Serving in the military is an often lauded career choice in the U.S. If you have been wondering how best to honor a veteran close to you, May is the perfect month to do so, as it is National Military Appreciation Month (NMAM), a time for veneration and celebration. Life after service presents interesting new opportunities for veterans – but it never hurts to have a special month dedicated to solidarity and support of the military community in the U.S.
Origins of National Military Appreciation Month
NMAM gained traction in 1999, when it was first championed as a serious cause. According to NMAM's official website, Sen. John McCain of Arizona and Sen. Duncan Hunter of Arizona helped foster legislation that eventuated in May being reserved for showing honor to veterans. The source noted that this cause has gained bi-partisan support – both houses of congress passed a measure officially making May National Military Appreciation Month.
"There is no inopportune time to thank a military member or veteran for their service and sacrifice," said Joe Davis, spokesman for the Veterans of Foreign Wars, according to Army Times.
Many facets of NMAM
The month in no way seeks to detract from habitual warm treatment of veterans – which helps to assist in the transition from life after military. Instead, the holiday designated for May seeks to deliver a firm reminder of the sacrifice of men and women overseas. NMAM.org noted that this also helps to serve as an educational reminder of the role of the military in the U.S. throughout the years.
The source suggested that learning about the role of the Continental Army in the American Revolution and other military events can help catalyze interest and respect for the military – a respect that the source believes has diminished over the years. In this vein, the source noted that encouraging educators to teach more military-related history is one of the goals of the appreciation month.
The site also noted more recent military references – such as the 38th Parallel and Normandy. Perhaps accounts of Allied troops storming Nazi-occupied France and General Douglas MacArthur's savvy military maneuver at the Inchon landing in the Korean War will whet the appetite of a generation of students who are unaware of these events.
Various ways to show support to veterans during celebration
The Huffington Post noted that there are numerous ways to show a veteran support – excellent news for individuals eager to participate in National Military Appreciation Month. The source suggested that an arduous aspect of soldiers lives is their spouses' experience in encountering the job market, which has not been the greatest since the 2008 recession.This is further exacerbated due to the fear among employers that military families may move swiftly, making a hire look unfeasible to employers.
"It's the inevitable question from potential employers: 'How did you end up in Hawaii?' I'm never quite comfortable answering this question, for one I feel it's a screening question to find out if I am a military spouse," said Melissa, a military spouse, according to The Huffington Post, "While my instinct is to be direct with a potential employer, there's a fear that being found out as a military spouse could hurt my chances of getting a job."
Therefore, a way to help soldiers and veterans during the May celebration may be to ensure that wives and husbands are able to obtain gainful employment. This, of course, will be hard to deliver, but the month will bring many opportunities. NMAM. org followed this sentiment, exhibiting the onus put on employees and employers when troops head to overseas locations. Regardless, consider doing something special for a veteran during NMAM.
The Obama administration recently announced that it will sign a new lease to keep a military base in the country of Djibouti, providing a military presence in Africa for the next 20 years. According to The New York Times, this base is the only U.S. military presence on the African continent, and is being pursued to serve as a counter-terrorism bulwark against militancy in Somalia and Yemen. This is further evidence of the far-flung nature of the U.S. military, as life after service for many soldiers brings them back to the U.S. from exotic locations all over the globe.
Obama administration sees base as a crucial resource in region
"Obviously, Camp Lemonnier is extraordinarily important not only to our work throughout the Horn of Africa but throughout the region," said Obama, as quoted by the news source.
Djibouti is a small East-African country, but many see it as providing strategic value to America's global commitments. For example, All Africa noted that the military installation has been used in the past to coordinate attacks on Al-Qaeda fighters, lending credence to what the source refers to as Obama's view of the installment as "critical" in diminishing militancy in Africa and globally.
"The U.S. has calculated that putting the money into what's seen as a relatively stable country in a very strategic location with access to a lot of unstable countries will pay off both in the near and the long term," said Joe Siegle, research director at the Africa Center for Strategic Studies, according to All Africa.
Siegle's comments reflect on the administration's goal to provide more stable environments to countries that have, unfortunately, experienced the devastating effects of war and the lack of the rule of law, inequities that the administration's commitments in Djibouti clearly want to improve.
Other considerations said to precipitate move to 20-year lease
"More and more oil is being imported there from Africa into the United States, as well as other strategic minerals," said Abayomi Azikiwe, editor of Pan-African News Wire, according to the source, "That, in our opinion, is guiding this increased military presence."
Thus, the U.S. seeks to ensure continuity in its military presence in Africa, while also trading resources with the small African country, which may help to expand economic opportunity in the region. This information may be appealing to those involved in providing army benefits, who may desire to see Africa grow, both militarily and economically.
