Deployment Essentials, LLC

Category: News

People in the news, news personalities, news-prone people

  • Parking Space for Combat Wounded Vets

    Parking Space for Combat Wounded Vets

    It is always heartening to see a movement happening to recognize the value of some of America’s very special citizens, and this great nation seems to be stepping forward in yet another campaign, this time in the form of parking space for combat wounded vets. The concept is not all that new – the Wounded Warriors Family Support (WWFS) based in Nebraska, initiated this movement in 2012, and it has been picking up momentum, slowly but steadily. This group has many activities related to the welfare of combat wounded vets. The campaign for providing parking space for combat wounded vets is yet another initiative of the WWFS. The group supplies these aluminum parking signs that say “combat wounded” to establishments who show interest in erecting these signs.

    The procedure for procuring these signs is quite simple – an email needs to be sent to the WWFS, and it is possible to apply online. Only the shipping and installation costs need to be borne by the establishments, and the signs should be installed in line with local guidelines for handicapped parking signs and should comply with the rules of the Department of Transportation. The distinguishing feature of these parking spots is that purple is used for the boundary line and on the actual signboard, which reflects the color of the Purple Heart which the occupants of these parking spaces would normally be in possession of.

    Am I Eligible?

    Being eligible for parking space for combat wounded vets means that the person should meet the basic criteria of a U.S. soldier who has received some form of disability which falls into the category of a combat-related injury, but there are a few other preconditions that need to be met to be an official combat wounded vet. The individual is usually a recipient of the Purple Heart, but would also need to be in possession of documentation to prove that they have received injuries through armed conflict, simulation war, hazardous service, Agent Orange, mustard gas or Lewisite (yes, they’re still using this out there!) or Gulf War. Under such circumstances, a person is usually likely to have disability plates, which should be sufficient enough to prove eligibility.

    Not all disabilities are visible. A wounded veteran doesn’t only mean a missing limb. There are other less-obvious and sometimes invisible. For instance, a person may have impaired vision, deafness or the something common to many soldiers who have been in active combat – Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). This aspect is not always understood by many civilians, as in the case of Johanna Thompson of WGU Washington:

    “Today I was accosted by a woman in a walmart parking lot for parking in the wounded warrior parking space, I am a service connected disabled veteran. My husband is also. As I parked a woman ran at me accusing me of being a traitor to my country for parking in that spot. I have disabled plates, but she questioned my military service and whether or not my disabilities were service connected. In the end this crazy woman threatened to get a gun and wound me herself. People need to understand that not all disabled veterans are missing a limb, some of us have injuries you cannot see, like TBI, extreme deafness, PTSD. People if you see someone park in a spot don’t rush to judgment. This woman had me in tears, I served my country and gave a lot, my health, my future and my ability to live the life that I wanted.”

    Where can I find them?

    Since their launch in 2012, these signs have mushroomed all over the country, in the parking lots of businesses, churches, schools and colleges, government, and medical facilities. More recently, Wal-Mart and Home Depot have actively participated in the program by installing these signs in their parking spaces. A spokesman for the Home Depot stated that these signs have been installed in their entire northern region locations.

    The program for parking space for combat wounded vets is a voluntary one, and it is not yet ratified by an act of Congress. Nevertheless, the response to the program has been positive, with several organizations applying to the WWFS for these signs since 2012.

    Charlotte County, Florida received forty signs in 2013. County Veteran Services Officer David Donohew said, “It’s a new program for us, and we are the first in Florida to have these signs…We want to make sure that when they [Combat Wounded Veterans] utilize county services, that it’s as easy as possible for them.”

    Also in Florida, in Citrus County, in November 2015, combat wounded  parking signs have been installed at Lecanto Government Building, the Citrus County Courthouse, and West Citrus Government Center. The move was initiated by students of Lecanto Middle School who made a presentation to the Board of County Commissioners, and the kids even managed to get sponsors for shipping and installing the parking signs.

    Also this month, in the city of Warren, Ohio, the municipal court has had a parking space for combat wounded vets installed. It’s the first of its kind in Warren, but there are now plans to put one in every building, according to city officials.

    Other cities where these parking spaces have now been established are Sugarland, Danvers, Massachusetts and Temecula, and in various locations in the states of Georgia, South Carolina and Texas.

    Opinions

    As is the case with all new programs, there is always a lot of discussion and opinions that get exchanged, and these purple parking spaces are no exception. There are people who are not in favor of them, and then there are those who are.

    Veteran, Major Derek J Plymate, from Las Vegas, Nevada, who has served with the US Armed Forces for 20 years, is modest about his sacrifice as a wounded warrior. Major Plymate feels that his status is no greater than a fireman or police officer, wounded in the line of duty. “We all protect and serve in different ways”, he says.

