By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service
Dec. 27, 2006 – Americans will remember former President Gerald R. Ford as a man with the courage to heal a nation. Ford, who died at his California home last night at age 93, assumed the presidency at a grim time in American history.
In the midst of a distinguished career in the House of Representatives, the Michigan Republican was President Richard M. Nixon's choice to succeed Spiro T. Agnew as vice president. Agnew resigned in disgrace on Oct. 10, 1973, after pleading no contest to corruption charges, and Nixon himself was facing impeachment.
Nixon's difficulty started with a break-in at the Democratic National Headquarters in the Watergate building here during the 1972 presidential campaign and evolved into a cover-up that involved many figures in the administration up to the president.
By August 1974, the prevailing mood in the country had turned against Nixon. Nixon had been re-elected in a landslide in November 1972, but revelations about the Watergate cover-up kept surfacing. A Senate select committee led by Sens. Sam Ervin and Howard Baker investigated, and Americans began realizing how far the corruption had crept into the administration. In July 1974, Congress voted to begin impeachment proceedings against the president. Nixon weighed what lay ahead for him, and on Aug. 9, 1974, became the first president of the United States to resign from office.
The resignation was effective at noon. At 12:05 p.m., Gerald Ford began the healing process in a speech to America and the world. "My fellow Americans, our long national nightmare is over," Ford said. "Our Constitution works; our great republic is a government of laws, and not of men. Here, the people rule."
A year before becoming president, Ford was not even in line for the job. He was the House minority leader, and his fondest wish was for the Republicans to gain control of the legislative body so he could become speaker of the House. After Agnew's resignation, Nixon nominated Ford for the vice presidency. The Senate confirmed Ford, and he took that office on Dec. 6, 1973.
Ford was born Leslie Lynch King Jr. on July 14, 1913, in Omaha, Neb. His parents divorced, and his mother took him to Grand Rapids, Mich., to live with her parents. In 1916, she married Gerald R. Ford, and Leslie King became Gerald R. Ford Jr.
Ford excelled in school and in sports. He became an Eagle Scout in 1927 and was an all-state football player. He attended the University of Michigan, where he studied political science and economics and starred on the football team. When he finished college, the Green Bay Packers and the Detroit Lions approached Ford to play for them, but he opted to become a boxing coach at Yale University in New Haven, Conn., where he received his law degree in 1941.
During World War II, Ford joined the Naval Reserve and was commissioned as an ensign. At first, he was a physical fitness instructor at a pre-flight school at Chapel Hill, N.C., but in 1943, he reported to the aircraft carrier USS Monterrey and participated in operations in the Pacific Theater. He ended the war as a lieutenant commander and returned to Grand Rapids.
The future president joined a local law firm, and in 1948, challenged the isolationist Republican legislator. He won by a wide margin and took office on Jan. 3, 1949. At the height of the election campaign, Ford married Elizabeth Ann Bloomer Warren, known as "Betty."
Ford built a reputation in the House of Representatives as an effective legislator. He rose in the ranks and served as the ranking member on the House Appropriations Committee's defense subcommittee. In 1964, President Lyndon B. Johnson appointed Ford as one of the members of the Warren Commission looking into the assassination of President John F. Kennedy in 1963.
In 1965, Ford ran for and was elected as minority leader in the House. He held that position until he became vice president.
During his term as president, Ford faced many challenges. The Soviet Union was still a power, and Ford continued Nixon's policy of working to thaw relations with the Soviet Union. The Ford administration began negotiations of strategic arms limits and negotiated the Helsinki agreements on human rights.
In the Middle East, the Ford administration launched "shuttle diplomacy" in an effort to carve out a peace.
In Asia, the war in Vietnam continued as Ford took office. North Vietnamese regulars took the South Vietnamese capital of Saigon in April 1975, and the war was effectively over. But on May 12, Khmer Rouge forces seized the U.S. merchant ship Mayaguez miles off the Cambodian coast. Ford ordered U.S. forces to retake the ship and free the 39 crewmembers. U.S. forces freed the vessel and the crewmen, but 41 Americans died in the operation.
Ford's most controversial position was one taken a month after taking office. He believed that prosecuting Nixon would keep the United States mired in the Watergate scandal. He granted Nixon a pardon before the filing of any criminal charges against him. Many said the decision was the result of a deal, but Ford always maintained it simply was the right thing to do.
In 1976, Ford faced down a challenge from Ronald Reagan and received the Republican nomination for president. At the beginning of the campaign, he was far behind the Democratic candidate, former Georgia Gov. Jimmy Carter. Ford campaigned well and closed the gap, but lost one of the closest presidential elections in history.
Ford retired to California and was much in demand as a speaker and lecturer. In August 1999, then-President Bill Clinton awarded Ford the Medal of Freedom - the country's highest civilian award. Clinton, a Democrat, did it in recognition of Ford's role in guiding the United States through the turbulent post-Watergate era.
Upon learning of Ford's death last night, President Bush issued a written statement praising the former chief executive. "With his quiet integrity, common sense, and kind instincts, President Ford helped heal our land and restore public confidence in the presidency," Bush's statement said. In a televised statement this morning, Bush called Ford "a true gentleman who reflected the best of America's character."
In 1979, Ford published his autobiography, titled "A Time to Heal."
U.S. flags will fly at half-staff for 30 days in Ford's honor. The former president is survived by his wife and four children. An announcement on funeral arrangements is expected later today.
Article sponsored by criminal justice leadership; and police and military personnel who have become writers.
Wednesday, December 27, 2006
Rumsfeld Remembers Ford as Patriot Who Restored Confidence
By Donna Miles
Dec. 27, 2006 – Former Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld remembered Ford as a patriot who led the United States through difficult days and helped restore confidence in its government. "President Ford was a man of great decency and towering integrity," Rumsfeld said in a written statement released today.
Ford died last night in Rancho Mirage, Calif., at age 93. Rumsfeld served in Ford's Cabinet, as chief of staff from 1974 to 1975, then as the youngest U.S. defense secretary from 1975 to 1977.
Rumsfeld called Ford a patriot who left a budding law career to join the Navy in World War II, then demonstrated a deep pride in the country and respect for its government while serving in the U.S. Congress.
Rumsfeld's long association with the former president dates back to the 1960s, when both served in the U.S. House of Representatives. While serving as U.S. ambassador to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization in 1974, Rumsfeld was called back to Washington to serve as chairman of Ford's presidential transition team.
"Our nation has a way of finding leaders that are needed in tough times," Rumsfeld said.
Rumsfeld called Ford "just the president our country needed back in 1974." He remembered the former president as a serious, effective legislator who never sought the presidency but was ready to serve as vice president, then president, when the country needed him.
"He became president in a time of widespread distrust of government and those who governed," Rumsfeld said. "As president, his personal character helped restore the reservoir of trust in the government and its leaders that is needed for our system to function effectively."
Ford did so, Rumsfeld said, "by being who he was and always doing what he believed was in the best interest of our country and the American people."
Article sponsored by criminal justice leadership; and police and military personnel who have become writers.
Dec. 27, 2006 – Former Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld remembered Ford as a patriot who led the United States through difficult days and helped restore confidence in its government. "President Ford was a man of great decency and towering integrity," Rumsfeld said in a written statement released today.
Ford died last night in Rancho Mirage, Calif., at age 93. Rumsfeld served in Ford's Cabinet, as chief of staff from 1974 to 1975, then as the youngest U.S. defense secretary from 1975 to 1977.
Rumsfeld called Ford a patriot who left a budding law career to join the Navy in World War II, then demonstrated a deep pride in the country and respect for its government while serving in the U.S. Congress.
Rumsfeld's long association with the former president dates back to the 1960s, when both served in the U.S. House of Representatives. While serving as U.S. ambassador to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization in 1974, Rumsfeld was called back to Washington to serve as chairman of Ford's presidential transition team.
"Our nation has a way of finding leaders that are needed in tough times," Rumsfeld said.
Rumsfeld called Ford "just the president our country needed back in 1974." He remembered the former president as a serious, effective legislator who never sought the presidency but was ready to serve as vice president, then president, when the country needed him.
"He became president in a time of widespread distrust of government and those who governed," Rumsfeld said. "As president, his personal character helped restore the reservoir of trust in the government and its leaders that is needed for our system to function effectively."
Ford did so, Rumsfeld said, "by being who he was and always doing what he believed was in the best interest of our country and the American people."
Article sponsored by criminal justice leadership; and police and military personnel who have become writers.
Tuesday, December 26, 2006
Deputy Defense Secretary Named Great American Patriot
By Annette Crawford
Dec. 24, 2006 – Deputy Defense Secretary Gordon England received the first Great American Patriot Award here last night at a halftime ceremony during the Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl at Amon G. Carter Stadium. England, a Fort Worth resident, said he was very humbled by the award.
"Also in a way it's a little bit embarrassing," he said. "There should really be 1.2 million patriot awards. Patriot awards should be for all our magnificent men and women who serve our nation, so I accept this award on behalf of all of them, because they are the true patriots who protect and defend this country every day."
England spoke of the importance of America Supports You, a Defense Department program that showcases and facilitates American support for members of the armed forces. The Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl is one of many events that has grown from partnering with America Supports You.
The program gives America an opportunity to support our military in their community, England said. "So often people ask me, 'What can I do to help our military?' I tell them, 'Go to AmericaSupportsYou.com.' It's a way of connecting the military with the American people, and therefore it's extraordinarily important," he said.
England said he wanted to the troops to know how much he appreciated their unwavering commitment.
"I want to thank them for their great, great service to America, and what they do every day to protect our freedom and liberties," he said. "If we did not have the United States military, Americans could not live the life they live every day.
"All our citizens owe our people in uniform. We owe them more than just a great deal. We owe them the life we live," he said.
"I also want to wish them a very merry holiday, to them and their families," England added.
After England received the award, more than 100 recruits from the Air Force, Army, Navy and Marines marched onto the field and he conducted their oath of enlistment.
The award was presented by Military Alliance and Associates LLC, known as MA3 LLC, as selected by the Military Affairs Committee of the Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl. MA3 LLC is a military recruiting firm specializing in placing former military officers and NCOs into leadership positions in the private sector.
"Secretary England has displayed remarkable leadership in serving our country in three major defense-related departments the past five years," said Tom Starr, executive director of the Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl. "We are honored to give our first Great American Patriot Award to him."
Starr added the bowl game was all about honoring servicemembers.
"This game is for them. We can't thank them enough. Hopefully, in some small way, this game will do that," he said.
Starr said Bell Helicopter's sponsorship of the game has been extraordinary.
"Bell Helicopter stepped forward when we changed the name to the Armed Forces Bowl," Starr said. "They have made a huge difference. They have been more than a partner.
"I've been in the bowl business 30 years," Starr continued, "and I've never been so proud, seeing all these men and women in uniform. I was in Vietnam, so this touches my heart as well."
The deputy defense secretary served in a variety of positions at Lockheed and General Dynamics before taking office as the 72nd secretary of the Navy in May 2001.
He then became the first deputy secretary of Homeland Security when that department was established in January 2003, integrating 22 agencies with a common mission of protecting the American people. He returned to his post and was confirmed as the 73rd secretary of the Navy in September 2003 - only the second person in history to serve twice as chief of the Navy-Marine Corps team and the first to serve in back-to-back terms. He assumed the Pentagon's No. 2 post in an acting capacity in May 2005, and received a recess appointment to the position in January 2006. The Senate confirmed him in April 2006.
Article sponsored by Criminal Justice Leadership; and police and military personnel who have become writers.
Dec. 24, 2006 – Deputy Defense Secretary Gordon England received the first Great American Patriot Award here last night at a halftime ceremony during the Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl at Amon G. Carter Stadium. England, a Fort Worth resident, said he was very humbled by the award.
"Also in a way it's a little bit embarrassing," he said. "There should really be 1.2 million patriot awards. Patriot awards should be for all our magnificent men and women who serve our nation, so I accept this award on behalf of all of them, because they are the true patriots who protect and defend this country every day."
England spoke of the importance of America Supports You, a Defense Department program that showcases and facilitates American support for members of the armed forces. The Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl is one of many events that has grown from partnering with America Supports You.
The program gives America an opportunity to support our military in their community, England said. "So often people ask me, 'What can I do to help our military?' I tell them, 'Go to AmericaSupportsYou.com.' It's a way of connecting the military with the American people, and therefore it's extraordinarily important," he said.
England said he wanted to the troops to know how much he appreciated their unwavering commitment.
"I want to thank them for their great, great service to America, and what they do every day to protect our freedom and liberties," he said. "If we did not have the United States military, Americans could not live the life they live every day.
"All our citizens owe our people in uniform. We owe them more than just a great deal. We owe them the life we live," he said.
"I also want to wish them a very merry holiday, to them and their families," England added.
After England received the award, more than 100 recruits from the Air Force, Army, Navy and Marines marched onto the field and he conducted their oath of enlistment.
The award was presented by Military Alliance and Associates LLC, known as MA3 LLC, as selected by the Military Affairs Committee of the Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl. MA3 LLC is a military recruiting firm specializing in placing former military officers and NCOs into leadership positions in the private sector.
