B*N*S*N Bonus!

THANKS TO LT. DAN - Army Sgt. Maj. Robert Prosser, 5th Stryker Brigade Combat Team sergeant major, shakes actor Gary Sinise's hand after presenting him with the American flag and a special unit coin on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 26, 2009. Sinise visited wounded soldiers in Kandahar, Afghanistan, after performing with his band, "The Lt. Dan Band." U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Chris Florence

Celebrities thank troops at Thanksgiving concert

Posted 11/24/2009 Updated 11/24/2009

11/24/2009 - BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan (AFNS) -- Gary Sinise and the Lieutenant Dan Band made their first appearance in Afghanistan performing for hundreds of Airmen, Soldiers, Sailors and Coast Guard members Nov. 23 here.

This visit is one in a long line of entertainment and celebrity visits to boost morale of servicemembers who are away from home and their loved ones during the holidays, said Col. Edward Shock, the Armed Forces Entertainment director.

That sentiment of thanking the troops during the holidays was echoed by the visitors.

"We understand and appreciate your sacrifice. We do not take you for granted," Mr. Sinise told the crowd. "We're grateful for you and your service and the sacrifice of your loved ones back home. Your families sacrifice so much, so often and we know they miss you. Thank you."

Mr. Sinise also visited a remote Army outpost near the Pakistan border where he met with Soldiers and distributed humanitarian supplies to more than 50 Afghan children.

While Mr. Sinise visited the remote outpost, other actors visited the Craig Joint Theater Hospital at Bagram Airfield to meet the staff and visit with patients.

"You all have a first-rate facility," said actor Mykelti Williamson, also known as Bubba from the "Forrest Gump" movie. "You're using equipment and techniques that we're not even seeing in the states.

"I am so grateful for their sacrifice," he continued. "I pray to God daily for the men and women who go through there."

Comedian Kevin Farley, actress Kristy Swanson and television personality LeeAnn Tweeden visited troops. The visit was a partnership between AFE, the USO and American Airlines.

"I think it's really good they're here supporting the troops," said Staff Sgt. Henrie Young, from the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing Safety Office before a thunderous applause from a cover of Neil Young's "Teenage Wasteland."

The Lieutenant Dan Band has traveled all over the world playing popular music and visiting servicemembers and families, including Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, the Korean Demilitarized Zone and many other remote military bases. The band name was chosen because Mr. Sinise was constantly recognized by a character he played in the movie "Forrest Gump" called Lieutenant Dan.

(source) Oh, and of course, don't go looking for this on the msm!

Read More......

B*N*S*N1

My favourite stories:

Abingdon town welcomes home RLC soldiers

A History and Honour news article

26 Nov 09

To mark their return from operations in Afghanistan and Iraq, 300 soldiers from both 3 and 4 Logistic Support Regiments marched through the town of Abingdon in Oxfordshire yesterday, Wednesday 25 November 2009.

Soldiers of 3 and 4 Logistic Support Regiments march through Abingdon to mark their return from operations in Afghanistan and Iraq
[Picture: Cpl Russ Nolan RLC, Crown Copyright/MOD 2009]

The soldiers were exercising their freedom of the town and marched carrying rifles with fixed bayonets and with colours (regimental standards) flying and were greeted by the townsfolk who were waving flags and welcoming placards.

At Abingdon's Market Place the town's Mayor, Councillor Patricia Hobby, Chairman of the Vale of White Horse District Council, and Brigadier Chris Murray, the Director of the Royal Logistic Corps (RLC), addressed the parade and presented Operational Service Medals to the troops.

Private Paul Young, aged 20, from 4 Logistic Support Regiment (4 LSR), said:

"When you see all the people it makes you think the whole country supports you. It was special."

Speaking before the parade, Mayor Hobby said:

"The parade gives the people of Abingdon a chance to show their appreciation of the work the troops have been doing to help make our country more secure.

Jacqueline Trivett welcomes home her husband, Private Raymond Trivett
[Picture: Cpl Russ Nolan RLC, Crown Copyright/MOD 2009]

"We are also thinking about those who have died in this conflict and hope their families eventually find some peace in the sacrifice their relatives have made."

