Citizen Soldier Sojack in OIF

Toxic Trash Pits Take Toll on U.S. Soldiers - Wild Green - Utne Reader

noreply@blogger.com (Sojack) — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 23:39:00 +0000

And yet still another article on the subject of burn pits and their affects on Soldiers health.

Toxic Trash Pits Take Toll on U.S. Soldiers - Wild Green - Utne Reader:

'via Blog this'

Toxic Trash: The Burn Pits of Iraq and Afghanistan :: Oxford American - The Southern Magazine of Good Writing

noreply@blogger.com (Sojack) — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 18:59:00 +0000

Billy McKenna and Kevin Wilkins survived Iraq—and died at home. The Oxford American sent filmmaker Dave Anderson and journalist J. Malcolm Garcia to Florida to investigate this deadly threat to American soldiers.

Toxic Trash: The Burn Pits of Iraq and Afghanistan :: Oxford American - The Southern Magazine of Good Writing

What’s Choking U.S. Troops? Feds Have No Idea.

noreply@blogger.com (Sojack) — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 15:45:00 +0000

In a 2010 study of 80 soldiers who struggled to run two miles, half of them were huffing and puffing because of undiagnosed bronchiolitis.

And the feds have no idea why.

The military’s widespread use of open-air burn pits — massive heaps of Styrofoam, human waste and plastic water bottles, in flames around the clock — seemed to be the most obvious answer.

But results of a study published today by the Institute of Medicine, and commissioned by the Department of Veterans Affairs, are frustratingly inconclusive — largely because the military didn’t collect adequate data for researchers to do their jobs.

Read more >>

Lawmaker: Shift Active Duty Troops to Reserves

noreply@blogger.com (Sojack) — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 12:37:00 +0000

An interesting perspective. Lawmaker: Shift active-duty troops to reserves - Military News | News From Afghanistan, Iraq And Around The World - Military Times

Want to Fix the Deficit Problem?

noreply@blogger.com (Sojack) — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 23:42:00 +0000

Then contact your elected officials and pressure them to put an end to fraud, waste and abuse such as this.

DoD IG Blasts Army LMP Program

VA Awards New Contract for Debunked PTSD Drug

Someone is lining their pockets with YOUR hard earned money.

USAF Nixes Guard-Reserve Merger Proposal

noreply@blogger.com (Sojack) — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 13:30:00 +0000

I didn't know this was on the table for consideration.

"The retired generals who propose the merger say it could save billions of dollars and improve U.S. security, but current service leaders say it's too big an undertaking just now, particularly as the service prepares for recapitalization and budget uncertainty."

Read More

Retirement Certificates

noreply@blogger.com (Sojack) — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 15:23:00 +0000

My Certificate of Retirement signed by Gen Casey, Certificate of Appreciation from the USAR signed by LTG Stultz, and Certificate of Appreciation signed by the Commander in Chief, President Barrack Obama.

Remembering those we've lost to war and military suicide this Memorial Day

noreply@blogger.com (Sojack) — Wed, 25 May 2011 18:23:00 +0000

Our military faces an epidemic of trauma among troops who are sent back into war without treatment for their hidden wounds. At Fort Hood, Texas, 10,000 soldiers each month get mental health evaluation and treatment, and more sit on waiting lists. This is only the tip of the iceberg. It is estimated that 20-50% of those who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan suffer from PTSD.

Congress members who vote to continue spending for these wars don't take into account the full costs that our society will be paying for decades to come.

This summer, Iraq and Afghanistan veterans from the Operation Recovery Campaign are at Fort Hood investigating the epidemic of trauma and organizing soldiers there to do something about it. Operation Recovery aims to defend a soldier’s right to heal and calls for an end to redeploying troops who already suffer from PTSD, Traumatic Brain Injuries, and Military Sexual Trauma.

This Memorial Day, let us remember those who have died in Iraq, Afghanistan and past wars. But let's also think of the thousands who have committed suicide as a result of their war trauma, and those for whom we can prevent a similar fate.

