A few days ago, while greeting another Wounded Warrior Flight at Andrews Air Force Base on behalf of the Military District of Washington, I met another remarkable warrior returning home. Five days prior a bomb buried on a narrow foot path in Afghanistan blew up, severing one of his legs, mangling the other with compound fractures, and tearing multiple holes in his lower body. The attack occurred as his unit was moving between compounds on a patrol in rural Afghanistan. They had been conducting what are called KLEs (a military acronym for Key Leader Engagements) with local village leaders, trying to gather information and bolster local alliances.

Buses stand by to transport sick and injured from the Andrews Air Force Base flightline across base to Malcolm Grow Hospital's 79th Aeromedical Staging Flight.

Meeting this wounded warrior on the aircraft, I could tell immediately he was one of those guys with indomitable spirit. A ‘bring-it-on’ attitude was stamped on his face. The flight medical crew told me he’d been cracking jokes the whole ride over the Atlantic. In minutes he hooked me with his story – his courage and commitment on prominent display, his humor easy and quick. He went on to explain that seconds after the explosion one of his buddies ran up to provide first aid. At that instant, another hidden bomb exploded, severely injuring this second man. Then more soldiers responded, disregarding the continued danger, unwilling to let their fellow unit members remain helpless and dying. Soon the additional soldiers administered emergency care to this warrior. As they hunched over him and his blood on the battlefield, he started telling jokes. “I kept them laughing while they worked on me,” he said, “I didn’t want them to be hurting more than I was.”

Before moving on to other patients on this aircraft, I spent a few more minutes talking to this soldier to learn more about him. The youngest of 8 siblings, he’s part of a great American family. I told him that as the youngest in that size family, he had probably spent most of his life trying to prove himself – and hence was accustomed to tough challenges. He smiled and agreed. Amazingly, he showed minimal concern about the severity of his injuries, and responded at one point that “as long as I can see my family every day, I’ll be happy.” A powerful inspiration to him growing up was his grandfather, a World War II Battle of the Bulge Veteran, who died when he was 14. “He was a very very great guy,” the wounded warrior explained, describing his grandfather. “Now I know what he experienced.”

As we carried this wounded warrior off the aircraft, he got into a conversation with one of my Army colleagues about having kids. He replied, “if I do have kids someday I’m gonna tell them that it doesn’t take two legs to kick you in the butt, if you need it.”

The other soldier wounded in this attack flew home on the next Wounded Warrior Flight. This warrior had similar injuries and we spoke more about the details of the attack. I told him about my conversation with his battle buddy. He then confirmed that his buddy had a great sense of humor, but added an additional interpretation. “That’s very true,” he said, tears welling in his eyes, “but he’s also one tough son-of-a-bitch!”

Read more of COL Schmid’s accounts of the Wounded Warrior Flights:

This week I invited the Vice Chief of Staff of the Army, General Peter Chiarelli to provide a guest entry addressing an issue of great importance to both he and I and the Army’s other senior leaders.  As General Chiarelli prepares to retire on January 31st after three and a half years spent as VCSA and nearly forty years of service to our Army, I want to take this opportunity to thank him for the remarkable job he has done and the immeasurable impact he and his wife, Beth have had on the lives of Soldiers, Army Civilians and Family members around the world.  He is a true Patriot, a great American and undoubtedly one of our Army’s very best. 

Gen. Peter Chiarelli, the vice chief of staff of the Army (Photo Credit: Daniel Cernero, III Corps and Fort Hood Public Affairs)

“It is truly remarkable all that our Soldiers have accomplished in Iraq and Afghanistan.  Over the past decade they have done an absolutely magnificent job fighting two wars in difficult and demanding environments.

That said, they are undoubtedly tired and stressed, and many are dealing with challenges including physical and psychological wounds, injuries and illnesses incurred as a result of their service.  Among the most difficult are the non-visible wounds of post-traumatic stress and traumatic brain injury.  I frequently refer to them as the ‘signature wounds’ of this war.

