that the Air Force today and the way it does business is shaped by the Berlin Airlift mission.
"The cargo aircraft today was designed based upon lessons we learned," he said. "At least, that's what they tell us. The technology has changed, but a lot about the airlift mission today is based upon what we learned back then."
Today's Air Force senior leaders agree the Berlin Airlift was a huge moment for the service.
"The Berlin Airlift was a seminal moment for airpower and a pivotal event in world history," said Gen. Duncan J. McNabb, the Air Force vice chief of staff, during a recent ceremony honoring another Berlin Airlift airman, retired Col. Gail Halvorsen, also known as "the Candy Bomber" for his drops of candy and chocolate for local children. "It showed the deep compassion of the American people and sent a message of hope and liberty to Berliners and to freedom-loving people around the world."
Southers said he does not feel like a hero, despite the pride he and fellow airmen share about their role in the mission.
"The real heroes were the German people in Berlin who suffered the things they put up with in the Eastern Zone," he said. "People just disappeared under the communist rule, because they were speaking out for freedom. We provided what they needed to get by. They are the ones who held out and persevered."
(Air Force Staff Sgt. Julie Weckerlein serves in the Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs Office.)
Thursday, June 05, 2008
Officials Break Ground for Brain Injury Center of Excellence
By Fred W. Baker III
American Forces Press Service
June 5, 2008 - Just inside the gates of the National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, Md., officials today ceremoniously turned the dirt at the site of what will become the military's premier institute for the study and care of psychological health and traumatic brain injuries. Defense Department Secretary Robert M. Gates, alongside two other department secretaries, top military leaders, recovering wounded warriors and the namesakes of the Fisher House Foundation joined to break the ground for what will become the National Intrepid Center of Excellence for psychological health and traumatic brain injury.
Construction of the $70 million, 75,000-square-foot facility is being funded by the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund, a not-for-profit agency that raises funds to support military servicemembers and families. The project mirrors the organization's funding and construction of a physical rehabilitation facility – The Center for the Intrepid -- built at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio last year.
This facility will serve as the clinical research and educational arm of the DoD Center of Excellence for psychological health and TBI -- a collaborative network of military, private and public health care and educational organizations linked to discover and promote best practices in the care of treatment of psychological health and TBI.
Gates said the need for such a facility has "never been more pressing or more important."
He said that the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan have presented DoD with a unique mix of injuries, stress and strains on its military force.
"As in every conflict in America's history, many of our troops have returned bearing the scars of war – scars both seen and unseen," Gates said. "These invisible wounds are in many ways more pernicious, more grievous, because they are not readily apparent and have not always received the attention they should."
Gates said advancements in armor protection and battlefield medicine have led to more troops surviving what would have been otherwise fatal injuries. As result, though, there has been an increase in cases of TBI. The secretary conceded that although much about the condition still is not understood, $150 million has been dedicated to the injury's prevention, diagnosis, treatment and recovery.
Also, the military has implemented better reporting mechanisms for those potentially affected, and DoD has launched departmentwide efforts aimed at reducing the stigma attached with receiving mental health services in the military.
"That change in our culture represents our biggest challenge, and we know it will not happen overnight," Gates said.
Last month, DoD changed a longstanding question on its security questionnaire that asks if servicemembers have received mental health counseling. Now, the question excludes counseling for combat-related stress and post-traumatic stress disorder.
"We hope that with this change, more will be willing to come forward and seek help," Gates said. "The main point is to do everything we can to ensure that the inevitable anxiety and stress from combat does not turn into something tragically worse."
Gates said that the new center symbolizes that the United States is keeping its contract with servicemembers and their families to provide care should they be injured on the battlefield.
"After the wars themselves, I have no higher priority. And this superb new center will be a living reminder that America honors that contract and keeps faith with those who have sacrificed so much for all of us," Gates said.
The honorary chairman of the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund, Arnold Fisher, said that the contributions provided for the center were not charity, but a duty by Americans to care for its troops.
"This is not charity work. This is our duty to give back to this country, especially to the military," Fisher said. "We are no longer embarrassed to talk about mental health of our brave warriors. They deserve the best care, and this center will be the core of that effort."
The Fisher family's Fisher House Foundation raises money to build homes on military installations and at Veterans Affairs medical centers across the United States. Families of those recovering at the hospitals are allowed to live in the homes for free. So far, the foundation has built 38 such homes. It plans to build more at the Bethesda campus, officials announced.
Once complete, the building will be turned over to the Defense Department for resourcing and management. The building is planned to be finished by November 2009.
The center is another example of the ever-expanding partnership between VA and DoD and other governmental agencies. So far, the two agencies have collaborated on revising policies and procedures that have been sticking points for servicemembers transferring their care between the agencies. They've also joined to hire federal recovery coordinators who will oversee the management of the cases of the most severely injured. VA, DoD and the National Institutes of Health will collocate at the new center. The deputy director of the DoD Center of Excellence for psychological health and TBI is a VA employee.
"This Intrepid Center of Excellence will play an absolutely essential role in a unwavering commitment to continue that forward movement in getting it right in caring for those who have borne the battle," VA Secretary Dr. James B. Peake, a retired lieutenant general who served as Army surgeon general, said.
Marine Gen. James E. Cartwright, vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said the collaboration of the political administration, the military and the private sector shows long-term commitment toward servicemember care.
"We all are committed to making sure this is not just a short-term flash in the pan," Cartwright said. "We are committed to making this work, to addressing every problem that we can find and we can go after. This is absolutely essential. This is our duty."
The director of the DoD Center of Excellence for psychological health and TBI said the center will put in one place the partnerships that her office has been working to cultivate and will serve as a hub of global efforts to provide evaluation, diagnosis, and treat those suffering from PTSD, TBI and other psychological issues.
"We've always worked together to some extent, but this center will provide that galvanizing focus that will bring the VA, the National Institutes of Health, and bring the Department of Defense and the private and public sectors together, all united in one great effort," said Army Brig. Gen. Loree Sutton, who also serves as the special assistant to the assistant secretary of defense for health affairs.
Sutton added that the center will benefit not only military medicine, but also civilian medicine in terms of its findings in research and diagnosis.
