American Forces Press Service
Jan. 12, 2007 – Football fans across America got a sneak preview of the nation's newest class of college stars at the seventh annual U.S. Army All-American Bowl in San Antonio's Alamodome on Jan. 6. But the brightest star of the game was Army Pvt. Josh Lucas, who took home $10,000 when he put a football through the uprights during an in-game promotion by USAA. Lucas and his roommate, Pfc. William Herron, both assigned to Company C, 264th Medical Brigade, at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, were selected to compete against one another and be the first to kick a 30-yard field goal. Lucas booted the ball between the uprights on his second try and took home the $10,000 prize. However, Herron didn't go home empty handed; he walked off the field $3,000 richer, courtesy of USAA.
ASAA is a corporate member of the Defense Department's America Supports You program, which highlights ways Americans support U.S. servicemembers and their families.
"That was a pretty exciting deal," Lucas said. "It seemed like I got called out of the stands just out of the blue, and the next thing I know I'm kicking a field goal and winning $10,000."
"USAA's mission is to support the men and women who defend our nation, and their families," said Mike Luby, president of USAA Federal Savings Bank. "As Americans, we can never truly repay the debt we owe our troops and their families. However, holding this contest and giving away these tickets is a small token of our appreciation for their service and sacrifice."
In addition to the field goal contest, USAA provided Fort Sam Houston leaders 1,000 tickets to the game for soldiers and their families. They also provided lunch for the more than 3,000 soldiers attending the game.
This article sponsored by military and police personnel who have become writers and criminal justice leadership.
Friday, January 12, 2007
Medal of Honor Recipient Honored at Pentagon
By Sgt. Sara Wood, USA
American Forces Press Service
Jan. 12, 2007 – The second servicemember to receive the Medal of Honor for actions in the Iraq war was inducted into the Pentagon's Hall of Heroes today. Marine Cpl. Jason Dunham's name was added to the more than 3,000 engraved on the wall in the Defense Department's shrine to those who have been awarded the nation's highest honor. President Bush presented the Medal of Honor to Dunham's family yesterday at the White House.
Dunham earned the Medal of Honor for his actions in Iraq on April 14, 2004, when he threw himself on top of a live grenade to save the lives of his fellow Marines. He died of his injuries eight days later at the National Naval Medical Center, in Bethesda, Md.
"There are rare heroes who affirmatively make the decision to do an extraordinary thing and give up their lives for others," Deputy Defense Secretary Gordon England said at the induction ceremony. "That's the decision that Jason made in April 2004. That's the reason we gather here today, to stand in awe of that choice he made and to pay tribute to that sacrifice."
Heroes like Dunham, and others who have earned the Medal of Honor, share the same fundamental character and sense of responsibility for others, England noted. The Medal of Honor is surrounded by grandeur, he said, but at the end of the day, it is about the character of those who have received it. The character of these heroes is a reflection of people who have had the greatest effect on them, he added.
"This nation is eternally grateful to Jason and eternally grateful to his family," England said.
Dunham's mother, Deb, and father, Dan, were at the ceremony, along with his two brothers and sister. After the unveiling of the plaque bearing Dunham's name, Deb talked about the void left in their lives when Jason died. She and her family have worked through the pain, she said, and have had support from all sides.
"We've acquired a Marine family, and it's huge, and they're loving, and they're strong, and they're gentle, and they're kind, and they're ever so supportive," she said. "We gave them a young man who couldn't remember to take out the garbage, who tormented with practical jokes that were fun and never (malicious), and the Marines polished him. They made him into a phenomenal person."
Deb thanked all of Dunham's fellow Marines for their service and all those who have rallied behind the family since their loss.
"As much as this has hurt, we've got so many gifts -- from the public, cards and phone calls, the gift of a thousand more sons then we could ever begin to remember, and the gift of having each other," she said. "Jason gave a gift of love, and I'm so proud of him."
Marine Corps Gen. James T. Conway, commandant of the Marine Corps, lauded Dunham's service. The Hall of Heroes may be a small place, he said, but it holds a vast accounting of all that is best in America. Dunham deserves to join the ranks of those honored there, Conway said.
"When he placed his helmet and then his body on that enemy grenade, he did so willingly; he did it bravely and, I'm convinced, did it solely to prevent the deaths of those Marines around him," he said. "He realized the danger, and he went out to meet it."
Dunham's deeds and valor will live on after him and inspire future generations, England said. Those who have earned the Medal of Honor are caretakers of a medal that many deserve, he said.
"Jason and all those who have made the ultimate sacrifice remind us of the price of freedom," England said. "It's a price that is periodically required to be paid in blood and suffering and courage, and in this new war on terror, it's a price that has been paid -- here in the Pentagon, in New York, in Pennsylvania, in Iraq, in Afghanistan, and wherever the brave men and women who wear the cloth of our nation serve."
This article sponsored by military and police personnel who have become writers and criminal justice leadership.
American Forces Press Service
Jan. 12, 2007 – The second servicemember to receive the Medal of Honor for actions in the Iraq war was inducted into the Pentagon's Hall of Heroes today. Marine Cpl. Jason Dunham's name was added to the more than 3,000 engraved on the wall in the Defense Department's shrine to those who have been awarded the nation's highest honor. President Bush presented the Medal of Honor to Dunham's family yesterday at the White House.
Dunham earned the Medal of Honor for his actions in Iraq on April 14, 2004, when he threw himself on top of a live grenade to save the lives of his fellow Marines. He died of his injuries eight days later at the National Naval Medical Center, in Bethesda, Md.
"There are rare heroes who affirmatively make the decision to do an extraordinary thing and give up their lives for others," Deputy Defense Secretary Gordon England said at the induction ceremony. "That's the decision that Jason made in April 2004. That's the reason we gather here today, to stand in awe of that choice he made and to pay tribute to that sacrifice."
Heroes like Dunham, and others who have earned the Medal of Honor, share the same fundamental character and sense of responsibility for others, England noted. The Medal of Honor is surrounded by grandeur, he said, but at the end of the day, it is about the character of those who have received it. The character of these heroes is a reflection of people who have had the greatest effect on them, he added.
"This nation is eternally grateful to Jason and eternally grateful to his family," England said.
Dunham's mother, Deb, and father, Dan, were at the ceremony, along with his two brothers and sister. After the unveiling of the plaque bearing Dunham's name, Deb talked about the void left in their lives when Jason died. She and her family have worked through the pain, she said, and have had support from all sides.
"We've acquired a Marine family, and it's huge, and they're loving, and they're strong, and they're gentle, and they're kind, and they're ever so supportive," she said. "We gave them a young man who couldn't remember to take out the garbage, who tormented with practical jokes that were fun and never (malicious), and the Marines polished him. They made him into a phenomenal person."
Deb thanked all of Dunham's fellow Marines for their service and all those who have rallied behind the family since their loss.
"As much as this has hurt, we've got so many gifts -- from the public, cards and phone calls, the gift of a thousand more sons then we could ever begin to remember, and the gift of having each other," she said. "Jason gave a gift of love, and I'm so proud of him."
Marine Corps Gen. James T. Conway, commandant of the Marine Corps, lauded Dunham's service. The Hall of Heroes may be a small place, he said, but it holds a vast accounting of all that is best in America. Dunham deserves to join the ranks of those honored there, Conway said.
"When he placed his helmet and then his body on that enemy grenade, he did so willingly; he did it bravely and, I'm convinced, did it solely to prevent the deaths of those Marines around him," he said. "He realized the danger, and he went out to meet it."
Dunham's deeds and valor will live on after him and inspire future generations, England said. Those who have earned the Medal of Honor are caretakers of a medal that many deserve, he said.
"Jason and all those who have made the ultimate sacrifice remind us of the price of freedom," England said. "It's a price that is periodically required to be paid in blood and suffering and courage, and in this new war on terror, it's a price that has been paid -- here in the Pentagon, in New York, in Pennsylvania, in Iraq, in Afghanistan, and wherever the brave men and women who wear the cloth of our nation serve."
This article sponsored by military and police personnel who have become writers and criminal justice leadership.
Survey: Most Troops Have Positive View of Military, Eschew Drugs
By Gerry J. Gilmore
American Forces Press Service
Jan. 12, 2007 – Most active-duty servicemembers have a positive view of their military service and aren't turning to alcohol or illegal drugs to cope with wartime-related stressors, according to findings from a Defense Department-sanctioned survey conducted in 2005. "Despite the stresses of war and ongoing deployments, nearly all indicators of servicemembers' health and well-being continue to be quite good, especially when compared with civilian populations," Dr. William Winkenwerder, assistant secretary of defense for health affairs, said during a telephone interview with reporters.
The survey results also show that 66 percent of armed forces members polled view their military service positively and are satisfied with their jobs, Winkenwerder said, and nearly 50 percent of respondents said they'd like to serve in the military at least 20 years.
More than 16,000 active-duty military members assigned at 60 installations worldwide took part in the Survey of Health Related Behaviors Among Military Personnel, which has been conducted every three to four years since 1980. The randomly selected respondents answered questions about their military service, substance abuse, deployment stress, mental health and weight management.
The survey was conducted by a DoD-contracted research firm, Winkenwerder said, and the information provides is used for programs that enhance troops' physical and mental well-being.
The survey's findings are consistent with military trends that began in the mid-1980s, said Dr. Robert M. Bray, director of the survey project for contractor RTI International. Servicemembers' use of alcohol and tobacco continues to decline, a circumstance that mirrors what's happening in civilian society, Bray said.
"Military rates of smoking are lowering to match civilian rates," Bray said.
Overall, military smoking for all age groups is at about 31 percent, according to survey data, compared to an overall civilian smoking rate of about 30 percent.
Yet, although smoking is declining within the military, servicemembers' use of smokeless tobacco has risen, Bray noted.
Regarding servicemembers' use of alcohol, heavy drinking has declined since 1988, Bray reported. "We see that the heavy drinking rate seems to be staying fairly flat," he said, noting that overall alcohol consumption in the military is going down.
In addition, overall incidence of illegal drug use by servicemembers of all ages has remained at 5 percent or lower since 1988, he said.
While more than 75 percent of survey respondents said they regularly engage in rigorous exercise, the incidence of overweight servicemembers is increasing, just like the average civilian's weight has increased over the last 10 years, Bray said. One culprit, he said, could be that the body mass index method of measure used today doesn't distinguish between fat and muscle, which weighs more.
Surveyed servicemembers reporting a lot of stress at work (32 percent) and family stress (19 percent) are similar to findings from the 2002 survey, Bray said.
The survey's findings also indicate a significant decline since 2002 in the incidence of serious injuries or accidents that put servicemembers in hospitals, Winkenwerder said. This could be partly explained by increased servicemember use of automobile seatbelts and motorcycle helmets, he said.
Just fewer than 18 percent of servicemembers surveyed said they believe they need mental health counseling, Winkenwerder said, adding that about 15 percent said they'd sought such counseling. Other respondents indicated that they'd visited a chaplain or talked things over with friends, he added.
"This is important, because I think it suggests that people are going for and receiving the mental health support and services that they need," Winkenwerder said.
In all, 56 percent of servicemembers polled said they believe it would not harm their military careers if they sought mental health help, Winkenwerder said. "We're pleased with that," he said,
Although wartime's circumstances are taxing servicemembers and their families, the survey's findings indicate that people are finding healthy ways to deal with stress. About 81 percent of survey respondents said they deal with stress by working out a plan, which may include exercise, hobbies, talking with family members or prayer, Winkenwerder said.
This article sponsored by military and police personnel who have become writers and criminal justice leadership.
American Forces Press Service
Jan. 12, 2007 – Most active-duty servicemembers have a positive view of their military service and aren't turning to alcohol or illegal drugs to cope with wartime-related stressors, according to findings from a Defense Department-sanctioned survey conducted in 2005. "Despite the stresses of war and ongoing deployments, nearly all indicators of servicemembers' health and well-being continue to be quite good, especially when compared with civilian populations," Dr. William Winkenwerder, assistant secretary of defense for health affairs, said during a telephone interview with reporters.
The survey results also show that 66 percent of armed forces members polled view their military service positively and are satisfied with their jobs, Winkenwerder said, and nearly 50 percent of respondents said they'd like to serve in the military at least 20 years.
More than 16,000 active-duty military members assigned at 60 installations worldwide took part in the Survey of Health Related Behaviors Among Military Personnel, which has been conducted every three to four years since 1980. The randomly selected respondents answered questions about their military service, substance abuse, deployment stress, mental health and weight management.
The survey was conducted by a DoD-contracted research firm, Winkenwerder said, and the information provides is used for programs that enhance troops' physical and mental well-being.
The survey's findings are consistent with military trends that began in the mid-1980s, said Dr. Robert M. Bray, director of the survey project for contractor RTI International. Servicemembers' use of alcohol and tobacco continues to decline, a circumstance that mirrors what's happening in civilian society, Bray said.
"Military rates of smoking are lowering to match civilian rates," Bray said.
