If you do not know, I am a member of the Naval Reserve Officer Training Program at Penn State. Most people know that this means I wear a uniform once in a while and get up early in the morning to work out and that is about it.
Really what I am doing is I am being trained and prepared to lead men and women as an officer in the United State Navy. I will commission as an officer upon graduation from Penn State and immediately enter military service. Before I get to that point, the Department of Defense wants me to be trained and prepared so that I can come in as a trained asset, not an ignorant ensign (pronounced en-suh n). Ensign is the lowest officer rank, it is where I will start my military career from. My training consists of Physical Training (PT) which is mandatory as a battalion, accompanied with academic and leadership training. Each semester I must take a Naval Science class, ranging from Naval Engineering to Navigation. I also take two Leadership and Management courses that give me the academic knowledge and understanding to lead men and women.
Knowledge only becomes expertise when it is coupled with experience. The NROTC unit does a significant number of volunteering events and allows midshipmen (the term for those of us who are in ROTC or attending the Naval Academy) to lead and earn service experience. The Unit also consists of many different leadership roles as we have a structured leadership mirroring what we would see in service. Midshipmen are appointed over groups of other midshipman to take charge and lead them and keep them informed. There are specific jobs available for 1st class midshipmen (seniors) such as Operations Officer or Supply Officer with corresponding Officer Assistant positions for 2nd class midshipmen (juniors). These opportunities allow us to get real experience in what it is like to lead others and deal with the benefits and consequences that come with it.
This training will eventually culminate in me earning my commission as an officer in the US Navy and then getting sent to one of three different communities: submarines, surface warfare (ships), and aviation (marines also are commission through NROTC but they are on a specific route unlike my own and I would have to switch over to be a marine). I hope to get selected for aviation, this would happen if I have good scores on the ASTB (Aviation Selection Test Battery) which is a written exam, along with a high class standing to improve my chances of being selected as there are limited spots available. If I am selected then I will head down to Pensacola, Florida to attend Flight School. Here I would learn the basics of flying as well and possibly advanced training. After about a year I would be shipped off to my first squadron.
My hopes are to fly the V-22 Osprey for the Navy, whether I am selected for that depends greatly upon my own hard work and success as well as the needs of the Navy at that point in time. Either way, upon graduation I will be out serving the United States of America and I will proudly be doing so.
I recently created a post on the use of chemical weapons in Syria and how it is possible that those atrocities are still occurring and President Bashar al-Assad, the primary user of these chemical weapons, is still holding power. There have been numerous threats from President Trump on how to retaliate to these attacks by the Syrian government on its own people. President Trump issued the statement that “Nothing is off the table” in regard to his response to Syria and their Russian allies who had stated that there would be no more chemical attacks in Syria by Assad.
There is speculation that these recent chemical attacks have come in the wake of President Trump stating his intentions to pull US forces out of Syria. With the prospect of an imminent US departure, President Assad may have taken the opportunity to once again issue a chemical attack on rebels, breaking international law in the process, because he believed there would be little response from foreign nations for committing such atrocities.
Is the US going to take action against Syria or Russia? Well, the US military and civilian leadership are currently waiting for reports from troops intelligence operators in the field to determine if the Syrian government and Russia are to be held responsible for this most recent attack. While in the past ISIS has used chemical weapons, they were the culprits for only one of the numerous uses of chemical weapons in Syria, with the Assad regime being convicted of the remaining. The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) has carried out investigations in Syria on past chemical attacks but have not stated when they will begin their investigation on the most recent attack. With the OPCW bot investigating currently and the US government feeling the necessity of a strong response to the use, the job has fallen on military intelligence to determine if it was Russian or Syrian aircraft who dropped chemical bombs on the rebel-controlled village of Douma.
