With a snow storm approaching the Northeast, many of us are hustling around getting prepared for yet another weekend in the house. Yet, for many of our Soldiers, a little snow is nothing new. Check out the “Army Snowy Days” photo slide below and see how Army Soldiers are Army Strong in any weather!

Soldiers with Alpha Company, 101st Division Special Troop Battalion, 101st Airborne Division drive toward Afghanistan’s Salang tunnel in the Hindu Kush mountain range, Friday. The A Co. Soldiers were checking on the security efforts for the tunnel.

Soldiers with Alpha Company, 101st Division Special Troop Battalion, 101st Airborne Division rest at Afghanistan’s Salang tunnel in the Hindu Kush mountain range, Friday. The A Co. Soldiers were checking on the security efforts for the tunnel.

Sgt. Margarita Gutierrez of U.S. Army Europe’s 13th Military Police Company shovels snow on a shelter to provide some natural insulation from the cold, during a four-week U.S.-Italian winter survival training course in the Dolomite Mountains of northern Italy. Photo by Staff Sgt. David Hopkins.

Have any snowy days pictures of your own? Email them to ocpa.osmd@us.army.mil or leave us a link in the comments section.

Posted byashmccall underArmy Family Snow Days, U.S Army | Comments (0)

In the past few weeks I’ve attended several promotion and retirement ceremonies.  Each ceremony different from each other; one was an ending to a career and the other a beginning. However different, each ceremony had a resonate theme – the Soldier’s gratitude for his or her spouse and family’s support during their military career

Whether it included a full-blown photo slide show played in step to Bette Midler’s “Wind Beneath My Wings,” or a tearful son presenting his father an Army pin, Soldiers recognize they can’t do it alone.

Family members play a significant role in a Soldier’s life by supporting their resilience and well-being. This is why family members now have the opportunity to participate in the Comprehensive Soldier Fitness (CSF) program by taking the Global Assessment Tool (GAT) and self-development modules.

Though not mandatory for family members, it is strongly encouraged for them to participate in the CSF program in conjunction with their Soldier in order to maximize the benefits to the entire family. The online training in the dimensions of strength will enhance and optimize one’s personal resilience as well as one’s relationship with others. These attributes will better prepare them to meet the ambiguous and unpredictable challenges of their personal and professional lives, and help restore balance to the Army and our Army families.

I know my wife Sandy has been the rock behind my Army career. She’s been able to maintain family stability and keep me in check—even when I’m sure she just wanted to slam the door in my face. It hasn’t been easy for her, but she’s been my “House-6” and I definitely wouldn’t be where I’m at without her. Sandy will participate in the CSF and take the GAT. I encourage you to share this with your significant family member—it will only make them stronger.

For more information, or to take the GAT please visit www.army.mil/csf.

-MSG B, Army Public Affairs

Posted byashmccall underArmy Family, Comprehensive Soldier Fitness Comprehensive Soldier Fitness, MSG Alberto Betancourt, U.S Army | Comments (0)

Brig. Gen. Richard Thomas, Assistant Surgeon General for Force Protection, left, and former NFL players Rocky Bleier and Eric Hipple pose for a photo in between interviews at the Super Bowl Media Center in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. The men have joined together to raise awareness about the dangers of traumatic brain injuries and mental health issues for servicemembers and NFL players. Photo Credit: Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class William Selby

When thinking about comparisons, it is rare one would think to compare the National Football League to the U.S. Army. One provides entertainment on Sundays, Mondays (and a few Thursdays) while one provides national security and protection seven days a week.

Nevertheless, there is one issue they have in common that affects both in very serious way-tramatic brain injuries. And although the injuries occur in extremely different situations, they are equally serious and important. This is why the NFL is teaming up with the U.S. Army to raise awareness about post-traumatic stress disorder, depression and brain injuries in servicemembers.

During an interview with The Pentagon Channel at the Super Bowl media center in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on Tuesday, Brig. Gen. Richard Thomas, assistant Surgeon General for Force Protection, stressed the importance of understanding the needs of servicemembers once they return from combat deployments.

Thomas was joined by NFL stars Eric Hipple, a former quarterback for the Detroit Lions who is now the outreach coordinator with the University of Michigan Depression Center, and Rocky Bleier, a Purple Heart and Bronze Star recipient and four-time Super Bowl winner.