The Times also noted that the Obama administration's pending 20-year lease came close to encountering awkwardness, as Russia also wanted a small portion of land in the African country, though the Times suggests that the pending agreement between the U.S. and Djibouti seems to preclude any deal with Russia, which has recently drawn the ire of the U.S. and the international community for the kerfuffle in the Ukraine.
"The Russians came to see us; they wanted facilities in our country," said Mahmoud Ali Youssef, Djibouti's foreign minister, according to the source.
As the U.S. seeks to build solidarity and support in Africa, it also desires to buttress this by providing a significant amount of material aid. The source said that the U.S. plans to invest a billion dollars in the military installation, which may even lead to benefits for veterans who served at the African base.
"Our relation is a relation of strategic partnership," said Ismail Omar Guelleh, president of Djibouti, according to the source, "The fact that we welcome U.S. forces in our country shows our support for international peace, and for peace in our region as well."
The administration's efforts to burnish the U.S.'s military presence in Africa will be sure to provide interesting commentary in the future, especially regarding U.S. commitments worldwide.
President Barack Obama's current trip to Asia comes amid the growing ascension of various squabbles in the region. According to Yahoo News, Obama's itinerary includes visits to several Asian countries, including Malaysia, South Korea and Japan. The president's visits are taking place at a time when tensions are high. This is certainly the case with theSenkaku Islands, which are currently the subject of an acrimonious ownership dispute between China and Japan.
Obama shows fealty to Japan
"We don't take a position on final sovereignty" over the islands, said Obama, as quoted by The New York Times, "But historically, they have been administered by Japan, and we do not believe they should be subject to change unilaterally."
The president's words reflects America's allegiance to Japan, bound by a defense treaty to protect the Asian nation's ownership of the island. Many view U.S. foreign policy as having a pivotal role in Asia, especially for the purposes of quelling nationalistic squabbles.
"This is a very important turning point for the United States-Japan alliance because it means the period of drift under President Obama has finally come to an end," said Yuichi Hosoya, an expert on American-Japanese relations at Keio University in Tokyo, according to The New York Times. "The fact that this was said by the president will have a huge psychological impact on Japanese officials and people."
This suggests Obama's trips is founded on significantly increasing solidarity between Japan and the U.S., and more broadly, with all of America's Asian allies.
Obama shows solidarity with South Korea
"Obviously we come here at a time when there has been provocative language from North Korea, and it's important for us to show complete solidarity with our ally, the Republic of Korea, in standing up to those provocations," said Ben Rhodes, Obama's deputy national security adviser, as quoted by Yahoo News.
This comment suggests the administration's commitment to defending South Korea, should North Korea increase aggressive stances against its southern neighbor. The president's visit also comes amid tragedy, as a South Korean ferry sunk just a week before Obama's visit.
In his trip to South Korea, the president spoke of what many see as the deep loyalty held between the U.S. and the Korean democracy.
"Our solidarity is bolstered by the courage of our service members, both Korean and American, who safeguard this nation," noted Obama while in South Korea, as quoted by Yahoo News.
U.S. soldiers who returned to civilian life after military tenure in the Korean War may have appreciated the president's comments, reflecting the shared historical bond South Korea and the U.S. share. South Korea is increasingly worried about the nuclear ambitions of North Korea. Therefore, the stakes of the president's visit are quite high, as reflected in the rousing speeches he made while in South Korea.
The volatile climate suggests the intense level of statesmanship necessary to be a U.S. president, balancing the numerous conflicting issues to maintain a suitable balance of power, though only the future will tell what the outcomes will be.
A veteran represents one of the most venerated individuals in society. With many soldiers contending with life after service, it is obvious that the military is changing in vast and revolutionary ways. A relatively recent aspect of military life is the introduction of woman into the ranks. This historical event has lead women to perform admirably and heroically in the armed services. A brief summary of women veterans and their role in military life is thus in order, especially given that March was women's history month.
Early history of women in military
According to The Huffington Post, the number of women in the U.S. armed services has reached an "unprecedented" level. The source noted that women were involved in military preparation during the American Revolutionary War, serving as nurses and other non-combative roles. However, despite the prohibition on women in combat until relatively recently, many women found a way to the front lines. This may have been indicative of the eagerness that women have shown throughout U.S. history to enter the ranks of the military, although this was only reflected legally in recent decades. Deborah Sampson, a woman of the revolutionary generation, disguised herself as a man to serve in George Washington's army for a year in 1781, according to History.org. Another prominent woman during the American Revolution was Mary Ludwig, who helped bring water to patriot troops in the Battle of Monmouth.
