Study: Kids of deployed vets prone to violence
By Mike Stobbe - The Associated Press
Posted : Monday Oct 31, 2011 8:11:50 EDT
ATLANTA — A new study suggests that when parents are deployed in the military, their children are more than twice as likely to carry a weapon, join a gang or be involved in fights.
And that includes the daughters.
“This study raises serious concerns about an under-recognized consequence of war,” said Sarah Reed, who led the research of military families in Washington state.
Last year, nearly 2 million U.S. children had at least one parent serving in the military. Deployment can hurt a family in a variety of ways. There’s stress while that parent is overseas and in danger, as the remaining parent has to shoulder all responsibilities and family roles shift. There can also be challenges after deployed parents’ return, especially if they were physically or psychologically damaged.
read more here
Monday, October 31, 2011
More data needed on burn pits, report says
More data needed on burn pits, report says
By Patricia Kime - Staff writer
Posted : Monday Oct 31, 2011 13:43:32 EDT
A group of the nation’s top researchers has concluded there are insufficient data to determine whether open-air burn pits, used extensively by the U.S. military during the wars Iraq and Afghanistan to dispose of trash and other waste, cause long-term health effects.
Furthermore, the Institute of Medicine committee, which investigated the possible long-term health effects of burn pits at the request of the Veterans Affairs Department, said the biggest pollution concern at one of the most controversial sites, Joint Base Balad, Iraq, is likely particulate matter resulting from local and regional sources, not the military burn pits, which operated there from 2003 to 2008.
The report released by the Institute of Medicine said there are “insufficient data” to determine whether pollution from the pits is associated with cancer, respiratory disease and other illnesses.
In trying to determine whether there was a link between burn pits and adverse health conditions, the panel examined data provided by the Defense Department on pollutants found in raw air, information on health effects from various studies, and the health outcomes in populations that experience similar exposures, such as firefighters, waste incinerator employees and people who live near such facilities.
read more here
By Patricia Kime - Staff writer
Posted : Monday Oct 31, 2011 13:43:32 EDT
A group of the nation’s top researchers has concluded there are insufficient data to determine whether open-air burn pits, used extensively by the U.S. military during the wars Iraq and Afghanistan to dispose of trash and other waste, cause long-term health effects.
Furthermore, the Institute of Medicine committee, which investigated the possible long-term health effects of burn pits at the request of the Veterans Affairs Department, said the biggest pollution concern at one of the most controversial sites, Joint Base Balad, Iraq, is likely particulate matter resulting from local and regional sources, not the military burn pits, which operated there from 2003 to 2008.
The report released by the Institute of Medicine said there are “insufficient data” to determine whether pollution from the pits is associated with cancer, respiratory disease and other illnesses.
In trying to determine whether there was a link between burn pits and adverse health conditions, the panel examined data provided by the Defense Department on pollutants found in raw air, information on health effects from various studies, and the health outcomes in populations that experience similar exposures, such as firefighters, waste incinerator employees and people who live near such facilities.
read more here
Jobless veterans say military experience is not valued
When you think about coming from a whole different world, it seems hard to translate what you did into what you can do. The following has some advice on it but here's a few of my own.
If you were in leadership in the service, tell them you are a focused leader.
If you were just one of the group, talk about how much you value team work.
You are no longer mission focused but goal driven and stop at nothing to get the job done. You won't ease up because you are tired or had a bad night. After all, you've been there and done that with a lot more facing you than a bad tempered boss.
If they ask you if you will travel or not, tell them you thrive on it. At least you know when they send you on a business trip, you won't be gone for a year at a time.
Talk about how you don't call in sick. After all, when you were deployed you couldn't decide to stay in bed instead. Add up all the time you were in the service and then think about all the times you didn't call in sick.
Tell them that you want to work for them as much as you wanted to do your job in the military. That you will be grateful for the opportunity to work there and not afraid of long hours or overtime since at the end of the day you can go home to your family.
Think about all the reasons you would hire you and talk in civilian words they can understand. Focus on all you can bring to the company because in the end you are a rare worker. There are less than one percent of the population in the military right now and less than ten percent of the population are veterans.