Bleier has documented the problems he had after returning from Vietnam. He noted that both troops who return from war and NFL players who have retired from football often are reluctant to seek help for problems due to the stigma attached to counseling.

There are vehicles for servicemembers to get help for medical problems, Thomas said, but they “have to initiate the process.”

To learn more about how U.S. Army scientists and researchers are working towards understanding traumatic brain injuries suffered in combat, listen live at 2:00 pm to a DODBloggers Roundtable at http://ow.ly/13leU.

Posted byashmccall underArmy Photos, Current Events Gen. Richard Thomas, NFL, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Traumatic brain injuries, U.S Army | Comments (4)

It’s a Bird, it’s a Plane, it’s… an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle. And they have become a crucial piece of equipment for the U.S. Army. Read below an article from Sgt. Ben Hutto, of the 3rd HBCT Public Affairs Office currently located at the Forward Operating Base in Kalsu, Iraq to learn just how important these UVAs are.

Sgt. Richard Knuth (left), Sgt. Winston Chin (middle) and Pfc. Anthony McCormack, all assigned to Company A, Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 3^rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 3^rd Infantry Division, load an unmanned aerial vehicle  on to a launcher, Jan. 25, at Forward Operating Base Kalsu, Iraq. UAV’s are so heavy they require three Soldiers to load them.

Being a Soldier in the United States Army is a full-time job. No one understands that more than the Soldiers assigned to the 3^rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 3^rd Infantry Division’s unmanned aerial vehicle cell. Twenty-four hours a day they monitor the 3^rd HBCT’s area of operation from above.

“We are always on the lookout for the bad guys,” said Staff Sgt. Ray Lemlin, a platoon sergeant in Company A, Brigade Special Troops Battalion. “The goal is always to spot them before they can hurt us.”

The section’s commitment to excellence is shaped by their desire to keep their fellow Soldiers safe.

“It’s our job to keep our guys out of harm’s way,” said Sgt. Richard Knuth, a maintainer in Company A from Merkel, Texas. “It’s a good feeling, but it requires us to have a pretty high set of standards. We can have a lot of down time between flights so we’ve got to maintain our focus and not let duties become routine.”

As the Soldiers of the 3^rd HBCT continue their mission across five provinces in Iraq, they can rest assured they have an eye in the sky ensuring their safety.

Staff Sgt. Ray Lemlin, Staff Sgt. Ray Lemlin, a platoon sergeant in Company A, Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 3^rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 3^rd Infantry Division, checks the cameras an unmanned aerial vehicle before it is launched at Forward Operating Base Kalsu, Iraq, Jan. 25. Lemlin’s section maintains 24 hour aerial surveillance around the FOB.

Photo Credits: Sgt. Ben Hutto

Posted byashmccall underArmy News, Army Photos 3rd HBCT, Iraq 2010, U.S Army, Unmanned Aerial Vehicle | Comments (1)

A formation of African-American troops stand at attention prior to World War II. Photo Credit/File Photo.

February is African American History Month. Each year the Army commemorates the contributions and sacrifices made by its African American Soldiers and civilians with activities and events at installations throughout the Army. This year’s theme is “For Love of Liberty- Celebrating African American Soldiers throughout History.” A special PBS documentary also titled “For Love of Liberty” will air in February. This program highlights and celebrates the service of African-American patriots throughout history. African Americans at all levels – uniformed and civilian – have and continue to play, key leadership roles in the Army with fierce dedication to duty, honor and country.

The two-part documentary, produced with the Army’s cooperation, tells the untold story of African Americans’ service in the military throughout the nation’s history to win and protect freedoms they themselves often didn’t enjoy.

In addition to film footage and photos, For Love of Liberty uses letters, diaries, speeches, journalistic accounts, historical text, and military records to document the accomplishments of African Americans who served in the military since the republic’s earliest days. Their personal stories give a moving account of service and sacrifice, from the Revolutionary War – whose first casualty was a black man, Crispus Attucks – to today’s war against global terrorism.

So, tune in to PBS this week to view the documentary and learn about many of the unsung heroes of the U.S. Army.

Posted byashmccall underCurrent Events, Uncategorized African American History Month, U.S Army | Comments (2)

If you enjoy the Army’s “Photo Caption Fridays,” then you’ll love our newest addition-”Hot Jam of the Week.”

