NY National Guardsman-Iraq Veteran-Police Officer-Firefighter All In One

New York Army National Guard Soldier saves life while on the job as a police officer
New York National Guard
By Master Sgt. Raymond Drumsta
March 10, 2016

As a Soldier, police officer and volunteer firefighter, Reyes has racked up an array of medical qualifications, including combat lifesaver and emergency medical technician. For the last three years, he's been a member of the police department's Medical Crisis Action Team, which responds to emergency incidents like active shooters and barricaded subjects.

But, Reyes stressed, his infantry training and civilian training work hand-in-hand — whether he's serving as a Soldier, police officer or firefighter.

This is police officer Arnold Reyes on the

job with the Suffolk County Police Department.

Reyes is also the command sergeant major of the

New York Army National Guard’s 2nd Battalion,

108th Infantry. Reyes and others helped bring a 

woman back to life in December 2015.

Photo By: New York National Guard

EAST PATCHOGUE, N.Y. — Protecting and treating people is all part of Arnold Reyes' life of public service, whether he's serving as a Suffolk County Police Officer, or as command sergeant major in the New York Army National Guard.

So Dec. 19 — when he and others literally brought Kathleen Manganello, a 72-year old retired librarian, back to life here — was just another day for Reyes.

"I guess it's just ingrained...helping people," he reflected.

But for Manganello's family, Reyes is much more.

He's an "amazing superhero," her son, Andrew, told WLNY news during a January press conference in which Reyes was reunited with Manganello and her family.

An Iraq veteran who served in Baghdad in 2004 and 2005, Reyes' life of public service also includes 16 years in the Suffolk County Police Department and about 28 years in the Army infantry. Now the command sergeant major of the 2nd Battalion, 108th Infantry, the Selden, New York, resident has served most of his Army career in the New York Army National Guard.
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Beaten and Left in Road, Family of Veteran Needs Help to Bring Him Home

Ex-soldier from Michigan dies after assault, family seeks help bringing him home
MLive
By Bob Johnson
March 10, 2016

NASHVILLE — A former U.S. Army soldier from Michigan has died after police said he was assaulted in Tennessee on Sunday, March 6.

Seth Brabant Seth Brabant (Courtesy | Sabrianna Espinoza)

Seth Brabant, 24, of Chesaning in Saginaw County, died on Thursday, according to officials at Vanderbilt Medical Center in Nashville.

Police said Brabant was discovered beaten on the side of a dirt road four days earlier. Stewart County Sheriff's Department has arrested a second man on attempted murder charges. Those charges are likely to change now that Brabant has died, an official at the sheriff's office said.

The man currently is being held on a $600,000 bond.

Brabant had only been "out of the Army for a couple of months," a family member told MLive.
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Gunny Helps Combat Wounded Veteran Fix Home

Veteran's home gets upgrades thanks to TV show
FOX 13 News
Kelly Cowan
March 10, 2016

PINELLAS PARK (FOX 13) - A veteran - still recovering from wounds he suffered while on tour in Afghanistan - along with his family got a well deserved surprise, right in their back yard.

Lifetime's Military Makeovers, with a little help from R. Lee Ermey, AKA The Gunny, remodeled the family's Pinellas Park home and unveiled the finished product Thursday afternoon.

It was all hands on deck Thursday as crews rushed to put the final touches on Purple Heart recipient, Lance Corporal Devin Kyle's newly remodeled home.
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Afghanistan Veteran Marine to Receive Silver Star

Controversial Marine Corps unit recognizes a war hero
Marine Corps Times
Gina Harkins
March 14, 2016

Matthew Parker, a former squad leader with

India Company, 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marines
will receive the Silver Star on March 18.

(Photo: Pvt. Brian M. Woodruff/Marine Corps)

A Marine infantry battalion that was embroiled in a war-zone scandal will present a former squad leader with the nation's third-highest valor award this week — nearly five years after he led his comrades out of an intense firefight in Afghanistan.

Former Sgt. Matthew Parker, who served as a squad leader with 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marines, during the unit's 2011 deployment to Afghanistan, will be presented with the Silver Star on Friday during a ceremony at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, Marine Corps Times has learned.

Parker is being recognized for stepping up to lead his platoon when his commander and another squad leader were injured in an attack while operating in Helmand province's Musa Qala district, according to his award citation.
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Australian Defence Force Face Off With Soldiers Over Lariam

Former soldiers, families face military officials in Townsville over anti-malaria drug side effects
ABC Australia
By Jesse Dorsett
Updated yesterday at 7:28pm

PHOTO: Mefloquine, also known as Lariam, is known to cause mental health problems.

(Flickr: David Davies)

The military's top brass has come face to face with former soldiers and their families suffering depression and anxiety after being given controversial anti-malaria drugs on deployment.

Key points: 2,000 ADF personnel given anti-malaria drug in East Timor over five years
Drug side effects include mood swings and suicidal thoughts
ADF says they did not know drugs would produce chronic problems
A forum has been held in Townsville, in north Queensland, to give former soldiers, ex-service organisations and health professional the chance to discuss the effects of anti-malaria medication Mefloquine, as well as the drug Tafenoquine.

Nearly 2,000 Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel were prescribed Mefloquine, also known as Lariam, primarily in East Timor, between July 2000 and June 2015.

The drug is known to cause agitation, mood swings, panic attacks, confusion, hallucinations, aggression, psychosis and suicidal thoughts in a small number of patients.

Another 492 took Tafenoquine as part of a trial in 2000 and 2001.
read more here and remember US soldiers took it too!