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Fort Ord declared a national monument

Fort Ord had been home to many of the individuals who had served in the U.S. military dating back to 1917, though it has gone through several names before becoming what is now known as Fort Ord. This fort was primarily used for weapon training and tactical. To this day, some 18 years after its official closing sections of Fort Ord are still marked with warning signs where underground mines remain. Those cornered off sections don’t take away from the recreational paradise that has taken over this once prestigious U.S. military fort.

President Obama declared Fort Ord a national monument and referred to Fort Ord as, "one of the crown jewels of California's coast." That is exactly what Fort Ord is. It goes on for miles and miles just outside of Monterey, California. Following the official closing in 1994, residents in and around the Monterey Peninsula have turned the old fort into a recreational wonderland. It now contains numerous bike trails and hiking paths.

Plans are underway to locate and remove the last of every underground explosive. In an effort to remove past weapons within safe parameters, the Army Corps of Engineers have taken on the task and have estimated that the cleanup will be complete by 2019. Once this gorgeous land has been cleared of all potential threats of civilian harm, even more land will become open for enjoyment.

Any individual who has ever trained in Fort Ord should take some time to enjoy this fort under a new light. I have actually had three relatives serve at Fort Ord, my grandfather and two uncles. All three of them have returned to see this land without the sometimes strict military life.

US Veterans remain Heroes in Civilian Life

Warriors and Wolves Program Promotes Healing for Vets and Wolves

Animals have been known to promote healing for some time now. Sometimes animals can heal others while they are being healed. This happens when strength comes from both sides and healing becomes the only true outcome.

Three months ago 29 hybrid wolf-dogs were taken in by a California Animal Rescue Center, the animals were rescued from an Alaska tourist attraction. Three separate veterans volunteered to help the animals in need and through care the animals and the veterans have begun to heal. Each volunteer veteran has shown that even at home they will come together to fight for the rights and needs of others, even if the others happen to be mistreated animals held in captivity.

A Navy Vet of Ten Years, Stanley McDonald is one of the US veteran volunteers and uses the strength of these animals to find his own strength. He has battled with alcoholism throughout his life and following his time in service has been diagnosed with PTSD which in itself can amplify alcoholism just as alcoholism can amplify problems associated with PTSD. McDonald is striving to overcome his alcoholism as he fights for these damaged wolves and has stated in a recent interview that, “he’s learned from the animals and knew if he could help them, he could help himself.”

Just as these animals have learned to trust and have begun to heal both physically and emotionally, so has McDonald. In the time that he has worked with these animals he has also reconnected with his family. It has been a hard uphill battle, though through strength and bravery McDonald has become the man he wanted to be, the man that his family could believe in. by helping injured wolves McDonald has helped himself.

US Veterans Return Home to new Battles

VETS and Warrior care provide help with civilian life adjustments

Our US Military Veterans have proudly and bravely served their country. In the first days, weeks and months of being home they may face difficult challenges. They need to readjust to civilian life, find employment and in some cases find housing. In effort to ease veterans back into civilian life with minimal difficulties, the US Department of Labor VETS program provides several valuable resources to service members and veterans.

Any returning service member or veteran can access the VETS website to gain access to available grants, employment resources, transitional resources, educational training and many other resources. Each resource has an application form and process that needs to be carefully filled out, however the requirements to get an application approved is an easy process. Additional help is also available through staff members should any service member or veteran need extra assistance.

Service members and veterans also receive informative handbooks that cover information on each program to help them understand the steps that they will be taking. There is also a link to Warrior care which will provide a valuable benefits handbook at the VETS site or you can access it directly through the Warrior Care link. The Warrior Care handbook covers every available benefit to veterans. It provides information on medical benefits, recovery benefits, tuition assistance and general veteran’s benefits.

The Warrior Care handbook thoroughly covers veteran’s disability benefits and the process that will need to be undertaken to determine eligibility. This can be vital to an any veteran faced with the need to determine disability eligibility. Life doesn’t stop when service members leave the battle field, in many ways it begins.

US Military gets new Mini Robots

They will be used for surveillance so that soldiers can limit their exposure risk

Our US military has just made an order to receive micro sized robots. I’ve never wanted to be in the military as much as I do right now. I mean just think I could have my own little squad of mini robots to lead into battle.