"Whatever we can find in terms of best practices around the world, we're bringing it here. Whatever we learn here, we'll push it out," Sutton said.
The groundbreaking is the first of many changes to the landscape of the historical naval hospital campus, as it prepares to merge with the Walter Reed Army Medical Center by 2011 to become the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.
American Forces Press Service
June 5, 2008 - Just inside the gates of the National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, Md., officials today ceremoniously turned the dirt at the site of what will become the military's premier institute for the study and care of psychological health and traumatic brain injuries. Defense Department Secretary Robert M. Gates, alongside two other department secretaries, top military leaders, recovering wounded warriors and the namesakes of the Fisher House Foundation joined to break the ground for what will become the National Intrepid Center of Excellence for psychological health and traumatic brain injury.
Construction of the $70 million, 75,000-square-foot facility is being funded by the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund, a not-for-profit agency that raises funds to support military servicemembers and families. The project mirrors the organization's funding and construction of a physical rehabilitation facility – The Center for the Intrepid -- built at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio last year.
This facility will serve as the clinical research and educational arm of the DoD Center of Excellence for psychological health and TBI -- a collaborative network of military, private and public health care and educational organizations linked to discover and promote best practices in the care of treatment of psychological health and TBI.
Gates said the need for such a facility has "never been more pressing or more important."
He said that the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan have presented DoD with a unique mix of injuries, stress and strains on its military force.
"As in every conflict in America's history, many of our troops have returned bearing the scars of war – scars both seen and unseen," Gates said. "These invisible wounds are in many ways more pernicious, more grievous, because they are not readily apparent and have not always received the attention they should."
Gates said advancements in armor protection and battlefield medicine have led to more troops surviving what would have been otherwise fatal injuries. As result, though, there has been an increase in cases of TBI. The secretary conceded that although much about the condition still is not understood, $150 million has been dedicated to the injury's prevention, diagnosis, treatment and recovery.
Also, the military has implemented better reporting mechanisms for those potentially affected, and DoD has launched departmentwide efforts aimed at reducing the stigma attached with receiving mental health services in the military.
"That change in our culture represents our biggest challenge, and we know it will not happen overnight," Gates said.
Last month, DoD changed a longstanding question on its security questionnaire that asks if servicemembers have received mental health counseling. Now, the question excludes counseling for combat-related stress and post-traumatic stress disorder.
"We hope that with this change, more will be willing to come forward and seek help," Gates said. "The main point is to do everything we can to ensure that the inevitable anxiety and stress from combat does not turn into something tragically worse."
Gates said that the new center symbolizes that the United States is keeping its contract with servicemembers and their families to provide care should they be injured on the battlefield.
"After the wars themselves, I have no higher priority. And this superb new center will be a living reminder that America honors that contract and keeps faith with those who have sacrificed so much for all of us," Gates said.
The honorary chairman of the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund, Arnold Fisher, said that the contributions provided for the center were not charity, but a duty by Americans to care for its troops.
"This is not charity work. This is our duty to give back to this country, especially to the military," Fisher said. "We are no longer embarrassed to talk about mental health of our brave warriors. They deserve the best care, and this center will be the core of that effort."
The Fisher family's Fisher House Foundation raises money to build homes on military installations and at Veterans Affairs medical centers across the United States. Families of those recovering at the hospitals are allowed to live in the homes for free. So far, the foundation has built 38 such homes. It plans to build more at the Bethesda campus, officials announced.
Once complete, the building will be turned over to the Defense Department for resourcing and management. The building is planned to be finished by November 2009.
The center is another example of the ever-expanding partnership between VA and DoD and other governmental agencies. So far, the two agencies have collaborated on revising policies and procedures that have been sticking points for servicemembers transferring their care between the agencies. They've also joined to hire federal recovery coordinators who will oversee the management of the cases of the most severely injured. VA, DoD and the National Institutes of Health will collocate at the new center. The deputy director of the DoD Center of Excellence for psychological health and TBI is a VA employee.
"This Intrepid Center of Excellence will play an absolutely essential role in a unwavering commitment to continue that forward movement in getting it right in caring for those who have borne the battle," VA Secretary Dr. James B. Peake, a retired lieutenant general who served as Army surgeon general, said.
Marine Gen. James E. Cartwright, vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said the collaboration of the political administration, the military and the private sector shows long-term commitment toward servicemember care.
"We all are committed to making sure this is not just a short-term flash in the pan," Cartwright said. "We are committed to making this work, to addressing every problem that we can find and we can go after. This is absolutely essential. This is our duty."
The director of the DoD Center of Excellence for psychological health and TBI said the center will put in one place the partnerships that her office has been working to cultivate and will serve as a hub of global efforts to provide evaluation, diagnosis, and treat those suffering from PTSD, TBI and other psychological issues.
"We've always worked together to some extent, but this center will provide that galvanizing focus that will bring the VA, the National Institutes of Health, and bring the Department of Defense and the private and public sectors together, all united in one great effort," said Army Brig. Gen. Loree Sutton, who also serves as the special assistant to the assistant secretary of defense for health affairs.
Sutton added that the center will benefit not only military medicine, but also civilian medicine in terms of its findings in research and diagnosis.
"Whatever we can find in terms of best practices around the world, we're bringing it here. Whatever we learn here, we'll push it out," Sutton said.
The groundbreaking is the first of many changes to the landscape of the historical naval hospital campus, as it prepares to merge with the Walter Reed Army Medical Center by 2011 to become the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.
Wednesday, June 04, 2008
America Supports You: Mouse Click Closes Distance Between Troops, Families
American Forces Press Service
June 4, 2008 - For deployed servicemembers and their loved ones, maintaining close family ties takes more than the occasional phone call or e-mail. It happens through a free, personalized and password-protected Web site.
"Deployments are hard on families. When you're away and you're in harm's way, ... it's a lonely place," said Terry Gniffke, who founded "Websites for Heroes" with Mike Sawtell. "You miss home, and the greatest thing is to be connected in some way. 'Websites for Heroes' allows that to happen."
Each site allows for unlimited photo uploads and can support two hours of streaming video so parents can see what the family is doing back home. Among other features, it also provides a message board and kids' calendar, which helps Mom or Dad stay actively involved in their child's life.
