Chaplain (Capt) Jerry Johnson, a US Army Chaplain deployed to Afghanistan, demonstrates the varied roles military Chaplains can play in theatre. He protects the free religious freedom of the men and women he serves. He advises the commander on issues of religion.
And he teaches world religions. Seven different ones, to be precise.
“It’s an extension of the chaplain ministry to educate Soldiers Read more
According to the US Air Force, an F-15E Strike Eagle went down in Libya due to an “equipment malfunction.” Both crewmembers are “back in US hands” after the pilot was retrieved by US Marines and the WSO was “recovered” by Libyan rebels.
Two crew members ejected from their U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle when the aircraft experienced equipment malfunction over northeast, Libya, March 21, at approximately 10:30 p.m. CET.
Both crew members ejected and are safe.
The press release also revealed that the aircraft was flying out of Aviano Air Base in Italy, home to other American units including an F-16 fighter unit.
A military news release noted Brig Gen Mark Corson handing out “commander’s coins” for excellence in February.
The…soldiers received the coins for their dedication to mission success by Brig. Gen. Mark Corson.
[Cpl Steven] Teel explained what it meant to him to receive the coin. “To be able to serve in so many different positions and be successful in the position is an honor in itself,” he said.
The Washington Post notes both the tradition of such coins (or “RMOs” in fighter pilot parlance) and increasing indications they have become a “copycat fad” in the rest of society:
“Challenge coins,” as they are known, have Read more
The US Army recently published an updated version of Army Regulation 601-210, Active and Reserve Components Enlistment Program. The new version, dated 8 February 2011, makes an interesting change. From the list of revisions at the front of the regulation:
Changes all references of “moral qualification or waiver” to “conduct qualification or waiver” (throughout).
The words “moral character,” a mainstay of the prior version, now occur only one time in the entire publication. Unfortunately, it appears to have been implemented with a simple “find and replace” of the word “moral.” For example, where it once said: Read more
An Air Force article notes that the T-38 Talon, the Air Force’s primary jet trainer, has just passed 50 years of service. To put that in perspective, the Air Force was only 14 years old, the Korean armistice wasn’t even a decade old, and most people probably didn’t know where Vietnam was yet.
The Air Force has indicated it will eventually begin an official search for a replacement trainer.
The T-38 isn’t the oldest aircraft in the inventory. The B-52 is approaching 60 years of service.
The United Nations Security Council passed Resolution 1973 authorizing “all necessary means” except an invasion to enforce a no-fly zone and “protect civilians” in Libya. China, Russia, Germany, Brazil and India abstained from the vote. The UN Security Council:
Authorizes Member States…to take all necessary measures…to protect civilians and civilian populated areas under threat of attack in the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya…while excluding a foreign occupation force of any form on any part of Libyan territory.
Establish[es] a ban on all flights in the airspace of the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya in order to help protect civilians;
Authorizes Member States…to take all necessary measures to enforce compliance with the ban on flights…
Fighter pilots and other American military members around the world are undoubtedly preparing for their eventual role in this conflict, which, like virtually every other conflict since Korea, remains politically controversial. (For example, The Washington Times quotes then-candidate and Senator Barack Obama apparently contradicting his current actions as President.)
Ironically, Libyan leader Moammar Kadafi tried to paint this latest conflict as a Christian crusade against Muslims: Read more
USA Today notes preliminary data from the US Army indicates “the suicide rate for female soldiers triples when they go to war.”
The findings…show that the suicide rate rises from five per 100,000 to 15 per 100,000 among female soldiers at war. Scientists are not sure why but say they will look into whether women feel isolated in a male-dominated war zone or suffer greater anxieties about leaving behind children and other loved ones.
Some might earlier have called that last statement sexist, particularly in light of recent recommendations that women be allowed in combat Read more
Jack Jacobs, a retired US Army colonel and recipient of the Medal of Honor, has an interesting discussion on Jewish military service in the United States over the past century. He also branches into some insightful observations about military service in general within today’s society.