Military service is all about helping the community

“The message I want to send to the kids is about service – not necessarily in a combat zone – but community service,” Chief Warrant Officer 4 Lawrence Jiron said during a Veterans’ Day event at East Mountain High School.

Jiron was among more than 30 veterans who came to speak to students at the high school on Monday.

“We’re excited to have so many people come out and talk,” EMHS Prinicpal Doug Wine said. “It is important for the students to know what Veterans’ Day means historically and what it means personally.”

Students assembled around the flagpole and applauded the veterans before the national anthem was played on an electric guitar by senior Jeffrey Delanoy.

A moment of silence was given to the families that were affected by the recent shooting tragedy at Ft. Hood and senior Kayla Skye Allmon gave a speech to honor veterans and military personnel.

As part of her service learning project, which all seniors must do at EMHS, Allmon is collecting donations and toiletry items for troops deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan. Anyone interested in donating can call the school at 281-7400.

After the ceremony around the flagpole students went back to their classrooms to listen to the veterans, many of whom have served throughout several conflicts and wars, speak about their time in the service..

Students in room 206 asked questions about working in the military to Jiron and Army Pvt. Brice Leinnewebe. Both Jiron and Leinnewebe have family members who attend EMHS. Jiron’s son, Lorenzo, was able to listen to his father answer the questions asked by fellow students in room 206, while Leinnewebe’s sister, Danika, was in a different classroom.

Leinnewebe just finished basic training in the Army where he works as a mechanic. He told students that it is his passion to work on vehicles and that the Army allowed him to pursue his dream.

One student asked what the two service members’ proudest moments were. Leinnewebe said his proudest moments were graduating basic training and coming back home to his family, while Jiron said his proudest moments were being in the classroom talking to students and providing for the community.

By being in the Army Jiron has been able to help on search and rescue missions in New Mexico and served in Louisiana after Hurricane Katrina where he set up communications lines that had been destroyed from the storm.

“It’s about helping people in our own state and in our own country,” Jiron said.

While in Afghanistan, Jiron also provided humanitarian assistance by providing food, medicine and school supplies to the locals.

Jiron told students that if they join the military they should do it to serve their country and community and not for the benefits.

When asked about how difficult it is to carry heavy gear all over the place Leinnewebe said “it’s one big mind game,” to which Jiron said “you get used to it,” and agreed that with Leinnewebe that “it’s all in the mind.”

Leinnewebe and Jiron both said one of the challenges of being in the military is always having to “hurry up and wait.”

Free Clothing, Food, Counseling For Homeless

Homeless veterans and non-veterans received free clothing, toiletries, food items, counseling, flu shots, health care, legal advice and dental care at the New Mexico Veterans' Integration Center today, Oct. 23.

The VA estimates there are about 7,000 homeless veterans living in New Mexico.

Where I live I see two to three homeless people sleeping in the park each day. It's about time we give them the help they need. Thank you NM Veterans' Integration Center for reaching out to non-veterans during this year's stand down.

It's getting colder here in New Mexico and many of the homeless who sleep in the park will find their way into diners, busses, public libraries and other places to stay out of the cold. Instead of shooing them away like pests, let us provide what we can and at the very least be kind and give some guidance as to where they can go to get food, a warm place to sleep and help with alcohol and drug addictions.

The homeless of America are people too and should be treated humanely and with compassion. It is a shame that we have let so many men and women who have served this country, and even those who haven't, wander the streets. It is always the right time to help those in need.

Control Room Slant Not Credible

I just finished watching Control Room, a movie about Al Jazeera's coverage of the Iraq war, and felt the need to make a few points.

First off, the U.S. military did use propaganda to influence the media and there was a bit of a show for the cameras, as when I was in Fallujah and the general was paying a vist to our location. Before the general's scheduled visit we were all joking and smoking, making the best of our situation, but just before the general was to arrive we all took up posts throughout the area we normally wouldn't have stood security at and made sure everybody was awake and looking good. Yes, we put on a dog and pony show for the general, just like the military PR guys put on a dog and pony show for the media, but how can that possibly be a suprise to anyone? The U.S. did not want journalists revealing the true nature of war, as was the case in Vietnam, because mom and pops can't stand to see the true gore of the battlefield, and images of dead children does not work in favor of an invading force.