"They can be proactive in communicating, 'Hey, how was your English test?'" Gniffke said. "[That way], their son or daughter feels like Dad's still connected or Mom's still connected to their life.
"You've got all these elements that make for a great interactive social network for the family to communicate," he added.
Websites for Heroes keeps military families connected, whether they're deployed overseas or across the country, and it does so at no cost to the family. Each personalized, password-protected family Web site -- there are currently 1,200 -- is sponsored at a cost of $99 a year. The individual sites Websites for Heroes offers military families are sponsored by individuals and, in some cases, by corporations, including Gateway.
While the sponsorships are one-time donations, Gniffke said, he hopes donors will realize the benefit to the families and make it an ongoing part of their support for the troops.
"This is a mission for me," he said. "This is near and dear to my heart."
Gniffke knows from experience just how important something like Websites for Heroes can be. The former Marine served in Vietnam, and he said he remembers waiting up to three weeks for a single letter from home. As tough as that was on him, he said, it was tougher on his family when his base got hit and the letter he wrote to let them know he was all right hadn't arrived before there was another attack.
"It's tough on the home front, and it's tough on the other side," he said. "What a difference [Websites for Heroes] would have made."
Gniffke didn't have that luxury in Vietnam, but he and Mike Sawtell are going to make sure the gap between home and the front lines is much smaller for this generation of servicemembers.
Editor's Note: To find out about more individuals, groups and organizations that are helping support the troops, visit www.AmericaSupportsYou.mil. America Supports You directly connects military members to the support of the America people and offers a tool to the general public in their quest to find meaningful ways to support the military community.
June 4, 2008 - For deployed servicemembers and their loved ones, maintaining close family ties takes more than the occasional phone call or e-mail. It happens through a free, personalized and password-protected Web site.
"Deployments are hard on families. When you're away and you're in harm's way, ... it's a lonely place," said Terry Gniffke, who founded "Websites for Heroes" with Mike Sawtell. "You miss home, and the greatest thing is to be connected in some way. 'Websites for Heroes' allows that to happen."
Each site allows for unlimited photo uploads and can support two hours of streaming video so parents can see what the family is doing back home. Among other features, it also provides a message board and kids' calendar, which helps Mom or Dad stay actively involved in their child's life.
"They can be proactive in communicating, 'Hey, how was your English test?'" Gniffke said. "[That way], their son or daughter feels like Dad's still connected or Mom's still connected to their life.
"You've got all these elements that make for a great interactive social network for the family to communicate," he added.
Websites for Heroes keeps military families connected, whether they're deployed overseas or across the country, and it does so at no cost to the family. Each personalized, password-protected family Web site -- there are currently 1,200 -- is sponsored at a cost of $99 a year. The individual sites Websites for Heroes offers military families are sponsored by individuals and, in some cases, by corporations, including Gateway.
While the sponsorships are one-time donations, Gniffke said, he hopes donors will realize the benefit to the families and make it an ongoing part of their support for the troops.
"This is a mission for me," he said. "This is near and dear to my heart."
Gniffke knows from experience just how important something like Websites for Heroes can be. The former Marine served in Vietnam, and he said he remembers waiting up to three weeks for a single letter from home. As tough as that was on him, he said, it was tougher on his family when his base got hit and the letter he wrote to let them know he was all right hadn't arrived before there was another attack.
"It's tough on the home front, and it's tough on the other side," he said. "What a difference [Websites for Heroes] would have made."
Gniffke didn't have that luxury in Vietnam, but he and Mike Sawtell are going to make sure the gap between home and the front lines is much smaller for this generation of servicemembers.
Editor's Note: To find out about more individuals, groups and organizations that are helping support the troops, visit www.AmericaSupportsYou.mil. America Supports You directly connects military members to the support of the America people and offers a tool to the general public in their quest to find meaningful ways to support the military community.
Tuesday, June 03, 2008
College Basketball Champ Kansas Jayhawks Visit Wounded Warriors
By John J. Kruzel
American Forces Press Service
June 3, 2008 - The University of Kansas national champion men's basketball team began their victory lap in the nation's capital yesterday by visiting wounded warriors and signing autographs at Walter Reed Army Medical Center here. Towering players in blue warm-up suits and members of the Jayhawks coaching staff mixed among a dozen camo-clad soldiers in the lobby of the main building for a brief ceremony before visiting injured troops in two hospital wards.
"We've labeled today as 'national champions meet national heroes,'" said Army Secretary Pete Geren. "Your visit means a lot to the [wounded warriors], but I'm confident that your opportunity to visit with them meant a lot to you, as well.
"They're an inspiring bunch of soldiers," he added. "I'm confident you'll walk away feeling uplifted."
Before ushering Kansas head coach Bill Self to the podium, Geren presented him with a commemorative plaque and thanked the team for spending time with the recovering troops.
"We have looked so forward to our trip to Washington," Self said of the two-day visit that included a meeting today with President Bush at the White House.
"I think our visit to the Walter Reed Medical Center will be a major highlight of the trip," Self continued. "We take for granted so much the gifts that we have, and then to see people that are out there doing things that really matter in life -- protecting us so we have an opportunity to do such things," he continued. "It is very humbling, rewarding, and certainly something I think we will get a lot out of. It is our privilege ... to be here today."
Chase Buford, a freshman guard on the Kansas squad, said it was an honor to talk with wounded troops -- even the soldier who razzed the Jayhawks for defeating his beloved North Carolina Tar Heels in the men's college basketball semifinals last season.
"It's pretty neat to see all these guys who have been through so much," he told American Forces Press Service. "The fact is, we're just as proud of them as they are of us."
Army Col. Patricia Horoho, commander of the Walter Reed Health Care System, told the crowd that sports and wounded warrior rehabilitation both require endurance and perseverance in the face of difficult challenges.
"So it means a tremendous amount when you all take the time to talk with them," she told the players. "Ask them how they got injured [and] how they're doing, because part of their healing is being able to share that story."
