Drill Sergeants During Basic Training Can be Very Tough

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Military news…

Troops in Canada were going to fire artillery on July 21, 2018. But then they got high.

A Canadian soldier allegedly spiked cupcakes for a group of artillery students with weed, then handed them out before live-fire training. The training was cancelled, as the students “were allegedly unable to properly execute safe weapons and explosive handling drills,” according to court documents.

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A Coast Guardsman totally Hulked out when he helped flip over a burning car to save the people inside shortly after the car crashed in California last July, writes James Clark in this story about real-life superhero Boatswain’s Mate 3rd Class Gerrod Britton. Shortly after seeing a car lose control and crash on Highway 101, Britton quickly pulled over, worked with a bystander to flip the car off its roof and onto its side, then pull out the people inside “mere seconds before the car was fully engulfed in flames,” according to his award citation.

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“While we have many enemies of this country today who want to see us fall, there’s no greater enemy in my opinion than ourselves,” said America’s newest Medal of Honor recipient, retired Army Col. Ralph Puckett Jr., in a press call with reporters last week. As reported by yours truly in this story, Puckett called for unity in the face of tribalism and selfish Congressmen who put self-interest over their oaths, the Army Ranger said. Those are bold statements from a living Ranger legend whose Medal of Honor recognizes his efforts during a desperate battle against overwhelming enemy forces during the Korean War.

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26,000 troops and half a billion dollars later, the last National Guardsmen have finally left Washington D.C. The final curtain has ended on a mission that began five months ago in response to the Jan. 6 riots on the U.S. Capitol. Before the riot, only 340 unarmed National Guardsmen were deployed to D.C. to help local police with crowd and traffic control ahead of the inauguration of President Joe Biden. But that number grew to 26,000 by Jan. 20 after the riots and dwindled down to 1,600 by Monday, and zero by Wednesday.

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“90% boredom, 10% terror” is how one Air Force navigator describes the essential mission of hurricane hunting. We spoke with Lt. Col. Mark Withee about what it’s like to fly deep into a raging force of nature to collect data and help scientists better predict where a storm will make landfall. A lot of storms are like a long carwash, Withee said, but some make the airplane drop 200 feet in the blink of an eye and make newbies onboard start grabbing for the cargo net just to hang out.

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“It’s not going to change anything,” a soldier and sexual assault survivor Haley Britzky, talked about the Army’s latest efforts to investigate problems in its sexual assault and harassment prevention program. The problems result in mismanaged cases of assault, failure to follow Army regulations, and, in some instances, reports of retaliation again victims. But the leaders in charge of the units that fail to adhere to SHARP guidelines seem to receive only slaps on the wrist in terms of consequences.

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A Marine sergeant in the 1st Reconnaissance Battalion will go to court-martial this summer on charges he dumped several stolen grenades and more than 10,000 rounds of ammunition into a California ravine. The news of Sgt. Gunnar Naughton’s charges comes as at least five other recon Marines are being investigated for stealing explosives and ammunition from a base after one allegedly tried to sell ammo online.

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I had a drill sergeant in basic that was tough as nails. He expected obedience and perfection out of his troops.

I seemed to be one of his main targets. I never did anything wrong, but he got in my face many times in front of the other men. I just yelled, “Yes Sergeant!!”

This went on for most of the basic training. With a couple of weeks to go, he did one final “punishment” for me. He called me outside and had me dig a big hole. He handed me some already smoked cigarettes and said, “Bury them!” I buried them and then he said, “Dig them up again!” I did and he dismissed me.

That was the last thing he did to me. The first of the next week he had me come to his room in the barracks, and said, “I have been pouring on the screaming and yelling on you from day one, and you withstood it all. You obeyed everything I threw at you. Even the excessive KP appointments. You never wavered.”

I felt good about that and then he said, “I am putting your name in for soldier of the month. I also am inviting you to be an honor guard in the upcoming parade.”

I couldn’t help but ask him why he was doing this now. He said, “You turned out to be the most obedient soldier I have ever had. You deserved some pats on the back.”

+This story and many others are in my upcoming book, Signs of Hope for the Military: In and Out of the trenches of Life.

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How did your basic training go? Good memories, or not so good?