"Secretary England has displayed remarkable leadership in serving our country in three major defense-related departments the past five years," said Tom Starr, executive director of the Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl. "We are honored to give our first Great American Patriot Award to him."
Starr added the bowl game was all about honoring servicemembers.
"This game is for them. We can't thank them enough. Hopefully, in some small way, this game will do that," he said.
Starr said Bell Helicopter's sponsorship of the game has been extraordinary.
"Bell Helicopter stepped forward when we changed the name to the Armed Forces Bowl," Starr said. "They have made a huge difference. They have been more than a partner.
"I've been in the bowl business 30 years," Starr continued, "and I've never been so proud, seeing all these men and women in uniform. I was in Vietnam, so this touches my heart as well."
The deputy defense secretary served in a variety of positions at Lockheed and General Dynamics before taking office as the 72nd secretary of the Navy in May 2001.
He then became the first deputy secretary of Homeland Security when that department was established in January 2003, integrating 22 agencies with a common mission of protecting the American people. He returned to his post and was confirmed as the 73rd secretary of the Navy in September 2003 - only the second person in history to serve twice as chief of the Navy-Marine Corps team and the first to serve in back-to-back terms. He assumed the Pentagon's No. 2 post in an acting capacity in May 2005, and received a recess appointment to the position in January 2006. The Senate confirmed him in April 2006.
Article sponsored by Criminal Justice Leadership; and police and military personnel who have become writers.
Medics Clear Rats From Saddam Hussein's Bunker
By Maj. Bobby Hart, USA
Dec. 26, 2006 – It was a scene straight from "Raiders of the Lost Ark," or maybe "Willard." American soldiers walking through a dimly lit, underground command bunker once used by a brutal dictator, now filled with hundreds of rats. Throw in a snake or two, and you have the perfect setting for a horror movie.
But it was not a movie.
Soldiers of the 3rd Medical Command, Fort Gillem, Ga., found themselves in just such an environment when they went to investigate a potential rat infestation.
Civilians on a forward operating base near Baghdad reported they had seen increasing numbers of rodents in the area surrounding what was known locally as Saddam Hussein's presidential bunker - a massive, two-level, network of tunnels and rooms estimated to be able to support upwards of 100 people for several months.
The bunker included meeting rooms, a kitchen, huge underground generators, restrooms, showers, private living quarters and rats. Lots and lots of rats.
Army Lt. Col. Van Sherwood, a 3rd MEDCOM preventive medicine specialist, said he had seen rat infestations before, but nothing compared to what he saw when he pulled open the doors and entered Saddam's bunker.
"We saw some rats around the entrance when we walked up with our lights," said Sherwood, a Gainesville, Fla., native and graduate of the University of Florida, who currently works at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research in Washington, D.C. "Once we opened the doors and walked in, it was like rat heaven."
Sherwood said American Special Forces troops had taken over the bunker and used them for operations and storage until January 2006. When they left, they left behind pallets of military food rations and water.
"I really had no preconceived idea of what to expect when I heard they had a rat problem," Sherwood said. "I've been called out on these types of cases before, and most of the time, they are pretty mundane. For most people, one or two rats can be an infestation. As soon as we opened the doors, you could see rats scurrying down the corridors and could smell the rat urine. I knew then there were a lot of rats there."
The rats had moved in to take over the bunker when the American soldiers left and the limited access hindered the entry of predators. The rats had a secure nesting area with a high-calorie, high-protein food source and water. A healthy female rat is capable of producing a brood of around a dozen offspring monthly. It didn't take long for the rat population to reach epidemic proportions.
Until Sherwood and his rat patrol arrived, about the only thing the rats had to worry about was the snakes - one which was tentatively identified as a sand boa estimated to be at least five to six feet long.
"We knew we had to get rid of the rats some way, but it wasn't as easy as it might seem," he said. "There were so many cracks and crevices that they could easily escape the bunker and go to ground level, where there were hundreds of rodent burrows that would provide them harborage."
Sherwood said the last thing he wanted to do was to take away the food supply and water or do anything that would drive the rats out of the bunker to the base camps to forage for their next meal.
The rats had devoured most of the military rations -- they ate everything but the salt and pepper and Tabasco sauce -- and shredded everything else except the spoons to use for nesting material. The cases looked intact, except for one or two small holes in each.
"I think that was the most surprising thing," Sherwood said. "The boxes looked fine, but when you picked them up they were empty except for the ones that had nests built in them."
Another surprising thing was the consistency with which the rats emptied the water bottles, which were almost all chewed through at the same height on the bottle with the holes all being very similar in size.
Sherwood decided to place poison near the now-empty pallets, which still contained ample food for the thriving rodent population, to rid the area of the problem. He said after placing the poison, his team returned and picked up dead adult rats by the hundreds and estimated many more may have died in their nests or in underground burrows.
The body count of the dead rats did lead Sherwood to believe the problem had been solved and shouldn't happen again.
"Absolutely," he said. "Once we got rid of the population and cleaned out the food and water, there was nothing down there that would make a rat want to go there."
Article sponsored by Criminal Justice Leadership; and police and military personnel who have become writers.
Dec. 26, 2006 – It was a scene straight from "Raiders of the Lost Ark," or maybe "Willard." American soldiers walking through a dimly lit, underground command bunker once used by a brutal dictator, now filled with hundreds of rats. Throw in a snake or two, and you have the perfect setting for a horror movie.
But it was not a movie.
Soldiers of the 3rd Medical Command, Fort Gillem, Ga., found themselves in just such an environment when they went to investigate a potential rat infestation.
Civilians on a forward operating base near Baghdad reported they had seen increasing numbers of rodents in the area surrounding what was known locally as Saddam Hussein's presidential bunker - a massive, two-level, network of tunnels and rooms estimated to be able to support upwards of 100 people for several months.
The bunker included meeting rooms, a kitchen, huge underground generators, restrooms, showers, private living quarters and rats. Lots and lots of rats.
Army Lt. Col. Van Sherwood, a 3rd MEDCOM preventive medicine specialist, said he had seen rat infestations before, but nothing compared to what he saw when he pulled open the doors and entered Saddam's bunker.
"We saw some rats around the entrance when we walked up with our lights," said Sherwood, a Gainesville, Fla., native and graduate of the University of Florida, who currently works at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research in Washington, D.C. "Once we opened the doors and walked in, it was like rat heaven."
Sherwood said American Special Forces troops had taken over the bunker and used them for operations and storage until January 2006. When they left, they left behind pallets of military food rations and water.
"I really had no preconceived idea of what to expect when I heard they had a rat problem," Sherwood said. "I've been called out on these types of cases before, and most of the time, they are pretty mundane. For most people, one or two rats can be an infestation. As soon as we opened the doors, you could see rats scurrying down the corridors and could smell the rat urine. I knew then there were a lot of rats there."
The rats had moved in to take over the bunker when the American soldiers left and the limited access hindered the entry of predators. The rats had a secure nesting area with a high-calorie, high-protein food source and water. A healthy female rat is capable of producing a brood of around a dozen offspring monthly. It didn't take long for the rat population to reach epidemic proportions.
Until Sherwood and his rat patrol arrived, about the only thing the rats had to worry about was the snakes - one which was tentatively identified as a sand boa estimated to be at least five to six feet long.
"We knew we had to get rid of the rats some way, but it wasn't as easy as it might seem," he said. "There were so many cracks and crevices that they could easily escape the bunker and go to ground level, where there were hundreds of rodent burrows that would provide them harborage."
Sherwood said the last thing he wanted to do was to take away the food supply and water or do anything that would drive the rats out of the bunker to the base camps to forage for their next meal.
The rats had devoured most of the military rations -- they ate everything but the salt and pepper and Tabasco sauce -- and shredded everything else except the spoons to use for nesting material. The cases looked intact, except for one or two small holes in each.
"I think that was the most surprising thing," Sherwood said. "The boxes looked fine, but when you picked them up they were empty except for the ones that had nests built in them."
Another surprising thing was the consistency with which the rats emptied the water bottles, which were almost all chewed through at the same height on the bottle with the holes all being very similar in size.
Sherwood decided to place poison near the now-empty pallets, which still contained ample food for the thriving rodent population, to rid the area of the problem. He said after placing the poison, his team returned and picked up dead adult rats by the hundreds and estimated many more may have died in their nests or in underground burrows.
The body count of the dead rats did lead Sherwood to believe the problem had been solved and shouldn't happen again.
"Absolutely," he said. "Once we got rid of the population and cleaned out the food and water, there was nothing down there that would make a rat want to go there."
Article sponsored by Criminal Justice Leadership; and police and military personnel who have become writers.
Pentagon Channel Documentary Focuses on Storied 'Old Guard'
By David Mays
Dec. 26, 2006 – They are the very public face of ultimate military discipline. They wow stadiums packed with football fans with complex rifle drills. They honor fallen comrades with solemn processions. They guard the Tomb of the Unknowns around the clock at Arlington National Cemetery; and on Dec. 15, they gave outgoing Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld a full-honors farewell ceremony on the Pentagon parade field. Despite their high-profile mission, many people, even those who serve in the military, have little idea what goes into becoming a member of this elite unit. That's why the Pentagon Channel is devoting its latest half-hour "Recon" documentary to the 3rd United States Infantry Regiment -- the Army's "Old Guard."
The show will debut Dec. 29 at noon Eastern Time and will be repeated throughout January. It will also be available via podcast, vodcast and video on demand.
"We're a very unique organization," said Col. Robert Pricone, the 3rd Guard's commanding officer. "We've got a very diverse mission set, and we operate in the very sensitive environment of the National Capital Region."
The unit is one of the Army's most challenging assignments to secure. "I tried three times to get in," said Pentagon Channel News anchor Staff Sgt. Jake Newman, who once served with the Old Guard as one of the unit's few broadcasters. Applicants must meet rigorous requirements. Men must be at least 5 feet, 10 inches tall, and women must be at least 5 feet, 8 inches. High scores on both general technical and physical training tests are also mandated. Once candidates are chosen for an Old Guard assignment, they must undergo a month of intensive regimental training.
"I've heard about it my whole life," said Spc. John Ball, a watchman on the Old Guard's Presidential Salute Battery. "It's a prestigious unit, and I just wanted to be part of the best."
The Pentagon Channel takes viewers inside the Old Guard's headquarters at Fort Myer, Va., adjacent to Arlington National Cemetery, where the Regiment's Caisson Unit ceremoniously transports caskets of fallen servicemembers to their final resting place.
"It's just so much an honor, being the person to present that flag to that family," said Command Sgt. Maj. Craig Robertson. "Knowing that that soldier that you are laying to rest has served this country well and gave so much for this nation, and to be part of that is so much an honor."
The documentary exposes viewers to little-known facts about the Old Guard, such as that it is the only Army unit allowed to march with fixed bayonets. This Recon program also explores the regiment's specialty platoons, who perform painstakingly meticulous missions and wear unconventional uniforms such as those originally designed by Gen. George Washington during the Revolutionary War era.
Pentagon Channel crews also were invited to tape sentinels at the Tomb of the Unknowns after cemetery visiting hours, when rules for keeping watch are much different from those in place when tourists are there during the day. Viewers will learn fascinating details about the stunningly precise rules Old Guard soldiers must follow as they perform their various duties.
The Pentagon Channel had the rare opportunity to videotape Old Guard service members as they practiced maneuvers under the extraordinarily demanding eyes of drill masters.
"Typically, we lose more than half the soldiers coming through the training cycle," said Sgt. 1st Class Brent Thompson. "Every once in a while, you have soldiers that have the ability to pick it up pretty quickly and pick up on what we do, and some just will never get it."
Pvt. Christopher Boovier, who is training to join the Old Guard, hopes he's among that first group of soldiers. "I mean all the guys are cool, but if you can't cut it, you can't cut it," he said. "I'm hoping that I get on. ... Stuff happens sometimes, but I'm pretty confident."
Article sponsored by Criminal Justice Leadership; and police and military personnel who have become writers.
Dec. 26, 2006 – They are the very public face of ultimate military discipline. They wow stadiums packed with football fans with complex rifle drills. They honor fallen comrades with solemn processions. They guard the Tomb of the Unknowns around the clock at Arlington National Cemetery; and on Dec. 15, they gave outgoing Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld a full-honors farewell ceremony on the Pentagon parade field. Despite their high-profile mission, many people, even those who serve in the military, have little idea what goes into becoming a member of this elite unit. That's why the Pentagon Channel is devoting its latest half-hour "Recon" documentary to the 3rd United States Infantry Regiment -- the Army's "Old Guard."
The show will debut Dec. 29 at noon Eastern Time and will be repeated throughout January. It will also be available via podcast, vodcast and video on demand.
"We're a very unique organization," said Col. Robert Pricone, the 3rd Guard's commanding officer. "We've got a very diverse mission set, and we operate in the very sensitive environment of the National Capital Region."
