MilitaryConnection.com Archives

Military Connection: Air Strikes Update: By Debbie Gregory

August 29, 2014/in Military, Military Spouse, Military Veteran

With the American air support, Iraq security forces and Kurdish forces have been able to stop the sweeping advances of Islamic State expansion, and retake the Mosul Dam. The U.S. military has been hammering ISIL forces with air strikes.

Manned U.S. aircraft and drones have wreaked havoc on the insurgents. Included in the air strikes are Navy Carrier Air Wing 8’s F/A 18s, EA-6B Prowlers, and E-2C Hawkeyes from the American aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN-77).

The carrier, her crew and the air wing embarked onboard were tasked to the Northern Arabian Gulf in support of air strikes on ISIL forces for as long as necessary.

There have been no reported U.S. casualties from the air strikes. American pilots and unmanned aircraft have not met with any surface-to-air resistance, only small arms fire. Meanwhile, Islamic State insurgents have suffered great losses.

The initial success of the airstrikes and the enormity of ISIL’s expansion has left Washington contemplating carrying out airstrikes against Islamic State units in Syria. While Iraq and Syria claim to maintain their sovereign borders, the actuality is that the Islamic state has claimed territory from both countries. While ISIL still occupies the territories in both countries that it currently controls, those borders are non-existent.

Many believe that the Islamic State cannot be defeated unless the force is destroyed both in Iraq and in Syria. There is also the belief that Iraq and Kurdish forces may not be able to achieve this task without significantly more aide and involvement from the U.S. and its allies.

So far, Washington has not ordered, authorized or asked for anything beyond the airstrikes and aid that they are currently providing.

Military Connection proudly serves those who serve in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, Guard and Reserve, Veterans and their Families. We are the go to site for Veteran Employment and information on Veteran education. Militaryconnection.com provides Veterans with and Directory of Employers, a Job Board, information on the Post-9/11 GI Bill, and a blog that offers Veterans boundless information. Be sure to visit Militaryconnection.com, the go to site.

Military Connection: Air Strikes Update: By Debbie Gregory

Military Connection: Reducing Tuition Costs for Veterans: By Joe Silva

August 29, 2014/in Archived Blogs

The passing of the Veterans’ Access to Care through Choice, Accountability, and Transparency Act of 2014 allots a colossal $16.3 billion for the reformation of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). While most of that money is intended to overhaul the VA’s healthcare system, the legislation also includes measures to lower the cost of college tuitions for Veterans.

A very important measure for Veteran education and the American higher education system was included in the popularly approved legislation. Essentially, section 702 of the legislation prohibits the VA from paying education assistance to colleges and universities that charge Veterans more than in-state tuition rates. Most colleges charge a higher tuition rate to students from out of state. The measure is intended to help military Veterans who are often relocated around the country during their military careers, and don’t always meet eligibility requirements. By making it the VA’s policy to stop paying GI Bill tuition money to schools that charge out-of-state tuition prices to Veterans, the government is forcing schools to comply or forfeit all of their Veteran students.

This is great news for many Veterans, whose service called upon them to serve all states and territories of the country, and not just the states that they are residents of.

This can be a game-changer for the schools. While the law does not make it mandatory for all schools to provide Veterans with the lower tuition rate, it does create an extremely strong incentive for them to comply.

Either way, the schools are losing money. If a school continues charging Veterans the out-of-state rate, they lose the ability to enroll future students into their school who will have their tuitions paid, on time, by the federal government. But if they comply with the law, they will lose the extra money from the additional out of state fees.

The VA says it has doled out more than $20 billion in benefits for 773,000 Veterans and their family members under the Post-9/11 GI Bill, since it became effective in 2009. That’s 773,000 paid tuitions to the colleges, most spanning multiple semesters.

Military Connection proudly serves those who serve in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, Guard and Reserve, Veterans and their Families. We are the go to site for Veteran Employment and information on Veteran education. Militaryconnection.com provides Veterans with and Directory of Employers, a Job Board, information on the Post-9/11 GI Bill, and a blog that offers Veterans boundless information. Be sure to visit Militaryconnection.com, the go to site.

Military Connection: Reducing Tuition Costs for Veterans: By Joe Silva

Military Connection: DOD Bans Ice Bucket Challenge: By Debbie Gregory

August 29, 2014/in Archived Blogs

For the past several weeks, we’ve seen them on television, in the news, and on our social media accounts– our friends (and some people we wish were our friends) responses to the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge.

ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis), commonly referred to as Lou Gehrig’s disease, is a neuro-degenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord. The disease is most common in people between the ages of 40 and 70. The progressive degeneration of the motor neurons in ALS sufferers eventually leads to their death. In order to raise awareness and raise funds to help find a cure for ALS, many people have taken to the challenge.

It is not clear where the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge originated, but the premise is simple. Once challenged, an individual is faced with the option of donating $100 to the ALS Association or dumping a bucket of ice water over their head. Challengers are supposed to video record the ice water shower and in the video, challenge three of their friends to donate and/or get soaked. Thousands of Americans have accepted the challenge, many choosing to donate AND face the bucket. The ALS Association claims to have raised nearly $80 million for their cause over the last few weeks as a result of the Ice Bucket Challenge.

Included among the thousands of participants, many active duty service members have accepted and posted their Ice Bucket Challenge. There have been several instances of service members posting videos of their ice shower while in their uniforms, PT attire, and pride gear. The Pentagon has issued a reminder that participating in unauthorized activities while in uniform or otherwise implying that the U.S. military is affiliated with an event or charity is prohibited.

“The ALS Association is a national non-profit organization. As such, participating in this event is subject to concerns about implied endorsement.”

The DOD has banned service members from participating in the Ice Bucket Challenge in uniform, including civilian uniforms.

Many media outlets have taken to bashing the DOD for its stance on members participation in the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge. Some have even mistakenly interpreted “civilian uniform” to mean that the DOD banned all participation by service members. Of course, that is not the case. Service members can still video themselves taking an ice-cold shower for charity, so long as they are not in uniform and show no affiliation (though clothing, speech or location) with the military and the organization.

Military Connection proudly serves those who serve in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, Guard and Reserve, Veterans and their Families. We are the go to site for Veteran Employment and information on Veteran education. Militaryconnection.com provides Veterans with and Directory of Employers, a Job Board, information on the Post-9/11 GI Bill, and a blog that offers Veterans boundless information. Be sure to visit Militaryconnection.com, the go to site.

Military Connection: DOD Bans Ice Bucket Challenge: By Debbie Gregory

Military Connection: Operation Comedy for Veterans: By Joe Silva

August 28, 2014/in Archived Blogs

There are many perks that come with being active-duty military, among them free admission, complimentary services, and military discounts. These well-deserved forms of appreciation have been earned by the men and women currently in uniform. But a lot of Veterans will tell you, once that uniform comes off, these benefits are usually reserved for Veterans Day.

Army Veteran Jon Stites came to the same conclusion. After serving his country, Stites was working as a salesman. One night, he ventured onstage who had a good set on an open mic night in a comedy club. He caught the comedy bug, and left his sales job a few months later. As a comedian, Stites has headlined at clubs such as the Sacramento Punch Line and the Hollywood Improve. He has also done shows for the USO, National Lampoon, and the Bob and Tom Show. Stites found that even the USO only provided free shows for active duty Military.Wanting to give back to the men and women who, like him, had served their country, Stites wanted to offer a perk to Veterans. It was for this reason that the former Infantryman founded Operation Comedy.

For the past 6 years, Operation Comedy has offered free entertainment to active service members and Veterans, with admission restricted to Veterans and service members and their guest. The Operation Comedy shows guarantee an evening of laughs, with a clear mission: “No rules. No regulations. No B.S. Just laughs.”

For the past two years, Stites has pulled from the extensive talent pool of comics in Southern California. He handpicks each comic for the Operation Comedy shows to ensure that the performers have been trained to kill and destroy- in comedic terms. In other words, Stites wants people on stage who will put on a good show for an audience of several hundred people with different backgrounds and cultures.

“When performing for Veterans you get all races, as well as the rich and the poor,” Stites told Military Connection. “You need comics with the same energy and diversity as the Veterans to put on a great show.”

The Army Veteran has done a commendable job putting together an all-star lineup for Operation Comedy’s next show on September 7, 2014 at the Laugh Factory in Long Beach. Joining Stites onstage will be Last Comic Standing winner Alonzo Bodden, Erik Griffin from the show “Workaholics,” and popular comedian Eric Rivera, who has been making the late-night circuit.

