The U.S. Army is reporting a remarkable increase in people seeking to enlist. While the danger is clear-- on-going wars overseas-- people are flocking to recruitment offices because they face economic dangers here at home. Clinton Lara and Nick Moore are about to graduate high school and go into the army.A momentous decision for these Seminole Ridge High School seniors, but one that became easier to swallow once they talked to their local recruiter and saw the benefits of joining. "Job security, pre-paid college tuition, you can't get that training anywhere else," said Lara.

But is that worth the risk of getting killed in Iraq or Afghanistan? These two don't seem to phased by it. "I always wanted to join the Army, since I was little," said Lara.

The military has always represented a stable and meaningful career in any economy. The fact is, unlike most forms of employment or training, the military offers long term benefits. College after enlistment, full medical, housing, retirement at 38 if you stay in, and many other options. The military also gives you a sense of pride, knowing that what you do makes a difference. Why did/would you join?

Read the Full Story

Jesse Nieto doesn’t wear his emotions on his sleeve.Instead, the retired gunnery sergeant uses car decals to express his contempt for the terrorists who killed his son, Engineman 2nd Class Marc Ian Nieto, along with 16 other sailors in the Oct. 12, 2000, attack on the destroyer Cole in Yemen.

But the stickers maligning Islamic terrorism, which have adorned Nieto’s car for more than seven years, were recently deemed “offensive material” under a base order at Camp Lejeune, N.C., where he has worked in the Electrical Distribution Shop since 1994. Military police removed some of the stickers in August, before the base magistrate ordered Nieto to remove the rest. The former infantryman, who served two tours in Vietnam, refused and now he is contesting the order’s legality in federal court.

Claiming a violation of his First and Fifth Amendment rights, Nieto is suing Lejeune’s commander, Col. Richard Flatau, and the base magistrate, Lt. Col. James Hessen. The complaint was filed Nov. 10 in U.S. District Court, Eastern District of North Carolina.

In an odd twist of justice, a defender of America is now defending his right to free speech. Many Americans forget that free speech also means that you may be offended at some point. It gives us as Americans the right to say you are offended. It does not allow us to arbitrarily deny that right to some one who is not politically correct. Who decides what is offensive? Why is burning the American flag protected as free speech but an anti-Islam bumper sticker is not protected? Isn't that backwards?

Read the Full Story

Overseas-deployed servicemembers can receive video “shout-outs” from home, as well as senior-leader messages, thanks to the new TroopTube online information service, according to military officials. TroopTube is a new Web site managed by the Defense Department’s Military OneSource online information network. It is patterned after YouTube, the popular commercial video site, said Gail Lovisone, who works with the Defense Department's Office of Military Community and Family Policy. It can be accessed at www.MilitaryOneSource.com, which connects servicemembers and families to assistance programs that deal with moving, finances, deployment, childcare and other military-life issues.

Great Idea. Training, morale boost, and entertainment all rolled into one package. Will this allow the soldiers to send "Shout Outs" back to their families?

Read the Full Story

Diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and recovering from a grenade attack, Iraq war veteran Ian Newland wanted to pursue a business degree after his discharge from the Army last year. What he didn't want to have to do was set foot in a classroom. And thanks to the Internet, he doesn't have to. The world of online higher education has given thousands of vets like Newland — and active-duty soldiers — the opportunity to work at their own pace. "Being online, I can work on my college work at 3 a.m. if I'm feeling rambunctious," said Newland, 28, who often does homework when he can't sleep. Online education is increasingly attractive for military veterans, according to Denver-based Jones International University, a Web-exclusive institution accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. About 350 current or former soldiers are pursuing a degree at Jones, three times the number last year. The university has a total of 2,000 students.

What better way to get an education without the usual downsides of college. No professors who don't know the material, no having to put up with professors and students with a political axe to grind, and best of all, you can do it as part of your regular schedule. Working a job around college is never easy, but if you can do your class work at 3:00 a.m. then you don't have to worry about making up lost hours and productivity at work. Online degrees are a boon for our injured warriors also as they can work on recovery and bettering themselves at the same time.

Read the Full Story

A Marine veteran whose anti-terrorist and anti-Islam vehicle decals hindered him in visiting the grave of his fallen son at Arlington National Cemetery has filed a federal lawsuit challenging the military order which rebuked his display of the decals. Jesse Nieto, a 25-year Marine veteran, served two combat tours in Vietnam. His youngest son, Marc, was one of the seventeen sailors killed in the terrorist bombing of the U.S.S. Cole in October of 2000. Since 1994 Nieto has been a civilian employee at the Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune in North Carolina.