Seminal influence of "Molly Pitcher"
Monmouth is located in central New Jersey, playing a significant role in the tide turning to the patriot side in the war. Ludwig earned the moniker "Molly Pitcher" for her life-saving efforts to bring sustenance to troops, even taking up the mantle as a cannon gunner when her husband was incapacitated during the battle. Her memory lives on today in the Molly Pitcher Inn in Red Bank, New Jersey, a posh restaurant and hotel that overlooks the placid Navesink River.
The U.S. has filled the venerable legacy of Molly Pitcher, having a significant number of women in the army, not to mention female soldiers who will receive veterans insurance. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has a special section on their website called the Center for Women Veterans providing information on health, resources, community engagement and public service. This can be an excellent resource if returning veterans are unsure of the benefits they are entitled to. Likewise, the Veterans Affairs website offers information for the family and spouses of returning veterans, a valuable resource for loved ones eagerly awaiting a solider from overseas.
Influential moments in the history of women's role in the armed services
According to History. Org, women were officially allowed in the armed services in 1973, when the draft was ended. This lead to the creation of an all-volunteer-army, helping to exponentially increase the number of women in the ranks.
Another prominent turning point occurred when women began to be permitted at military service academies, such as West Point. The glass ceiling has continued to crack, with thousands of women serving in Iraq, Afghanistan, Bosnia and other hotspots.
The source noted that 41,000 women were deployed during the Persian Gulf War, a testament to the quick ascension women have made in the army in the relatively short time they have been authorized to serve.
For some, the gains may seem slow and incremental. The source also suggests this, displaying the progress throughout the years that women have made in the armed services. For example, a woman commanded a warship for the first time in 2000, while the first time a woman commanded a fight squadron only occurred in 2004.
About 150 American paratroops arrived in Poland Wednesday, a day after the U.S. announced that it will deploy approximately 600 troops to Poland and the Baltics. The other 450 soldiers are being sent to Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia, and are expected to arrive by April 28, according to Stars and Stripes.
U.S. presence in eastern Europe will be a long-term affair
The news source reported that Witold Waszczykowski, a Polish diplomat, hopes this will be the first of many steps to bolster the security of Poland and its neighboring countries. In the wake of Russia's annexation of Crimea, the U.S. has deployed fighter jets to monitor Poland and the Baltics, but the dispatch of American paratroops marks the first instance of U.S. military presence on eastern European soil. Pentagon spokesman Rear Adm. John Kirby noted that the troops will partake in training exercises that will continue for the remainder of the year and possibly longer.
"Russia's aggression in Ukraine has renewed our resolve to strengthening NATO's defense plans and capabilities, and to demonstrate our continued commitment to collective defense in reinforcing our NATO allies in central and eastern Europe," said Kirby, as quoted by Stars and Stripes.
Biden calls on Russia to help defuse crisis
On the same day that the Pentagon announced the deployment of paratroops, Vice President Joe Biden visited Kiev to meet with Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseny Yatseniuk. Following the meeting, Biden attended a news conference in which he called on Russia to remove its troops from its border with the Ukraine, Reuters reported. He stated that if Moscow continues to make provocative actions, the U.S. will impose further sanctions against Russia.
"No nation should threaten its neighbors by amassing troops along the border. We call on Russia to pull these forces," said Biden, as quoted by Reuters. "We have been clear that more provocative behavior by Russia will lead to more costs and to greater isolation."
Currently, Russia has about 40,000 troops stationed on Ukraine's eastern border, and U.S. officials have stated that Moscow has deployed special operatives to eastern Ukraine in their efforts to destabilize the region. The dispatch of American troops to eastern Europe is intended to enhance the security of NATO allies in light of Russia's military buildup. According to Kirby, the U.S.' move is "not insignificant," and American troops will be engaging in real infantry training.
The U.S. military took a major step forward in the ongoing reduction of its presence in Afghanistan April 8, when the last American forces that remained in Nimroz left the province. According to a Marine Corps news release, U.S. Security Force Assistance Advisor Team 4-215 will entrust the Afghan National Army soldiers of the 4th Brigade, 215th corps to maintain order in the region.
4th Brigade demonstrates ability to function on its own
Leaders of the American team expressed confidence that the ANA group will be successful in overseeing the security of Nimroz's people without assistance from the U.S. military.
"We've seen the entire ANA develop at an unbelievable rate, in spite of substantial challenges," said SFAAT 4-215 Lt. Col. Zeigler, according to a Marines Corps news release. "Undoubtedly, they will need to make adjustments to account for reduced coalition support, and will most likely not operate exactly as we've envisioned, but this is precisely the next critical step in their evolution. I believe they will emerge leaner, meaner and more effective than they are now. I look forward to watching them succeed."