The foremost challenge is the immaturity of brain science; we simply don’t yet know enough.  Researchers, doctors and other health care providers are learning more and more every day about the brain and about injuries to the brain.  But, there is much still to be discovered.

Fortunately, over the past decade, we’ve made tremendous progress in what has largely been ‘unchartered territory,’ with the development of effective protocols which we put in place downrange for concussive events and mild traumatic brain injuries; we’re currently in the process of developing similar protocols for post-traumatic stress.  Meanwhile, the medical and scientific research communities have developed new treatment and imaging methods, therapies, technologies and protective devices.

We’ve also made great strides within our own ranks.  The comprehensive behavioral health system of care in place today ensures behavioral health screenings are conducted annually, during pre-deployment, prior to redeployment and upon returning home from deployment.  Leaders and Soldiers alike now recognize the parity between physical and behavioral health.  This evolution in the culture of our Force is clearly evident in the increased number of behavioral health contacts in recent years (more than 280,000 individuals sought out-patient behavioral health care in FY11).  This is good news!

Thanks to the great work of Leaders, Commanders and Providers Army-wide we have made meaningful strides in our ongoing efforts to improve the health and discipline of our Force.  Consider where we might be today had we not started this proactive interdisciplinary effort early on.  The reality is we have never been more prepared to take care of Soldiers and Families in a post-war era.  We must maintain this momentum and ensure we take care of our most precious asset: our people.

If we all continue to do our part – reach out – help connect individuals with the tremendous outpouring of support services and resources available to them we can help heal wounds, enable opportunity, and ultimately achieve a stronger, more capable Army for the future.

It truly has been the greatest honor and privilege of my life to serve alongside America’s Soldiers, Army Civilians and Family members these last four decades.  Keep up the great work!

Army Strong!

We invite you to leave your farewells to Gen. Chiarelli in the comment section below. 

Joint combat outpost Shir Khan is a new addition to the Afghanistan, Tajikistan border. The 40th Engineer Battalion built it to support Afghan border police training and to secure this vital supply route between the two countries. During the first few months of construction, the Soldiers who live and work here had to eat MRE’s (or Meal, Ready-to-Eat) - that was until Sgt. John Smart arrived.

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In what ways do you boost morale for your Soldier when he/she is deployed?

Recent news items about the use of Army medical evacuation, or MEDEVAC, helicopters in Afghanistan contain troubling information. The reporting suggests that putting red crosses on MEDEVACs, and not arming them somehow, is putting injured Soldiers’ lives at risk. The facts do not support these assertions for several reasons.

U.S. Army Soldiers transport a trauma victim to a U.S. Army medical helicopter in Tarmiyah, Iraq, Sept. 30, 2007. The Soldiers are from Charlie Company, 4th Battalion, 9th Infantry Regiment, 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division out of Fort Lewis, Wash.

First, there is no evidence, implied or proven, that the enemy deliberately targets MEDEVAC helicopters, but we know from hard experience that the enemy does try to shoot down any and all U.S. and coalition aircraft. Further, all helicopters in Afghanistan fly in pairs as a force protection matter. It’s the way we do business and to suggest that arming MEDEVAC aircraft would result in crews launching sooner is a dubious assertion.

Here are the facts: the Department of Defense (DOD) has specifically tasked the Army, not any other service, to provide a standing MEDEVAC capability. The other services, as well as the Army in some cases, fly CASEVAC missions. This is a critical distinction. CASEVAC stands for Casualty Evacuation, which is a technical distinction that means they use whatever helicopters are available at the moment to extract the wounded or downed aircrews. However, DOD has tasked the Army to provide evacuation to the MEDEVAC standard, which means our MEDEVAC crews and helicopters are purpose built, manned, trained and equipped to provide advanced trauma care in flight.