    The feeling about these parking spaces mostly seems to be positive, however. Stuart Thompson from Georgia feels that instead of complaining, people should just be thankful to organizations like Home Depot and Wal-Mart for promoting this program.

    Engineer Daniel Baca is also all for the purple parking space, and he says that there are more and more of these spaces appearing where he lives.

    Lt. Col. Mike Lovett (Retd.) from Charleston, South Carolina is also all praise for them and says that he was thrilled to find one at a Harris Teeter that he had visited at the Isle of Palm.

    Conclusion

    There are a few naysayers who are not in favor, but the general opinion of people, especially veterans who are best-qualified to comment, are all for this program. The purple parking spaces are definitely proliferating, thanks to the efforts of the WWFS and the organizations that are actively participating in the program, so, it is likely that we will be seeing more and more parking space for combat wounded vets in the near future.

  • Fat Valor Thief Taunts Veterans “See You Memorial Day Losers”

    Fat Valor Thief Taunts Veterans “See You Memorial Day Losers”

    WARNING: GRAPHIC LANGUAGE

    This guy who uses Youtube channel johnnyb34434 uploaded a video attacking Don Shipley, founder of Guardian of Valor that runs the “Stolen Valor” Facebook page. In the video, Johnny taunts veterans and makes fun of their service. The entire video he calls his viewers “sheeple”. He says that “Nothing is going to happen to me. Whatever you do, it don’t mean nothing. I will be at Golden Corral for three days. I have my uniform, clean, pressed, and ready to go, see you memorial day losers”.

    Johnny is so big and bad, that he took the video down from his channel. It doesn’t seem to be there any more. At least we couldn’t find it. We had to use the video uploaded by David Avritt. Please see the video below:

  • Which is Better – Iraqi Jumping Jacks, Afghani Pushups, or Afghani Jumping Jacks?

    Which is Better – Iraqi Jumping Jacks, Afghani Pushups, or Afghani Jumping Jacks?

    We compiled some of the best Iraq and Afghan PT videos. We need people to choose which one they like the best. Comment below to choose or comment on our social sites.

    Iraqi Jumping Jacks 1

    Afghani Pushups

    Afghani Jumping Jacks

  • STOLEN VALOR: Imposter Pretends to be x3 CIB Army Ranger on Black Friday

    STOLEN VALOR: Imposter Pretends to be x3 CIB Army Ranger on Black Friday

    These types of videos really bother me on so many levels. First, you have the fact that the guy is a liar. Then you have the fact that people are probably giving the guy praise all the time, thanking him for his service, for something he didn’t do. Then he is probably getting military discounts and deals at stores for being a fake in uniform.  But the worst crime is that he is pretending to be something that only a select few people in this country are willing to be. Only a fraction of a percent of Americans step up to put their lives on the line for their country. And an even smaller percent step up to be infantrymen, and a more elite group serve in combat as Army Rangers. This person disgusts me. Please spread the word about him and expose him for what he has done.

  • IT’S OVER: FSA Assault Syrian Army Position

    IT’S OVER: FSA Assault Syrian Army Position

    In this video, the Free Syrian Army (FSA) assaults a Syrian Army position. It appears there is a fixed position on the 2nd floor with personnel that just won’t allow themselves to be defeated. The FSA fires multiple machine gun barrages, rifle fire, and even several direct hit RPG shots.

    The war in Syria began in July, 2011, as a result of the Arab Spring in that country that started several months earlier. There are four major factions in the Syrian Civil War – the Syrian Government, the Opposition Government (includes Al Qaeda and the FSA), the Kurdish Force (includes YPG), and ISIS.  Each faction has taken over and controls a portion of Syria and there are rumors that Al Qaeda and ISIS are going to unite to give themselves a stronger joint position. Needless to say, this video is a perfect example of the realities on the ground and the combat that continues on a daily basis in Syria.

  • CLOSE CALL: Sniper Hits US Position, Barely Misses Troops

    CLOSE CALL: Sniper Hits US Position, Barely Misses Troops

    This is a video from the War in Afghanistan (Operation Enduring Freedom). Here we can see that a U.S. soldier from 1st ID, 1st Brigade, 2-34 Bravo Co, 3rd PLT REAPERS gets shot by a distant Taliban sniper but shockingly continues his fight. This is a helmet camera footage of the soldier himself that was shot and the incident occurred in Kandahar, Afghanistan in 2011. You can see that after being shot and falling dawn he again rises up and continues to move and fight. This video is a part of an ongoing online archive from Funker530.com. The purpose of the Youtube channel is to show the war through the raw combat footage of the war.

