Aside from his many day-to-day duties as Chief of Staff of the Army, General George W. Casey enjoys talking with Soldiers as he travels around the world. Check out his most recent ”Chief Cam” as he talks to a Soldier who has recently transitioned from deployment in Iraq back to Hawaii, and who is planning her next steps in education.
Want to see more “Chief Cams?” Visit http://www.youtube.com/soldiersmediacenter.
Once a Soldier, always a Soldier in the U.S. Army. And Retired Command Sgt. Maj. Raymond Schnabel is a true example. SRTV reporter Ana Allen caught up with the hard working Veteran recently to witness his dedication firsthand.
Retired Command Sergeant Major Raymond Schnabel is one of the most charismatic characters I’ve profiled as a broadcaster. He is not only the perfect example of how a person can make an impact on young people, he proves you can keep on serving long after retirement. Schnabel is everybody’s hero at the National Cadet Training Center where he volunteers. Schnabel is as old school as they come on the topic of military discipline, but he also has a sweet grandfather affection for his cadets. Check out what he has to say about why he’s still serving the Army.
Every day we hear about the dedicated volunteer firefighters, police officers and emergency medical staff who risk their lives to ensure our safety. However, how many times have you heard of a volunteer woodturner contributing to make the life of a wounded Soldier a little easier?
Well, there are here and in full effect. The woodturners in the DC metro area have decided to give back in their own way. The Eagle Cane Project is run by a group of volunteer woodturners who use their spare time to make specialized canes for Soldiers wounded at war.
Since 2006, the Capital Area Woodturners have been “carving it up” and their popularity has risen as demands for their one of a kind products have grown.
So the next time you see someone with a duck on their cane, take a second look-it might be from one of our hometown woodturners.
Jump School is no relaxing day in paradise. Training hard with hopes to one day become an Airborne Soldier – Check out what these “grunts” have to go through to earn the Paratrooper’s badge.
The Army is no stranger to farewells, but it doesn’t make them any easier. The Army’s goodbye to the Secretary of the Army Pete Geren is no exception.Geren leaves a positive legacy and a string of innovative programs that dramatically improved our Army. He came into this position when warrior care was being scrutinized and on the verge of some of the toughest of times.
Geren was in the Pentagon Sept. 11, 2001 when terrorists flew a plane full of people into the building. “That day, I watched Soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines go to the sound of the explosion,” he said. “And for eight years, I’ve watched them go off to war – I’ve watched many of you go off to war. And I have watched your families stand by you. I have been inspired by your service and humbled by your sacrifice.”
Secretary of the Army Pete Geren has placed Soldiers and Army families in the front position throughout his career and continued to do so even at his farewell.
At a small farewell ceremony at the Pentagon, he read a poem intended to remind those in attendance ofwho has given us our most fundamental gifts. The Soldier.
It is the soldier, not the reporter,
who has given us freedom of the press.
It is the soldier, not the poet,
who has given us freedom of speech.
It is the soldier, not the campus organizer,
who has given us the freedom to demonstrate.
It is the soldier, not the lawyer,
who has given us the right to a fair trial.
It is the soldier,
who salutes the flag,
who serves under the flag,
and whose coffin is draped by the flag,
who allows the protester to burn the flag
By: Charles M. Province
Please take the time to bid your farewell to Secretary of the Army Pete Geren by sharing your comments.
Check out the rest of Secretary Geren’s farewell interview series with Soldiers Radio and Television at www.youtube.com/soldiersmediacenter.
After becoming wounded in combat, Soldiers are rushed back to the states in order for them to begin the treatment they need to get well. In route to long term care, the men and women are initially brought to one of three Medical Evacuation Centers in the states-one of those centers being at Andrews Air Fort Base in Maryland.
Military personnel at the centers are dedicated to making the warriors’ first trip back to the states as smooth as possible. They understand what these soldiers are experiencing and take pride in helping one of their very own.
When soldiers arrive back to the states, they have many questions. Questions about their benefits, finances, pay and most importantly-their families. It is the job of the dedicated staff of these centers to provide Soldiers with the information they need so that they can focus on their full recovery.
And although members of the teams come from different military services there is only one unified goal. ”This is where the distintions between services end, says Master Sgt. Juan Reyna, Medical Team NCOIC. All that steps aside and we take care of that warrior.”
One of the more exciting events held this year by the Department of Defense was the Force Protection Equipment Demonstration at Stafford County Regional Airport in Stafford, Va. The demonstration is held bi-annually and is a three day event.
The FPED brings together knowledgeable leaders from around the world and puts them in contact with manufacturers who may have equipment solutions for physical security/force protection needs. Its most important function is to provide leaders the opportunity to view available equipment and future equipment possibilities.
“It’s important to showcase technology that has a lot of implications for force protection like performing dangerous missions without endangering Soldiers,” said Kristina Nicos, visual information specialist from U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command at the Armament Research, Development and Engineering Center. “It can save their lives.”
The ROV or Remote Operated Vehicle was one of the more exciting pieces of equipment presented at this year’s demonstration. Better known to attendees as the “Aquabot,” the machine showcases the capabilities of conducting underwater or surface-water inspections. Other equipment presented this year included a remote-control shooting system and individual protective gear.