While putting a red cross on our MEDEVAC helicopters has the added benefit of being consistent with the Geneva Conventions, it also marks that aircraft and crew for no other mission besides medical evacuation. In Afghanistan and other austere environments, where helicopter assets are in very high demand, it’s important that we dedicate a fleet of aircraft for no other purpose than to provide advanced in-flight care for wounded Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines.

The Army provides the great majority of medical evacuations in Afghanistan. That includes allied personnel and even enemy wounded. The U.S. Marines in Afghanistan, and in Iraq before that, specifically asked for the Army to provide medical evacuation of its personnel because they know we provide the “gold standard” in modern battlefield evacuation. No military force in the world is better than the US Army at MEDEVAC. The 92 percent survival rate for wounded in Afghanistan is the highest in history because of the power of our MEDEVAC capability and its battlefield support network.

Another important point is that arming our MEDEVACs would significantly impact the capability of the aircraft. Machine guns, related mounting equipment, ammunition and the gunners all add weight to the aircraft. The added weight would hinder the aircraft’s ability to work at higher altitudes because of reduced lift, as well as its speed and range. Additionally, MEDEVACs can carry up to four litter patients, but if weapons were added, that number would be reduced, which would in turn require the commitment of more MEDEVAC aircraft, an already low density and high demand asset.

Further, arming MEDEVACs would not reduce the need for armed escort. Again, our aircraft travel in pairs. The decision to use escort is the tactical commander’s, and the Army does not dictate how or when it is necessary to use these assets.

Finally, it’s important to remember that the Army would change its policy if battlefield commanders wanted a change. We take our obligation to perform the MEDEVAC mission very seriously. We’re a learning organization and periodically we review our policies to make sure they remain relevant. We looked at the MEDEVAC policy in 2008, but after a review, we determined no change was necessary.

In addition, neither the International Security Assistance Force nor U.S. Forces – Afghanistan has requested a change in policy; because our MEDEVAC crews and aircraft provide the best chance at survival ever seen in warfare, and because — as commanders in Afghanistan have told us — not arming our MEDEVACs and identifying them with the red cross has had no impact on the medical evacuation mission.

Today’s blog post is a commentary from the 21st Secretary of the Army, the Honorable John McHugh.

For the first time in eight years, we’ve entered a January without American Soldiers patrolling the streets of Iraq. As the President confirmed last week, our transition in Afghanistan continues and troops will be coming home in the months to come.

Since these wars began, we’ve had more than 47,000 American service members wounded in Afghanistan and Iraq. Beside each one is a family impacted by war … a family who helps the wounded overcome their injuries and face the challenges of recovery. Theirs is a heavy burden, yet they face it with dignity, courage and resilience.

Since becoming Secretary of the Army more than two years ago, I’ve visited our wounded heroes and their families at medical facilities at home and abroad. I am always moved and inspired by these great young men and women and their families. They truly represent the strength of our Army and the best of our nation.

This week I visited Brooke Army Medical Center and the Center for the Intrepid in San Antonio, Texas, where I had the privilege of meeting more troops and their families and awarding the Purple Heart Medal to a number of these heroes. The Purple Heart is our nation’s oldest continuously awarded military decoration, and ironically, one that probably no one sets out to earn.

I had the solemn honor of awarding the Purple Heart to nine soldiers yesterday. One of them, Pfc. Charles Ligon, from West Frankfort, Ill., had recently returned from Afghanistan. He had suffered severe burns and other significant injuries including an amputation to his left leg after his vehicle struck an improvised explosive device during a patrol with the 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division.

Like so many who’ve joined our ranks in recent years, Pfc. Ligon was just a boy when terrorists attacked our nation a decade ago. He grew up in a time of war and volunteered to serve knowing what that could mean. As I spoke with his mother, Susanne Willmore, I was struck by how proud she was that her son had made that choice two years ago to join the Army, and how determined she was to help him persevere and recover from his injuries. Family members are an integral part of our Soldiers’ recovery.