If you were in leadership in the service, tell them you are a focused leader.
If you were just one of the group, talk about how much you value team work.
You are no longer mission focused but goal driven and stop at nothing to get the job done. You won't ease up because you are tired or had a bad night. After all, you've been there and done that with a lot more facing you than a bad tempered boss.
If they ask you if you will travel or not, tell them you thrive on it. At least you know when they send you on a business trip, you won't be gone for a year at a time.
Talk about how you don't call in sick. After all, when you were deployed you couldn't decide to stay in bed instead. Add up all the time you were in the service and then think about all the times you didn't call in sick.
Tell them that you want to work for them as much as you wanted to do your job in the military. That you will be grateful for the opportunity to work there and not afraid of long hours or overtime since at the end of the day you can go home to your family.
Think about all the reasons you would hire you and talk in civilian words they can understand. Focus on all you can bring to the company because in the end you are a rare worker. There are less than one percent of the population in the military right now and less than ten percent of the population are veterans.
Jobless veterans say military experience is not valued
By Roy Strom
NAPERVILLE, Ill | Mon Oct 31, 2011 4:41pm EDT
NAPERVILLE, Ill (Reuters) - When Matthew Burrell left the U.S. Army after eight years of service, he landed a job as a public relations contractor in Iraq. With a salary of $170,000, he figured military experience had finally paid off.
But five months after returning home to Chicago, 33-year old Burrell is unemployed and said his job search has been strange. Despite having six years experience as a public relations officer in the Army, companies treat him as if he just graduated from college.
"I can tell you for a fact that definitely in my field in public relations and marketing, private sector companies do not value (military experience)," Burrell said.
read more here
Body of Fort Campbell soldier found in Oak Grove
Body of Soldier found in Oak Grove
11:57 AM, Oct. 31, 2011
Written by
The Leaf-Chronicle
Oak Grove Police found the body of a Fort Campbell soldier on the 100 block of Waterford Drive Sunday.
read more here
11:57 AM, Oct. 31, 2011
Written by
The Leaf-Chronicle
Oak Grove Police found the body of a Fort Campbell soldier on the 100 block of Waterford Drive Sunday.
read more here
Wisconsin Marine Brings Spirit of Halloween to Afghanistan
Written on October 31, 2011 at 7:13 am by jtozer
Wisconsin Marine Brings Spirit of Halloween to Afghanistan
by Lance Cpl. Alfred V. Lopez
Regimental Combat Team-5, 1st Marine Division
CAMP DWYER, Helmand province, Afghanistan – Homesickness is a common enemy of U.S. Marines in a combat zone. Keepsakes from loved ones and photographs of treasured memories help keep this foe at bay.
But when holidays like Halloween come around, it’s not always enough.
Sergeant Michael A. Kinne, a 27-year-old assistant fires chief with Regimental Combat Team 5, found a unique way to fight this sickness:
He carved a Batman-themed Jack-O-Lantern, in the spirit of his favorite holiday and comic book character.
read more here
Wisconsin Marine Brings Spirit of Halloween to Afghanistan
by Lance Cpl. Alfred V. Lopez
Regimental Combat Team-5, 1st Marine Division
CAMP DWYER, Helmand province, Afghanistan – Homesickness is a common enemy of U.S. Marines in a combat zone. Keepsakes from loved ones and photographs of treasured memories help keep this foe at bay.
But when holidays like Halloween come around, it’s not always enough.
Sergeant Michael A. Kinne, a 27-year-old assistant fires chief with Regimental Combat Team 5, found a unique way to fight this sickness:
He carved a Batman-themed Jack-O-Lantern, in the spirit of his favorite holiday and comic book character.
read more here
Female Vet and a Dog Made All the Difference
For Local Vet, a Dog Made All the Difference
Faith Harris suffered PTSD after serving in Iraq, but Stiggy's Dogs -- an organization that matches service dogs with vets -- changed her life.