Overall, military smoking for all age groups is at about 31 percent, according to survey data, compared to an overall civilian smoking rate of about 30 percent.
Yet, although smoking is declining within the military, servicemembers' use of smokeless tobacco has risen, Bray noted.
Regarding servicemembers' use of alcohol, heavy drinking has declined since 1988, Bray reported. "We see that the heavy drinking rate seems to be staying fairly flat," he said, noting that overall alcohol consumption in the military is going down.
In addition, overall incidence of illegal drug use by servicemembers of all ages has remained at 5 percent or lower since 1988, he said.
While more than 75 percent of survey respondents said they regularly engage in rigorous exercise, the incidence of overweight servicemembers is increasing, just like the average civilian's weight has increased over the last 10 years, Bray said. One culprit, he said, could be that the body mass index method of measure used today doesn't distinguish between fat and muscle, which weighs more.
Surveyed servicemembers reporting a lot of stress at work (32 percent) and family stress (19 percent) are similar to findings from the 2002 survey, Bray said.
The survey's findings also indicate a significant decline since 2002 in the incidence of serious injuries or accidents that put servicemembers in hospitals, Winkenwerder said. This could be partly explained by increased servicemember use of automobile seatbelts and motorcycle helmets, he said.
Just fewer than 18 percent of servicemembers surveyed said they believe they need mental health counseling, Winkenwerder said, adding that about 15 percent said they'd sought such counseling. Other respondents indicated that they'd visited a chaplain or talked things over with friends, he added.
"This is important, because I think it suggests that people are going for and receiving the mental health support and services that they need," Winkenwerder said.
In all, 56 percent of servicemembers polled said they believe it would not harm their military careers if they sought mental health help, Winkenwerder said. "We're pleased with that," he said,
Although wartime's circumstances are taxing servicemembers and their families, the survey's findings indicate that people are finding healthy ways to deal with stress. About 81 percent of survey respondents said they deal with stress by working out a plan, which may include exercise, hobbies, talking with family members or prayer, Winkenwerder said.
This article sponsored by military and police personnel who have become writers and criminal justice leadership.
Patient Care System Aims to Reduce Medical Errors
By Gerry J. Gilmore
American Forces Press Service
Jan. 12, 2007 – The defense department has trained thousands of military health care providers to employ a quality management system that's designed to minimize human errors in hospital operating and delivery rooms, a senior defense official said yesterday. The Team Strategies and Tools to Enhance Performance and Patient Safety, or TeamSTEPPS, program stresses teamwork and communication among doctors, nurses and other healthcare givers to improve quality, safety and efficiency across military health care, Dr. David N. Tornberg, deputy assistant secretary of defense for clinical and program policy, said during an interview with the Pentagon Channel and American Forces Press Service.
"Providing the optimum, cutting-edge care to our beneficiaries is what this is all about," Tornberg said. "And, I'm proud to say that the department of defense and the military health care system are absolute leaders in enhancing a culture of safety in our military treatment facilities."
Use of TeamSTEPPS creates "an environment where people broadly communicate and have a clear understanding of the goals and objectives of the team," he said.
Establishing a culture of patient-centered care through the use of teamwork and enhanced communication among health care employees is absolutely vital, Tornberg said. "Miscommunication clearly is associated with medical errors," he said.
More than 5,000 health care givers at more than 80 military treatment facilities in the continental United States have received TeamSTEPPS instruction in the last three years, Tornberg said. And now, about 1,000 trainers and coaches are teaching the concept at other military hospitals and clinics, he said.
The program has been "incredibly well-received" by military health care givers, Tornberg said.
The training system was developed from more than 20 years of experience in the aviation, military, nuclear power, healthcare, business and other safety-conscious industries, Tornberg said.
The defense department is now collaborating with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality to make TeamSTEPPS available to the public health care industry, he said.
The military health system operates 72 hospitals and more than 500 medical and dental clinics administering care to more than 9.3 beneficiaries, according to DoD documents.
This article sponsored by military and police personnel who have become writers and criminal justice leadership.
American Forces Press Service
Jan. 12, 2007 – The defense department has trained thousands of military health care providers to employ a quality management system that's designed to minimize human errors in hospital operating and delivery rooms, a senior defense official said yesterday. The Team Strategies and Tools to Enhance Performance and Patient Safety, or TeamSTEPPS, program stresses teamwork and communication among doctors, nurses and other healthcare givers to improve quality, safety and efficiency across military health care, Dr. David N. Tornberg, deputy assistant secretary of defense for clinical and program policy, said during an interview with the Pentagon Channel and American Forces Press Service.
"Providing the optimum, cutting-edge care to our beneficiaries is what this is all about," Tornberg said. "And, I'm proud to say that the department of defense and the military health care system are absolute leaders in enhancing a culture of safety in our military treatment facilities."
Use of TeamSTEPPS creates "an environment where people broadly communicate and have a clear understanding of the goals and objectives of the team," he said.
Establishing a culture of patient-centered care through the use of teamwork and enhanced communication among health care employees is absolutely vital, Tornberg said. "Miscommunication clearly is associated with medical errors," he said.
More than 5,000 health care givers at more than 80 military treatment facilities in the continental United States have received TeamSTEPPS instruction in the last three years, Tornberg said. And now, about 1,000 trainers and coaches are teaching the concept at other military hospitals and clinics, he said.
The program has been "incredibly well-received" by military health care givers, Tornberg said.
The training system was developed from more than 20 years of experience in the aviation, military, nuclear power, healthcare, business and other safety-conscious industries, Tornberg said.
The defense department is now collaborating with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality to make TeamSTEPPS available to the public health care industry, he said.
The military health system operates 72 hospitals and more than 500 medical and dental clinics administering care to more than 9.3 beneficiaries, according to DoD documents.
This article sponsored by military and police personnel who have become writers and criminal justice leadership.
Gates, Pace Support 'Surge' to Iraq, End-Strength Increases
By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service
Jan. 12, 2007 – President Bush's plan to send additional forces to Iraq and to increase the military end strength sends an important message to the troops, the defense secretary and chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff told the Senate Armed Services Committee today. U.S. military commanders on the ground asked for and support the plan to send more than 20,000 additional troops to Iraq to help stabilize the country, Marine Corps Gen. Peter Pace, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told committee members.
"(Our commanders) have asked for additional forces and are happy to have additional forces in the pipeline," he said. These additional troops will give them the flexibility they need to "to reinforce success" already made or respond to unexpected increases in enemy action, he said. If conditions on the ground demonstrate the troop surge isn't needed, the pipeline "can be turned off," Pace said.
Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates told committee members his recommendation to boost the active-duty Army by 65,000 soldiers and the active-duty Marine Corps by 27,000 Marines over the next five years will go a long way toward increasing their combat capability.
At the same time, the secretary said, it will help reduce stress on the force and help pave the way for more predictable deployment cycles. The rotation goal for the active force is one-year deployments followed by two years at home station, he said.
For the reserves and Guard, it is one-year deployments followed by five years at home, but Gates said that may not be possible across the board as quickly as he'd like. "Today's global demands will require a number of selected Guard and reserve units to be remobilized sooner than this standard," he told the committee today. "Our intention is that such exceptions will be temporary."
Even when a 547,000-soldier active-duty Army and 202,000-member active-duty Marine Corps is put into place, getting those new troops trained and ready for deployment won't happen right away, Gates acknowledged. But he said getting this effort started will offer reassurance to troops serving today.
"While it may take some time for these troops to become available for deployment, it is important for our men and women in uniform to know that additional manpower and resources are on the way," he said.
Pace praised the soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines who have endured frequent deployments and long family separations to wage the global war on terror. "(These troops) continue to perform magnificently and do everything we have asked them to do," he said.
The chairman extended his appreciation to military family members who he said also are sacrificing for the country. "The addition of troops, the extension of troops, all impact families, and we deeply appreciate what they do on the home front to provide support to the security of this nation," he said.
This article sponsored by military and police personnel who have become writers and criminal justice leadership.
American Forces Press Service
Jan. 12, 2007 – President Bush's plan to send additional forces to Iraq and to increase the military end strength sends an important message to the troops, the defense secretary and chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff told the Senate Armed Services Committee today. U.S. military commanders on the ground asked for and support the plan to send more than 20,000 additional troops to Iraq to help stabilize the country, Marine Corps Gen. Peter Pace, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told committee members.
"(Our commanders) have asked for additional forces and are happy to have additional forces in the pipeline," he said. These additional troops will give them the flexibility they need to "to reinforce success" already made or respond to unexpected increases in enemy action, he said. If conditions on the ground demonstrate the troop surge isn't needed, the pipeline "can be turned off," Pace said.
Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates told committee members his recommendation to boost the active-duty Army by 65,000 soldiers and the active-duty Marine Corps by 27,000 Marines over the next five years will go a long way toward increasing their combat capability.
At the same time, the secretary said, it will help reduce stress on the force and help pave the way for more predictable deployment cycles. The rotation goal for the active force is one-year deployments followed by two years at home station, he said.
For the reserves and Guard, it is one-year deployments followed by five years at home, but Gates said that may not be possible across the board as quickly as he'd like. "Today's global demands will require a number of selected Guard and reserve units to be remobilized sooner than this standard," he told the committee today. "Our intention is that such exceptions will be temporary."
Even when a 547,000-soldier active-duty Army and 202,000-member active-duty Marine Corps is put into place, getting those new troops trained and ready for deployment won't happen right away, Gates acknowledged. But he said getting this effort started will offer reassurance to troops serving today.
"While it may take some time for these troops to become available for deployment, it is important for our men and women in uniform to know that additional manpower and resources are on the way," he said.
Pace praised the soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines who have endured frequent deployments and long family separations to wage the global war on terror. "(These troops) continue to perform magnificently and do everything we have asked them to do," he said.
The chairman extended his appreciation to military family members who he said also are sacrificing for the country. "The addition of troops, the extension of troops, all impact families, and we deeply appreciate what they do on the home front to provide support to the security of this nation," he said.
This article sponsored by military and police personnel who have become writers and criminal justice leadership.
Pace, Gates Discuss Retention, Iraq Challenges
By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service
Jan. 12, 2007 – High military retention rates, particularly among troops who have served in Iraq, shows they recognize the importance of what they're doing and the consequences of failing, Marine Corps Gen. Peter Pace told the Senate Armed Services Committee today. Pace, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates spoke about retention, the challenges facing troops serving in Iraq, and the president's new Iraq strategy during their testimony.
"First of all, fundamentally, (the troops) believe in the mission they have been given," Marine Gen. Peter Pace told the panel. "Second, and also fundamentally, they believe that the American people support them in their mission and support them as a military."
Pace offered his assessment the day after defense officials announced that all the services met or exceeded their active-duty recruiting goals for December. The Army, Marine Corps and Air Force met or exceeded their retention missions, and the Navy fell 4 percent short of its year-to-date retention mission.
Pace attributed much of this success to the fact that the troops understand what ultimately happens in Iraq will affect them, their loved ones and the country's future.
Gates agreed with Pace's estimate. "There is no doubt in my mind that a failure -- which I regard as our leaving Iraq in chaos or an Iraq that has a government that is supportive of terror - would have enormous impact for the region and for us for a long time to come," Gates said.
Gates acknowledged that the situation the troops face in Iraq has become increasingly difficult and complicated.
"Whatever was the case when the war started, .... the reality is, virtually all of the bad guys of the Middle East are now active in Iraq," Gates told the panel. "Hezbollah is proving training, al Qaeda is active, the Iranians are interfering, the Syrians are interfering, so they are all there. And so the situation is both violent and complex."
Gates and Pace told the Senate committee they believe the new Iraq strategy President Bush announced on Jan. 9 will help the situation in Iraq around. The plan calls includes more than 20,000 additional U.S. troops on the ground in Baghdad and Anbar province, increased responsibility for the Iraqi government and Iraqi security forces, and more diplomatic and economic initiatives.
A big difference in the plan - one Pace said is key in making it work - is that it includes a pledge by Iraqi leaders to allow U.S. commanders to work throughout Baghdad without previous constraints. They will be able to operate "without regard to sectarian areas to bring rule of law to all criminals, to work in mixed neighborhoods and Sunni neighborhoods and Shia neighborhoods to bring the peace that is required," the chairman said.
In addition, the plan will help jump-start the Iraqi economy and improve everyday life for its people. Pace called Iraq's pledge to spend $10 million of its own money for reconstruction efforts "important and significant."
Pace called commitments by both the U.S. and Iraqi governments to increase economic activity another major step forward that will "provide jobs to get the young men off the streets and pick up employment."
Both the secretary and chairman reiterated President Bush in telling the senators the U.S. commitment in Iraq isn't open-ended and that the Iraqis will have to hold up their part of the deal.
Gates said the United States will be able to tell "early in this process...probably within a couple of months" if the Iraqis are living up to their commitments in the plan.
This article sponsored by military and police personnel who have become writers and criminal justice leadership.