What suprised me about the movie Control Room is that these journalists did not report about those who did greet us in the streets with clear optimism. In one part of the movie it talks about how children screaming god damned Bush in Arabic was translated into them cheering for Bush, but the fact is kids would come up to me and say in English "good Bush, good." We would get smiles and waves, and offered tea, and were well accepted in many parts of the country. Control Room pretends like this never happened. Also, they say men were brought in for the media to parade around the main square in Baghdad to provide images of jubilant Iraqis freed from their opressor. Perhaps this is true, I was not in the square at that moment, but I do know that the men, women and children who were celebratory where I was at were not hauled in. They emerged from houses and buildings and lined the streets in many different parts of the country. Of course there were those that openly disapproved of the U.S. military who shouted profanities and threw stuff at us, but Control Room does not explain this in their movie.

The other thing that I keep hearing over in over is that Americans should have controlled the looting in Baghdad, as if this was a major turning point in the war. I've heard people say that the U.S. should have been more brutal and stomped down on all looters in order to show who was the dominate force, but this is total BS. The only way the military could've controlled the looters was to shoot or bomb them. The Marines were not in any way ready to go out and be riot police upon arriving in Baghdad. The Marines were ready for warfare, not riot control. Had Marines turned on the looters with their guns it would have made the situation far worse.

The fact is the U.S. military did try to stop the looters, but there were far too many Iraqis running amuck and far too little troops to chase them all down. Think about this: if the LAPD couldn't stop their own people from looting and ransacking the streets of Los Angeles during the LA riots, why would anyone expect an occupying force to stop people from looting their own country?

I have the utmost respect for the journalists who risk their lives trying to get accurate information for the world to see, and appreciate Al Jazeera's efforts to show another side of the war, but Control Room shows how Al Jazeera's media bias was simply inaccurate.

G-20 Protest Raises Questions On Use of Force

Protestors at the G-20 Summit in Pittsburgh faced off with the military and riot police. Tear gas and non-lethal weapons were apparantely used against the protestors. This video shows men in fatigues forcing a protestor into an unmarked car. Although I understand the concern for security and the safety of summit members, I do not see the reason for such a huge police presence.

The protests in Pittsburgh bring up questions about the use of force by such a police and military presence: What happens if a real attack occurs and riot police shoot a bunch of protestors? If you were in uniform would you be able to shoot on Americans? What would the public reaction be?

I can't predict the future, but I think a lot of people would be pretty pissed.

Rep. Ben Ray Lujan Rejects Afghan Troop Increase

New Mexico Rep. Ben Ray Lujan sent out a press release today explaining his position on troop levels in Afghanistan. In the release, and in a letter to President Barack Obama, Lujan states that he is "concerned about becoming involved in a long-term counterinsurgency that requires hundreds of thousands of troops."

"We need to give support to the Afghan people through humanitarian and diplomatic means, but troop increases are troubling at this time," Lujan continues. "I urge the Administration to reject a troop increase."

Lujan represents district three, which covers Santa Fe and northern New Mexico.

Rep. Martin Heinrich, who represents Albuquerque and central New Mexico, said during an interview with me last month that he is in favor of increased troop levels. Heinrich did not specify how many more troops should be sent to Afghanistan, but he suggested an increase would help to accomplish the U.S. and NATO mission in the country.

Both Heinrich and Lujan are in favor of legislation that would provide a clear exit strategy.

Lujan does offer some suggestion on how to deal with international terrorism. The following is a snippet from the letter he sent to Obama:

"We support your administration’s declared goals of defeating Al Qaeda and reducing the global terrorist threat. But, we believe that adding even more U.S. troops to the military escalation that your administration ordered in March would be counterproductive. We urge you to consider and pursue the full range of alternative options including applying the lessons of the Cold War where we isolate and contain those who pose a threat to our national security."