Iraq Veterans Against the War has launched the Operation Recovery campaign to stop the deployment of troops suffering from PTSD, Traumatic Brain Injury, and Military Sexual Trauma. Thousands of troops are being re-deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq despite suffering from serious trauma from previous combat tours.

Take the Pledge to Stop the Deployment of Traumatized Troops!

Send a letter to the editor of your local newspaper!

Note: Copy taken from IVAW material.

Changing the Effective Date of Reserve Early Retirement

noreply@blogger.com (Sojack) — Mon, 16 May 2011 16:36:00 +0000

Since 9/11/2001 the Reserve Component has changed from a strategic Reserve to an operational Reserve that now plays a vital role in prosecuting the war efforts and other operational commitments. This has resulted in more frequent and longer deployments impacting individual Reservist’s careers. Changing the effective date of the Reserve early retirement would help partially offset lost salary increases, lost promotions, lost 401K and other benefit contributions.

Read an excerpt from The Statement of the Military Coalition (TMC) before the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Personnel.

"Operational Reserve Retention and Retirement Reform – Congress took the first step in modernizing the reserve compensation system with enactment of early retirement eligibility for certain reservists activated for at least 90 continuous days served since January 28, 2008. This change validates the principle that compensation should keep pace with service expectations and serve as an inducement to retention and sustainment of the operational reserve force.

Guard/Reserve mission increases and a smaller active duty force mean Guard/Reserve members must devote a much more substantial portion of their working lives to military service than ever envisioned when the current retirement system was developed in 1948.

Repeated, extended activations make it more difficult to sustain a full civilian career and impede Reservists' ability to build a full civilian retirement, 401(k), etc. Regardless of statutory protections, periodic long-term absences from the civilian workplace can only limit Guard/Reserve members' upward mobility, employability and financial security. Further, strengthening the reserve retirement system will serve as an incentive to retaining critical mid-career officers and NCOs for continued service and thereby enhance readiness.

As a minimum, the next step in modernizing the reserve retirement system is to provide equal retirement-age-reduction credit for all activated service rendered since Sept. 11, 2001. The current law that credits only active service since January 28, 2008 disenfranchises and devalues the service of hundreds of thousands of Guard/Reserve members who served combat tours (multiple tours, in thousands of cases) between 2001 and 2008.

The statute also must be amended to eliminate the inequity inherent in the current fiscal year retirement calculation, which only credits 90 days of active service for early retirement purposes if it occurs within the same fiscal year. The current rule significantly penalizes members who deploy in July or August vs. those deploying earlier in the fiscal year.

It is patently unfair, as the current law requires, to give three months retirement age credit for a 90-day tour served from January through March, but only half credit for a 120-day tour served from August through November (because the latter covers 60 days in each of two fiscal years).

In addition, the law-change authorizing early reserve retirement credit for qualifying active duty served after 28 Jan 2008 severed eligibility for TRICARE coverage until the reservist reaches age 60."

Read the full Military Coalition Armed Services Statement: http://armed-services.senate.gov/statemnt/2011/04%20April/Strobridge-Barnes-Moakler-Puzon%2004-13-11.pdf

Other Helpful Links

Early Retirement Talking Points: http://www.roa.org/site/PageServer?pagename=early_retirementtalkingpoint

Congress Overlooking Reserve Sacrifice Prior to 2008: http://reserveofficer.blogspot.com/2011/03/data-shows-congress-overlooking-reserve.html

Contact Your Legislatures: http://www.themilitarycoalition.org/contact.htm

In The Words of Dr. Phil...

noreply@blogger.com (Sojack) — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 17:54:00 +0000

... "Would you rather be right or would you rather be happy?"

I find that some people enjoy contradicting others as if it were a sport. It is a compulsive urge, one they cannot control... like the obsessive need to be "right" all the time. This is the case with a few of my current coworkers as well as individuals I have had the pleasure of serving with in the military.

