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Ft. Hood Says Goodbye to the Hug Lady

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By Debbie Gregory.

On December 23rd, the family of soldiers at Fort Hood lost a beloved supporter.

For the last 12 years, Elizabeth Laird, lovingly known as the Fort Hood Hug Lady, physically embraced hundreds of thousands of Fort Hood soldiers. More often than not, her hug was the last one soldiers received before boarding a plane for deployment, and the first one they received when they returned home. Regardless of the time of day or night, or her own personal trials, she was there.

Just after the U.S. invasion of Iraq, Laird began volunteering at Fort Hood with the Salvation Army. And she always found time to shake a hand or two. One day a soldier asked for a hug instead, and that simple act began her legacy.

The 83-year-old great-grandmother had been battling cancer for some ten years. But in spite of her illness, she regularly made her way to Fort Hood and hugged the necks of those being deployed. She reassured those who were afraid, and provided company to those who felt alone. She encouraged and prayed for them all.

A GoFundMe page was set up to cover $10,000 of her medical expenses, but as a final embrace, nearly $95,000 from more than 3,000 donors was raised.

Unbeknownst to many, Laird herself was former military, having joined the Air Force at 18. She ended up at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio.

An online petition is circulating, with nearly 24,000 signatures, for the Fort Hood Deployment Center to be named the Elizabeth Laird Deployment Center.

“For more than a decade, she has been personally saying farewell to our troops as they deploy and greeting them as they return,” Col. Christopher C. Garver, III Corps public affairs officer, said in a statement. “It is with heavy hearts that we express our gratitude for Elizabeth, not only for her service with the U.S. Air Force, but also in recognition of her tireless efforts to show her appreciation for our Soldiers and her recognition of their many sacrifices … she will be deeply missed.”

Military Connection salutes and proudly serves veterans and service members in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, Guard and Reserve,  and their families.

Most Male Commandos Say No to Women Serving in Special Forces

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By Debbie Gregory.

According to a RAND survey, many of the men in the U.S. military’s most dangerous jobs feel that women have no place on their special forces teams.

In blunt answers to the voluntary survey, more than 7,600 special operations forces said, almost unanimously, that allowing women to serve in Navy SEAL, Army Delta or other commando units could hurt their effectiveness. They also expressed concerns that women serving in the special forces could lower the standards and drive men away.

They also expressed concern that women wouldn’t have the physical strength or mental toughness to do the grueling jobs.

Since the survey was taken, May through July 2014, women have broken through the special forces barrier by graduating from the Army Ranger course. However, the detailed results and comments written by respondents have only just been released following Defense Secretary Ash Carter’s announcement that he was opening all combat jobs to women.

That decision was based on recommendations by the military service secretaries and the leaders of the Army, Navy, Air Force and Special Operations Command. Only the Marine Corps asked to exempt women from certain infantry and frontline positions, but Carter denied that request.

Oklahoma Republican Rep. Steve Russell had asked the Department of Defense for documents about the women who attended Ranger School after becoming concerned that “the women got special treatment and played by different rules.”

Some 85 percent of the respondents said they oppose opening the special operations jobs to women, and 70 percent oppose having women in their individual units. More than 80 percent said women aren’t strong enough and can’t handle the demands of the job. And 64 percent said they aren’t mentally tough enough.

Gen. Joseph Votel, head of U.S. Special Operations Command, noted that women have already moved into some special operations jobs, including as helicopter pilots and crew, members of cultural support teams in Afghanistan and in civil affairs and information operations.

The services must submit implementation plans that would address such issues by today.

Military Connection salutes and proudly serves veterans and service members in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, Guard and Reserve,  and their families.

Photo of Injured Military Canine Goes Viral

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By Debbie Gregory.

Photos of Army Spc. Andrew Brown and his canine companion, Rocky, recovering side by side after they were injured in Afghanistan, have gone viral. The photos were posted by the 89th Military Police Brigade on Facebook.

The picture of the military K-9, injured in a bomb explosion, shows Rocky wearing a Purple Heart Medal in a hospital in Germany.