Medal of Honor: Jared Monti

President Barack Obama presented the highest military decoration, the Medal of Honor, to the parents of Army Sergeant First Class Jared Monti during a ceremony in the White House last week.

Monti was killed during a firefight in Afghanistan when his 16-man patrol was ambushed by about 50 Taliban fighters.

During the firefight Monti risked his life to rescue a wouunded soldier and was cited for his courage.

Monti is only the second U.S. soldier who has received the medal for service in Afghanistan.

Four soldiers and Marines have been awarded the medal for service in Iraq.

The following is the full text of the citation as listed at history.army.mil:

*MONTI, JARED C.
Rank and Organization: Sergeant First Clas, United States Army.For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty: Staff Sergeant Jared C. Monti distinguished himself by acts of gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty while serving as a team leader with Headquarters and Headquarters troop, 3rd Squadron, 71st Calvary Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, in connection with combat operations against an enemy in Nuristan Province, Afghanistan, on June 21st, 2006. While Staff Sergeant Monti was leading a mission aimed at gathering intelligence and directing fire against the enemy, his 16-man patrol was attacked by as many as 50 enemy fighters. On the verge of being overrun, Staff Sergeant Monti quickly directed his men to set up a defensive position behind a rock formation. He then called for indirect fire support, accurately targeting the rounds upon the enemy who had closed to within 50 meters of his position. While still directing fire, Staff Sergeant Monti personally engaged the enemy with his rifle and a grenade, successfully disrupting an attempt to flank his patrol. Staff Sergeant Monti then realized that one on his soldier was lying wounding in the open ground between the advancing enemy and the patrol's position. With complete disregard for his own safety, Staff Sergeant Monti twice attempted to move from behind the cover of the rocks into the face of relentless enemy fire to rescue his fallen comrade. Determined not to leave his soldier, Staff Sergeant Monti made a third attempt to cross open terrain through intense enemy fire. On this final attempt, he was mortally wounded, sacrificing his own life in an effort to save his fellow soldier. Staff Sergeant Monti's selfless acts of heroism inspired his patrol to fight off the larger enemy force. Staff Sergeant Monti's immeasurable courage and uncommon valor are in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 3rd Squadron, 71st Calvary Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, and the United States Army.

Bill Richardson To Speak At POW/MIA Ceremony

New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson will be the guest speaker at Kirtland AFB's 2009 Prisoner of War/Missing in Action Recognition Ceremony at the New Mexico Veterans Memorial, Sept. 18 at 10 a.m.

Before the ceremony Airmen will participate in a 24 hour run and vigil at the Hardin Field parade ground on base.

You Are Not Forgotten by Scajax
magnets online by Zazzle

Colonel Michael Duvall Explains Laser Technology

Colonel Michael Duvall, Base Commander for the 377th Air Base Wing, Kirltand Air Force Base, explained how laser technology can be used to take out a missile while speaking at a Sept. 11 breakfast at the Embassy Suites Hotel. Duvall talked about the different divisions and agencies at the base to a crowd of military men and community members, while also remembering the 9/11 attacks.

In an economic impact statement distributed at the breakfast it states that KAFB expects a $59 million economic impact in the next two years from mission growth. Growth from the Air Force Nuclear Weapons center is expected to create an economic impact of $22 million. The money will go towards payroll and local job creation. Other areas expected to generate monies from mission growth are in the AFRL Battlespace Environment Division ($22 milllion), 377th Security Forces Squadron ($11 million), and the Air Force Inspection Agency ($4 million).

Duvall said the base plays an important role in developing and testing new techonlogies involving directed energy, space weather, satellites and spacecraft.

Kirtland coordinated with other agencies to help launch a new satellite, known as TacSat-3. Different payloads are being tested on the satellite including the Advanced Tactically Effective Military Imaging Spectrometer hyperspectral imager, built by Raytheon, Sattelite Communciations Package from the Office of Naval Research, and the Air Force Research Laboratory's Space Avionics Experiment.

