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.
On Saturday, Dec. 27, U.S. Coast Guard officers from Sitka, Alaska, rescued two boaters when their boat ran aground.
According to Military.com, both the man and woman in the 17-foot boat were thrown from the skiff during the accident. While the female passenger was unharmed, the man was injured on his head and face. The event occurred about 10 miles south of Sitka, right by Kanga Bay.
Marine Link reported that after the couple was ejected from the small boat it drifted away and left them stranded. Emergency operators in the Sitka region received a call on behalf of the couple around 10 p.m., noted Military.com. Both a Sitka Fire Department ship and a Coast Guard MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter deployed from Air Station Sitka in search of the stranded boaters. They were taken into the helicopter and rushed to a hospital in Sitka, where they received care.
Though it is still not clear what the cause of the incident was, officers view the rescue as a success.
"This case was a good demonstration of the collective effort between the Coast Guard and Sitka Fire and Rescue to effectively combine our skills and assets in order to render assistance to these mariners," Lt. Jason Condon, Jayhawk pilot, Air Station Sitka, stated in a Coast Guard release.
The Coast Guard plans to upgrade its foghorns from its current old-style models to those with newer technology. The change will take place in New Hampshire and Maine communities.
According to the Associated Press, the new horns will be both safer and more effective. They will be activated through marine radios, as opposed to the current horns, which go off automatically when it is foggy. The new machines will most likely result in fewer blasts, noted the source, making them much more cost-effective options.
Community members in the affected regions are not thrilled about the change, reported Stars and Stripes. Because the old systems were going off frequently throughout the day, while the new systems chime only rarely, residents are concerned about their safety and effectiveness. While some residents are happy with the increased silence, most long-time dwellers of towns such as York, Maine, have been banding together in opposition of the switch.
The Coast Guard has decided to implement a year-long educational campaign to teach locals about the benefits of the new horns, which they hope will rally support in the seaside towns.
President Barack Obama announced on Sunday, Dec. 28, that the 13-year war in Afghanistan is officially over, reported NBC News. A ceremony was held in Kabul to symbolize what the president referred to as a "responsible conclusion."
According to Military Times, the ceremony was an exclusive event, with only hand-picked officials present. The International Security Assistance Force's green-and-white flag was taken down, rolled and sheathed. It was then replaced by a new banner meant to represent Resolute Support, the new international mission currently in place in the nation.
Speeches were given, mostly commemorating those whose lives were lost during the war. NBC reported that 2,200 U.S. troops were killed since the fighting began in 2001. Approximately 10,000 civilians lost their lives, while 5,000 Afghan soldiers died this year alone. Military Times noted that U.S. Gen. John Campbell, the current commander of ISAF, gave a speech in memory of the nearly 4,000 international troops who perished during the war as well.
"Thanks to the extraordinary sacrifices of our men and women in uniform, our combat mission in Afghanistan is ending, and the longest war in American history is coming to a responsible conclusion," President Obama said in a release.
When the first responders of Henrico County, Virginia, heard 3-year-old Tommy Opperman's story, they knew they wanted to make his Christmas extra special.
According to WFSB, the little boy has experienced an incredible amount of loss in his short life. Two years ago he survived an accident that proved fatal for his mother. Tommy was being raised by his single father, Erik, a 44-year-old volunteer firefighter, until he unexpectedly passed from a heart attack only a few weeks ago. When local police officer Doug Trammell responded to the emergency call and realized that Tommy would be facing a life without his parents, he wanted to make sure the young child at least had a chance at a good Christmas.
According to WTVR, Trammell spread the word about Tommy's situation to other first responders, who raised $15,000. The money was given to Gretchen Miller, his aunt and now guardian, so she could purchase plenty of presents for both Tommy and his cousins, and save some toward his future. Miller also purchased clothes and household items for Tommy, who now lives with her family.
"We're going to re-start his life and have some fun," Miller told WTVR.
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.
Scott Schuelke, a retired police officer from Michigan, has a new mission: To educate first responders on how to properly interact with people who have an autism spectrum disorder.
According to the Associated Press, the former Lansing police sergeant now works for the Autism Alliance of Michigan as an autism safety specialist. He hosts seminars and training workshops to educate law enforcement officials about the disorders, which typically involve social and language barriers. Schuelke wants first responders to be able to effectively interact with autistic people they may encounter on the job or elsewhere in their lives.
The source noted that the former cop served on the force for 25 years. In his new role, he has hosted over 300 seminars and educated almost 10,000 people throughout the nation, just within the past three years.
Many cops who have experienced the training seminars feel that the information was extremely helpful. Often, they think back to situations where they had a hard time getting through to someone and realize that person was probably on the autism spectrum. If only they had had the proper communication resources, things could have gone a lot smoother. Some of Schuelke's students have children with autism, and they appreciate the skills they learned from the helpful seminars.
According to the Autism Alliance of Michigan, Schuelke covers a variety of topics throughout his training sessions. He focuses on risks that are close to home, such as people with autism wandering away – particularly to dangerous bodies of water – or having access to toxins. School risks are also highlighted, particularly the effects that bullying can have on someone dealing with autism and the potential for injury.
"The more we know about autism, then the better service that we can provide," stated seminar participant Mark Boody.
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.