One soldier attached to a warrior transition brigade here is Jerrod Hays, a staff sergeant in the Kansas National Guard. He had been with his brigade in Iraq for 10 months and was wounded when his convoy drove over two armor-piercing charges buried in the road.
Hays showed a picture that his deployed brigade in Iraq sent him: it showed several of his battle buddies posing in front of their barracks, clutching a University of Kansas flag. "It's like I told Coach Self: you guys have given us some good bragging rights," Hays said, an autographed basketball tucked under his arm.
Asked if the visit from the team boosted his morale, he replied, "Oh yeah, especially because they're my hometown boys. This is good stuff."
American Forces Press Service
June 3, 2008 - The University of Kansas national champion men's basketball team began their victory lap in the nation's capital yesterday by visiting wounded warriors and signing autographs at Walter Reed Army Medical Center here. Towering players in blue warm-up suits and members of the Jayhawks coaching staff mixed among a dozen camo-clad soldiers in the lobby of the main building for a brief ceremony before visiting injured troops in two hospital wards.
"We've labeled today as 'national champions meet national heroes,'" said Army Secretary Pete Geren. "Your visit means a lot to the [wounded warriors], but I'm confident that your opportunity to visit with them meant a lot to you, as well.
"They're an inspiring bunch of soldiers," he added. "I'm confident you'll walk away feeling uplifted."
Before ushering Kansas head coach Bill Self to the podium, Geren presented him with a commemorative plaque and thanked the team for spending time with the recovering troops.
"We have looked so forward to our trip to Washington," Self said of the two-day visit that included a meeting today with President Bush at the White House.
"I think our visit to the Walter Reed Medical Center will be a major highlight of the trip," Self continued. "We take for granted so much the gifts that we have, and then to see people that are out there doing things that really matter in life -- protecting us so we have an opportunity to do such things," he continued. "It is very humbling, rewarding, and certainly something I think we will get a lot out of. It is our privilege ... to be here today."
Chase Buford, a freshman guard on the Kansas squad, said it was an honor to talk with wounded troops -- even the soldier who razzed the Jayhawks for defeating his beloved North Carolina Tar Heels in the men's college basketball semifinals last season.
"It's pretty neat to see all these guys who have been through so much," he told American Forces Press Service. "The fact is, we're just as proud of them as they are of us."
Army Col. Patricia Horoho, commander of the Walter Reed Health Care System, told the crowd that sports and wounded warrior rehabilitation both require endurance and perseverance in the face of difficult challenges.
"So it means a tremendous amount when you all take the time to talk with them," she told the players. "Ask them how they got injured [and] how they're doing, because part of their healing is being able to share that story."
One soldier attached to a warrior transition brigade here is Jerrod Hays, a staff sergeant in the Kansas National Guard. He had been with his brigade in Iraq for 10 months and was wounded when his convoy drove over two armor-piercing charges buried in the road.
Hays showed a picture that his deployed brigade in Iraq sent him: it showed several of his battle buddies posing in front of their barracks, clutching a University of Kansas flag. "It's like I told Coach Self: you guys have given us some good bragging rights," Hays said, an autographed basketball tucked under his arm.
Asked if the visit from the team boosted his morale, he replied, "Oh yeah, especially because they're my hometown boys. This is good stuff."
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Bush Praises 82nd Paratroopers, Families, Veterans at Fort Bragg
By Gerry J. Gilmore
American Forces Press Service
May 22, 2008 - President Bush saluted thousands of soldiers of the U.S. Army's 82nd Airborne Division during his visit to Fort Bragg, N.C., today. The president cited the soldiers' distinguished service in Afghanistan and Iraq. "This is the first time since 2006 that five brigades from your division have assembled together," Bush remarked to troops after performing an in-ranks review of the division. Many of the paratroopers Bush addressed had recently completed 15-month deployments in Afghanistan and Iraq.
"We've asked a lot of you," Bush told the soldiers, noting they've "achieved difficult objectives in a new kind of war."
Bush also cited the 82nd's soldiers for their skill and valor during performance of their overseas duty.
"On behalf of a grateful nation, welcome home," Bush said.
The president also acknowledged the military families and veterans gathered to hear his address.
"I want to thank all the families of the paratroopers from the 82nd Airborne Division who are here today," Bush said. "I welcome the families of the fallen heroes here today. [And] it's such an honor to see the veterans of the 82nd Airborne Division and other veterans who have joined us today."
Bush also saluted the division's members who'd been injured while in harm's way.
"I want to pay a special tribute to the wounded warriors from the 82nd Airborne. Thank you for your courage," the president said.
The 82nd's origins date back to World War I. The division's legacy, Bush said, continued into World War Two and lives on to the present day.
"When allied forces landed in Normandy, the paratroopers of the 82nd were among the first boots on the ground," Bush pointed out. "When Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait in 1990, this division was among the first units to deploy to Operation Desert Shield."
The division earned added laurels in the new century after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on America, Bush recalled.
"At the beginning of the new century, the men and women of the 82nd Airborne have once again stepped forward to advance the cause of liberty," Bush said. "Since the attacks of 9/11, you have deployed on more missions than any other division in the United States Army."
Members of the 82nd served in Afghanistan and Iraq as part of operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom, respectively. Today, division soldiers continue to conduct military operations in Afghanistan and Iraq to defeat terrorists and to establish economic and political stability in those countries.
The 82nd's troopers have "taken the battle to the terrorists abroad, so we do not have to face them here at home," Bush noted.
Over the past several years during multiple campaigns in Afghanistan, 82nd Division troops soundly drubbed Taliban and al-Qaida insurgents.
"Thanks to you, hundreds of insurgents have been captured in eastern Afghanistan," Bush told gathered soldiers. "Many others have been killed. And, thanks to you, a nation where al-Qaida once plotted the attacks of 9/11 is now a democracy and an ally in the war against these extremists."
Troops from 82nd Airborne Division led the way during the surge of U.S. forces into Iraq that flowed into Baghdad and its environs more than a year ago, Bush recalled.
"Instead of retreating, we sent in more troops, and the first troops in as part of that surge were the troops of the Falcon Brigade of the 82nd Airborne," Bush said.
During the successful surge operations in Iraq, 82nd soldiers pursued and defeated the enemy, Bush recalled.
