Military / Veterans Report

Send a Father's Day Message via Stars and Stripes
The Stars and Stripes website is sponsoring its Stripes Father's Day Messages webpage where readers can submit their Father's Day messages for their favorite father. The messages will be published in Stars and Stripes and posted online. Father's Day messages received by 5 PM EDT on Fri., May 25, 2007, will be printed in the Sat., June 16 Mideast, Europe or Pacific editions. All messages will be displayed online beginning June 16. Messages received after the May 25 print deadline and up until 8 AM EDT on June 15 will appear online only. Messages must be limited to 255 characters.

Tribute to Fallen Heroes
Group Aids Wounded Servicemembers
The Sentinels of Freedom Scholarship Foundation offering four-year "Life Scholarships" to help smooth severely wounded servicemembers' transition to the rest of their lives. The program encourages community involvement and offers assistance based on a servicemember's particular needs. Services provided can include rent-free housing adapted for physical needs, new furniture and household supplies, and new adaptive vehicles. Servicemembers who have suffered a service-related injury that has left them a paraplegic, with amputated limbs, blind, deaf or severely burned qualify for the scholarship. Those interested in the program can fill out a questionnaire and release on the Sentinels of Freedom website

Military / Veterans Report

National Memorial Day Concert
The Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) will broadcast its annual National Memorial Day Concert live from the nation's Capitol on Sunday, May 27, 2007, at 8 p.m. EST. This year's concert will focus on the brave servicemen and women who have been injured in the line of duty and will also explore the hallowed burial ground of Arlington National Cemetery. Please check your local listings to confirm the exact airtime in your area of the country. For more information, including educational materials for students and teachers plus a webpage where you can submit your own eulogy, visit the National Memorial Day Concert website.

Nationwide Memorial Day Parade Directory
A nationwide Memorial Day parade/events directory at has been posted at VetFriends.com to highlight the locations, dates and times of upcoming Memorial Day events. Coordinators can submit and register parades and events that may not yet be listed on the site. The online Memorial Day forum at VetFriends.com allows visitors to post their personal thoughts on what Memorial Day means to them.

Wounded Soldier by Melanie Dekker

Operation Harris Ba'sil Knocks Enemy Off Balance

American Forces Press Service
Operation Harris Ba'sil has wrapped up after helping knock enemy forces in Iraq's western Anbar province off balance, officials involved in the operation reported today. Regimental Combat Team 2 and elements of the Iraqi army's 7th Division completed the operation after eight weeks of interdicting and disrupting enemy routes and safe havens outside major cities along the Euphrates River valley, the team's operations officer said.

The operation, dubbed "Valiant Guardian," involved nearly 4,000 Marines, soldiers and sailors covering most of the 30,000 square miles of RCT 2's operating area.

"We uncovered over 250 caches, arrested over 250 suspected insurgents and discovered over 100 improvised explosive devices," said Lt. Col. Michael Manning, RCT 2's operations officer. "We clearly surprised them. The number of caches and detainees attest to that, but more importantly, we let the enemy know that they can't hide from us."

The effort marked the first large scale operation for RCT 2 this year, supporting Multinational Force Iraq's Operation Farhd al Qanoon and using the surge battalions sent to Anbar province. RCT 2's operating area stretches from the Syrian border city of Qa'im to Hit, northwest of Ramadi.
Compiled from Multinational Corps Iraq news releases.

Armed Forces Day

SALUTING OUR MEN AND WOMEN IN UNIFORMThis Saturday, 19 May, is Armed Forces Day, first set aside in 1949 by President Harry Truman to recognize the unification of the Armed Forces under the Department of Defense and to acknowledge the extraordinary dedication of America's uniformed Patriots standing ready in harm's way at home and around the world.

In the words of President Dwight Eisenhower, "It is fitting and proper that we devote one day each year to paying special tribute to those whose constancy and courage constitute one of the bulwarks guarding the freedom of this nation and the peace of the free world."

Since the opening shots of the American Revolution on 19 April 1775, American Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines and Coastguardsmen have plowed the ground for freedom. We remain the proud and the free because they remain on post today. For this, we, the American People, offer our heartfelt thanks. Click the emblems.
In July of last year, the U.S. Armed Forces created a speakers initiative titled "Why We Serve." This program was designed to give returning veterans the opportunity to share their personal military experiences with the American public, while answering the call for more first-hand accounting from the front lines.

Military / Veterans Report

New Regulations Worrying Army Bloggers
Stars and Stripes reports that bloggers are worrying that new Army rules for all online postings could put severe restrictions on Soldiers' websites. The new regulations specifically ban posting pictures of roadside bomb attacks, images of troops killed in action, and any shots of base security measures. It also mandates that Soldiers "consult with their immediate supervisor and their OPSEC Officer for an OPSEC review prior to publishing or posting information in a public forum."
The new regulations are available in .pdf format.
Visit the Military Blogoshere to read the best from Military Blog.

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Three Names Added to Vietnam Veterans Memorial
hree more names have been added to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. They are Army Sgt. Richard M. Pruett or Sherman, Texas, Navy Fireman Apprentice Joseph Gerald Krywicki of Holton, Mich., and Army Spc. Wesley Alvin Stiverson of Monticello, Ill. The Defense Department decides which names are to be inscribed on the wall. Since the memorial was dedicated in 1982, a few names have been added each year, and the new names are being added to panels of the wall that are closest to the dates that the men were wounded. For more information on the Memorial, visit the National Park Service's Vietnam Veterans Memorial website.