You know there is more, and you can read it here.

WELCOME HOME and THANK YOU ALL!

Read More......

B*N*S*N2

Navy swimmers scoop 48 medals

A Training and Adventure news article

26 Nov 09

Royal Navy swimmers have recently torpedoed through the water, battling against competitors from 92 different countries, to bring home a haul of 48 medals from the World Masters Games in Sydney.

Portsmouth-based members of the Royal Navy Swimming Club who between them won 48 medals at the Sydney World Masters Games - from left: Sarah Buchan, James Warwick, Gary Thomas, Stuart Mantle, Andy Grundy and Steve Berry
[Picture: LA(Phot) Pete Smith, Crown Copyright/MOD 2009]

The 28-strong Navy swimming team from the Royal Navy Swimming Club won 16 gold, 19 silver and 13 bronze medals, rounding off a phenomenal year of success in which they also scooped four Inter-Service titles competing against the RAF and the Army.

Assistant Sports Officer for Navy Swimming, Gary Thomas, said:

"This year has been an exceptional year for us. Before we went out to Sydney we set 30 medals as the target so we were well in excess of that - it is fantastic and a great boost for the team.

"In our five-year plan we target this as one of our major events and, as far as possible and deployment-depending, we ramp up our efforts to gain the maximum achievement possible.

"In fact, if the 3k [kilometre] open water race hadn't been cancelled I believe we would have come back with 50 medals."

The World Masters Games are an international competition similar to the Olympics, but instead are open to athletes over the age of 25 who compete at a world class level in their sport.

This year more than 28,000 people competed in 28 different categories ranging from swimming to cycling to running.

Leading Physical Training Instructor Stuart Mantle of HMS Nelson, Portsmouth Naval Base, came away with one of the largest haul of medals - three gold and three silver. These were in the 200-metre freestyle, two relay events and three backstroke categories. He said:

"I'm over the moon. I've been swimming all my life - I started as a kid and then when I joined the Navy at 18 I just continued with it. I really enjoy it and work hard at my training, so to win so many medals at once is a great feeling. Everyone did well out there though, it was a team effort."

The Royal Navy Swimming Club is open to both serving and ex-serving personnel and has 60 members based at Poole, Plymouth, Portsmouth and Faslane. It consists of both swimmers and water polo players. (MoD here)

Read More......

B*N*S*N3

(Check out my site for the KOMO4 video that I can't figure out how to embed here. It is the 4th Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division (Stryker))

Then I found the following, NOT on the msm:

Thanksgiving meals sent to deployed Troops

Thursday, 26 November 2009 American Forces Press Service release

PHILADELPHIA — How do you plan Thanksgiving dinner for 180,000 people more than 6,000 miles away? If you’re a food buyer at the Defense Logistics Agency, you start by making a shopping list in April for meals to be served to U.S. troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.

“Providing superb meals to our U.S. troops is a critical mission of the Defense Logistics Agency, and one we put a great deal of effort into,” said Air Force Brig. Gen. Scott Chambers, commander of the DLA Philadelphia field activity, which provides all the food for U.S. military personnel worldwide, 365 days a year.

“It’s very important to us to give our troops a taste of home during the holidays, so we start planning the traditional Thanksgiving meal even before Memorial Day rolls around,” Chambers said.

DLA employees in the Philadelphia-based subsistence supply chain start their Thanksgiving meal planning early to make sure that food items and ingredients will arrive overseas in time for the holiday. Many ingredients for the meals are on hand at prime vendor locations by September, and bigger dining facilities start receiving high-volume items, such as turkeys and large beef roasts, in October.

Navy Capt. Ed Rackauskas, who leads DLA’s subsistence directorate, said deliveries began in Iraq and Afghanistan in mid-October to allow for unexpected changes or possible redistribution due to movement of troops.

“No matter where troops are stationed, they can expect DLA to provide the best possible meal for Thanksgiving,” he added.