    As a matter of fact, the fighting in Afghanistan began with the Afghan Civil War in 1978, with Soviet (USSR) involvement starting in 1979 and ending in 1989. Then the Taliban took control of the nation in 1994. However Operation Enduring Freedom, which started the US involvement in the country, began after the 9/11 attacks and the initiation of Operation Enduring Freedom by the President George W. Bush in 2001. Most of the US Forces are out of Afghanistan now, with small contingents still pressing on. The 1st Brigade, 1st ID, featured in this video, is stationed in Fort Riley, Kansans and is an Armored Brigade Combat Team usually equipped with M2 Bradleys, M1 Abrams Tanks, and Paladin 155mm Howitzers.

  • VIDEO: United States Marine Corps Silent Drill Platoon In Action

    VIDEO: United States Marine Corps Silent Drill Platoon In Action

    Marine Corps has several Drill Platoons specifically dedicated to exhibiting their expertise through ingenious drill movements. These are called exhibition drills. United States Marine Corps Silent Drill Platoon is one such platoon among others. But it is perhaps the most popular among them. Their precision, performance, grace without even a single bit of misplacement justly shows the Marine’s professionalism and consistency. In this video you will be able to see them in action and have the pleasure to be mesmerized by their smooth and soothing drill movements. This video was taken in the year of 2011 at Pepsi Center, Denver.

    The platoon consists of 24 members with a 10.5 pounds M1 Garand rifles each. That’s why they are also known as The Marching Twenty Four. All of the members are selected from the School of Infantry and have to fulfill some requirements. However precision is the key. Primarily designed to be a one time show, the platoon first performed in 1948 and received a huge deal of positive response and because of that it became a part of the routine parades at Marine Barracks Washington, D.C. Since then the platoon displays their presentation worldwide to represent the U.S. Marine Corps.

  • US Marine Guards Canadian War Memorial to Make a Personal “Damn Statement” to Terrorists

    US Marine Guards Canadian War Memorial to Make a Personal “Damn Statement” to Terrorists

    Major Fox Sinke, a highly decorated United States Marine Corps veteran, visited the National War Memorial to prove to everyone that when it comes to fighting the good fight, Canadian and American troops are united as one.

    Corporal Nathan Cirillo
    Corporal Nathan Cirillo

    Major Sinke is decorated with five purple hearts and three bronze stars. He is here to pay tribute in his own special way to Corporal Nathan Cirillo at the Canadian National War Memorial. Cirillo was shot and killed as a guard at the War Memorial on October 22nd, 2014 by terrorist Michael Zehaf-Bibeau.

    Michael Zehaf-Bibeau
    Michael Zehaf-Bibeau

    Here are some quotes from the video made by Major Sinke. This guy is a great American and human being, who understands the tenants of liberty and respect to his fellow comrade. “That young corporal is a comrade in arms”. “We are not intimidated, take your best shot.” “There are those of us who understand what is happening, and by God, we aren’t going to lie down for it. I am here to make my own personal damn statement.” “We are with you, that’s all I am saying. We got your back.”

    Video:

  • Obama Sends Additional Soldiers to Iraq

    Obama Sends Additional Soldiers to Iraq

    President Barack Obama has signed a new deployment directive to send additional soldiers to Iraq. The extra 1500 troops were sent by the Obama administration to serve in Iraq as advisers, security, and trainers. Most of them will reach Iraq by December. This means that the number of US troops will reach up to around 3,000. The president is asking for additional funding from the Congress to send to Iraq – or at least $5 billion to append to the Iraq funds.

    A statement from the White House says that the new troops will not actually be fighting in Iraq, but will be working as supervisors, strategists, and trainers in the field. The troops will be working to assist the military that is already available there who are fighting ISIS / ISIL.

    Many Americans and critics are seeing this as a gradual buildup, similar to the buildup in Vietnam that happened slowly over time. Thinking back to the Korean War, this seems to be like mission creep similar to when General MacArthur changed the mission from driving the North Koreans out of South Korea to conquering North Korea and taking the fight to China with nuclear weapons. China ended up invading and driving the Americans back to the 38th Parallel. With Operation Iraqi Freedom being over, it seems that there is a resurgence to get the US involved over there again.

    If it is going to happen again, it needs to happen with a clear mission, overwhelming force, and approval from congress.

  • Korean War Vet Revolts Against HOA Over Flag Display

    Korean War Vet Revolts Against HOA Over Flag Display

    Bob and Judy Willits are being told to take down their flagpole, which proudly displays both the American Flag and the POW/MIA flag.  The Willits are adamant that they will not put down the flagpole that they have placed in front of their house. Since the flagpole was placed near the street, the homeowner’s association of their neighborhood has begun asking them to take the flags and the poles away or at least mount them on their own property. The local court says that a case may be placed against the homeowners if necessary.