Spc. Brown and Rocky, who have been a team for two years, were working with Special Operations Forces, searching a structure for explosive materials in southern Afghanistan’s Helmand Province on December 3rd, when a bomb exploded, spraying out deadly shrapnel.

Brown, 22, of Eliot, Maine, suffered non-life threatening injuries and will undergo a series of tests for traumatic brain injury. The tests are routine for soldiers injured by roadside bombs. Both Spc. Brown and Rocky are expected to recover from their injuries.

“The Army typically does not process awards for our working dogs the same way we do for our other soldiers,” Army spokesman Sgt. Michal Garrett said. “The Purple Heart in the photo was placed on Rocky as a sign of respect and solidarity between him and Brown during their recovery.”

On December 11th, Brown arrived at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, while Rocky remained in Germany.

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On December 15th, the brigade posted another photo of Rocky on Facebook that said, “The veterinarians in Germany taking care of Rocky have closed up his wounds, repaired his leg, and are keeping an eye on him around the clock. He is expected to make a full recovery, and depending on how fast he recovers, could be home soon. Both Rocky and SPC Brown are doing very well and are grateful for the outpouring of support. We can’t wait to have them home. Proven in Battle!”

“Please remember them, as well as all our soldiers deployed around the world, during the holiday season,” the 89th Military Police Brigade said on their Facebook page.

The Fight Against ISIS Moves to Cyberspace

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By Debbie Gregory.

Could cyberattacks against the Islamic State be the way to fight the extremists? The Pentagon is considering increasing efforts to disable the extremist group’s computers, servers and cellphones to disrupt potential terrorist attacks.

Military hackers and coders at Cyber Command have developed malware that some officials say are capable of sabotaging the militants’ propaganda and recruitment capabilities.

But the FBI and intelligence officials have some concerns about closing off ISIS’s communications, warning that an effort to constrict internet, social media and cellphone access in Syria and Iraq might also shut down access to ISIS’s locations, leadership and intentions.

Another concern is the repercussions these  actions might have on humanitarian aid organizations, opposition groups, and U.S.-backed. And because computer viruses don’t respect boundaries, there is the possibility that the malware could spread to computers outside the country.

Following the terrorist attack in San Bernardino, CA, Pentagon officials are preparing to step up cyberoffensives in light of the evidence that the husband and wife shooters who killed 14 people on December 2nd  had become self-radicalized via the internet.

For now, the White House is leaning toward more targeted cyberattacks, pinpointing specific phones, computers or other digital devices used by the militants.

Responsible for U.S. offensive operations in cyberspace, Cyber Command has targeted some computer networks and social media accounts since August 2014.

But some experts warn that a blackout could backfire, with ISIS militants using alternatives methods such as flash drives, satellite phones, or other devices or platforms.

After Twitter began shutting ISIS’s official accounts in 2014, they encouraged operatives and followers to use encrypted social apps and stronger privacy settings, making it more difficult to monitor their activities.

Intelligence officials say ISIS has become adept at changing computers, cellphones and messaging apps when one is compromised.

When its websites are shut down or recruiters are blocked, they often switch to other sites or accounts and the communication gets out.

The arrest of 19 year old Jalil Ibn Ameer Aziz of Harrisburg, PA, highlights the dilemma faced by federal authorities when investigating potential terrorism cases in the United States.

Aziz had at least 57 Twitter accounts, using them to post ISIS propaganda. Although Twitter repeatedly suspended Aziz’s accounts due to the violent content, he quickly set up others that allowed followers to re-establish contact.

 

The Cost of Fighting ISIS

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By Debbie Gregory.

According to the Pentagon, the Defense Department spent more than $5 billion on operations related to the Islamic State (IS or ISIS) in Iraq and Syria. This averages out to approximately $11 million a day from September 2014 though the end November, 2015.

Even though the conflict in Afghanistan is winding down, over $35 billion was earmarked for the conflict for fiscal year 2015. Another $30 billion was allocated for a Pentagon fund not directly related to conflict, but used to evade legislated budget caps.

Since 2001, a total of approximately $715 billion has been allocated to the war in Afghanistan, with the war in Iraq costing $1.64 trillion. These figures are based on funding for the Overseas Contingency Operations (OCO) account. This includes both military and non-military OCO spending, such as reconstruction and funds for the Department of State.

