1,500 additional troops to deploy to border with Mexico as migrant surge expected next week.

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Military news…..

California veteran who volunteered in Ukraine, survived rocket attack: ‘I would do it again’It was just before midnight on a frigid February evening in the eastern Donetsk region of Ukraine when a 29-year-old Marine veteran from Garden Grove, Calif., was struck by an enemy Russian rocket while inside a Humvee on the front lines.

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Pentagon to spend up to $7.2 billion on combat-proven Javelin anti-tank missiles

The U.S. military plans to buy up to $7.2 billion worth of Javelin missiles for the Army, Navy, Marine Corps and international customers over the next three years, under a contract announced Thursday.

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Ukraine to receive another $300M in weapons, ammunition and equipment in new US aid

The equipment and weapons are being given through the presidential drawdown authority, which means it will come directly from Pentagon stocks and sent quickly on an emergency basis.

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In a first, female soldier becomes top enlisted leader at Army Special Operations CommandCommand Sgt. Maj. JoAnn Naumann stepped into the job at a ceremony Monday at Fort Bragg, N.C.

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1,500 additional troops to deploy to border with Mexico as migrant surge expected next week

The troops will join about 2,400 National Guard members authorized to serve at the border with U.S. Customs and Border Protection as part of a support mission that began in 2018.

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I had some interesting times while in basic training. I will share two of them.

  1. During the time there we did different types of training. One was pretty frightening. We spent one day throwing live grenades. I was in a line of guys taking their turn of be coached to throw. I was next in line to do just that. I could hear the instructor say, “Pull the pin wait five seconds and then throw it.” He handed the guy the grenade and the guy pulled the pin. He pulled his arm back and was ready to throw. He tried to throw but the grenade slipped out of his hand and landed right next to him. The instructor grabbed the grenade and tossed sit. It blew up in mid air.

It was my turn, and I listened to the instructor very carefully. I pulled the pin and throw the grenade right on time and it didn’t explode until it hit the ground. It was the guys mistake in front of me that caused me to fine tuned my senses.

2. We had just finished our firing range time and it was time to march back to the barracks. our drill sergeant had to go to a meeting so he had a Warrant officer march us back. Well he had no idea how to give commands and of us noticed it right away.

The platoon decided to move only according to protocol. He said to form up. We accepted that, and then he said turn right, and we didn’t move. You could see that he was getting frustrated. He asked a nearby NCO what he was supposed to say, and then he said, “Right face!” We turned right.

He then tried to get us going. He said, “Start walking.” We didn’t move. he asked the same NCO what he should say, and then he said, “Forward march.”

We started marching, and we moved along pretty good for a while. The the officer saw that there was a boat ramp up ahead, and he said, “Let’s stop.” We kept marching. He shouted again, but we just kept marching.

The front to d platoon was starting go into the water. The officer yelled, “Stop!” We kept going. Now most the the platoon was in the water. An NCO saw what was going on and ran over to yell, “Platoon halt.” We stopped, but everyone was wet, and we laughing our heads off.

The next morning at our daily briefing, The Captain came and chewed us out for what we had done. BUT you could see him trying to hold back the laughter as he went back inside.

We were told the Capitan apologized to the officer.

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I met a marine yesterday while shopping at Cost Co. He was one hell of a guy. We quickly became friends, and I asked him if I could have his email to keep in touch. He agreed, and I told him I was writing a book on the military and could I interview him. He said yes.

Then he gave me a sneak peak of what happened to him. He was wounded three separate times. Two times by bayonets. One of the bayonet times the bayonet went through both legs. He was also wounded by shrapnel. He said there was a lot of close up fighting going on. He was in Vietnam from 1965-1969. A long haul.

Come back and read his amazing story as it unfolds. Better yet…go to the top of this page and click on subscribe. When you do all future posts will go directly to your inbox.

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Checking in on you. How are you doing? Is everything going OK, or are you fighting back memories?

FEAR NOT!

There are over 15,219 Veterans on this site who have your back.

If you are battling mentally, but you are losing, GET HELP!!

Here is a toll free number that you can call 24/7. There are highly qualified counselors there to help you, and they will not hang up until they know you are OK.
1-800-273-8255…texting 838255.

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Remember:


You are never alone.


You are never forsaken.


You are never unloved.