SFAAT 4-215 had been training the 4th Brigade in areas of intelligence, reconnaissance and surveillance. The ANA group's security contributed to the success of the recent Afghan national elections, in which approximately 7 million citizens voted. For the SFAAT, this was sufficient evidence of the 4th Brigade's readiness to operate as an independent unit.
Nimroz's American troops will leave behind just several buildings and structures, which hold equipment such as generators and water tanks that will be passed on to the ANA soldiers. Additionally, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers plans to finish construction of a base for the 4th Brigade by October.
The future of U.S. military presence in Afghanistan
SFAAT 4-215's departure from Nimroz leaves Helmand as the sole Afghanistan province with an American military presence. In comparison to the turbulent Helmand, Nimroz has been a relatively quiet region requiring minimal support from the Marines, Military Times reported.
The news source also noted that military authorities have stated that in the near future, operations in Regional Command-South – which consists of Nimroz and Helmand – will shift focus toward training, advisory and assistance efforts. Currently, about 4,500 Marines remain in the area, but officials with International Security Assistance Force have stated the intention to reduce U.S. military presence in Afghanistan by more than 30 percent by late October.
The U.S. Navy has deployed multiple helicopters and the USS Bonhomme Richard, an amphibious assault ship, to assist in the search for survivors of a sunken South Korean ferry. CNN reported that at least 179 passengers have been rescued, but authorities estimate that 287 people are trapped inside the ship. While it is uncertain whether any of the missing individuals are still alive, authorities are operating under the belief that there are survivors that have yet to be found.
Navy joins an already extensive search effort
The ferry began to sink April 16 near Jindo, an island off the southwestern coast of South Korea. More than 450 people, many of whom were elementary school students, were on the ship as it traveled from Incheon, South Korea toward Jeju Island. Already, approximately 170 ships and 512 divers are involved with the search effort.
According to Stars and Stripes, Lt. Arlo Abrahamson, spokesman for the commander of Naval Forces Korea, said two MH-60 helicopters are searching an area 6 to 17 miles from the site of the incident. This endeavor was requested by the South Korean commander leading the search effort. Initially, two Navy helicopters carrying lifeboats were sent to the disaster site but were later recalled.
The Bonhomme Richard's call to action
Just prior to joining the search effort, the Bonhomme Richard had been performing routine operations in a region west of the Korean peninsula. The ship's commanding officer Capt. Joey Tynch wrote that his team received a call for assistance around noon on Wednesday. The Bonhomme Richard promptly redirected its course and headed toward the disaster site at full speed.
"When we were alerted to the accident, we immediately diverted to the scene to render assistance," said Capt. Heidi C. Agle, according to a Navy news release. "However, the efficiency of the Korean response eclipsed the immediate need for our assets. We are standing by to provide support as requested by the on-scene commander."
Stars and Stripes noted that the search could become more difficult due to high currents and inclement weather conditions. Nonetheless, the Bonhomme Richard appears to be well-prepared to assist the rescue effort. About 3,000 sailors and Marines are aboard the ship, and the vessel is equipped with MV-22 Osprey aircraft, MH-60 helicopters and small boats designed to conduct search operations.
The U.S. military is in a state of high alert following an episode of heavy gunfire at an airport in eastern Ukraine. The Washington Times reported that the Ukranian government had deployed army troops to the airport in an effort to reclaim control from pro-Russian militants. According to the news source, the mayor of Kramatorsk stated that the Ukranian military has occupied the airport and is blocking its entrance.
U.S. military supports Ukraine's efforts
The U.S. has responded by providing tacit support to Ukranian troops, The Associated Press reported. White House spokesman Jay Carney explained that this is not the preferred plan of action, but it is crucial that the Ukranian government responds to the situation in order to maintain law and order. The AP noted that the U.S. will continue to back diplomatic and economic measures to mitigate tension in eastern Europe.
According to The AP, Russian state television indicated that as many as 11 people had been killed in the standoff at the Ukranian airport. Much of the gunfire seemed to have been warning shots.
Kiev is in the midst of carrying out an "anti-terrorist operation" against pro-Russian separatists, The Washington Times stated. Ukraine's interim president Oleksander Turchinov asserted that the military plan is intended as a means of protection and will occur in a gradual manner.
"It will be conducted step by step, responsibly, cautiously," Turchinov said, as quoted by The Washington Times. "The aim of these actions is to protect the citizens of Ukraine, to stop terror, to stop criminality, to stop attempts to tear Ukraine to pieces."