By Kristi Ceccarossi
It's been years since Faith Harris left the Air Force, years since her deployment to one of the most volatile regions in Iraq and years since she developed her first symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
The Dunstable Street resident is still haunted by nightmares, she's still vulnerable to feelings of panic and she can get anxious, even today, in a crowd.
But Harris has Honor, a service dog that was trained specifically to help her cope with and overcome PTSD. And Honor, a sweet black lab mix, has made all of the difference.
"She's given me my life back," Harris, 29, said, during a recent chat over coffee at Zume's.
red more here
Faith Harris suffered PTSD after serving in Iraq, but Stiggy's Dogs -- an organization that matches service dogs with vets -- changed her life.
By Kristi Ceccarossi
It's been years since Faith Harris left the Air Force, years since her deployment to one of the most volatile regions in Iraq and years since she developed her first symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
The Dunstable Street resident is still haunted by nightmares, she's still vulnerable to feelings of panic and she can get anxious, even today, in a crowd.
But Harris has Honor, a service dog that was trained specifically to help her cope with and overcome PTSD. And Honor, a sweet black lab mix, has made all of the difference.
"She's given me my life back," Harris, 29, said, during a recent chat over coffee at Zume's.
red more here
Recent Veterans in College Engage in Riskier Health Behaviors
Going from combat to college is not easy. While most of their peers went into college right out of high school, most serving in the military go into that instead. While their peers are worrying about tests, getting the classes they need and parties, servicemen and women are worrying about learning how to fire their weapon, take care of it and then worry about one of their buddies dying or having their own families have to claim the flag covered casket at the airport.
When they come home, they think it should be easy to adjust to college life but they soon discover a whole different mindset with their civilian peers. They also experience a disconnected public unaware of anything going on in Iraq or Afghanistan.
If you attend or plan on attending Valencia College, there is a group there to help you find other veterans just like you on campus.
I created this video for a Motion Class and it is done with stop-motion. Why? Because sometimes it is hard finding what you want to know on the college website. This is the easiest way for you to find out how to join from your Atlas account.
Find support, find understanding and someone to talk to instead of getting involved with anything that can get in the way of your education.
This is coming from a 52 year old student in Digital Media. I waited until my daughter finished her education before I went back and it is easy to spot a veteran.
When they come home, they think it should be easy to adjust to college life but they soon discover a whole different mindset with their civilian peers. They also experience a disconnected public unaware of anything going on in Iraq or Afghanistan.
If you attend or plan on attending Valencia College, there is a group there to help you find other veterans just like you on campus.
I created this video for a Motion Class and it is done with stop-motion. Why? Because sometimes it is hard finding what you want to know on the college website. This is the easiest way for you to find out how to join from your Atlas account.
Find support, find understanding and someone to talk to instead of getting involved with anything that can get in the way of your education.
This is coming from a 52 year old student in Digital Media. I waited until my daughter finished her education before I went back and it is easy to spot a veteran.
Recent Veterans in College Engage in Riskier Health Behaviors
Release Date: October 31, 2011
KEY POINTS
Veterans who served in Afghanistan or Iraq enrolled in college are more likely than other college students to use tobacco products, binge drink and be involved in physical fights.
College students who are also veterans are more likely to engage in strength training and refrain from using marijuana than non-veteran college students.
By Carl Sherman, Contributing Writer
Research Source: American Journal of Health Promotion
Health Behavior News Service
College students who have served in the U.S. conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan are more likely than their non-veteran peers to use tobacco, drink in excess and engage in other behaviors that endanger their health and safety, according to a study that appeared in the latest issue of American Journal of Health Promotion.
“We also found some protective behaviors where veterans showed particular strengths,” said lead author Rachel Widome, Ph.D., of the Center for Chronic Disease Outcomes Research at the Minneapolis Veterans Affairs Medical Center and University of Minnesota.
In the study, 8,651 Minnesota college students—7813 nonveterans, 405 veterans who had served in the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan (Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom or OEF/OIF) and 410 veterans who had not served in OEF/OIF—completed a survey of health-related behaviors.
