The New York Times chronicles the daily life of Soldiers of the 87th Infantry, with particular attention to what most Soldiers spend their time doing:
One moment, their sergeants are barking at them to stay ready, eyes focused, rifles loaded, protective gear at hand. In the next, the soldiers are searching for amusement, killing time with the skill of people who have had plenty of practice. Read more
Secretary of Defense Robert Gates issued his annual holiday message this past week. As is often tradition when mentioning the military and this “holiday season,” he cited George Washington’s Christmas crossing of the Delaware in 1776:
On Christmas Night, December 25, 1776, General George Washington and his band of 2,400 men crossed the icy Delaware River, won victories against British and German troops, and stirred new hope into the struggle for freedom and liberty… Read more
As previously noted, the Air Force isn’t the only service with lethal technological toys.
The Army has reportedly fielded the XM25 in Afghanistan. The rifle-sized “Counter Defilade Target Engagement System” enables a Soldier to fire a projectile that will explode at a specific point in space; in short, he can kill the enemy hiding behind a wall.
With reports of increasing airstrikes and tanks being moved into Afghanistan, the XM25 may be another indicator of the military’s attempts to prevent a “fair” fight with its adversaries.
As noted several months ago, the Air Force has decided to reduce the size of its Chaplaincy. It has apparently transitioned from voluntary separations to forced departures:
Chaplains of all denominations will be involuntarily separated through a selective early retirement board and reduction-in-force process. Roman Catholic priests, in shortest supply across the military, are eligible to leave only through early retirement.
The Air Force reportedly has 528 Chaplains today, and could see as few as 465 by September 2011.
Media articles and reports continue to highlight the common misunderstanding about the policies, rules, and perspectives about homosexuality in the military.
For example, in discussing the history of homosexual policy in the military, an Associated Press report recently said
In the end, Congress agreed to let gays serve only if their sexual orientation remained secret.
While it is a common belief, the statement is flatly wrong.
The law Congress passed banned homosexuals from military service without qualification. The “secret” part, more commonly known as “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” was the Read more
In the other case on DADT, former flight nurse Maj Margaret Witt, who was discharged under DADT, has claimed she can return to service while her case is appealed. The DoJ is appealing the ruling in her favor, but did not request a stay on the ruling while it is appealed. The ACLU has represented Witt.
The Air Force, for its part, said no request was made because they have had no indication Witt wanted to be reinstated, making a request for stay moot. Should she begin an application, they would have a response, and might subsequently seek a stay.
A British news report tells the story of a British military Imam who led a 600+ member congregation — including locals, American servicemembers, and others — in the celebration of Eid ul Adha while in Afghanistan.
This service provided an opportunity for ISAF to demonstrate respect for the Muslim faith by providing a service for all Muslims on the base. One young American pilot told me of the Read more
One of the frequent memes about associations of the Christian religion with the US military has been the “propaganda” value it supplies to those who would try to turn Afghans against the allied forces.
A recent report, however, shows that 92% of Afghans in two volatile provinces don’t even know about the events of 11 September 2001. They have no idea why foreign forces are in their country, despite the fact the war is 10 years on. (Perhaps the silver lining Read more