Articles Posted in Retiree and Military Issue

For My Vietnam veterans https://www.attorneyforveterans.com/lawyer-attorney-1325495.html, First God Bless you and may you enjoy this sent from the wife of a brave helicopter pilot:

a.. Once you are in the fight, it is way too late to wonder if this is a good idea.

b.. It is a fact that helicopter tail rotors are instinctively drawn toward trees, stumps, rocks, etc. While it may be possible to ward off this natural event some of the time, it cannot, despite the best efforts of the crew, always be prevented. It’s just what they do.

c.. NEVER get into a fight without more ammunition than the other guy.

d.. The engine RPM and the rotor RPM must BOTH be kept in the GREEN. Failure to heed this commandment can affect the morale of the crew.

e.. Cover your Buddy, so he can be around to cover for you.

f.. Decisions made by someone above you in the chain-of-command will seldom be in your best interest.

g.. The terms Protective Armor and Helicopter are mutually exclusive.

h.. Sometimes, being good and lucky still is not enough.

i.. “Chicken Plates” are not something you order in a restaurant

.j.. If everything is as clear as a bell, and everything is going exactly as planned, you’re about to be surprised.
Continue reading

This is one of my favorite songs as it does Honor our fallen Warriors.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=70Ikj1hZDnw&feature=related

Wishing you a Happy 2012, hope you enjoy, and also remember those who have protected you.

A month or so ago I asked people to say prayers for the family and soul of Specialist David E. Hickman.

He was in my son’s Brigade.

While paid protesters “Occupied” places and received millions of dollars in contributions, Specialist David E. Hickman chose a more courageous path. He volunteered and enlisted in the United States Army. He volunteered and became a paratrooper.

Dear one and all

Please say prayers for the 82nd Airborne as they suffered a KIA and other soldiers are hurt due to an IED.

If you can add the soldier and all the other members of the 82nd Airborne to your prayer lists I would be appreciative. Both the living and injured soldiers need your prayers. Also the soldier who was killed and his family need our prayers.

Thank you for your Service, Dedication, and Sacrifice for your service.

From the International Space Station and Col. Fossum, here is a well stated salute:

http://video.foxnews.com/v/1268067894001/space-station-crew-sends-message-to-veterans/?playlist_id=87937

For last few weeks, some of my closest aviator friends and I have been discussing the current White House’s apparent lack of respect for the military and the nation’s budget problems. In fact one friend had been asked to review a suggestion by the White House to do away with the current military retirement system.

Today, August 15, 2011, Fox News reported http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/08/15/pentagon-scraps-traditional-pensions-in-its-proposed-retirement-program/ indeed the White House would like to trim the Department of Defense budget by eliminating the current retirement system. Instead, of 50% of base pay after 20 years, while you’re dodging bullets, you have the benefit of knowing your 401(k) contribution will be reduced since you’re in a combat zone. So who is to pay your retirement portion? – Why you and your family of course. Your current pay will be reduced as you pay the member contribution portion of this White House plan to reduce the budget. How much money did the White House send to those failing Banks? Hmmm that plan worked well.

Paraphrasing the White House’s campaign slogan of “Hope and Change” there is also “hope” if you’re over age 50. The White House is thinking of providing a break in the amount those over 50 are required to pay into this Thrifty retirement plan.

Military members earn every penny of their current retirement. In contrast I fail to see the sacrifice social programs are being asked. I understand welfare assistance is to help people, often people who through no fault of their own need financial assistance. But you cannot compare the military to the civilian working world. If I did then an enlistee need not work to be paid, combat – – “Sarge I think I will sit this one out and get my pay, it is scary over there, and I like to be home with the wife and kids by 6 PM (commute you know).” … “Call me when you get back Colonel, I want to see the pictures you took on your “vacation to Iraq and Afghanistan.” Oh yeah Colonel I know the responsibility of waging a war you did not start is tough, keeping track of all those servicemember’s lives (I refer to as our National Treasure – Thanks Gen. Keys you said it well years ago), but remember your 401(k) retirement co-pay will be reduced, so there you go living off the taxpayers again Colonel.”

The White House plan shows a total lack of understanding of the hardships and inherent differences in the military and civilian world. For those of you who have retired, you understand the difficulties in moving every 2 to 3 years, having to deploy to combat zones, leaving your family to protect the nation, training where people die, the responsibility for protecting people’s lives, carrying out missions, to kill the enemy, and not being guaranteed to go home from work every day.
Continue reading