This will be Operation Comedy’s third show from the Laugh Factory in Long Beach. Seats are limited, and the last two events “sold out” quickly. Tickets for Service members, Veterans and one guest each are complimentary. There is a two item minimum purchase while at the club. The shows are only available for current and former members of the military. Book your tickets now at http://operationcomedy1.bpt.me/

Military Connection proudly serves those who serve in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, Guard and Reserve, Veterans and their Families. We are the go to site for Veteran Employment and information on Veteran education. Militaryconnection.com provides Veterans with and Directory of Employers, a Job Board, information on the Post-9/11 GI Bill, and a blog that offers Veterans boundless information. Be sure to visit Militaryconnection.com, the go to site.

Military Connection: Operation Comedy for Veterans: By Joe Silva

Military Connection: New Military Security Measure: By Debbie Gregory

August 28, 2014/in Military, Military Spouse, Military Veteran

The U.S. military has recently begun conducting FBI background checks on individuals who want to access military installations.

Beginning August 8, 2014, a number of Air Force, Army, Marine, and Defense Logistics Agency installations began utilizing a system called the Identity Matching Engine for Security and Analysis (IMESA).

IMESA can run the names of individuals visiting a military installation. They can then be checked against FBI programs such as the Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System, the National Crime Information Center Wanted Persons File, and the Terrorist Screening Database. Before being granted access to military installations, the IMESA system will have the ability to check a person’s criminal record, outstanding warrants and other useful information for spotting risks to the safety and security of the base and its personnel.

While already in early stages of development last year, Pentagon officials began to fast-track the IMESA project after the Washington Navy Yard shooting last September. Aaron Alexis shot and killed twelve people and wounded three others after he was granted access to the base. Alexis was a government contractor at the time, with an active SECRET clearance. But a full background check, like the one that IMESA can perform, would have detected that Alexis had been arrested multiple times for violent behavior, including incidents involving discharging firearms. Although Alexis had never been prosecuted, knowledge of his arrests might have prevented the shootings.

The information in IMESA is already contained in the DoD’s personnel database, or within local DoD databases of individuals affiliated with DoD by employment on that installation. That means that Military ID’s will still be sufficient for service members and their dependents to get on base.

People not affiliated with the Defense Department will be asked to provide identification containing enough information to be run through IMESA.

When security personnel come across an individual who pops on the IMESA system, the installation is required to contact the originating law enforcement agency to determine how to proceed.

Not all installations have the capability to run the IMESA system yet. But all branches of the military have a long-range plan to connect their individual installations to IMESA.

Military Connection proudly serves those who serve in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, Guard and Reserve, Veterans and their Families. We are the go to site for Veteran Employment and information on Veteran education. Militaryconnection.com provides Veterans with and Directory of Employers, a Job Board, information on the Post-9/11 GI Bill, and a blog that offers Veterans boundless information. Be sure to visit Militaryconnection.com, the go to site.

Military Connection: New Military Security Measure: By Debbie Gregory

Military Connection: Expanding Actions Against ISIL: By Debbie Gregory

August 27, 2014/in Archived Blogs

The White House is contemplating pursuing authorization from Congress to carry out military action against the Islamic State under a variation of a counterterrorism strategy announced last year.

Permission from Congress could provide domestic legal justification for the unlimited use of force against Islamic State insurgents across Iraq and Syria. The last time that Congress formally mandated such action was against Saddam Hussein and Iraq in 2002.

This would be one of several options currently being discussed as the Obama administration decides how to defeat the Islamic State, which controls a wide swath of territory in both Iraq and Syria.

U.S. military alternatives include temporary authority under the War Powers Resolution, which grants the president constitutional authority for emergency action to protect U.S. citizens. The administration is also in discussion with Congress concerning a more unrestricted authorization to openly combat the Islamic State.

The airstrikes in Iraq ordered by President Obama under the War Powers Resolution are only good for 60 days, and will expire in early October, unless further action is approved by Congress.

It is unclear whether or not Congress will approve further military actions after October, and if they do, to what capacity. It is also not clear if Congress would approve air strikes or other military actions into Syria.

The recent beheading of American journalist James Foley by members of the Islamic State has many Americans, especially Veterans, up in arms. Americans, outraged at Foley’s execution, echo the words of Deputy National Security Adviser Benjamin Rhodes:

“If you come after Americans, we are going to come after you. We’re not going to be restricted by borders,” Rhodes stated on August 22^nd.

Foley was kidnapped and held by a guerrilla group that later joined up with the Islamic State in territory that ISIL had seized from Syria.

The killing of Foley might sway some lawmakers to vote in favor of immediate use of airstrikes and other military actions in Syria, if necessary to protect U.S. citizens.