American Forces Press Service
Jan. 12, 2007 – High military retention rates, particularly among troops who have served in Iraq, shows they recognize the importance of what they're doing and the consequences of failing, Marine Corps Gen. Peter Pace told the Senate Armed Services Committee today. Pace, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates spoke about retention, the challenges facing troops serving in Iraq, and the president's new Iraq strategy during their testimony.
"First of all, fundamentally, (the troops) believe in the mission they have been given," Marine Gen. Peter Pace told the panel. "Second, and also fundamentally, they believe that the American people support them in their mission and support them as a military."
Pace offered his assessment the day after defense officials announced that all the services met or exceeded their active-duty recruiting goals for December. The Army, Marine Corps and Air Force met or exceeded their retention missions, and the Navy fell 4 percent short of its year-to-date retention mission.
Pace attributed much of this success to the fact that the troops understand what ultimately happens in Iraq will affect them, their loved ones and the country's future.
Gates agreed with Pace's estimate. "There is no doubt in my mind that a failure -- which I regard as our leaving Iraq in chaos or an Iraq that has a government that is supportive of terror - would have enormous impact for the region and for us for a long time to come," Gates said.
Gates acknowledged that the situation the troops face in Iraq has become increasingly difficult and complicated.
"Whatever was the case when the war started, .... the reality is, virtually all of the bad guys of the Middle East are now active in Iraq," Gates told the panel. "Hezbollah is proving training, al Qaeda is active, the Iranians are interfering, the Syrians are interfering, so they are all there. And so the situation is both violent and complex."
Gates and Pace told the Senate committee they believe the new Iraq strategy President Bush announced on Jan. 9 will help the situation in Iraq around. The plan calls includes more than 20,000 additional U.S. troops on the ground in Baghdad and Anbar province, increased responsibility for the Iraqi government and Iraqi security forces, and more diplomatic and economic initiatives.
A big difference in the plan - one Pace said is key in making it work - is that it includes a pledge by Iraqi leaders to allow U.S. commanders to work throughout Baghdad without previous constraints. They will be able to operate "without regard to sectarian areas to bring rule of law to all criminals, to work in mixed neighborhoods and Sunni neighborhoods and Shia neighborhoods to bring the peace that is required," the chairman said.
In addition, the plan will help jump-start the Iraqi economy and improve everyday life for its people. Pace called Iraq's pledge to spend $10 million of its own money for reconstruction efforts "important and significant."
Pace called commitments by both the U.S. and Iraqi governments to increase economic activity another major step forward that will "provide jobs to get the young men off the streets and pick up employment."
Both the secretary and chairman reiterated President Bush in telling the senators the U.S. commitment in Iraq isn't open-ended and that the Iraqis will have to hold up their part of the deal.
Gates said the United States will be able to tell "early in this process...probably within a couple of months" if the Iraqis are living up to their commitments in the plan.
This article sponsored by military and police personnel who have become writers and criminal justice leadership.
Bush Presents Medal of Honor to Fallen Marine
By Sgt. Sara Wood, USA
American Forces Press Service
Jan. 11, 2007 – President Bush today presented the Medal of Honor, the nation's highest decoration, to the family of Marine Corps Cpl. Jason Dunham, who died shielding his fellow Marines from a grenade blast in Iraq in April 2004. "With this medal, we pay tribute to the courage and leadership of a man who represents the best of young Americans," Bush said before presenting the medal to Dunham's family at the White House.
Dunham, who grew up in Scio, N.Y., was the leader of a rifle squad with 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines, in Iraq. Dunham's squad was conducting a reconnaissance mission in Karabilah on April 14, 2004, when a nearby convoy returning to base was ambushed. When Dunham's squad approached to assist the convoy, an Iraqi insurgent jumped out of a vehicle and grabbed Dunham by the throat. As Dunham wrestled the insurgent to the ground, he noticed that the enemy fighter had a grenade in his hand. Dunham ordered his Marines to move back, and when the enemy dropped the live grenade, Dunham took off his Kevlar helmet, covered the grenade with it, and threw himself on top to smother the blast.
Dunham initially survived his wounds, but died eight days later at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Md., with his mother and father at his bedside.
"By his selflessness, Corporal Dunham saved the lives of two of his men and showed the world what it means to be a Marine," Bush said.
Dunham is the second servicemember in the war on terror and the first Marine since the Vietnam War to receive the Medal of Honor. His mother, father, sister and two brothers were at the ceremony today, which was attended by Cabinet members, Defense Department and Marine Corps leaders, members of Congress, past Medal of Honor recipients, and members of Dunham's unit.
Bush spoke about Dunham's upbringing in upstate New York. Dunham was a star athlete who was popular and a natural leader. His father, a dairy farm worker, and his mother, a school teacher, were devoted parents. "He grew up with the riches far more important than money," Bush said.
Dunham joined the Marine Corps on July 31, 2000. It was in the Marines that he learned honor, courage, commitment and leadership qualities, Bush said. "As the leader of a rifle squad in Iraq, Corporal Dunham led by the values he had been taught," he said. "He was the guy everybody looked up to; he was a Marine's Marine who led by example."
Bush noted that Dunham's mother called the Marine Corps her son's second family. Now that family is embracing her and the rest of the Dunham family as they deal with their loss, Bush said.
Since World War II, more than half of those who have earned the Medal of Honor have lost their lives in the action that earned it, Bush said. "Corporal Jason Dunham belongs to this select group," he said. "On a dusty road in western Iraq, Corporal Dunham gave his own life so that the men under his command might live. This morning, it's my privilege to recognize Corporal Dunham's devotion to the Corps and the country and to present his family with the Medal of Honor."
Article sponsored by Criminal Justice leadership; and, police and military writers who have become authors of books.
American Forces Press Service
Jan. 11, 2007 – President Bush today presented the Medal of Honor, the nation's highest decoration, to the family of Marine Corps Cpl. Jason Dunham, who died shielding his fellow Marines from a grenade blast in Iraq in April 2004. "With this medal, we pay tribute to the courage and leadership of a man who represents the best of young Americans," Bush said before presenting the medal to Dunham's family at the White House.
Dunham, who grew up in Scio, N.Y., was the leader of a rifle squad with 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines, in Iraq. Dunham's squad was conducting a reconnaissance mission in Karabilah on April 14, 2004, when a nearby convoy returning to base was ambushed. When Dunham's squad approached to assist the convoy, an Iraqi insurgent jumped out of a vehicle and grabbed Dunham by the throat. As Dunham wrestled the insurgent to the ground, he noticed that the enemy fighter had a grenade in his hand. Dunham ordered his Marines to move back, and when the enemy dropped the live grenade, Dunham took off his Kevlar helmet, covered the grenade with it, and threw himself on top to smother the blast.
Dunham initially survived his wounds, but died eight days later at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Md., with his mother and father at his bedside.
"By his selflessness, Corporal Dunham saved the lives of two of his men and showed the world what it means to be a Marine," Bush said.
Dunham is the second servicemember in the war on terror and the first Marine since the Vietnam War to receive the Medal of Honor. His mother, father, sister and two brothers were at the ceremony today, which was attended by Cabinet members, Defense Department and Marine Corps leaders, members of Congress, past Medal of Honor recipients, and members of Dunham's unit.
Bush spoke about Dunham's upbringing in upstate New York. Dunham was a star athlete who was popular and a natural leader. His father, a dairy farm worker, and his mother, a school teacher, were devoted parents. "He grew up with the riches far more important than money," Bush said.
Dunham joined the Marine Corps on July 31, 2000. It was in the Marines that he learned honor, courage, commitment and leadership qualities, Bush said. "As the leader of a rifle squad in Iraq, Corporal Dunham led by the values he had been taught," he said. "He was the guy everybody looked up to; he was a Marine's Marine who led by example."
Bush noted that Dunham's mother called the Marine Corps her son's second family. Now that family is embracing her and the rest of the Dunham family as they deal with their loss, Bush said.
Since World War II, more than half of those who have earned the Medal of Honor have lost their lives in the action that earned it, Bush said. "Corporal Jason Dunham belongs to this select group," he said. "On a dusty road in western Iraq, Corporal Dunham gave his own life so that the men under his command might live. This morning, it's my privilege to recognize Corporal Dunham's devotion to the Corps and the country and to present his family with the Medal of Honor."
Article sponsored by Criminal Justice leadership; and, police and military writers who have become authors of books.
December Recruiting Numbers Exceed Goals
By John J. Kruzel
American Forces Press Service
Jan. 11, 2007 – Last month's recruiting figures for all military services exceeded goals, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said during testimony today before the House Armed Services Committee. "I'm pleased to report that all active branches of the United States military exceeded their recruiting goals for the month of December," Gates said, "with particularly strong showings by the Army and the Marine Corps."
In December, the Army recruited 861 soldiers, exceeding its goal by 23 percent, according to information released by the Defense Department. The Marine Corps recruited 1,761, exceeding its goal by 10 percent, and the Navy and Air Force met their recruitment goals of 2,071 and 2,330, respectively.
Additionally, the Army National Guard, Army Reserve, Marine Corps Reserve, Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve exceeded their recruiting goals in December.
Gates' comments come a day after President Bush announced his plan to increase the Army's and Marine Corps' overall strength.
"We propose to (increase) in annual increments of 7,000 troops a year for the Army and 5,000 for the Marine Corps until the Marine Corps reaches a level of 202,000, and the Army would be at 547,000," Gates said at a news conference this morning.
"We should recognize that while it may take some time for these new troops to become available for deployment," Gates said, "it is important that our men and women in uniform know that additional manpower and resources are on the way."
Gates then reflected on those who volunteer to serve in the U.S. armed forces.
"Our nation is truly blessed that so many talented and patriotic young people have stepped forward to defend our nation and that so many servicemen and women have chosen to continue to serve," he said at the news conference.
Gates' remarks today about the value of recruits echo President Bush's comments during his speech yesterday outlining the new way forward in Iraq.
"In these dangerous times, the United States is blessed to have extraordinary and selfless men and women willing to step forward and defend us," Bush said. "These young Americans understand that...the advance of freedom is the calling of our time."
Article sponsored by Criminal Justice leadership; and, police and military writers who have become authors of books.
American Forces Press Service
Jan. 11, 2007 – Last month's recruiting figures for all military services exceeded goals, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said during testimony today before the House Armed Services Committee. "I'm pleased to report that all active branches of the United States military exceeded their recruiting goals for the month of December," Gates said, "with particularly strong showings by the Army and the Marine Corps."
In December, the Army recruited 861 soldiers, exceeding its goal by 23 percent, according to information released by the Defense Department. The Marine Corps recruited 1,761, exceeding its goal by 10 percent, and the Navy and Air Force met their recruitment goals of 2,071 and 2,330, respectively.
Additionally, the Army National Guard, Army Reserve, Marine Corps Reserve, Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve exceeded their recruiting goals in December.
Gates' comments come a day after President Bush announced his plan to increase the Army's and Marine Corps' overall strength.
"We propose to (increase) in annual increments of 7,000 troops a year for the Army and 5,000 for the Marine Corps until the Marine Corps reaches a level of 202,000, and the Army would be at 547,000," Gates said at a news conference this morning.
"We should recognize that while it may take some time for these new troops to become available for deployment," Gates said, "it is important that our men and women in uniform know that additional manpower and resources are on the way."
Gates then reflected on those who volunteer to serve in the U.S. armed forces.
"Our nation is truly blessed that so many talented and patriotic young people have stepped forward to defend our nation and that so many servicemen and women have chosen to continue to serve," he said at the news conference.
Gates' remarks today about the value of recruits echo President Bush's comments during his speech yesterday outlining the new way forward in Iraq.
"In these dangerous times, the United States is blessed to have extraordinary and selfless men and women willing to step forward and defend us," Bush said. "These young Americans understand that...the advance of freedom is the calling of our time."
Article sponsored by Criminal Justice leadership; and, police and military writers who have become authors of books.
Thursday, January 11, 2007
Donation Has Troops Home for Holidays
American Forces Press Service
Jan. 11, 2007 – Operation First Response, dedicated to supporting the nation's wounded servicemembers and their families, is flying high after receiving a generous Christmas gift with far-reaching benefits. Operation First Response is a member of America Support You, a Defense Department program showcasing the ways Americans are supporting the nation's servicemembers.
Part of the group's mission is to facilitate flights for wounded servicemembers and their families. A generous donation of 1.5 million frequent flyer miles this Christmas helped Operation First Response make the season a little brighter for 27 servicemembers who were able to get home for the holidays.
James M. Cashman, president of Cashman Companies in Dorchester Center, Mass., donated the frequent flyer miles to help make that possible, requesting that Operation First Response send as many wounded heroes home for Christmas as possible. Cashman is the third generation of his family working in the marine construction business.
"Mr. Cashman gave 27 wounded heroes and their families a special memory and new meaning to the phrase 'I'll Be Home for Christmas,'" Peggy Baker said. "In most cases (Operation First Response) is involved with a family during a very traumatic time. This donation enabled us to share a special gift with them and their families."
Using donated frequent flyer miles, when they're available, to purchase flights leaves general funds available to help Operation First Response assist families with financial needs.