All kidding aside, these robots are pretty cool. They’re rather indestructible and can withstand extreme impacts. They will be used to perform surveillance, they have the ability to get into places that soldiers can’t go into without being noticed. These robots will basic help to prevent military casualties and will improve the chances of soldiers returning home from battle.

They are light weight and actually come with their own carrying case so that soldiers can have them on their side at all times. This will enable American soldiers to access the benefits of these robots whenever they need a few extra eyes. The only downfall is that they run off of battery power so soldiers will need to make sure that they are charged.

This is almost something I would expect to see in a sci-fi movie. It’s actually rather exciting to thank that we have robots to help us out during times of battle. Of course they can’t fight, however give them time they just might eventually be able to. Honestly, did you ever think that robots would actually become part of our armed service. Remember watching terminator and how at the time it was a great yet out of reach possibility, well we have in fact made our first series of combat robots. I wonder how much further technology can take us.

US Military get Menu Options Revamped

More fruits, veggies and whole grains

The education department isn’t the only group having their food program revamped. On Thursday when Michelle Obama is at the Little Rock Air Force base the Pentagon will officially announce new meal standards that will become regulatory for all military bases. You can expect a new variety that is more health conscious than past mess hall meals.

New menu options will limit fat intake while increases fruits, vegetables and whole grains. This will reduce operating cost associated with military personnel who have fallen out of their required fat percentage range. When a service member has too high of a fat percentage PT is a mandatory requirement before being released back to regular duty, this requires extra time and energy. Those service members that can’t seem to keep their fat percentage within normal range suffer medical needs that raise military operating cost.

This problem goes beyond active personnel. If healthy eating habits can become natural then military service members that return to civilian life will be more likely to retain their healthy eating habits. This can save medical cost within the private sector and promote a lifespan of good health. Eating habits whether good or bad are more often than not passed on to children growing up in a household. The men and women who ate better food choices while in the service will likely take those choice home and could possibly pass healthy eating onto their children which just may overtime reduce food related health problems and medical costs. This is only a start yet the outcome has the potential of spiraling growth.

What do the Defense Department Cuts mean to You?

This might make you mad

There have been several defense department cuts, some will affect you whereas other will not. Here’s a breakdown of everything that’s being cut that may have an impact on your life. There are a few cuts that just might make you angry.

To begin with, ground forces are being cut by “80,000 Army troops” along with another “20,000 marines”. This isn’t the first time that troops have been attacked in an effort to save money, if you remember Clinton also went straight for the military personnel. Basically, a lot of people may be going home for good, now that they are no longer are needed they can safely be fired.

You have certainly heard by now that military pay and benefits will also be cut. The Department of Defense is claiming that “military personnel costs … rose 30 percent.” To reduce cost they are planning on making a few changes.

Military retirees will have the cost of their health insurance increase. So what does that mean exactly? It means that the men and women who bravely gave their all and are now growing old will have to pay a higher price for the care that they were promised. Once again the fat cats will stick it to the brave soldiers that served, now that they are no longer needed or useful.

Retirement plans are being revamped. They have promised not to touch any current retirement plan, however that’s probably due to the fact that they are under contract. Future military personnel will need to read their enlistment contracts more careful than ever before. Aside from less than adequate retirement plans, future military personnel will also have a less than adequate pay structure.

Pentagon Takes Steps to End US Military Sexual Assault

A growing problem gets exposed

Defense Secretary Leon Panetta is taking measures to combat sexual assault in the US military. This is long overdue. Sexual assault has been a difficult part of military life for many female soldiers.

Last year alone there were a total of 3,191 reported cases of sexual assault in the military. That actual number may even be higher considering that many sexual assaults go unreported in civilian life and I would imagine that could be even higher in a military based life. The sexual assault plans for the military includes many similarities to our national sexual assault procedures.

To begin with, there will be a set standard for sexual assault response. Additionally there will be victim advocates, a vital part of the aftermath of sexual assaults. Having a thorough procedure and some form of support system in place may help to get victims of sexual assault to alert officials and seek help.

One of the greatest concerns of reporting sexual assaults within the military is the old buddy system. What many victims don’t see is that most military men would stand up against their fellow soldier for the sake of a female victim. Unfortunately women who have suffered a sexual assault are left feeling alone and often enter an emotional rollercoaster.