    Bob Willits served in the Korean War, so his wife Judy is strongly against the homeowner’s association’s movement. Also, Bob’s brother is still MIA in Korea, he has never made it back. She says that her husband deserves the ability to show his patriotism and to show respect for his brother without being discriminated against. Bob Willits is currently suffering from Parkinson’s, so it is mostly Judy who is taking care of the flagpole’s maintenance.

    The Willits assert that the HOA has no right to ask the to take down the flagpole (and ultimately the flags), because of the Flag Act. The flag act dictates that homeowner’s associations actually have no right to dictate any regulations about the presentation of flags unless under specific circumstances. The homeowners association is still pressing the issue because of the flagpole, which they say has nothing to do with flags and that flagpoles violate the HOA rules. Judy Willits and Bob Willits continue to fight for their right to fly the flag. The flag represents so much more to them because of Bob’s military service. And as common sense has it, in order to display a flag, one needs a flag pole.

    You can read more about this on Fox News. Both sides have hired lawyers and are digging in over Old Glory.

  • The Next Sergeant Major of the Army Will be an Infantryman

    The Next Sergeant Major of the Army Will be an Infantryman

    A statement was released concerning the appointment of the 15th Sergeant Major of the Army.

    Command Sergeant Major Daniel A. Dailey, the senior enlisted non-commissioned officer for the Training and Doctrine Command has been chosen to take the position. A lot of the soldiers in the combat arms are pleased to see an infantryman take the job, especially since the infantry do a lot of the front line fighting, especially in battles like Sadr City, the mountains of Afghanistan, and during the Surge of Baghdad. He will be receiving the position from the incumbent Sergeant Major of the Army, Raymond F. Chandler III, on the 30th of January in 2015. The position takes on a number of different roles, the most prominent of which would be his assignment on recommending improvements in the standard of living of soldiers, including enlisted personnel and their families.

    English: Raymond F. Chandler III, Sergeant Maj...
    English: Raymond F. Chandler III, Sergeant Major of the Army (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

    The Army Secretary John McHugh expressed great approval in the decision. He said that Dailey would do great in the position, the same way that Chandler was able to handle it. Army seniors have said that Dailey is a great choice for the job, especially because of his great career background. He has been recommended by other seniors knowing that he had gained great experiences in the field that will help him gain wisdom in the execution of his new task. Dailey is a veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation New Dawn, Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm.

  • Fake “Kill ISIS for $500K” Story Exposed

    Fake “Kill ISIS for $500K” Story Exposed

    There is a company, Horner G6S Mercenary Incorporated, who is hiring mercenaries to go kill ISIS members for $500K a piece – so the story goes. Of course this is fake.  All articles from the National Report are works of fiction, much like the Onion or the EU Times. The reason these websites write these tall tails is simple, they make a lot of money on the traffic their exaggerated headlines generate.

    If we were to do a write up about this story, assuming it were true, our write up would look like this:

    The National Report came up with a news item stating that a militant organization out of Phoenix, Arizona, is hiring assassins to kill ISIS members for a cool $500,000. The supposed name of the organization is Horner G6S Mercenary Incorporated. The said company is willing to pay half a million dollars regardless of one’s “killing” experience. G6S is owned by Paul Horner, who is in complete disagreement with the way President Barack Obama has handled the ISIS crisis.

    Gwen Hawkins, one of those who has signed up with the company, has expressly stated that she would like to volunteer as a human time bomb and would like her family to cash out the insurance policy she had taken out in case of her death. Jason McKay, one of the newest members, said that he would be willing to be infected with the Ebola virus and get caught by ISIS so they can be infected as well. Michael Adams, one of the more established assassins, suggested forcing these people to eat bacon would be a good way to disarm them, since it is against their religion.

    There are speculations running around that Ross Perot was the one who founded this organization as a way to start a presidential bid for the elections in 2016.

    You can read more about this satire article here and here.

  • Amazing Story of How Sergeant Clifford Wooldridge Received Navy Cross

    Amazing Story of How Sergeant Clifford Wooldridge Received Navy Cross

    Sergeant Clifford Wooldridge was awarded the Navy Cross two years ago for his valor in Afghanistan. The Navy Cross is the second highest honor or military decoration that one can receive in the Navy, for an act of valor while in combat.

    This medal was awarded to him for his actions on June 18, 2010 in Musa Qala, Afghanistan. When Wooldridge’s patrol vehicle came under fire, his team dismounted after he saw 15 fighters preparing to ambush them. Leading his team, he was able to kill eight people with his M249 Squad Automatic Weapon using 5.56mm rounds.