Operation Inherent Resolve has conducted a total of 8,912 airstrikes, about two thirds of them in Iraq and the rest in Syria. The vast majority in both countries were flown by U.S. aircraft. Each strike can include sorties by multiple aircraft; the total number of sorties by Dec. 12, the Pentagon said, was 60,735.

The Air Force is spending more than any other service on the fight, firing off more than 20,000 missiles and bombs since the U.S. bombing campaign against ISIS began 15 months ago.

Slightly more than half of the $5.36 billion total went to daily air operations, with $1.26 billion spent on munitions. This has led to depleted munitions stockpiles and calls to ramp up funding and weapons production, as munitions depot stocks are below the desired objective.

The balance was spent mostly on logistics and military pay.

One study estimated the total costs of U.S. wars through 2014 in Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan at $4.4 trillion “and counting.”

Punishment for Drunken Naval Officer

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By Debbie Gregory.

A two-star admiral who got drunk and wandered naked around a Florida hotel while attending a conference has been found guilty of disorderly conduct and conduct unbecoming an officer.

Rear Adm. David F. Baucom, the director of strategy and policy at the U.S. Transportation Command, became so intoxicated at an upscale beachfront resort in April that he required an escort back to his room.

A few hours later, still in a haze, Baucom re-emerged from his room without any clothes on, and then locked himself out of his room. As he stumbled through Ponte Vedra Inn and Club, searching for a towel to wrap around his waist, he was reported to hotel security.

Baucom has since been transferred from his post at U.S. Transportation Command and reassigned to the Pentagon, Navy officials said.

Baucom has accepted full responsibility and accountability for his actions. He said that four doctors have concluded that his drinking that night was probably exacerbated by a heart problem that left him lightheaded, disoriented and confused.

“I have served the Navy for more than 34 years and am proud of our institution,” Baucom added in his statement. “I deeply regret my actions caused discredit to the Navy I love.”

Navy investigators acknowledged that Baucom was taking prescription medicine that might have made him dizzy or drowsy, but said that there was no question that Baucom was intoxicated.

This incident is the fifth time in two years that an admiral or general has lost their job or been punished by the armed forces for alcohol-related behavior.

Army Brig. Gen. Sean P. Mulholland, who oversaw U.S. commandos on counternarcotics missions and training assignments in the region, also got into altercations with civilians on two occasions last year after drinking at a golf club bar near his Florida headquarters, according to military records. Mulholland, 55, was removed as commander in August. At the time, military officials said in a statement that he was “retiring for health and personal reasons,” but they withheld the fact that he had been investigated and reprimanded for misconduct.

In another case, a two-star Air Force general in charge of nuclear weapons was relieved of command for drinking too much and hanging out with suspicious women during an official trip to Moscow.

Additionally, an Army major general in charge of a counterterrorism task force in Africa was fired for excessive drinking. Finally, an Air Force brigadier general was cited by investigators for repeatedly drinking on duty and keeping a vodka bottle in his desk.

Baucom told investigators that he had been drinking while attending a dinner for the National Defense Transportation Association’s Transportation Advisory Board. He said he didn’t feel the effects of the alcohol until he was sitting at a hotel bar and it suddenly hit him “like a ton of bricks,” according to the inspector general’s report.

Although Baucom said there was much he didn’t remember about his actions that night, he clearly recalled why he wasn’t wearing any clothes; he failed to pack his pajamas.

Military Connection salutes and proudly serves veterans and service members in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, Guard and Reserve,  and their families.

Fleet Week 2016 Coming to the Port of Los Angeles

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By Debbie Gregory.

The mayor of Los Angeles, Eric Garcetti, proudly announced that his city has been selected as an official Fleet Week market.

The Port of Los Angeles will host L.A. Fleet Week, in which active military ships will be on public display, culminating on 2016’s Labor Day holiday.

“As a Navy reservist representing a city and port with a rich military history, it’s an honor to announce the addition of Los Angeles to the Navy’s annual Fleet Week roster,” said Garcetti. “

“L.A. Fleet Week at America’s Port will be a great annual tradition for Angelenos to visit the L.A. waterfront, tour ships, enjoy a variety of activities and gain a deeper appreciation of our enlisted men and women.”