"You brought security to neighborhoods that had been in the grip of terror," Bush told the troops. "And, across Iraq violence is down." Civilian deaths, sectarian killings and assaults on U.S. forces in Iraq also have decreased thanks to the surge operations, Bush noted.
"You did the job we sent you to do. You have returned home on success, and all of America is proud of the 82nd Airborne," Bush said.
American Forces Press Service
May 22, 2008 - President Bush saluted thousands of soldiers of the U.S. Army's 82nd Airborne Division during his visit to Fort Bragg, N.C., today. The president cited the soldiers' distinguished service in Afghanistan and Iraq. "This is the first time since 2006 that five brigades from your division have assembled together," Bush remarked to troops after performing an in-ranks review of the division. Many of the paratroopers Bush addressed had recently completed 15-month deployments in Afghanistan and Iraq.
"We've asked a lot of you," Bush told the soldiers, noting they've "achieved difficult objectives in a new kind of war."
Bush also cited the 82nd's soldiers for their skill and valor during performance of their overseas duty.
"On behalf of a grateful nation, welcome home," Bush said.
The president also acknowledged the military families and veterans gathered to hear his address.
"I want to thank all the families of the paratroopers from the 82nd Airborne Division who are here today," Bush said. "I welcome the families of the fallen heroes here today. [And] it's such an honor to see the veterans of the 82nd Airborne Division and other veterans who have joined us today."
Bush also saluted the division's members who'd been injured while in harm's way.
"I want to pay a special tribute to the wounded warriors from the 82nd Airborne. Thank you for your courage," the president said.
The 82nd's origins date back to World War I. The division's legacy, Bush said, continued into World War Two and lives on to the present day.
"When allied forces landed in Normandy, the paratroopers of the 82nd were among the first boots on the ground," Bush pointed out. "When Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait in 1990, this division was among the first units to deploy to Operation Desert Shield."
The division earned added laurels in the new century after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on America, Bush recalled.
"At the beginning of the new century, the men and women of the 82nd Airborne have once again stepped forward to advance the cause of liberty," Bush said. "Since the attacks of 9/11, you have deployed on more missions than any other division in the United States Army."
Members of the 82nd served in Afghanistan and Iraq as part of operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom, respectively. Today, division soldiers continue to conduct military operations in Afghanistan and Iraq to defeat terrorists and to establish economic and political stability in those countries.
The 82nd's troopers have "taken the battle to the terrorists abroad, so we do not have to face them here at home," Bush noted.
Over the past several years during multiple campaigns in Afghanistan, 82nd Division troops soundly drubbed Taliban and al-Qaida insurgents.
"Thanks to you, hundreds of insurgents have been captured in eastern Afghanistan," Bush told gathered soldiers. "Many others have been killed. And, thanks to you, a nation where al-Qaida once plotted the attacks of 9/11 is now a democracy and an ally in the war against these extremists."
Troops from 82nd Airborne Division led the way during the surge of U.S. forces into Iraq that flowed into Baghdad and its environs more than a year ago, Bush recalled.
"Instead of retreating, we sent in more troops, and the first troops in as part of that surge were the troops of the Falcon Brigade of the 82nd Airborne," Bush said.
During the successful surge operations in Iraq, 82nd soldiers pursued and defeated the enemy, Bush recalled.
"You brought security to neighborhoods that had been in the grip of terror," Bush told the troops. "And, across Iraq violence is down." Civilian deaths, sectarian killings and assaults on U.S. forces in Iraq also have decreased thanks to the surge operations, Bush noted.
"You did the job we sent you to do. You have returned home on success, and all of America is proud of the 82nd Airborne," Bush said.
Thursday, May 15, 2008
America Supports You: Anheuser-Busch Offers Free Theme Park Admission
By Samantha L. Quigley
American Forces Press Service
May 15, 2008 - For the rest of this year, sitting in Shamu the killer whale's "splash zone" or talking turkey with a big yellow bird are just two activities servicemembers and their families can enjoy for free at Anheuser-Busch Adventure Parks. Through its "Here's to the Heroes" program, which began in 2005, the brewing company is offering free tickets to its theme parks for servicemembers and up to three family members to thank them for all they do in service to the country.
"It's important to us for all the reasons you can probably predict," said Fred Jacobs, vice president of communications for Anheuser-Busch. "[This] is a great way for them to reconnect, particularly if they've been separated."
Jacobs knows the program is living up to the company's goals when he sees letters like one an airman wrote.
Air Force Master Sgt. Michael Huffman said in his letter that he didn't join the service for applause or to become a hero, but is simply serving his country as his father and grandfather did.
In his 26 years of service, Huffman said, he's seen the pendulum of public support swing from the more negative end of the spectrum to where it is today.
"I see the people express their support, and while I do appreciate it, I never really gave it much thought ... until I sat through the opening video of the whale show at Sea World," he said in the letter to Anheuser-Busch. "There before [everyone] was your CEO expressing his gratitude to me. Sure, it wasn't directed solely at me, ... [but] I felt a pride in serving that I had forgotten was in me. I had become so complacent.
"For that alone, I owe you thanks," Huffman added. "The free admission and opportunity to enjoy some high-quality family time was icing on the cake."
Active-duty servicemembers, activated or drilling reservists from all five branches of service, and National Guardsmen are eligible for the program.
All servicemembers need do is register online, print and sign the form and bring it with them. If the form can't be printed, it can be filled out upon arrival at the park. Every person over 10 participating in this program must present valid active-duty military or service identification.
Each pass is valid for a one-day admission per person per year to five of Anheuser-Busch's seven theme park brands. Visitors may choose Sea World Orlando, San Diego or San Antonio; Busch Gardens Tampa Bay or Williamsburg; Pennsylvania's Sesame Place; Florida's Adventure Island; or Virginia's Water Country USA. Discovery Cove and Aquatica parks are not included in this offer.
Anheuser-Bush is a corporate supporter of America Supports You, a Defense Department program connecting citizens and corporations with servicemembers and their families serving at home and abroad.