What happens if the US figures out the attacks were from Russia or the Syrian government, what will their response be? Well, that is where the trouble comes. We are essentially in another Cold War with Russia and while people won’t say that for fear of causing panic and hysteria, that is what is happening. Russian soldiers or mercenaries have been killed in US ariel strikes but predominantly the fighting is between Syrian factions backed by the US or Russia. After the last chemical attack, the US launched missiles at a Syrian airbase and destroyed equipment and killed some Syrian soldiers. The US might pursue similar action but the Russians have threatened to shoot down US missiles or aircraft that attacks. We find ourselves on the verge of another war, probably not nuclear, but a shooting war nonetheless. Will US troops be deployed to Syria? Probably not as there is mass chaos and there would be significant loss of American life. Will the US increase bombing raids and artillery strikes? Possibly, they have done this before. We hope for a peaceful ending to this scenario or at least diplomatic communications as opposed to firing missiles but either are possible at this point in time.
What is happening in Yemen? Long story short–utter chaos.
To start off, Yemen is a small country in West Asia, at the southern end of the Arabian Peninsula. Yemen is in a critical geographic position as it borders the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea where large amounts of oil are transported through. Yemen is the poorest country in the Middle East and has been dealing with large amounts of internal unrest.
Let’s go to the beginning of this current issue. In 2011, an Arab Spring in Yemen led to authoritarian president Ali Abdullah Saleh to hand over his power to his deputy Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi. This was by no means an easy transition. The new president had a lot of issues to deal with, ranging from unemployment to government corruption to the rise of Al-Qaeda attacks and presence in Yemen. Then in 2014, the Houthi movement, which is a small Shia Muslim minority movement, took over the capital of Yemen, Sanaa. They were able to accomplish this by working with Yemenis who were upset with the current government and the loyalists of Mr. Saleh’s government. After this success, they began to attempt to take over the country. The belief at the time, and still currently, is that this group was supported by the Shia Islamic state of Iran.
There is a great divide between Shiite and Sunni Muslim people and countries. The two greatest adversaries in the Middle East are Iran (Shia) and Saudi Arabia (Sunni). Yemen, being on the border of Saudia Arabia, became an increasing threat to the safety of the Saudi people. Saudi Arabia, out of fear of increasing violence and increasing Shia influence, formed a coalition of other Arab States to fight these rebels. The conflict is now between the Houthi and Saleh forces versus the pro-government Hadi forces and Southern Separatists. Saudia Arabia and its coalition launch air raids and other attacks against the Houthi and Saleh forces.
This map depicts the current power split throughout the country. If you look at the map you will notice the gray sections. These areas are controlled by Al-Qaeda’s militants in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) and by affiliates of the Islamic State (IS). This has caused increased concern in the US and Saudi Arabia. In December, former President Saleh attempted to make a deal with the Saudi led coalition. Before this could happen, he was killed by rebels. In the chaos, IS has doubled its size in country and is becoming an increasing part of international terrorism. This has led to increased US operations within Yemen. The US has launched numerous airstrikes in Yemen and American soldiers are on the ground taking action against Al-Qaeda and IS. The controversy comes as civilian casualties have been attributed to these strikes. Recent government policy has increased the ability of combatant commanders to take offensive action that they deem correct for the situation. There is currently a bill attempting to be passed to remove all US forces from Yemen. Only time will tell at this point what the outcome of this bill will be.
Being of a younger generation, and not having military connections it would be understandable not to know about the VA, that is the Department of Veterans Affairs. The department somehow manages to never be talked about despite being the second largest government agency and training 70% doctors and the majority of nurses in the US. The VA’s roles include providing health care services — a very broad scope of services — and benefit programs as well as access to national cemeteries.
While the the VA is supposed to provide support and to veterans and their families, it has been plagued with controversy, inefficiency, and general lack of support over the years. Those of us who are in the military community release an annoyed sigh whenever the VA is mentioned. President Trump promised to improve healthcare for veterans in his presidential campaign. In June of last year, a law was passed to raise the accountability of employees in the VA and speed up disciplinary actions. While this may be a good step in the right direction, it is not the be-all end-all. There is a myriad of other reforms and advancements that need to occur in the VA for the agency to really be able to support veterans.
