The Legion Stands Forth
The American Legion has stepped forward in Oklahoma. The Legion is on the ground with Soldier's Wish in Moore right now, and has further allocated $1 million to help help veterans and their families affected by the tornado.
"The American Legion is committed to the welfare of all veterans and has been on the front lines with veterans and their families in times like these since 1919," said American Legion National Commander James E. Koutz.
Bravo Zulu!
LW
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Carry The Load: Ruck March/Relay
Last week, I saw a post on Facebook that caught my attention. It was about a relay coming through the Atlanta area for an organization called Carry The Load. The word was going out for people to sign up and join in to help the charity, remind people of the meaning of Memorial Day, and get in some exercise. Well, that was my take on in when the president of Ranger Coffee (a former ranger) challenged everyone on a particular leg to bring a ruck and make it a ruck march. Liking the concept and needing some exercise, I agreed.
Continue reading "Carry The Load: Ruck March/Relay"
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Carry The Load Relay
Tonight, the Carry the Load relay will be in the Atlanta/Marietta area. Anyone care to grab a ruck and join me for Leg 193 up into Smyrna proper? This is a chance to show support, get some exercise, and maybe help raise some money and awareness for a charity.
LW
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Book Review: Standing By: The Making of an American Military Family in a Time of War
The following book review is a Special provided by Elise Cooper for BlackFive readers. You can read all of our reviews by clicking on the Books category on the far right side bar.
Alison Buckholtz’s book, Standing By: The Making of an American Military Family in a Time of War is a very powerful reminder that the families of those serving are also heroes in the War on Terror. This book, written more like a diary, allows the reader to see what it is like for a military family as they transfer with their serviceperson to different bases throughout the US. From 2009 to 2012 Scott, Alison, and their two children, Esther and Ethan, moved to the small town of Anacortes, Washington for Scott’s three year Navy assignment.
Alison allows the average citizen as well as those marrying into the military to understand the trials and tribulations of being a military family: the difficulty of deployment, how a military mom becomes a single mother, and the families reliance on each other for strength and support.
The author gives a candid and moving account of her friendships with other military wives and the way they acted as a team, their own unit, to support each other and help one another endure during these difficult times. This was no more obvious that in the chapter about “Pippi,” who struggled to make ends meet both financially and emotionally. While in the hospital recovering from a C-section, Alison organized fellow military spouses to report for duty, to come together to help and support Pippi by cleaning her house, which looked like a junkyard. Buckholtz noted to blackfive.net, “Helping other spouses became a reflex. I wrote this book as a service to other military spouses.”
She believes that in military marriages, “The service member’s spouse typically takes on the role of the pep-talk-giver. When the kid is sad about Dad’s absence, wonders why Dad has to be away for so long, or demands to know why someone else can’t do the job.” She fabulously describes what is like not only for the spouse, but for the children who must come to grips with having a parent gone for long periods of time. She noted, “I wanted to stress to my children that this is dad’s job; yet, I understood that it is really tough for a younger child to understand since they see the work as black and white.” This was emphasized in the book when she gave the example of another military wife who felt that her husband chose “to stay in the Navy, which means you choose to leave us.”
What made the book very interesting is how she showed different points of view, that she did not feel the same way as the Navy spouse. She tells of Scott quoting a phrase from the Lovelace poem, “I could not love thee, Dear, so much, Loved I not honour more.” When asked about this she commented, “Scott’s career was so much a part of his character, that person who I loved and admired. He would not be that person without the military service.”
She told blackfive.net that what she loves about the military is being able to have friendships with people that have a different perspective than hers. There were people who were judged on their actions rather than their sex, political affiliations, religions, or race. “This is the upside. We had a mutual respect for each other that might not have the glue in a civilian world. I am grateful to the military for allowing me to be given the opportunity to get to know people from different backgrounds, people I otherwise might have never met.”
Standing By is a beautifully written book that should touch the heart of every American. The author does a great job in explaining how different families reacted to the issue of deployment. It is one of those rare books that can appeal to both those in the military and citizens who want to understand more of what it is like to be a military family.
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Veteran Tech Brigade - Helping Vets Find Jobs!
Veteran Tech Brigade Helps Veterans Find Meaningful Employment
Frustrated with the high unemployment rate among veterans and inadequate career transitioning services offered them, Veteran Tech Brigade is working with numerous commercial companies and government contracting firms to provide meaningful jobs and free pre-employment counseling to our military veterans and their spouses.
Attending military job fairs is the easy part. Any staffing agency can do that. Veteran Tech Brigade goes the extra mile to reach deep into the ranks and pull out the best and brightest military service members to place with client companies. Veteran Tech Brigade has established relationships with a large number of veteran education and training organizations to ensure they capture the cream of the crop as they exit the armed forces and hang up their boots.
The company’s specialty is IT personnel ranging from tier 1 help desk technicians to network architects with many of their candidates having government security clearances, but they're not limited to that.