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Airmen Can Apply for New Nurse Commissioning
The Air Force is now accepting applications from qualified enlisted members for a new enlisted commissioning program. The Nurse Enlisted Commissioning Program (NECP) will give enlisted members the opportunity to complete a full-time Bachelor of Science degree in nursing at an accredited university while on active duty. The NECP selection board is scheduled to convene at the Air Force Personnel Center at Randolph Air Force Base, Texas, in July. Applications must be received no later than June 25. For more information or to apply, visit the AFMS Knowledge Exchange, log in, and look under "Nurse Corps News."

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A Million Thanks
Shauna Fleming, founder of A Million Thanks, has teamed up with Buick, Pontiac and GMC divisions of General Motors to collect thank you letters from the public for the troops. People can drop off their letters in Shauna's red, white and blue boxes at GM car dealers across the nation. For more information, visit A Million Thanks at http://www.amillionthanks.org/.

Can't Win Freeway Sign / Cut and Run The Movie

Military / Veterans Report

Guard Responds to Tornado
More than 300 members of the Kansas National Guard have been activated in response to a powerful tornado that almost destroyed the town of Greensburg, Kan., May 4.

Guard members are assisting in search-and-rescue efforts in the wake of the tornado, which was classified as an
F-5, the highest rating given by the National Weather Service.

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Navy welcomes USS Hawaii
The USS Hawaii officially became part of the Navy yesterday, the third Virginia-class fast-attack submarine to join the fleet.



The commissioning ceremony at the U.S. Submarine Base included hula dancers and military and government officials wearing lei. They were all there to watch as Gov. Linda Lingle gave the boat's officers and crew the command to "Man our ship and bring her to life." USS Hawaii Gallery

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Military Severely Injured Center
The Military Severely Injured Center (MSI Center) is a program dedicated to providing seamless, centralized support -- for as long as it may take -- to make sure that injured service members and their families achieve the highest level of functioning and quality of life. If you are a severely injured service member or the family member of a severely injured service member, the MSI Joint Center can help you cut red tape; understand what benefits are available to you; identify resources; and obtain counseling, information, and support. Injured service members and their families can get assistance 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, at 1-888-774-1361 for this free service.

The MSI Center also provides educational materials that can help you understand and tackle issues related to concerns that injured service members often have, from helping children and spouses with the challenges they face, to concerns about making homes and vehicles accessible, to building new relationships.

In addition the MSI Center offers a Career Center that supplements their services related to career planning, including employment and benefits information for both injured service members and their spouses.

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Bob Hope Golf Tournament in May
The 4th Annual Bob Hope Memorial Charity Golf Tournament takes place May 19 at the Fort Walton Beach Golf Course. All proceeds will benefit the Air Force Enlisted Village, a nonprofit charity that provides a home for the surviving spouses of enlisted servicemembers. The tournament begins at 11 a.m. with registration and a shotgun start at noon. Registration fee is $50 per person, with four-person teams accepted. Lunch will be provided. For more information, see the Air Force Enlisted Village's website
or call Charlie Ray at (850) 651-3766.

Active Duty, Reserve, or National Guard military personnel

This site is an Appeal For Redress in support of our mission in Iraq.

An Appeal For Redress is an authorized means for active duty military to submit a grievance to Congress. It can be signed by Active Duty, Reserve, or National Guard military personnel.

It is authorized by DoD Directive 1325.6 and DoD Directive 7050.6 (pdf).

The wording of the Appeal is:
As an American currently serving my nation in uniform, I respectfully urge my political leaders in Congress to fully support our mission in Iraq and halt any calls for retreat. I also respectfully urge my political leaders to actively oppose media efforts which embolden my enemy while demoralizing American support at home. The War in Iraq is a necessary and just effort to bring freedom to the Middle East and protect America from further attack.
If you are active duty, reservist or national guard, please Sign this Appeal.

President's Radio Address May 5, 2007 / Audio 3:32

President Calls for Responsible
War-Spending Bill In Radio Address
Congress needs to provide the military with the funds and flexibility it needs to prevail to succeed in Iraq,
President Bush said in his weekly radio address yesterday.
"No responsible leader in Washington has an interest in letting that happen."

Reid: Democrat Plan For Victory

Military Humor

Securing a Building
One reason the Military Services have trouble operating jointly is that they don't speak the same language.
For example, if you told Navy personnel to "secure a building," they would turn off the lights and lock the doors.
The Army would occupy the building so no one could enter.
Marines would assault the building, capture it, and defend it with suppressive fire and close combat.
The Air Force, on the other hand, would take out a three-year lease with an option to buy.
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Military / Veterans Report

Troops Need You, America

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Veterans Organization Sponsors Website Contest
Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Departments, Districts and Posts have an opportunity to display their design skills in the 2007 VFW Communications Department Website Design Competition. Websites will be evaluated for navigation, load time, design and content. To enter, submit URL between May 1 and midnight May 31 to webcontest@vfw.org, along with entry information. Judging will be conducted during June. Winners will be announced in August. For a detailed rules list and entry information in a .pdf file, visit http://www.vfw.org/resources/pdf/websitecontest.pdf.
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