American Forces Press Service
May 15, 2008 - For the rest of this year, sitting in Shamu the killer whale's "splash zone" or talking turkey with a big yellow bird are just two activities servicemembers and their families can enjoy for free at Anheuser-Busch Adventure Parks. Through its "Here's to the Heroes" program, which began in 2005, the brewing company is offering free tickets to its theme parks for servicemembers and up to three family members to thank them for all they do in service to the country.
"It's important to us for all the reasons you can probably predict," said Fred Jacobs, vice president of communications for Anheuser-Busch. "[This] is a great way for them to reconnect, particularly if they've been separated."
Jacobs knows the program is living up to the company's goals when he sees letters like one an airman wrote.
Air Force Master Sgt. Michael Huffman said in his letter that he didn't join the service for applause or to become a hero, but is simply serving his country as his father and grandfather did.
In his 26 years of service, Huffman said, he's seen the pendulum of public support swing from the more negative end of the spectrum to where it is today.
"I see the people express their support, and while I do appreciate it, I never really gave it much thought ... until I sat through the opening video of the whale show at Sea World," he said in the letter to Anheuser-Busch. "There before [everyone] was your CEO expressing his gratitude to me. Sure, it wasn't directed solely at me, ... [but] I felt a pride in serving that I had forgotten was in me. I had become so complacent.
"For that alone, I owe you thanks," Huffman added. "The free admission and opportunity to enjoy some high-quality family time was icing on the cake."
Active-duty servicemembers, activated or drilling reservists from all five branches of service, and National Guardsmen are eligible for the program.
All servicemembers need do is register online, print and sign the form and bring it with them. If the form can't be printed, it can be filled out upon arrival at the park. Every person over 10 participating in this program must present valid active-duty military or service identification.
Each pass is valid for a one-day admission per person per year to five of Anheuser-Busch's seven theme park brands. Visitors may choose Sea World Orlando, San Diego or San Antonio; Busch Gardens Tampa Bay or Williamsburg; Pennsylvania's Sesame Place; Florida's Adventure Island; or Virginia's Water Country USA. Discovery Cove and Aquatica parks are not included in this offer.
Anheuser-Bush is a corporate supporter of America Supports You, a Defense Department program connecting citizens and corporations with servicemembers and their families serving at home and abroad.
Saturday, May 03, 2008
Gates Calls Families, Community Supporters 'Power Behind the Power'
By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service
May 2, 2008 - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates paid tribute here last night to what he called "the power behind the power" -- the families and community members who stand behind the troops engaged in the war on terror. Speaking to local and military family group leaders at the Officers Club, Gates praised Fort Bliss soldiers who, along with their comrades throughout the military, have been "giving their all" in the fight against extremism.
That's been possible, he said, because of the support troops receive from their families, as well as the support they and their families get from their community.
Gates pointed to the key role families play in their soldiers' success and the day-to-day challenges they endure during long deployments.
"America owes a great deal to those who are 'the power behind the power' -- the spouses, children, parents, grandparents, brothers and sisters of our men and women in uniform," he told the group. "They, too, make a contribution and pay a price in the cause of protecting our country."
They demonstrate "grace and patience and an amazing ability to organize and rely upon one another" when their loved ones are gone, he said.
"Army families take care of their own, and Fort Bliss families are no exception," he said. "They are strong. They endure. They are bound together by their shared experiences, by sacrifice, and by the pride they rightly feel in the noble work their soldiers do."
Gates thanked to the local community that recognizes that contribution through support to Fort Bliss soldiers and their families.
This support has been particularly evident during the post's expansion, during which the community has welcomed the incoming 1st Armored Division soldiers with open arms, and local businesses and educational groups have rallied to assist, he said.
Meanwhile, individual volunteers have made contributions to the Fort Bliss community that Gates said "don't always get the attention they deserve." They range from helping families prepare their tax forms to decorating barracks doors for single soldiers returning home from Iraq.
"I can tell you that every bit of help matters," Gates told the group. "This is a tough time for our troops and their families. What you do is noticed and deeply appreciated."
Civilian appreciation for the military wasn't always so evident, Gates said. He recalled El Paso Mayor John Cook's description of his own homecoming experience from the Vietnam War, when a protestor threw an egg at his bus.
Determined not to let that happen when the 1st Cavalry Division's 4th Brigade Combat Team and 3rd Battalion, 43rd Air Defense Artillery, returned to Fort Bliss, Cook hosted a "Welcome Home Heroes Parade" through downtown El Paso in February. Thousands of local residents turned out to cheer on the 4,000 troops and honor the 31 cavalry troops killed during the deployment.
The American people are divided about the war, Gates conceded. "Yet despite this, Americans are united in their admiration of our men and women who have volunteered to serve at such a challenging time," he said.
Gates called it "heartwarming" to see gestures of support and simple thank yous to the troops. "The appreciation is real; it is sincere; and it bridges any political divide," he said.
All Americans look forward to the day when every deployed soldier can return home, Gates said, noting that he expects continued force reductions in Iraq in light of the improved security situation there.
"Until then, Fort Bliss soldiers and families and this generous community will continue to step up and do right by this country and by each other," Gates told the group. "We are, after all, members of the same family -- the American family. You all have my deepest appreciation and gratitude."
Community and family members said they felt honored that Gates came to thank them personally for their support.
"This is the coolest thing. Having him come here is a really big deal for El Paso," gushed Cindy Ramos-Davidson, chief executive officer of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. "The military and civilian communities here are intertwined. We all support each other."
Michi Carl, a Fort Bliss school liaison and Army wife, said it felt good to hear Gates pay tribute to military families. The Army has made huge strides in its support for military families, she said, particularly since Operation Desert Storm in 1991, and continues moving in the right direction.
"Now things are phenomenal, and they are getting better all the time," she said. "Spouses and families are listened to."
Just as gratifying, she said, is seeing the secretary recognize the local community for its support for Fort Bliss and its soldiers. "This community is amazing," Carl said. "The community truly cares."
American Forces Press Service
May 2, 2008 - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates paid tribute here last night to what he called "the power behind the power" -- the families and community members who stand behind the troops engaged in the war on terror. Speaking to local and military family group leaders at the Officers Club, Gates praised Fort Bliss soldiers who, along with their comrades throughout the military, have been "giving their all" in the fight against extremism.