When talking with some people, it does not matter if you are repeating well-known facts or making idle conversation. Your contributions are always met with outright contradiction. It is as if some people have to prove they are more intelligent than everyone else is. Seeing this behavior in others doesn't make me stop and think "Oh, how smart you are!" In fact, it has the exact opposite effect on me. I don't see how intelligent they are but I do find their behavior to be a sad, outward statement of their own low self-esteem and their constant need to prove their self-worth to others.

The ability to show others respect when they express their own thoughts and opinions, without being rude and making ad hominem attacks towards them, is simply good manners. As they say down here in the South, "Make sure you raise 'em up right!" It is possible to politely disagree with someone without contradicting them. Choosing your words carefully and responding without instigating an argument is a sign of respectable character and good "raisin'" (and I don't mean the little dried up fruit).

Sadly, some people completely lack the ability to express their thoughts in such a way that it is does not sound rude and disrespectful. Bluntness can be rude, though those who use it will defend it by saying, "I'm just telling you how it is..." or "That's just how I am." In reality, these are just poor excuses for bad behavior. It remains that it is possible to express your opinion or disagree with someone without resorting to making inflammatory remarks. But some people simply don't care and choose to blurt out the first thing that pops into their diminutive head.

When people speak in absolutes, they are usually just expressing their opinion. Generally, they have no facts or evidence to support their position; and similarly, they lack the ability to admit they are only stating conjecture. When clearly proven wrong, they lack the ability to concede. They would rather instead argue on infinitum.... like children. Oh, what fragile egos they have.

Do you really want to be known as the self-righteous, asshole who never thought he/she was wrong and would argue with God? If you cannot have a discussion or exchange of ideas with someone without contradicting them, interrupting them, or diminishing them in some way, then you will soon find that many people, sans those who sadistically thrive on discourse, will not want to associate with you.

Life is not a never-ending contest. You don't always have to "win." Regretably, "win at any cost" seems to be a growing theme in today's society and we are passing on rudeness, hyper-competitveness, bad manners and ineffective life skills to our children. Sooner or later they are going to lose and how are they going to deal with that loss if they have no practical experience in gracefully admitting defeat.

"It is better to conquer yourself than to win a thousand battles, then the victory is yours. It cannot be taken from you, not by angels or demons, heaven or hell." - Buddha

"Our youth now love luxury. They have bad manners, contempt for authority; they show disrespect for their elders and love chatter in place of exercise; they no longer rise when elders enter the room; they contradict their parents, chatter before company; gobble up their food and tyrannize their teachers." — Socrates

"If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing. Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; ..." - 1 Corinthians 13:1-13

In life, don't strive to win at any cost. Play hard, but play fair. Win or lose, the outcome of the contest should be the satisfaction of a game well played, a better understanding of the opponent, and hopefully a few lessons learned. A little humility is a good thing and will take you far in life.

My Page - IAVA Community of Veterans

noreply@blogger.com (Sojack) — Sat, 12 Feb 2011 20:59:00 +0000

My Page - IAVA Community of Veterans

More on Meditation

noreply@blogger.com (Sojack) — Tue, 01 Feb 2011 17:34:00 +0000

I had my MBSR class last night and I can honestly say it was quite a challenge -- not physically but mentally. I just found the whole evening to be a pain in my mental butt. Sometimes I felt like I was in Mr. Rodgers neighborhood with this woman quietly talking at the front of the room. “Okay boys and girls, let's get ready to meditate.” Instead of being soothing, it was irritating. I just wanted her to be quiet.

And to complicate matters, people were droning on about this and that after each routine. "Well, during that first stretch I was really hoping I wouldn't fall over which would be really embarrassing and it made me think about when I fell off the bleachers in high school. Then I saw we were changing forms and I can arch my back REALLY WELL. That reminds me of my cat and I am not sure I changed the litter box this morning. It feels good to stretch though. I spend so much time hunched over my desk at work all day... maybe I should stand up and do cat stretches two or three times a day. People might think it was weird but I can tell them it's part of my new class. OH, squats, I can do those but it reeeeeally pulls my hamstrings. Not sure I can block that out... maybe I should just be more mindful of it and work thru it... " and blah blah blah blah blah, etc.

