-
Valentines Care Package Ideas
It is that time of year. Time to pull out the USPS Flat Rate Shipping box, decorate it with hearts, smooches and words of endearment and fill it with love. What will you put in your Valentines Care Package? It is nice to have some economical ideas. Items he can use but show that you love him. Things that are small and easy to store that remind him of you. Love that is shared in a note, a kiss, a smell. If this sounds up your alley here are some great ideas for your very own Valentines Package: A homemade card or two from the kids would be great. Leave…
-
On this 9/11 in 2012, It is Never too Late for our Veterans to seek Help!
“…he did not get help for more than 3 decades – yep, 35+ years and then he felt like damaged goods.” Today is one we do not forget in the United States. Our service men and women have been at war for 11 years since the terrorists struck at us on 9/11/2001. We have lost so many of our service members following the initial terrorist attack during combat and way too many to Suicide. They survive the ravages of war but then the pain comes through … It hurts, they close up, feel isolated and do not seek help or the help is not enough. Their families feel it too……
-
The Cost of the “Five Finger Discount”
It was a simple project: put on the new grill flame covers purchased at a big box store. The old ones had rusted and worn out and these replacements would “take a sec to put on ” and including time to wash and clean the grill … 15-20 minutes in a busy schedule. Sounded simple! Flame covers that were maximum protectedThen came the packaging material on each of the four flame covers – very tough garage scissors were required to cut through the plastic on each one. It was not a simple process and each one seemed to take an hour to open to just remove the product. Then the…
-
Afghanistan: “Things are Good, not Great”. DoD Blogger Roundtable
He is what we would call a straight shooter! Maj. Gen. John A. Toolan, Jr., U.S. Marine Corps, met with the DoD Blogger Roundtable to discuss Afghanistan after returning from a year in command of U.S. Marines and allied forces in the Helmand and Nimroz provinces of Afghanistan. He provided a sobering but positive perspective of the situation next to the borders of Pakistan and Iran and the general was ready to share his thoughts on the current events in Afghanistan with the roundtable bloggers. Celebrating opening of new women’s centerSee Photo Credit BelowImagine a new cell phone network connecting villages, additional and improved roads laid down to make it…
-
This Tattoo is Freedom’s Call 2012
Got your 2012 calendar ready to ink up? Flip to Friday, June 29, 2012. The seventh annual Freedom’s Call will recognize the contributions of our military veterans, their families and all American who support them with a spectacular presentation of flyovers, music, narration and fireworks. This is a free show at Wright Patterson AFB, Ohio guaranteed to raise your spirit of Patriotism to new heights! Visitors are encouraged to bring lawn chairs, blankets and cameras. However, leave the coolers, backpacks, glasses containers, knives and pepper spray at home! No pets either… not the place for them. For security reasons, items may be inspected. Refreshments will be ready for purchase.The word “tattoo”…
-
Bullying and our Military Children
I am a mom. Mom of a senior in high school, a 3rd grader, a 1st grader, and a toddler. My 3rd grader is a bit on the small side. He’s never been on the ‘charts’ and we have even been to a specialist just to be sure all is well. All is well, medically, and his stature has been chalked up to genetics and that is a-ok with me. However, already at 9 years old I have witnessed a few instances of the ‘bigger kids’ picking on the smaller (same age but some twice his size). One instance of apparent bullying was a fellow soccer player, church friend and school mate pushed my…
-
Army to Drawdown by 50,000 – The head “Scout” of the Army’s Enlisted Force Talks with MilitaryAvenue
SMA Chandler with 170th IBCT (see below for photo credit)Sergeant Major of the Army (SMA), Raymond F. Chandler took some of his critical time to speak with the Bloggers Roundtable on Wednesday. He said felt like the lead Scout of the Army’s enlisted force and wanted to give us a feel of what the enlisted soldiers where concerned about and how the Army was dealing with their issues. The SMA was lively, interested in our questions and provided some great responses as he described an “amazing Army”. He told us we were at a crossroads in the Army with reduced budgets and a drawdown of forces that will impact everyone.…
-
Cyberspace – The Bears and Packers? The offense and defense from the LandWarNet conference – DoD Roundtable
The use of computers, smart phones, satellite tv, cable, networks, wifi, email, Facebook, Twitter, immediate communications, long distance communications ++ has become so routine we expect them to be available. When we wake up and find our wifi or other electronics not working it is not a good start to the day. Imagine losing these capabilities when we have a cyber attack? Last week I had the privilege to speak with two electronic engineers who have compared cyber war to a football game. US Cyber Command Logo It was a great conversation but a bit over the head of this non geek. Yes, I remember taking a carburetor apart on…
-
Energy Independence and the US Navy – DoD Bloggers Roundtable
Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus (Official Photo). It will “make us better warfighters” Are we improving our national security by demanding that the Department of Defense use biofuels? Are we experimenting with our ability to fight a war by requiring that by the year 2020, 50 percent of our Navy’s shore based energy requirement be supported by alternative sources other than fossil fuels? According to the Secretary of the Navy, Ray Mabus, the answer is a big yes and no! The DoD Bloggers Roundtable met with SECNAV yesterday to discuss his energy goals and how they interfaced with joint initiatives with the Department of Energy and Department of Energy.…
-
It Takes More Than an Infantry Force to Win in Afghanistan! DoD Roundtable
Deh Afghanan village, Afghanistan, May 27, 2011This is a time of transition in Afghanistan. The winter is over and summer has arrived with a vengeance. But more importantly, the transition from a NATO/US led force to an Afghan led military is in full swing! In the year 2014 the plan is to turn the lead over to the Afghan National Security Forces for defense of their own country! A big step but one that requires infrastructure, support forces, training institutions, logistics, plus …! We can create the best fighting infantry and lose the war in 2014 if we do not leave the Afghans with educators, qualified mechanics, supply experts, civil…
