Comments for Military Family

Comment on OPERATION REACH OUT: A Military Suicide Prevention App by Suicidal Veteran Facing 40 Years In Prison – A Roadblock For Military Suicide Prevention

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 15:55:28 +0000

[...] seek help. Never let anything stop you. Here at Military Family we offer Operation Reach Out, a free suicide prevention app for smartphones. It is available on iTunes and the Android [...]

Comment on Military and Politics Don’t Always Mix by David Blackman

David Blackman — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 17:03:48 +0000

This is a good point, Jeri, and the word I’d draw out for our readers is “spectator”. Whereas a spectator is defined as “a person who watches at a show, game, or other event,” a “participant” is defined as “a person who takes part in something”. The line between these two at something like a political rally is pretty thin.

Consider: if one were at an event held by the Committee to Re-Elect the President (CREEP) and one simply observed, sat on one’s hands, and offered polite applause at the end of a speaker’s remarks, one would be a spectator. If one chanted “four more years”, held a sign reading “Nixon ’72″, or did anything other than simply watch, suddenly one is participating in the rally, which is contrary to regulations.

I hope readers will recognize the distinction and stay on the right side of regulations.

Comment on New Rules for Women in Combat by Gabriel Coeli

Gabriel Coeli — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 02:03:48 +0000

Stephen, you’ve got a point. But the first thing I would point out is that not all infantry Marines score a 300 on the PFT – and anyway, the PFT is not a good metric by which to judge someone’s combat fitness. If a woman can hang on all of the marches, mountain runs, field exercises and evolutions that the 03s are expected to do, she ought to be able to do so.

I would say that the point is important as a matter of character. As you point out, the number of females who would be physically capable of working in the infantry would be very low – correspondingly, the cost to taxpayers would also be very low. It’s the difference it would make in our organizational values – the values that bind us and guide us. We would be a force where (nearly) everyone who wished to serve their country – who is able to do so, without regard to any other factor – would be allowed to. And that’s an important development that will not only positively affect the military, but society as a whole.

Comment on Military and Politics Don’t Always Mix by Jeri L. Jones

Jeri L. Jones — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 18:54:05 +0000

However, a military member MAY attend rallies as a SPECTATOR.

4.1.2. A member of the Armed Forces on active duty shall not:
subparagraph 4.1.1.7.), rallies, conventions (including making speeches in the course thereof), management of campaigns, or debates, either on one’s own behalf or on that of another, without respect to uniform or inference or appearance of official sponsorship, approval, or endorsement. Participation includes more than mere attendance as a spectator. (See subparagraph 4.1.1.9.)

4.1.1. A member of the Armed Forces on active duty may:
4.1.1.9. Attend partisan and nonpartisan political fundraising activities, meetings, rallies, debates, conventions, or activities as a spectator when not in uniform and when no inference or appearance of official sponsorship, approval, or endorsement can reasonably be drawn.

Comment on Veterans Get a Gold Card by Larry Stroud

Larry Stroud — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 19:17:15 +0000

Wayne, where did you find this information?

Comment on VA Disability Benefits – A Primer by RB

RB — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 17:55:31 +0000

I absolutely love the mention of PTSD and the assertion of it being a “right” for “all” veterans. I spent 6 months recovering from a major back injury and surgery at Walter Reed, and during my time there I saw a number of soldiers who were there for other injuries, yet after being “coached” they then extended their time and claimed (incorrect) to “suffer” from PTSD. Some are still there (after 2 YEARS?!). The majority of these cases are unfounded and scam the system. Add to it that they will, in all likelihood, make a claim with the VA and then get a greater percentage than I received (with a legitimate physical injury and – now – limitation), they will tax the system for years. That is another issue – the VA/system is not trying to HELP these veterans get better. They just assign a percentage for PTSD and away they go. In reality, they CAN and SHOULD get help to become better – and not have to have a “disability” rating for PTSD.

Until you’ve been in the system and seen the number of regular soldiers who operate in society and live normal, healthy lives that are “claiming” PTSD, you cannot tell me any differently. And I’ve been in 25 years and deployed 5 times in my career. I even saw a young soldier (a girl not more than 22 or 23 yrs old) who was normal, talked normal, shopped, had fun, went on all kinds of trips to go camping, boating, biking, etc. – yet when she would meet with the therapists and social workers, she “suffered” from PTSD? Give me a break.

Comment on Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) – Four Reasons it Can Work for You by It’s 11 o’clock, Do You Know Where Your Veteran’s Organization Is?

It’s 11 o’clock, Do You Know Where Your Veteran’s Organization Is? — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 15:47:55 +0000

[...] Do research. Ask questions. Read the fine print. For example, a quick search of the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) website (I used the Northern California chapter) can help you look up organizations and find out [...]

Comment on New Rules for Women in Combat by Stephen

Stephen — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 03:13:10 +0000

I agree with equal opportunity but let’s face it, how many women do you know that can come close to 20 pull ups and a 18 minute 3 mile? Most of my male marines can’t even get 20 p/u. So I say let’s first make the PFT/PFA equal and if there are women that can get 1st class PFTs and want to leave Intel or any other private sector transferable technical MOS to be a grunt, have at it. The number will be extremely low thus (IMHO) a moot point not worth taxpayer dollars to initiate.

Comment on What is PTSD? by PTSD Causes Retired Marine To Flee Scene of Accident, Hide In Snow For Two Days

PTSD Causes Retired Marine To Flee Scene of Accident, Hide In Snow For Two Days — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 20:08:48 +0000

[...] troopers who were trailing Cooper became anxious when they learned Cooper suffers from PTSD and has had other encounters with police. One of the troopers was Sgt. Dave Randall, himself an [...]

Comment on MotoMail for Marines by Deanna Cole

Deanna Cole — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 15:14:06 +0000

We used MOTO mail while my husband was deployed with the National Guard. He worked on a base alongside Marines. So its worth checking out if you want to be able to get something quick, tangible, and personal to your deployed loved one. He got his letter within 30 hours of me submitting it. Its another great tool to use when trying to stay connected with your deployed loved ones.