Contingency plans for airstrikes in Syria have been prepared for presidential review, in case the president should ask for them. The intelligence community has also generated a list of high-value targets among individual Islamic State leaders, as it did with al-Qaeda. So far, the president has not formally requested expanded military action.

The president has publicly ruled out sending U.S. ground forces into Iraq or Syria, and has resisted any direct U.S. military action in Syria.

Military Connection proudly serves those who serve in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, Guard and Reserve, Veterans and their Families. We are the go to site for Veteran Employment and information on Veteran education. Militaryconnection.com provides Veterans with and Directory of Employers, a Job Board, information on the Post-9/11 GI Bill, and a blog that offers Veterans boundless information. Be sure to visit Militaryconnection.com, the go to site.

Military Connection: Expanding Actions Against ISIL: By Debbie Gregory

Military Connection: Snowball Express 5K Event: By Debbie Gregory

August 26, 2014/in Archived Blogs

We have all seen the photos and videos– children rushing to their daddies and mommies in uniform, ending the separation caused by a deployment that lasted anywhere from several months to over a year. We have seen the videos of the surprise homecoming, where the parent in uniform emerges at the child’s school or a sporting event, to the delight of all who witness it. We get emotional watching, maybe even shedding a tear for the moment of celebration at the reunion. But it is imperative that we also remember the men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country, and are denied this reunion. We need to honor their families, who will never be the same family again.

Since 2006, Snowball Express, presented by American Airlines, has been carrying out a campaign to “provide hope and new happy memories to the children of military fallen heroes who have died while on active duty since 9/11.” The non-profit organization gathers gold-star children together, from all over the world, for a four-day experience filled with fun activities like sporting events, dances, amusement parks, and more. The surviving parents often say that their child is now reserved, withdrawn or unwilling to talk about their loss. Participating in Snowball Express helps gold-star families, partially by letting the children know that they are not alone, but also by creating new, happy memories by making each child feel special.

Snowball Express’ efforts are powered by sponsorship, participation and donations. To find out how you can support this wonderful non-profit, please visit www.snowballexpress.org/support/

Snowball Express would also like to announce its first annual 5K Run. This fundraising event will be held on September 27, 2014, at Trinity Park Pavilion, 2300 West 7th Street, in Fort Worth, Texas.

The event will include a 5K walk/run and a 1K fun walk/run for the kids. Registration starts at $20 per participant for those who register before September 1^st. The entrance fee goes up to $30 per participant for those who register between September 2^nd and the 24th. Registration will be $40 per participant the day of the event. Click here to register.

Everyone in the region is encouraged to contribute by participating in the race or volunteering to help. And all Americans are encouraged to donate to Snowball Express. By doing so, you are remembering the military families who have made the ultimate sacrifice.

Military Connection proudly serves those who serve in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, Guard and Reserve, Veterans and their Families. We are the go to site for Veteran Employment and information on Veteran education. Militaryconnection.com provides Veterans with and Directory of Employers, a Job Board, information on the Post-9/11 GI Bill, and a blog that offers Veterans boundless information. Be sure to visit Militaryconnection.com, the go to site.

Military Connection: Snowball Express 5K Event:By Debbie Gregory

Military Connection: New Naval History: By Debbie Gregory

August 25, 2014/in Archived Blogs

Over the last few years, several new milestones in unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs, or “drones”) have been reached by the U.S. Navy. The Navy has been developing a carrier-based unmanned combat air vehicle (UCAV) manufactured by Northrop Grumman. The UCAV is known as the X-47B, and it has been progressing by leaps and bounds during its testing.

On May 14, 2013, the X-47B was successfully launched from the flight deck of the carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN-77). That take-off marks the first time in history that a UAV was catapulted from an aircraft carrier.Three days later, another milestone was reached when the X-47B performed touch-and-go landings and take-offs to and from the flight deck of the USS George H.W. Bush while underway in the Atlantic Ocean.

Less than two months later, the X-47B took off from shore and landed on the deck of the USS George H.W. Bush, conducting the first ever arrested landing of a UAV on an aircraft carrier that was steaming at sea.

Since the end of 2013, the Navy has continued to progress the UCAV program. So far, all of the tests, including night flights and increasing the difficulty of the UAVs’ capability envelopes, have been conducted with the X-47B’s taking off and landing from empty flight decks.

On August 17, 2014, history was made once again when an X-47B took off from the USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) alongside an F/A-18 Super Hornet. This achievement marks the first time that a UAV operated in conjunction with manned aircraft onboard an aircraft carrier at sea.