Airport incident causes international worry
The incident has raised concern that the Russian government could cut off Kiev's access to gas supplies, which would disrupt gas service to the European Union. On Tuesday, German energy company RWE began delivering to Ukraine, indicating a reversal of the standard east-west flow through a single European pipeline. Despite this conspicuous change, Russian exporter Gazprom has promised to act as a reliable supplier to the EU.
Gunfire at the airport occurred in the immediate wake of an alarming incident in which a Russian fighter jet made close-range passes near the USS Donald Cook over the Black Sea. According to The Washington Times, President Barack Obama spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday – a day before the airport standoff – and both leaders agreed to do everything possible to prevent violent conflicts.
Washington will join Colorado in the coming months as the second state in the U.S. to open retail storefronts that sell marijuana. While Federal law still prohibits the sale, possession and use of the controlled substance, the Obama administration has made it clear that retailers and recreational users in those two states will not be prosecuted according to Federal statutes.
When it comes to servicemembers stationed in Washington, however, they are still prohibited from marijuana use, according to Military.com. An official from Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Tacoma, Wash., said in an interview that the Armed Forces' policy on the substance has been made very clear to soldiers stationed at the installation. Regardless of the legality applied to civilians, troops are still prohibited from any indulgences.
No pot for soldiers
It may not come as a surprise to many that servicemembers will not be allowed to partake in Washington's progression toward legalized recreational marijuana use, and Lt. Gen. Stephen Lanza is taking care to make the military's policy clear to the troops under his command at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.
"Our soldiers understand what's legal," Lanza said in an interview, as quoted by Military.com. "From our perspective, marijuana or any type of illegal drug is something that's not tolerated."
Lanza's comments join a similar prohibition on marijuana use for National Guardsmen in Washington. Moreover, the Armed Forces do not distinguish between medicinal and recreational uses of the substance. Even new recruits who enlist after Washington makes marijuana use fully legal for civilians are not grandfathered in to any kind of lax policy.
No smoke over the Rocky Mountains
Servicemembers in Washington will be similarly prohibited from marijuana use as their counterparts in Colorado, which is almost a year ahead of the former state in terms of an established retail market for the substance. In Colorado, it is not only legal to buy and sell marijuana, but individuals may also grow a small number of plants for their own personal use.
Rep. Mike Coffman, R.-Colo., told The Colorado Springs Gazette that servicemembers should be afforded the same rights as other citizens of the state.
"We're the first state to step out with legalization of marijuana, but the military isn't stepping out with us," Coffman told the paper in a telephone interview.
In conversations with military officials, Coffman was told that marijuana is banned on grounds that it could decrease the combat readiness of its troops, though off duty soldiers are prohibited from recreational use just the same.
The Pentagon's continuing efforts to cut costs associated with military spending have put many different possible sources of revenue in the spotlight. From cost of living adjustments to base closings, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel is looking at any and all ways to recoup money from the Armed Forces' budget.
According to Stars and Stripes, commissaries are the latest focus of the Pentagon's efforts to tighten the military's purse strings. Despite earlier promises that the base outlets would remain safe from cuts and closures, Pentagon officials are now discussing eliminating and drawing back on commissaries at bases across the country.
Cutting down on commissaries
When the Pentagon submitted its 2015 fiscal year budget in early March, critics pored over its contents to find what branches of the military would be hit the hardest. Now, it appears that the current $1.4 million earmarked for subsidies to commissaries that are used to keep costs low for servicemembers would be decreased over a three-year period to only $400 million. Due to the loss of the subsidies, the current 30 percent level of savings enjoyed by military personnel would decrease to around 10 percent.
These cuts would not affect commissaries located at foreign bases, as Pentagon officials believe the cost of living for those soldiers is high enough to warrant the lower prices.
"We are not shutting down any commissaries. We recommend gradually phasing out some subsidies but only for domestic commissaries that are not in remote locations," Hagel told a group of senators in early March, as quoted by Stars and Stripes.
Hagel may have spoken too soon, however, as Frederick Vollrath, assistant secretary of defense for readiness and force management, told members of the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Personnel that closing commissaries is not out of the question just yet.
"It's a possibility [but] I don't know what the probability is," Vollrath told the committee Mar. 26.
Additional cuts to health care
The budget cuts and possible closures of commissaries at bases across the country are not the only changes servicemembers may have to stomach, as The Washington Post reported that the new budget would also increase fees associated with the military's Tricare health care coverage program.
Hagel said that the benefits and coverage of the Tricare program would not be affected, but that the enrollment and maintenance fees would be increased to cover gaps in the budget.