    As his team slowly withdrew from the area, Wooldridge solely covered for his team. He then heard voices from a wall which he bravely faced, and saw two enemies. He managed to kill both. Crouching against the wall to reload his gun, he saw a barrel of a gun appear from the other side of the wall.

    Wooldridge dropped his own weapon and grabbed the barrel of the machine gun. There was a struggle and the enemy reached for the pin of a grenade attached to Wooldridge’s vest. Wooldridge was able to grab the machine gun from the fighter and took a shot. When it did not work, he used the stock of the gun to pummel the insurgent to his death.

    Because of these actions, the Navy awarded Sergeant Wooldridge the Navy Cross. An amazing story.

  • Shock: Inspector General Reports $420 Million in Supplies Missing in Afghanistan

    Shock: Inspector General Reports $420 Million in Supplies Missing in Afghanistan

    The office of the Inspector General has submitted a report of missing military equipment in Afghanistan. The supplies missing are worth an estimated $420 million and include weapons systems, communication equipment, and encryption technology. The missing supplies represent 1.5% of the total number of equipment that is currently in Afghanistan. The report has concluded that the missing equipment was due to lack of accounting and general oversight on the part of the Army officials who were based on the main American bases – Bagram and Kandahar – in Afghanistan.

    The report does not indicate if the aforementioned missing supplies went into the wrong hands. Additionally, the report also said that 133,557 pieces of military equipment has been lost as well, with its value amounting to $238.4 million from 2006 – 2010. Because the military failed to report on these losses right away, it is highly unlikely that these supplies could ever be recovered.

    This report could present a further challenge on the government’s military spending as it winds down its operations in Afghanistan. It has been reported that the Pentagon will still need an additional $7 billion in order to withdraw the US troops and conclude its operations in Afghanistan by the end of this year. Although around 10,000 soldiers are expected to stay behind after December.

  • Military Helicopters and Armored Trucks are Back in Ferguson

    Military Helicopters and Armored Trucks are Back in Ferguson

    Just when you would think that things have somewhat settled down in Ferguson, there has been a sighting of four National Guard helicopters roaming the skies of nearby Kirkwood. There has been an alarming number of armored trucks as well that can be seen from the streets. This is in anticipation of a grand jury decision in the Michael Brown case.

    Ferguson was in the news back in August after a white police officer, Darren Wilson, shot Michael Brown. The police claim that Wilson shot Brown during a struggle; while Brown’s family claim that the deceased was raising his arms to surrender during the time of shooting.

    This incident caused major civil unrest in the form of protests as well as civil disobedience in the form of riots, lootings, and vandalism. The Ferguson Police Department has been accused of using unnecessary and heavy-handed force in the dispersal of crowds, as well as the arrest of journalists who were covering the event.

    Government officials are now preparing for the worst and are taking precautions. Its police department is gearing up for any eventualities that might come up after the indictment by stocking up on crowd control equipment such as body armor and tear gas.

  • A Dog and a Navy SEAL Rappel Down Before Cowboys-Cardinals Game

    A Dog and a Navy SEAL Rappel Down Before Cowboys-Cardinals Game

    Before the start of the NFL football game between top teams Dallas Cowboys and Arizona Cardinals, a Navy SEAL and a paratrooper service dog rappelled down the AT&T Stadium scoreboard in order to deliver the game coin to officially start the game. The descent of the duo was smooth, except for an initial struggle from the dog. The Arizona Cardinals beat the Dallas Cowboys with a final score of 28 – 17.

    Considered as one of the highlights of the game, this is a welcome moment especially after a controversial and stern memo from the Naval Special Warfare was sent to Navy SEALs about divulging information regarding the Osama Bin Laden raid.

    Matt Bissonnette, published a book about how Bin Laden was shot, while Rob O’Neill claims to be the one who fired the fatal shot that killed Bin Laden. Both were members of the SEAL Team Six, a highly trained special group that was sent into secretive and highly-classified missions. With these conflicting reports, the two has broken the Navy SEALs’ tenet of confidentiality.

    Nontheless, this video helped the NFL viewers focus on something light-hearted:

  • Marine Sgt. Major and Retired Marine in Yelling Match

    Marine Sgt. Major and Retired Marine in Yelling Match

    A retired US Marine protests President Obama’s decision to trade five high level Al Qaeda terrorist detainees for Private First Class Bowe Bergdahl who allegedly deserted his platoon. Bergdahl was reported to have carefully meditated about his departure, mailed back his belongings while on duty, and purchased an AK-47 rifle which he took with him when he left, along with water, knives, a journal, a compass, and a digital camera.

    The video takes place in Parris Island – the former Drill Instructor and US Marine Corps veteran in the video protests against the trade made partly in uniform, and wearing a Drill Instructor’s cover. He stands cradling the American flag in his arm and a campaign sign in his hand, but is apprehended by the Sgt. Major. The former DI tells the Sgt. Major not to get loud at him and insists that he can do what he wants since he isn’t a marine anymore.