We look forward to watching even more history being made in Naval aviation, the U.S. Navy, and the U.S. military as a whole.

Military Connection proudly serves those who serve in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, Guard and Reserve, Veterans and their Families. We are the go to site for Veteran Employment and information on Veteran education. Militaryconnection.com provides Veterans with and Directory of Employers, a Job Board, information on the Post-9/11 GI Bill, and a blog that offers Veterans boundless information. Be sure to visit Militaryconnection.com, the go to site.

Military Connection: New Naval History: By Debbie Gregory

Military Connection: 82 F-16D’s Grounded: By Debbie Gregory

August 25, 2014/in Archived Blogs

On August 19, 2014, the U.S. Air Force grounded more than half of its F-16D Fighting Falcons, after a routine inspection found them to be damaged, according to its Air Combat Command (ACC).

In a Pentagon release, the damage was described as being “canopy sill longeron cracks found between the front and rear pilot seats.” The cracks were discovered after a routine post-flight inspection on one of the jets. The discovery of cracks led to a fleet-wide inspection order throughout the USAF.

In total, 82 of the Air Force’s 157 F-16D’s were found to have the cracks, and were ordered to stand-down. The 75 remaining operable F-16D’s have been cleared to resume their duties.

Since the discovery, the Air Force has been working with Lockheed Martin engineers to discover the cause of the cracks, and what the repair options are.

The Air Force still maintains 812 other F-16 jets, which include a number of different variants, and are not impacted by the inspections or the damaged canopy sills.

Top Air Force generals, including ACC commander Mike Hostage, have said they must keep an eye on the wear and tear on the F-16s. The F-16 recently celebrated its 40th year of production, but older models have been continuously upgraded as there are advancements in the technology.

Although no official deadline has been given to get the grounded jets back in the air, it is predicted that a mix of American ingenuity and military know-how will get the birds back in the skies soon.

Military Connection proudly serves those who serve in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, Guard &amp, Reserve, Veterans and their Families. We are the go to site for Veteran Employment and information on Veteran education. Militaryconnection.com provides Veterans with and Directory of Employers, a Job Board, information on the Post-9/11 GI Bill, and a blog that offers Veterans boundless information. Be sure to visit Militaryconnection.com, the go to site.

Military Connection: 82 F-16D’s Grounded: By Debbie Gregory

Military Connection: New Robotic Arm: By Debbie Gregory

August 24, 2014/in Healthcare, Military Veteran, Veteran News

We’ve all heard the saying, “Necessity is the mother of invention.” In this day and age, with the various wounds and injuries from war leaving many service members and Veterans in need, advancements in the treatment, care and adaptive equipment are vital.

Innovators from all fields and backgrounds have contributed to improving care for post-traumtic stress, traumatic brain injuries, transporting the wounded and injured, and providing overall healthcare. Segway inventor Dean Kamen is one of the latest innovators to make a much-needed contribution to improve the quality of life for war Veterans.

Kamen invented a prosthetic arm that provides a wide range of motion for amputees. Kamen has nicknamed his invention the “Luke arm,” in homage to the prosthetic arm fitted for character Luke Skywalker in the classic sci-fi saga “Star Wars.”

Amputees can operate the Luke arm through a Bluetooth sensor inside their shoe. The device is about the size of a matchbook, and is designed to mimic the foot’s movements.

Kamen’s company, DEKA, was given a federal grant of approximately $40 million to develop the technology. Kamen took the project on with the understanding that he would not be developing an item for the masses. Kamen knew that he was building this product for Veterans, with the hope that very few people will ever have to rely on his invention

“We didn’t start making these things because we thought it would be a big business,” Kamen said. “We made these things because these soldiers deserve the best possible technology that’s available.”

Kamen saw both a need and a way that he could help. And his invention should improve the lives of the men and women who lost arms from their war wounds. Eventually, all amputees will be able to use Kamen’s invention.

In May, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) allowed DEKA to pursue manufacturing and commercial opportunities for the arm. Kamen said that DEKA is looking for a medical company that would be able take over the manufacturing and distribution of the Luke arm. But he said that his company would pursue the actions on its own if another company can’t be found.

Military Connection proudly serves those who serve in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, Guard and Reserve, Veterans and their Families. We are the go to site for Veteran Employment and information on Veteran education. Militaryconnection.com provides Veterans with and Directory of Employers, a Job Board, information on the Post-9/11 GI Bill, and a blog that offers Veterans boundless information. Be sure to visit Militaryconnection.com, the go to site.