Article sponsored by Criminal Justice leadership; and, police and military writers who have become authors of books.
Jan. 11, 2007 – Operation First Response, dedicated to supporting the nation's wounded servicemembers and their families, is flying high after receiving a generous Christmas gift with far-reaching benefits. Operation First Response is a member of America Support You, a Defense Department program showcasing the ways Americans are supporting the nation's servicemembers.
Part of the group's mission is to facilitate flights for wounded servicemembers and their families. A generous donation of 1.5 million frequent flyer miles this Christmas helped Operation First Response make the season a little brighter for 27 servicemembers who were able to get home for the holidays.
James M. Cashman, president of Cashman Companies in Dorchester Center, Mass., donated the frequent flyer miles to help make that possible, requesting that Operation First Response send as many wounded heroes home for Christmas as possible. Cashman is the third generation of his family working in the marine construction business.
"Mr. Cashman gave 27 wounded heroes and their families a special memory and new meaning to the phrase 'I'll Be Home for Christmas,'" Peggy Baker said. "In most cases (Operation First Response) is involved with a family during a very traumatic time. This donation enabled us to share a special gift with them and their families."
Using donated frequent flyer miles, when they're available, to purchase flights leaves general funds available to help Operation First Response assist families with financial needs.
Article sponsored by Criminal Justice leadership; and, police and military writers who have become authors of books.
Bush to Increase Army, Marine Corps, Praises Troop Accomplishments
By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service
Jan. 10, 2007 – President Bush tonight announced plans to increase the size of the Army and Marine Corps so they're better postured to confront 21st-century threats and praised troops serving today for their service and sacrifice. Bush, who unveiled his new plan for Iraq during a televised White House address, praised the men and women carrying out the global war on terror.
"In these dangerous times, the United States is blessed to have extraordinary and selfless men and women willing to step forward and defend us," the president said. "These young Americans understand that our cause in Iraq is noble and necessary and that the advance of freedom is the calling of our time."
Bush said the strategy for Iraq needed to be changed, but said it had nothing to do with anything the troops serving there. "Our troops in Iraq have fought bravely," he said. "They have done everything asked of them. Where mistakes have been made, the responsibility rests with me."
The president acknowledged the hardships these troops and their loved ones have endured during their deployments into harm's way. "They serve far from their families, who make the quiet sacrifices of lonely holidays and empty chairs at the dinner table," he said. "They have watched their comrades give their lives to ensure our liberty."
Bush recognized the soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines who have died serving the country. "We mourn the loss of every fallen American, and we owe it to them to build a future worthy of their sacrifice," he said.
The president said his new plan for Iraq will help ensure the sacrifices U.S. troops and their families have made won't be without cause and that Iraq's new government will succeed.
But Bush warned that the plan won't immediately stop violence and that more sacrifice will need to be made as it is put into place. "Let me be clear," he said. "The terrorists and insurgents in Iraq are without conscience, and they will make the year ahead bloody and violent," he said. "Even if our new strategy works exactly as planned, deadly acts of violence will continue -- and we must expect more Iraqi and American casualties. The question is whether our new strategy will bring us closer to success. I believe that it will."
Bush steeled the nation for what is to come. "The year ahead will demand more patience, sacrifice and resolve," he said. "It can be tempting to think that America can put aside the burdens of freedom. Yet times of testing reveal the character of a nation, and throughout our history, Americans have always defied the pessimists and seen our faith in freedom redeemed.
"Now America is engaged in a new struggle that will set the course for a new century," Bush said. "We can and we will prevail."
Article sponsored by Criminal Justice leadership; and, police and military writers who have become authors of books.
American Forces Press Service
Jan. 10, 2007 – President Bush tonight announced plans to increase the size of the Army and Marine Corps so they're better postured to confront 21st-century threats and praised troops serving today for their service and sacrifice. Bush, who unveiled his new plan for Iraq during a televised White House address, praised the men and women carrying out the global war on terror.
"In these dangerous times, the United States is blessed to have extraordinary and selfless men and women willing to step forward and defend us," the president said. "These young Americans understand that our cause in Iraq is noble and necessary and that the advance of freedom is the calling of our time."
Bush said the strategy for Iraq needed to be changed, but said it had nothing to do with anything the troops serving there. "Our troops in Iraq have fought bravely," he said. "They have done everything asked of them. Where mistakes have been made, the responsibility rests with me."
The president acknowledged the hardships these troops and their loved ones have endured during their deployments into harm's way. "They serve far from their families, who make the quiet sacrifices of lonely holidays and empty chairs at the dinner table," he said. "They have watched their comrades give their lives to ensure our liberty."
Bush recognized the soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines who have died serving the country. "We mourn the loss of every fallen American, and we owe it to them to build a future worthy of their sacrifice," he said.
The president said his new plan for Iraq will help ensure the sacrifices U.S. troops and their families have made won't be without cause and that Iraq's new government will succeed.
But Bush warned that the plan won't immediately stop violence and that more sacrifice will need to be made as it is put into place. "Let me be clear," he said. "The terrorists and insurgents in Iraq are without conscience, and they will make the year ahead bloody and violent," he said. "Even if our new strategy works exactly as planned, deadly acts of violence will continue -- and we must expect more Iraqi and American casualties. The question is whether our new strategy will bring us closer to success. I believe that it will."
Bush steeled the nation for what is to come. "The year ahead will demand more patience, sacrifice and resolve," he said. "It can be tempting to think that America can put aside the burdens of freedom. Yet times of testing reveal the character of a nation, and throughout our history, Americans have always defied the pessimists and seen our faith in freedom redeemed.
"Now America is engaged in a new struggle that will set the course for a new century," Bush said. "We can and we will prevail."
Article sponsored by Criminal Justice leadership; and, police and military writers who have become authors of books.
Secretary Gates Recommends End Strength Increases
Today the Secretary of Defense announced he has recommended to the President a permanent increase to the end strength of the U.S. Army and U.S. Marine Corps. His proposal is for an increase of 92,000 personnel over the next five years: 65,000 soldiers and 27,000 Marines.
The proposal would make permanent the temporary increase of 30,000 soldiers and 5,000 Marines. Furthermore, it recommends an annual increase of 7,000 soldiers and 5,000 Marines until the Army reaches a level of 547,000 and the Marine Corps reaches a level of 202,000.
This increased combat capability will provide the necessary forces for success in the long war on terror.
The proposal would make permanent the temporary increase of 30,000 soldiers and 5,000 Marines. Furthermore, it recommends an annual increase of 7,000 soldiers and 5,000 Marines until the Army reaches a level of 547,000 and the Marine Corps reaches a level of 202,000.
This increased combat capability will provide the necessary forces for success in the long war on terror.
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
250 Police Officers
Editors Note: Two of the police officers are prior military.
January 10, 2007 (San Dimas, CA) Police-Writers.com reached 250 state and local police officers who have written books. The five newly added police officers are all from the Chicago Police Department.
Jack Muller served on a minesweeper in World War II, as a rookie cop he was shot in the head and he became known as the uncompromising Chicago Police Officer who wrote traffic tickets to Mayor Richard Daily, sportscaster Jack Brickhouse and Mobster Sam Giancanna. Once, he even cited Jack Webb, of Dragnet fame, for drunk and disorderly. He retired in 1981 and not only did he win a $1.6 million dollar lottery, but he wrote “I, Pig: Who the World’s Most Famous Cop, Me, is Fighting City Hall.”
Edward Nowicki is the Executive Director of the National Criminal Justice Training Council (NCJTC) and 33 year law enforcement veteran, in addition to being one of the founders and the first Executive Directors of the American Society of Law Enforcement Trainers (ASLET). He holds a B.S. in Criminal Justice and an M.A. in Management. A recipient of many prestigious awards, Ed has been judicially recognized as a Use of Force Expert in many courts across the nation and he has taught various use of force programs both across the nation and internationally. He developed the Use of Force Program and is a Master Instructor in both the OCAT Program and the Handcuffing Program, in addition to being an Instructor Trainer with the Tasertron TASER. Ed is a survivor of six separate shooting incidents, and he has authored a number of books and over 200 law enforcement articles. His books include “True Blue: True Stories about Real Cops” and “Total Survival: A Comprehensive Guide for the Physical, Emotional and Professional Survival of Law Enforcement Officers.
Thomas J. Keevers, a former homicide detective with the Chicago Police Department. His short stories have appeared in literary magazines and anthologies. One of them, "Thanksgiving Day in Homicide," was featured on National Public Radio's "Stories on Stage." He has published two books in the “P.I. Mike Duncavan Mystery Series:” “What the Hyena Knows” and “Music Across the Wall.” According to Booklist, “His flawed hero, Mike Duncavan, has been rejected by almost everyone: two ex-wives, the police department, and the Chicago Bar Association. About all that's left is PI work and staring at girls walking under his downtown office window. With his hot temper and fondness for Stolie on the rocks, Duncavan is a disaster waiting to happen--and you don't have to wait too long.”
William Getz’ 1977 book is the inside story of police work. Starting at the beginning of a policeman's career, the police academy, where the new recruit is expected to learn just about everything there is to know about police work and then some. According to the review, “From there, he's put on a beat, usually riding with another man in a squad car, and then the "fun" begins - once in the street, he is at its mercy, never able to predict what he may face during his eight-hour stint: could be a drunk having a fit on a downtown corner; could be a crazed husband threatening his wife with a baseball bat; or it could be a man with a shotgun who's just blown the top of a robbery victim's head off. Whatever, the life of a patrolman is unique and his stories can either bring tears to your eyes, or make you retch - something, believe it or not, cops are capable of experiencing themselves.”
Thomas Krupowicz retired from the Chicago Police Department with over 33 years on the job. He was an expert in Latent Fingerprint work and supervised of the Latent Print Unit for 12 years. Six books: Fingerprints: Innocence or Guilt: The Identity Factors; Dead Men Don't Drink Vodka; The Lincoln Dollars; First Line Defense; Death Danced at the Boulevard Ballroom; and, Murder In The Fourth Dimension.
While Police-Writers.com hosts 250 police officers (representing over 70 police departments) and their 642 books in six categories, there are also listings of United States federal law enforcement employees turned authors and international police officers who have written books.
January 10, 2007 (San Dimas, CA) Police-Writers.com reached 250 state and local police officers who have written books. The five newly added police officers are all from the Chicago Police Department.
Jack Muller served on a minesweeper in World War II, as a rookie cop he was shot in the head and he became known as the uncompromising Chicago Police Officer who wrote traffic tickets to Mayor Richard Daily, sportscaster Jack Brickhouse and Mobster Sam Giancanna. Once, he even cited Jack Webb, of Dragnet fame, for drunk and disorderly. He retired in 1981 and not only did he win a $1.6 million dollar lottery, but he wrote “I, Pig: Who the World’s Most Famous Cop, Me, is Fighting City Hall.”
Edward Nowicki is the Executive Director of the National Criminal Justice Training Council (NCJTC) and 33 year law enforcement veteran, in addition to being one of the founders and the first Executive Directors of the American Society of Law Enforcement Trainers (ASLET). He holds a B.S. in Criminal Justice and an M.A. in Management. A recipient of many prestigious awards, Ed has been judicially recognized as a Use of Force Expert in many courts across the nation and he has taught various use of force programs both across the nation and internationally. He developed the Use of Force Program and is a Master Instructor in both the OCAT Program and the Handcuffing Program, in addition to being an Instructor Trainer with the Tasertron TASER. Ed is a survivor of six separate shooting incidents, and he has authored a number of books and over 200 law enforcement articles. His books include “True Blue: True Stories about Real Cops” and “Total Survival: A Comprehensive Guide for the Physical, Emotional and Professional Survival of Law Enforcement Officers.
Thomas J. Keevers, a former homicide detective with the Chicago Police Department. His short stories have appeared in literary magazines and anthologies. One of them, "Thanksgiving Day in Homicide," was featured on National Public Radio's "Stories on Stage." He has published two books in the “P.I. Mike Duncavan Mystery Series:” “What the Hyena Knows” and “Music Across the Wall.” According to Booklist, “His flawed hero, Mike Duncavan, has been rejected by almost everyone: two ex-wives, the police department, and the Chicago Bar Association. About all that's left is PI work and staring at girls walking under his downtown office window. With his hot temper and fondness for Stolie on the rocks, Duncavan is a disaster waiting to happen--and you don't have to wait too long.”
William Getz’ 1977 book is the inside story of police work. Starting at the beginning of a policeman's career, the police academy, where the new recruit is expected to learn just about everything there is to know about police work and then some. According to the review, “From there, he's put on a beat, usually riding with another man in a squad car, and then the "fun" begins - once in the street, he is at its mercy, never able to predict what he may face during his eight-hour stint: could be a drunk having a fit on a downtown corner; could be a crazed husband threatening his wife with a baseball bat; or it could be a man with a shotgun who's just blown the top of a robbery victim's head off. Whatever, the life of a patrolman is unique and his stories can either bring tears to your eyes, or make you retch - something, believe it or not, cops are capable of experiencing themselves.”