The unit is one of the Army's most challenging assignments to secure. "I tried three times to get in," said Pentagon Channel News anchor Staff Sgt. Jake Newman, who once served with the Old Guard as one of the unit's few broadcasters. Applicants must meet rigorous requirements. Men must be at least 5 feet, 10 inches tall, and women must be at least 5 feet, 8 inches. High scores on both general technical and physical training tests are also mandated. Once candidates are chosen for an Old Guard assignment, they must undergo a month of intensive regimental training.
"I've heard about it my whole life," said Spc. John Ball, a watchman on the Old Guard's Presidential Salute Battery. "It's a prestigious unit, and I just wanted to be part of the best."
The Pentagon Channel takes viewers inside the Old Guard's headquarters at Fort Myer, Va., adjacent to Arlington National Cemetery, where the Regiment's Caisson Unit ceremoniously transports caskets of fallen servicemembers to their final resting place.
"It's just so much an honor, being the person to present that flag to that family," said Command Sgt. Maj. Craig Robertson. "Knowing that that soldier that you are laying to rest has served this country well and gave so much for this nation, and to be part of that is so much an honor."
The documentary exposes viewers to little-known facts about the Old Guard, such as that it is the only Army unit allowed to march with fixed bayonets. This Recon program also explores the regiment's specialty platoons, who perform painstakingly meticulous missions and wear unconventional uniforms such as those originally designed by Gen. George Washington during the Revolutionary War era.
Pentagon Channel crews also were invited to tape sentinels at the Tomb of the Unknowns after cemetery visiting hours, when rules for keeping watch are much different from those in place when tourists are there during the day. Viewers will learn fascinating details about the stunningly precise rules Old Guard soldiers must follow as they perform their various duties.
The Pentagon Channel had the rare opportunity to videotape Old Guard service members as they practiced maneuvers under the extraordinarily demanding eyes of drill masters.
"Typically, we lose more than half the soldiers coming through the training cycle," said Sgt. 1st Class Brent Thompson. "Every once in a while, you have soldiers that have the ability to pick it up pretty quickly and pick up on what we do, and some just will never get it."
Pvt. Christopher Boovier, who is training to join the Old Guard, hopes he's among that first group of soldiers. "I mean all the guys are cool, but if you can't cut it, you can't cut it," he said. "I'm hoping that I get on. ... Stuff happens sometimes, but I'm pretty confident."
Article sponsored by Criminal Justice Leadership; and police and military personnel who have become writers.
Saturday, December 23, 2006
Bush Touts 'America Supports You' Program in Radio Address
By Melinda L. Larson
Dec. 23, 2006 – Using his weekly radio address to highlight the sacrifices servicemembers and their families make, President Bush today urged Americans to visit the Defense Department's "America Supports You" Web site for ideas on how to support them. The America Supports You program spotlights and facilitates support for the nation's servicemembers and their families.
Bush cited Jim Wareing -- founder of an America Supports You member organization called New England Caring for Our Military -- as an example of how Americans are supporting servicemembers.
"This year, Jim helped organize a gift drive by thousands of students from Massachusetts and New Hampshire," the president said. "Students from kindergarten to high school collected more than 20,000 gifts for our troops abroad."
Urging listeners to visit the America Supports You site at www.americasupportsyou.mil, the president lauded the example set by Wareing.
"Citizens like Jim Wareing represent the true strength of our country, and they make America proud," Bush said. "I urge every American to find some way to thank our military this Christmas season. If you see a soldier, sailor, airman, Marine, or a member of the Coast Guard, take a moment to stop and say, 'Thanks for your service.'"
Christmas reminds Americans of their duty to others, and that sense of duty is fulfilled by the men and women who wear the nation's uniform, Bush said.
"America is blessed to have fine citizens who volunteer to defend us in distant lands," he said. "For many of them, this Christmas will be spent far from home, and on Christmas our nation honors their sacrifice and thanks them for all they do to defend our freedom."
Bush also pointed out the sacrifices of the nation's military families, and thanked them for their support. "Staying behind when a family member goes to war is a heavy burden, and it is particularly hard during the holidays," he said. "To all our military families listening today, Laura and I thank you."
While thousands of military families spend the holiday apart, Bush noted this season ushers in a time of change for the nation. With a review of Iraq war strategy under way, a new secretary of defense in office, and changes in Congress, Bush said those serving on the front lines can be assured of continued support.
"I want our troops to know that while the coming year will bring change, one thing will not change, and that is our nation's support for you and the vital work you do to achieve victory in Iraq," the president said.
Millions of Americans are proving their support of deployed troops, wounded warriors, and the children of those serving abroad, Bush noted.
"Patriotic groups and charities all across America are sending gifts and care packages to our servicemen and women, visiting our troops recovering at military hospitals, reaching out to children whose moms and dads are serving abroad, and going to airports to welcome our troops home and to let them know they are appreciated by a grateful nation," he said.
Article sponsored by Criminal Justice Leadership; and police and military personnel who have become writers.
Dec. 23, 2006 – Using his weekly radio address to highlight the sacrifices servicemembers and their families make, President Bush today urged Americans to visit the Defense Department's "America Supports You" Web site for ideas on how to support them. The America Supports You program spotlights and facilitates support for the nation's servicemembers and their families.
Bush cited Jim Wareing -- founder of an America Supports You member organization called New England Caring for Our Military -- as an example of how Americans are supporting servicemembers.
"This year, Jim helped organize a gift drive by thousands of students from Massachusetts and New Hampshire," the president said. "Students from kindergarten to high school collected more than 20,000 gifts for our troops abroad."
Urging listeners to visit the America Supports You site at www.americasupportsyou.mil, the president lauded the example set by Wareing.
"Citizens like Jim Wareing represent the true strength of our country, and they make America proud," Bush said. "I urge every American to find some way to thank our military this Christmas season. If you see a soldier, sailor, airman, Marine, or a member of the Coast Guard, take a moment to stop and say, 'Thanks for your service.'"
Christmas reminds Americans of their duty to others, and that sense of duty is fulfilled by the men and women who wear the nation's uniform, Bush said.
"America is blessed to have fine citizens who volunteer to defend us in distant lands," he said. "For many of them, this Christmas will be spent far from home, and on Christmas our nation honors their sacrifice and thanks them for all they do to defend our freedom."
Bush also pointed out the sacrifices of the nation's military families, and thanked them for their support. "Staying behind when a family member goes to war is a heavy burden, and it is particularly hard during the holidays," he said. "To all our military families listening today, Laura and I thank you."
While thousands of military families spend the holiday apart, Bush noted this season ushers in a time of change for the nation. With a review of Iraq war strategy under way, a new secretary of defense in office, and changes in Congress, Bush said those serving on the front lines can be assured of continued support.
"I want our troops to know that while the coming year will bring change, one thing will not change, and that is our nation's support for you and the vital work you do to achieve victory in Iraq," the president said.
Millions of Americans are proving their support of deployed troops, wounded warriors, and the children of those serving abroad, Bush noted.
"Patriotic groups and charities all across America are sending gifts and care packages to our servicemen and women, visiting our troops recovering at military hospitals, reaching out to children whose moms and dads are serving abroad, and going to airports to welcome our troops home and to let them know they are appreciated by a grateful nation," he said.
Article sponsored by Criminal Justice Leadership; and police and military personnel who have become writers.
Pep Rally Heightens Excitement for Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl
By Annette Crawford
Dec. 23, 2006 – Team spirit was evident last night all over the streets of the downtown area here known as Sundance Square. Whether it was wearing the school colors of two teams ready to take each other on in a gridiron challenge, or the uniform pride of armed forces members, there was no doubt this is an all-American event. The University of Tulsa and the University of Utah go head to head in the Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl tonight at Texas Christian University's Amon G. Carter Stadium. But before the teams take to the field, there's nothing like a good old-fashioned pep rally the night before the game.
But this pep rally had an added element. Like most such gatherings, there were the typical marching bands and cheerleaders working the crowd, urging the fans to root for their team. But on the other side of the square, there was an impressive array of military recruiting displays - after all, this is the Armed Forces Bowl.
In addition to getting up close to a tank, Humvee, flight simulator and mini Raptor, fans of all ages were quick to grab promotional items such as T-shirts, hats, pens and posters.
The sponsor of the event, Bell Helicopter, teamed up in its display booth with Give 2 to the Troops, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the physical, spiritual and morale well-being of servicemembers in combat. They do this by raising money and gathering donations to make care packages to send to deployed servicemembers.
When Andrea Harmon of Give 2 to the Troops was contacted by Bell Helicopter and asked if she wanted her organization sponsored by Bell at the bowl game, she said it was an awesome offer.
"Who wouldn't?" she asked.
Bell's Brad Wanek said the reason his company is sponsoring the bowl game is a way to give back to the troops. But in addition to those who will be able to enjoy the game in person, he said there are many more servicemembers out there they would like to help.
"We started to brainstorm on how we could reach out to the troops who could not be at the stadium, and one of the ways we came up with was by partnering with Give 2 to the Troops," Wanek said.
"By taking collections here at the pep rally and at the game, we hope to immediately generate care packages. We're also hoping that those who weren't aware before the game, become aware, and there would be a whole cascade of benefits following the game," Wanek said.
Dee Bash, dressed in 1940s-era garb and sitting in a World War II jeep, said her group, the Arrowhead Chapter of the Military Vehicle Preservation Association, is a living history group that honors veterans.
"We ride in veterans parades and go to swing dances and have the vehicles on display. They absolutely love to see us participate," Bash said. "We try to honor them in any way we can."
One of the Air Force recruiters at the event, Master Sgt. Greg Baker of the 344th Recruiting Squadron, said events like this pep rally are great for generating interest.
"We're planting seeds, so to speak," said Baker, a 20-year veteran. "We're looking for people who are motivated, responsible and want to serve their country."
Army Sgt. Chris Taylor said the service's presence at the event went beyond simple recruiting.
"More of the interest that we hope to generate here is not only that we're seeking new recruits, but that we want to be involved in the community," Taylor said. "We're here to support them."
Taylor said he thinks the Armed Forces Bowl is a great event for the nation as a whole.
"Look at all the veterans over the years, and it's a way to pay respect to those who got us this far," said Taylor, who has been in the Army 10 years and a recruiter for one.
"I want to thank the American public for their support," Taylor said. "It's a hard time in the world right now."
The Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl is an event in partnership with America Supports You, a Department of Defense program that showcases American support for members of the armed forces. Since its inception in November 2004 by DOD, America Supports You has welcomed nearly 250 grassroots organizations and more than 33 corporate sponsors to its team.
This is Bell Helicopter's first year as title sponsor for the Armed Forces Bowl. The game airs at 8 p.m. Eastern Time on ESPN television and ESPN Radio to more than 200 stations in 44 states. One of the highlights of the game will be the presentation of the "Great American Patriot Award" at halftime to Deputy Defense Secretary Gordon England.
Article sponsored by Criminal Justice Leadership; and police and military personnel who have become writers.
Dec. 23, 2006 – Team spirit was evident last night all over the streets of the downtown area here known as Sundance Square. Whether it was wearing the school colors of two teams ready to take each other on in a gridiron challenge, or the uniform pride of armed forces members, there was no doubt this is an all-American event. The University of Tulsa and the University of Utah go head to head in the Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl tonight at Texas Christian University's Amon G. Carter Stadium. But before the teams take to the field, there's nothing like a good old-fashioned pep rally the night before the game.
But this pep rally had an added element. Like most such gatherings, there were the typical marching bands and cheerleaders working the crowd, urging the fans to root for their team. But on the other side of the square, there was an impressive array of military recruiting displays - after all, this is the Armed Forces Bowl.
In addition to getting up close to a tank, Humvee, flight simulator and mini Raptor, fans of all ages were quick to grab promotional items such as T-shirts, hats, pens and posters.
The sponsor of the event, Bell Helicopter, teamed up in its display booth with Give 2 to the Troops, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the physical, spiritual and morale well-being of servicemembers in combat. They do this by raising money and gathering donations to make care packages to send to deployed servicemembers.
When Andrea Harmon of Give 2 to the Troops was contacted by Bell Helicopter and asked if she wanted her organization sponsored by Bell at the bowl game, she said it was an awesome offer.
"Who wouldn't?" she asked.
Bell's Brad Wanek said the reason his company is sponsoring the bowl game is a way to give back to the troops. But in addition to those who will be able to enjoy the game in person, he said there are many more servicemembers out there they would like to help.
"We started to brainstorm on how we could reach out to the troops who could not be at the stadium, and one of the ways we came up with was by partnering with Give 2 to the Troops," Wanek said.
"By taking collections here at the pep rally and at the game, we hope to immediately generate care packages. We're also hoping that those who weren't aware before the game, become aware, and there would be a whole cascade of benefits following the game," Wanek said.
Dee Bash, dressed in 1940s-era garb and sitting in a World War II jeep, said her group, the Arrowhead Chapter of the Military Vehicle Preservation Association, is a living history group that honors veterans.
"We ride in veterans parades and go to swing dances and have the vehicles on display. They absolutely love to see us participate," Bash said. "We try to honor them in any way we can."
One of the Air Force recruiters at the event, Master Sgt. Greg Baker of the 344th Recruiting Squadron, said events like this pep rally are great for generating interest.