And above all…never, ever, give up.

+Now there is an easier way to get help. Just dial 988, and you will have help ready for you.

_______________________________________________________________

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The Military Doesn’t Have to be Serious All of the Time.

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Military news…

Injured Marine recalls deadly Kabul suicide blast as House Republicans scrutinize Afghanistan withdrawal
Sgt. Tyler Vargas-Andrews said his unit had warned commanders that they saw two suspects in the chaotic crowd outside Kabul’s Hamid Karzai International Airport on Aug. 26, 2021, that fit a description flagged by U.S. intelligence, but the Marines were denied permission to shoot.

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Troops up for 5.2% pay hike under White House’s $886B defense budget request
The White House’s $6.8 trillion funding request for fiscal 2024, which begins Oct. 1, includes $842 billion specifically for the Defense Department, representing a $26 billion increase to the amount appropriated by Congress last year.

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North Korea fires short-range missile ahead of US joint military drills with South

North Korea fired its fifth ballistic missile of the year after U.S. intelligence officials assessed that the communist regime had “no intention of abandoning” its weapons program.

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The Russian military is so low on ammo that troops are reduced to fighting with e-tools
“One of the reservists described being ‘neither physically nor psychologically’ prepared for the action.”
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Ukrainian Pilots in Arizona Working With US Military Pilots

According to defense officials, while Ukrainians aren’t flying planes, U.S. military pilots are assessing their skills and familiarizing them with new aircraft equipment like the F-16. This comes as President Zelenskyy repeatedly asked the U.S. for F-16s, but the Biden administration has resisted.

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Not all moments in the military have to be serious. During my basic training I had an incident that I love to tell others about.

We were just finished with our firing range training, and our sergeant that was suppose to march us back to our barracks had to leave. He asked a Warrant officer to march us back.

Before he came over to us we decided to follow the rules of orders when he took over. That meant he had to say things exactly like a sergeant would say to get us moving.

He came before us and said, “Ok guys let’s get into formation.” No one moved. He tried two more times, and then he went to another sergeant to asked what he should say. The sergeant told him, and we go into formation when he said the right thing.

The he tried to get us to start marching he said, “Start marching,” No movement. He tried to do this several times,and had to ask that same sergeant what he should say. He then told us, “Forward march.”

We started marching. Eventually we came to a spot that we had to turn, or we would walk into the bay. He said, “Let’s turn here to avoid the water. We kept marching. We got to the edge of the water and he yelled, “Stop!” We kept going and the first part of the platoon was in the water. he was panicked, and called for help for another sergeant. The sergeant yelled “Halt.”

We stopped, but by that time we were all in the water, laughing our heads off.

We finally got back to the barracks and the company commander had us get into formation. He chewed us out for what we had done, and then you could see he was smiling as he walked back to his office.

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I had the privilege to meet a Vietnam veteran while shopping for groceries. I seem to have the knack to find them. This guy is a true hero. His name is Milt Hoch. He had three tours in Vietnam. He didn’t have to. He chose to.

He was in intense fighting, even face to face fighting. He was once stabbed through both legs at once with a bayonet. He was still able to kill the enemy and survive.

I have an interview with him in my upcoming book, Signs of Hope for the Military: In and Out of the Trenches of Life. It is riveting.

Keep coming back to hear about other heroes. Better yet…go to the top of this page and click on subscribe. When you do all future posts will go directly to your inbox.

_______________________________________________________________

Checking in on you. How are you doing? Is everything going OK, or are you fighting back memories?

FEAR NOT!

There are over 15,219 Veterans on this site who have your back.

If you are battling mentally, but you are losing, GET HELP!!

Here is a toll free number that you can call 24/7. There are highly qualified counselors there to help you, and they will not hang up until they know you are OK.
1-800-273-8255…texting 838255.

______________________________________________________________

Remember:


You are never alone.


You are never forsaken.


You are never unloved.


And above all…never, ever, give up.

+Now there is an easier way to get help. Just dial 988, and you will have help ready for you.

______________________________________________________________

+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.

__

Not all days Were Bad. Some were Fun in the Military

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Military news…

USS Constitution Has Its First Female Commanding Officer in Its 224-Year History 

Cmdr. Billie Farrell on Friday became the first female to captain the USS Constitution in the historic warship’s 224-year history.