Thomas Krupowicz retired from the Chicago Police Department with over 33 years on the job. He was an expert in Latent Fingerprint work and supervised of the Latent Print Unit for 12 years. Six books: Fingerprints: Innocence or Guilt: The Identity Factors; Dead Men Don't Drink Vodka; The Lincoln Dollars; First Line Defense; Death Danced at the Boulevard Ballroom; and, Murder In The Fourth Dimension.
While Police-Writers.com hosts 250 police officers (representing over 70 police departments) and their 642 books in six categories, there are also listings of United States federal law enforcement employees turned authors and international police officers who have written books.
Texas National Guard Team Puts Training to Good Use
By Chief Master Sgt. Gonda Moncada, USAF
Special to American Forces Press Service
Jan. 10, 2007 – In a scene reminiscent of emergency measures seen in cities across the country after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, downtown Austin was temporarily blocked to people and traffic Jan. 8 so authorities could investigate the unexplained deaths of more than 60 birds. Together with first responders from the Austin Police and Fire departments, hazardous materials teams, emergency medical services, FBI, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and Travis County Public Health Emergency Preparedness and Response, the Texas National Guard's 6th Civil Support Team arrived at 6th and Congress avenues at 6 a.m., shortly after receiving reports of numerous dead birds downtown and people becoming ill.
The 6th CST is one of 55 teams stationed across the nation and is a rapidly deployable, full-time active-duty Army and Air National Guard unit available to respond to incidents involving possible weapons of mass destruction, as well as other disasters and catastrophes. The team represents both federal and state governments by providing support to local emergency responders and has been training for the "real thing" in many different cities throughout the country.
This week's event was in part moderated because the 6th CST members carry with them a state-of-the-art gas chromatograph/mass spectrometer. This device provided authorities a quick and accurate summation of what was not found in and on the birds: namely a life-threatening agent or foreign substance.
The team was tasked to identify any potential hazards to the public, conduct area air monitoring, collect dead birds and assist with the analysis of any samples collected from the scene. Officials with the Austin Police Department and the USDA's Dr. Jim Ammond were able to confirm by noon that there were no health threats to the public, and traffic was restored even before the press conference ended.
The team's mission is to support civil authorities by identifying unknown chemical, biological or radiological substances; assess current and projected consequences; provide advice on response measures; obtain additional state and federal support; and mitigate hazards. The team's fully equipped mobile laboratory is capable of analyzing chemicals and biological agents on-site, usually within 45 minutes to two and a half hours, depending on the agents.
Consisting of 22 soldiers and airmen, the team is trained to deploy, by ground or air within one hour of notification. Its goal is to be on scene within four hours in a 250-mile radius from the unit's base at Camp Mabry.
"One of our biggest assets is our mobile lab and our ability to analyze samples in the 'hot zone,'" Army Maj. Bobbie Jackson, public affairs officer for the 6th CST, said.
"Usually we receive a courtesy call from the FBI or police department alerting us that there may be a situation where our assistance is required," she said. "The actual requirements to deploy will come from the Division of Emergency Management to our Joint Operations Center and on to our staff officer on call."
The officer on call received the Jan. 8 call around 5 a.m. The report said that three Austin police officers exhibited respiratory distress after observing multiple dead birds in the downtown area. "That turned out to be not the case," Jackson said. "The police officers were fine."
From sleep to scene, it took the team one hour and 20 minutes to report to the incident commander, Jackson said. "Initially," she said, "the Austin PD, the fire department and the CST divided the area into grids, and each department deployed technicians in protective gear to get a visual."
Standard operating procedure for the CST is to deploy a two-man team on a "Gator," a small rugged motorized vehicle, to outline a perimeter and set up air-monitoring equipment. Next they collect samples and report their findings to the incident commander.
In this incident, the team collected dead birds and examined them in a "glove box," a glass, negative-pressure box with two holes accessed through large gloves. Personnel place their hands and arms inside the gloves and are able to work on samples without risking contamination to themselves or the lab.
"The dissection of the birds was performed right there on site inside the glove box," Jackson said. A veterinarian from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, a qualified forensic scientist, conducted his assessment inside the 6th CST's rolling laboratory on site.
A bird's heart, gizzards, lower intestines, feathers and swabs were collected. Within hours, the team was able to report that no chemicals or other hazardous material was found inside or on the birds. Split samples were also sent to Texas A&M University and a national laboratory in Ames, Iowa, for further examination. These findings will not be known for days or weeks.
While the team waited for the CST lab results, other team members assisted the police with rooftop searches. Jackson explained that it's important to monitor air from different layers. Here again, nothing indicated that the air was hazardous to the public, she said.
(Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Gonda Moncada is assigned to the Texas National Guard.)
Article sponsored by police and military personnel who have become writers; and professionals involved in criminal justice leadership.
Special to American Forces Press Service
Jan. 10, 2007 – In a scene reminiscent of emergency measures seen in cities across the country after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, downtown Austin was temporarily blocked to people and traffic Jan. 8 so authorities could investigate the unexplained deaths of more than 60 birds. Together with first responders from the Austin Police and Fire departments, hazardous materials teams, emergency medical services, FBI, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and Travis County Public Health Emergency Preparedness and Response, the Texas National Guard's 6th Civil Support Team arrived at 6th and Congress avenues at 6 a.m., shortly after receiving reports of numerous dead birds downtown and people becoming ill.
The 6th CST is one of 55 teams stationed across the nation and is a rapidly deployable, full-time active-duty Army and Air National Guard unit available to respond to incidents involving possible weapons of mass destruction, as well as other disasters and catastrophes. The team represents both federal and state governments by providing support to local emergency responders and has been training for the "real thing" in many different cities throughout the country.
This week's event was in part moderated because the 6th CST members carry with them a state-of-the-art gas chromatograph/mass spectrometer. This device provided authorities a quick and accurate summation of what was not found in and on the birds: namely a life-threatening agent or foreign substance.
The team was tasked to identify any potential hazards to the public, conduct area air monitoring, collect dead birds and assist with the analysis of any samples collected from the scene. Officials with the Austin Police Department and the USDA's Dr. Jim Ammond were able to confirm by noon that there were no health threats to the public, and traffic was restored even before the press conference ended.
The team's mission is to support civil authorities by identifying unknown chemical, biological or radiological substances; assess current and projected consequences; provide advice on response measures; obtain additional state and federal support; and mitigate hazards. The team's fully equipped mobile laboratory is capable of analyzing chemicals and biological agents on-site, usually within 45 minutes to two and a half hours, depending on the agents.
Consisting of 22 soldiers and airmen, the team is trained to deploy, by ground or air within one hour of notification. Its goal is to be on scene within four hours in a 250-mile radius from the unit's base at Camp Mabry.
"One of our biggest assets is our mobile lab and our ability to analyze samples in the 'hot zone,'" Army Maj. Bobbie Jackson, public affairs officer for the 6th CST, said.
"Usually we receive a courtesy call from the FBI or police department alerting us that there may be a situation where our assistance is required," she said. "The actual requirements to deploy will come from the Division of Emergency Management to our Joint Operations Center and on to our staff officer on call."
The officer on call received the Jan. 8 call around 5 a.m. The report said that three Austin police officers exhibited respiratory distress after observing multiple dead birds in the downtown area. "That turned out to be not the case," Jackson said. "The police officers were fine."
From sleep to scene, it took the team one hour and 20 minutes to report to the incident commander, Jackson said. "Initially," she said, "the Austin PD, the fire department and the CST divided the area into grids, and each department deployed technicians in protective gear to get a visual."
Standard operating procedure for the CST is to deploy a two-man team on a "Gator," a small rugged motorized vehicle, to outline a perimeter and set up air-monitoring equipment. Next they collect samples and report their findings to the incident commander.
In this incident, the team collected dead birds and examined them in a "glove box," a glass, negative-pressure box with two holes accessed through large gloves. Personnel place their hands and arms inside the gloves and are able to work on samples without risking contamination to themselves or the lab.
"The dissection of the birds was performed right there on site inside the glove box," Jackson said. A veterinarian from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, a qualified forensic scientist, conducted his assessment inside the 6th CST's rolling laboratory on site.
A bird's heart, gizzards, lower intestines, feathers and swabs were collected. Within hours, the team was able to report that no chemicals or other hazardous material was found inside or on the birds. Split samples were also sent to Texas A&M University and a national laboratory in Ames, Iowa, for further examination. These findings will not be known for days or weeks.
While the team waited for the CST lab results, other team members assisted the police with rooftop searches. Jackson explained that it's important to monitor air from different layers. Here again, nothing indicated that the air was hazardous to the public, she said.
(Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Gonda Moncada is assigned to the Texas National Guard.)
Article sponsored by police and military personnel who have become writers; and professionals involved in criminal justice leadership.
New Law Changes Handling Procedures for Troops' Remains
By Sgt. Sara Wood, USA
American Forces Press Service
Jan. 10, 2007 – A new law that took effect Jan. 1 changes the way the remains of servicemembers killed in combat are transported and handled. The 2007 National Defense Authorization Act states that the primary mode of transportation for remains of servicemembers being returned to the U.S. is military aircraft or military-contracted aircraft. This is a change from the past, when commercial service was used to transport the remains of fallen troops.
"It was a provision in the law, and I think ... there was some interest to make sure that the remains were moved in an expeditious manner," Air Force Col. Michael Pachuta, director of morale, welfare and recreation policy for the Office of the Secretary of Defense, said in an interview.
Every servicemember who dies in a theater of combat is transported by military aircraft to Dover Air Force Base, Del., for processing and burial preparation, Pachuta explained. This law changes the way the remains are transported from Dover to their place of burial.
In a memorandum to senior military leaders, Deputy Defense Secretary Gordon England wrote that this change is to ensure the transportation of fallen servicemembers is given priority. England instructed the military services and departments to work together to ensure air transportation arrangements are handled properly and efficiently.
The law also directs that an honor guard escorts servicemembers' remains from Dover to their final resting place. The servicemember's next of kin can request that commercial air transportation be used for the remains, or that the honor guard not escort the remains, Pachuta said.
Another recent change that is giving more recognition to the remains of fallen servicemembers is the use of honor covers on coffins, Pachuta said. The honor cover is a reinforced cardboard cover that fits on top of the airline industry's standard air tray for coffins. The cover is embossed with an American flag, and the Defense Department seal on both ends.
The idea for the honor covers, which the Army has been using since October, came from feedback from family members and military members who had escorted remains, Pachuta said. "Our intent certainly is to make sure that those handling the remains along the way understand that this is a fallen servicemember and certainly should be handled expeditiously but also with care and respect," he said.
The Army designed the honor covers in cooperation with the Air Transport Association, so they are standardized throughout the airline industry, Pachuta said. The covers are not used more than once and are treated to make them waterproof. When the remains reach their final destination, the honor cover is removed and an American flag is placed over the coffin, he said.
Article sponsored by police and military personnel who have become writers; and professionals involved in criminal justice leadership.
American Forces Press Service
Jan. 10, 2007 – A new law that took effect Jan. 1 changes the way the remains of servicemembers killed in combat are transported and handled. The 2007 National Defense Authorization Act states that the primary mode of transportation for remains of servicemembers being returned to the U.S. is military aircraft or military-contracted aircraft. This is a change from the past, when commercial service was used to transport the remains of fallen troops.
"It was a provision in the law, and I think ... there was some interest to make sure that the remains were moved in an expeditious manner," Air Force Col. Michael Pachuta, director of morale, welfare and recreation policy for the Office of the Secretary of Defense, said in an interview.
Every servicemember who dies in a theater of combat is transported by military aircraft to Dover Air Force Base, Del., for processing and burial preparation, Pachuta explained. This law changes the way the remains are transported from Dover to their place of burial.
In a memorandum to senior military leaders, Deputy Defense Secretary Gordon England wrote that this change is to ensure the transportation of fallen servicemembers is given priority. England instructed the military services and departments to work together to ensure air transportation arrangements are handled properly and efficiently.
The law also directs that an honor guard escorts servicemembers' remains from Dover to their final resting place. The servicemember's next of kin can request that commercial air transportation be used for the remains, or that the honor guard not escort the remains, Pachuta said.
Another recent change that is giving more recognition to the remains of fallen servicemembers is the use of honor covers on coffins, Pachuta said. The honor cover is a reinforced cardboard cover that fits on top of the airline industry's standard air tray for coffins. The cover is embossed with an American flag, and the Defense Department seal on both ends.
The idea for the honor covers, which the Army has been using since October, came from feedback from family members and military members who had escorted remains, Pachuta said. "Our intent certainly is to make sure that those handling the remains along the way understand that this is a fallen servicemember and certainly should be handled expeditiously but also with care and respect," he said.
The Army designed the honor covers in cooperation with the Air Transport Association, so they are standardized throughout the airline industry, Pachuta said. The covers are not used more than once and are treated to make them waterproof. When the remains reach their final destination, the honor cover is removed and an American flag is placed over the coffin, he said.