Soldiers, want your video highlighted on Army Live? Submit your cool videos with the link and a short description in the comments section below or email them to ocpa.osmd@us.army.mil.

(Disclaimer: This is NOT an official U.S. Army video. The appearance of external links does not constitute endorsement on behalf of the U.S. Army or Department of Defense).

YouTube Direkt

Posted byashmccall underUncategorized, social media social media, U.S Army | Comments (2)

With the recent announcement of President Obama’s fund increase to Military Family Programs, the importance of assisting our military Soldiers and families is ever prevalent. Today’s guest blog entry comes from a study completed at the Army War College by Dr. Leonard Wong and Dr. Steven Gerras discussing the the impact of multiple deployments on families, especially the children.

Butner Elementary School students sing patriotic music during a ceremony to celebrate the Month of the Military Child on Fort Bragg, N.C. The Month of the Military Child takes place during April.  U.S. Army photo by Pfc. Jessica M. Kuhn

The new reality of repetitive deployments has led to innovative programs and policies designed to assist military children in dealing with the difficulties of deployments.  Initiatives—ranging from “flat daddies” replacing deployed soldiers at the dinner table, to senior leaders ceremoniously signing the Army Family Covenant at installations across the world, to the First Lady proposing nearly $9 billion to support military families—point to the growing concern that multiple deployments may be as stressful to Army children as they are to soldiers.  Despite the increased attention and seemingly endless resources directed at children in deployed families, however, there has been very little research examining the effects of multiple deployments on children.

In March of 2009, Leonard Wong and Stephen Gerras from the U.S. Army War College began a two-phase study to examine the effects of multiple deployments on Army adolescents.  The first phase, collected through an online survey, evaluated the perspectives of over 2,000 soldiers, 700 spouses, and 500 Army children between 11 and 17.  The second phase collected the views of over 100 Army adolescents through individual interviews at 8 Army installations throughout the U.S. 

As expected, they found that strong families—to include a non-deployed spouse who coped well with deployments—as well as ample activities such as sports to keep Army youngsters busy serve to reduce stress levels of Army adolescents during a deployment.  Surprisingly, they also found that the attitudes of Army children play a role in dealing with deployment stress and coping with a life of deployments.  Children who believed that soldiers are making a difference in the world and that the American public supported the war were significantly more likely to report that they were coping better with deployments.  The study highlights the often overlooked impact of attitudinal factors such as the influence of public opinion concerning the war and the importance—in a life marked by multiple deployments—of an adolescent’s confidence that their parent’s call to duty is worth the sacrifice.

For a free download of the full study, please visit the US Army War College Strategic Studies Institute website: http://www.strategicstudiesinstitute.army.mil/pubs/display.cfm?pubID=962.

Posted byashmccall underArmy Family, Army News, Army Photos, Current Events Army Families, Army War College, Deployments, Military Children, U.S Army | Comments (2)

President Barack Obama’s fiscal year 2011 budget request calls for a record $8.8 billion for military family support programs, first lady Michelle Obama told military spouses on Tuesday at Bolling Air Force Base.

The budget request will include $1.3 billion to reduce shortages in military child care and ensure its quality remains high, and increase funding for youth programs. Another provision will provide $439 million to build 10 new Department of Defense Education Activity Schools.

Obama emphasized the challenges military children face, and the need to ensure they’re cared for.

“We cannot forget that military kids also serve in their own special way,” she said. “They’re just like any other child in this country – except their lives are turned upside-down every time their mom or dad is gone halfway around the world, risking their lives so that all our children can enjoy the freedoms of our democracy.”

Obama said her many interactions with military families over the past year has deepened her respect and gratitude for them, and her recognition of “the spirit and strength and courage that our military families display every day.”

“You put your own priorities aside. You take care of one another. You take care of this nation,” she said. “So, as first lady, I can’t thank you enough for that sacrifice, and I promise you that I will use every ounce of my energy to make sure that America always takes care of you.”

Obama said she recognizes that providing this level of support network will require “active citizens,” as well as the government, working hand in hand.

To read more about the 2011 budget provisions, visit http://bit.ly/9uomXt.

Military Families, we would like to here from you. What provisions would you like to see included in the budget to assist Military Family Programs?

