American military-aged population that is being asked to do virtually nothing in these two conflicts

They used to draft soldiers. This meant everyone had to do their part. We saw this especially with WWII when wives were showing up to work in factories as their husbands were deployed. We saw this during Vietnam, but the result of this draft was protests, burning draft cards and general ambivalence when they came home.

The worst thing about all of this is not just that the burden is carried by a tiny percentage of the US population, it's that so few seem to care at all.


Icasualties.org
US forces killed in Iraq 4,373
US forces killed in Afghanistan 958

"It's quite unusual, the inequality," says Christopher Hamner, a military historian at George Mason University in Fairfax, Va. "You've got the vast majority of the American military-aged population that is being asked to do virtually nothing in these two conflicts. And then a very small percentage is being asked to shoulder enormous burdens."

Repeated deployments weigh heavily on U.S. troops
By Gregg Zoroya, USA TODAY
WARDAK PROVINCE, Afghanistan — Army Staff Sgt. Bobby Martin Jr. has been fighting insurgents in Iraq or Afghanistan longer than the entire three years the Korean War lasted.

At age 34 and finishing a fourth combat tour, he has seen five of his men killed since 2003. Four died this year, including two on Martin's birthday in May. Thirty-eight cumulative months in combat have left him with bad knees, aching shins and recurring headaches from a roadside blast, ailments he hides from his soldiers.

Out of earshot of his troops, Martin concedes, "This is a lot of wear and tear."

American soldiers of the 21st century are quietly making history, serving in combat longer than almost any U.S. soldiers in the nation's past, military historians say.

For many, the fighting seems without end, a fatalism increasingly shared by most Americans. A USA TODAY/Gallup Poll conducted late last week found that 67% believe the U.S. will constantly have combat troops fighting somewhere in the world for at least the next 20 years.

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Repeated deployments weigh heavily on U.S. troops

Shortage of Majors behind Hasan's promotion?

Who can forget the images of that day as news reports came out that there was mass murder at Fort Hood? Can we forget the images of the days following it? Can we forget the shock felt when it was discovered a Major, a psychiatrists sworn to help soldiers, was the one found to be pulling the trigger?

As we were left speechless, reports came out about how Major Hasan was not a good student and was under performing leaving his superiors actions called into question. How could they let this man do what he did before the shootings? We may finally have the answer. There were just not enough Majors to go around.

Hasan was promoted from captain to major in May, military records show. Because of a shortage of majors in the medical corps, the promotion board was given the authority to promote captains who otherwise would not have been considered for a promotion, according to a U.S. military official who asked not to be identified in connection with discussing personnel matters possibly related to the Hasan investigation.

We make a lot of assumptions when it comes to the military. We assume the leadership roles are filled by the best and the brightest considering they have the lives of the lower ranks in their hands. Bad training leads to bad decisions and those bad decisions can produce a lot of dead soldiers. In the case of Hasan it looks like they just needed an increase in the numbers enough so that someone like Hasan was promoted up the food chain no matter what he was doing, what he was saying or how he felt about the soldiers he was supposed to be serving with.

All of this was not bad enough. In a time when suicides and PTSD rates increased, they wanted someone like Hasan acting as a psychiatrist? The report claims Hasan did not see many patients. What about the patients he did see? What was he telling them? Did he give them medications so they could heal or did he give them medications to make their condition worse? What does this say about the fact the troops find it very hard to trust anyone at all when they are dealing with PTSD and want to stay in the military but end up being sent to someone like Hasan? How many others are like Hasan out there unqualified, under-performing and possibly doing more damage than healing? If they did this with Hasan, we need to be asking how many others they promoted to fill the need no matter if they were worthy of it or not.

This was not bad enough. Hasan was also spouting off about his radical religious views at the same time the troops were risking their lives in Iraq and Afghanistan acting as if the people trying to kill the troops were doing the right thing.

Hassan was also disciplined for inappropriate conversations with patients about religion.

What Hasan did was worse than any action from any enemy because this enemy came from within.