Fleet Week will give civilians access to ships and equipment. Among the week-long events will be meetings between the Navy and local first responders, an air show, and participation of U.S. Marines and Coast Guardsmen.

“L.A. Fleet Week will be a fantastic opportunity to showcase the greatest fleet and sailors in the world [to] further strengthen the connection between the citizens of Los Angeles and their Navy,” said Vice Admiral Nora Tyson. “We look forward to participating in this exciting event and appreciate the opportunity to bring the Fleet to L.A.”

Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Gene Seroka said the goal is to “work with partners — like the Battleship Iowa, the United States Navy League and a host of other local stakeholders — to develop LA Fleet Week into a world-class event and honored Labor Day holiday tradition here in Southern California.”

If you would like to receive updates regarding this event, you can do so at http://www.lafleetweek.com/

Military Connection salutes and proudly serves veterans and service members in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, Guard and Reserve,  and their families.

Airman Earns Citizenship Through Military Service

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Anne Venice Jalos

By Debbie Gregory.

When she was growing up in the Philippines, Air Force Reserve Senior Airman Anne Venice Jalos never envisioned that one day she would be serving in the U.S. military. She also never thought that the military service would lead to her becoming a naturalized U.S. citizen.

But soon after graduating high school, Jalos made the decision to enlist in the Air Force. Luckily for Jalos, her recruiter was well-versed on the military guidance on naturalization.

Special provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) authorize U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to expedite the application and naturalization process for current members of the U.S. armed forces and recently discharged servicemembers. Generally, qualifying military service includes service with one of the following: Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard and National Guard. In addition, spouses of members of the U.S. armed forces who are or will be deployed may be eligible for expedited naturalization. Other provisions of the law also allow certain spouses to complete the naturalization process abroad.

Four weeks of citizenship testing and the successful completion of basic training soon culminated in what would be one of the most meaningful moments in Jalos’ life.

“When I was presented with my Airman’s coin at graduation and I knew I was officially a citizen, I was overwhelmed,” the finance manager with the 446th Airlift Wing said. “Saying, ‘I am an American Airman’ finally had so much meaning to me because I knew that I really was an American.”

Jalos exhibited the requirements needed to qualify for the program: good moral character; knowledge of the English language; knowledge of U.S. government and history (civics), and attachment to the United States by taking an Oath of Allegiance to the U.S. Constitution.
“Being in the military has changed my life,” Jalos said. “I know I can become who I want to be.”

Military Connection salutes and proudly serves veterans and service members in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, Guard and Reserve,  and their families.

Is There a Connection Between PTSD and Stimulant Medication?

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By Debbie Gregory.

A new Defense Department study has found that stimulants used to keep service members alert during long stretches of combat may increase the chances of suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD.)

A review of data from 25,971 service members found that those with prescriptions for drugs such as Adderall and Ritalin were five times more likely to have PTSD.

How could this drug increase the likelihood of PTSD? It has to do with the human memory and the chemicals that regulate it. These stimulant drugs, usually used to treat ADD, cause a release of norepinephrine, a chemical that aids memory formation which is also released in our brains during emotional events.

Since PTSD is the inability to forget traumatic events, those who are using stimulant medications during traumatic events could be more likely to experience PTSD. For this study, troops who screened negative for PTSD were followed from 2001 to 2008.

Of the 131 service members who were prescribed stimulants over the course of the study, a total of 20 (15%) also had PTSD. The researchers found that was five times the rate for everybody else. Overall, there were 1,215 cases of PTSD.

The results did not prove that the drugs caused the disorder. In the majority of cases, the data did not tell researchers whether the prescriptions preceded the onset of PTSD.

Other factors might help explain the results, experts not involved in the study said. For example, the researchers did not control for traumatic brain injuries, which are sometimes treated with stimulants to improve cognitive function.

Given the duration of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and the length and frequency of deployments when compared with other wars, perhaps such high rates of PTSD are not so surprising. Prolonged exposure to a perilous and uncertain combat environment might make trauma common.

Military Connection salutes and proudly serves veterans and service members in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, Guard and Reserve,  and their families.


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