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“A Passion and Desire to Get Things Done Right” DoD Blogger Roundtable
The wars in Afghanistan and Iraq have been tough on the men and women of our armed services! We have suffered casualties, multiple long deployments and families have sacrificed too with impacts on spouse employment, child care help from a spouse, missed /holidays/birthdays/anniversaries, etc. But often we forget about the equipment that is used to fight and protect our combatants. AH-64 – See below for photo credit The desert environment has been particularly hard on all the services’ equipment and will need to be taken care in an austere budget time frame. From ground transportation vehicles, to helicopters, other aircraft, weapons and ground equipment like generators the toll has been…
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Tracking Santa with NORAD on Christmas Eve: Don’t be surprised, Be Ready!
How Fast is Santa’s Sleigh? Official NORAD response: Santa’s sleigh travels at Starlight Speed according to military trackers at NORAD’s headquarters in Colorado Springs. Don’t be surprised! Be ready; know when Santa is coming!This was so much fun! Let’s start from the beginning with a quick explanation from US Navy Lieutenant Commander (LCDR) Bill Lewis. Bill is part of the North American Air Defense Command (NORAD) responsible for Tracking Santa on Christmas Eve. Bill said that 1,200 volunteers work the mission for 23 hours to ensure children worldwide know where Santa is going next. Some have done this as a family for 10-15 years and it is now part of…
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NORAD is ready to track Santa’s flight
This is so much fun! Last year my boys and I pulled up NORAD’s site at www.noradsanta.org and watched Santa travel around the world on Christmas Eve. It was so much fun talking to my boys about different cultures, different time zones, the way the earth spins, different parts of the world and the boys and girls that live all around us, all while watching Santa ZOOM from place to place. You can follow them on Facebook to keep up with the latest: http://www.facebook.com/noradsantaMake this part of your Christmas Tradition. You won’t regret it: NORAD is ready to track Santa’s flight Dec. 1, 2011PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. — The North American…
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“A Cause Worth Doing” – DoD Roundtable
“A Cause Worth Doing” – DoD Roundtable I have never heard the Afghan people described as resilient and intelligent. I pictured them as tough fighters who over time always managed to make the foreigners leave (ie., the British and Soviet invaders) after a long fight but the guest at today’s Roundtable brought a different perspective. He also described this war as a “cause worth doing”. With 38 years experience as a US Marine (active and civilian), Mr. Dave Clifton, senior advisor, Ministry of Interior, NATO Training Mission – Afghanistan (NTM-A) certainly brings a wealth of experience to his job supervising a team of advisors that coach Afghan leaders on ministerial…
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The Afghan Air Force Is On The Move – DoD Roundtable
This morning’s Department of Defense Bloggers Roundtable with Brigadier General David Allvin was interesting for this retired pilot who spent many years involved in training pilots and other crewmembers. Some of that training included flying with numerous international students from Saudi Arabia, Panama and Italy. As a trained test pilot Gen Allvin brings a unique perspective in his new role as the commanding general, NATO Air Training Command, NTM-A/CSTC-A. He outlined the focus of his command as: 1) Expand Operational Capability2) Professionalization of the Air Force through Education and Training3) Improving Command and Control of Afghan Air Force resources The Afghan Air Force (the organizational name was recently confirmed by…
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Faces Behind the Hero: Sarah, Army Brat, Navy Wife
This week’s “Face Behind the Heroes” is, Sarah. She is an “Army Brat” turned Navy wife! I felt an instant camaraderie as I am an “Air Force Brat” turned Army wife. Some of just can’t get away from the life :). Sarah has a lot of great thoughts of the support you can find on base. Have you utilized on-base / post support? Put it on your ‘To-Do’ list today! But first we hope you enjoy reading a few thoughts from Sarah, this week’s “Face Behind the Hero“: What branch is your husband in? Navy How long has he been in? 16 years How long have you been married? 5 years What is your…
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Air Flow into Haiti – US Air Force Mobility Forces – DoD Roundtable
The guests for today’s Department of Defense Blogger’s Roundtable were U.S. Air Force Col. John Romero, chief of Air Mobility Division for the 612th Air Operations Center at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, A.Z., and Lt Col Brad Graff of the 601st Air Operations Center at Tyndall Air Force Base. Col. Romero and Lt Col Graff provided an update of Air Force Southern Command’s ongoing support to the Haitian government and relief efforts—specifically–how airmen have been able to manage the flow of aircraft into Haiti, prioritize landing times based off current needs on the ground, and ensure the safe and efficient flow of relief supplies into Haiti. “Since implementation of the…
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What Fun!
As a military family we found ourselves in many different parts of the world! Adapting to the environment we were in was always a challenge we took on with an almost eager glee! What can we do here that we couldn’t in the last place? We went “spranging” in Iceland, rode the transcontinental railroad in Panama and went to a secluded beach after a walk through the jungle, snow skied in New Mexico, hiked Mt Rainier in Washington, rode the surf in Florida, built an igloo in Illinois during a major blizzard and a host of other family events that were just fun and helped us enjoy the transitions in…