While those in military service get a lot of lip service for their sacrifice, little is put into action to support them. The documentary VA: The Human Cost of War details the history of the VA and depicts many of the struggles and controversies of the department. The film is intended to raise awareness for the struggle of veterans and lack of support for them. One of the greatest struggles of veterans plays directly into the Opioid Epidemic. Many veterans suffer from PTSD or disabilities after returning home. Others get out of service and cannot find work. This leads to many veterans ending up homeless and turning to alcohol or drugs for comfort. The lack of assistance from the government is glaringly obvious and leading to many servicemen and woman suffering. Hopefully we will see lawmakers begin to make changes and really support those who sacrifice so much for our country.
Below are some of the controversies that have rattled the VA:
Avoiding Diagnoses
In 2008, a senior psychologist in the VA argued that the agency should avoid from diagnosing combat veterans with PTSD. If you wish to know more about PTSD I have a previous post about it, but in short it is a mental disorder that is caused from excessive stress and trauma, of which combat areas often contain large quantities. The psychologist suggested this reduction in diagnoses to reduce the amount of disability payments the VA would have to dole out. Ignoring the severity of the issue, he instead suggested that staff diagnose an adjustment disorder, which did not provide veterans with any sort of payment. This psychologist was shunned by leadership and they refuted his emails as not reflecting VA policy. The VA then released documentation showing a 50% jump in diagnoses of PTSD among current or previous service members. This number is believed to be lower than the actual number of people who are suffering because PTSD has a large stigma in the military, you are encouraged to keep quiet about it.
VA Not Reporting Cancer Cases
The VA suddenly decided to no longer release information and data relating to cancer cases among veterans. While the VA supported its decision by stating that they were supporting patient privacy, many in the veteran community are skeptical. This has had the effect of skewing military records as well as cancer trends throughout the US.
Problems in Hospitals
In January 2008, the Chicago Tribune reported that poor medical care at the Marion VA Medical Center left nine patients dead and 34 others seriously injured during a two-year period. According to an investigation by the VA’s Inspector General, ten of the 34 injured patients later died. Links to the treatment from the medical center were not established as cause of death. A report released in 2006 detailed numerous other issues found in care centers across the nation, ranging from failures to keep accountability of pharmacy drugs to poor sanitation to lack of real mental health care.
As I work on my path of becoming a naval officer myself, I feel the need to talk about my greatest influence upon this path. My father, Captain James Lee Vandiver, was a naval aviator and is my greatest role model. Below is his bio of what he has done. A Colorado native, Captain James “Kermit” Vandiver grew up in Durango, Colorado. A 1985 graduate of the United States Naval Academy, he was designated a Pilot in November 1986. Following completion of SH-2F training with HSL-31 at NAS North Island, California, his initial Fleet assignment was with the HSL-35 “Magicians,” from July 1987 through June 1990, where he deployed in USS COPELAND (FFG 25) and USS LOCKWOOD (FF 1064) to the Western Pacific/Arabian Gulf in support of Operation Earnest Will. He subsequently was assigned to Naval Postgraduate School where he completed his masters degree in Aeronautical Engineering, graduating with distinction in September 1992.
In October 1992, Captain Vandiver reported to HSL-41 for transition to the SH-60B “Seahawk” helicopter with a follow on tour in HSL-49 where he served as assistant Safety Officer/Aviation Safety Officer and deployed in USS VINCENNES (CG 49) as assistance officer-in-charge, operating in the Sea of Japan and Yellow Sea.
From February 1995 to December 1995, Captain Vandiver was the Training Officer on the staff of Commander, Helicopter Light Wing Pacific before joining HSL-37 in Barbers Point, Hawaii from January 1996 to November 1998. Captain Vandiver was assigned as officer-in-charge of Detachment Nine, where he completed a deployment to the Western Pacific/Arabian Gulf in USS LAKE ERIE (CG 70). On his return, he assumed duties as the squadron Operations Officer.
Captain Vandiver was selected to be the Aide to the Deputy Commander-in-Chief U.S. Space Command, Colorado Springs, Colorado, from December 1998 to November 2000. While there, he was selected for aviation command and was assigned to VT-27, Corpus Christi, Texas as Executive Officer and was Commanding Officer from August 2002 to November 2003. He then reported to the Naval War College where he graduated in March 2005.