A short walk from the hospital complex is the Center for the Intrepid, an impressive rehabilitation facility with state-of-the-art equipment. However, more remarkable than the structure are the young men and women who walk through its doors each day. Their tireless work to recover from the severe wounds of war is simply inspirational. The price of liberty is steep, but the men and women I met exemplify courage, strength and the triumph of the American spirit.

Throughout our history, our freedoms have been bought through the sacrifice and selfless service of men and women like PFC Ligon – ordinary Americans inspired to extraordinary service, and who are now rising to meet new challenges.

As our brave men and women return home from war, recognize the small purple ribbon so many have earned. It is a symbol of their courage, service and sacrifice to our nation, but it also represents the sacrifice their families have made on our behalf.

With the constant threat of IEDs in Afghanistan,  it’s inevitable that U.S. Army vehicles will be disabled. And while getting these vehicles back home can be a challenge, one instructor has the answer.

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The “Fab Five” of Michigan University in the early 90’s has been heralded as the best college recruits in college basketball history.  This team of talented five battled bravely on the court to be highly respected in their profession. Have you ever thought the Army’s “Fab Five” in weaponry? We have a few weapons we think would make our “Fab Five” team. These five picks have been around a lot longer, established superiority, and mission effectiveness in many battles.

Announcing our starting lineup:

Our first pick for the lineup playing small forward is the M4 Carbine Small Rifle. This weapon is lighter and more durable.

The U.S. Army Fab Five (weaponry)

The gas operated, air-cooled, magazine fed weapon has served Soldiers for up to three years.   It’s compact size, shortened barrel, multi-functional butt stock are just a few of the rifles features that differ from its predecessor the M16.

One the most recognizable features of the rifle is its transitional butt-stock (The ability to lengthen or shorten the rifle based on mission and comfort). This weapon brings to our fighting force the abilities of small forward, Ray Jackson of the Fab Five.

Playing center is our handheld Defense Advanced Global Positioning Satellite Receiver (DAGR). This device has been a part of our new modernized compass for a more equipped Soldier. The multifunctional capability of this device has allowed our troops to navigate very treacherous terrain in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Al though some Soldiers have said the old compass will never live down its legacy, the GPS has established itself in battle and many conflicts.  DAGR’s have been in service for more than five years and have allowed Soldiers to navigate terrain more effectively. This system has been proven as most effective because of its capability to display accurate un-assumed coordinates for Soldiers in combat environments.

GPS most recognizable feature is its graphical screen that has the ability to overlay map images and long battery life. In comparison to Juan Howard of the Fab Five, this weapon will be around for a lot longer for many more battles to come.

One of our most pivotal players,  the power forward , is the Lightweight 155 millimeter Howitzer. Successor to the M198 Howitzer,  it has been in use by our Soldiers since 2008 during Operation Iraqi Freedom.  This weapon is considered to be about 42 percent lighter than its predecessor. The Lightweight 155 millimeter modifications have allowed this weapon to be transported by the by CH-47 faster.

The accuracy, dependability and effectiveness of Fab Five member, Chris Webber is a true comparison to the Lightweight 155 millimeter Howitzer.

Giving us powerful battlefield advantage and tactics the UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter. The Black Hawk has been in service since 1979, getting its first start with the 101^st Combat Aviation Brigade of the 101^st Airborne Division Air Assault. These powerful air assault tool continues to be a team player in the Army weapons systems. Black hawks have seen conflicts from Grenada to recent operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.

There have been many different variants of the Black Hawk. Its versatility makes it one the Army’s most prized weapons. Having been built for rapid deployment of troops into hostile areas, the Black Hawk has also received various upgrades, including the ability to be equipped with several weapons such as the M60 Machine Gun.

Our UH -60 Black Hawks brings to us the versatility that Jimmy King brought to the Fab Five.

