Military News: 24 June 2007 - 30 June 2007
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June 24, 2007 -- According to a Department of Defense release, as of June 20, 2007, more members of the National Guard (in Federal Status) and Reserve have been mobilized. The total number currently on active duty in support of the partial mobilization for the Army National Guard and Army Reserve is 75,154; Navy Reserve, 4,927; Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve, 5,924; Marine Corps Reserve, 6,099; and the Coast Guard Reserve, 358. This brings the total National Guard and Reserve personnel, who have been mobilized, to 92,462, including both units and individual augmentees.
June 25, 2007 -- The Department of Defense reported late last week that the Army Reserve is now considered an operational force. Nearly 83 percent of the Army Reserve’s manpower has been mobilized to date. Since September 11, 2001, nearly 170,000 reservists have been deployed. The reason behind this large-scale mobilization is simple: there is an increasing demand for additional manpower due to the United States’ commitments in the war on terror and Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. However, Army Reserve members are not only being sent to Iraq and Afghanistan. Reservists are now serving in approximately 25 countries around the world, completing projects as diverse as school building and animal vaccinations. No longer can reservists expect to commit one weekend per month and two weeks in the summer to soldiering duties. Lt. Gen. Jack C. Stultz, chief of the U.S. Army Reserve, said that reserve units will be expected to deploy once every four to five years; in some cases, these units may deploy and remain for up to one year in support of U.S. operations. To attain this goal, the general said that many changes will still need to be made in order to better accommodate projected needs. However, despite the ongoing mobilization of Reserve forces, the general stated that re-enlistment rate is “the highest it’s been in years.”
June 26, 2007 -- The American Forces Press Service reported today that, although the number of insurgent attacks in Afghanistan has increased, coalition forces are actually “winning the battle” against the Taliban and al Qaeda in NATO’s Regional Command East. Coalition and Afghan forces, teaming with Pakistani forces, have successfully captured or killed dozens of Taliban commanders and sub-commanders; Taliban cells, therefore, are left without experienced administration. Increased security in the region is attested to by the fact that several projects benefiting the Afghan people are being completed. Army Brig. Gen. Joseph Votel, deputy commander for operations at Combined Joint Task Force 82, notes that continued relief and education efforts, road and school-building and farming improvements are moving forward successfully. The Afghan government has even been able to aid workers building micro-hydroelectric power plants and carrying out irrigation projects. Afghan citizens, typically targeted by insurgent intimidation tactics, are even fighting back the attempts to scare them into interfering with development and governance-related endeavors.
June 27, 2007 -- One week from today, America will celebrate its 231st birthday. Commonly seen events are BBQ’s, fireworks and family gatherings. Not so common to a typical 4th of July…Christmas. Packages from Home, a volunteer-led organization that is a part of the Department of Defense’s program America Supports You, is gearing up to receive several hundred care packages as a result of the “Christmas in July” event hosted by Mike and Malinda Brown of Arizona. Each year, the Brown’s hold their annual Christmas in July party, inviting friends and clients as guests; guests are asked to bring items to fill the care packages. Packages from Home volunteers attend the event to help sort and pack these donated items. The Browns have teamed up with Packages from Home, in an effort to ensure that these care packages are delivered to the military personnel who need them most. The packages include new, useful articles such as socks, shampoo, razors, deodorant and entertainment items. The Brown’s goal is to not only send more care packages this year than last, but to increase awareness in others of the opportunities available to people interested in remembering our soldiers. Have other ideas or projects in place that support our troops? Post your ideas and activities here on the MyMilitaryYears Forum page.
June 28, 2007 -- President Bush submitted his nominations today for the United States' next chairman and vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Navy Adm. Michael Mullen was selected by the President to occupy the position of chairman. The person appointed chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff is the country’s highest-ranking military officer and serves as the principal military adviser to the president, the defense secretary, the National Security Council and the Homeland Security Council. The chairman is also responsible for ensuring the readiness of U.S. military forces. Marine Corps Gen. James E. “Hoss” Cartwright was nominated by the President to be vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs. Both men bring with them an extensive background of military service and national security matters. In a Department of Defense news article released today, Mullen said he is honored to be nominated to the chairman’s position at such an important time in the country's history. He went on to say that “We must remain mindful that we live in a world made smaller by the speed of change, more dangerous by the actions of extremists and tyrants, and yet more hopeful, more promising, by the power of partnerships, cooperation and trust." He went on to acknowledge all members of the armed forces: “Our soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines, Coast Guardsmen and their families are the most dedicated, talented and courageous people with whom I have ever been privileged to serve...Representing them, serving them in turn as chairman of the Joint Chiefs would be my great honor." Cartwright, who has two children of his own deployed overseas, affirmed a similar focus: “If confirmed, I will focus all of my effort on the whole of government's efforts to prevail in this global war on terrorism and to support our people in all of their phases of service, and also to try to move forward and look to the future for the capabilities that we're going to need to prevail as we move into the future as a nation.”
June 29, 2007 -- David Kilcullen, senior counter-insurgency advisor to Army Gen. David H. Petraeus, told the American Armed Forces Press Service today that measures taken in Iraq to impair insurgent operations are seeing a measure of success. A combination of factors are leading to progress against insurgents. Most notably, the creation of smaller U.S.-Iraqi joint security stations from large U.S. military base camps, and an increasing dislike of al Qaeda among local tribal leaders, are becoming the greatest factors behind recent progess across Iraq. As military operations become based out of smaller, more mobile units, increasingly large areas are now being secured against insurgent activity. And as tribal leaders see the destructive results of al Qaeda's zealous and oppressive tactics, they are beginning to cooperate more and more with central governmental authority. Kilcullen admits that "peace isn't breaking out in Iraq, just yet. But recent developments there, like Sunnis’ rejection of al Qaeda, provide cause for optimism."
June 30, 2007 -- The Deparment of Veterans Affairs received good press today. The Department's TAPs (Transition Advocates for Patients) program was highlighted in an article by the American Forces Press Service. TAPs, 80 percent of whom are veterans, and approximately one quarter of them veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan, are hired by the DVA for the purpose of helping severely wounded veterans from operations in Iraq and Afghanistan navigate the VA healthcare system. Until now, the transition for these wounded soldiers from the military through the VA's system was largely left up to the wounded troops or their families. TAPs representatives form a connection between wounded soldiers and the team of VA clinicians, case managers and representatives of the Veterans Benefits Administration responsible for the soldiers' care. The goal of every TAP is to ensure soldiers gets the care and benefits they need and deserve. TAPs are stationed around the country and are trained by the DVA. While the VA has long had patient advocates on staff, these new TAPs are being hired specifically for wounded soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan.
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