Following War College, Captain Vandiver was assigned to the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Director of Surface Warfare (N86) in Washington D.C. from April 2005 to June 2008. He served as Maritime Warfare Systems/Surface Strike Branch Head.
He was assigned to Training Air Wing FIVE as Deputy Commander in September 2008. He assumed his duties as the Commodore of Training Air Wing FIVE from March 2010 until September 2011. Captain Vandiver served as Commanding Officer of Naval Aviation Schools Command from September 2011 until October 2014. As CO of Naval Aviation Schools Command and Commodore, Captain Vandiver helped train the forces of our allies. High-ranking members of the Italian Navy, as well as the Royal Saudi Naval Forces, have met with him as they discussed and oversaw training of their forces.
Captain Vandiver retired from naval service after a very successful 30 year career. He is very happily married to the former Jody Winje of San Diego, CA.
On Wednesday, 7 February 2018, 500 enemy combatants assaulted an established headquarters of the Syrian Democratic Forces where US advisers were meeting with these US-backed opposition forces. This attack consisted of artillery fire, tank rounds, and small arms fire. US forces launched coordinated airstrikes in retaliation against Syrian troops backed by the Assad-regime. These airstrikes were supported by small ground action. No US or coalitions troops were wounded or killed in the assault or counter-attack, but one SDF soldier was wounded. The US’s retaliation killed an estimated 100 of the attackers, disengaging after the remaining attackers fled.
This is a very rare event for the US to strike against the Syrian government forces. While not allies, the SDF and their coalition and Pro-Assad government forces have been fighting to accomplish the same goal of driving out ISIS forces. Now that these enemy forces are dwindling and being driven back, the conflicting goals of the SDF and pro-government troops are becoming more apparent. Syria is currently divided up by four different groups: The remnants of ISIS, Syrian government forces, Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), and Syrian rebel forces. This has lead to increased tension in the country as each group is wrestling for control. ISIS has mostly been driven out from Syria but small contingents still exist. This is one of the US’s main reasons for keeping troops posted in Syria, supporting the SDF. The US government believes that the area needs to be fully secured and have ISIS expunged before US forces are brought home. It is believed by the current administration that the premature departure from Iraq in 2011 allowed Al-Qaeda to congregate and eventually develop into ISIS which expanded and reeked havoc within the Middle East.
The second reason for the US to remain in Syria and support the SDF is to help foster an end to the Syrian Civil War. President Bashar al-Assad still remains in power in Syria and is attempting to regain control of the country as a whole. The revolution initially sparked because of the egregious human rights violations by President Assad against his own people. At this point in time over 13.5 million Syrians require humanitarian assistance, 11 million have been displaced internally and externally, and 400,000 have died in the conflict. The US hopes to bring about a resolution to this conflict and end the suffering in the country. They have five primary goals:
To completely remove the ISIS threat to a point where they no longer present a threat.
To have the conflict resolved through a UN-led process, and “a stable, unified, independent Syria, under post-Assad leadership, is functioning as a state”
To have the Iranian influence in Syria is removed to make it more secure for Syria’s neighbors
To have conditions created so displaced people can begin to return to their homes
To have a Syria that is free of weapons of mass destruction
From how the US government is currently handling the situation, I believe we are not looking at another Afghanistan situation. The US only has 2,000 troops in Syria and they are providing support and advisory roles to the SDF, not leading the fight themselves. This is not a retaliatory occupation but a peacemaking response to keep the Assad government forces from further killing its citizens with mass shootings and weapons of mass destruction. Tensions will continue to mount as US-backed SDF forces clash with Russian-backed government forces and Turkish government forces. Hopefully the UN will be able to step in and help instill peace in the region but the road ahead won’t be easy.
Whether you are a football fan or not, you have undoubtedly heard of the Super Bowl. It is one of the largest sports events in the US, millions tune in to watch from their homes. With so many viewers, clearly, this is an apt platform for getting out your advertisement to show to essentially a third of the US population. The advertising revenue from Super Bowl LI, last year’s Super Bowl, neared 400 million US dollars.