In 2001 he began displaying various decals on his vehicle expressing sentiments such as “Remember the Cole, 12 Oct 2000,” “Islam=Terrorism” and “We Died, They Rejoiced.” On July 31, 2008, two military police officers ticketed Nieto for displaying “offensive material.” After Nieto refused to remove all allegedly offending decals from his vehicle, the Base Magistrate issued a written order ordering Nieto to remove his vehicle from the base until all decals were removed. The order banned his vehicle from all other federal installations, and reportedly prevented him from driving onto the grounds of Arlington National Cemetery.

There should be anger and outrage at this. There should be a great cry from the ones who claim to champion free speech. Where is the ACLU as this man's rights, ones that he actually fought for, are trampled upon. No more political correctness, no more being careful not to offend anyone, and no more giving up freedom so that someone else doesn't feel offended. What happened to American men being able to stand up for what they believe in? Why are we denying the father of a slain sailor his right to free speech?

Read the Full Story

The Labor Department has written new rules to expand Family and Medical Leave Act benefits that represent a dramatic change in how National Guard and reserve members and caregivers responsible for seriously injured troops will be treated by employers. One benefit, which applies immediately, allows up to 26 weeks of unpaid time off without fear of losing a civilian job for spouses, parents, siblings, children or other blood relatives taking care of seriously injured or disabled service members. The one catch is that it only applies while the injured service member is still in the military, and ends after separation or discharge.

They should get rid of the check and or keep the injured service member in the military until they recover. that would close the loop hole. What other benefits should they expand?

Read the Full Story

An American engineer held hostage by Islamic militants in Afghanistan was freed in a daring nighttime raid by a Special Operations team last month, a rare move in a country where hostages often pay ransoms — or don't come home at all. A team of about 30 special operators composed mostly of Navy SEALs flew into the mountains outside Kabul on October 14 to retrieve the 61-year-old American businessman, killing his captors and returning him to safety after nearly two months in captivity, according to an account in the Army Times. "In my mind I'd given a military intervention a one out of a hundred chance," the unnamed engineer told the Army Times. The Taliban have kidnapped aid workers and journalists in recent years, and aggressive crime syndicates target wealthy Afghans and foreigners for ransom money.

This is a perfect example of why we have veterans day. Our soldiers going out and doing what they were trained to do. Good job on the rescue and everything you do. What we need is to allow the special forces a little more leeway and autonomy to conduct raids and missions like this and we can eliminate the threats by making more people think twice. Should Spec. Ops. be used for missions like this?

Read the Full Story

It is once again the 11th day of the 11th month and time to celebrate Veterans Day. This Veterans Day finds the men and women of our armed services in the deserts of Iraq and the mountains of Afghanistan and stationed elsewhere around the world. For many in our country, this holiday will go virtually unnoticed. For some, it will be a minor irritant with the closing of some government offices. But for others, it will be a solemn occasion to recognize and remember the sacrifices that they or their loved ones have made in support of our great country.

Why not ... have all veterans working as public employees receive Veterans Day as a paid holiday? It would create some inconvenience and rearranging of schedules, but that would certainly be less of a sacrifice than what the veterans had made. Private employers could also adopt this as a policy (we don’t need a law for everything). Again, it would serve as a reminder of the sacrifice that veterans have made. On this Veterans Day, it is important to remember that we have modern-day warriors

While some companies do recognize the service of their veterans (i.e. Applebees' free lunch to all active duty and veterans). Many see this as an inconvenient holiday. No matter your political views, tell a veteran "Thank You" and remember that they sacrificed a lot of things so that other would not have to.

Read the Full Story

A secret 2004 order gave the US military the authority to attack al Qaida targets anywhere in the world, according to a US report. Senior American officials told the New York Times that the classified order was used to carry out nearly a dozen previously undisclosed attacks against al Qaida and other militants in Syria, Pakistan and elsewhere. Typically carried out by US Special Operations forces, the broad, secret order was authorised by then-defence secretary Donald Rumsfeld and approved by President George Bush.

This story provides a great example of two things. First, that President Bush has been doing his job and doing it quietly yet successfully as Commander in Chief. Second, that some in the press have no problem putting our soldiers lives at risk. How stupid do you have to be to print a story about secret operations? What is really disturbing is that someone who knew about these activities , at a high level, had to have leaked them to the press. What should the penalty for that be?

Read the Full Story

Active-duty members, retirees and veterans can get a free meal at a limited number of Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill & Bar restaurants on Veterans Day, with proof of military service. The 164 participating restaurants in 12 states are testing this promotion, which will offer one of the following entrees: House Sirloin, Riblet Basket, Fiesta Lime Chicken, Quesadilla Burger or Oriental Chicken Salad. Traditional side dishes are included. “It’s an honor to host an event that helps the neighborhood come together and say thanks to our veterans and active servicemen and women,” said Mike Archer, president of Applebee’s Services, Inc., in a statement announcing the offer.