He said putting together these meals is challenging, particularly in supplying some of the bigger dining facilities in Iraq and Afghanistan where holiday meals are served all day to accommodate service members working different shifts.

Here is a breakdown of quantities and dollar values for Thanksgiving meals for service members in Iraq:

-- Raw and precooked whole turkey: 225,980 pounds, $795,359.08;

-- Turkey white meat: 77,648 pounds, $416,969.76;

-- Turkey dark meat: 73,296 pounds, $236,013.12;

-- Ham: 40,826 pounds, $135,020.26;

-- Beef: 23,536 pounds, $128,019.30;

-- Shrimp: 28,764 pounds, $180,062.64;

-- Stuffing mix: 37,107 pounds, $87,421.94;

-- Potatoes: 41,515 pounds, $102,362.32;

-- Sweet potatoes: 9,702 cans, $60,799.20;

-- Vegetables, corn, green beans: 59,435 pounds, $80,771.42;

-- Cranberry sauce: 7,188 cans, $52,448.44;

-- Pie: 26,946 pies, $245,320.33; and

-- Cake: 13,544 cakes, $220,915.68.

The total dollar value for Thanksgiving meals in Iraq is $2,741,483.49.

(source)

Read More......

B*N*S*N4

Spc. Adam Butler, of Summersville, W.Va., passes a pre-packaged bag of food to Saad Hawas Salim, at a mosque in the Zaydon marketplace, Nov. 23. American troops delivered 100 bags for distribution to the needy just in time for Eid al-Adha. Photo by Spc. Ruth McClary, 30th Heavy Brigade Combat Team.

Orphans receive holiday food donations

Thursday, 26 November 2009 By Spc. Ruth McClary
30th Heavy Brigade Combat Team

BAGHDAD — Military vehicles carrying a harvest of pre-packaged foods pulled up to the Salim Molaw Abu Hathafa Mosque in the Zaydon marketplace here, Nov. 23, just in time for Eid al-Adha.

U.S. troops delivered 300 packages containing cooking oil, flour, tortillas, beans, canned meat, canned tomatoes, and powdered milk; purchased for distribution to needy families in the 150th Armored Reconnaissance Squadron, 30th Heavy Brigade Combat Team's area of operations.

Squadron Soldiers unloaded 100 meals as Saad Hawas Salim, whose family runs the mosque, and a few men from the marketplace, helped stack the bags on the steps of the facility.

Salim's grandfather is the head of the mosque where the meals will be handed out after services there. According to Salim, there are quite a few orphans in the area.

"There are about 300 to 500 kids with no mother or father here," said Salim. "Some of them live with their cousins and some live at a station set up by the shaykhs."

The mosque, with its graffiti covered walls topped with barbed wire, sat unobstructed in the middle of the marketplace; a safe haven for the children the meals were brought there to help.

"Tell your grandfather this is a gift from U.S. forces for those who need it and we wish them good will," said Capt. Thomas Mills, of Winfield, W.Va.

Salim, of the al-Zobaai tribe, thanked Mills and reassured him that he would keep his promise of giving the meals out after the noon day prayer.

When the troops were about to load up to leave for another mission, groups of children, making their way home from school, approached. The Soldiers dug into their pockets, and pulled out candy, gum, pencils and pens.

As the Soldiers handed out the small gifts, the children accepted the treats and moved on as if it were an everyday occurrence.

"They were the most well behaved children I have ever seen over here," said Staff Sgt. Jeremy Phillips, of Oak Hill, W.Va. "I almost wish I had more to give them." (MNF1 here)

Read More......

Wednesday Hero

Rear Adm. Ned Deets


Rear Adm. Ned Deets speaks with Frank Chebatar, president of the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association, at the conclusion of the base consolidation ceremony. The two bases consolidated to form Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek, Fort Story.

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.
We Should Not Only Mourn These Men And Women Who Died, We Should Also Thank God That Such People Lived

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.

Read More......