While a stellar platform for advertising products, it is also ideal for spreading powerful messages that extend to much more than just football and beer. In 2015, at the 49th Super Bowl, a commercial was aired supporting the NO MORE movement. This campaign was about raising awareness of domestic abuse and helping people understand the signals of an abusive relationship as well as letting those suffering know that there is help for them.
The NFL is willing to support and play commercials to help send a message and raise awareness for issues in our country such as domestic abuse. As I’m talking about all this your mind is probably jumping to the most recent message that has been spread from the NFL, the Black Lives Matter movement. Professional football players, such as former 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick, have sat down during the National Anthem to protest the racial inequality in the US as well as police brutality. These protests have received highly mixed reactions, but the movement gained significant traction in 2017 after instigating comments by President Trump were made. These comments insulted players who didn’t stand for the National Anthem and called for their team owners to fire them.
Now, what does all of this have to do with the military you might be asking. Well, quite a lot actually. One of the key issues people have with players sitting during the National Anthem is that they are disrespecting those who serve the country, for example, the military. Lots of hate has been thrown at this act by the players because of how they are disrespecting the nation and those who protect them and allow them the opportunity to protest like this. For the most part, however, this hate is not coming from members of the military. While many disagree with them sitting down, we recognize that this is their right to do so. When you join the military you take an oath to support and defend the constitution against all enemies foreign and domestic. Being the child of a military family and on the way to joining myself, I am especially aware of the hate I may receive for what I do. But we swore to a duty and the constitution allows for free speech so those serving will take the hate from others because they have a greater realization of what they are fighting for.
Now when I say that members of the military disagree with sports players sitting during the National Anthem that doesn’t at all mean that they don’t think police brutality happens and that the Black Lives Matter movement is stirring up unrest. I personally agree that the nation is messed up right now and that people are being killed by racist cops. These people need to be tried and convicted of their crimes and that just isn’t happening a change needs to be made! I think it is good that popular figures such as NFL players are standing up for this. Other military members are in the same boat as I, such as Nate Boyer. He is a former Army Green Beret, who was drafted as a free agent to the Seattle Seahawks. He had a problem with people sitting for the National Anthem, but he didn’t yell or scream at them, instead, he offered another option. He met with Colin Kaepernick to discuss and came to a compromise. He offered the suggestion that instead of sitting down, Kaepernick kneels instead. Here is what Boyer says “Soldiers take a knee in front of a fallen brother’s grave, you know, to show respect. When we’re on a patrol….we go into a security halt, we take a knee, and we pull security.” While Boyer himself stands at attention to the National Anthem, instead of completely disrespecting the anthem, Kaepernick kneels like a soldier would for a lost comrade, he is kneeling for those who have been victims to police brutality in the US.
A similar case to this is that of Alejandro Villanueva and the Pittsburgh Steelers. Villanueva is a former Army Ranger, and a recipient of a Bronze Star. In September of 2017, before a game against the Chicago Bears, Villanueva was seen standing alone at the entrance tunnel to the field, hand over his heart, as the National Anthem played. The controversy arose from the fact that the Steelers had not come onto the field for the anthem in order to avoid being caught up in the issue of kneeling. While this seemed like an act of defiance, that Villanueva was singling out his team for not standing, he was just trying to find a middle ground. He commented “It wasn’t me stepping forward. I never planned to boycott the plan that the Steelers came up with. I just thought there would be some middle ground where I could stand in the tunnel, nobody would see me.” As a soldier he felt that he needed to respect our country and our National Anthem, unintentionally throwing his teammates under the bus. While people may have made this out to be an act of defiance that is not at all what it is. He was merely fulfilling his duty and calling to the country.