In my mind, I was thinking... "Oh for Christ sake... get over it, lady!"

It's hard to be mindful of your own processes if everyone else in the room is talking about theirs at every opportunity. I think this is because I don't really like to share my inner workings and I'm puzzled (and irritated) by people who do. Most people have a hard time being "mindful" and therefore probably need to verbalize some of it.... or all of it, as the case may be. I guess it is part of the process for them.... but irritating to introverts like myself who don't see "mindful" as necessarily a time for "group sharing."

The military teaches its members to learn to deal with a myriad of distractions, loud noises, fast movements, and ultimately to make good and sound decisions within the midst of utter chaos. In order to achieve that, the brain has to alter the way it processes information, emotions and to suppress our fight or flight, built-in survival mechanisms. Basically, we're taught to ignore the emotional part of our brains and to rely on the parts of our brains that are good at analyzing and planning. But in highly stressful environments, it's difficult for the brain to totally suppress the urge to make snap judgments, like to run if a circus lion leaps into the stands and tries to chew your head off... or to cower and hide if you're shot at.

The areas most affected in the brain by prolonged, stressful stimuli are the hippocampus and the amygdala. The hippocampus records new sensory experiences and tries to place them into long-term memory and our belief systems. The amygdala senses input from the eyes, ears, nose -- our sensory organs. The amygdala is the part of the brain which sets our "triggers", our reflex behaviors. It's what causes us to freeze or to react dramatically when we are startled. It doesn't take a lot of exposure to stressful stimuli to alter the neurocircuitry of the amygdala. Under severe and prolonged stress, these systems can become altered to the point that the result is often depression, anxiety and PTSD.

According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH),"Practicing meditation has been shown to induce some changes in the body...Some types of meditation might work by affecting the autonomic (involuntary) nervous system." The sympathetic nervous system and parasympathetic nervous system are two divisions of the autonomic nervous system of the body. The sympathetic nervous system is responsible for our reaction to stress or fear and is colloquially known as the "fight-or-flight" system. The parasympathetic nervous system is active during times of rest and associated with "rest and digest". The NIH goes on, "It is thought that some types of meditation might work by reducing activity in the sympathetic nervous system and increasing activity in the parasympathetic nervous system."

Translation: Meditation may be able to help reverse some of the long term negative effects of exposure to combat, other stressful, traumatic stimuli and the resulting changes in brain function/chemistry.

So... I'm going to stick with it... even though it is irritating and frustrating at times.

To my friends in the medical field, I apologize for the gross over-simplification of the brain and its inner workings.

Thanks to my friend Melissa B. for her contribution to this article.

Recommended reading:

Combat Stress Injury: Theory, Research, and Management, by Charles R. Figley, William P. Nash

On Killing, by Grossman, Lt. Col. Dave

Veterans and Suicide - We Must Overcome

noreply@blogger.com (Sojack) — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 22:50:00 +0000

Mindfulness Training Helpful for the Military

noreply@blogger.com (Sojack) — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 19:19:00 +0000

Mindfulness based stress reduction is a combination of meditation and yoga and it's something I've decided to try. It's an 8 week course which focuses on the way that unconscious thoughts, feelings and behaviors influence emotional, physical, mental and spiritual health. It also combines some martial arts type movements which serve to strengthen all those muscles that have become out of shape due to our largely sedentary, couch potato, American lifestyles.

"The MBSR program started in the Stress Reduction Clinic at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center in 1979 and is now offered in over 200 medical centers, hospitals, and clinics around the world, including some of the leading integrative medical centers such as the Scripps Center for Integrative Medicine, the Duke Center for Integrative Medicine, and the Jefferson-Myrna Brind Center for Integrative Medicine. Many of the MBSR classes are taught by physicians, nurses, social workers, and psychologists, as well as other health professionals who are seeking to reclaim and deepen some of the sacred reciprocity inherent in the doctor-caregiver/patient-client relationship. Their work is based on a need for an active partnership in a participatory medicine, one in which patient/clients take on significant responsibility for doing a certain kind of interior work in order to tap into their own deepest inner resources for learning, growing, healing, and transformation."