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I 800-273-8255 Option # 1

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You are never forsaken.

You are never unloved.

And above all…never, ever, give up!

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Military Spouses Are Very Vital to Helping Their Loved Ones

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Military News…


Russia.” That’s what one former teammate of Peter Debbins said in court documents about the former Green Beret. Debbins, 46, was sentenced last week to more than 15 years in federal prison after admitting he passed secrets to Moscow for years. It sounds made-up, but unfortunately for Debbins’ former teammates, who now feel like they have to spend their whole lives looking over their shoulders, it’s all too real.

‘Stop the social experiment’ is one of several biased views that women face in Army special operations, according to an internal survey sent to Haley Britzky. Forty percent of women in Army special operations say they’ve faced gender bias in the workplace, Haley writes, and many said that, unlike men, they are assumed to be worthless as soon as they walk in the door. On top of that, they also have to deal with issues like ill-fitting body armor, inadequate childcare and the false impression that they get an easier time through the selection process than men.

Constant mobilizations may be pushing the National Guard to the brink
More mobilizations. More time away from jobs and families. More strain on the Guard.
The Air Force wants to ‘enhance’ and ‘augment’ its ‘draft beer capabilities’

The Air Force is calling for additional self-serve beer taps at its on-base bar and grille at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio.


 Ranger training battalion commander relieved for making ‘derogatory’ comments about subordinatesA Ranger Training Battalion commander was relieved last month after making “derogatory comments” about soldiers training to become Army Ranger.
The Air Force has deployed its drone-killing microwave weapon to Africa

The Air Force is currently testing a prototype of its new drone-killing microwave weapon “in a real-world setting” in Africa, Breaking Defense reports, a major step forward for the service’s directed energy efforts.
Military spouses are the backbone of the military
The United States military is the finest fighting force in the world, ready to deploy anywhere within 48-hour notice. A combat-ready unit cannot operate without logistics, communications, and of course, family support. While they don’t wear uniforms, military spouses are fundamental in keeping our forces domestic and abroad focused, supported, and ready to go.
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The last aritice is special to me. I feel that spouses are vital to the military. In my upcoming book, Signs of Hope for the Military: In and Out of the Trenches of Life, I have a whole chapter on the subject.

I talk about my own daughter-in-law being a spouse to my son KC. He spent close to thirty years in the service and she was by his side the whole way.
As many of you already know, when your spouse is deployed, you are it. You have to make all the decision, pay all the bills.

My son was deployed to Iraq two time and he was gone for two years total. My daughter-in-law was wonderful spouse during all of this. She never wavered.
I want to also mention that not all spouses are women as far as staying home. Many men are spouses to women soldiers.

It is tougher for them to survive, because they do not have the massive support groups like the women have.
When they need help it is hard to know where to go.

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One of my favorite moments of all time was when I able to be at FT Lewis when the plane carrying my son landed from Iraq.

We were in a hanger waiting them to march into view. You could hear them coming because they were doing cadence.

Then the head of the group started coming into the hanger. I could see my son amongst them.

He didn’t know I was there. That made it even more special. He was very excited to see me and his wife.

These stories and much more are in the book, Signs of Hope for the Military: In and Out of the trenches of life.

+ Keep coming back to read updates on how the book is doing. Better yet, subscribe right now by clicking on the subscribe button at the top of this page. When you do all future posts will come directly to your inbox.

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Were you deployed and was away from family? Did you cherish the reunion when you came home? No? Did your spouse leave you? Did people not even come to meet you?

Fear not!

There are over 12,000 fellow subscribed to the site, and they have your back.

However, if you life is spinning out of control, GET HELP!

Here is a toll free number to call 24/7.

There are highly qualified counselors there to help you. They will not hang up until they know you are OK. This is all free!

Never be alone if you are hurting.

1-800-273-8255 Option # 1

___________________________________

Remember:

You are never alone.

You are never forsaken.

You are never unloved.

And above all…never, ever, give up!

___________________________________

+If you like what you see, please subscribe at the top of this page where it says, “subscribe.” When you do, all future posts will come directly to your inbox. Also, if you know some else who could benefit from this site, please let them know about it.