Massachusetts firefighters were recognized for their bravery during a ceremony at Boston's John F. Kennedy Library and Museum.
According to WCVB, Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick and Public Safety Secretary Andrea Cabral presented 22 awards to the honorees, who came from 10 communities in the state. Some of the prestigious awards they distributed included two Norman Knight Awards for Excellence in Community Service, one to the organizers of the Regional Student Awareness of Fire Education (S.A.F.E.) Program in Amherst and one to a firefighter who implemented a senior version of the program in Lunenburg.
A special portion of the ceremony was dedicated to honoring two Boston firefighters who perished fighting a nine-alarm fire in the spring. Lieutenant Edward J. Walsh Jr. and firefighter Michael R. Kennedy were posthumously given Medals of Honor, accepted on their behalf by their families, reported the Boston Globe. Boston Fire Commissioner Joseph E. Finn presented the medals, describing the outstanding courage displayed by the two men.
The Boston Globe noted that a father-son team from Abington, Massachusetts, also received an award for preventing the explosion of a propane tank. Jarrod Driscoll was off-duty when he saw the tank start burning but rushed to action nonetheless. After assessing the situation, he called in his father, Michael, who arrived with backup to diffuse the potentially fatal situation.
While serving in Iraq in 2004, Army Capt. Stephen Machuga experienced a number of supply drops that, while sent with the best intentions, did very little to stir up excitement among his fellow troops. According to Marine Corps Times, the soldiers often received tattered old library books that would be used for little more than target practice.
After venting about the issue to a friend in the video gaming industry, Machuga and his colleagues were greeted with what seemed like far too many copies of slightly dated but good-quality games. As soon as the soldiers started playing, however, it was clear that they would need more, reported Marine Corps Times.
Six years later, Machuga founded Operation Supply Drop, an organization committed to bringing fun to servicemembers stationed all over the world. The group takes requests from units and delivers to them in order of how severe their situation is. The more rural and dangerous a deployment is, the faster those servicemembers will receive a drop from Machuga and his team. Marine Corps Times noted that these soldiers are the ones who need a fun distraction the most, and are often the last to receive special packages because of their remote locations.
OSD also started offering the service to allied troops and quickly received requests from soldiers in the Australian, New Zealand and British armed forces.
Marine Corps Times noted that a typical package sent by OSD contains one gaming console, two to four controllers, a few headsets and a selection of around 15 games. The organization reported that so far it has helped distribute over $1 million worth of video games to troops located all around the world.
"It's hard to describe just how much of a difference one box of video games can make. It was essential," Air Force F-16 pilot Maj. Brian Gerwe told Marine Corps Times after receiving a drop from the organization.
Two female South Korean soldiers have become the first women to earn the U.S. Army's Expert Infantrymen Badge.
According to USA Today, the badge is given to servicemembers who display a complete mastering of critical infantry tasks. Soldiers undergo a rigorous five-day exam where they are assessed on more than 30 elements including marching, fitness and navigation. Typically, the rigorous exam only has a pass rate of 8-10 percent due to its extreme difficulty.
The exam was open to American infantrymen in addition to members of the Republic of Korea's infantry and soldiers in the Korean Augmentation to the U.S. Army, noted Army Times. While U.S. women are ineligible to join the infantry, Korean women are allowed to serve in this military occupational specialty. While in the past U.S. women soldiers have successfully completed the test, they were not able to receive the honor due to their non-infantry status.
Army Times reported that the female badge recipients, Staff Sgts. Kim Min Kyoung and Kwon Min Zy, trained since June to prepare for the test, studying both U.S. and Korean military skills. In addition to actively serving Korea, they took the time to learn U.S. Army weapon systems by watching videos. They also adopted rigorous fitness routines, noted the source.
The servicemembers earned the opportunity to compete after successfully finishing a similar evaluation implemented by the Korean armed forces. The two women encourage the U.S. to be open to the idea of female infantry members.
"Female soldiers are capable of doing the missions successfully in the ROK army, so she thinks that it's OK for the U.S. Army to allow women in the infantry. By looking at her example, women are as capable as males," a translator told Army Times on behalf of Zy.
The 437th Aircrew Flight Equipment fabrication shop is a unique organization. The operation, located in Charleston, South Carolina, is responsible for sewing all of the fabric pieces for Joint Base's 50 C-17 Globemasters.
According to Air Force Times, the shop, which employs 10 people, manufactures the pieces at a low cost to the military branch. By manufacturing the items this way, $40,000 is saved per aircraft, amounting to $1 million in yearly savings.
The head of the operation is Air Force veteran Bobby Pierce. He learned to sew in 1955 during his time crafting parachutes as a soldier and continued working in the field during his life after service, reported Air Force Times. At 80 years old, he has been a fixture in the shop for over 30 years and plans to continue working there for the foreseeable future.
Pierce manages a number of other veterans, many of whom started working at the shop as a way to stay involved with the Air Force, an organization they all love. According to Joint Base Charleston, the shop's employees have a combined 300 years of experience in the field.
The shop also crafts pieces for international sale, and has received orders from the United Arab Emirates, India, Canada, Australia and Kuwait, who appreciate the high-quality, hand-crafted work made by the small yet committed group of workers.
First responders in the Twin Cities are implementing increased security practices following the recent increase in U.S. cases.
