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Posts: 22228
Oct 23 09 8:23 AM
StreetMutt wrote: I'm a military wife - albeit of a Coastie so I tend to think I'm a civilian - but I try to keep in touch with how the government treats us and so forth. My sister's husband is Army, and I'm friends with those in the Marines and Navy. This thread is coming out of a convo I had this AM with another Coastie wife (who also works at the paper). I must say this has been a great year! There has been a lot of forward progress and I wanted to share with those who may not be as in tune. • Military got it's regular annual pay increase in a recession. Next year this regular increase will go up by .5%! (now a 3.4% pay increase well above inflation) • Expansion of GI Bill to spouses; and some other relaxation of other rules, but I can't recall • Easier absentee ballot voting (nearly 25% of military absentee votes last election were discounted because they were not notarized) • A huge drive by Marines and Army to meet higher quotas with higher standards (has also helped military communities with their economies), both of which bring less stress while overseas; our region alone has welcomed 8k new troops over the last year • A huge push for mental help for veterans and advance funding for VA hospitals • And one of my favorites: troops stationed at home volunteer once monthly to help their community. My husband and his boat help build trails at the national park once a month (anyone see Obama and HW Bush team up to urge civilians to volunteer? So nice to see politics set aside) • A coherent and flexible strategy in Iraq, and now serious consideration for a true strategy in Afghanistan (not just throw more troops in harm's way, but actually realizing it is a different beast and may need a different view than Iraq); looks like my brother-in-law will def go to Afghanistan early next year, so too little too late at the moment for keeping him out of harm's way Luckily he entered Iraq as it was calming down, but he was still in so much danger Anyway, I wanted to share good news about the men and women who serve this country. We are so grateful for their service and it is really positive how many things have gone their way in the last year. I only hope it continues. Maybe we'll finally see the repeal of the don't ask don't tell that has lost so many of our wonderful service men and women just because they were outed, and getting rid of the F-22 program (and getting that personnel into other jobs). First the military, perhaps next education? One can only hope. I know there are other military and military spouses on the board, and you're more than welcome to add to anything I forgot. For those who think we don't honor our military, I hope you take a look at this and realize how much this country strives to give back. It could always treat them better, but at least we've made some really positive strides I'll admit, when I went to cover Obama in February in advance of his strategy for Iraq, I was certain he was going to cut military spending. He outlined there some lofty goals, and touted increased spending for military and mil families. I wanted to believe him, but was a bit dubious since he's had so much on his plate. Kudos to him and Congress for really stepping up. We're almost there. Just a little bit more!
Posts: 10938
Oct 23 09 8:36 AM
charleyharvey wrote: SM is a smart lady. She'd run circles around half the people on this board who pride themselves on their cleverness and intellect.
RebelsBuckaroo wrote: SM's all badass keeping illegal chickens in her yard and what not. She's a G.
baxtersmom wrote: When the Nation of FiSH arises, SM will be the Intelligence and Communications Director.
Posts: 835
Oct 23 09 8:38 AM
Want to end up with a million bucks in the horse business? Start out with five million.
-Anonymous
Posts: 2491
Oct 23 09 8:39 AM
Oct 23 09 8:40 AM
Oct 23 09 8:53 AM
StreetMutt wrote: Plus, there are those Coasties during summertime practicing flying routines ... flying routines that happen to take them low to the beach to check out all the girlies! Sometimes I question the government letting the military get away with such reckless spending lol
Oct 23 09 9:04 AM
StreetMutt wrote: There is a reason why a civilian is in charge of our military, pdj, and it's called the constitution. Our founding fathers brilliantly put that in place. If you don't like the way America operates, there are plenty of other countries that could use an old man with your knowledge of horses and cows. I never said everything was peachy. I'm just bringing positive military news to the forum. If you would like to start your own thread about everything you want to complain about go ahead ... oh wait, you already do that.
Posts: 5862
Oct 23 09 9:17 AM
Oct 23 09 9:29 AM
Oct 23 09 9:31 AM
nola wrote: How dare you and I am shocked. Members of military families do not assert policy bullshit when they nothing. And basically we ALL know nothing. The lives of our loved ones are in the hands of their competent commanders. With any luck our president will pull his head out of his ass and pay attention to the men and women on the ground and fight a fucking war not pander to idiots who are informed through a state controlled media. "Throw more men in harms way..." Honestly what war college did you attend? The surge worked and generals are asking for backup in Afghanistan. What is so hard about that? Girl, you wanna make friends of wives, mothers, sisters and family of military personel than either educate yourself, talk to REAL military familes with real deployments or SHUT UP. If you for one second you think you are supporting or helping those deployed right now by gulping down everything you hear on state controlled media and repeating what you hear you are terribly mistaken. They want to fight and win this war in Afghanistan and know how to do it, as Americans (and if Barrak can put aside his ego) we need to let them do what they do. I am from a military family, many are veterans and many deployed. I work with coasties everyday as well as federal agents and my family is full of police officers. I can tell you what they want: SHUT UP AND LET US WIN (and send us good shit every couple weeks).
Oct 23 09 9:34 AM
Oct 23 09 9:35 AM
StreetMutt wrote: good to hear your passion, nola. They need people like us standing behind them. We have a great country and great people who serve it. Kudos to your family.
Oct 23 09 9:40 AM
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Oct 23 09 9:44 AM
Oct 23 09 9:48 AM
Posts: 1525
Oct 23 09 9:49 AM
ImproperUsername wrote: My husband is managing a National Guard/university agricultural development team in Afghanistan. The region he is working in is somewhat calmer than other areas, because it is farm country and the farmers just want to take care of their families and be left alone. (To answer the obvious question, no that specific region is not poppy country.) The farmers have some very ingenious methods for farming the narrow vallies between mountains, but their major problem is getting their products out to markets. They have been open and interested in whatever assistance my husband's team has to offer. The team collected school supplies (ballpoint ink pens are regarded as awesome by the locals) and took them to the girls' school. They had female team members do that delivery, due to cultural considerations. The girls were as tickled and showed their appreciation with smiles, and would hold female soldiers by the hand. Across the street, little boys at the boys school looked envious at the attention and goodies the girls were getting, so there are plans to do the same thing for them.
Oct 23 09 10:22 AM
Oct 23 09 10:31 AM
Oct 23 09 10:33 AM
StreetMutt wrote: That's her right to get mad at me. I'm not going to argue with her about it. I just appreciate she cares enough to be so vocal. If she wants, she totally believe that I know nothing of military families since my husband is coastie. It doesn't offend me. I did however bring another thread about so that every one's voice can be heard on the subject of Afghanistan, since it seems to brought into every thread on this side. It'll be nice to hear what every one has to say. I'm also interested in hearing more from military and spouses about the positives. I'd say it's been a great decade or more with solid positives, but as I mentioned in my OP, there is a long way to go. But that's what makes this country great: constantly evolving and bettering itself
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