That's been possible, he said, because of the support troops receive from their families, as well as the support they and their families get from their community.
Gates pointed to the key role families play in their soldiers' success and the day-to-day challenges they endure during long deployments.
"America owes a great deal to those who are 'the power behind the power' -- the spouses, children, parents, grandparents, brothers and sisters of our men and women in uniform," he told the group. "They, too, make a contribution and pay a price in the cause of protecting our country."
They demonstrate "grace and patience and an amazing ability to organize and rely upon one another" when their loved ones are gone, he said.
"Army families take care of their own, and Fort Bliss families are no exception," he said. "They are strong. They endure. They are bound together by their shared experiences, by sacrifice, and by the pride they rightly feel in the noble work their soldiers do."
Gates thanked to the local community that recognizes that contribution through support to Fort Bliss soldiers and their families.
This support has been particularly evident during the post's expansion, during which the community has welcomed the incoming 1st Armored Division soldiers with open arms, and local businesses and educational groups have rallied to assist, he said.
Meanwhile, individual volunteers have made contributions to the Fort Bliss community that Gates said "don't always get the attention they deserve." They range from helping families prepare their tax forms to decorating barracks doors for single soldiers returning home from Iraq.
"I can tell you that every bit of help matters," Gates told the group. "This is a tough time for our troops and their families. What you do is noticed and deeply appreciated."
Civilian appreciation for the military wasn't always so evident, Gates said. He recalled El Paso Mayor John Cook's description of his own homecoming experience from the Vietnam War, when a protestor threw an egg at his bus.
Determined not to let that happen when the 1st Cavalry Division's 4th Brigade Combat Team and 3rd Battalion, 43rd Air Defense Artillery, returned to Fort Bliss, Cook hosted a "Welcome Home Heroes Parade" through downtown El Paso in February. Thousands of local residents turned out to cheer on the 4,000 troops and honor the 31 cavalry troops killed during the deployment.
The American people are divided about the war, Gates conceded. "Yet despite this, Americans are united in their admiration of our men and women who have volunteered to serve at such a challenging time," he said.
Gates called it "heartwarming" to see gestures of support and simple thank yous to the troops. "The appreciation is real; it is sincere; and it bridges any political divide," he said.
All Americans look forward to the day when every deployed soldier can return home, Gates said, noting that he expects continued force reductions in Iraq in light of the improved security situation there.
"Until then, Fort Bliss soldiers and families and this generous community will continue to step up and do right by this country and by each other," Gates told the group. "We are, after all, members of the same family -- the American family. You all have my deepest appreciation and gratitude."
Community and family members said they felt honored that Gates came to thank them personally for their support.
"This is the coolest thing. Having him come here is a really big deal for El Paso," gushed Cindy Ramos-Davidson, chief executive officer of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. "The military and civilian communities here are intertwined. We all support each other."
Michi Carl, a Fort Bliss school liaison and Army wife, said it felt good to hear Gates pay tribute to military families. The Army has made huge strides in its support for military families, she said, particularly since Operation Desert Storm in 1991, and continues moving in the right direction.
"Now things are phenomenal, and they are getting better all the time," she said. "Spouses and families are listened to."
Just as gratifying, she said, is seeing the secretary recognize the local community for its support for Fort Bliss and its soldiers. "This community is amazing," Carl said. "The community truly cares."
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
America Supports You: Organization Hires Heroes
By Jamie Findlater
Special to American Forces Press Service
April 18, 2008 - Returning from combat in Iraq or Afghanistan with a disability certainly brings with it a number of challenges, but for one soldier, a great aid to his successful recovery was the easy transition he made into the civilian job market. Justin Callahan enlisted in the U.S Army as a combat engineer when he was 18. When he was 21, he deployed to Afghanistan, where he led a squad of 8 men squad leader. During a routine patrol, Justin was hit by an IED and suffered a left leg amputation below the knee.
During his recovery at Walter Reed Army Medical Center here, Justin was approached by Bayne Tippins, a businessman who offered him a job as soon as his health returned.
Callahan inspired Tippins to found Hire Heroes USA, an non-profit organization dedicated to helping disabled veterans to find the right fit in the civilian job market. Hire Heroes USA is a member of America Supports You, a Defense Department program that connects individuals, non-profit groups and companies who want to support U.S. military men and women.
"Hire Heroes USA was designed to give other wounded servicemembers like myself the opportunity that I was fortunate to have right out of the hospital," Callahan said during an interview on America Supports You Live BlogTalkRadio. He and Tippins discussed the organization's success during the interview.
Callahan explained that the biggest challenge for many wounded warriors is getting their confidence reestablished after a tragic event.
"It's really to pick them up and point them in the right direction, helping them to re-establish the confidence they've lost going through something traumatic...and the direction to move forward," he said.
Part of re-establishing this confidence is understanding how the skills developed in the military apply to the civilian job market. One skill, Callahan mentioned, is leadership.
"A non-commissioned officer is responsible for 6 to 8 soldiers operating under very stressful situations...they are taught the hard things by the military."
Callahan talked about his day-to-day experience working with countless organizations that see great value in employing those with military experience. Employers notice military experience and benefit from an incredibly motivated group of individuals, Callahan explained.
"These men and women are so motivated to get into a good job that has a steady salary where they have the opportunity to advance."
Now the challenge for Callahan and Tippins is reaching out to the many veterans who might need assistance and do not realize how to best market their skills to a new audience. Callahan explained that the organization places everyone from sales reps to IT professionals, and from security personnel to project managers.
"A lot of servicemembers don't know what's out there. They are used to doing a certain job in the military, and when they get in the civilian world they do not always know how to apply and transfer the skills they have learned making them noticeable to employers," Callahan said.
One example of many such skills is the ability to handle logistics, Tippins said.
"Getting men and troops and supplies from point A to point B is an incredibly transferable skill," he said.
Tippins also said learning new skills easily is a common attribute of veterans.
"They are extremely trainable," he said. "The acquisition of the new skills within a new position comes easily because of their experience in the military."
Tippins explained that the mission Hire Heroes USA is to reach out to candidates, identify their strong qualities and let them know that there are jobs available for them.