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Alexandria VA Hospital Unveils New Statue Recognizing Women Veterans

A new statue recognizing women veterans was unveiled at the Alexandria Veterans Affairs hospital campus in Alexandria, Louisiana.

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‘Atomic Veterans’ Finally to Get Commemorative Service Medal

After years spent fighting for recognition, veterans who worked on the US nuclear program will be eligible for a new medal.

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Vietnam Veteran Takes Flight in World War II Aircraft in Mesa

Retired Col. Richard “Dick” Toliver took to the skies the “Amazing Grace” aircraft.

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Meet the US Soldiers Aiming for Olympic Gold in the 2022 Winter Games

They’re already serving their country in the Army. Now, four US soldiers will also be representing their country at the Winter Olympics.

Spc. Frank Del Duca and Spc. Hakeem Abdul-Saboor have been selected to join the U.S. Men’s Olympic Bobsled Team, while Sgt. Emily Sweeney and Airman 1st Class Kelly Curtis will go for gold in luge and the skeleton, respectively.

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Here is another excerpt from myupcoming book, Signs of Hope for the Military: In and Out of the Trenches of Life.

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I Hope I Can Swim!

There weren’t always serious times in the military.

One day after we were done with shooting at the range in basic training, the regular platoon leader had to go to headquarters, and he asked a Warrant Officer to march us back to the buses.

The Warrant Officer had never led a march before and it was very clear that he was not in control. The men whispered to each other that we needed to follow his commands completely, but only if they were Army regulated.

Well, the Warrant Officer had no idea what the Army regulations were for marching troops, so he just told us to start marching. We didn’t move. He shouted, “Let’s go!” We still didn’t move. Then a passer-by soldier told him the wording was “Forward march!” 

He said “Forward march!” We started marching. He wanted us to do a turn at a street corner, and said “Turn right!” We kept going straight. He was heading us toward a boat ramp leading down to the ocean. He saw what was happening, and yelled, “Stop!” We didn’t stop! He shouted “You’re going into the water, stop!”

By this time the front of the platoon was in the edge of the ramp and had water over their boots. He was again getting desperate. He ran over to some other soldier watching “the show,” and begged them to tell him what he is supposed to say. He said yell, “Platoon halt!” He did, but by that time there were some men swimming, and laughing I might add.

The platoon leader didn’t get mad when he heard what happened. He even chuckled to himself, and then he called the Warrant Officer to apologize.

Have you ever gotten confused with some orders you have received in the military? Were they in such a way that you had to question them? Let me tell you that it is OK to question a command or orders if you stay with the guidelines of the Army manual.

If an officer asks you to do something you aren’t comfortable with you could say, “No disrespect sir, but could you explain that order to me?” You could also say, “I would like to say “Respectively sir that I will do what you say, but I am not comfortable doing it.”

Any good officer will not chew you out for statements like that. My son, who was a colonel, had times when he had to give soldiers commands, and I am sure if they questioned him, he didn’t punish them or he didn’t become angry. I met many of his soldiers when I visited him on base, and every soldier I met said that my son was a soldier’s soldier. Meaning, they knew he was in charge, but they also knew that he would listen to them if they had a disagreement.

In your life it is wise to be open to others who may disagree with you. It may make you uncomfortable, but in the long run, the other person will respect you for listening to them even if you stick to what you first advocated.

IWILL

It is so easy to demand things for yourself, but that approach may only lead to the loss of friends and family. The “my way or the highway,” philosophy doesn’t seem to fit well with most people.

Think about this

Isn’t it sad that when someone tries to “bully,” someone into agreeing with them, it only hurts them?

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That was of the fun times in the military,but we all know there were not so fun days. Come back often to see more excerpts. Better yet…go to the top of this page and click on “Subscribe.” When you do all future posts will come directly to you inbox.

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Checking in on you…How are you doing? Are you struggling with memories?

FEAR NOT!

There are over 13,825 fellow veterans here who have your back.

If you are battling mentally, because of your love for others, but it isn’t working, GET HELP!!

Here is a toll free number that you can call 24/7. There are highly qualified counselors there to help you, and they will no hang up until they know you are OK.

1-800-273-8255…texting 838255.

______________________________________________________________

+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 yournbox. Also, if you know some else who could benefit from this site, please let them know.