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.
The Army's athletic mascot could be changing as soon as the spring, reported Military Times.
The teams are currently called the "Black Knights," a name that became official in 1999 but has a legacy that extends back to the 1920s. Army athletics were technically called the "Cadets" until the turn of the millennium, but sports journalists had been referring to the organization as the "Black Knight of the Hudson" for about 80 years, referring to the Army academy's location near the Hudson River in West Point, New York.
There had been rumors that the program would return to being called "Cadets," but officials say they would rather start fresh with a new, all-encompassing representative. While many people like the Knights moniker because it implies strength and leadership, others gravitate toward the cadet mascot for its military connotation. The goal in selecting a new athletics symbol will be to bring these elements together.
"We really want to make sure we have something that identifies regionally, nationally and internationally," West Point's athletic director, Boo Corrigan, told the Times-Herald Record.
Military Times reported that the institution hopes to finalize a change in March or April of next year.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Lt. John Pritchard was recently inducted into the Hall of Heroes at the Coast Guard Academy in New London, Connecticut. The World War II pilot, who perished in 1942, graduated from the institution in 1938.
According to Military Times, Pritchard served the Coast Guard on assignments in Greenland. He was doing war-time patrols on a cutter of the coast of the nation when a U.S. Air Force B-17 crashed on an icy tundra. The crew lived but were stranded. Pritchard successfully found the group and rescued two passengers, bringing them back to his ship. The following day, he and a colleague volunteered to return for the remaining stranded soldiers. It was during this second trip that the aircraft exploded shortly after takeoff, killing all three men inside.
A week before this fatal journey, Pritchard had successfully saved members of the Royal Canadian Air Force from an icy death during a dangerous mission. The award ceremony on Friday, Nov. 7, primarily focused on this outstanding accomplishment, noted Military Times. The late servicemember's sister attended the tribute, which included Pritchard's name being added to a wall of honorable Coast Guard members.
According to Fox News, this recognition of Pritchard's heroism came about after an initiative was launched to recover the aircraft he died in, which is currently in a glacier. In 2010, the Coast Guard, in collaboration with a private contractor, picked up signals on radar of what they thought was the plane wreck and were able to take pictures through ice to confirm the location of the aircraft. When crews returned to the glacier this summer, however, they were not able to find any signs of the plane. Officials, while discouraged, have not given up on someday bringing the remains home.
"It's safe to say the case is not closed," Cmdr. Brian Glander, the chief of the Office of Aviation Forces at Coast Guard headquarters, told Fox News.