Article sponsored by police and military personnel who have become writers; and professionals involved in criminal justice leadership.
NORTHCOM Agency Helps Civil Authorities Prepare For WMD Events
By Gerry J. Gilmore
American Forces Press Service
Jan. 10, 2007 – A joint U.S. military organization headquartered in Virginia regularly coordinates with state and local emergency preparedness agencies to prepare for potential new terrorist attacks on the homeland and other catastrophic events, the organization's commander said here yesterday. Joint Task Force Civil Support helps coordinate federal efforts to help civil authorities prepare for and manage the effects of possible terrorist attacks on the homeland involving chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear or other high-explosive weapons, Army Maj. Gen. Bruce E. Davis, the task force's third commander, said at the second-annual Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear conference in Vienna, Va.
Davis said his organization, created in October 1999, also assists federal, state and local authorities in reviewing emergency plans and gauging various resources necessary to respond to possible major events like terror attacks, disease outbreaks and other contingencies.
Federal, state and municipal authorities nationwide have lists of potential major contingencies and have established plans, identified personnel and earmarked other resources that would be committed to each type of event, Davis said.
"This is a dynamic list, and each and every year they are updating (the list)," he said.
In the event of a catastrophic event, special teams of on-call military and civilian technicians would be sent to respond to and assess what is needed to respond to the emergency, save lives and mitigate the aftermath, Davis said. For example, decontamination missions would likely be ordered in the event of certain kinds of WMD attacks, he said.
"Anything we can do to accelerate that response time, we try to do," Davis said.
The Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on America underlined the importance of the joint task force's mission, Davis said. The Fort Monroe, Va.-headquartered organization was made a subordinate of U.S. Northern Command after NORTHCOM was stood up Oct. 1, 2002.
Headquartered at Peterson Air Force Base, Colo., U.S. NORTHCOM plans, organizes and executes homeland defense and civil support missions. When directed by the president or the defense secretary, NORTHCOM supplies military assistance to local authorities, including consequence management operations.
If there is another attack on America, a NORTHCOM-supplied team of experts would evaluate the situation, based on city and state emergency plans and capabilities, Davis said. That assessment can identify shortfalls between what's needed and what's available via local authorities and may become the basis of requests for DoD assistance, he said.
In addition, at least 42 weapons of mass destruction civil support teams have been stood up across the country. Each team consists of 22 highly skilled National Guard members trained to rapidly respond to assist civil authorities during domestic WMD incidents. Congress has authorized a total of 55 such teams, enough to field one team in every state, territory and the District of Columbia.
Although it is widely believed that large U.S. military formations would be deployed to a disaster site within hours of an event, that's not necessarily so, Davis said. Civil authorities would be first to respond to a major emergency, he pointed out, noting that major DoD involvement likely wouldn't start arriving for a couple of days.
Also, in the past year JTF Civil Support has teamed with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and other federal agencies in coordinating plans to respond to a potential flu outbreak, Davis said. The Federal Emergency Management Agency, and other federal, as well as state and local agencies, also are involved in this effort, he said.
The National Guard and local law enforcement agencies are considered to be ideal responders to assist in potential quarantine and other missions in the event of a major disease emergency in the United States, Davis said. "That is a perfect mission for the National Guard and (civilian) law enforcement," he said.
Article sponsored by police and military personnel who have become writers; and professionals involved in criminal justice leadership.
American Forces Press Service
Jan. 10, 2007 – A joint U.S. military organization headquartered in Virginia regularly coordinates with state and local emergency preparedness agencies to prepare for potential new terrorist attacks on the homeland and other catastrophic events, the organization's commander said here yesterday. Joint Task Force Civil Support helps coordinate federal efforts to help civil authorities prepare for and manage the effects of possible terrorist attacks on the homeland involving chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear or other high-explosive weapons, Army Maj. Gen. Bruce E. Davis, the task force's third commander, said at the second-annual Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear conference in Vienna, Va.
Davis said his organization, created in October 1999, also assists federal, state and local authorities in reviewing emergency plans and gauging various resources necessary to respond to possible major events like terror attacks, disease outbreaks and other contingencies.
Federal, state and municipal authorities nationwide have lists of potential major contingencies and have established plans, identified personnel and earmarked other resources that would be committed to each type of event, Davis said.
"This is a dynamic list, and each and every year they are updating (the list)," he said.
In the event of a catastrophic event, special teams of on-call military and civilian technicians would be sent to respond to and assess what is needed to respond to the emergency, save lives and mitigate the aftermath, Davis said. For example, decontamination missions would likely be ordered in the event of certain kinds of WMD attacks, he said.
"Anything we can do to accelerate that response time, we try to do," Davis said.
The Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on America underlined the importance of the joint task force's mission, Davis said. The Fort Monroe, Va.-headquartered organization was made a subordinate of U.S. Northern Command after NORTHCOM was stood up Oct. 1, 2002.
Headquartered at Peterson Air Force Base, Colo., U.S. NORTHCOM plans, organizes and executes homeland defense and civil support missions. When directed by the president or the defense secretary, NORTHCOM supplies military assistance to local authorities, including consequence management operations.
If there is another attack on America, a NORTHCOM-supplied team of experts would evaluate the situation, based on city and state emergency plans and capabilities, Davis said. That assessment can identify shortfalls between what's needed and what's available via local authorities and may become the basis of requests for DoD assistance, he said.
In addition, at least 42 weapons of mass destruction civil support teams have been stood up across the country. Each team consists of 22 highly skilled National Guard members trained to rapidly respond to assist civil authorities during domestic WMD incidents. Congress has authorized a total of 55 such teams, enough to field one team in every state, territory and the District of Columbia.
Although it is widely believed that large U.S. military formations would be deployed to a disaster site within hours of an event, that's not necessarily so, Davis said. Civil authorities would be first to respond to a major emergency, he pointed out, noting that major DoD involvement likely wouldn't start arriving for a couple of days.
Also, in the past year JTF Civil Support has teamed with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and other federal agencies in coordinating plans to respond to a potential flu outbreak, Davis said. The Federal Emergency Management Agency, and other federal, as well as state and local agencies, also are involved in this effort, he said.
The National Guard and local law enforcement agencies are considered to be ideal responders to assist in potential quarantine and other missions in the event of a major disease emergency in the United States, Davis said. "That is a perfect mission for the National Guard and (civilian) law enforcement," he said.
Article sponsored by police and military personnel who have become writers; and professionals involved in criminal justice leadership.
Servicemembers' 'Angels' Recognized
By Samantha L. Quigley
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Jan. 10, 2007 – Georgia-Pacific, the maker of Angel Soft toilet paper, has recognized two teens as "Angels in Action" for their support of the nation's servicemembers. Timothy Calvert, 15, co-founder of Operation Iraqi Friendship, and Robbie Bergquist, 14, co-founder of Cell Phones for Soldiers, are among 13 teens recognized for "exemplary acts of community service" in the Angel Soft Angels in Action award program. The winners and finalists were chosen from a pool of nearly 20,000 nominees ages 8-18.
Cell Phones for Soldiers is a member of America Supports You, a Defense Department program highlighting the ways Americans are supporting the nation's servicemembers.
"We created the Angel Soft Angels in Action Awards Program because we are dedicated to educating and inspiring families to help children develop a lifelong commitment to community service," Nikkia Starks, Angel Soft's marketing communications manager, said of the program now in its seventh year. "Both young men created innovative programs that put others ahead of themselves."
Each of the young men, nominated by beneficiaries of their programs, receives a cash award and a year's supply of Angel Soft toilet paper. Both agreed the money will help their organizations fulfill their stated missions.
As a grand-prize winner, Calvert, who said he was shocked at his selection for the award, will join the second grand-prize winner and the Program of the Year winner on a trip to Walt Disney World. He also will receive $10,000, which he said will help cover postage to send tote bags of school supplies to Iraq.
"Most of what we need for the school-supply totes is donated, but the shipping is not," Calvert said. "The shipping is pretty expensive, about $7 per tote bag, so it will help get a lot more bags sent over for the Iraqi kids."
The bags, which servicemembers distribute to Iraqi schoolchildren, contain school supplies including composition books, drawing tablets, construction paper, scissors, glue, pens, pencils, markers and crayons. A memo book with the word "Friend" on the front cover always is included, as is a toy.
"Some of the village classrooms had 50 students sharing just a few pencils and composition books," Calvert said. "No one in our country could even really imagine a life where you couldn't even have your own pencil.
"One of the really cool things our program has done (is to teach) American kids to have a little more respect and appreciation for what they have," he added.
But as important as making sure Iraqi children have what they need to learn, Calvert, through Operation Iraqi Friendship, is helping U.S. servicemembers make positive connections with the Iraqi people.
"When the Iraqi people see our soldiers come with things to help better their life, it helps to build a better relationship," he said.
Calvert said his family is often teased about the "warehouse decor" of their home. But when you take into account that his sister Bailey Reese, 10, also runs her own troop-support organization, Hero Hugs, from home, there's no escaping the boxes of goodies waiting to be sent overseas.
Bailey was an Angels in Action grand-prize winner in the previous year's program and has several other honors to her credit.
The story is much the same for Bergquist, an Angels in Action finalist, who with his sister, Brittany, began sending prepaid calling cards to servicemembers overseas in 2004. To date, they have sent 1.5 million minutes of talk time to troops serving throughout the world. They are humble about the accolades they have received, including the organization's current nomination for a Volvo for Life award, which carries a grand prize of $50,000.
"I was surprised (to learn I was selected) because I know there are lots of kids doing amazing things to help others," Bergquist said. "To be recognized for helping the troops makes me feel very proud. The troops are the real 'Angels in Action.'"
He said his $1,000 prize money will provide another 30,000 minutes of talk time to help keeps troops in touch with their loved ones. But the recognition the award will bring his organization may be just as valuable.
"It lets the public know about Cell Phones for Soldiers and gives them information about how they can help the troops, ... so we can continue to send prepaid phone cards and help military families with their phone bills," he said.
Through their actions, both young men and all of the winners made a statement the Angel Soft company thought very important.
"A primary message these kids convey, ... in my opinion, is that kids are out there making a difference and impacting the community, both here and overseas, in a variety of ways, which is truly commendable," Starks said. "Year after year, we are always amazed to hear about outstanding children whose thoughtfulness and giving spirit touches so many lives."
More information on the Angels in Action Award Program and all of this year's winners and finalists is available on the Angels in Action Web site.
Article sponsored by police and military personnel who have become writers; and professionals involved in criminal justice leadership.
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Jan. 10, 2007 – Georgia-Pacific, the maker of Angel Soft toilet paper, has recognized two teens as "Angels in Action" for their support of the nation's servicemembers. Timothy Calvert, 15, co-founder of Operation Iraqi Friendship, and Robbie Bergquist, 14, co-founder of Cell Phones for Soldiers, are among 13 teens recognized for "exemplary acts of community service" in the Angel Soft Angels in Action award program. The winners and finalists were chosen from a pool of nearly 20,000 nominees ages 8-18.
Cell Phones for Soldiers is a member of America Supports You, a Defense Department program highlighting the ways Americans are supporting the nation's servicemembers.
"We created the Angel Soft Angels in Action Awards Program because we are dedicated to educating and inspiring families to help children develop a lifelong commitment to community service," Nikkia Starks, Angel Soft's marketing communications manager, said of the program now in its seventh year. "Both young men created innovative programs that put others ahead of themselves."
Each of the young men, nominated by beneficiaries of their programs, receives a cash award and a year's supply of Angel Soft toilet paper. Both agreed the money will help their organizations fulfill their stated missions.
As a grand-prize winner, Calvert, who said he was shocked at his selection for the award, will join the second grand-prize winner and the Program of the Year winner on a trip to Walt Disney World. He also will receive $10,000, which he said will help cover postage to send tote bags of school supplies to Iraq.
"Most of what we need for the school-supply totes is donated, but the shipping is not," Calvert said. "The shipping is pretty expensive, about $7 per tote bag, so it will help get a lot more bags sent over for the Iraqi kids."
The bags, which servicemembers distribute to Iraqi schoolchildren, contain school supplies including composition books, drawing tablets, construction paper, scissors, glue, pens, pencils, markers and crayons. A memo book with the word "Friend" on the front cover always is included, as is a toy.
"Some of the village classrooms had 50 students sharing just a few pencils and composition books," Calvert said. "No one in our country could even really imagine a life where you couldn't even have your own pencil.
"One of the really cool things our program has done (is to teach) American kids to have a little more respect and appreciation for what they have," he added.
But as important as making sure Iraqi children have what they need to learn, Calvert, through Operation Iraqi Friendship, is helping U.S. servicemembers make positive connections with the Iraqi people.
"When the Iraqi people see our soldiers come with things to help better their life, it helps to build a better relationship," he said.
Calvert said his family is often teased about the "warehouse decor" of their home. But when you take into account that his sister Bailey Reese, 10, also runs her own troop-support organization, Hero Hugs, from home, there's no escaping the boxes of goodies waiting to be sent overseas.
