Many soldiers who have served may want to return to combat, but are held back because of injuries experienced while deployed. However, Fox News recently reported that the number these instances may begin to decrease, thanks to surgeries in place to treat veterans and restore their strength. These procedures may help them more comfortably return to active duty or just better enjoy life after service.
Knee replacement surgery
According to the news source, knee pain is one of the most common injuries soldiers can experience during combat. The constant wear and tear can break down the joint and make it difficult to function, which can mean the end of a career for some. With the requirements changing for injuries experienced while deployed, necessary knee replacement surgeries are becoming more easily accessible to those who need them.
"The military has changed the requirement for a disability board and possible medical discharge for a well functioning total joint replacement," Tad Gerlinger, Ph.D, orthopedic surgeon at Midwest Orthopedics at Rush Medical Center in Chicago, told Fox News. "Service members receiving a total joint arthroplasty are now assumed fit for duty with minor modifications to their activity."
This means that more soldiers who are eager to return to duty will not be held back by an injury that can be resolved with modern medicine. The procedure requires implanting a metal device to cap the ends of the bones that make up the knee, and patients are often able to walk on it the same day. Many veterans who receive the surgery return to war and complete their entire tour.
Advancements in arthroplasty
Arthroplasty, the replacement of a joint, is a field that is constantly improving. The most common replacement surgeries are for the knees and hips, and the materials used for these surgeries are becoming increasingly more effective. According to the Cleveland Clinic, the manufacturing process has improved a great deal over the last 10 years. The plastics and metals used for the new joints have a longer lifespan and are less likely to cause issues where bones deteriorate.
Revision surgery has also improved, noted the Cleveland Clinic. Since many of these surgeries require follow-ups when bone loss is present, revision surgeries are often more complicated. New materials are used in these follow-ups that promote a secure bond and reduce the need for further treatments.
As the war in Afghanistan comes to a close and more American soldiers are being taken out of the region, the Army plans to send 3,000 troops to Europe.
According to RT, the government plans to send these servicemembers, in addition to 150 tanks, to join the existing 67,000 U.S. troops already stationed in Europe. Currently, permanent American troops stationed in the continent include the 173rd Airborne Brigade bases in Vicenza, Italy, and the 2nd Stryker Brigade in Vilseck, Germany.
Many of the new military personnel are expected to be sent to Germany, though other nations will also see an increased U.S. Army presence. The Hill reported that this shift is partially in response to Russian tanks that have been placed on Ukraine's eastern border. The U.S. hopes to assure European allies that they will be available to help in the event of a conflict.
The 1st Brigade of 3rd Division is expected to completely transition to its new European location by the end of March, explained RT. The servicemembers will be followed by the equipment, tanks and other military vehicles. The U.S. is expecting to receive official direction on specific locations from the European Command at the end of this month.
While combat operations officially ended in Afghanistan a few months ago, Marines from Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, are preparing to head back to the nation, according to a press release.
The release, issued by the Marine Corps, explained that the troops will be responsible for "security operations" in the country, which is still engulfed in conflict. The servicemembers have already undergone thorough training exercises to prepare for the deployment. They practiced reaction strategies for a variety of insurgency scenarios, such as improvised explosive devices and discovering the root of enemy fire after an attack. Soldiers were also taught how to appropriately interact with local village elders, unload from CH-53E Super Stallion heavy lift helicopters and what to do in the event of snipers.
Military Times reported that it is not completely clear what role the Marines will be playing in Afghanistan, but they will most likely be supporting liaison troops that remain there. It also has not been released when the troops will be deploying, but officials explained that before they arrive they will stop in Germany for more training, this time alongside Georgian soldiers.
The Department of Defense revealed on Monday, Dec. 22, that the Military's Basic Allowance for Subsistence will go up 2.9 percent starting next month.
According to Military Times, the BAS rate, which has historically been subject to cuts or only minor increases, is intended to help pay for the meals of servicemembers. It is part of the Military's commitment to providing soldiers with room, board and food while they serve.
The Lemoore Navy News reported that servicemembers receive BAS pay as a nontaxable monthly cash payment. Its rate is directly linked to the cost of food, as determined by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's index. Once the new year begins, enlisted soldiers will receive $367.92 each pay period, up from $357.55 in 2014, according to Military Times. Officers will get $253.38, increased from this year's rate of $246.24.