According to Duvall the satellite will be able to detect the difference between fake grass and real grass, but it may not be effective against IEDs.

Agent Orange Linked to Parkinson's Disease

Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW):: "Agent Orange Linked to New Diseases

"In its recent review of medical research into the long-term effects of exposure to herbicides in Vietnam, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) concluded that there is a suggestive link between exposure to Agent Orange and Ischemic Heart Disease, Parkinson's Disease and certain rare cancers.
In the same review, the IOM affirmed its earlier conclusion that there is a significantly increased risk of developing hypertension in those who served in Vietnam.
The Veterans of Foreign Wars is calling on the VA to fully recognize these findings and award presumptive service connection for veterans suffering from these diseases who were exposed to Agent Orange.
In 2000, a similar study found a link between Agent Orange and Type II Diabetes. Those findings led the VA to recognize presumptive service connection for Vietnam veterans suffering from the disease.
“Based on this data, the VA should take swift action,” says Gerald Manar, Deputy Director, National Veterans Service. “The VFW is pushing for full recognition of conditions linked to Agent Orange exposure, along with proper medical care and timely compensation.”

It is far too late to provide timely compensation for those who have been exposed to Agent Orange.

Albuquerque Conference For Women Vets

Date/Time: Saturday September 12, 2009 (8am)
Location: Albuquerque Hilton Hotel

Cost for the event is $15. Pre-registration is strongly encouraged.

A representative from the NMDVS Education and State Approving Agency will discuss education opportunities and benefits—especially the new Post-9/11 G.I. Bill.
Job-training and apprenticeship programs and opportunities will be discussed and a representative from the NMDVS Veterans’ Business Resource Center will highlight benefits and services offered through the NMDVS Veterans’ Business Resource Center (VBRC).
Staff from the Raymond G. Murphy VA Medical Center in Albuquerque will also be there to talk more about available veterans’ medical benefits and services

For more information and registration, call Christin McKinley at (505) 459-0367.

No Need For High Unemployment Rate Among Vets

Veterans unemployment rate hits 11.3% - MarineCorpsTimes.com: "Veterans unemployment rate hits 11.3%"

By Rick Maze - Staff writer
Posted : Friday Sep 4, 2009 17:39:12 EDT

"The number of unemployed Iraq and Afghanistan veterans is now almost the same as the number of service members currently deployed in support of those two wars, according to new Labor Department numbers.
A key member of Veterans of Foreign Wars said the data indicates that the government needs to do more to help separating combat veterans find jobs and that veterans need to think about their options, including using the improved GI Bill to attend college while also getting a living stipend,.
Labor Department figures released Friday show the nation’s unemployment rate has now reached 9.7 percent — the highest in 23 years — and the rate among Iraq and Afghanistan veterans is 11.3 percent.
About 185,000 Iraq and Afghanistan veterans are out of work, just 9,000 fewer than the number currently deployed to those two areas, said Justin Brown of the VFW’s national legislative service."

Why isn't the federal government going to the men & women getting out of the service and offering them jobs? I would have signed up to do just about anything except another enlistment after getting out of the service. The feds could've sent me off to Timbucktoo for all I cared. I just wanted a civilian job. I was single, well trained, proved I could hold hold a job for four years, young, and ready to take on the world. Had I been snatched up by any number of federal agencies to go work in the civilian sector I would have been more than happy and I would've gone just about anywhere. It's crazy that the feds, as well as private companies, aren't waiting in line to get their hands on a fresh, strong, disciplined servicemen about to join the civilian sector. What a waste of good talent!

Now that I've been out for almost five years I'm a lot more picky about what I'll do. I refuse to be sent off to some war torn, dangerous location, and I'm sure not going to work 75 hours a week for minimal pay. I would have five years ago, but not now. So why aren't the public and private sector bustling to get their hands on these talented young men and women coming back from Iraq and Afghanistan? The article says because of the competetion, but there's more to it than that.