    As the argument escalates, the former Drill Instructor’s hat falls off his head and is confiscated by the Sgt. Major. No fists were thrown, and the Sgt. Major drives away from the enraged Marine veteran.

  • Marine Goes USMC on a Robber

    Marine Goes USMC on a Robber

    Aaron Jacobs, a clerk at a local gas station, evades an attack from a man who attempted to rob the store he was tending to one night. Armed with a 12-inch blade in his hand, he moves slowly towards the man behind the counter but his sneak attack is quickly countered by the store clerk who turns out to be a former Marine Combat Instructor. The store clerk apparently is a Karate black belter, and has had more than 25 years of training.

    The not so off guard store clerk knocks the blade out of the attacker’s hand and is smoothly able to subdue him in an arm bar submission, he then rams his attacker into a rack and sends him running out the door for dear life. The would-be victim remained unscathed, other than a few cuts from the struggle with the knife.

    After what went down, he dismisses the whole incident as a fluke and keeps his faith in his quiet neighborhood. And at the end of the brawl, this store clerk was more interested in the welfare of his cigarette and chips rack more than anything else.

  • Mexican Troops Confront Border Patrol, Fire On Americans

    Mexican Troops Confront Border Patrol, Fire On Americans

    Surprising news show that for years, Mexican soldiers have been passing U.S. borders into Arizona and other nearby states. The numbers, when tallied, suggest that these foreign troops have entered the U.S. soil at least 300 times already. Additionally, the events are becoming more and more alarming because of the rogue soldiers that are able to pass the country lines.

    These rogue soldiers have been known to threaten U.S. federal agents when pursued. Reports say that their excuse was that they were on the tail of a drug deal lead, but there is no concrete evidence to support their alibi. Along with being hostile towards United States’ officers, the rogue soldiers that are being able to pass into the country have allegedly shot at a number of citizens, causing alarm and even injury. A young man named Javier Jose Rodriguez was reportedly shot by rogue members of the Mexican Army, leading to increased distress in the area.

    However, it seems that no one has been investigating the root of the problem. Even if handfuls of these rogue soldiers have been threatening innocent citizens and federal agents, the government is silent. A senator has asked for answers for the events, but no reasons or theories have been presented yet.

    http://vimeo.com/93620791

  • Unreal: SWAT Invades Home of Elderly Woman

    Unreal: SWAT Invades Home of Elderly Woman

    A SWAT team is called in to find someone who has allegedly been sending threats to their police chief Billy Bolin. The Evansville team follows protocol during the mission, working quickly and thoroughly, and communicating constantly the whole time.

    They exit the vehicle and swiftly make their way to the house, everyone dressed in full gear. They then separate to find entrances and the main point of view follows the man on the way to the front door. While shouting and trying to explain that they are police and are simply following orders, they break into the house by smashing the glass door.

    The team then enters and is almost immediately faced with a surprise: the first person they find is a young girl, whom they handcuff. Their second and only other arrest is an old woman whom they also handcuff. The elderly woman graciously leads them through the back door and out at the side, all of them exiting the house with the girl in tow. The man then reenters the house and laughs with his mates because they have realized that they had probably just raided the wrong house.

    This is a ridiculous situation where they didn’t vet the owner of the house or the address. They need to do more mission analysis prior to doing such a raid on US soil.

  • Marine Survives Headshot from Afghan Sniper

    Marine Survives Headshot from Afghan Sniper

    There is a Marine who is counting his blessings today because he survived a head shot from and Afghan Sniper. The Marines were maneuvering on an enemy position. After walking down a tunnel that one would think would be a secure place to go for infantry forces, an enemy round enters the tunnel and hits a Marine right in his helmet. The Marines bound back to a secure location and evaluate the possible injury. Only ears ringing and a minor headache are reported. Then the Marines interrupt the traffic on radio to inform their higher headquarters that there is an enemy sniper out there and everyone needs to be careful. The video ends with one of the Marines saying “let’s do something about this” and it appears they moved out to go kill the shooter.

    Here is the video.