Every Day Hero: Chaplains at Ft. Hood

By Jessica Rinaldi for USA TODAY

Lt. Col. Houck and Army Warrant Officer Carlton Royster, 30, of Philadelphia, pray together during a farewell event for the III Corps Special Troops Battalion on the verge of deploying to Iraq.

Chaplains: We are traumatized, too

By Rick Jervis, USA TODAY

FORT HOOD, Texas — They were supposed to be spending a day leading Mass, talking to soldiers about love and marriage, readying for their own deployment. Instead, the military chaplains of Fort Hood found themselves on the afternoon of Nov. 5 scrambling to the front lines of the worst shooting massacre on a military base in U.S. history.

Thirteen people were killed and more than 30 wounded. Authorities charged Maj. Nidal Hasan with murder.

As some of the first to arrive on the chaotic scene that day, the chaplains counseled dazed, injured soldiers, comforted witnesses and prayed over the bullet-ridden bodies of the slain.

Now they are being asked to lead the healing process. The pace and success at which they counsel the wounded and their families will determine how quickly the post returns to normalcy, said Ralph Gauer, past president of the local chapter of the Association of the United States Army, a group that counsels military families through tragedy.

"Chaplains right now represent the glue that holds an awful lot of units together," Gauer said. "But they have to come to grip(s) with it themselves. They have to try to understand what they saw themselves as they explain it others."

PHOTOS: Chaplains on the front line

INVESTIGATION: FBI data on suspect scrutinized

There are 75 chaplains at Fort Hood, most of them assigned to units, said Lt. Col. Keith Goode, deputy 3rd Corps chaplain. Ten more chaplains have been flown into Fort Hood, including an imam and a rabbi, to help with the counseling.

Untangling their pain will be challenging, said Lt. Col. Ira Houck, 56, an Episcopal priest and chaplain for the III Corps who was one of the first on the scene. "We've been traumatized, too," he said.

There is more, and you can find that here.

Our Chaplains are heroes, every one of them, every single day. Pray for THEM, too.

H/T My friend, another Janet ;)

Read More......

B*N*S*N1

One of the first-ever female Iraqi Police officers to attend and complete training at the Baghdad Police College proudly poses for a photo following the BPC’s latest graduation ceremony, Nov. 9. Photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Edwin L. Wriston, Joint Combat Camera Center - Iraq.

First females graduate Police College

Thursday, 19 November 2009

BAGHDAD – Fifty female Iraqi Police (IP) officers became the first women to graduate from the Baghdad Police College here, Nov. 9.

The new female officers and more than 1,000 male students culminated their training with a ceremony marking their successful completion of the rigorous nine-month training program.

Dozens of senior Iraqi political leaders, U.S. advisors, ambassadors, and special guests looked on as the massive class marched by in elaborate synchronization. Among the attendees were the Minister of Interior, Jawad Bolani; U.S. Amb. Patricia Haslach; Danish Amb. Mikael Winther; and, U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Michael Barbero, Multi-National Security Transition Command – Iraq commanding general.

This class represents the first time that females have been able to attend and graduate from the nine-month police curriculum at the BPC. As college graduates, the women learned the basic skills needed to become police officers and were held to the same standards as their male counterparts. Twenty-seven have been to law school and many are mothers who must balance responsibilities at home with their new police duties.

Danish police Maj. Nana Shriver, an advisor to the High Institute at BPC, played an instrumental role assisting the women throughout the tough course. Shriver said that these women will add tremendous value and new perspective to the Iraqi Security Forces...

Read more here.

And I just had to share this one(call it B*N*S*N exxxxxxtra!):

American forces assist Iraqi businesswomen

Thursday, 19 November 2009 By Lt. j.g. Christopher Deluzio
Task Force Pathfinder

COB ADDER — Women here have struggled for centuries to carve out a life of their own. Even with the advent of democracy, that struggle continues, and only attention and assistance can improve the situation.

With that in mind, U.S. Soldiers recently visited a rug factory managed and staffed entirely by women in Gharraf, a town north of Nasiriah in Dhi Qar province. The factory employs more than 100 women, all experts in the art of weaving fine rugs.