There is lots of tension and seething comments being thrown in this controversy. Should the players and coaches stand or should they kneel? I personally think they yes they should make a public statement about the wrongs that are occurring but they shouldn’t disrespect the nation and the military that protects them. I don’t believe at all that this is their intention, however. I believe a huge miscommunication is going on. Players are kneeling because of police brutality while fans and others are angry that they’re kneeling not because they disagree that police brutality is occurring but because they are disrespecting the country. There are lots of emotion that are occurring and I think thus clouding the judgment of those involved. We need to address the issues of racial violence and police brutality. No matter what your ethnicity is, we are Americans and our brothers and sisters are being murdered in the streets without any justice. The military and the Black Live Matter movement are not opposing forces, they should be working together. Both groups are working to protect the people of our nation and yes both groups mess up and do things they shouldn’t, but in general, we should be helping each other to make changes and ensure each others’ security. Don’t be fooled by those who seek to divide us, our goals are not mutually exclusive. If we can come together for honest conversation we can help each other. The military has already played a small role in helping but we all need to put forth the effort to help change what is going on in our nation. We are a nation united and need to never forget that, we are all brothers and sisters under the American flag.
Thus, it is no surprise that so many people are suffering. We live in a world where people are constantly the victim to violent crimes both physical and emotional. While some can fully recover from the physical injuries, it is the emotional and mental ones that can last the longest. Unfortunately, there is a stigma towards mental illnesses that leads people to underestimate the severity of it and treat it differently from a physical injury when it can be just as if not more debilitating. The most common of these is PTSD or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
PTSD can be developed in anyone who lives through a dangerous and traumatic event. The flight or fright responses in their brain become damaged and this results in the individual feeling that they are in life threatening danger in a situation that is quite the opposite. Anyone can develop this anxiety disorder but most commonly it is found in soldiers, specifically those on the front lines in the thickest action.
PTSD was actually seen earliest in its common form in WWI, although its symptoms in veterans can be traced back to the American Revolutionary War and Franco-Prussian. WWI was one of the bloodiest wars with old tactics meeting new technology. The development of artillery led to mass killings or soldiers and had adverse affects on those who survived. Some symptoms of present-day PTSD were known as “shell shock” because they were seen as a reaction to the explosion of artillery shells. The treatment for this was generally giving a few days rest to the soldiers affected then sending them back out to battle. No real advancements were made and by the time of WWII there was a new name but no new treatment for the individuals affected.
During WWII the name for changed from “shell shock” to Combat Stress Reaction, more commonly known as “battle fatigue” due to soldiers becoming weary and exhausted after long periods of being in war zones. Unfortunately some generals and others didn’t believe that “battle fatigue” was really a thing and were less than supportive. Around half the military discharges during WWII were of people suffering from CSR. After the war there still was no treatment for those suffering.
While some research was made in 1952 there was still no real links established to PTSD until 1980 when the American Psychiatric Association added PTSD to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Third Edition. Links between the trauma of war and post-military civilian life were established with significant research conducted on those returning from the Vietnam war and survivors of the Holocaust.
Today PTSD is in a new category of Trauma- and Stressor-Related Disorders and has been established to be common among not just military veterans but the average American as well. A report stated that 4 out of every 100 male and 10 out of every 100 female Americans will be diagnosed with PTSD in their lifetimes. Finally we are seeing real treatment in progress to help those who are suffering and to raise awareness. While there is still a stigma for mental illnesses, PTSD is in the forefront of changing that stigma and bringing awareness. In movies like American Sniper or in the soon to be released Thank You For Your Service. These movies bring to light the truly devastating effects PTSD can have on a person and how often it leads to alcoholism, violence, and death. I encourage you to watch these movies and witness how tragically PTSD affects veterans to gain a new understanding for what they deal with. If you feel so inclined I also ask that you consider running in the Freedom 5K as the money will be donated for PTSD victims.
PTSD is truly a horrible thing and I hope none of us have to face it, but the reality is it affects people around us. We need to be aware so we can care for those people and support them. Mental illnesses deserve to be treated with the same seriousness as physical illnesses or injuries. Lets change the stigma and join together to support those who are hurting.
The Commanding Officer of my NROTC unit once told me during a brief that the military is a microcosm of society. Trends that affect society often can be seen first in the military and they are often the first to implement new policies. The particular focus of this blog is the role of African-Americans, women, gays, and now transgenders in the military.