  • Lockheed Martin Makes Waves with Compact Nuclear Fusion Technology

    Lockheed Martin Makes Waves with Compact Nuclear Fusion Technology

    Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works division is developing a fusion reactor that is small enough to go on an airplane, yet powerful enough to power a warship or space station.  They are calling it the Compact Fusion Reactor, or the CFR. They believe they will test a CFR design in less than a year. If Lockheed Martin is successful, it will revolutionize the use of energy worldwide. Even if it remains expensive, it will still be small enough to power airplanes, space ships, trains, and other forms of transportation large enough to profit from an expensive unlimited power supply.  A reactor like this could allow for travel to other star systems or even allow us to easily colonize other planets (from an energy standpoint)

    Two concerns that come to mind would be security against terrorism or preventing a Fukushima type situation in a natural disaster. Could you imagine if there was an earthquake and hundreds of these mini-reactors would melt down?  If Lockheed can include safeguards and the ability to shut it down on a moments notice or automatically, then there may be hope for civilian use. Others have brought up thorium reactors which are not dangerous at all. But the technology for thorium is not nearly as advanced as the Lockheed Fusion solution.

    Here is the video talking about it from Lockheed Martin Skunk Works.

     

  • Army Ranger Disrespected by U.S. Airways

    Army Ranger Disrespected by U.S. Airways

    U.S. Airways decided to not hang First Sgt. Albert Marle’s jacket in order to prevent it from being wrinkled on the flight. She refused, citing some bureaucratic red tape policy that only first class passengers get to use the closet. She states that 1SG Marle isn’t one of them and then refused to hang up his jacket. It isn’t like he served his country, put his life on the line, and endured brutal combat in the Middle East so that this flight attendant could live free and be safe.  Her exact quote was, “Our airline policy says I’m not going to do it, so I’m not going to do it.”

    You can read the official account from WSOCTV who broke the story.

    Here is the news story about it.

  • US Army Testing Ebola Vaccine

    US Army Testing Ebola Vaccine

    Everyone is looking for protection against the Ebola virus. Greta Van Susteren sits down with doctors from the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research recently to talk about the Ebola vaccine development. According to the interview, the vaccine was 100% successful on mice, rodents, and monkeys. So now they have 39 volunteers they are going to test the vaccine on. The Army doctors seem very optimistic about the chances of the vaccine. Once this phase of clinical trials is complete, the vaccine will enter another phase of wider testing before ultimately entering mass production. One can only speculate, but if Ebola were become more wide spread in the United States, it appears that this vaccine will enter the market a lot faster than it is taking right now.

  • American Sniper Chris Kyle Trailer Released

    American Sniper Chris Kyle Trailer Released

    The long awaited American Sniper Chris Kyle Trailer is now out. Many people have been waiting a long time to see this movie, and the trailer is creating quite a stir. Some people are excited because they read Chris Kyle’s book. Chris Kyle made quite a splash when he was with us through his heroism as a Navy SEAL, through his entrepreneurship as CEO of Craft International, and also through his charity work as founder of Heroes Project.

    There is no doubt many people will flock to see the movie American Sniper. The movie is set to be released on Christmas Day, 2014. Bradley Cooper will take the lead role as Chris Kyle, Clint Eastwood will direct, Sienna Miller will play Taya Kyle, and Jake McDorman, Brian Hallisay, and Kyle Gallner will play others in Kyle’s military life.

    The movie is based on the book, American Sniper, written by Jason Dean Hall and Chris Kyle.

    Chris Kyle passed away in a shooting accident in 2013 and left a legacy of patriotism, service, and charity for all veterans and Americans to emulate.

    Below is the American Sniper Chris Kyle Trailer

  • New Army Uniform Getting Rolled Out

    New Army Uniform Getting Rolled Out

    The Old and the New

    The latest buzz going around in US Army circles is about the new army uniforms, the Operational Camouflage Pattern (OCP), which are in the process of being rolled out; the entire conversion to the new uniform is expected to be completed by the summer of 2018. In 2004, the US Army decided to scrap the two versions of uniforms, to be replaced by a standardized model called the Army Combat Uniform (ACU). The cost of this conversion was $5 billion. The budget for the OCP has been estimated at $4 billion. According the army’s plan, the new uniform will be available in stores from next summer, and soldiers will have to replace their worn-out uniforms with the new ones.

    The Battle Dress Uniform (BDU)

    From the 1980s to the mid-2000s, this uniform was used by the US Army. This uniform is basically in shades for jungle camouflage, using olive green, tan and brown. It is similar to the type of uniform that was used during the Vietnam Era. These uniforms are also called ‘temperate weight uniforms’.

    There existed several variations of the BDU such as ‘tropical weight’ BDU composed of 100% cotton rip-stop poplin cloth. Other BDU variants are the ‘temperate weather’ BDU, ‘hot weather BDU and the ‘enhanced hot weather’ BDU. The main feature that distinguishes each variation is the ratio of synthetic fiber to cotton fiber.

    The Shortfalls of the ACUs

    The ACUs were beset with flaws from the very start. In an attempt to modernize the uniform, an excessive amount of Velcro was used. In a combat situation where absolute silence is required, the Velcro fasteners have a tendency to open with a scraping sound, possibly giving the soldier’s position away to the enemy. Moreover, this Velcro restricts the movement of personnel, especially when brushing against each other with the Velcro strips adhering to each other’s uniforms.