Military review: Troubling signals from Fort Hood suspect missed
By Mike Mount, CNN
January 13, 2010 1:29 a.m. EST
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
Defense Department review to be released Thursday; official gives details to CNN
Review: Maj. Nidal Hasan promoted despite his extremist views on Islam, odd behavior
Hasan also had long record of lackluster performance on the job
Review will suggest military focus on looking internally for potential threats

Washington (CNN) -- An upcoming military review of the Fort Hood, Texas, shootings finds that the alleged shooter, Maj. Nidal Hasan, was promoted despite supervisors' concerns about his extremist views on Islam and odd behavior.

The review also says that a lack of communication between the U.S. military and a terrorism task force did not allow the sharing of information to determine whether he was a terrorist threat months before the shooting.

CNN was told details of the Pentagon review by a U.S. official with direct knowledge of the report. The official did not want to be identified because the report, requested by Defense Secretary Robert Gates, will not be officially released until Thursday.

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http://www.cnn.com/2010/CRIME/01/12/fort.hood.suspect/

Virginia Wounded Warrior Program reaches out to veterans who need help

State program reaches out to veterans who need help
By Michael Martz
Published: January 7, 2010

Since terrorists struck the United States on Sept. 11, 2001, more than 230,000 troops have been deployed to wars in Afghanistan and Iraq from Virginia military bases.

Now, a state program is trying to help those coming back to find help for problems they might not even want to discuss.

The Virginia Wounded Warrior Program is using a tiny budget to reach a big problem -- veterans with behavioral-health problems, ranging from depression and post-traumatic stress disorder to traumatic brain injuries.

More than 813,000 military veterans live in Virginia, including more than 38,000 veterans of the Afghanistan and Iraq wars. And that doesn't include the families of service members who have been deployed.

"This is just the tip of the iceberg as far as we're concerned," said Mary Ann Bergeron, executive director of the Virginia Association of Community Services Boards. "When they come back, families expect the same person. Well, they're not getting the same person."
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State program reaches out to veterans who need help

Helping veterans help themselves

Helping veterans help themselves
By JOYCE McKENZIE

jmckenzie@tampatrib.com

Published: January 6, 2010

TEMPLE TERRACE - Connie Blaney is a staunch believer in liberty and justice for all.

In her former role as an administrator for the Hillsborough County Public Defender's Office, however, she witnessed the inequities of a government founded on those very principles.

She said she was saddened by how our society fails to provide for honorably discharged veterans, many of whom suffer the effects of post-traumatic stress syndrome, who find themselves penniless and living on the streets.

For that reason, Blaney has devoted the last four years of her time and money to providing shelter and helping to secure social and financial resources that enable homeless vets the opportunity to regain the self-esteem she believes they deserve.

In 2006 she founded Liberty Manor, a nonprofit organization that offers affordable, transitional housing for male veterans and is designed to help them support themselves.

Blaney and her husband, Bill, with the help of contributions from the community, have purchased and renovated four homes - Liberty I in Tampa, Liberty II on the border of Temple Terrace, Liberty III in Carrollwood and Liberty IV in Largo.

All facilities are filled to capacity, which means that at any given time 48 fewer veterans are on the streets. Some of the men serve as housing directors, and others strive to live on their own. Blaney estimates the organization has assisted close to 300.

"I've been very blessed," said Army veteran Bill Brown, 47, who was referred to Liberty II a couple of months ago. "I really felt comfortable from the first day I came here. It gave me more insight on other veterans, and I now know I'm not the only one who has problems. And Connie goes nonstop in her efforts to help us."
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Helping veterans help themselves

Does Central Florida have a serial killer?

Are 19 slayings along I-4 the work of serial killers?

By Walter Pacheco, Orlando Sentinel

9:58 p.m. EST, January 11, 2010


The first body was found the night after Christmas in 2005.

LaQuetta Mae Gunther lay in a fetal position, partially naked, on the floor of a dark Daytona Beach alley — a bullet hole in the back of her head.

Since then, three more women with known criminal histories have been found slain execution-style in this Central Florida beachside city best known for its love of motorcycles, auto racing and sunbathing.

When the fourth victim was discovered, Daytona Beach police knew they were looking for a serial killer.

According to the FBI, the four killings are among 28 in Florida that are unsolved and connected to serial killings that the bureau suspects were committed by long-haul truckers.
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Are 19 slayings along I-4 the work of serial killers