The US has not always been a very inclusive place, we don’t have to look back very far to see the unfair treatment of African Americans and women. They were severely limited in what they were allowed to do and what rights they had. Many would believe the military as being a large proponent for the lack of social change as it is generally seen as a conservative organization. However, throughout history the US military has been ahead in social changes as compared to the rest of society.
Looking back to the American Revolutionary War we can see blacks serving along whites together fighting for the same cause. Many, who were freemen, enlisted to fight for the anti-British cause. These soldiers weren’t segregated and fought alongside white American Patriots. These men were involved in influential battles such as Lexington and Concord. At one point a 5th of the Northern Army was African-American. While African-Americans didn’t again serve directly alongside white Americans until after WWII, this was a good initial start. Following WWII, it became more apparent what the issues on the home front were. In 1954, the case Brown vs. Board of Education was ruled and it stated it was unconstitutional for public spaces to be segregated. This was a huge win for the Civil Rights Movement and people should realize this. However, by that time the military was already desegregated at that point in time, and had been for 6 years at that point. The US military was clearly ahead of the curve and already setting an example.
The case is similar for women’s rights. While it was generally viewed as better for women to stay at home, many got involved in the war. Going back to the American Revolution we can again see women serving as cooks and nurses in the military. This role has continually been available to women and it to this day. During WWII, women were called to do more industrial and mechanical work to help support the men who were out fighting in war. Yes this was still a supporting role and not direct combat, but this was distinctly against the stigma for women at the time. While most retained the view that women should stay at home and be caretakers of children and the household, the military was establishing a permanent status for women in the military, granting it in 1948.
scan from 4 x 5 file transparency
Following this, women served as nurses and doctors in combat zones in Korea and Vietnam. In 1978 women were allowed to fill other non-combat roles, finally culminating in 1991 with the allowance for women to serve in combat roles. While this was long overdue and may seem like it followed significantly later than other women’s’ rights movements, it was actually quite ahead of it’s time.
Currently we still have issues with discrimination in the work place and women not receiving equal pay. Yet nearly 30 years ago, women were allowed to take the same positions and earn the same pay in the military as men. The military has dealt with the issue and solved it and moved on while the rest of the world still struggles. There are over 200,000 serving active duty in the military with 69 of them being high ranking generals or admirals. More and more women are joining the military and achieving commission as officers, giving them the responsibility and privilege to lead both men and women into combat.
On December 21, 1993, Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell (DADT) became the official policy of the US military in regard to service by gays, bisexuals, and lesbians. While this may seem like an aggressive push back on this community to not talk about their sexuality, it is actually ensuring equality within the military. It bolsters the ideology that all people are equal and that you won’t get any special treatment, negative or positive, if you are straight or gay. Meanwhile this group was and is still fighting for equal rights and only just recently achieved the ability to legally marry same-sex partners. Even with these rights achieved many people are hateful towards this community. The military on the other hand is completely accepting of all members as long as they can meet the intellectual and physical standards that are universally applied.
Now we come to the hot topic of today: Donald Trump
No surprise really, Donald Trump seems to be all that the media is focusing on these days. We however are focusing on a specific tweet he posted and his actions following it.President Trump announced he was banning transgenders from serving in the military. While a tweet doesn’t have much weight to it, shortly after Trump signed a memo banning transgender people from enlisting and joining up. He provides a financial reason for why this ban is being implemented. This is a debatable reason as some might see these surgeries as a waste of government money as these people should pay for their own surgeries as the surgery isn’t correcting an injury or improving physical abilities. Others see this as something healthcare should cover. Whatever your opinion, the facts are that there is a ban now. The remainder of the trans soldiers will be dealt with case by case. This is where they for sure did something right. These service members will be allowed to stay in the military and only be kicked out if they cannot meet the qualifications that all other soldier deal with. They aren’t being picked on but if they fail, just like any other soldier, they will be kicked out. None of this has actually been implemented yet so there is always plenty of room for error and for this to be executed poorly.