"We're planting seeds, so to speak," said Baker, a 20-year veteran. "We're looking for people who are motivated, responsible and want to serve their country."
Army Sgt. Chris Taylor said the service's presence at the event went beyond simple recruiting.
"More of the interest that we hope to generate here is not only that we're seeking new recruits, but that we want to be involved in the community," Taylor said. "We're here to support them."
Taylor said he thinks the Armed Forces Bowl is a great event for the nation as a whole.
"Look at all the veterans over the years, and it's a way to pay respect to those who got us this far," said Taylor, who has been in the Army 10 years and a recruiter for one.
"I want to thank the American public for their support," Taylor said. "It's a hard time in the world right now."
The Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl is an event in partnership with America Supports You, a Department of Defense program that showcases American support for members of the armed forces. Since its inception in November 2004 by DOD, America Supports You has welcomed nearly 250 grassroots organizations and more than 33 corporate sponsors to its team.
This is Bell Helicopter's first year as title sponsor for the Armed Forces Bowl. The game airs at 8 p.m. Eastern Time on ESPN television and ESPN Radio to more than 200 stations in 44 states. One of the highlights of the game will be the presentation of the "Great American Patriot Award" at halftime to Deputy Defense Secretary Gordon England.
Article sponsored by Criminal Justice Leadership; and police and military personnel who have become writers.
Friday, December 22, 2006
Gainey, Veterans Gather for Tree Ceremony at Vietnam Wall
By John J. Kruzel
Dec. 21, 2006 – A ten-foot tall fir tree, ornamented with pictures of fallen U.S. war veterans and notes of support for today's troops, now stands proudly at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall. Sgt. Maj. William J. Gainey, senior enlisted advisor to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, joined about 50 veterans and family members on the Wall's east knoll today.
"Less than one-percent of the total population of the United States serves in the Armed Forces. You are all part of that one-percent club," Gainey told the veterans.
"Ninety-nine percent of Americans get their freedom from people like you veterans, the folks who are still serving, (and) the young men and women that are on this Wall," he said.
Gainey, along with his son, U.S. Army Capt. Ryan J. Gainey, and representatives of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, Inc., the American Red Cross, HBO Video, and Target Corp. attended the ninth annual Christmas Tree Ceremony.
On behalf of wounded troops at Walter Reed Army Medical Center and Bethesda Naval Hospital, Gainey accepted 1,000 DVD sets of several popular HBO series donated by HBO and 100 portable DVD players donated by Target .
Working side by side with veterans and family members, the officials helped hang more than 6,000 notes on the tree. The elm trees surrounding the Wall created a leafless canopy under which they kneeled and climbed ladders to decorate the tree's hard-to-reach branches.
"Look behind me and you know why I'm here," Gainey said. "It's these young men and women, not only the ones putting the stuff on these trees, but the names of over 58,000 that did not ask to die for their country. They died because they knew (fighting for their country) was the right thing to do.
"From 1775 until the present, we have had veterans," Gainey said. "We have people who are willing to sacrifice their lives to give us something called freedom. Something a lot of people take for granted."
Gainey and his son, Army Capt. Ryan J. Gainey, and Vietnam veterans like Paul Stancliff reached into one of the seven stuffed boxes and selected note-ornaments to read aloud.
Sporting a USS Boston hat with American flag and Navy insignia pins, Stancliff, a former U.S. Navy sailor approached the east knoll's podium to read a note from Dennis Marseller.
"I don't know what relation he has to anyone on the wall," Stancliff said, looking at the note-ornament in his hand. "So many of these notes are from normal people across the country who send a message to current and past troops to let us know we are being remembered."
He then read the note.
"You are at rest my brothers and sisters," he read. "We will always remember the joys you gave to us, and forever mourn you being taken away from us all too soon. Until we meet again, may God give you peace."
As the seven boxes stuffed with the ornament notes began to empty, Jan Scruggs, the Wall's founder and president of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, shifted his thoughts to those servicemembers deployed overseas.
"This morning we take time out to remember our friends who are on the Memorial Wall and all who served and sacrificed in the Vietnam War," Scruggs said. "But we also remember and pray for the many thousands of Americans serving our country all over the world right now."
"The empty space at the table is especially difficult during the holidays," he noted.
After each veteran had read and hung an ornament, Gainey, Stancliff and two other veterans slid two metal rods through the branches and wheeled the tree slowly down the east knoll ramp next to the marble wall engraved with the names of 58,249 troops killed in Vietnam.
Like pallbearers, the four men directed the fir as the wheels of the tree's base rolled next to freshly laid wreaths and flower bouquets. The procession of silent veterans made its way to the bottom of the ramp where the two marble walls meet. They set the tree in place. It will remain there through the holiday season.
Ceremonies like today's show that the community remembers "what we had to go through for freedom," said retired Army Master Sergeant Matt Daley.
Daley said Vietnam veterans share a very close kinship with today's active duty servicemembers. "It's all the same," he said. "They say it's a different war, but you're still laying your life on the line."
Article sponsored by Criminal Justice Leadership; and police and military personnel who have become writers.
Dec. 21, 2006 – A ten-foot tall fir tree, ornamented with pictures of fallen U.S. war veterans and notes of support for today's troops, now stands proudly at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall. Sgt. Maj. William J. Gainey, senior enlisted advisor to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, joined about 50 veterans and family members on the Wall's east knoll today.
"Less than one-percent of the total population of the United States serves in the Armed Forces. You are all part of that one-percent club," Gainey told the veterans.
"Ninety-nine percent of Americans get their freedom from people like you veterans, the folks who are still serving, (and) the young men and women that are on this Wall," he said.
Gainey, along with his son, U.S. Army Capt. Ryan J. Gainey, and representatives of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, Inc., the American Red Cross, HBO Video, and Target Corp. attended the ninth annual Christmas Tree Ceremony.
On behalf of wounded troops at Walter Reed Army Medical Center and Bethesda Naval Hospital, Gainey accepted 1,000 DVD sets of several popular HBO series donated by HBO and 100 portable DVD players donated by Target .
Working side by side with veterans and family members, the officials helped hang more than 6,000 notes on the tree. The elm trees surrounding the Wall created a leafless canopy under which they kneeled and climbed ladders to decorate the tree's hard-to-reach branches.
"Look behind me and you know why I'm here," Gainey said. "It's these young men and women, not only the ones putting the stuff on these trees, but the names of over 58,000 that did not ask to die for their country. They died because they knew (fighting for their country) was the right thing to do.
"From 1775 until the present, we have had veterans," Gainey said. "We have people who are willing to sacrifice their lives to give us something called freedom. Something a lot of people take for granted."
Gainey and his son, Army Capt. Ryan J. Gainey, and Vietnam veterans like Paul Stancliff reached into one of the seven stuffed boxes and selected note-ornaments to read aloud.
Sporting a USS Boston hat with American flag and Navy insignia pins, Stancliff, a former U.S. Navy sailor approached the east knoll's podium to read a note from Dennis Marseller.
"I don't know what relation he has to anyone on the wall," Stancliff said, looking at the note-ornament in his hand. "So many of these notes are from normal people across the country who send a message to current and past troops to let us know we are being remembered."
He then read the note.
"You are at rest my brothers and sisters," he read. "We will always remember the joys you gave to us, and forever mourn you being taken away from us all too soon. Until we meet again, may God give you peace."
As the seven boxes stuffed with the ornament notes began to empty, Jan Scruggs, the Wall's founder and president of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, shifted his thoughts to those servicemembers deployed overseas.
"This morning we take time out to remember our friends who are on the Memorial Wall and all who served and sacrificed in the Vietnam War," Scruggs said. "But we also remember and pray for the many thousands of Americans serving our country all over the world right now."
"The empty space at the table is especially difficult during the holidays," he noted.
After each veteran had read and hung an ornament, Gainey, Stancliff and two other veterans slid two metal rods through the branches and wheeled the tree slowly down the east knoll ramp next to the marble wall engraved with the names of 58,249 troops killed in Vietnam.
Like pallbearers, the four men directed the fir as the wheels of the tree's base rolled next to freshly laid wreaths and flower bouquets. The procession of silent veterans made its way to the bottom of the ramp where the two marble walls meet. They set the tree in place. It will remain there through the holiday season.
Ceremonies like today's show that the community remembers "what we had to go through for freedom," said retired Army Master Sergeant Matt Daley.
Daley said Vietnam veterans share a very close kinship with today's active duty servicemembers. "It's all the same," he said. "They say it's a different war, but you're still laying your life on the line."
Article sponsored by Criminal Justice Leadership; and police and military personnel who have become writers.
WWII Veteran Kicks Up His Heels for USO
By Samantha L. Quigley
Dec. 21, 2006 – For a few hours Tuesday night, the Sequoia restaurant here was transported back to the golden era of the 1940s. Dance legend 92-year-old Frankie Manning was the special guest as the Glenn Miller Orchestra played swinging tunes and 300 dancers hit the floor during a "Home for the Holidays" event to benefit the United Services Organization. A creator of the dance now know as "the Lindy Hop," Manning showed the crowd that he's still got what earned him the moniker "legend." But he didn't fly all the way from his New York home just to show off his fancy footwork, he also was supporting the USO.
"I just thought it would be a good thing to do," Manning said. "That's the good part ... when you can bring laughter to the other guys when there's so much fear and tension in their minds."
Manning said that, even in this age of iPods and the Internet, he still thinks the kind of live entertainment he enjoyed while serving in World War II is important for the morale of today's servicemembers.
"Because of this technology ... it's one form of entertainment and it's something you can listen to all the time," Manning said. "When you actually see a person performing, it's fantastic. It's much more entertaining the just listening to it on the iPod."
Melanie Carson, communications manager for USO-Metro, was pleased that Manning traveled from New York to support her organization.
"It's generous for him to make an appearance for this type of event for no personal gain, just to support the programs and services of the USO," she said.
Both Manning's appearance fee and the net proceeds of the event will benefit the USO of Metropolitan Washington.
Tom Koerner, an area dance instructor and one of the event organizers, said that he and Manning "both have abiding respect for the work they do. Anybody who grew up in the 70s, Vietnam, knows that (the country) treated the military pretty shabbily. I really think that (servicemembers make) unbelievable sacrifices, the least we can do is give them a few bucks."
Manning, a Florida native who moved to Harlem when he was 3 years old, is more than a dance legend, however. He's also a movie star, appearing in several films, including the 1937 "A Day at the Races" with the Marx Brothers.
He also has toured with the likes of Ella Fitzgerald and Cab Calloway, and from 1936 to 1941, he was a member of the professional dance group known as "Whitey's Lindy Hoppers."
With the onset of World War II, however, the dance group disbanded. Manning kept performing and, when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1942, Manning was working in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
"I got my draft papers while I was down there but couldn't get back to the United States for about 10 months after that," Manning said. "We went down by boat and we had return ticket by boat, but because of the situation - passenger ships or any other ships going from South America to America were being sunk by the Germans."
The alternative was to return by plane. That, however, was a slow process as everyone else wanting to return to the United States was in the same situation.
When he finally was able to report to join the Army, he saw combat in New Guinea.
Finding opportunities to dance during his service wasn't always easy, so Manning organized performances to entertain the men with whom he served. He had one golden opportunity to dance on stage with one of the era's best-loved starlets, as well, he said.
"When it became safe enough for (entertainers) to come down that way, then ... Jack Benny with his troupe, they came down and did a show," Manning said, a grin stretching into a wide smile as he remembered the show. "Fortunate enough, I got to dance with Betty Grable.
"It was quite a thrill," he added.
Having entertainers visit them while they were so far from home did wonders for the men, Manning said.
He was discharged from the Army in 1947 and formed his own dance group, The Congaroos, which performed for about seven years. Then rock-and-roll music grew in popularity and Manning started another profession as a civil servant working for the U.S. Post Office. He said he expected that to last no more than a year, until his style of dance regained its popularity.
"That year turned into about 30 years," Manning said. "I was getting ready to retire in '87 and the resurgence (of big band music and the Lindy Hop) came back and here I go again and I'm and I'm still at it.
"It was quite a surprise," he said, adding he'd never dreamed that it would come back after so many years. "And I can have some weird dreams."
He's been teaching his beloved dances all over the world to anyone who cares to learn since them.
"I love to go the dances and see these young kids out there dancing," Manning. "It's just a joy to watch other dancers doing the dance that I love so much."
And they love watching him, especially when he observes his annual birthday tradition that started when he was 75. Each year he dances with one woman for every year of his life.
"This next year, I've got to dance with 93 women," he laughed.
Article sponsored by Criminal Justice Leadership; and police and military personnel who have become writers.
Dec. 21, 2006 – For a few hours Tuesday night, the Sequoia restaurant here was transported back to the golden era of the 1940s. Dance legend 92-year-old Frankie Manning was the special guest as the Glenn Miller Orchestra played swinging tunes and 300 dancers hit the floor during a "Home for the Holidays" event to benefit the United Services Organization. A creator of the dance now know as "the Lindy Hop," Manning showed the crowd that he's still got what earned him the moniker "legend." But he didn't fly all the way from his New York home just to show off his fancy footwork, he also was supporting the USO.