Rounding out our top Army Fab Five is the .50 caliber machine gun more commonly known as the “ma-deuce” or “the-fifty.” Mostly known for its use mounted on small armored vehicles, the .50 caliber rifle varies in use for many military operations.  This weapon has been modified to many different forms that allows the cyclic rate of this weapon to be just that more effective. One of its many special features includes a double feed trey for rapid firing.

Just as Michigan Fab Five point guard, Jalen Rose gave offensive power to his team, our .50 caliber rifle gives us the same offensive advantage.

Army weapons systems have modernized greatly over the course of time. Let us know what you think of our “Army Fab Five” and share with us what Army weapons you would like to see in our lineup and why.

Blog post submitted by Andrew  McIntyre, Public Affair Specialist, Department of the Army Intern

Many of us will never truly grasp the concept of war and fighting for a nation. The men and women of the United States Army, and the other Armed Forces live and breath this idea everyday. They bond with each other, sharing a common mission to protect and defend the United States of America. And while many of these heroes will never make it back home to their Family, friends and loved ones, people such as Staff Sgt. Lindsey Kibler connect us with these men and women through commentaries such as the one below:

Spc. James R. Burnett Jr., of Wichita, Kan., (shown as Pfc. Burnett in courtesy photo) was killed Nov. 16, 2011, when his vehicle struck an improvised explosive device.

While reading recent news from Afghanistan, I was surprised to open the Alaska Post and see a familiar face — Spc. James Burnett Jr.

I spent time with Burnett while covering his battalion’s operations in Kandahar province. Oct. 17 was the first night I met him; we spent eight hours waiting in a Stryker for the men in his company to return from a foot patrol in Do’ab village. In the not-so-spacious confines of the vehicle, I heard about this young man’s life. He was 20, but his goofy demeanor reminded me of my little brother– he was just a baby in my eyes.

He was 21 when he died one month later, Nov. 16th, in the same province he spent nearly every day patrolling.

The news stung.

The men of 1st Battalion, 5th Infantry Regiment, along with the 3rd Bn., 21st Inf. Reg., both of the 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, were sent to clear the Taliban stronghold that remained in Kandahar province’s Panjwa’i district. It was an important mission, in a place where no other coalition forces had established a constant presence.

During the week I spent covering his unit’s mission, Burnett would often tell me, “Sergeant, it’s the real thing out here.”

He was right. It was a dangerous place, and the insurgents were not willing to give it up easily.

I could sense he was scared, but I didn’t want to ask him. Infantrymen don’t share those vulnerabilities with anyone but their own. Fear seems to be one of the many things that bond them together, especially in times of war where they face the possibility of dying each time they go on patrol.

Pfc. Alberio Porto was Burnett’s closest friend in the company. I called them twins because, in addition to their slight resemblance, they seemed to be attached at the hip the entire time I was with their unit.

In the week or so we had spent together, I was able to see the closeness they shared. Burnett talked about getting out of the Army, returning home to Wichita, Kan., marrying his fiancé, becoming a police officer and how he and Porto would celebrate his 21st birthday far away from Afghanistan.

The bond of infantrymen is one that, really, only infantrymen will ever be able to understand. As an outsider — and a female at that — catching a glimpse of it was a rare opportunity for me; one I will never forget.

Soldiers from Company A, 1st Battalion, 5th Infantry Regiment, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, return to Combat Outpost Lion afte hours-long patrol around the village of Do'ab, Oct. 18. Company A has had a constant presence in the area, extending a road throughout the village and building the COP in an effort to rid the village of Taliban activity.

There is nothing you are able to keep private when living in the close quarters these men do. They eat together, shower together (when showers are available), patrol together and sleep together, when and where ever they are able to get some rest. When it came to jokes, nothing was off limits — mothers, grandmothers, physical features and weaknesses were all ammunition used in the tongue-in-cheek battle of wits.

