Chief Petty Officer Justin Wilson, 36, a special amphibious reconnaissance corpsman attached to MARSOC's 1st Marine Special Operation Battalion, is set to receive the Navy Cross, the military branch's second-highest honor.
Displaying bravery in the face of danger
According to Military Times, the servicemember is being recognized for his actions on Sept. 28, 2011, during his third tour in Afghanistan. He offered to assist Nicholas Sprovtsoff, an explosive ordnance disposal technician, in the removal of an improvised explosive device. As Sprovtsoff started work on the IED, it exploded, leaving the 28-year-old gravely wounded. Wilson, knowing that there were most likely additional bombs nearby, left the safety of his post to treat his colleague's injuries.
While Wilson tended to Sprovtsoff, two other soldiers appeared to help the situation, including Staff Sgt. Christopher Diaz. Just as they started focusing on helping the wounded Marine, another IED detonated. While Wilson also sustained serious injuries, he continued to care for his teammates. Military Times reported that he refused medical treatment until the others were confirmed dead.
Team will receive high honors for actions
Wilson will not be the only one honored for his actions on this day. Both Diaz and Sprovtsoff will be symbolically awarded Bronze Stars, annotated with "V" to indicate their selflessness and courage for continuing to help even when they knew there were unexploded bombs in the area. Sprovtsoff will also be recognized for a mission he completed a week before his death, when he safely led a group of fellow soldiers through a region sprinkled with volatile, unexploded IEDs. The team was able to get rid of 40 of these bombs during the mission, noted Military Times.
Wilson will be given the award during a ceremony Nov. 25 at Camp Pendleton in California. The brave serviceman previously earned a Purple Heart, as well as a Bronze Star. Maj. Gen. Joseph Osterman, commanding general of MARSOC, will present the honor to Wilson as well as the families of the fallen.
According to the Department of Defense, the Navy Cross is given to members of the Navy or Marines who display extraordinary heroism when in a situation involving enemy forces. Wilson is only the sixth MARSOC soldier to receive the Cross and the very first MARSOC sailor to achieve the honor, reported Military Times.
On Tuesday, Nov. 18, former U.S. Army Gen. David Petraeus spoke at a job fair in Nashville, encouraging Tennessee businesses to focus on hiring military veterans.
According to The Tennessean, Petraeus commanded the 101st Airborne at Fort Campbell from July 2002 to May 2004, in addition to being the former director of the Central Intelligence Agency. He also oversaw military personnel in Iraq and Afghanistan post-9/11.
In a speech to over 70 employers in the Southern state, he urged them to hire former servicemembers as positive additions to their companies. He touched upon the fact that all soldiers have exceptional leadership experience, understand the importance of working in teams and know the significance of loyalty and hard work. Petraeus also noted that while many veterans experience post-traumatic stress disorder in their life after service, having a steady, rewarding career can be a crucial part of the healing process and employers should not be afraid to work with soldiers for this reason.
"We need to give them that opportunity. That's all they want. The businesses will … capitalize on and take advantage of all their capabilities if they truly invest in them," said Petraeus, according to the Nashville Business Journal.
As part of a 2013 initiative to fully integrate women into the military by 2016, 31 women have been chosen to participate in next spring's Ranger Course Assessment as advisers and observers.
According to the Washington Post, the chosen group includes 20 enlisted noncommissioned officers and 11 officers. They were chosen from upward of three dozen female applicants. The women started their week-long training at Fort Benning, Georgia, on Monday, Nov. 10, and underwent rigorous preparation, both physically and mentally, to give them a concept of what students in the all-male Ranger program experience on a daily basis.
The Ranger course
This 62-day long program is known for being extremely challenging, noted the Washington Post. It begins at Fort Benning, where soldiers complete a collection of rigorous challenges. They are then sent to the mountain portion of the training, which is held at Camp Frank D. Merrill in Dahlonega, Georgia. The training concludes with the swamp phase at Camp James E. Rudder at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. Additionally, candidates must successfully complete the Ranger Physical Assessment. This includes a 12-mile march, the Combat Water Survival Assessment and a land navigation test.
Military Times noted that in order to earn the title of Ranger at the end of the 62 days, servicemembers must achieve a passing grade for at least one patrol leadership exercise, good peer reviews and less than three negative reports.
Working toward integration
According to the Washington Post, the women were chosen after undergoing an intense application process. They were interviewed by various Army officials and had to complete Ranger course-style challenges before being selected.
Military Times reported that they will participate in the spring training as assistants for official instructors, though they will not be able to actually grade or evaluate Ranger candidates. Nor can they participate in the program themselves, according to current Army rules. While allowing women to participate in this external capacity is certainly a step in the right direction, The Airborne and Ranger Training Brigade, which facilitates the course, is working toward full integration by the end of next year, according to Military Times.
Adjustments are already being planned to accommodate gendered barracks and bathrooms, as well as to modify acceptance standards for female candidates based on medical records. Military Times noted that the service hopes the addition of these new female observers will encourage women to apply when the program is open to them.