"I just thought it would be a good thing to do," Manning said. "That's the good part ... when you can bring laughter to the other guys when there's so much fear and tension in their minds."
Manning said that, even in this age of iPods and the Internet, he still thinks the kind of live entertainment he enjoyed while serving in World War II is important for the morale of today's servicemembers.
"Because of this technology ... it's one form of entertainment and it's something you can listen to all the time," Manning said. "When you actually see a person performing, it's fantastic. It's much more entertaining the just listening to it on the iPod."
Melanie Carson, communications manager for USO-Metro, was pleased that Manning traveled from New York to support her organization.
"It's generous for him to make an appearance for this type of event for no personal gain, just to support the programs and services of the USO," she said.
Both Manning's appearance fee and the net proceeds of the event will benefit the USO of Metropolitan Washington.
Tom Koerner, an area dance instructor and one of the event organizers, said that he and Manning "both have abiding respect for the work they do. Anybody who grew up in the 70s, Vietnam, knows that (the country) treated the military pretty shabbily. I really think that (servicemembers make) unbelievable sacrifices, the least we can do is give them a few bucks."
Manning, a Florida native who moved to Harlem when he was 3 years old, is more than a dance legend, however. He's also a movie star, appearing in several films, including the 1937 "A Day at the Races" with the Marx Brothers.
He also has toured with the likes of Ella Fitzgerald and Cab Calloway, and from 1936 to 1941, he was a member of the professional dance group known as "Whitey's Lindy Hoppers."
With the onset of World War II, however, the dance group disbanded. Manning kept performing and, when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1942, Manning was working in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
"I got my draft papers while I was down there but couldn't get back to the United States for about 10 months after that," Manning said. "We went down by boat and we had return ticket by boat, but because of the situation - passenger ships or any other ships going from South America to America were being sunk by the Germans."
The alternative was to return by plane. That, however, was a slow process as everyone else wanting to return to the United States was in the same situation.
When he finally was able to report to join the Army, he saw combat in New Guinea.
Finding opportunities to dance during his service wasn't always easy, so Manning organized performances to entertain the men with whom he served. He had one golden opportunity to dance on stage with one of the era's best-loved starlets, as well, he said.
"When it became safe enough for (entertainers) to come down that way, then ... Jack Benny with his troupe, they came down and did a show," Manning said, a grin stretching into a wide smile as he remembered the show. "Fortunate enough, I got to dance with Betty Grable.
"It was quite a thrill," he added.
Having entertainers visit them while they were so far from home did wonders for the men, Manning said.
He was discharged from the Army in 1947 and formed his own dance group, The Congaroos, which performed for about seven years. Then rock-and-roll music grew in popularity and Manning started another profession as a civil servant working for the U.S. Post Office. He said he expected that to last no more than a year, until his style of dance regained its popularity.
"That year turned into about 30 years," Manning said. "I was getting ready to retire in '87 and the resurgence (of big band music and the Lindy Hop) came back and here I go again and I'm and I'm still at it.
"It was quite a surprise," he said, adding he'd never dreamed that it would come back after so many years. "And I can have some weird dreams."
He's been teaching his beloved dances all over the world to anyone who cares to learn since them.
"I love to go the dances and see these young kids out there dancing," Manning. "It's just a joy to watch other dancers doing the dance that I love so much."
And they love watching him, especially when he observes his annual birthday tradition that started when he was 75. Each year he dances with one woman for every year of his life.
"This next year, I've got to dance with 93 women," he laughed.
Article sponsored by Criminal Justice Leadership; and police and military personnel who have become writers.
Gates, Pace Laud Troops Serving Far From Home
By Kathleen T. Rhem
Dec. 22, 2006 – New Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates today thanked American servicemembers and their families "for the sacrifices they're all making and for their bravery in pursuit of our nation's security." Gates, on his final day of a three-day visit to Iraq, said he's been very impressed with the American troops he's met.
"As we enter this holiday weekend, I'd simply like to express my admiration to the men and women in uniform and to their families," he said.
Marine Corps Gen. Peter Pace, who accompanied Gates on this trip, agreed.
"One of the things that I'm always impressed with whenever we visit here is the incredible dedication and focus of our men and women here in uniform," he said. "I continue to be impressed with our U.S. military from the privates first class to the generals. They get it; they're focused. They know what they're doing is worthwhile. They want to see this mission to a successful conclusion."
Pace acknowledged the troops are missing their families "more than ever" as the holidays approach. "We thank them for that sacrifice, and we thank their families too, because obviously the families miss their loved ones, and they worry about whether or not they're safe here.
"And our military families serve our country as well as anyone who's ever worn the uniform," the general added.
"To the folks at home and the folks here," Pace said. "We wish them a very happy and peaceful holiday season."
Article sponsored by Criminal Justice Leadership; and police and military personnel who have become writers.
Dec. 22, 2006 – New Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates today thanked American servicemembers and their families "for the sacrifices they're all making and for their bravery in pursuit of our nation's security." Gates, on his final day of a three-day visit to Iraq, said he's been very impressed with the American troops he's met.
"As we enter this holiday weekend, I'd simply like to express my admiration to the men and women in uniform and to their families," he said.
Marine Corps Gen. Peter Pace, who accompanied Gates on this trip, agreed.
"One of the things that I'm always impressed with whenever we visit here is the incredible dedication and focus of our men and women here in uniform," he said. "I continue to be impressed with our U.S. military from the privates first class to the generals. They get it; they're focused. They know what they're doing is worthwhile. They want to see this mission to a successful conclusion."
Pace acknowledged the troops are missing their families "more than ever" as the holidays approach. "We thank them for that sacrifice, and we thank their families too, because obviously the families miss their loved ones, and they worry about whether or not they're safe here.
"And our military families serve our country as well as anyone who's ever worn the uniform," the general added.
"To the folks at home and the folks here," Pace said. "We wish them a very happy and peaceful holiday season."
Article sponsored by Criminal Justice Leadership; and police and military personnel who have become writers.
Task Force on Future of Military Healthcare Established
Deputy Defense Secretary Gordon England announced today the names of the 14-member future military healthcare task force; the task force will evaluate and recommend alternatives to ensure the stability of military medicine over the long term. As directed by Congress in the National Defense Authorization Act for 2007, the task force will include seven members from within the department and seven experts from a variety of disciplines external to the department. Task force members are identified below.
"The military health program has many important challenges, the most critical being the rapidly growing costs of health benefit coverage," said England, "and the need to make adjustments so this great program can continue far into the future. We in the department and in the Congress look forward to the task force's recommendations."
The task force has a slate of objectives that includes assessment and recommendations on wellness initiatives, education programs, accurate cost accounting, universal enrollment, system command and control, procurement adequacy, military and civilian personnel mix, Medicare-eligible beneficiary needs, efficient and cost effective contracts, and the beneficiary-government cost share structure to sustain military health benefits over the long term. This cost sharing structure has significant priority in that the task force must report on this element in both the interim and the final reports.
Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Edmund Giambastiani Jr. stated, "Military medicine is unmatched anywhere in the world. Our troops know they have the best care should they need it, and they know their families at home have the same great care. As the leaders of this department, we have the responsibility to ensure this excellent healthcare continues for future generations of soldiers, sailors, Marines, and airmen and their families."
Task force membership resulted from considered coordination with the secretaries of the military services and interagency leaders. The defense secretary will receive the interim report of the task force in May 2007, and the final report in December 2007. Following review by the secretary, the report will go to the armed services committees of the Senate and the House of Representatives.
"The task force represents a broad group of individuals with outstanding expertise and knowledge of healthcare generally and also of military healthcare," saidWilliam Winkenwerder Jr., assistant secretary of defense for health affairs. "The group is bipartisan and includes recognized experts in quality, health benefit design, costs and actuarial projections, women's health, organization and delivery of healthcare, and national health policy. This is an impressive group of thoughtful and experienced people who care about military healthcare. We look forward to supporting their efforts, and I welcome their recommendations."
Task Force Members
Department of Defense Members:
Air Force Gen. John D. W. Corley, vice chief of staff, Headquarters U.S. Air Force
Retired Army Maj. Gen. Nancy Adams, former commander Tripler Army Medical Center and acting director, TRICARE Regional Office, North
Navy Rear Adm. John Mateczun, Deputy Surgeon General
Air Force Lt. Gen. James Roudebush, Surgeon General
Air Force Maj. Gen. Joseph Kelley, deputy director of logistics for medical readiness, the Joint Staff
Shay Assad, director of defense procurement and acquisition policy, Office of the Undersecretary for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics
Retired Air Force Gen. Richard B. Myers, former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
Non Departmental Members:
Robert J. Henke, assistant secretary for management, Department of Veterans Affairs
Dr. Carolyn Clancy, director of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Department of Health and Human Services
Gail R. Wilensky, Ph.D., elected member of the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies and its governing council
Robert F. Hale, senior fellow at the Logistics Management Institute and member of the Defense Business Board; formerly assistant secretary of the Air Force for financial management and comptroller
Army Reserve Maj. Gen. Robert Smith, past president and current member of the Board of the Reserve Officers Association, and global controller, Vehicle Service & Programs, Ford Motor Co.
Larry Lewin, founder of The Lewin Group and currently executive consultant on clinical and technology effectiveness, health promotion.
Dr. Robert Galvin, director of global healthcare for General Electric.
Article sponsored by Criminal Justice Leadership; and police and military personnel who have become writers.
"The military health program has many important challenges, the most critical being the rapidly growing costs of health benefit coverage," said England, "and the need to make adjustments so this great program can continue far into the future. We in the department and in the Congress look forward to the task force's recommendations."
The task force has a slate of objectives that includes assessment and recommendations on wellness initiatives, education programs, accurate cost accounting, universal enrollment, system command and control, procurement adequacy, military and civilian personnel mix, Medicare-eligible beneficiary needs, efficient and cost effective contracts, and the beneficiary-government cost share structure to sustain military health benefits over the long term. This cost sharing structure has significant priority in that the task force must report on this element in both the interim and the final reports.
Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Edmund Giambastiani Jr. stated, "Military medicine is unmatched anywhere in the world. Our troops know they have the best care should they need it, and they know their families at home have the same great care. As the leaders of this department, we have the responsibility to ensure this excellent healthcare continues for future generations of soldiers, sailors, Marines, and airmen and their families."
Task force membership resulted from considered coordination with the secretaries of the military services and interagency leaders. The defense secretary will receive the interim report of the task force in May 2007, and the final report in December 2007. Following review by the secretary, the report will go to the armed services committees of the Senate and the House of Representatives.
"The task force represents a broad group of individuals with outstanding expertise and knowledge of healthcare generally and also of military healthcare," saidWilliam Winkenwerder Jr., assistant secretary of defense for health affairs. "The group is bipartisan and includes recognized experts in quality, health benefit design, costs and actuarial projections, women's health, organization and delivery of healthcare, and national health policy. This is an impressive group of thoughtful and experienced people who care about military healthcare. We look forward to supporting their efforts, and I welcome their recommendations."
Task Force Members
Department of Defense Members:
Air Force Gen. John D. W. Corley, vice chief of staff, Headquarters U.S. Air Force
Retired Army Maj. Gen. Nancy Adams, former commander Tripler Army Medical Center and acting director, TRICARE Regional Office, North
Navy Rear Adm. John Mateczun, Deputy Surgeon General
Air Force Lt. Gen. James Roudebush, Surgeon General
Air Force Maj. Gen. Joseph Kelley, deputy director of logistics for medical readiness, the Joint Staff
Shay Assad, director of defense procurement and acquisition policy, Office of the Undersecretary for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics
Retired Air Force Gen. Richard B. Myers, former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
Non Departmental Members:
Robert J. Henke, assistant secretary for management, Department of Veterans Affairs
Dr. Carolyn Clancy, director of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Department of Health and Human Services
Gail R. Wilensky, Ph.D., elected member of the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies and its governing council
Robert F. Hale, senior fellow at the Logistics Management Institute and member of the Defense Business Board; formerly assistant secretary of the Air Force for financial management and comptroller
Army Reserve Maj. Gen. Robert Smith, past president and current member of the Board of the Reserve Officers Association, and global controller, Vehicle Service & Programs, Ford Motor Co.
Larry Lewin, founder of The Lewin Group and currently executive consultant on clinical and technology effectiveness, health promotion.
Dr. Robert Galvin, director of global healthcare for General Electric.
Article sponsored by Criminal Justice Leadership; and police and military personnel who have become writers.
Armed Forces Bowl to Spotlight Troops
By Carmen L. Burgess
Dec. 22, 2006 – Members of the U.S. military will be honored during the Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl to be held Dec. 23 in Fort Worth, Texas. The University of Tulsa and the University of Utah will square off for the fourth annual Armed Forces Bowl that will be aired at 7 p.m. CST on ESPN television and ESPN Radio to over 200 stations in 44 states.
Deputy Secretary of Defense Gordon England, a Fort Worth native, will flip the coin at the start of the game and administer the oath of enlistment to recruits from each branch of service. At half-time, England will receive the Great American Patriot Award for his leadership in serving the United States in the Homeland Security, Navy and Defense departments.