In short, we don’t really know what is going to happen with thus issue yet. The generals have until February to come up a plan to implement this decision. Will the military prove yet again to be ahead of the curve and an example of the course society will take? We will just have to wait and see…
Many of you know about hurricane Irma that tore through the Gulf of Mexico and devastated Cuba and Florida. This hits very close to home for me because my family and many friends live down in Florida. I’ve seen the boxes out in the commons for donations for aid for the victims of the storm. While Irma was a destructive hurricane, Florida got lucky and the worst possible scenarios didn’t occur, yet still a lot of attention is being given to the areas affected. What I have noticed is that nearly no one is talking about hurricane Maria which followed closely behind and devastated Puerto Rico. This storm completely covered the island as it traveled straight through it. This completely destroyed the island, wiping out large portions of infrastructure and claiming the lives of many. Puerto Rico clearly needs disaster relief and aid, but if we don’t have boxes set out to donate and aren’t hearing or talking about it, then how are the getting help? The answer: the US military. The US military is conducting a huge HADR operation (Humanitarian Aid/Disaster Relief) in the area to help those affected by the storm. Here is the run down of what is going on and the struggles and actions of the operation thus far.
In short, the island of Puerto Rico has been nearly wiped out. The entire island is currently without electricity and over half the island lacks access to drinking water and food. As of now now much is known about the extent of the damage down as there is no telephone signal to almost the entirety of the island and people are still working on getting in to help. Maria was a category 4 hurricane and it covered the entire island, directly hitting major population centers, and travelling slowly which means lots of rain. We can thus assume the damage is very bad as this is comparable to a tornado covering an entire island….plus high rainfall resulting in massive flooding.
Currently, over 11,000 Department of Defense personnel (which includes the military) are working to aid relief efforts in Puerto Rico. A huge portion of the relief is in the form of rebuilding and repairing infrastructure such as roads an damns and getting electricity and water systems back up and running throughout the country. The Army Corps of Engineers is hard at work in an attempt to reestablish access to basic needs. They are working hand in hand with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) which is in charge of stockpiling aid for emergencies such as hurricane strikes. While these personnel are busy trying to rebuild, the Navy has brought in the hospital ship USNS Comfort to give medical attention to those in need.
While the ship has a capacity for around 1,000 patients, there is a whole island that needs attention. A report was formed to establish the needs of each region of Puerto Rico so USNS Comfort can make the most logical and efficient path around the island.
Many have criticized the US’s response to this catastrophe, stating that it is taking too long and the response was delayed. The complaints were heatedly thrown at the President’s face by the governor of Puerto Rico. The US has been dealing with three different devastating hurricanes in a short amount of time and has been trying to deal directly with each one instead of spreading out resources too thinly. The extent of the damage to Puerto Rico has become more clear with time so what is the US’s plan for a speedy recovery? Army Lt. Gen. Jeffrey S. Buchanan stated that his goal is to get the Army reserve and National Guard of the island functioning and playing a major role in the mission as they know the communities and the language and have invaluable first hand knowledge of the area. The US plans to bring in more ships and fly in more food and supplies are airports and sea ports are reopened allowing better access to the mainland. As more troops arrive, operations will expand to the eastern side of the island, establishing hospitals there and finally moving south. This is also the predicted route of the USNS Comfort.
We still do not know the full extent of the damage done but as it becomes more clear, the US response will shift to meet the needs of the situation. This has been a rough season for the Gulf and Caribbean and the US is trying to recover as quickly as possible.
. Each semester I must take a Naval Science class, ranging from Naval Engineering to Navigation. I also take two Leadership and Management courses that give me the academic knowledge and understanding to lead men and women.
then getting sent to one of three different communities: submarines, surface warfare (ships), and aviation (marines also are commission through NROTC but they are on a specific route unlike my own and I would have to switch over to be a marine). I hope to get selected for aviation, this would happen if I have good scores on the ASTB (Aviation Selection Test Battery) which is a written exam, along with a high class standing to improve my chances of being selected as there are limited spots available. If I am selected then I will head down to Pensacola, Florida to attend Flight School. Here I would learn the basics of flying as well and possibly advanced training. After about a year I would be shipped off to my first squadron.
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