While the decision to bring women into this historically difficult and all-male program caused some controversy, reactions from officials have been positive so far.
"I was very satisfied with both the quality and quantity of the volunteers we received. Their performance and professionalism over the course of the week was extraordinary. This group did very well for what was a very physically challenging week for any soldier," said Maj. Gen. Scott Miller, commanding general of the Maneuver Center of Excellence at Fort Benning, reported the Washington Post.
Habitat for Humanity, the nonprofit organization committed to building homes for those in need, hopes to break ground on a special project in Leesburg, Florida.
According to the Daily Commercial, the group's Lake-Sumter, Florida, branch is currently attempting to gain support, permission and funds for the $3.4 million sustainable housing community exclusively for veterans. The village would contain enough one-bedroom duplexes to house between 14 and 20 former servicemembers.
The location was chosen for its ample land, as well as its walking-distance proximity to important resources for veterans in their life after service. Some of the nearby institutions include LifeStream Behavioral Services, the Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic, places of worship and veteran-friendly employers.
At a gala fundraiser held for the branch's 25th anniversary, Kent Adcock, president and chief executive officer of Habitat for Humanity of Lake-Sumter, encouraged attendees to donate to the first-ever "Veterans Pocket Neighborhood." He noted that millions of veteran households pay between 30 and 50 percent of their income for housing, and that increasing numbers of post-9/11 veterans are experiencing crippling unemployment rates in their life after service. He believes that offering even marginal help with housing will make a huge impact, noted the Daily Commercial.
"It's not going to happen overnight, but we know that if we work together, we can provide sustainable housing solutions for those who are in need in our veteran community, those who have done so much for us," he stated at the event.
In Milwaukee, Wisconsin, veterans are trying something new to deal with the problems they face in life after service: Shakespearean theater.
According to the Journal Sentinel, the Veterans Affairs hospital in the Midwestern city runs a program known as "Feast of Crispian," in which local professional theaters and directors work with former servicemembers to perform scenes from some of Shakespeare's greatest works. The selections typically deal with themes such as trauma, loss and emotional struggles – all things that many of the participants are trying to work through themselves.
The program takes place in the space of a three-day workshop, which is free for all of the veterans involved. It was founded by Bill Watson, a faculty member in the theater department at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, in partnership with his wife, Nancy Smith-Watson, who is an actress, and another drama professor, Jim Tasse. The group wanted to help veterans express their emotions and work through any issues that might be plaguing them. Using a technique developed by Massachusetts-based Shakespeare and Co., they choose rhythmic, emotional scenes with lots of physical movement. This, paired with group exercises, allows the directors to connect with one another as well as their personal emotions.
The Journal Sentinel noted that veterans are assigned scenes and acting partners on the first Friday night. They practice them throughout Saturday and Sunday, getting help from the professional actors who often stand on the sideline, calling out forgotten lines or explaining complicated plot points. On Sunday afternoon, they perform for friends and family.
Many of the veterans enroll in the program on a whim and end up coming back multiple times.
"I fell in love with it. It has enabled me to feel more self-confident. It gives you a sense of accomplishment when you finish," Chris Nickrant, former Air Force member, told the Journal Sentinel. Nickrant has acted in all but one of FoC's sessions since the program began a year and a half ago.
Officials announced on Friday, Nov. 14, that servicemembers in the National Guard and Army Reserve will be sent to West Africa to support U.S. efforts to eradicate Ebola. They will be replacing the soldiers who are currently overseas, having been deployed over the past two months, reported Military Times. They will primarily be sent to Senegal and Liberia.
Currently, there are 2,200 American troops helping contain and combat the epidemic. NBC News noted that within the next month, this number will grow to around 3,000. Some servicemembers have already begun returning, however. Though none of them have shown symptoms of the deadly disease, they are all being quarantined for 21 days upon their return home in accordance to the Military's Ebola policy.
Troops are working to construct medical treatment facilities and training health workers. According to Stars and Stripes, the National Guard and Army Reserve members will receive thorough training before they leave, including specific instruction on contagious diseases and Ebola prevention.
Military Times reported that once deployed, Guard and Reserve troops could remain overseas for up to a year.
Officials fielded questions from families of those set to be sent to the infected region at a base in Fort Campbell, Kentucky, on Thursday, Nov. 13. According to Military Times, they were told that their loved ones will be following a "battle rhythm" in terms of their daily routine. They will not be allowed to leave the base without permission, to prevent any contact with people carrying the disease. Their deployment will not include hazardous duty pay, combat-zone exclusions, hostile fire pay or regular basic pay.
Authorities assured families that the safety precautions in place will prevent any American troops from contracting the largely fatal infection.
As part of its initiative to upgrade its hand-to-hand combat training, the Army will be introducing a brand new Master Trainer Course.