"Currently we have eight fields that we specialize in; IT, CBRN, HR, Homeland Security, Logistics, Intelligence, Program Management and Business Development because so many veterans have experience in these areas," says Veteran Tech Brigade CEO Kelly Crigger, a retired US Army officer. "But we're always looking to expand into areas where veterans excel. The 'T' in VTB can be any technical field."
And now is the best time for recruiting with fiscal cliff skepticism and employment uncertainty growing because of recent government budget cuts that have led to layoffs and massive personnel movements. In times like these people looking for new work or wishing to change employers flock to companies like Veteran Tech Brigade.
"We add tremendous value to employers interested in hiring veterans in a number of ways. We remove the costly expenses of conducting background checks, attending job fairs, reading countless resumes and military evaluation reports while providing our clientele with grateful employees who help grow their business and remain onboard through thick and thin. Not only are military veterans, excellent disciplined employees, there are also a number of significant tax benefits companies can gain by hiring one.”
One company that has taken advantage of Veteran Tech Brigade’s opportunity to gain diligent military veterans for their employee base is U.S. Gas & Electric, a leading energy supplier in numerous states. Not only has USG&E established a plan to hire military veterans and their spouses, but they’ve also developed specific energy programs for military veterans to reduce their natural gas and electricity expenses simply by enrolling through the company’s online site at www.USGandE.com/FriendsandFamily and entering promotional code: VETERAN.
“As our company and employment opportunities continue to grow significantly, we plan to hire a number of military veterans,” stated Doug Marcille, Director, CEO and President of USG&E. “Our current team members who hold a military background have shown tremendous dedication and we could not be more pleased by their quality of work. We are thrilled that Veteran Tech Brigade has been created as we will now have a much easier and more cost-effective way to employ even more military veterans and their spouses.”
Business owners or executives interested in hiring veterans should contact Veteran Tech Brigade at isupportfreedom(at)veterantechbrigade(dot)com and for more information about Veteran Tech Brigade, please go to www.veterantechbrigade.com and/or Like, Follow and Connect via the following social media outlets.
http://www.facebook.com/veterantechbrigade
https://twitter.com/VetTechBrigade
http://www.linkedin.com/company/veteran-tech-brigadeAbout Veteran Tech Brigade
Veteran Tech Brigade (VTB) LLC. is a unique technology staffing and government contracting firm led by U.S. military veterans with the mission of lowering the unemployment rate among veterans (and their spouses) while providing businesses with the best employees in the job market today. Veteran Tech Brigade provides motivated employees for companies who appreciate the value veterans add to a business and is actively seeking other businesses with the desire to hire veterans. Veteran Tech Brigade has the most diverse veteran candidate sources in the market today to include military job fairs, military installation transition programs, and standing partnerships with multiple veteran educational training programs. Veteran Tech Brigade identifies and engages with the most talented and experienced military veterans to deliver candidates directly to the best companies in America.About U.S. Gas & Electric
U.S. Gas & Electric, its subsidiaries and family of companies (“USG&E”), is a leading retail energy supplier to commercial and residential customers in Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, and Pennsylvania with plans for further expansion. USG&E provides energy to customers with wide ranges of energy usage patterns and requirements and gives them the benefit of being a part of a large wholesale buying pool. The company relies on their market knowledge, internal efficiencies, and core capabilities to provide customers with the best possible pricing plans for the energy they provide. To date, USG&E has saved more than 220,000 customers over $45 million on their natural gas and electricity supply. For more information, visit www.USGandE.com.
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Marine Amputees Visit The Wounded From Boston
Via Carrie (Marine Wife/Marine Mom), comes this seriously badass, awesome, can't-say-enough-about-it, video. She also says to grab a a hanky (I always listen to Carrie). This is the true meaning of Semper Fidelis. If these American Fighting Men don't make you proud, you're at the wrong blog. Please share this.
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Hero: Officer Sean Collier Killed Because He was a Sheepdog
"...if you have a capacity for violence, and a deep love for your fellow citizens? What do you have then? A sheepdog, a warrior, someone who is walking the hero's path. Someone who can walk into the heart of darkness, into the universal human phobia, and walk out unscathed." - Colonel Dave Grossman on Sheepdogs"
A much-loved MIT campus police officer with less than two years on the force is the Boston Bombers’ fourth victim, authorities said.
Sean Collier, 26, of Somerville Mass., was shot multiple times in his squad car by the bloodthirsty brothers Dzhokhar and Tamerlan Tsarnaev around 10:20 p.m. after the pair attempted to rob a 7-Eleven, according to police and news reports.
One thing is certain, Sean Collier is a Hero. End of watch, Officer Collier, Godspeed.
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Semper Fi Fund opens America's Fund to care for and support the victims of Boston
Always Faithful. The great team at Semper Fi Fund are moving fast to help the victims of terror in Boston.
Semper Fi fund through their new group, America's Fund, steps up to help the victims in Boston. Through America's Fund, they have set up the Boston Marathon Relief Fund to aid the recovery from this homeland terrorist attack, collecting donations that will directly assist victims of the Boston bombings. Assistance will start with the most critically injured and expand as we receive donations for this fund.
America has supported the Semper Fi Fund for 10 years now with over $74M in support to our service members; now it's our turn to help and be there for Boston!
Visit the America's Fund website to support the Boston Marathon Relief Fund. Simply include “Boston Marathon Relief Fund” in the comment section.
A long road to recovery for many involved in The Boston Marathon bombings.
As a program of the Semper Fi Fund, we have set up the Boston Marathon Relief Fund to aid in the recovery of those injured in this attack.
America has supported the Semper Fi Fund for 10 years with over $74 Million in support for our wounded service members; now it's our turn to pay it forward.
Won't you help us "Be There for Boston" as we offer love, support and immediate financial assistance directly to the injured in their hour of need?
You can make a difference:
1. Donate Now: http://ow.ly/k8rs1
(Simply mention "Boston Marathon Relief Fund" in the comment section.)
2. Click: http://ow.ly/k8rRy to learn more about our campaign to "Be there for Boston!"
3. Share this effort with your family and friends so they can help us help others!
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An Open Letter to the Wounded of Boston From Wounded Veteran, Army Sergeant Peter Damon
Via Facebook and emails, this message is going viral and it should. From Peter Damon who lost both arms in Iraq and is now a very accomplished painter:
AN OPEN LETTER TO THE WOUNDED OF BOSTON - As a veteran, double amputee, and fellow Massachusetts resident, I'd like to offer my condolences and deepest sympathy to the families of the victims of yesterday's attack. I'd also like to offer words of comfort and support to those whose lives were forever changed yesterday by traumatic loss of limbs. Although it's undeniably tragic , you will recover. And you must have hope that this terrible trauma will in no way stop you from living a full and productive life. In fact, this will be a defining moment in your life. In the coming days, weeks, and months, you will find a strength and resilience you never knew you had. Take solace in the fact that we, in the veteran community are recovering with you. Look to the veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan who have lost limbs for support and inspiration.
Wounded Veteran, Army Sergeant, Peter Damon
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Army Week NYC
It is a pleasure to be able to introduce you to something I've had a small part in helping get off the ground: Army Week NYC. Don't let the name fool you, this is not something that is or will be limited to New York. Though it is starting there, it is for the whole country. I'm going to let them tell it in their own words:
The American Soldier is your brother, your sister, your daughter, your son, your wife, your husband — and is an integral part of society as well as an integral part of the community. Having this recognized and appreciated not just one week a year, but all year, is the goal of Army Week NYC.
Our mission is to highlight the achievements, sacrifices, and service of those who have worn or currently wear the uniform of the United States Soldier, as well as their families. By producing quality events such as the Army Birthday Gala, and other such co-branded activities created to make this week happen, we will create a multi-generational program that will help establish a “never forget” mindset with the public, and with those who have served.
Our events will recognize contributions not just on the battlefield, but here at home. Veterans consistently give back to the community, and perform acts that make those communities a better place. In addition, we will work with those communities to help welcome back their sons and daughters from service, to the benefit of all. In addition, artwork, art programs, and other means of celebrating and integrating our veterans will be pursued.
They are just getting started, and I would ask you to go check out their new website, “Like” their Facebook page and join their Twitter feed and check out their YouTube channel. Most of all, let them know what you think by reaching out to them at info@armyweeknyc.com. Constructive feedback now, as they are just getting started, can help get you the information you need in the way you need it.
Also, you should know some of the people involved.
Army Week NYC is made up of Veterans, Reservists, Military Spouses and committed Community Members who care deeply about remembering who we served with, and why we served.”
Christopher Page
Christopher Page is the co-founder of Army Week NYC and, until recently, Manager of Citi Salutes, a U.S. based program designed to support military veterans and their families in communities across the country by promoting greater access to financial services that meet the unique needs of our military veterans; supporting professional development, recruiting and mentoring programs; supporting community organizations that benefit military veterans and families; and providing a support network for retired and active-duty employees and those with deployed friends or relatives. He is a veteran of the United States Army.Heidi Mathis
Heidi Mathis is the co-founder of Army Week NYC. Most recently, she worked on the NYC 2012 Veterans Day Parade and produced the 2012 Veterans Week Inaugural Art Show for the United War Veterans Council that included over one hundred pieces of military and veteran art. A graduate of Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service, she reported for nearly a decade directly to the long-time Chairman and CEO of The Shubert Organization as Corporate Relations Manager handling New York City, state and federal government relations and special projects. Heidi is the daughter, daughter-in-law, sister and sister-in-law of United States Air Force officers and the spouse of a retired United States Marine Corps officer.
Board of Directors:
Gerry Byrne, USMC, Vietnam Veteran
Paul Bucha, U.S. Army, Vietnam Veteran
Paul Critchlow, U.S. Army, Vietnam Veteran
Scott Higgins, U.S. Army, Vietnam Veteran
There is much, much more to come. So please go check them out, like them, and join in as they move forward with this effort. Also, constructive feedback on the website and such will help ensure it has the best utility for you as information starts to be added.
LW
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