The women proudly displayed their hand-woven rugs, some of which take more than three months of daily weaving to complete.

In addition to offering the rugs in local markets, the women will sell their rugs to Coalition forces at nearby Contingency Operating Base Adder.

Spc. Reya Russell, a civil affairs Soldier with Task Force Pathfinder, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, from Buffalo, N.Y., described the interaction with the women as, "an eye-opening experience."

"I experienced first-hand how these women are striving to be more self-sufficient in their society despite so much hardship," she said.

Many of her comrades on the visit shared her sentiments and were impressed by the women.

"The women took such great pride in their work," said Petty Officer 1st Class Paul Alde, of Jacksonville, N.C.

The factory has been in business since 1994, but only recently re-started operations. Though initially disrupted by the war, the improving security situation and renewed interest in their rugs has prompted the ladies to return to their work.

As the Army's first unit to perform the Advisory and Assistance mission in Iraq, an important part of 4-1's job is providing military support to building civil capacity in three southern provinces.

Women's initiatives – a vital part of that civil capacity – are an essential ingredient for promoting stability in Iraq.

Key to this mission is the cooperation between the provincial government, the Department of State-led Provincial Reconstruction Teams and the Soldiers on the ground with Task Force Pathfinder.

Built around the core of 2nd Battalion, 29th Field Artillery Regiment, Pathfinder incorporates civilian experts, professional engineers and civil affairs units as it works hand-in-hand with the PRTs to develop projects and training programs that help the Iraqis address a wide range of concerns. (here)

Read More......

B*N*S*N2

Navy officer helps track down Taliban bomb-makers

A Military Operations news article

20 Nov 09

Part of the new Counter-IED Task Force in Helmand, Royal Navy Petty Officer Jane Watkins is using a biometric database system to help track down those who make and deploy the Taliban's deadly weapons.

Members of 63 Squadron RAF Regiment search the sand carefully for improvised explosive devices ahead of a patrol around Kandahar Airfield in Afghanistan
[Picture: SAC Neil Chapman, Crown Copyright/MOD 2009]

After 20 years military service, Petty Officer Jane Watkins never imagined she would be playing a key part in fighting the threat posed by improvised explosive devices (IEDs) to British soldiers in Helmand province.

She is working as part of the newly set up Counter-IED Task Force and her specific role involves managing the Biometric Database Capture System (BDCS); a means of collating personal information on the Afghan population to aid security checks on civilians and help track down those who manufacture and deploy the Taliban's deadly homemade bombs. She said:

"I was given the chance to come to Afghanistan and leapt at it. It's important to do a job where you feel you are making a difference. It's early days but I can see great potential in the database for tracking down insurgents."..

Read more of this B*N*S*N story here.

Read More......

B*N*S*N3

Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Denise Jelinski-Hall, the new senior enlisted leader assigned to the Office of the Chief, National Guard Bureau, is seen at the 2009 Joint Senior Leadership Conference at the Gaylord National Hotel and Convention Center in National Harbor, Md., on Nov. 19, 2009, moments after Air Force Gen. Craig McKinley announced her appointment. The third senior enlisted leader to the CNGB, Jelinski-Hall is the first Air Guard member and the first woman to fill the role. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Jim Greenhill) (Released)

McKinley selects new NGB senior enlisted leader

By Air Force Lt. Col. Ellen Krenke
National Guard Bureau

ARLINGTON, Va. (11/19/09) – Gen. Craig R. McKinley, the chief of the National Guard Bureau, announced today the selection of a new senior enlisted leader for the National Guard Bureau.

Chief Master Sgt. Denise Jelinski-Hall of the Hawaii Air National Guard will be the third senior enlisted leader assigned to the Office of the Chief, National Guard Bureau. She will be responsible for advising McKinley on enlisted affairs of the 457,000 Soldiers and Airmen of the Army and Air National Guard.

“This was a very tough decision, because of all the very well-qualified candidates who applied for this position,” McKinley said. “Chief Jelinski-Hall will be a welcome addition to my staff.”..

Reads more here.

Read More......