The University of Pennsylvania recently led a study in which MBSR training was provided to Soldiers preparing for deployment to Iraq. The study demonstrated a positive link between mindfulness training and improvements in mood and working memory. Here is a link to an article which describes the study and it's results, Mindfulness Training Helpful for the Military.

For me, the jury is still out. It's still early in the training and I'm finding that I have trouble disconnecting my mind from the myriad of thoughts that are constantly going on in my hyper-active psyche. I plan to stick with it though because I realize that I need an alternative method to calm my mind instead of the current methods I use like watching hours of mindless t.v., absorbing myself in silly online games, or chugging down a few beers after work. What I have learned so far is that there are lots of ways to meditate (or if you don't like that word, I'll call it "relaxing") and if one isn't comfortable with sitting cross-legged on the floor, there are other methods.

Many Episcopal and other Christian churches have labyrinths. Walking a labyrinth can be used for meditation or as a spiritual practice. I find that the ceremony of my Episcopal church service is very relaxing and meditative for me. I also enjoy hiking and the simple practice of being quiet while bird watching and appreciating nature. It is very calming to me. When I had knees, I jogged. Boy do I miss that!

Military service is stressful... and that is a gross understatement. It's critical that service members find ways to de-stress from the rigors of military life, deployments, combat action and family separation. The traditional way for military members to unwind was to head to the club and throw back a few drinks. Thankfully the military establishment has put the kibash on that practice... somewhat. At least it is discouraged. It is my hope that the military will adopt more healthful practices such as MBSR. But as we all know, the military machine moves slowly.

Mike Corrado, "Stand"

noreply@blogger.com (Sojack) — Sat, 15 Jan 2011 20:02:00 +0000

Smart Phones Offer Soldiers an ISR Edge - Military Times

noreply@blogger.com (Sojack) — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 17:45:00 +0000

Smart phones offer soldiers an ISR edge - Military News | News From Afghanistan, Iraq And Around The World - Military Times

My Target Experience

noreply@blogger.com (Sojack) — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 13:44:00 +0000

Sooooo... I got this really nice, espresso colored, table and chair set at Target and it was going to look great in my dining room. Only problem is that it's "DIY - put it together" furniture, which really isn't a problem as I normally like mindless mechanical tasks such as this. But, this was a large piece of furniture and was slightly heavy, so it was going to take some effort to complete the task.

I got the table put together easily and started on the chairs. It only took me one chair to realize that the factory had put 5 right front legs and 3 left front legs in the box. Well... that's just not going to work. Since the table is completely put together now, I'm thinking, "Wow I really don't want to take that apart or carry out to my truck in it's now finished, heavy and awkward state." I then thought, I'll just call Target and see if I can exchange the incorrect parts for correct ones from another box.

Got my phone, called Target and got the "Teenage Guest Services" lady on the line. "Hello.... (I explain my situation)... so can I just exchange the parts instead of bringing the now partially put together table with the destroyed 5 acres of packaging, and the parts strewed out all over my living room floor?" "Teenage Guest Services" lady says, "No, I'm sorry you have to bring the table back and get a refund or exchange it for another table." "Really", I said. "Why???.... It would be much less trouble for everyone if you allowed me to just exchange the parts." Her answer, "We have to 'defect' your table out of the inventory now." "Okay," I said. "So 'defect' the table set you have in the store after I get what I need out of it." She says.... "We just can't do that." I'm scratching my head now. "So let me get this straight," I say. "You want me to bring this table back to you, in the state that it's in, return it and then purchase a new one, carry the heavy dang thing home by myself, and start putting ANOTHER table together which may also be defective for all I know." She says, "Yes ma'am. That is our policy."