According to the Star Tribune, all emergency medical services in the region are now equipped with infectious-disease kits that specialize in stopping the spread of bodily fluids. They have also started screening for Ebola risk at the start of every medical emergency, asking callers about fevers, symptoms and international travel history. If any of these answers point to a possible risk of Ebola, a small crew wearing appropriate hazardous materials is dispatched to assess the situation.
The Sun Herald noted that the region is familiar with infectious diseases. First responders in the area deal with tuberculosis, Lassa fever, Middle East respiratory syndrome and SARS on a regular basis, and are well-versed in procedures that prevent the spread of contagious viruses.
The Star Tribune reported that although these practices have been fully implemented, they have been rather quiet about the new protocols, as to avoid inducing unnecessary panic. Officials stress that Ebola preparations are simply a precaution and that there has not yet been a real threat to the region.
Soldiers from the 3rd Infantry Division headquarters in Fort Stewart, Georgia, will deploy to Afghanistan in November for a one-year tour, officials announced Tuesday, Oct. 28. The purpose of their deployment is to take on their role as U.S. Forces Afghanistan National Security Element.
Although NATO's International Security Assistance Force Mission will end on Dec. 31, 10,000 U.S. troops – including this new deployment – will stay in Afghanistan to implement the Resolute Support mission, reported Military Times. As Afghani authorities increase their capabilities over the next year, U.S. forces will transition power to them and reduce their presence in the country significantly.
"The Resolute Support mission will focus on training, advising and assisting at higher echelons. We look forward to joining the team in Afghanistan and doing our part to ensure the [Afghan National Security Forces] are left a more capable force, and to solidify the incredible gains of those who have served and sacrificed before us," Maj. Gen. Mike Murray, 3rd Infantry Division commander, said in a statement.
Military Times noted that this mission will also have a liaison in Kuwait and a supportive element in Qatar.
A tugboat operator sailing off the coast of Miami called officials after seeing people holding onto debris in the water.
Local authorities immediately called in the area's fire and Coast Guard crews for backup, reported CBS Miami. According to the source, the original call cited three people clutching debris, but when help arrived it turned out to be nine people in severe condition. They were Cuban migrants attempting to make their way to Florida.
A helicopter pulled the people out of the water. After a medical evaluation, three of the rescued were immediately taken to local hospitals, noted Fox News Latino. According to CBS Miami, the people had been stranded in the water on a small raft for 10 days before it fell apart on Sunday, Oct. 26. Some of the original passengers are still missing.
According to CBS Miami, the Coast Guard crews acted swiftly and effectively to help the struggling people.
Lieutenant Eric Lowd of Miami-Dade Fire Rescue told CBS, "We train all the time for this and practice for safety and rescues and this went well. It feels good to be part of this and I hope they have a fruitful life."
The Moving Wall, a traveling memorial exhibit, continues to make its way around the U.S. with the goal of honoring Vietnam veterans.
Currently, the tribute is on display in Los Angeles. According to the Los Angeles Daily News, the memorial is a miniature version of the national Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., measuring in at about half the size. It was constructed by a Vietnam vet in 1982 who wanted to bring the experience of viewing the display to those who could not travel to the U.S. capital. It contains the names of all 58,300 servicemembers who died fighting in the war.
The exhibit, which travels from April to November, is open for viewing 24 hours a day and remains in each location for a few days. According to the Los Angeles Daily News, it draws a diverse crowd at all hours of the day, but Vietnam veterans are always present in large numbers.
"For us Vietnam veterans, it's not only a time for remembering, it's a time for healing. You move on with your life, but you can never forget what you went through," veteran Lloyd Johnson told the source.
The 39th Marine Corps Marathon was held on Sunday, Oct. 26, in Washington, D.C. Runners from all over the world assembled to experience the physical challenge – a challenge meant to symbolize the obstacles experienced by Marines every day.
According to Military Times, over 30,000 people signed up to participate in the marathon as well as the 10 kilometer race. This number included 8,000 servicemembers, 3,700 of which were active duty. The Marine Corps specifically was represented by 3,200 runners.
The first-place winner was Uganda native and active duty U.S. Army specialist in the 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, Samuel Kosgei. He completed the race with a time of 2:22. The female champion was also a servicemember – Army 2nd Lt. Meghan Curran. Military Times reported that when she started to slow down around mile 20, she joined up with a group of Marines that inspired her to pull through.
Marine Col. David Maxwell was a proud spectator at the event.
"It takes courage to sign up in the first place, facing the physical and mental challenges that you will endure. As Marines, we know full well what it means to face a challenge and overcome it," he told Military Times about the symbolic importance of the race.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce's Hiring our Heroes program recently released a list naming the top cities for veterans to settle down in during their life after service.
According to a press release, the factors used to determine the top cities were job growth, health resources, population growth, military skills jobs, unemployment rate, number of colleges and universities and their relationships with veterans, certification/license transfers and G.I. Bill enrollment.
Forbes magazine reported that the top spot went to Pittsburgh. The Pennsylvania city boasts a number of companies with special veteran hiring initiatives, including Heinz and FedEx. With a population of 2.4 million, a relatively low cost of living and a number of reputable colleges, it fits the criteria for a veteran-friendly city. No. 2 on the list was Austin, Texas, where the city government has a veteran hiring program and the unemployment rate falls well below the national average at 4.6 percent.
Other cities included in the roundup were Oklahoma City, whose low unemployment rates and inexpensive home prices make it a smart choice for money-conscious veterans. Minneapolis came in at No. 10, with a bustling metropolitan area of 3.3 million people and various schools and companies known for strong veteran relationships.