While these increases are significant, basic pay for servicemembers will only go up by 1 percent, noted the Lemoore Navy News. General and flag officers will maintain their current salaries for 2015. The basic allowance for housing will actually decrease by 1 percent, since a new law requires it to cover 99 percent of living costs when it previously covered 100 percent, noted Military Times.
Master Sgt. Ivan Ruiz, a pararescueman with the 22nd Expeditionary Special Tactics Squadron, was recently awarded the service's second-highest award.
According to Military Times, Ruiz displayed courage and valor during a situation in Afghanistan during December 2013. He was in the Kandahar Province when he and his fellow soldiers came under attack. Things moved quickly, and somehow he and two of his teammates became separated from the larger group. The servicemembers managed to gun down some of the attackers, but were eventually circled by enemy forces.
The source reported that both of Ruiz's colleagues were struck and severely injured. In an effort to save their lives, the solider fearlessly left his relatively safe spot and rushed to his friends. He protected them by expertly firing back at the plethora of enemy forces surrounding the group. Eventually, backup arrived, and Ruiz was able to help drag the wounded soldiers to safety, where he gave them life-saving medical care – all while he was wearing night vision goggles, noted NWF Daily News.
The two men Ruiz helped save were in attendance at the awards ceremony, which took place Dec. 17 at Hurlburt Field, Florida.
Victims of the 2009 shooting at the Fort Hood military base in Texas could soon be eligible to receive Purple Heart Awards – an honor typically reserved for soldiers injured in combat.
According to the Military Times, the attack was the worst a U.S. military base has ever experienced. It was carried out by former Army psychiatrist Nidal Hasan, who injured over 30 people and killed 13. The majority of the shooting took place in a processing center, so most of the victims were about to embark on missions in Afghanistan or Iraq, or had just returned from these war zones. Many of the servicemembers affected by the shooting discovered in their recovery process that they were ineligible for a plethora of medical benefits and heroic awards, since their injuries were not sustained in overseas combat, reported The Wall Street Journal.
Bipartisan support from a number of officials, however, could change these policies for the victims of this horrific shooting. Military Times noted that a bill to include those impacted by the Fort Hood attack as eligible candidates for Purple Hearts recently passed in the House and is on its way to the Senate. If the bill is signed into law, the Department of Defense will review records from the event and decide which victims qualify for the prestigious award. The source reported that those awarded, or the families of deceased recipients, will also receive compensation, something that could greatly assist with ongoing medical bills and other financial issues that resulted from the shooting.
Military Times noted that while it is rare, Purple Heart rules have been adjusted in the case of past tragedies. Victims of the 9/11 attacks and their families, for example, were able to receive the award and its benefits.
Body Labs, a 3-D body modeling company, is using its state-of-the-art software to see how armor for female soldiers can be redesigned for a better fit. In addition to being uncomfortable, ill-fitting military garb can leave body parts exposed and vulnerable, making well-tailored armor absolutely crucial to the lives of female troops.
CNN reported that Body Labs, a company based out of New York City, recently signed a two-year, $825,000 deal with U.S. Army Natick Soldier Research, Development and Engineering Center to design better protective combat clothing for women. Current items worn by women in the military were designed with the goal of being unisex, but fit the torsos of male soldiers far better than female soldiers.
According to Forbes magazine, the company is using data gathered by Brown University. Researchers took scans of a variety of women, all of different shapes and sizes, striking a plethora of active poses. The 12-person Body Labs team assigned to this project uses algorithms to create 3-D models of female soldiers, allowing them to customize their designs more closely. While each woman soldier will not receive a completely custom-fitted uniform, Body Labs specialists will be able to create a better shape based on average measurements and body part ratios.
CNN noted that this initiative is the latest in a series of pushes toward fully integrating women into the armed forces, something officials are hoping to achieve by 2016. Currently, there are 71,000 active female soldiers – far too many troops to justify them heading to the front lines in ill-fitting armor. Beyond military apparel, Body Labs hopes to improve the fit of civilian clothing and athletic apparel using its unique 3-D model approach.
Guests at the National Air and Space Museum's Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia, were probably not expecting a holiday concert when they decided to visit the institution on Tuesday, Dec. 2 – but that is exactly what they got. USA Today reported that the Air Force band surprised visitors with a flash mob.