    The color scheme was another bone of contention, as the choice of colors was unsuitable for blending into the environment. Moreover, due to mass production of this uniform, there were several quality issues and the ACUs wore out faster. To put it bluntly, the troops hated the ACUs.

    The Rise and Fall of MultiCam

    In early 2010, a new version of army uniform was introduced known as the ‘MultiCam’ uniform. This was introduced as an interim arrangement, to remedy the flaws that existed in the ACU uniforms. It was intended to be suitable for use under different weather, elevations, light conditions and environmental conditions. MultiCam was a suitable choice for many technical reasons, the main advantage being that it blended well into multiple environments.

    Commercially, the MultiCam uniform was a great choice as the design already existed in the market. This presented a cost-effective solution to the problems of the ACUs, as the huge outlay for creation of a new design was eliminated. Finally, the most relevant reason for the potential success of MultiCam – the troops loved it.

    Unfortunately, it was commercial problems that led to the failure of MultiCam. The army asked the MultiCam manufacturer, Crye Precision, to reduce the licensing fees of the fabric printers, but owner Caleb Crye did not agree to this. The army then offered to buy the manufacturing rights from Crye, but was not willing to pay him the $24.8 million that he asked. This marked the last nail in the coffin of MultiCam, giving birth to the new army uniform which the US Army claims to be “very similar to MultiCam”, although not much is known about it yet. However, recent photographs of the uniform do show a resemblance with the old camouflage pattern of greens, yellows and browns.

    New Army Uniform
    New Army Uniform

    The New Army Uniform

    The new uniform pattern is called ‘Scorpion’. Senior US Army officials have started briefing their staff about it, although the army is playing this one rather close to the chest, possibly due to the flak that it has drawn from frequent and expensive changes in the recent and not so recent past. The new uniform has yet to be announced, but extensive field testing has been carried out over the last 4 to 5 years, using thousands of soldiers as volunteers for measurement of parameters like thermal reflection, level of concealment, comfort of wearing and general wear and tear.

    Release Date

    It appears that there is no official release date for the new Scorpion pattern style uniform. While it is being tested and the logistics are still being worked out, as soon as we know the release date we will post it here.

    The Bottom Line

    Whether the troops like the new army uniform or not, will largely depend on their actual experience from wearing the uniform, and that too, in combat situations. As the old adage goes, “The truth of the pudding is in the eating.” There has been a lot of skepticism in general about the uniform policy of the US Army. Billions of taxpayer’s dollars have been spent, often with little to show, as each version seemed to have its own set of issues, some newer versions being worse than the previous ones (see the ACU). The question that is in everyone’s mind now is as to whether this Catch-22 situation will continue, or will the US Army finally succeed in coming out with a good product that will win the approval of the final users, the soldiers themselves? This is something that remains to be seen (on in this case – hopefully “not seen” since it is supposed to be camouflaged).

  • Jesse Ventura Chris Kyle Lawsuit Concluded – Jesse Wins

    Jesse Ventura Chris Kyle Lawsuit Concluded – Jesse Wins

    The Jesse Ventura Chris Kyle lawsuit has been the talk of the town these last couple of days ever since a jury awarded Jesse $1.8 Million in damages from the slain Navy SEAL sniper’s estate. The jury decided yesterday, July 29th in Minnesota.

    The lawsuit started when Chris Kyle said in his book that he punched Jesse Ventura out in a bar in 2006 when Kyle claimed that Jesse said the SEALs “deserved to lose a few” as it relates to combat.

    There is a lot of interest in this case for two main reasons. First, both men are celebrities in their own right. Chris Kyle, an author, a famous SEAL sniper, a 2 time Silver Star recipient for valor, a five time Bronze Star recipient for valor, and who is no longer with us. Chris was killed at a gun range by Eddie Ray Routh, a Marine who Kyle was helping to recover from PTSD. Jesse Ventura is a former Navy SEAL, professional wrestler, Minnesota governor, an author, and a TV show host. Both men have other accomplishments, but these are the main ones.

    Celebrity infighting is the main reason for interest in this case. Yet another major reason is this is probably the first time the public has seen a case where a man’s widow has to pay for her late husband’s lawsuit for defamation. Sure there may be examples, but none so prominent as this one. And people are upset at Ventura for going through with it. Others are glad Jesse won because it clears his name, which is something that is priceless in the public eye. It is very apparent that the court of public opinion is with the Kyle’s widow.

    Here are several prominent responses to the Jesse Ventura Chris Kyle Lawsuit: