The 2020 Democratic Presidential Field is like a Kindergarten. Twenty-Three children all vying for attention. Hands up (other hand holding that arm so it doesn’t dip while they wiggle it), Wide-eyed desperate look. Pick me, Pick Me! The end result of which is popcorn worthy conversation.
“The Army has carried the American ideal to its logical conclusion. Not only do they prohibit discrimination on the grounds of race, creed and color, but also on ability.” —Tom Lehrer
This story was related to me by a friend. A son of his friend is at the crossroads of life choices after high school. Entertaining the possibility of enlistment in the Army, he decided to take the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery. (also know as them “ASVAB”). With his inclination toward Army enlistment, he subsequently arranged with the Army recruiter to take the test.
With two locations to chose from for taking the test, either Boston or Portland, ME. The young fellow picks Portland. The day of testing arrives
I saw this over at the Blaze, and thought it so good and tear-jerking, I needed to share: Note: while we at the ‘Grok appreciate our Vets, we also have admiration and respect for our British counterparts – and our own Mike (who served in His Majesty’s armed forces).
A timely post by Marc Thiessen over at The Enterprise Blog has the list. Given that Ron Paul (and a few other Republican nominee candidates for Prez) are saying "Bring them all home"), the question is "how many are there really"? Here’s the count (reformated): Belgium 1,234 Bahrain 1,894 Germany 54,198 Diego Garcia (UK) 286 … Read more
2007 data from the Defense Department: 11% of enlisted military recruits in 2007 came from the poorest quintile. 25% came from the wealthiest quintile. 40% in the Army Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) program come from the wealthiest neighborhoods. "low-income families are underrepresented in the military; high-income families are overrepresented: Bottom household income quintile make … Read more
The 22 SEALs that gave their lives for this country are heroes; he was their Commander-in-Chief. If he had gone, and saluted alone, that would have been the correct honor due them. What he did and allowed, a photo op, was not it. The families asked for privacy under the current regulations – they should … Read more
Within Arlington’s ground, in row upon row,Lay the national treasure that generations did sow.These hero’s, now gone, gave all of their youth,Fighting in foreign lands, with nail and with tooth. So sacred their vow, now completed in full.For love of our country, on their heartstrings did pull.Now laying here, within soil so enriched,Are the bones … Read more
(credit via Laconia Daily Sun)
Marine Corps Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) Number 2112 “Precision Weapons Repairer. That is what I did. I found this entry on the Marine Corps Community for USMC veterans. I found it worthy of sharing. It took me back to the hard works and labors of my early days as a young Marine serving our country. So on this Memorial day, I not write of my own musings and thoughts, but I defer that to my brother Amorers who have so adeptly described what we do (and did). To them I say…Semper Fi!
The destructive power of a machine gun, mortar or rifle by itself is nothing, but when manned by Marines in combat, it strikes terror into the heart of the enemy.
Armorers in the Marine Corps make sure that each one of these weapons, along with many other small-arms, are secured, maintained and accounted for, until Marines need to put them to use.
Armorers are responsible for every weapon in their charge – 100 percent accountability at all times.
“Most people don’t realize how much we do on a daily basis,” said Sgt. Clinton Rosemeyer, armory chief, Headquarters and Service Battalion, U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific. “Between the multiple weapons counts, issuing weapons, maintenance and inspections after recovering weapons – we keep pretty busy.”
The battalion’s armory contains pistols, rifles, machine guns and mortars. Armorers must be able to inspect the weapons to determine if they have malfunctions, need repairs or meet serviceability standards, according to Marine Corps Order P1200.7.
In order to do that, armorers must be able to disassemble and assemble every weapon in their charge, and be able to assess the condition of each piece of the weapon.
We stand for them……. The young and the brave…… Now that day is done. We stand for them with honor, with pride, with broken hearts and empty arms……Memorial Day. Our heroes have gone on before us – too young to go – but too brave to stay. Our hearts were set on our lives together, … Read more
No, the credit has been earned by our military. Please read this Letter from Gold Star Mom, Nat Healy (whose son, Dan, was a Navy Seal killed in Afghanistan when he volunteered to help rescue other SEALs caught in a firefight): "It seemed like a normal Sunday night- I was just waiting to see who … Read more
During the First World War, in May 1918, President Woodrow Wilson approved the suggestion of the Women’s Committee of National Defenses recommending that American women should wear a black band on the upper left arm adorned with a gold star. Each star representing a family member who had given his or her life for their … Read more
As noted earlier, we’ll keep the live stream going as long as possible (the WiFi signal keeps cutting out in 45 minute increments). If you cannot be on the tarmac in KY when they arrive later on, enjoy! Live stream: Streaming live video by Ustream
Steadfast – and always ready. Semper Fi, Sargeant, from a double Blue Star dad and mom.
The free market at work – see a need, think of a solution, make a company. Even if deployed in Afghanistan with the Screaming Eagles:
An iPhone app that tracks down the Taliban has been developed by a US soldier who used pds 17,000 ($27K) of his own money into the project.
Captain Jonathan J. Springer said the idea for a Smartphone app to help soldiers in combat came to him in a dream last July.
The 31-year-old, from Fort Wayne, Indiana, has worked with programmers ever since to make the idea a reality.
Tactical Nav, which is expected to be available through Apple’s App Store next month, assists soldiers in mapping, plotting and photographing waypoints on a battleground and conveying coordinates to supporting units.
The soldier, who serves as a battalion fire support officer in eastern Afghanistan, said most soldiers use smartphones and the app has been designed specifically for them.
‘Basically, the problem is the fact that smart phones were not utilized by the military potential, and I am motivated by it. Therefore, I intend to change it, even if I have reached into their own pockets to make it happen,’ added the soldier.
The app’s main functions include a compass, camera and a gridded map that aids in accurately pinpointing exact locations down to a few feet. The information is then relayed to others soldiers linked into the app.
Tactical Nav is also designed to be used to direct artillery fire or call in helicopter support for injured soldiers.
…’I started the process to legally form my own company and began trade marking my intellectual property…
My co-worker, Karen, forwarded this to me a couple of moments ago. It needs to be reposted – and I ask that you do what they do in the clip. She adds: Thank you for your gifts – your sons!! She knows that the Eldest is a prior Marine who served in Iraq, and the … Read more
Another of the speakers that arrived on the TEA Party Express bus was Gold Star Mother, Debbie Lee. She lost her son Marc Lee as he was the first Navy SEAL killed in the line of duty in Iraq – he willingly gave up his life protecting his brother Navy SEALS from incoming fire. He … Read more
And yet, there are some States have decided that their votes, those that keep the rest of us safe with their lives, don’t count…even with the MOVE Act (H/T: Bill)
Some states are dragging their feet about getting absentee ballots to our military, especially those overseas. But, there is a federal web site that provides generic ballots that soldiers can use to at least cast their votes for US Senators and Congressmen if a soldier’s absentee ballot does not arrive in time. The web site … Read more
(H/T: Jack via Cathy)