According to an Air Force release, this was not the first flash mob this talented group of musicians lent their skills to. Last year, the group surprised spectators at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C. A video taken of their performance quickly went viral, racking up over 3 million views on YouTube.
The same arranger from 2013, retired Senior Master Sgt. Bob Thurston, helped once again to prepare the seasonal music, which included "Greensleeves" and "Carol of the Bells." The release noted that while it was difficult to get the rights to these selections, they eventually did, allowing them to not only perform them during the flash mob, but record them as well.
Each musician was responsible for learning their own music, and four practices with all the instrumentalists and vocalists took place. The last one was at the performance venue the night before the big day. In addition to spectator videos, official film was taken of the performance by Air Force audio technicians.
Ultimately, the musical show was put on to bring an extra burst of holiday cheer to the live audience, as well as to people viewing the video at home.
"Airmen musicians performing holiday classics at an iconic museum in the nation's capital was a winning combination. Like many popular videos, it also had the element of surprise, and this year's video is no different. We hope everyone enjoys it as much as last year's offering," stated Chief Master Sgt. Jennifer Pagnard, the band's chief of marketing and outreach, according to Air Force Times.
Capt. Derek Herrera will receive a Bronze Star with a "V" for heroic actions on Friday, Nov. 21.
The awards ceremony will be even more meaningful to the soldier because he will walk across the stage in front of his colleagues and loved ones – an act that was impossible for him just a few short years ago, reported Military Times.
In June 2012, Herrera was serving in Afghanistan, leading members of the Marine Corps Special Operations Command. He was bringing a group of U.S. and Afghan soldiers toward the Helmand River in an effort to cut off insurgents known to be heading to the area. His team was attacked with grenades and machine guns, according to Military Times. Herrera sprang into action, finding a rooftop where he could command his colleagues and give emergency medical care to one of his troops who was struck in the neck with a bullet. Even though Herrera was gravely injured from the gunfire himself, he set aside his pain and continued to delegate orders and fire back at enemy forces.
Herrera is now paralyzed from the waist down, but has not let that slow him down in his life after service. The source noted that he regularly participates in triathlons and races and went back to school for a business degree. He uses an innovative exoskeleton prosthetic device, known as ReWalk, which allows him to walk, sit and stand.
The Bronze Star is given to soldiers in any branch of the service who distinguish themselves while serving on the ground against an opposing force. The "V" annotation accompanying Herrera's award stands for valor, since he displayed outstanding courage, heroism and sacrifice for his nation.
Soldiers stationed in Senegal, Liberia, Jordan, Iraq, Kuwait and Afghanistan will be receiving traditional Thanksgiving dinners this year, reported Military Times. Because some of these missions were not planned to keep troops overseas through the holidays or are fairly new, it was unclear for a while whether turkey dinners would make it to the hardworking servicemembers. The source noted that holiday meals are usually ordered in the spring, but officials were able to secure extra food.
Iraq will be receiving significantly less food this year, since the military presence in the nation has been greatly reduced. Military Times reported that in 2009, nearly 500,000 pounds of turkey were shipped to troops stationed in this country, while this year 78,000 pounds is enough to feed the remaining soldiers. The Thanksgiving package for Iraq, in addition to Kuwait and Jordan, will also include pies, beef, shrimp, eggnog and ham.
This taste of home will be especially welcome by troops working to eradicate Ebola in West Africa. Military Times reported that dining facilities have yet to be constructed for these servicemembers, and they have been mostly eating rations occasionally paired with fresh produce. Liberia alone will receive 2,000 pounds of turkey, 300 pounds of cranberry sauce and 500 pies, some flavors including sweet potato, cherry, pumpkin, pecan and apple.
Soldiers who have recently returned from these infected regions, while they will be in the U.S. for the holiday, will not be able to spend it with loved ones. Military policy currently requires servicemembers to undergo a 21-day quarantine when they come back from West Africa. According to CBS, officials are trying to do everything they can for these soldiers who will spend Thanksgiving in isolation. Turkey dinners will be served, and troops will be assigned "personal shoppers" to bring them food or items they missed when they were overseas.
"We want it to be as positive of an experience as it can be," Col. John Allen told WTKR-TV.