Having a new sexual assault standard will help by giving victims an outlet to report an incident. It can go beyond that, as new procedures fall into place, would be perpetrators may be deterred through a no tolerance policy. Those who aren’t stopped will be court martialed and prosecuted to the full extent of the law just like any civilian that committed the horrible crime of sexual assault.

US Defense Department is Striving to Protect the Privates or our Privates

World War II laws are currently preventing progress

US Army is facing difficulties in sending out US troops with protective briefs. This became an issue after data from 2010 determined that 13% of military hospitalizations were a result of injuries surrounding the genital region. The real problem lies in an old law based out of World War II that requires that any food or uniform material for military use be purchased through domestic suppliers, using domestic material.

This is a problem simply due to the fact that the best protective gear is made from silk, which is imported. There are synthetic silk options that are domestic however testing has yet to conclude whether synthetic silk will hold up to possible bomb explosions. Meanwhile Kevlar and other options are being explored. One option that’s being considered is a protective cup, however that will only protect the groin itself and not the entire region.

The US is trying to get permission for a onetime exclusion that will allow them to purchase nondomestic materials. If they’re able to they have the opportunity to make protective briefs that provide both protection and comfort. Additionally, they’ll be able to provide an option to cover the entire thigh region.

Other countries that aren’t bound by laws to only purchase materials that are made on their soil already have protective wear. Sadly we are one of the few countries that have yet to provide a solution to our troops. Hopefully, we’ll be able to find a way around this problem so that our troops can also be protected from unnecessary harm.

Shooter in Chris Sullivan Case is in Custody

Chris Sullivan is currently in recovery

There has been an update to the Chris Sullivan shooting that happened earlier last week. Ruben Ray Jurado, age 19 turned himself in to the Chino Hills Police Department. He is being booked and transferred to San Bernardino.

Ruben shot Chris after getting into an argument with Chris’s brother over football teams. This has been a tragedy, to think that Chris Sullivan a young soldier was shot over football teams after surviving Afghanistan including a suicide bombing is horrible. Lives have been ruined over this senseless act.

Ruben is facing attempted murder charges, I only wonder if he contemplates now the stupidity of his act. Chris and his family will always remember that party with pain. Chris has been paralyzed by his gunshot wounds at the mere age of 22. Chris received a purple heart for bravery, for rescuing fellow soldiers.

That same bravery played a part in this current shooting. Chris had tried to intervene between a heated argument involving Ruben and his brother, just as Chris had been injured in the Afghanistan suicide bombing by trying to pull out his soldiers that were unable to rescue themselves. Sullivan was and is a hero, sadly the life of a hero isn’t always an easy life.

My thoughts go out to Chris Sullivan and his family as they stand by his side and support him during yet another recovery. I know deep down that the bravery that has always pushed Chris into action is the same bravery that will pull him through this latest struggle. May his friends and family be as brave.

22 Year old Soldier Christopher Sullivan has been Shot at his Homecoming Party

He survived Afghanistan only to come to gunfire.

Soldiers are asked to stand strong in the face of danger every day. They proudly take on this challenge for the good of their country. They face injury and death at any given moment, they know the value of their lives and how quickly lives can cease.

They expect danger to be around any corner while in battle. They don’t expect to find that danger within minutes of their home. Christopher Sullivan was a 22 year old soldier, he attended a homecoming party where he was shot and rushed to the hospital.

Christopher had survived a suicide bombing last year, one that though dreaded could at the very least be expected. He shouldn’t have expected violent gunfire during a party in his honor. This act was shameful and wrong in every sense of the word. Our soldiers bravely go into battlefields filled with gunfire and bombs. They shouldn’t be greeted at home with the same.

As for the shooter, he ran off like a coward in the night. He shot down a soldier, already recovering from previous injuries and then ran away. I have no doubt that this particular gunman lacks the bravery and honor needed to ever stand in Christopher’s boots.

It’s bad enough that this man took a shot at Christopher. The least that he could do is have the courage to stand up for his crimes. He isn’t expected to have the bravery of a soldier, it’s obvious that he lacks it. I do feel though that if someone decides to shoot a hero then that person should at least stick around long enough to pay the consequences.

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