"Some servicemembers just need to understand that company XYZ has a need for you.... Hire Heroes USA is designed to be a bridge to get out in front of organizations that are anxious to hire them," Tippins said. "We want to help them adjust to becoming a great member of society that they have already defended so bravely."
Special to American Forces Press Service
April 18, 2008 - Returning from combat in Iraq or Afghanistan with a disability certainly brings with it a number of challenges, but for one soldier, a great aid to his successful recovery was the easy transition he made into the civilian job market. Justin Callahan enlisted in the U.S Army as a combat engineer when he was 18. When he was 21, he deployed to Afghanistan, where he led a squad of 8 men squad leader. During a routine patrol, Justin was hit by an IED and suffered a left leg amputation below the knee.
During his recovery at Walter Reed Army Medical Center here, Justin was approached by Bayne Tippins, a businessman who offered him a job as soon as his health returned.
Callahan inspired Tippins to found Hire Heroes USA, an non-profit organization dedicated to helping disabled veterans to find the right fit in the civilian job market. Hire Heroes USA is a member of America Supports You, a Defense Department program that connects individuals, non-profit groups and companies who want to support U.S. military men and women.
"Hire Heroes USA was designed to give other wounded servicemembers like myself the opportunity that I was fortunate to have right out of the hospital," Callahan said during an interview on America Supports You Live BlogTalkRadio. He and Tippins discussed the organization's success during the interview.
Callahan explained that the biggest challenge for many wounded warriors is getting their confidence reestablished after a tragic event.
"It's really to pick them up and point them in the right direction, helping them to re-establish the confidence they've lost going through something traumatic...and the direction to move forward," he said.
Part of re-establishing this confidence is understanding how the skills developed in the military apply to the civilian job market. One skill, Callahan mentioned, is leadership.
"A non-commissioned officer is responsible for 6 to 8 soldiers operating under very stressful situations...they are taught the hard things by the military."
Callahan talked about his day-to-day experience working with countless organizations that see great value in employing those with military experience. Employers notice military experience and benefit from an incredibly motivated group of individuals, Callahan explained.
"These men and women are so motivated to get into a good job that has a steady salary where they have the opportunity to advance."
Now the challenge for Callahan and Tippins is reaching out to the many veterans who might need assistance and do not realize how to best market their skills to a new audience. Callahan explained that the organization places everyone from sales reps to IT professionals, and from security personnel to project managers.
"A lot of servicemembers don't know what's out there. They are used to doing a certain job in the military, and when they get in the civilian world they do not always know how to apply and transfer the skills they have learned making them noticeable to employers," Callahan said.
One example of many such skills is the ability to handle logistics, Tippins said.
"Getting men and troops and supplies from point A to point B is an incredibly transferable skill," he said.
Tippins also said learning new skills easily is a common attribute of veterans.
"They are extremely trainable," he said. "The acquisition of the new skills within a new position comes easily because of their experience in the military."
Tippins explained that the mission Hire Heroes USA is to reach out to candidates, identify their strong qualities and let them know that there are jobs available for them.
"Some servicemembers just need to understand that company XYZ has a need for you.... Hire Heroes USA is designed to be a bridge to get out in front of organizations that are anxious to hire them," Tippins said. "We want to help them adjust to becoming a great member of society that they have already defended so bravely."
America Supports You: Texas Festivities Celebrate American Heroes
American Forces Press Service
April 18, 2008 - People who couldn't attend a day-long celebration of those who serve in the military here last week could still enjoy the sounds thanks to and Internet music and video site. The online music and entertainment site SyncLive made the festivities available via a live Web cast when the Fort Hood community came together April 11 to honor about 80,000 servicemembers and Defense Department civilians during a "Salute to Our Heroes" celebration.
The celebration featured live music, but troops didn't have to be on Fort Hood to enjoy the sounds. The artists who performed during the event included FOSTERCHILD, Framing Hanley, Grupo Mania, Lyfe Jennings, Maren Morris, Jennifer Pena, Kritickill, Mark Chesnutt, Mylin, Rissi Palmer, Tantric and Wild Horses.
Metal Sanaz, who participated in a similar event held in Kuwait in March, was one of the special guests.
The free Web cast made it possible for troops, including the Fort Hood-based Army 4th Infantry Division and 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, to participate no matter where they are in the world.
"We are excited about the opportunity to salute our troops and present soldiers, families and music fans with a platform where they can experience great music and interact with one another live online," said Aric Berquist, CEO and Founder of SyncLive.
Editor's Note: To find out about more individuals, groups and organizations that are helping support the troops, visit www.AmericaSupportsYou.mil. America Supports You directly connects military members to the support of the America people and offers a tool to the general public in their quest to find meaningful ways to support the military community.
(From a SyncLive news release.)
April 18, 2008 - People who couldn't attend a day-long celebration of those who serve in the military here last week could still enjoy the sounds thanks to and Internet music and video site. The online music and entertainment site SyncLive made the festivities available via a live Web cast when the Fort Hood community came together April 11 to honor about 80,000 servicemembers and Defense Department civilians during a "Salute to Our Heroes" celebration.
The celebration featured live music, but troops didn't have to be on Fort Hood to enjoy the sounds. The artists who performed during the event included FOSTERCHILD, Framing Hanley, Grupo Mania, Lyfe Jennings, Maren Morris, Jennifer Pena, Kritickill, Mark Chesnutt, Mylin, Rissi Palmer, Tantric and Wild Horses.
Metal Sanaz, who participated in a similar event held in Kuwait in March, was one of the special guests.
The free Web cast made it possible for troops, including the Fort Hood-based Army 4th Infantry Division and 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, to participate no matter where they are in the world.
"We are excited about the opportunity to salute our troops and present soldiers, families and music fans with a platform where they can experience great music and interact with one another live online," said Aric Berquist, CEO and Founder of SyncLive.
Editor's Note: To find out about more individuals, groups and organizations that are helping support the troops, visit www.AmericaSupportsYou.mil. America Supports You directly connects military members to the support of the America people and offers a tool to the general public in their quest to find meaningful ways to support the military community.
(From a SyncLive news release.)
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