Despite the banter and light hearted jabs thrown at each other on a daily basis, they also understood one another. They fight for the same thing, bleed for the same thing and die for the same thing — each other.

Retired Lt. Col. Dave Grossman, author of On Killing: The Psychological Cost of Learning to Kill in War and Society, found that the most fearful thing for combat Soldiers was not the idea of death or injury but, rather, of the thought of letting down the men to their left and right.

“(The) bonding is so intense that it is fear of failing these comrades that preoccupies most combatants,” the former Army Ranger wrote.

In our first meeting in the Stryker that chilly October night, Burnett and I talked about his role in this war. He said at times he didn’t understand it but he knew that, in the grander scheme of things, he was doing his part like other infantrymen had done before him.

At 20, this seemed to be a profound thing for someone to grasp but that’s the reality of war. You face fear and death and grow up faster, in many ways, than your peers who haven’t served. The men fighting next you to understand this reality too.

The life of the infantry was new to me. As an Army Public Affairs noncommissioned officer, I’ve spent the majority of my time in a Corps headquarters, seeing the strategic side of the war when I deploy. But this particular trip to southern Afghanistan was enlightening and memorable.

Porto was with Burnett, and Pvt. Matthew Colin, the day both were killed by an improvised explosive device. Porto was seriously injured.

“I had other friends when I got to the company, but when (Burnett and I) started talking, we just connected like brothers,” Porto explained. “Once we deployed, and after I came back from leave, we were never apart. We did guard duty, details, missions, ate and hung out together. We always talked about our personal problems. We helped each other out. We had plans after deployment.

“I lost a brother.”

In the five years I have served my country, I’ve understood the Army to be a big family — my extended family, so to speak. Not that I have thought of it differently, but my time with these men showed me just how tight of a family the Army can be.

In his last Facebook post, one day before he was killed, Burnett wrote, “miss and love everyone so very much!!!…tell my dogs I’ll be home soon enough.”

Sadly, Burnett — the Soldier I saw as a baby, a young kid sent to southern Afghanistan, one of the most volatile regions in the world — will not get the chance to see his dogs, marry his fiancé, become a police officer or celebrate being 21.

Perhaps I was wrong. Maybe the young man, who I saw as a baby during those few days in October, was in fact a man, mature beyond his years. This was a Soldier who understood the dangers of his profession. He was an American who volunteered a service to our country that so few have.

Spc. James Burnett, Jr., has taught me lessons that no other experience in my military career has come close to matching. He taught me to live life to the fullest, to love those closest to me and to face fear and adversity with the dignity and professionalism that is becoming of the most honorable Americans our nation has to offer.

Commentary submitted by Staff Sgt. Lindsey Kibler, Army Public Affairs noncommissioned officer, Afghanistan

A year ago David Wood wrote an article titled, “In the 10th Year of War, a Harder Army, a More Distant America.”  It sheds light on the budding warrior class which has been built in the forge of 10 years of war.

Maj. Charles Barrett, Third Army/ARCENT, Public Affairs

His article has been passed along among some Soldiers and it has sparked more than a few conversations.  Soldiers, who are on their third or fourth deployment, or more, understand much of the truth Wood speaks of. So much of what he chronicles rings home.

Although we have been at war for 10 years, the majority of Americans are unaffected by it.  Their daily lives remain unchanged.  There are, perhaps, only the random news headlines which serve as a reminder that we are still in Iraq and Afghanistan.  Perhaps because without a draft or a world war, civilians see little reason to buy in, never mind 9/11.  But the last decade has, to a large degree, set our Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, and Department of Defense civilians apart.