After getting out of the service and receiving my bachelor's degree I still couldn't find much work. So here I am struggling to get by with a huge student loan debt because the Montgomery GI Bill didn't pay nearly enough. I've decided to go for my masters because I'm confident the investment in my education will eventually pay off. I'll only quarlify for 12 months of the new GI Bill and will still be stuck with a stack of student loan debt without much help from the government. So here we are: a bunch of well trained, educated, disciplined, unemployed veterans who still aren't getting the help we need.

The solution?
HIRE A VET! States: GIVE VETS FREE EDUCATION! HELP PAY OFF VETERANS' STUDENT LOANS! MAKE HEALTHCARE A PRIORITY FOR RETURNING VETS AND THEIR FAMILIES! STOP SPENDING STIMULUS MONEY ON THE SAME OLD CONTRACTORS AND PASS IT ON TO THE VETS THAT DESERVE IT! RETRAIN VETERANS FOR FREE! OFFER TECHNICAL SCHOOL PROGRAMS THAT HIRE UPON COMPLETION!

One of the worst things a country can have is a bunch of highly trained killers running around without jobs: The U.S. is not Russia in 1991, but. . . Just read this and you'll get the picture:

Martin Heinrich on National Defense

On August 24 I sat down with New Mexico District 1 Rep. Martin Heinrich for a 30 minute interview where I asked questions about defense, drugs, healthcare and education. The following is a partial transcript of the recording from that interview. Look for the full transcript at http://www.theworldsword.com/.

SA: I want to start off with the war in Afghanistan. Currently a lot of the commanders are saying that we need to increase troop levels even more there. So I’m wondering what is your position on that? Do you want to see more troops or not?
MH: “I think in the long term I want to see us out of Afghanistan but I think we have a responsibility to leave there in a responsible way and to stabilize the situation in Afghanistan and to work with their government to get a handle on security before we depart. I’m very pleased to see the draw down in Iraq being on schedule and I think that will give us some flexibility to address some of the security issues in Afghanistan. So it’s not an ideal situation. We kind of let that whole mess fester for a number of years and I think it’s going to require some intensive attention, and my hope is that by giving that attention to it now it will actually shorten the time period to when we can bring all of our troops home from Afghanistan.”

SA: Do you have a number of troops in your mind that you think would be necessary to accomplish the mission in Afghanistan?
MH: “No. I’ve been in conversation with the leadership that comes and speaks in front of the House Armed Services Committee. I was briefed by Secretary Gates and Secretary Clinton before leaving on the August break and I think they’re utilizing an adaptive approach. As a civilian I’m not going to come up with a magic number that’s not based in reality. I think the key is giving it the kind of attention it should of had six years ago, eight years ago so that we can bring some stability, train the Afghans and enable them to provide their own security.

SA: Representative James McGovern introduced a Afghanistan exit strategy bill. Do you support this bill and why or why not?
MH: “I voted for a similar measure when we were going through the appropriations process and it simply said that we should have an exit strategy for Afghanistan. I think that in any conflict overseas that we’re involved in that we have to think about what are the goals? What does meeting those goals actually look like and then how do we get out afterwards? I think it’s a mistake to spend years not defining what victory looks like. So I think it’s very important to have an exit strategy whether you’re talking about east Africa in the 1990’s, or Iraq in the early 2000’s, or Afghanistan today. I think that’s a very important part of being able to not only bringing our troops home, but to accomplish a logical set of goals.”

SA: So you didn’t really answer if you would. . .
MH: “I would support the legislation, yeah. The provision that we voted on was fairly close to the legislation.”