Also at Half America Supports You corporate team member, Connect and Join, also will be presenting "The World's Largest, Now Greatest Scrapbook" to members of the military during half-time festivities. The company joined America Supports You in May 2006. The Defense Department program highlights ways Americans and the corporate sector support the nation's servicemembers.
Fans attending the bowl at Texas Christian University's Amon G. Carter Stadium can participate in many pre-game festivities, collectively dubbed the Armed Forces Adventure, 3-7 p.m.
Jet and helicopter flyovers, skydiving demonstrations, static displays and military bands will be on site to give college football fans a taste of the diversity of U.S. military operations.
Each quarter of the game will highlight a different branch of service with live remotes appearing on the stadium's video board from troops stationed overseas.
Active-duty military are eligible for free tickets, and veterans are eligible for half-price tickets by calling the Bell Helicopter Ticket Office at (817) 810-0012
Article sponsored by Criminal Justice Leadership; and police and military personnel who have become writers.
Dec. 22, 2006 – Members of the U.S. military will be honored during the Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl to be held Dec. 23 in Fort Worth, Texas. The University of Tulsa and the University of Utah will square off for the fourth annual Armed Forces Bowl that will be aired at 7 p.m. CST on ESPN television and ESPN Radio to over 200 stations in 44 states.
Deputy Secretary of Defense Gordon England, a Fort Worth native, will flip the coin at the start of the game and administer the oath of enlistment to recruits from each branch of service. At half-time, England will receive the Great American Patriot Award for his leadership in serving the United States in the Homeland Security, Navy and Defense departments.
Also at Half America Supports You corporate team member, Connect and Join, also will be presenting "The World's Largest, Now Greatest Scrapbook" to members of the military during half-time festivities. The company joined America Supports You in May 2006. The Defense Department program highlights ways Americans and the corporate sector support the nation's servicemembers.
Fans attending the bowl at Texas Christian University's Amon G. Carter Stadium can participate in many pre-game festivities, collectively dubbed the Armed Forces Adventure, 3-7 p.m.
Jet and helicopter flyovers, skydiving demonstrations, static displays and military bands will be on site to give college football fans a taste of the diversity of U.S. military operations.
Each quarter of the game will highlight a different branch of service with live remotes appearing on the stadium's video board from troops stationed overseas.
Active-duty military are eligible for free tickets, and veterans are eligible for half-price tickets by calling the Bell Helicopter Ticket Office at (817) 810-0012
Article sponsored by Criminal Justice Leadership; and police and military personnel who have become writers.
Soldiers Missing in Action from Vietnam War are Identified
The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office (DPMO) announced today that the remains of two U.S. servicemen, missing in action from the Vietnam War, have been identified and will be returned to their families for burial with full military honors.
They are Maj. Frederick J. Ransbottom, of Oklahoma City, Okla.; and Staff Sgt. William E. Skivington Jr.; of Las Vegas, Nev.; both U.S. Army. Ransbottom will be buried in Edmond, Okla. on Jan. 13, and Skivington will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery near Washington, D.C., on Jan. 23.
Representatives from the Army met with the next-of-kin of these men to explain the recovery and identification process, and to coordinate interment with military honors on behalf of the Secretary of the Army.
On May 12, 1968, North Vietnamese forces overran the Kham Duc Special Forces camp and its surrounding observation posts in Quang Nam-Da Nang Province (formerly Quang Tin Province), South Vietnam. Ransbottom and Skivington were two of the 17 U.S. servicemen unaccounted-for after the survivors evacuated the camp. Search and recovery efforts at the site in 1970 succeeded in recovering remains of five of the 17 men. A sixth man was returned alive during Operation Homecoming in 1973 after having been captured and held prisoner of war by the North Vietnamese.
Between 1993 and 2006, joint U.S./Socialist Republic of Vietnam teams, led by the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC), conducted eight investigations and four excavations in the vicinity of the camp site. The team interviewed former North Vietnamese officers and soldiers who participated in the battle. Some recalled seeing the bodies of U.S. servicemen near one of the observation posts, and U.S. eyewitness accounts placed Ransbottom and Skivington near the post.
During an excavation conducted in 1998, two U.S. servicemen who survived the battle accompanied JPAC to help locate the observation posts, but found no evidence of human remains. Later excavations conducted in the area yielded human remains, identification media and personal effects for Ransbottom, Skivington and several other soldiers.
Among other forensic identification tools and circumstantial evidence, scientists from JPAC also used dental comparisons in the identification of the remains.
For additional information on the Defense Department's mission to account for missing Americans, visit the DPMO Web site at www.dtic.mil/dpmo or call (703) 699-1169.
Article sponsored by Criminal Justice Leadership; and police and military personnel who have become writers.
They are Maj. Frederick J. Ransbottom, of Oklahoma City, Okla.; and Staff Sgt. William E. Skivington Jr.; of Las Vegas, Nev.; both U.S. Army. Ransbottom will be buried in Edmond, Okla. on Jan. 13, and Skivington will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery near Washington, D.C., on Jan. 23.
Representatives from the Army met with the next-of-kin of these men to explain the recovery and identification process, and to coordinate interment with military honors on behalf of the Secretary of the Army.
On May 12, 1968, North Vietnamese forces overran the Kham Duc Special Forces camp and its surrounding observation posts in Quang Nam-Da Nang Province (formerly Quang Tin Province), South Vietnam. Ransbottom and Skivington were two of the 17 U.S. servicemen unaccounted-for after the survivors evacuated the camp. Search and recovery efforts at the site in 1970 succeeded in recovering remains of five of the 17 men. A sixth man was returned alive during Operation Homecoming in 1973 after having been captured and held prisoner of war by the North Vietnamese.
Between 1993 and 2006, joint U.S./Socialist Republic of Vietnam teams, led by the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC), conducted eight investigations and four excavations in the vicinity of the camp site. The team interviewed former North Vietnamese officers and soldiers who participated in the battle. Some recalled seeing the bodies of U.S. servicemen near one of the observation posts, and U.S. eyewitness accounts placed Ransbottom and Skivington near the post.
During an excavation conducted in 1998, two U.S. servicemen who survived the battle accompanied JPAC to help locate the observation posts, but found no evidence of human remains. Later excavations conducted in the area yielded human remains, identification media and personal effects for Ransbottom, Skivington and several other soldiers.
Among other forensic identification tools and circumstantial evidence, scientists from JPAC also used dental comparisons in the identification of the remains.
For additional information on the Defense Department's mission to account for missing Americans, visit the DPMO Web site at www.dtic.mil/dpmo or call (703) 699-1169.
Article sponsored by Criminal Justice Leadership; and police and military personnel who have become writers.
Retired Army General Praises Military Family Support Programs
By Gerry J. Gilmore
Dec. 22, 2006 – Military support programs like America Supports You are vitally important to servicemembers, their families and the nation, a celebrated retired Army general said recently. It is paramount "to recognize the [military] spouses and the children, and their part they play in our national defense," retired Army Lt. Gen. Claudia J. Kennedy said at the "Operation Christmas" event held Dec. 20 at the National Guard armory in Hinesville, Ga.
"Americans need to know that we are taking care of the families. And, sometimes, I think that they imagine these families are on their own, and they're not. They're part of a very warm and complete family, the bigger family of the military," Kennedy said.
In 1997, Kennedy became the first woman in the U.S. Army to attain the rank of lieutenant general and only the third woman in the military to hold three-star rank. She served in the Pentagon as the Army's top intelligence officer until her retirement in 2000.
America Supports You is a Defense Department program that showcases the efforts of American individuals, non-profit groups and corporations in supporting military men and women.
America Supports You corporate team member Wal-Mart partnered with non-profit member Operation Homefront, an organization that provides assistance to military families while servicemembers are deployed, to conduct Operation Christmas. The Hinesville, Ga., event was the last of a series of six Operation Christmases held this year.
Kennedy is a member of a three-person Wal-Mart panel that provides the corporation employment-practices advice. The worldwide retail chain and the U.S. Army, including its active, Guard and reserve components, both employ more than 1.5 million people, she said.
Kennedy said Wal-Mart not only supports the military, it also respects the military's personnel practices.
"We have systems in the Army that help make sure that selection for promotions, commands and schooling is done in a very fair way, based on merit," Kennedy said. "And, I think Wal-Mart is interested in some of that experience."
In Hinesville, Kennedy observed soldier-volunteers from nearby Fort Stewart doing their best to make children happy as they sat on Santa's lap and received Christmas gifts.
"If they see that a child looks a little disappointed, they keep trying new gifts until they bring the one that brings a smile," she said.
Kennedy also attended two other Operation Christmas events held earlier this month in Gulfport, Miss., and San Antonio, Texas. Other Operation Christmas events were held in November in communities near Scott Air Force Base, Ill., and the naval station in Norfolk, Va. Another Operation Christmas was held Dec. 2 near MacDill Air Force Base, Fla.
Article sponsored by Criminal Justice Leadership; and police and military personnel who have become writers.
Dec. 22, 2006 – Military support programs like America Supports You are vitally important to servicemembers, their families and the nation, a celebrated retired Army general said recently. It is paramount "to recognize the [military] spouses and the children, and their part they play in our national defense," retired Army Lt. Gen. Claudia J. Kennedy said at the "Operation Christmas" event held Dec. 20 at the National Guard armory in Hinesville, Ga.
"Americans need to know that we are taking care of the families. And, sometimes, I think that they imagine these families are on their own, and they're not. They're part of a very warm and complete family, the bigger family of the military," Kennedy said.
In 1997, Kennedy became the first woman in the U.S. Army to attain the rank of lieutenant general and only the third woman in the military to hold three-star rank. She served in the Pentagon as the Army's top intelligence officer until her retirement in 2000.
America Supports You is a Defense Department program that showcases the efforts of American individuals, non-profit groups and corporations in supporting military men and women.
America Supports You corporate team member Wal-Mart partnered with non-profit member Operation Homefront, an organization that provides assistance to military families while servicemembers are deployed, to conduct Operation Christmas. The Hinesville, Ga., event was the last of a series of six Operation Christmases held this year.
Kennedy is a member of a three-person Wal-Mart panel that provides the corporation employment-practices advice. The worldwide retail chain and the U.S. Army, including its active, Guard and reserve components, both employ more than 1.5 million people, she said.
Kennedy said Wal-Mart not only supports the military, it also respects the military's personnel practices.
"We have systems in the Army that help make sure that selection for promotions, commands and schooling is done in a very fair way, based on merit," Kennedy said. "And, I think Wal-Mart is interested in some of that experience."
In Hinesville, Kennedy observed soldier-volunteers from nearby Fort Stewart doing their best to make children happy as they sat on Santa's lap and received Christmas gifts.
"If they see that a child looks a little disappointed, they keep trying new gifts until they bring the one that brings a smile," she said.
Kennedy also attended two other Operation Christmas events held earlier this month in Gulfport, Miss., and San Antonio, Texas. Other Operation Christmas events were held in November in communities near Scott Air Force Base, Ill., and the naval station in Norfolk, Va. Another Operation Christmas was held Dec. 2 near MacDill Air Force Base, Fla.
Article sponsored by Criminal Justice Leadership; and police and military personnel who have become writers.
Thursday, December 21, 2006
Sesame Street's Elmo to Educate Americans on Deployments
By Jim Garamone
Dec. 21, 2006 – Elmo and the characters of Sesame Street are going to give Americans at large a chance to see what military families go through when their loved ones deploy to war zones. Sesame Street will air "When Parents Are Deployed" on most Public Broadcasting System stations Dec. 27. Armed Forces Network stations will air the special in January.
"The special focuses on giving people an understanding of the sacrifices servicemembers' families make in a deployment," said Barbara Goodno, a senior program analyst with the Pentagon's Office of Family Policy.
Elmo, the fuzzy red puppet who is perpetually three years old, is the star of the program. Viewers see the deployment through his eyes.
"When Parents Are Deployed" may have puppets, but it is a program parents and older siblings can watch, too, said Leslye Arsht, deputy undersecretary for family programs. "Elmo is someone with whom people of all ages can relate."
Arsht said the producers listened to family and expert feedback to ensure the program meets families' needs.
The special is an outgrowth of a DVD entitled "Talk, Listen, Connect: Helping Families Cope with Military Deployment." Sesame Street released that DVD in July, and it is available in both English and Spanish versions.
In that program, Elmo's military father is ordered overseas. Wal-Mart and other sponsors provided the funding to distribute the DVD and an accompanying booklet to schools, childcare centers and military family support centers.
The DVD set and television program capture the many emotions associated with deployments -- the fears and worries before departure, the loneliness and concern while a loved one is away and the anxiety often associated with reunion, Arsht said.
The Defense Department has made tremendous strides in providing resources for military families, Arsht said.
"DoD has many support systems to support good physical, emotional, spiritual, educational and social health," she said.
On installations, these services center around family support centers. These centers provide a network for families and offer information and education programs to assist with tasks of daily living, Arsht said.
DoD conducted research that shows the key elements to coping with deployment stresses are communication, outreach, information resources and access to unit leadership, Arsht said.