The new training program will become official procedure in the spring, noted Army Times. Because of the course's total redesign, many soldiers who are certified under the old system will need to undergo evaluation again. The new course pulls from existing training – the basic combatives instructor course and the tactical combatives instructor course. Each of these old programs was two weeks long, and the new Master Trainer Course will take four weeks to complete.
According to Army Times, there have already been pilot programs testing the new course's efficiency. A successful test run was completed at the beginning of September, with 29 of the 32 original participants passing the training. Two more trials have already been set up – one will begin Monday, Nov. 17, and the other will take place in January.
The upgrades focus mainly on the tactical application of combatives, such as fighting hand-to-hand while in full body armor and carrying a loaded rifle in a locked room. The idea is to prepare the servicemembers for whatever will come their way, so the education takes place in a variety of environments, noted Military Times.
Soldiers who will enter the course should be ready for a challenge.
"It is a more rigorous course both physically and mentally. Some [soldiers] have been waiting for a course like this because not everybody has eight weeks to come do this. Others have already gone through [the tactical instructor course] so they don't want to do it again," Staff Sgt. Colton Smith, the senior instructor for the III Corps and Fort Hood, Texas, combatives program, told Army Times.
According to Military Times, top officials at the Pentagon have decided to reduce the use of live animals in their medical training sessions starting Jan. 1, 2015.
While this number is being greatly reduced, some live animals will still be used in areas where the department feels there is no other substitute, like survival and combat trauma training. Animals typically used for this training include chickens, rabbits, monkeys and goats. The areas of study that will instead employ electronic simulators or high-tech models include neonatal resuscitation, obstetrics and gynecology and advance trauma life support. Military Times reported that since 2011, the department has been making a concerted effort to move away from animal use whenever possible.
This change in procedure is largely due to action by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, which has been working with the Department of Defense to move away from the use of live animals for the past few years. According to the Boston Globe, this change is also inspired by the procedures of other members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Currently, 22 of these 28 nations have stopped the use of live animals in medical training.
In honor of Veterans Day, convenience store chain 7-Eleven has started its first-ever giveaway contest, opened exclusively to veterans, named Operation: Take Command. According to CSPnet.com, the winner of the contest will get $190,000 to franchise any of the available store locations within the U.S.
In order to qualify for the grand prize, contestants must be at least 21 years old, have been honorably discharged from the service, be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, have three years of experience in a leadership, retail or restaurant position and have good credit. Marine Corps Times reported that veterans who enter the competition will undergo the standard 7-Eleven franchise application process. This includes multiple interviews, leadership evaluations and discussions concerning business plans, budget and location. The top 10 applicants will need to submit a video to Facebook outlining why they are the best fit for this tremendous opportunity. Once the videos have been posted, the public can vote for their favorite contestant.
The convenience store chain is no stranger to military service. Joe DePinto, 7-Eleven's chief executive officer, is a graduate of the Military Academy at West Point and a retired officer for the U.S. Army, who got involved with the company in his life after service. Currently, the organization gives a 20 percent discount to veterans looking to open their first franchise, which can save them about $50,000. The business also offers former servicemembers preferred interest rates and special financing to get their store off the ground and running, noted Marine Corps Times.
The business has been named to multiple lists for Military-friendly employment.
"7-Eleven is a winner, too, because veterans bring top-notch leadership skills, a can-do attitude and mission-oriented focus to their business. Our experience has shown that U.S. veterans have the desire, ambition and core values needed to be successful 7-Eleven franchisees," DePinto told Marine Corps Times.
According to Military Times, the number of servicemembers that will be sent to West Africa as part of U.S. efforts to stop the region's Ebola epidemic will be fewer than initially estimated. While originally the Pentagon had stated the mission would require 4,000 troops, that number has been reduced to 3,000.
Currently, 2,200 American military members are on the ground in Liberia and Senegal, helping the nations cope with the outbreak. The mission, dubbed Operation United Assistance, has been focused on building medical treatment facilities and training local health workers.
Politico reported that the reduction in troops is mostly because U.S. officials underestimated the scope of resources already available in the infected areas.
"There's a lot of capacity here we didn't know about before.That enabled us to reduce the forces we thought we originally had to bring," stated Maj. Gen. Gary Volesky, commander of the 101st Airborne Division, to reporters at the Pentagon via satellite from West Africa.
There have also been fewer reported cases in Liberia, though the disease is still spreading and remains a very real threat. Military Times noted that many other regions are still seeing increasing numbers of diagnoses every day.
U.S. officials are also doing everything they can to prevent the disease from entering the U.S. again, since the country currently has zero active cases. Although troops will not be treating infected patients in West Africa directly, those deployed to the region will undergo a 21-day quarantine upon their return home. Military Times noted that this exceeds the general precautionary standards put forth by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. While infectious disease safety is being thoroughly practiced by the soldiers sent to fight the disease, Military officials decided to take the extra step to ensure that there will be no health risk to the American people.