- Posted by Ashley McCall, Army Public Affairs
Check out http://www.army.mil/-news/2009/05/26/21642-demonstration-showcases-new-force-protection-equipment/ to read the entire article on the FPED event!
Check out this incredible story from the Fort Leavenworth Lamp, followed by a video clip from Soldiers Radio and Television. If you’d like to leave a message for Evan, visit http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/evanpertile.
By Tisha Johnson, Staff Writer, Fort Leavenworth Lamp
A kind act toward Soldiers by a woman in South Carolina has resulted in Soldiers from Fort Leavenworth and all over the world giving her son encouragement to fight brain cancer.
Two days before Thanksgiving 2008, a group of Soldiers eating at a restaurant in Colombia, S.C., were surprised when they discovered their lunch had been paid for.
Rachel Pertile tried to pay the bill anonymously, but was caught and thanked by the Soldiers before she could leave the restaurant. The day after Thanksgiving, Pertile’s 5-year-old son, Evan, was diagnosed with brain cancer.
Evan, now 6 years old, has had two neurosurgeries, radiation and is now having chemotherapy. All of his treatments have been at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tenn. In January, Pertile was on a flight making her way from Memphis back to her home in Colombia when she broke down in tears.
“It was the first time I had gone home since we had ,come to St. Jude’s and we have three other boys and I really wanted to go home and spend some time there,” Pertile said. “But I was really sad to leave Evan because he had just started losing his hair in chunks.”
Sitting next to Pertile on the flight was Brenda Bowen, who works in Classroom Services at the Command and General Staff College. Bowen offered Pertile an ear and a shoulder, and when she found out Evan’s affinity for “Army guys,” she knew there was something she could do to help.
“She told me about her son and how he loves Soldiers, and I thought ‘I bet I can get a few Soldiers to send him messages,’” Bowen said.
After the flight, Bowen contacted Col. Bob Burns, the director of the Center for Army Tactics at CGSC.
“We start getting faculty and the students to send notes to the boy,” Burns said.
Evan has a page at caringbridge.org, a Web site for people to connect with loved ones and others during a critical illness.
“There were a significant number of messages that got posted,” Burns said. “And then it kind of grows like these things do, and guys in Iraq start sending notes.”
Then, Burns called his friend, Combined Arms Center Command Sgt. Maj. Philip Johndrow. Burns was Johndrow’s squadron commander in Iraq.
Johndrow, in turn, contacted another friend, Command Sgt. Maj. Stephen Frennier from U.S. Army Recruiting Command. Johndrow told Frennier Evan’s story and, less than a week after Bowen and Pertile met on the plane, a group of Memphis recruiters were taking Evan out to lunch.
Johndrow said he knew Evan would appreciate the visit from the Soldiers, but the Soldiers would get a lot out of the visit also.
“We go through hardships and we go through tough times and to see some of the things Evan is going through, makes some of the things we go through maybe not look as tough,” Johndrow said. “To see him, how strong he is and how motivated he is to do what he does – it warms us and motivates us even more to do what we do.”
What Evan began doing next surprised everyone. Pertile said Evan had been receiving messages on his Web page saying he needed to eat to be Army strong and that Army Rangers have to eat to be strong.
“He started eating – he had completely quit eating and he was like ‘I gotta eat,’” Pertile said. “It was remarkable, it was just incredible, like this unseen force helping my child – the generosity of others.”
In addition to the messages on the Web site, Evan has received his own set of ACUs, a beret and a certificate designating him as an honorary Soldier.
In February, Evan was at home in South Carolina and was able to make a visit to Fort Jackson as a guest of Brig. Gen. Bradley May, the commanding general. Evan was wearing his ACUs with patches provided by Johndrow and Burns. Burns had sent him his own colonel rank.
Evan is now back at St. Jude’s in Memphis. He just completed his first of four cycles of chemo. Pertile said they expect to be in Memphis at least until the end of July.
Bowen is planning a trip to see Evan soon. She said she talks to his mother pretty much weekly.
“She believes Soldiers make a big difference in her son’s recovery,” Bowen said. “She thinks it was full circle, after buying those Soldiers lunch.”
Pertile said she welcomes posts to her son’s Web site http://caringbridge.org/visit/evanpertile. To register, enter an e-mail address and create a password.
“He keeps telling people he is Army strong,” Pertile said. “He tells everybody.”
Some raw footage from our broadcasters at Soldiers Radio and Television, from a recent piece they did about Army Drill Sergeants. No matter how much I see them, I can’t help but love this special group of our Army leadership, assigned the very important job of taking the Army’s newest Soldiers and enstilling within them the leadership, responsibility and committment to mission essential to being a successful Soldier.
Check it out:
Joint Task Force-Bravo’s medical mission in Honduras is absolutely wonderful. The hospitals are very poor there and the facilities unfortunately reflect that. Reality set in and I then realized just how fortunate I was to be an American. I had a chance to speak with Army Cpt. LaTanya Agurs who visited the hospital during a routine medial mission; she is a resident of the Wilford hall Medical Center, San Antonio, Texas.
-SGT Earl Scott, Soldiers Radio and Television