One of the most popular resources available for families is Military OneSource. Troops and families can get help or information by visiting the Military OneSource Web site or calling, toll free, 1-800-342-9647.
Military OneSource provides counseling or information to servicemembers and families at no charge, and it runs the gamut from child care to personal finances to emotional support during deployments. It also provides relocation advice or helps set up resources for special circumstances. It is open 24-7.
Access to this type of support is particularly important for family members of deployed reserve component personnel, Arsht said.
Another important resource is Military Homefront. This official DoD Web site offers reliable quality of life information tailored for three specific groups: servicemembers and families, leaders and service providers.
Article sponsored by criminal justice leadership; and, police and military personnel who have become authors.
Dec. 21, 2006 – Elmo and the characters of Sesame Street are going to give Americans at large a chance to see what military families go through when their loved ones deploy to war zones. Sesame Street will air "When Parents Are Deployed" on most Public Broadcasting System stations Dec. 27. Armed Forces Network stations will air the special in January.
"The special focuses on giving people an understanding of the sacrifices servicemembers' families make in a deployment," said Barbara Goodno, a senior program analyst with the Pentagon's Office of Family Policy.
Elmo, the fuzzy red puppet who is perpetually three years old, is the star of the program. Viewers see the deployment through his eyes.
"When Parents Are Deployed" may have puppets, but it is a program parents and older siblings can watch, too, said Leslye Arsht, deputy undersecretary for family programs. "Elmo is someone with whom people of all ages can relate."
Arsht said the producers listened to family and expert feedback to ensure the program meets families' needs.
The special is an outgrowth of a DVD entitled "Talk, Listen, Connect: Helping Families Cope with Military Deployment." Sesame Street released that DVD in July, and it is available in both English and Spanish versions.
In that program, Elmo's military father is ordered overseas. Wal-Mart and other sponsors provided the funding to distribute the DVD and an accompanying booklet to schools, childcare centers and military family support centers.
The DVD set and television program capture the many emotions associated with deployments -- the fears and worries before departure, the loneliness and concern while a loved one is away and the anxiety often associated with reunion, Arsht said.
The Defense Department has made tremendous strides in providing resources for military families, Arsht said.
"DoD has many support systems to support good physical, emotional, spiritual, educational and social health," she said.
On installations, these services center around family support centers. These centers provide a network for families and offer information and education programs to assist with tasks of daily living, Arsht said.
DoD conducted research that shows the key elements to coping with deployment stresses are communication, outreach, information resources and access to unit leadership, Arsht said.
One of the most popular resources available for families is Military OneSource. Troops and families can get help or information by visiting the Military OneSource Web site or calling, toll free, 1-800-342-9647.
Military OneSource provides counseling or information to servicemembers and families at no charge, and it runs the gamut from child care to personal finances to emotional support during deployments. It also provides relocation advice or helps set up resources for special circumstances. It is open 24-7.
Access to this type of support is particularly important for family members of deployed reserve component personnel, Arsht said.
Another important resource is Military Homefront. This official DoD Web site offers reliable quality of life information tailored for three specific groups: servicemembers and families, leaders and service providers.
Article sponsored by criminal justice leadership; and, police and military personnel who have become authors.
Jones Says NATO Healthy, Adapting to 21st Century
By Jim Garamone
Dec. 21, 2006 – The North Atlantic Treaty Organization is healthy and its best years lie ahead, Marine Corps Gen. James L. Jones said today at the Europe Atlantic Council here. Jones stepped down as NATO's supreme allied commander earlier this month.
While some aspects of the alliance may need work, Jones said that, on the whole, it is an "incredibly healthy organization."
Jones assumed his office in January 2003 after serving as the commandant of the Marine Corps. During his time in the position, the alliance has changed dramatically.
"Perhaps the highlight of the last four years was witnessing the accession of seven new nations into the alliance in 2004," he said. "It was a very emotional moment for seven former Warsaw Pact countries."
Membership in NATO meant acceptance in the free world to the former communist countries, Jones said.
"There was a sort of palpable enthusiasm for freedom, democracy, rule of law and just the vast potential for those people that had been unleashed," he said. "You feel every day their enthusiasm from these new members."
During Jones' tenure, the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan grew from a force providing security in and around the Afghan capital of Kabul, to providing security for the entire country. The NATO commander in Afghanistan now commands 32,000 troops from 32 different countries, Jones said.
The NATO mission in Afghanistan and NATO training mission in Iraq are just two operations that show the term "out of area operations" is obsolete, he said.
During the Cold War, NATO's job was to defend Western Europe from the menace of the Soviet Union and the Warsaw Pact. There were no "out-of-area operations, nor was the possibility even really contemplated," he said.
"It is a given that NATO is operating today on three different continents with more than 50,000 troops committed to NATO missions," he said.
Troops under NATO command operate in Asia, Africa and Europe, and Jones said the alliance is also embracing change. "Nowhere was that more in evidence than in establishing the NATO Response Force," he said.
The force - 25,000 personnel ready to deploy at a moment's notice - is now fully operational and capable. The general said the force is NATO's greatest commitment to transformation.
The force is ready to "take on missions at a strategic distance, but in an expeditionary manner," he said.
The NATO Response Force's first real deployment - to Pakistan to help with humanitarian relief following the earthquakes in January 2005 - is a prime example of this, Jones said.
The fact that the force's first mission was a humanitarian operation has also caused some reassessment in NATO, he said.
"NATO is reinventing itself and re-explaining itself because in this world NATO is thought of, correctly, as principally a warfighting organization," he said. "This transformation of NATO - going from a reactive 20th-century force, which it needed to be, to a 21st-century more expeditionary and agile force - brings with a whole lot of things" that countries didn't realize when they signed up for the process in 2002.
"It has caused a lot of pain because it gets you into such things as multinational logistics (and) organic intelligence, which NATO has never had," he said.
Other transformational aspects during Jones' command included eliminating duplicate NATO headquarters, disestablishing the Alled Command Atlantic and replacing it with the Allied Command Transformation and placing all operations under Allied Command Europe.
This is not to say there are not problems that NATO must address, Jones said. First and foremost is money. The per capita share of many countries has actually gone down since the Prague Summit in 2002. NATO nations agreed during that summit to spend roughly 3 percent of their gross domestic product on defense.
Another problem is national caveats, Jones said. This is where troops assigned to a mission has such stringent restrictions placed on them, that commanders can hardly use them.
But the alliance is remarkably adaptable and resilient, Jones said. "The other bit of evidence that the alliance is healthy is that I know of no countries that are trying to leave the alliance," Jones said. "And I know quite a few that are trying to queue up and measure up to become members by as early as 2008."
Article sponsored by criminal justice leadership; and, police and military personnel who have become authors.
Dec. 21, 2006 – The North Atlantic Treaty Organization is healthy and its best years lie ahead, Marine Corps Gen. James L. Jones said today at the Europe Atlantic Council here. Jones stepped down as NATO's supreme allied commander earlier this month.
While some aspects of the alliance may need work, Jones said that, on the whole, it is an "incredibly healthy organization."
Jones assumed his office in January 2003 after serving as the commandant of the Marine Corps. During his time in the position, the alliance has changed dramatically.
"Perhaps the highlight of the last four years was witnessing the accession of seven new nations into the alliance in 2004," he said. "It was a very emotional moment for seven former Warsaw Pact countries."
Membership in NATO meant acceptance in the free world to the former communist countries, Jones said.
"There was a sort of palpable enthusiasm for freedom, democracy, rule of law and just the vast potential for those people that had been unleashed," he said. "You feel every day their enthusiasm from these new members."
During Jones' tenure, the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan grew from a force providing security in and around the Afghan capital of Kabul, to providing security for the entire country. The NATO commander in Afghanistan now commands 32,000 troops from 32 different countries, Jones said.
The NATO mission in Afghanistan and NATO training mission in Iraq are just two operations that show the term "out of area operations" is obsolete, he said.
During the Cold War, NATO's job was to defend Western Europe from the menace of the Soviet Union and the Warsaw Pact. There were no "out-of-area operations, nor was the possibility even really contemplated," he said.
"It is a given that NATO is operating today on three different continents with more than 50,000 troops committed to NATO missions," he said.
Troops under NATO command operate in Asia, Africa and Europe, and Jones said the alliance is also embracing change. "Nowhere was that more in evidence than in establishing the NATO Response Force," he said.
The force - 25,000 personnel ready to deploy at a moment's notice - is now fully operational and capable. The general said the force is NATO's greatest commitment to transformation.
The force is ready to "take on missions at a strategic distance, but in an expeditionary manner," he said.
The NATO Response Force's first real deployment - to Pakistan to help with humanitarian relief following the earthquakes in January 2005 - is a prime example of this, Jones said.
The fact that the force's first mission was a humanitarian operation has also caused some reassessment in NATO, he said.
"NATO is reinventing itself and re-explaining itself because in this world NATO is thought of, correctly, as principally a warfighting organization," he said. "This transformation of NATO - going from a reactive 20th-century force, which it needed to be, to a 21st-century more expeditionary and agile force - brings with a whole lot of things" that countries didn't realize when they signed up for the process in 2002.
"It has caused a lot of pain because it gets you into such things as multinational logistics (and) organic intelligence, which NATO has never had," he said.
Other transformational aspects during Jones' command included eliminating duplicate NATO headquarters, disestablishing the Alled Command Atlantic and replacing it with the Allied Command Transformation and placing all operations under Allied Command Europe.
This is not to say there are not problems that NATO must address, Jones said. First and foremost is money. The per capita share of many countries has actually gone down since the Prague Summit in 2002. NATO nations agreed during that summit to spend roughly 3 percent of their gross domestic product on defense.
Another problem is national caveats, Jones said. This is where troops assigned to a mission has such stringent restrictions placed on them, that commanders can hardly use them.
But the alliance is remarkably adaptable and resilient, Jones said. "The other bit of evidence that the alliance is healthy is that I know of no countries that are trying to leave the alliance," Jones said. "And I know quite a few that are trying to queue up and measure up to become members by as early as 2008."
Article sponsored by criminal justice leadership; and, police and military personnel who have become authors.
Colorado Guard Responds to Blizzard Emergency
By Donna Miles
Dec. 21, 2006 – About 50 Colorado Army National Guard troops worked through the night, rescuing stranded motorists, clearing roadways for emergency vehicles and delivering American Red Cross supplies in the midst of a blizzard that's already blanketed the state with more than two feet of snow. Colorado Gov. Bill Owens declared a state of emergency yesterday and activated the Guardsmen to respond to the blizzard.
Air Force Maj. Gen. Mason Whitney, state adjutant general, told American Forces Press Service the troops were ready for the activation order. "We started preparing about two days ago. We knew this was going to be a big one, but we didn't know it was going to be this big," he said.
The Guard activated its Joint Operations Center and put small mobility teams on alert at 10 armories across the state, the general said.
When the governor ordered the call-up, the troops quickly responded with 25 Humvees and 15 medium tactical vehicles to help first responders rescue motorists and clear pathways for emergency workers, he said. The troops also are delivering Red Cross emergency supplies, including cots, food and water, to emergency shelters.
Most of their operations are focused on Denver, Pueblo, Colorado Springs and other parts of the state's eastern range section. Whitney said another 20 Guardsmen are expected to be on duty soon to provide relief to their fellow troops who worked through the night.
About two more inches of snow are expected to accumulate before early afternoon today, but Whitney said the storm has been downgraded from blizzard status. As soon as conditions improve, the Guard will dispatch helicopters to search roads inaccessible by vehicle to ensure no one is stranded, he said.
The Colorado Guard currently has just three UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters and four UH-1 Huey helicopters at its disposal because most of its Black Hawks and all its Chinooks are deployed to Iraq, Whitney said.
In the event that the Colorado Guard needs more aircraft to conduct its state mission, he said other states would contribute their resources, an arrangement provided through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact.
In addition, officials at Fort Carson in Colorado Springs have offered assets, if needed, Whitney said.
The general called the Colorado National Guard's quick response to the blizzard an example the important state emergency response role the Guard carries out nationwide.
"That responsibility is one of our primary missions, and we have always responded," he said. "That's the strength of the National Guard. We are the forward-deployed forces in communities across America for the homeland defense and emergency response mission."
Article sponsored by criminal justice leadership; and, police and military personnel who have become authors.
Dec. 21, 2006 – About 50 Colorado Army National Guard troops worked through the night, rescuing stranded motorists, clearing roadways for emergency vehicles and delivering American Red Cross supplies in the midst of a blizzard that's already blanketed the state with more than two feet of snow. Colorado Gov. Bill Owens declared a state of emergency yesterday and activated the Guardsmen to respond to the blizzard.
Air Force Maj. Gen. Mason Whitney, state adjutant general, told American Forces Press Service the troops were ready for the activation order. "We started preparing about two days ago. We knew this was going to be a big one, but we didn't know it was going to be this big," he said.
The Guard activated its Joint Operations Center and put small mobility teams on alert at 10 armories across the state, the general said.