This should logically lead us to the next step – bridging the gap between America and its warrior class.  The March 22, 2010 issue of Fortune magazine features a Soldier on the front cover with a caption that reads, “Meet the new face of business leadership.”  It’s about top American companies that see a newly discovered resource in our military leaders.  I’m not just referring to colonels and generals either, but specialists and sergeants who are surpassing their commander’s expectations with the amount and quality of work being done.  The Soldiers of my previous unit, the 3^rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 3^rd Infantry Division, are perfect examples.  In only one year, with approximately 4,000 people, spread across an area roughly the size of Kentucky, the brigade delivered more than 325 small scale micro-grants worth $2.1 million to improve the local economy; executed 324 projects worth $163 million to provide for civil capacity and essential services; conducted more than 50 Medical Civic Action Programs, which provided first aid and routine medical care to Iraqis; executed more than 70 medical training exercises and activities for Iraqi Security Forces and local medical professionals; and conducted 55 Humanitarian Assistance missions, which provided food, blankets and water to Iraqis.

These contributions only scratch the surface, and it only represents the contributions of one brigade on one deployment.  Behind each of those successes is a U.S. Soldier – or thirty-something-year-old’s charged with, “making it happen.”   These are the types of people companies are or should be chomping at the bit for.  But why?

It’s important to understand that they do it for each other.  Soldiers have few others to rely on, only themselves.  Some of these qualities are evident in films like Band of Brothers, Pacific, Saving Private Ryan, and Hamburger Hill.  It’s a Soldier’s sense of duty and loyalty.  It’s about making life and death decisions on a daily basis and without hesitation.  It’s about not taking anything for granted.  There’s a reason only one percent of our population serves in uniform.

That just leaves a few unanswered questions – why are Soldiers re-enlisting so willingly despite knowing it could lead to yet another deployment?  Is it because of the poor economy?  Perhaps for some, but not any that I’ve met.  Do Soldiers not think they will fit in with the civilian lifestyle?  I know this is true for some, but I would refer you to the Fortune article mentioned earlier, and behind that article are dozens of companies looking for experienced Soldiers.  I believe it goes beyond all the tangibles.  It is something all Soldiers have.  It is our sense of purpose.  I believe Soldiers do what they do because they see it has purpose.  It is fulfilling.  It motivates them to try harder, to get better, and to follow through regardless of the obstacles that stand in their way.

Bridging the gap between America and our warrior class may seem like an insurmountable task, but “can’t” isn’t in the dictionary of the Soldiers I know.  Our veterans have more to offer now than ever before.

I believe the way ahead is through patience.  We all need to take our time to understand the purpose that drives our warrior class.  Set a goal to read a little bit each week about our troops.  Encourage others, who seemingly have no stake in the war, to do the same by telling them about the missions being accomplished.  Push them to take an active interest.  Those who think we’re “losing” the war just haven’t opened their eyes yet.  There is a wealth of information covering our successes in plain sight.  Reconnecting with our nation’s warriors is just a story away.  You can start at www.facebook.com/pattonsown

Blog post submitted by Maj. Charles Barrett, Third U.S. Army/U.S. Army Forces Central Command, Public Affairs 

In what ways do you think we can work to continue to “Bridge the Gap” between our Soldiers and the American Public? 

Veterans Day is a day our nation sets aside to honor veterans. It is also about the bond of service.

Recently I had the honor of participating in a Dignified Transfer ceremony at Dover Air Force Base to honor a fallen Soldier.

The Soldier had been killed in an improvised explosive device (IED) attack in Afghanistan. In the military community, this process of returning the fallen is called a “Dignified Transfer.” Most Americans recognize this ceremony, having seen the occasional media coverage.

A U.S. Army carry team transfers the remains of Oklahoma Army National Guard Soldier. (U.S. Air Force photo/Steve Kotecki)

Each Dignified Transfer is extremely moving, with each fallen warrior, and the family in attendance, receiving the care and respect appropriate to an event of such gravity. The strength and gratitude of the nation are on portent display in this traditional ritual.

As Chief of the Military District of Washington’s Medical Evacuation to continental United States (CONUS) Hospitals team, I wanted to better understand how this process compares to our Wounded Warrior Flight operations at Andrews AFB. Andrews AFB, Maryland, receives almost all our returning wounded; and Dover AFB, Delaware, is where America’s war dead come home.

