By Debbie Gregory. Second Lt. Mariah Klenke has made history. On Tuesday, October 3, the Camp Pendleton Marine became the first female to graduate from the Marine Corps Assault Amphibian Officer Course and earn the military occupational specialty (MOS) of assault amphibian officer. Klenke was the first woman to start the course since the Pentagon […]
By Debbie Gregory. British researchers say they have evidence that Russia targeted U.S. military veterans and active-duty troops via social-media, especially Twitter, to spread anti-government propaganda in the spring before the presidential election. The study by Oxford University traced the reach of three websites, Veteranstoday.com, Veteransnewsnow.com, and Southfront.org, known to have shown ads and posts […]
By Debbie Gregory. Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technician 1st Class Jeffrey Thomas has received the Silver Star for his actions during a deadly 10-hour firefight with Islamic State militants that helped his fellow sailors navigate a minefield. On September 20, 2017, Vice Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Bill Moran recognized Thomas for his conspicuous gallantry and […]
By Debbie Gregory. As Director of Employer Engagement for California Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), I had the pleasure of meeting Retired Army Capt. Gary “Mike” Rose at a September ESGR event. Rose, a Vietnam veteran, will receive the Medal of Honor on October 23rd. In 1967, Rose decided to volunteer for the […]
By Debbie Gregory. Unlike Rear Admiral Robert Gilbeau, who was convicted of lying to federal agents about receiving bribes in the “Fat Leonard” scandal, the U.S. Department of Justice decided not bring charges against Vice Adm. Ted “Twig” Branch, the former director of Navy intelligence. Leonard Glenn Francis, known as “Fat Leonard” because of his […]
As the “Take a Knee” debate continues on, Marie Tillman, the widow of NFL star and Army Ranger Pat Tillman, has asked that her husband not be used for political gain. Most people know that Pat Tillman gave up his NFL Arizona Cardinals contract to serve the United States in the wake of the 9/11 […]
By Debbie Gregory. As gross as it may sound, scientists at the U.S. Army Research Laboratory (ARL) at Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD are looking at ways to turn liquid human waste into clean, efficient fuel. The scientists observed an unexpected result when combining urine with a newly engineered nano-powder based on aluminum. It instantly releases […]
By Debbie Gregory. Veteran Tickets Foundation (VetTix), a national 501(c) 3 nonprofit founded by veterans, is dedicated to supporting and honoring the U.S. military community, veterans and their families. Vet Tix has provided veterans, service members, caregivers and the family members of those killed in action with more than three million free tickets since 2008. […]
By Debbie Gregory. It is unfathomable that members of the U.S. Military can return home from war zones, only to be injured or killed at a country music festival. This situation must be especially hard to accept for their loved ones, who worried so much while they were overseas, and thought the worst of it […]
By Debbie Gregory. Army National Guardsman Staff Sgt. Cory Hinkle, an Iraq combat veteran, is a hero. Hinkle was on his way home along a stretch of a Charlotte, North Carolina freeway when he was witness to a head-on collision. Brandy Guin had been driving to her grandparents’ home to pick up her children when […]