When the governor ordered the call-up, the troops quickly responded with 25 Humvees and 15 medium tactical vehicles to help first responders rescue motorists and clear pathways for emergency workers, he said. The troops also are delivering Red Cross emergency supplies, including cots, food and water, to emergency shelters.
Most of their operations are focused on Denver, Pueblo, Colorado Springs and other parts of the state's eastern range section. Whitney said another 20 Guardsmen are expected to be on duty soon to provide relief to their fellow troops who worked through the night.
About two more inches of snow are expected to accumulate before early afternoon today, but Whitney said the storm has been downgraded from blizzard status. As soon as conditions improve, the Guard will dispatch helicopters to search roads inaccessible by vehicle to ensure no one is stranded, he said.
The Colorado Guard currently has just three UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters and four UH-1 Huey helicopters at its disposal because most of its Black Hawks and all its Chinooks are deployed to Iraq, Whitney said.
In the event that the Colorado Guard needs more aircraft to conduct its state mission, he said other states would contribute their resources, an arrangement provided through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact.
In addition, officials at Fort Carson in Colorado Springs have offered assets, if needed, Whitney said.
The general called the Colorado National Guard's quick response to the blizzard an example the important state emergency response role the Guard carries out nationwide.
"That responsibility is one of our primary missions, and we have always responded," he said. "That's the strength of the National Guard. We are the forward-deployed forces in communities across America for the homeland defense and emergency response mission."
Article sponsored by criminal justice leadership; and, police and military personnel who have become authors.
Tribute for Troops Donates to Troops, Vets
By Carmen L. Burgess
Dec. 21, 2006 – Organizers of the annual "Tribute to the Troops" motorcycle ride and benefit concert recently donated more than $18,000 to Minnesota and Wisconsin-based military support groups. The group raised the funds during their third ride Sept. 8-10. The event takes place each year around the Sept. 1, 2001, anniversary of the terrorist attacks on the United States.
Gregg Schmitt, director of the Minneapolis-based organization, first teamed up with country music artist Rockie Lynn in 2004 to plan the event as a way of showing the families that Americans from all walks of life care about them and are aware of their loss.
More than 200 bikers participated in this year's ride which began in Minneapolis and ended three days later in Hamel, Minn. The riders stopped at the homes of nine fallen servicemembers along the route to pay their respects to families and to thank them for their sacrifice.
Plans for the fourth annual ride slated for Sept. 7-9, 2007 are already underway.
Article sponsored by criminal justice leadership; and, police and military personnel who have become authors.
Dec. 21, 2006 – Organizers of the annual "Tribute to the Troops" motorcycle ride and benefit concert recently donated more than $18,000 to Minnesota and Wisconsin-based military support groups. The group raised the funds during their third ride Sept. 8-10. The event takes place each year around the Sept. 1, 2001, anniversary of the terrorist attacks on the United States.
Gregg Schmitt, director of the Minneapolis-based organization, first teamed up with country music artist Rockie Lynn in 2004 to plan the event as a way of showing the families that Americans from all walks of life care about them and are aware of their loss.
More than 200 bikers participated in this year's ride which began in Minneapolis and ended three days later in Hamel, Minn. The riders stopped at the homes of nine fallen servicemembers along the route to pay their respects to families and to thank them for their sacrifice.
Plans for the fourth annual ride slated for Sept. 7-9, 2007 are already underway.
Article sponsored by criminal justice leadership; and, police and military personnel who have become authors.
Internet Radio Show Helps Military Wives
By Gerry J. Gilmore
Dec. 21, 2006 – Two Army wives have joined forces to run an Internet radio show that provides important information to other military wives. Star Henderson and Tara Crooks have more than 20 years' experience between them, and the two have teamed up to help other military wives through their Internet talk radio show, Army Wife Talk Radio.com.
"We want to pass that experience along to other Army wives," said Henderson, 32, whose husband, David, is a captain in the Georgia Army National Guard. The Hendersons have a 10-year-old son and 2-year-old daughter.
Army Wife Talk Radio.com covers a variety of topics, such as how to solve family challenges when a spouse is deployed and navigate the military's healthcare system. The program has developed a core following of fans, said Crooks, 31, a veteran with 10 years of military experience. Crooks' husband, Kevin, is a U.S. Army captain assigned to the 3rd Infantry Division at Fort Stewart, Ga. The Crooks have a 5-year-old daughter.
"It became like a community thing, where I've got loyal listeners that are probably following my life, wondering what the heck is going to happen in the Crooks' household today," Crooks said. "And, then I've got people calling in and sharing their stories. It makes me feel that I'm not alone."
There are "so many" services available to help military families, Crooks said there's no cohesive program to promote them to family members. That's where the radio show can really help, she said.
Henderson launched Army Wife Talk Radio.com a year and a half ago, and Crooks got involved about seven months ago when she began writing for the show's newsletter. Now they share responsibilities equally in the program.
A recorded show is made available on the site each Monday, but Henderson said they hope to be able to broadcast live in the near future.
In addition to sharing their personal experiences, the pair also interviews experts to provide advice on and get information about different subjects.
About seven months ago, they interviewed Allison Barber, deputy assistant secretary of defense for internal communications and public liaison, for the show. Their radio show is preparing to become a sponsor of the Defense Department's America Supports You program.
"I think it's an amazing program," Crooks said of the ASY program. "Just to see all those organizations coming together to support military members and their families is wonderful."
ASY highlights support from individuals, non-profit organizations and corporations for U.S. military men and women. ASY, Operation Homefront and Wal-Mart joined forces to sponsor Operation Christmas here and at five other locations across the country to bring cheer to military families.
Crooks and Henderson attended yesterday's Operation Christmas event for military families here. During the event, they discussed their shows and shared some of their views on military family life.
Juggling husbands and children and military life can be challenging, the women said, but military wives are a strong lot who instinctively bond together to help one another, discuss pressing issues and propose solutions.
According to Crooks' husband, Army Wife Talk Radio.com is "absolutely great," and his wife is eminently qualified to help other military wives.
"She is definitely the 'rock,'" Crooks said. "She holds together the family when I am gone [on deployment], she pays the bills. It's really unbelievable what she puts in."
Article sponsored by criminal justice leadership; and, police and military personnel who have become authors.
Dec. 21, 2006 – Two Army wives have joined forces to run an Internet radio show that provides important information to other military wives. Star Henderson and Tara Crooks have more than 20 years' experience between them, and the two have teamed up to help other military wives through their Internet talk radio show, Army Wife Talk Radio.com.
"We want to pass that experience along to other Army wives," said Henderson, 32, whose husband, David, is a captain in the Georgia Army National Guard. The Hendersons have a 10-year-old son and 2-year-old daughter.
Army Wife Talk Radio.com covers a variety of topics, such as how to solve family challenges when a spouse is deployed and navigate the military's healthcare system. The program has developed a core following of fans, said Crooks, 31, a veteran with 10 years of military experience. Crooks' husband, Kevin, is a U.S. Army captain assigned to the 3rd Infantry Division at Fort Stewart, Ga. The Crooks have a 5-year-old daughter.
"It became like a community thing, where I've got loyal listeners that are probably following my life, wondering what the heck is going to happen in the Crooks' household today," Crooks said. "And, then I've got people calling in and sharing their stories. It makes me feel that I'm not alone."
There are "so many" services available to help military families, Crooks said there's no cohesive program to promote them to family members. That's where the radio show can really help, she said.
Henderson launched Army Wife Talk Radio.com a year and a half ago, and Crooks got involved about seven months ago when she began writing for the show's newsletter. Now they share responsibilities equally in the program.
A recorded show is made available on the site each Monday, but Henderson said they hope to be able to broadcast live in the near future.
In addition to sharing their personal experiences, the pair also interviews experts to provide advice on and get information about different subjects.
About seven months ago, they interviewed Allison Barber, deputy assistant secretary of defense for internal communications and public liaison, for the show. Their radio show is preparing to become a sponsor of the Defense Department's America Supports You program.
"I think it's an amazing program," Crooks said of the ASY program. "Just to see all those organizations coming together to support military members and their families is wonderful."
ASY highlights support from individuals, non-profit organizations and corporations for U.S. military men and women. ASY, Operation Homefront and Wal-Mart joined forces to sponsor Operation Christmas here and at five other locations across the country to bring cheer to military families.
Crooks and Henderson attended yesterday's Operation Christmas event for military families here. During the event, they discussed their shows and shared some of their views on military family life.
Juggling husbands and children and military life can be challenging, the women said, but military wives are a strong lot who instinctively bond together to help one another, discuss pressing issues and propose solutions.
According to Crooks' husband, Army Wife Talk Radio.com is "absolutely great," and his wife is eminently qualified to help other military wives.
"She is definitely the 'rock,'" Crooks said. "She holds together the family when I am gone [on deployment], she pays the bills. It's really unbelievable what she puts in."
Article sponsored by criminal justice leadership; and, police and military personnel who have become authors.
New Englanders Collect Gifts for Troops
By Carmen L. Burgess
Dec. 20, 2006 – Thousands of students from the Merrimack Valley Region of Massachusetts and New Hampshire donated more than 22,000 gifts for deployed troops this holiday season. The students took part in the largest drive yet organized by New England Caring for Our Military, an America Supports You member organization. ASY is a Defense Department program that focuses on connecting support groups throughout the nation with the men and women of the armed forces at home and abroad.
The gift drive, dubbed "It Takes a Valley," kicked off in November and ended Dec. 9. Some 6,000 students in grades kindergarten through high school participated, collecting items to send to the troops from a list provided by New England Caring for our Military.
"They put their lives on hold for us, to preserve our freedom," Organization founder James SereigWareing said of the troops being supported through the effort. "It's the least we can do for them."
The organization started holiday care packages to the troops in 2004.
The 22,000 items collected by the community were combined to make more than 10,000 individual gift sets, sent in cases to units, as well as entire platoons.
The care packages, sent to troops stationed in Iraq, Afghanistan, Kosovo, Korea, Japan and Africa, also included 7,000 handmade holiday greeting cards and posters.
Sereigo-Wareing said packaging the items turned out to be a community effort. Students, senior citizens and people with mental and physical disabilities pitched in to pack the 2.2 tons of gifts that were shipped over a six-day period.
"Taking all segments of the population to work on a project is very powerful," he said.
Sereigo-Wareing said he works with local school systems to collect items and letters for care packages, to help send a message. "I try to teach students respect for the military because they will be our future leaders," he said. "Imagine how many lives we impact when students get involved."
The reward, he said, will be knowing that troops have something special to open for the holidays.
"I want them to feel like they are home," he said. He ensured that "fun" items such as puzzles, cards, books and board games made it into the packages in addition to telephone cards, socks and T-shirts.
"It's probably always hard for troops to be far away from home, but especially hard on the holidays," he said. "I use this as an opportunity to try to pay them back for my freedom."
Sereigo-Wareing said he believes the handmade greetings from the students will go a long way to boost morale and reinforce to the men and women serving in the military that U.S. citizens support them and honor their dedication and service.
Article sponsored by criminal justice leadership; and, police and military personnel who have become authors.
Dec. 20, 2006 – Thousands of students from the Merrimack Valley Region of Massachusetts and New Hampshire donated more than 22,000 gifts for deployed troops this holiday season. The students took part in the largest drive yet organized by New England Caring for Our Military, an America Supports You member organization. ASY is a Defense Department program that focuses on connecting support groups throughout the nation with the men and women of the armed forces at home and abroad.
The gift drive, dubbed "It Takes a Valley," kicked off in November and ended Dec. 9. Some 6,000 students in grades kindergarten through high school participated, collecting items to send to the troops from a list provided by New England Caring for our Military.
"They put their lives on hold for us, to preserve our freedom," Organization founder James SereigWareing said of the troops being supported through the effort. "It's the least we can do for them."
The organization started holiday care packages to the troops in 2004.
The 22,000 items collected by the community were combined to make more than 10,000 individual gift sets, sent in cases to units, as well as entire platoons.
The care packages, sent to troops stationed in Iraq, Afghanistan, Kosovo, Korea, Japan and Africa, also included 7,000 handmade holiday greeting cards and posters.
Sereigo-Wareing said packaging the items turned out to be a community effort. Students, senior citizens and people with mental and physical disabilities pitched in to pack the 2.2 tons of gifts that were shipped over a six-day period.
"Taking all segments of the population to work on a project is very powerful," he said.
Sereigo-Wareing said he works with local school systems to collect items and letters for care packages, to help send a message. "I try to teach students respect for the military because they will be our future leaders," he said. "Imagine how many lives we impact when students get involved."
The reward, he said, will be knowing that troops have something special to open for the holidays.
"I want them to feel like they are home," he said. He ensured that "fun" items such as puzzles, cards, books and board games made it into the packages in addition to telephone cards, socks and T-shirts.
"It's probably always hard for troops to be far away from home, but especially hard on the holidays," he said. "I use this as an opportunity to try to pay them back for my freedom."
Sereigo-Wareing said he believes the handmade greetings from the students will go a long way to boost morale and reinforce to the men and women serving in the military that U.S. citizens support them and honor their dedication and service.
Article sponsored by criminal justice leadership; and, police and military personnel who have become authors.
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