Posted byashmccall underArmy News, Current Events 2011 Fiscal Budget, First Lady Michelle Obama, Military Families, President Obama, U.S Army | Comments (3)

Over the past months, the U.S. Army has been focusing on its new program, Comprehensive Soldier Fitness. Its mission is to increase resiliency in Soldiers, Family Members and Civilians. The program is centered on five dimensions of strength-physical, emotional, social, spiritual and family.

Recently, Lindy came across a very interesting article focused on the “resiliency” of business executives. The article, titled, “The Making of a Corporate Athlete,” acknowledges the idea that corporations need a true balance of “performance power” in order for them to develop meaningful relationships with their employees.

“The problem with most approaches, we believe, is that they deal with people only from the neck up, connecting high performance primarily with cognitive capacity. In recent years there has been a growing focus on the relationship between emotional intelligence and high performance.

A few theorists have addressed the spiritual dimension – how deeper values and a sense of purpose influence performance. Almost no one has paid any attention to the role played by physical capacities. A successful approach to sustained high performance, we have found, must pull together all of these elements and consider the person as a whole. Thus, our integrated theory of performance management addresses the body, the emotions, the mind, and the spirit. We call this hierarchy the “performance pyramid.” Each of these levels profoundly influences the others, and failure to address any one of them compromises performance.” -excerpt from “The Making of a Corporate Athlete.”

The authors, Jim Loehr and Tony Schwartz, believe the only way to achieve this performance power is to equally address all elements of a person. They display these elements through the “performance pyramid.” This pyramid includes spiritual, mental, emotional and physical capacities.

Similar to the Army’s CSF program, the performance pyramid is designed to increase capacity at all levels to bring talents and skills to full ignition and to sustain high performance over time. 

“When people feel strong and resilient–physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually–they perform better, with more passion, for longer. They win, their families win, and the corporations that employ them win.”-excerpt from “The Making of a Corporate Athlete.”

To read the entire article, visit http://www.peak4.nl/the_making.pdf. Also, to learn more about the Comprehensive Soldier Fitness Program, check out www.army.mil/csf.

Posted byashmccall underArmy News, Comprehensive Soldier Fitness CSF, U.S Army | Comments (3)

You log onto your computer at the end of your work day, pull up your favorite social networking profile and prepare to get connected and updated on what’s new with your friends. Scrolling through your friend requests you discover a photo of a handsome, distinguished, Army general officer. He wants YOU to be his Facebook friend.

Curiosity alone might make you accept the request, start a conversation, and learn more. A few minutes, hours or days into the conversation and you might be asked to send a phone card, provide money, or even fund a Rest and Recooperation visit home from Iraq so he can see you.

It sounds strange written here but the sad reality is that an increasing number of online scammers are using Soldiers’ photos in order to steal money or personal information. Many of them claim to be looking for love, others make up a sad story about being stranded or losing a wallet but it all centers around the same idea – a desperate need for money only you can provide.

In the Internet age, it’s now commonplace for individuals to meet online. Web sites such as eHarmony and Match.com have gained popularity for those looking for a serious relationship, and I have more than a few friends who have previewed friends by first checking out their Facebook or MySpace profile. So, it’s not exactly odd for someone you don’t know to reach out and make a connection via social networking profile.

Many tell a good tale, and coupled with a story of heroism or a photo in uniform, it can be hard to resist. I’d like to think that most of us would be savvy enough to know that the Sergeant Major of the Army or Chief of Staff aren’t really looking to start a relationship online. But how about Specialist Johnson or Major Monroe?

As savvy as you may be, be incredibly leery about unsolicited friend requests or solicitations to connect from folks you don’t know on line – even if they’re good looking and wearing a uniform. Soldiers do NOT need your money to get home for R&R, make phone calls, or get work done while deployed. For those that do need assistance there are existing Soldier-support programs – both privately funded and officially sponsored – that help Soldiers in need.

Our Soldiers are thankful every day for the support and care given to them by concerned members of the American public – that’s why they want to make sure your best intentions don’t get taken advantage of by scammers.

If you have been solicited for money or asked to provide banking or personal financial information by someone you believe to be posing as a U.S. Soldier, contact your nearest Criminal Investigation Command Office or e-mail CID at crimetips@conus.army.mil. You can also file a complaint with the Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.IC3.gov.

Posted bylindykyzer underArmy News, social media Facebook, social media, social networking | Comments (6)