Stupidity as a policy. I have seen this before. After all, I work for the gooberment.

By this time I've decided that I'm just speaking to the wrong person. I'll take the 'defective' parts (and they aren't defective) back to Target and ask to speak to the manager. And that's what I did. I got there, explained my situation again and he gave me the same song and dance as "Teenage Guest Services" lady. But, he offers me another solution. "You could just purchase another table now, take it home, get what you need out of the box, and then bring it back to us and tell us that it was missing parts."

Now my head is spinning around on my shoulders and I'm thinking about spewing pea soup all over "Teenage Guest Services" lady and "Twenty-something Manager" dude. Thankfully, I had no pea soup to hurl. Feeling compelled to point out the absurdly illogical option he was giving me, I speak. "So, I can buy ANOTHER table, lug it to my truck, take it home, rifle through the contents of the package, take out what I need and possible some extra stuff I don't need, and then bring it back to you? How is this different than if we do it right here in the store?" He has no answer. "What if I buy it, take it to the parking lot, open the box, get out what I need and then wheel it right back in to you and return it? Can I do that?" He says, "Well no ma'am, then we'd know that you weren't telling the truth about there being missing parts."

Uhhhhh.... where is my gun?????

"Okay, okay.... " I say. "But then explain to me how THIS is GOOD customer service. Why is the burden to fix this problem on ME... the customer? It's not my fault that the box was packed incorrectly, yet I'm the one who has to do the lion's share of the work to make the situation right."

Is there anyone here in a management position that is over 25 years old and doesn't have acne?

No. I didn't buy a second table. I went home, gathered up the one I had, drove it back to the store, parked in front of the store in the fire lane, crammed the partially assembled table set into a cart and wheeled it back into "Teenage Guest Services Lady". "I'd like to return this," I say. "Oh.... do you want to exchange it for another one," she asks. "Only if you hold me at gun point."

I still have no table and chairs. Next time I'm going to some place where they are already assembled.

Army Report Warned of Burn-pit Effects

noreply@blogger.com (Sojack) — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 17:50:00 +0000

Army report warned of burn-pit effects - Military News News From Afghanistan, Iraq And Around The World - Military Times

Deployment 2004

noreply@blogger.com (Sojack) — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 13:29:00 +0000

Thunder Over the Rock. LRAFB Airshow 2010

noreply@blogger.com (Sojack) — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 13:01:00 +0000

July Update from "Tijuana" -- Reservists Have a Lot to Offer

noreply@blogger.com (Sojack) — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 17:12:00 +0000

As is often the case, a reservist generally brings a variety of skills to his/her military profession that an ordinary active duty Soldier cannot. This point was recently highlighted by LTG Jack Stultz during a visit to the Horn of Africa.

"The thing that impresses me with these civil affairs teams, you have these young captains and sergeants out there on their own just doing great stuff for the local [African] community, whether it is building schools, or digging wells ... just a lot of good things improving lives of citizens," said Stultz.

"What they bring to the table is their civilian background," Schultz said. "A lot of these civil affairs NCOs and officers are law enforcement or they teach. They bring that skill actually to the civil affairs community, the individuals they are working with and the community they're in. So it is important."

Stultz is keenly aware of the importance of Reservists to the U.S. Army, and all branch services. "We see it over and over again, the real value that's added with the Reserve Soldier, whether it is Army, Navy, Marine Corps or Air Force Reserve. It's not the military skills, although that's part of it, but the added value is the civilian skills. You'll find out your radioman or civil affairs Soldier back home is a lawyer, or they may be some kind of information technology guru," he said.

-- From a Story by Petty Officer 1st Class Larry Foos. Read more...

Here are "Tijuana's" observations and perspetives from his July, 2010 work in Iraq.