SA: Can you kind of explain what your role is in the House Armed Services Committee and also what you do in terms of regulating defense spending?
MH: “In terms of defense spending we just passed an overhaul of procurement process and that was a long bipartisan effort trying to get costs down within the defense industry. We were able to get that out of committee with strong support on both sides of the aisle.”
“In terms of my role specifically on armed services there are a couple subcommittees I sit on. One is called Readiness, and one of the things it does is it creates the military construction list of priority projects. So, for example, we were able to see $5.8 million in funding secured for the space development test wing here at Kirtland through my efforts on that committee. Kirtland is beginning to be a real focus for cutting edge space technology and activities - everything from space weather and the new facilities going in out there to . . . I’ll call it the weather that impacts our satellites and things like that to Operationally Responsive Space, which is about creating satellites cheaper, faster.”
“I would say that if you ever heard the story about how we spent a lot of time and effort and a lot of money trying to develop a pen that would write in zero gravity space and the Russians just used pencils. That’s kind of what ORS is about. It’s about rather than having these hugely expensive, incredible satellites that can do 100 things perfectly, sometimes it’s more responsive to the needs we have to do 80 percent of that really well and have something that costs a tenth as much. So there’s some really exciting stuff going on at Kirtland as a result.”
“The other committee that I sit on is called the Strategic Forces Committee. It deals largely with policies surrounding spacecraft, satellites, strategic weapons systems ranging from the nuclear deterrent to missile defense. It deals directly with the Department of Energy and NNSA activities that go on at Sandia National Labs. So it’s a good place for me to be in working with Sandia and what’s important for New Mexico in terms of jobs to be on that Strategic Forces Subcommittee.”

SA: So were you essential in getting some of this funding for, I guess Kirtland just recently tested a TACSAT-3 and their calibrating that right now?
MH: “Yes, that’s part of the ORS program.”

Heinrich explained how he helped to get a new mission for the Air National Guard’s 150th Fighter Wing at Kirtland Air Force Base:
MH: “Without being on armed services it would have been very difficult to do that work. We were able to get language in both the defense authorization bill and the defense appropriations bill to tell the Air Force that before they retire this wing they have to come up with the next mission and figure out a transition plan. That’s important work that we could not have done - it would have been very difficult to do that not being on one of the committees of jurisdiction.”

SA: Do you think spending on weapons procurement is beneficial to national security or does it add fuel to the fire of the international arms race?

MH: “I think it depends on how you administer those dollars. I don’t want to spend money just to spend money. I want to spend money to secure our national defense. We need to do a more effective job of making sure those dollars are spent as effectively as possible. We see the importance of this if you look at the conflict in Iraq. It took us a number of years to get vehicles that were safe for our soldiers and our Marines in Iraq. Today we have the MRAPs that are fantastic because they survive IED explosions and they effectively protect our troops. The vehicles that we were sending our soldiers and Marines out with six years ago in my opinion were not a good use of the dollar because they weren’t designed to protect those men and women, or they weren’t effective at protecting them. It’s not just about the dollar amounts it’s about spending those dollars wisely and making sure we get the outcome that we want.”

Desert Dream

Sitting by the highway in this burning sun.
In this desert heat.
This never ending sand that whips across our faces.
Loneliness concocts daydreams of other places.
Staring out into the waste, it’s hard times and survival from food so tasteless.
Give me water. Liquid for my soul.
Give me hope. Lift me from this hole.
Take away these ants & flies. The mosquitoes, these lives.
These people so willing to die.
Just another job. A task to be done.
Draining my strength. I no longer feel young.
We must secure these roads, the paths people travel.
All of us being branded & herded like cattle.
This language of babble.
But it connects us, let’s us talk and reminisce.
Speak of the loved ones and the families we miss. Tell of the things for which we all wish.
The days seem never ending. The night is dark and dangerous.
Isn’t there a way to rearrange this? To change this?
To make it better for all of mankind? Shorten up the time.
What has to be, that’s all, that’s just life.
I guess that’s just fine.
Some people complain, bitch and whine.
What’s yours is yours is, and what’s mine is mine.
Let me be until I get away from right here.
Tomorrow will come shortly after the sun sets.
So God please guard me from fear.
Let me live. Let us all, so we can go home.
So I can read my mom this poem.
So these bullets and bombs will leave me alone.

For more poetry visit: http://www.lulu.com/content/paperback-book/technipoems/3874655