Now this is a great way for Applebee's to show their support for our veterans.How many large chain stores, restaurants, or anything offer free services to our men and women who are serving or who have served in the past. Go Applebee's! You will have to show proof of military service. Proper forms of proof are listed in the complete article.

Read the Full Story

The U.S. has given Iraq the "final text" of a security pact that determines how long U.S. forces will be allowed to stay in the country, Reuters reported Thursday. "We've gotten back to them with a final text. Through this step we have completed the process on the U.S. side," U.S. embassy spokeswoman Susan Ziadeh told Reuters. "Iraq will now need to take it forward through their own process." A top Iraqi official said the U.S. accepted some proposals and rejected others, presumably an Iraqi demand for expanded legal control over U.S. soldiers. The official would not elaborate and spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk to the media.

Did they include a bill for the money it has cost the U.S. to give them their freedom? Cheap oil for the U.S. for the next 50 years would be nice. Since the U.S. is the one that set up the current government why aren't we dictating the terms to them?

Read the Full Story

Barack Obama swept to victory as the nation’s first black president Tuesday night in an electoral college landslide that overcame racial barriers as old as America itself. “Change has come,” he told a huge throng of jubilant supporters. The son of a black father from Kenya and a white mother from Kansas, the Democratic senator from Illinois sealed his historic triumph by defeating Republican Sen. John McCain in a string of wins in hard-fought battleground states — Ohio, Florida, Iowa and more. He captured Virginia, too, the first candidate of his party in 40 years to do so. On a night for Democrats to savor, they not only elected Obama the nation’s 44th president but padded their majorities in the House and Senate, and in January will control both the White House and Congress for the first time since 1994.

Good Luck to President Elect Obama. Since he has a limited public career it is difficult to see how his presidency will affect the military. He has said that he wants to cut funding to several key projects, while at the same time wanting to increase the size of the military. It will be a challenging road ahead especially with the anti war congress that has stood against the troops time and time again. After they voted to send them into battle. Will Obama be a good Commander in Chief?

Read the Full Story

Republican John McCain’s presidential campaign sued the Virginia election board Monday, claiming absentee ballots weren’t mailed on time to military members serving overseas. The complaint asks the U.S. District Court in Richmond to order the state to count absentee ballots postmarked by Tuesday and received by Nov. 14. It contends that thousands of troops’ ballots — many of which would go to McCain — will not be counted.

Shouldn't the votes of our military men and women be counted as more valuable than the votes of a homeless man who just wants more Thunderbird? Seriously, our soldiers put their lives on the lines for us every day and the state of Virgina wants to throw away their votes. Even though this whole mess is the fault of the state elections board, who mailed out the ballots several weeks too late. This is unacceptable and an extension should be allowed. Should our service men and women receive an extension?

Read the Full Story

Iraq expects an American response to requested changes in a draft security pact soon after this week’s U.S. presidential election, an aide to the prime minister said Sunday. Another Iraqi official said the U.S. indicated it would accept all the proposed changes except one — greater Iraqi legal control over American soldiers and contractors. Yassin Majeed said the U.S. response would come after Tuesday’s vote so the president-elect — either Barack Obama or John McCain — could be briefed on the Iraqi proposals, which were submitted by Iraq’s Cabinet last week. Iraqi lawmakers say the changes are essential in order to win parliamentary approval for the deal, which would keep American troops in this country until 2012 and give the Iraqis a greater role in the conduct of U.S. military operations.

In answer to the Iraqi requests, how about no, no, no, and no. You cannot have more control over our troops, you cannot have jurisdiction over our troops, you may not open a Hooters with out paying franchising fees, and you have quite a bill to pay for your liberation. Should we cave in and allows these people to have jurisdiction over our troops?

Read the Full Story

The Pentagon tapped teams led by Lockheed Martin Corp , General Dynamics Corp, and BAE Systems Plc for the first stage of a potential $40 billion competition to replace the workhorse Humvee vehicle used by U.S. forces in Iraq and elsewhere. The trio were awarded 27-month technology development contracts to build and test prototypes of the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle, or JLTV, a family of armored combat and scout trucks. The Pentagon's top six suppliers had been among those bidding for the contracts, with initial values of $35.9 million for Lockheed's team; $45.1 million for General Dynamics' team; and $40.5 million for the team led by BAE Systems Land & Armaments-Ground Systems Division.

The Humvee has been in use for quite some time, but has it seen the end of it's life cycle? Are we looking for a replacement just to replace it or are we looking for a better ground vehicle for our troops? With the economy in the state it is should we be considering contracts of this magnitude until the economic crisis is past?

Read the Full Story