Bailey was an Angels in Action grand-prize winner in the previous year's program and has several other honors to her credit.
The story is much the same for Bergquist, an Angels in Action finalist, who with his sister, Brittany, began sending prepaid calling cards to servicemembers overseas in 2004. To date, they have sent 1.5 million minutes of talk time to troops serving throughout the world. They are humble about the accolades they have received, including the organization's current nomination for a Volvo for Life award, which carries a grand prize of $50,000.
"I was surprised (to learn I was selected) because I know there are lots of kids doing amazing things to help others," Bergquist said. "To be recognized for helping the troops makes me feel very proud. The troops are the real 'Angels in Action.'"
He said his $1,000 prize money will provide another 30,000 minutes of talk time to help keeps troops in touch with their loved ones. But the recognition the award will bring his organization may be just as valuable.
"It lets the public know about Cell Phones for Soldiers and gives them information about how they can help the troops, ... so we can continue to send prepaid phone cards and help military families with their phone bills," he said.
Through their actions, both young men and all of the winners made a statement the Angel Soft company thought very important.
"A primary message these kids convey, ... in my opinion, is that kids are out there making a difference and impacting the community, both here and overseas, in a variety of ways, which is truly commendable," Starks said. "Year after year, we are always amazed to hear about outstanding children whose thoughtfulness and giving spirit touches so many lives."
More information on the Angels in Action Award Program and all of this year's winners and finalists is available on the Angels in Action Web site.
Article sponsored by police and military personnel who have become writers; and professionals involved in criminal justice leadership.
Tuesday, January 09, 2007
Minnesotan Trades Crown for Cammies
By Samantha L. Quigley
American Forces Press Service
Jan. 9, 2007 – A 22-year-old college student recently traded her beauty-queen tiara for the Kevlar helmet she'll wear when she deploys with her Minnesota Army National Guard unit to Iraq. For the past six months, Jessica Gaulke's life has been about college classes and making appearances as Minneapolis' 2007 Aquatennial Queen of the Lakes, but soon it will focus on helping lead Iraq to a peaceful democracy.
The Augsburg College senior studying sociology will be deploying as Spc. Jessica Gaulke with the 2nd Battalion, 147th Assault Helicopter Battalion. The unit is scheduled to start training at Fort Hood, Texas, this spring in advance of a yearlong tour in Iraq.
"I'm feeling strong to go. The training I've received is good training, and I'm prepared," Gaulke said. But her military obligation, which she accepted in February 2002 when she joined the National Guard, has ended her rein as Queen of the Lakes.
Although it was never her lifelong ambition to win a beauty pageant, she said the abbreviated experience has been wonderful. So, although she admits it was bittersweet to hand over her crown Jan. 4, she said she feels no resentment.
"I've heard this whole time that, 'You could go. You never know when you're going to go, but you could go at any time and they don't even have to give you notice,'" Gaulke said. "I'm thankful for the six months that I've had (as Queen of the Lakes). Of course, I would have liked to finish the year out, but what I've experienced has been amazing."
During the six months as Aquatennial Queen of the Lakes, she juggled her National Guard drill duties and schoolwork with her public appearances, she said.
"I do it pretty well, actually. I've had to do a couple of changes in my car going from drill to parades," Gaulke said. "I think maybe this is changing the whole outlook on the pageant system and scholarship programs because it's not all about the glitz and glam.
"It's really about the person you are," she said. "Sometimes I don't look the best, but people understand."
Although she's been dubbed the "Brave Beauty," Gaulke said she won her crown based on who she is. "There's no swimsuit, there's no gown or fishbowl questions, things like that we normally see in Miss America," she said. "It's based on your school, your volunteer experience, what you're active in currently."
Gaulke carries a 3.3 grade point average and volunteers as a coach for her high school lacrosse team in the spring. She also works with the Minneapolis-based Open Arms, an organization that makes and delivers meals for residents with HIV/AIDS.
For the down-to-earth beauty queen, trading her crown for cammies is no big deal. "Switching one for the other ... I signed up for it and I knew it was a possibility," Gaulke said.
There's another major life event on the near horizon that makes giving up her crown to head to Iraq seem easy in comparison. "I'm getting married next week," she said, adding that her newlywed husband, whom she'll be leaving behind soon, will take care of their two dogs and the new home the couple just purchased.
"I'm excited and I think life is bringing me in the right direction," she said. "Things happen for a reason."
Article sponsored by criminal justice leaders; and military and police personnel who have written books.
American Forces Press Service
Jan. 9, 2007 – A 22-year-old college student recently traded her beauty-queen tiara for the Kevlar helmet she'll wear when she deploys with her Minnesota Army National Guard unit to Iraq. For the past six months, Jessica Gaulke's life has been about college classes and making appearances as Minneapolis' 2007 Aquatennial Queen of the Lakes, but soon it will focus on helping lead Iraq to a peaceful democracy.
The Augsburg College senior studying sociology will be deploying as Spc. Jessica Gaulke with the 2nd Battalion, 147th Assault Helicopter Battalion. The unit is scheduled to start training at Fort Hood, Texas, this spring in advance of a yearlong tour in Iraq.
"I'm feeling strong to go. The training I've received is good training, and I'm prepared," Gaulke said. But her military obligation, which she accepted in February 2002 when she joined the National Guard, has ended her rein as Queen of the Lakes.
Although it was never her lifelong ambition to win a beauty pageant, she said the abbreviated experience has been wonderful. So, although she admits it was bittersweet to hand over her crown Jan. 4, she said she feels no resentment.
"I've heard this whole time that, 'You could go. You never know when you're going to go, but you could go at any time and they don't even have to give you notice,'" Gaulke said. "I'm thankful for the six months that I've had (as Queen of the Lakes). Of course, I would have liked to finish the year out, but what I've experienced has been amazing."
During the six months as Aquatennial Queen of the Lakes, she juggled her National Guard drill duties and schoolwork with her public appearances, she said.
"I do it pretty well, actually. I've had to do a couple of changes in my car going from drill to parades," Gaulke said. "I think maybe this is changing the whole outlook on the pageant system and scholarship programs because it's not all about the glitz and glam.
"It's really about the person you are," she said. "Sometimes I don't look the best, but people understand."
Although she's been dubbed the "Brave Beauty," Gaulke said she won her crown based on who she is. "There's no swimsuit, there's no gown or fishbowl questions, things like that we normally see in Miss America," she said. "It's based on your school, your volunteer experience, what you're active in currently."
Gaulke carries a 3.3 grade point average and volunteers as a coach for her high school lacrosse team in the spring. She also works with the Minneapolis-based Open Arms, an organization that makes and delivers meals for residents with HIV/AIDS.
For the down-to-earth beauty queen, trading her crown for cammies is no big deal. "Switching one for the other ... I signed up for it and I knew it was a possibility," Gaulke said.
There's another major life event on the near horizon that makes giving up her crown to head to Iraq seem easy in comparison. "I'm getting married next week," she said, adding that her newlywed husband, whom she'll be leaving behind soon, will take care of their two dogs and the new home the couple just purchased.
"I'm excited and I think life is bringing me in the right direction," she said. "Things happen for a reason."
Article sponsored by criminal justice leaders; and military and police personnel who have written books.
NBA Star O'Neal Joins Effort Thanking Military Kids
By Courtney Reddington
Special to American Forces Press Service
Jan. 9, 2007 – NBA star Shaquille O'Neal will soon play a part in thanking children of deployed servicemembers for their sacrifices. O'Neal, a military "brat" himself, will represent USA Basketball as he joins Kids Serve Too, a program of Salute Our Services, in sending thank-you letters to military children.
USA Basketball, which includes the NBA, and Salute Our Services are both members of the Defense Department's America Supports You program. The program showcases the ways Americans support the nation's servicemembers.
Kat Lanigan, 16, and her sister, Clare, 14, co-chairs of the Kids Serve Too national kids' advisory board, announced last week that O'Neal will join them in their program's "A Thousand Thanks to Military Children" project.
The Lanigan girls are the daughters of Army Reserve Maj. Kevin Lanigan, who has served in Bosnia, Afghanistan and Iraq, so they know the stress children go through during deployments.
"Our goal is to help make sure that kids who have a parent or loved one deployed know that they are appreciated and to say thank you to them for their sacrifices," said Clare, a ninth-grader at Westfield High School in Herndon, Va. "We are so excited to have Shaq's help."
"My dad has missed my last three birthdays because of deployments," Kat, a 10th-grader, added. "To know that Shaq and the NBA cares about kids like us is amazing."
O'Neal knows from first-hand experience what it's like to be the child of someone serving in the military. Kids Serve Too will send a thank-you letter with Shaq's photo and signature to military children at the request of a deployed servicemember or a loved one on the home front.
Other sports figures, including drag racer Tony Schumacher, driver of the U.S. Army Top Fuel dragster, also are participating in the program.
As co-chairs of the national kid's advisory board for Kids Serve Too, a nonprofit group created by military families for military families, the Lanigan girls help increase awareness about deployment issues.
Kids Serve Too has awarded financial grants to children of deployed servicemembers across the nation so they can continue their extracurricular activities during the deployment. It also hosts free events for military children and provides educational materials to non-military schools about the stresses of deployments on children.
"I know what my dad does is important, but what we do is important, too," Clare said. "My dad needs to know that I am safe and sound when he is away so he can concentrate on doing his job."
Article sponsored by criminal justice leaders; and military and police personnel who have written books.
Special to American Forces Press Service
Jan. 9, 2007 – NBA star Shaquille O'Neal will soon play a part in thanking children of deployed servicemembers for their sacrifices. O'Neal, a military "brat" himself, will represent USA Basketball as he joins Kids Serve Too, a program of Salute Our Services, in sending thank-you letters to military children.
USA Basketball, which includes the NBA, and Salute Our Services are both members of the Defense Department's America Supports You program. The program showcases the ways Americans support the nation's servicemembers.
Kat Lanigan, 16, and her sister, Clare, 14, co-chairs of the Kids Serve Too national kids' advisory board, announced last week that O'Neal will join them in their program's "A Thousand Thanks to Military Children" project.
The Lanigan girls are the daughters of Army Reserve Maj. Kevin Lanigan, who has served in Bosnia, Afghanistan and Iraq, so they know the stress children go through during deployments.
"Our goal is to help make sure that kids who have a parent or loved one deployed know that they are appreciated and to say thank you to them for their sacrifices," said Clare, a ninth-grader at Westfield High School in Herndon, Va. "We are so excited to have Shaq's help."
"My dad has missed my last three birthdays because of deployments," Kat, a 10th-grader, added. "To know that Shaq and the NBA cares about kids like us is amazing."
O'Neal knows from first-hand experience what it's like to be the child of someone serving in the military. Kids Serve Too will send a thank-you letter with Shaq's photo and signature to military children at the request of a deployed servicemember or a loved one on the home front.
Other sports figures, including drag racer Tony Schumacher, driver of the U.S. Army Top Fuel dragster, also are participating in the program.
As co-chairs of the national kid's advisory board for Kids Serve Too, a nonprofit group created by military families for military families, the Lanigan girls help increase awareness about deployment issues.
Kids Serve Too has awarded financial grants to children of deployed servicemembers across the nation so they can continue their extracurricular activities during the deployment. It also hosts free events for military children and provides educational materials to non-military schools about the stresses of deployments on children.
"I know what my dad does is important, but what we do is important, too," Clare said. "My dad needs to know that I am safe and sound when he is away so he can concentrate on doing his job."
Article sponsored by criminal justice leaders; and military and police personnel who have written books.
Monday, January 08, 2007
'Why I Serve' Speakers Anxious to Share Good News About Iraq, Afghanistan
By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service
Jan. 8, 2007 – Many of the troops fanning out across the country beginning this week to share their deployment experiences with civilian groups say they hope to share some of the "good news" stories that often don't make it into the evening news. The eight troops are participating in the Defense Department's "Why I Serve" program, which gives men and women in uniform the opportunity to speak to groups ranging from the Boy Scouts to local Rotary Clubs to schools and retirement community organizations.
The concept originated with former Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld and Marine Gen. Peter Pace, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who wanted a way to help reconnect troops to the American people, Marine Maj. Matt Morgan, the program's director, explained.
"So we took a number of ideas, and one of them was taking troops just returned from overseas and sending them out to the American people so they could talk to community organizations and groups and interface directly without the interference of filters," Morgan said.
Army Staff Sgt. Jerome MacDonald, a combat medic who returned from Iraq in February 2006, said he and his fellow Why I Serve participants have "an incredible amount of different stories" to share about their time on the ground in the Middle East.
He said he's excited about the opportunity to spend the next 90 days sharing those personal stories with people who may never have heard firsthand what it's like to serve in Iraq or Afghanistan.
"I think it's important to tell people what's going on," he said. "They can turn on CNN, but there's someone on CNN telling them what they saw over there. This will be the soldier telling you, 'This is what I saw; this is what I did.'"
Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Lyndon Romeo said he hopes his firsthand accounts will give the American public new insights. "I can describe to them and get them to see what I saw," he said. "They will see a personal side they wouldn't otherwise see from a person who has been in the field and can relate to them on a one-on-one basis."
For Air Force Staff Sgt. Jeramiah Poff, the Why I Serve program represents an opportunity to share personal stories about his interaction with the Iraqi people and day-to-day life while deployed. "I'm going to share with them my experiences, everything from the culture to the daily routine to living conditions, what it's like, even how I feel to be in uniform, and how proud I am of what I do," he said.
Air Force Master Sgt. Ruben Vazquez, a medical technician who will begin his Why I Serve tour this week speaking to a Colorado Boy Scout group, said he looks forward to sharing some of the good things happening in Iraq that never get covered in the news.
"You hear about body counts and explosions and about the negative things happening over there, but you don't hear a lot about the positive things," he said. "And I did see a lot of positive things when I was over there: a lot of construction, a lot of training, a lot of education, a lot of gifts coming from the states.
"It's not something you see a lot in the media, the positive impact we are making," he said.
Marine Cpl. Michael Good Jr. said he will tell the groups he addresses how much most Iraqis appreciate what U.S. troops are doing in their country. "I was there sweeping roads for bombs, and they were very appreciative of what we do, because a 3-year-old could be walking down the road, then all of a sudden, 'Boom!'" he said. "The insurgents don't care who it is, a U.S. troop or an Iraqi civilian. They don't care who they are going to kill.
"I was surprised at how appreciative some of the Iraqi people are that we are there," he said.
Marine Corps 1st Lt. Richard Posselt, another program participant, said he is happy to get the chance to share his experiences training both Afghan and Iraqi security forces. "I want to get the message out that we are succeeding over there and making positive strides," he said. "I'm excited about trying to talk to as many people as possible in the next three months and get the word out there."
Posselt said he plans to tell people that he and his fellow troops believe in their mission. "We are there for the greater good of both Iraq and Afghanistan," he said. "We are out here trying to make a difference, and we believe in what we are doing."
Article sponsored by police and military personnel who have authored books; and, criminal justice leadership.
American Forces Press Service
Jan. 8, 2007 – Many of the troops fanning out across the country beginning this week to share their deployment experiences with civilian groups say they hope to share some of the "good news" stories that often don't make it into the evening news. The eight troops are participating in the Defense Department's "Why I Serve" program, which gives men and women in uniform the opportunity to speak to groups ranging from the Boy Scouts to local Rotary Clubs to schools and retirement community organizations.
The concept originated with former Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld and Marine Gen. Peter Pace, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who wanted a way to help reconnect troops to the American people, Marine Maj. Matt Morgan, the program's director, explained.
"So we took a number of ideas, and one of them was taking troops just returned from overseas and sending them out to the American people so they could talk to community organizations and groups and interface directly without the interference of filters," Morgan said.
Army Staff Sgt. Jerome MacDonald, a combat medic who returned from Iraq in February 2006, said he and his fellow Why I Serve participants have "an incredible amount of different stories" to share about their time on the ground in the Middle East.
He said he's excited about the opportunity to spend the next 90 days sharing those personal stories with people who may never have heard firsthand what it's like to serve in Iraq or Afghanistan.
"I think it's important to tell people what's going on," he said. "They can turn on CNN, but there's someone on CNN telling them what they saw over there. This will be the soldier telling you, 'This is what I saw; this is what I did.'"
Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Lyndon Romeo said he hopes his firsthand accounts will give the American public new insights. "I can describe to them and get them to see what I saw," he said. "They will see a personal side they wouldn't otherwise see from a person who has been in the field and can relate to them on a one-on-one basis."
For Air Force Staff Sgt. Jeramiah Poff, the Why I Serve program represents an opportunity to share personal stories about his interaction with the Iraqi people and day-to-day life while deployed. "I'm going to share with them my experiences, everything from the culture to the daily routine to living conditions, what it's like, even how I feel to be in uniform, and how proud I am of what I do," he said.
Air Force Master Sgt. Ruben Vazquez, a medical technician who will begin his Why I Serve tour this week speaking to a Colorado Boy Scout group, said he looks forward to sharing some of the good things happening in Iraq that never get covered in the news.
"You hear about body counts and explosions and about the negative things happening over there, but you don't hear a lot about the positive things," he said. "And I did see a lot of positive things when I was over there: a lot of construction, a lot of training, a lot of education, a lot of gifts coming from the states.
"It's not something you see a lot in the media, the positive impact we are making," he said.
Marine Cpl. Michael Good Jr. said he will tell the groups he addresses how much most Iraqis appreciate what U.S. troops are doing in their country. "I was there sweeping roads for bombs, and they were very appreciative of what we do, because a 3-year-old could be walking down the road, then all of a sudden, 'Boom!'" he said. "The insurgents don't care who it is, a U.S. troop or an Iraqi civilian. They don't care who they are going to kill.
"I was surprised at how appreciative some of the Iraqi people are that we are there," he said.
Marine Corps 1st Lt. Richard Posselt, another program participant, said he is happy to get the chance to share his experiences training both Afghan and Iraqi security forces. "I want to get the message out that we are succeeding over there and making positive strides," he said. "I'm excited about trying to talk to as many people as possible in the next three months and get the word out there."
Posselt said he plans to tell people that he and his fellow troops believe in their mission. "We are there for the greater good of both Iraq and Afghanistan," he said. "We are out here trying to make a difference, and we believe in what we are doing."
Article sponsored by police and military personnel who have authored books; and, criminal justice leadership.
'Why I Serve' Participants to Share Motivation for Military Service
By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service
Jan. 8, 2007 – Ask Army Staff Sgt. Jerome MacDonald why he serves in the military, and he doesn't talk about pay raises, tuition assistance or job security. My biggest reason for serving is my family," said MacDonald, a combat medic who returned in 2006 from a deployment to Iraq.
"I looked at my family, and I realized that I want them and their way of life to be protected," he said. "And one of the only ways to do that is to go overseas and take the fight to the enemy who are perfectly willing to come here and kill themselves just to kill an American. ... It requires some sacrifice, but I am willing to do that."
MacDonald is among eight participants in the Defense Department's "Why I Serve" program who will spend the next three months telling civilian groups around the country why they serve in the armed forces. The group members, all recently returned from Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere around the world in support of the war on terror, will also share their personal experiences and the importance of the public support they have received.
In addition to sharing his on-the-ground experiences, MacDonald said he plans to talk about the deep sense of connection he and many of his fellow servicemembers feel toward their comrades. MacDonald left the military in 2003 after six years of service, then returned less than a year later because he realized how much he missed what he had left behind.
"I found out when I got out of the military that I didn't have that brotherhood anymore, that camaraderie," he said. "I missed that, and I serve now also for the men and the women next to me in the foxhole and, ultimately, because I believe in the war on terror and that we are doing the right thing."
Petty Officer 1st Class Lyndon Romeo, a Navy Seabee, said he plans to tell the audiences he speaks with about how his latest deployments to Kuwait and Bahrain reaffirmed his belief in the value of military service. "I serve because I believe that the constitution needs defending and supporting, and I believe that probably the best way to do that is to service in the United States military," he said. "That's what I plan to tell them."
Air Force Staff Sgt. Jeramiah Poff said he looks forward to sharing with civilian groups ranging from Boy Scouts to Rotary Clubs "how I feel to be in uniform and how proud I am of what I do."
Poff said he hopes to convey through the Why I Serve program that he sees his service as a way of honoring veterans of past wars, reinforcing those who serve alongside him today, and laying a foundation for the next generation of military members.
"I serve for all those who have served before me (and) all those who have fought and sacrificed in all the conflicts of the past," he said.
"I serve so (the soldier, sailor, airmen or Marine beside me) knows he has someone watching his back and able to catch him if he falls, pick him up if he gets hurt, motivate him if it's his bad day," he said. "And I am also there for all my troops for the future of the military services."
As the group members fan out across the country this week to spend the next 90 days speaking to groups ranging from the Boy Scouts to local Rotary Clubs to schools and retirement community organizations, they also will emphasize the importance of public support for the troops.
"We have all seen the support that regular Americans give," MacDonald said. "The most important thing is that they are distinguishing between the soldier and the politics and the war and the soldier. ... As long as that continues, they can always support the soldier."
Marine Maj. Matt Morgan, director of the Why I Serve program, said he wishes every servicemember could get an opportunity to participate in the program to see firsthand how much they're appreciated. "Most servicemembers have a sense that Americans appreciate what they do. But until you go out in the communities where you are not usually seeing servicemembers, traveling through regional and local airports, and meeting with members of communities who don't see this military presence, you don't understand how much they appreciate what you do," he said.
Morgan recalled an incident in which three participants in the program walking through a small regional airport got a standing ovation from the people awaiting their flights. "It was a very emotional moment for all of them because they just didn't get a sense of that in the regular media coverage, just how much Americans really appreciate what they do," he said.
The concept for the Why I Serve program originated with former Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld and Marine Corps Gen. Peter Pace, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who wanted a way to help reconnect troops to the American people, Morgan explained.
"So we took a number of ideas, and one of them was taking troops just returned from overseas and sending them out to the American people so they could talk to community organizations and groups and interface directly without the interference of filters," Morgan said.
Article sponsored by police and military personnel who have authored books; and, criminal justice leadership.
American Forces Press Service
Jan. 8, 2007 – Ask Army Staff Sgt. Jerome MacDonald why he serves in the military, and he doesn't talk about pay raises, tuition assistance or job security. My biggest reason for serving is my family," said MacDonald, a combat medic who returned in 2006 from a deployment to Iraq.
"I looked at my family, and I realized that I want them and their way of life to be protected," he said. "And one of the only ways to do that is to go overseas and take the fight to the enemy who are perfectly willing to come here and kill themselves just to kill an American. ... It requires some sacrifice, but I am willing to do that."
MacDonald is among eight participants in the Defense Department's "Why I Serve" program who will spend the next three months telling civilian groups around the country why they serve in the armed forces. The group members, all recently returned from Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere around the world in support of the war on terror, will also share their personal experiences and the importance of the public support they have received.
In addition to sharing his on-the-ground experiences, MacDonald said he plans to talk about the deep sense of connection he and many of his fellow servicemembers feel toward their comrades. MacDonald left the military in 2003 after six years of service, then returned less than a year later because he realized how much he missed what he had left behind.
"I found out when I got out of the military that I didn't have that brotherhood anymore, that camaraderie," he said. "I missed that, and I serve now also for the men and the women next to me in the foxhole and, ultimately, because I believe in the war on terror and that we are doing the right thing."
Petty Officer 1st Class Lyndon Romeo, a Navy Seabee, said he plans to tell the audiences he speaks with about how his latest deployments to Kuwait and Bahrain reaffirmed his belief in the value of military service. "I serve because I believe that the constitution needs defending and supporting, and I believe that probably the best way to do that is to service in the United States military," he said. "That's what I plan to tell them."
Air Force Staff Sgt. Jeramiah Poff said he looks forward to sharing with civilian groups ranging from Boy Scouts to Rotary Clubs "how I feel to be in uniform and how proud I am of what I do."
Poff said he hopes to convey through the Why I Serve program that he sees his service as a way of honoring veterans of past wars, reinforcing those who serve alongside him today, and laying a foundation for the next generation of military members.
"I serve for all those who have served before me (and) all those who have fought and sacrificed in all the conflicts of the past," he said.
"I serve so (the soldier, sailor, airmen or Marine beside me) knows he has someone watching his back and able to catch him if he falls, pick him up if he gets hurt, motivate him if it's his bad day," he said. "And I am also there for all my troops for the future of the military services."
As the group members fan out across the country this week to spend the next 90 days speaking to groups ranging from the Boy Scouts to local Rotary Clubs to schools and retirement community organizations, they also will emphasize the importance of public support for the troops.
"We have all seen the support that regular Americans give," MacDonald said. "The most important thing is that they are distinguishing between the soldier and the politics and the war and the soldier. ... As long as that continues, they can always support the soldier."
Marine Maj. Matt Morgan, director of the Why I Serve program, said he wishes every servicemember could get an opportunity to participate in the program to see firsthand how much they're appreciated. "Most servicemembers have a sense that Americans appreciate what they do. But until you go out in the communities where you are not usually seeing servicemembers, traveling through regional and local airports, and meeting with members of communities who don't see this military presence, you don't understand how much they appreciate what you do," he said.
Morgan recalled an incident in which three participants in the program walking through a small regional airport got a standing ovation from the people awaiting their flights. "It was a very emotional moment for all of them because they just didn't get a sense of that in the regular media coverage, just how much Americans really appreciate what they do," he said.
The concept for the Why I Serve program originated with former Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld and Marine Corps Gen. Peter Pace, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who wanted a way to help reconnect troops to the American people, Morgan explained.
"So we took a number of ideas, and one of them was taking troops just returned from overseas and sending them out to the American people so they could talk to community organizations and groups and interface directly without the interference of filters," Morgan said.
Article sponsored by police and military personnel who have authored books; and, criminal justice leadership.
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