Prior to the Dignified Transfer ceremony, I was afforded the opportunity to go inside the aircraft and pay my respects. A few minutes before the arrival of the family, we move the flag-draped metal casket from inside the aircraft out onto a red-carpeted platform extended from the aircraft. As the family arrives by police-escorted bus to the tarmac, their first view of the casket is in this elevated solitary position, exposed by the aircraft as if on an altar. I find myself thinking of this platform as the outstretched hands of a mourning nation, returning the family’s loved one. The bus parks. The family dismounts carefully, as if climbing down an unlit cavern. They take prepositioned seats. The parked bus shields the family from the media present. The mother is clearly distraught. It looks as if she hangs nearly her whole weight onto the shoulder of the father, her husband. She frequently buries her face in his shoulder. The Chaplain speaks quietly over the remains. The commands are given. The Army ceremonial team conducts the formal ceremony. We render a slow salute. The flag-draped casket, carried by six white-gloved soldiers, passes before the family and the reviewing party, and is lifted into a waiting mortuary transport truck.

It is said that there is no loss greater than a parent’s loss of a child. No other experience can compare. Though all experience is ultimately individual, in losing a child one loses a piece of the self. Watching the parents that day at Dover, I’m sure that sentiment circulated through all that were in observance.

The solemnity of the ceremony is made extraordinarily profound by the slow pace at which each act is executed. The bus drives slowly. The ceremonial soldiers move slowly. Even the doors of the mortuary truck are closed slowly. It is as if every second of time is extended so that one might silently celebrate service, and scorn death.

The family turns to watch the mortuary truck and the slowly marching soldiers move off the tarmac. This movement takes at least 5 minutes. The family gazes in tearful stillness, surely remembering, trying to absorb what they have lost, and will never have again. The senior officer present tells me later that in talking to one of the families prior, they say to him: “This really is real, isn’t it?” He answers respectfully in the way it has to be answered, that “this is as real as it gets.”

Airmen from the 79th Aeromedical Staging Facility offload patients from a medical evacuation flight at Andrews Air Force Base, Md. The patients will be transported to various medical treatment facilities in the National Capital Region. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech Sgt. Suzanne M. Day)

During the next week two other Soldiers wounded in the same attack return home. The Soldier that was killed was their team leader. Our team meets them and the others arriving on the Wounded Warrior Flight to Andrews AFB. One of these warriors suffered significant injuries to the skull, neck, and eyes. The Army had arranged for his mother to join him at the Hospital in Landstuhl, Germany, and she accompanied him home on the C17 aircraft. On the aircraft, the warrior recognizes my presence, but his medication and wounds prevent him from speaking. His mother stood stoically beside his litter. She watched over him, and served as his voice. Her eyes said she would stay by him as long as necessary. His father is a veteran, she said. So she knew instinctively the nature of the commitment and sacrifice asked of our Soldiers, and intended to continue to serve now as protector and advocate.

Her son’s treatment was going well, she said. The medical staff in Germany and on the aircraft had provided superb care and attention. She was confident her son would recover well, and that he was proud he’d served with honor. Then she described a special reunion that had occurred just prior to their departure from Germany.  Her son had been able to briefly reunite with the other Soldier wounded in the attack, who was also scheduled to be evacuated home. She told us that that brief meeting – reconnecting the bond with a unit brother – had an electric affect, and made her son very happy.

As we prepare to celebrate Veterans Day 2011, I found myself reflecting again on the incredible bond forged between warriors. There is no stronger bond. Our Veterans, past and present, share that bond. And our Military District of Washington team is honored to welcome our Wounded Warriors home.

Blog Post submitted by, COL Claude Schmid Team Chief, Medical Evacuation to CONUS Hospitals

Joint Forces Headquarters National Capitol Region