"As July comes to a close I wanted to thank everyone for your support of the military and the mission that we have over here. My role keeps me constantly involved in programs designed to build the capacity of the Iraqi government and rebuild some of the neglected infrastructure. Luckily with all of the training I received at my civilian job, I am able to successfully negotiate contract closures with the Iraqi officials. That is not a skill that many other military, state department, justice dept. or USAID folks have in my Provincial Reconstruction Team. My job consists of projects, programs, contracts, vendor selections, non-conformance, contractual closure...Essentially I am helping to finish the work we started and making sure we conclude our projects/programs with successful results.

In several of my civilian corporate meetings before I mobilized, we had tense moments and even yelled, walked out of meetings and generally took a strong stance. Over here, negotiation with a loaded weapon on my side and equally armed opponents makes the situation a little bit more difficult. The same principles apply and my old boss Tammy’s voice hits me every time, “what is your strategy.” Maybe I’ll learn something from this.

I spent a week in Baghdad earlier this month for training at the embassy compound and also spent a few days in Kirkuk (another province here in the North). The pictures of agriculture, farming and actual terrain features is not the Iraq you are expecting. The northern parts are very different from the deserts of the south.

I have included some pictures from a recent trip where we are rebuilding a medical clinic that should be done within the next 90 days accepting patients. Some of the other pictures are taken from the air – so nobody is allowed to tell my mom that they are letting us ride around in Hueys with the doors open (just like they did it over 40 years ago). I think I logged about a thousand miles with the doors open this month. I prefer to fly with the military in blackhawks instead of the state dept. in Huey’s.

Yes, that is a rubber duckie…his name is Rambo.

The picture of my watch shows the temperature of 112 degrees…it was much cooler in the air that day!"

~~ Tijuana

Changes to Army Basic Training

noreply@blogger.com (Sojack) — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 14:49:00 +0000

This year, Basic Combat Training has gone through a transformation. Some of the changes you'll see in Basic and OSUT starting this month: BCT is more challenging; rifle marksmanship is more extensive; and combatives are tougher and more relevant.

Read more...

What do you think about the changes to Army Basic and OSUT?

Army Families are Army Strong

noreply@blogger.com (Sojack) — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 19:42:00 +0000

Commander’s Emergency Response Program (CERP)

noreply@blogger.com (Sojack) — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 21:15:00 +0000

I'm sharing another update from one of my buddies from my MCAQ Course -- Team 41. "Navy Guy" is stationed in Iraq and attached to an Army Civil Affairs unit. Like "Tijuana", also from Team 41, "Navy Guy" is a liaison between military, government (both Iraqi and U.S.) and aid agencies and is working to build infrastructure, security and financial solvency to the people in his AO. Here are a few words from my buddy, "Navy Guy".

"Well, I’m about settled into a routine however I still have a lot to learn but it's an office job (Well Some days) so I can't complain too much. I'm working within the Army G9 position CMO (Civil Military Operations) where decisions are made using what's called Commander’s Emergency Response Program (CERP). In a nut-shell we decide what emergency funding is need to help stabilize the Government here and aid the local economy. CERP provides funds for construction materials for schools, supplies, equipment, hospitals, roadways, bridges, power and lights. Basically, anything that can help aid the legitimacy of their country, and get their Government to take ownership and embrace the responsibility of running it. There is a lot of going back-and-forth between our legal teams (JAG) and being the Liaison between our Military forces, contractors and the Iraqi's themselves. It's very interesting but tedious work. I’m not complaining though, someone surly has it worse than I do!

Here is a photo taken at the Al Ban Markets. This particular day we were verifying that equipment that was purchased with CERP Micro-Grants by local store owners, was actually spent as requested. “Trust, but verify when spending our US Tax Dollars”. The Iraqi store owners are all very grateful for the assistance to provide them the essentials for repairing and reestablishing their stores, for economic sustainment and a prosperous future."

~ Navy Guy

By the way, Team 41 rocks! Just ask us!

What's your opinion of Soldiers who've never deployed?

noreply@blogger.com (Sojack) — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 20:08:00 +0000

What's your opinion of Soldiers who've never deployed?

Join the discussion.