More OEF/OIF veterans said they were currently cigarette smokers or had recently used smokeless tobacco, compared with non-veteran students. Higher percentages of these veterans also reported binge drinking—more than five drinks at one time—during the previous two weeks, and riding in a car driven by an intoxicated person during the prior year. Other hazardous behaviors, including fighting and carrying a weapon, were also more common among veterans, though the study notes that weapon possession may be in relation to their military service.
On the positive side, OEF/OIF veterans reported being more physically active than other students: a significantly higher percentage engaged in strengthening exercise regularly, and fewer spent over two hours a day watching TV or playing video or computer games. They were also less likely to use marijuana. Among current cigarette smokers, more OEF/OIF veterans planned to quit before graduation than non-veterans.
read more here
Unemployment for female veterans is higher than the national average
After serving her country, female veteran struggles to find a job
By Shirley Henry and Athena Jones, CNN
updated 2:09 AM EST, Mon October 31, 2011
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
Unemployment for female veterans is higher than the national average
In September, the national unemployment rate was 9.1%
For female veterans, jobless rate was 14.7%
Former Navy officer Kenya Smith is one of those unemployed female veterans
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Kenya Smith only has good things to say about the U.S. Navy, where she served a total of 14 years before leaving in 2009.
It's the only profession she's ever known. "I love the Navy," she said during a recent interview in suburban Maryland. "If you split me open, I'm blue and gold."
Smith, a former lieutenant and medical service corps officer, first enlisted right after college but by the time she left had earned two master's degrees, deployed to Iraq and racked up substantial experience in healthcare and administration -- experience she thought would impress potential civilian employers.
"I ran projects. I was an HR manager. I was a logistics manager," she said. But despite all that, Smith now is unemployed -- two years after leaving the military. A single mother with two teenage children, she lost her home to foreclosure in September and is currently living in transitional housing.
Kenya Smith served in the U.S. Navy for 14 years. Now, because she cannot find a job, she is homeless.
"I'm a female homeless vet with children, and I mean that, that's horrible, that's the worst, I think.
read more here
By Shirley Henry and Athena Jones, CNN
updated 2:09 AM EST, Mon October 31, 2011
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
Unemployment for female veterans is higher than the national average
In September, the national unemployment rate was 9.1%
For female veterans, jobless rate was 14.7%
Former Navy officer Kenya Smith is one of those unemployed female veterans
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Kenya Smith only has good things to say about the U.S. Navy, where she served a total of 14 years before leaving in 2009.
It's the only profession she's ever known. "I love the Navy," she said during a recent interview in suburban Maryland. "If you split me open, I'm blue and gold."
Smith, a former lieutenant and medical service corps officer, first enlisted right after college but by the time she left had earned two master's degrees, deployed to Iraq and racked up substantial experience in healthcare and administration -- experience she thought would impress potential civilian employers.
"I ran projects. I was an HR manager. I was a logistics manager," she said. But despite all that, Smith now is unemployed -- two years after leaving the military. A single mother with two teenage children, she lost her home to foreclosure in September and is currently living in transitional housing.
Kenya Smith served in the U.S. Navy for 14 years. Now, because she cannot find a job, she is homeless.
"I'm a female homeless vet with children, and I mean that, that's horrible, that's the worst, I think.
read more here
Report rips platoon boss behavior in fratricide
Report rips platoon boss behavior in fratricide
By Joe Gould - Staff writer
Posted : Monday Oct 31, 2011 7:03:12 EDT
A new investigation into the 2008 friendly fire death of Pfc. David Sharrett II in Iraq blasts the platoon leader who shot Sharrett and abandoned him as he lay dying, saying the officer displayed “serious personal judgment errors.”
After a botched pre-dawn raid, then-1st. Lt. Timothy Hanson left the battlefield on a helicopter while Sharrett and two of his soldiers were still missing, the report stated. Sharrett was found clinging to life at least 10 minutes after Hanson left.
“[Hanson] failed to uphold the Soldier’s Creed to include the Warrior Ethos,” wrote the chief investigator, Brig. Gen. David Bishop, chief of staff of Third Army, U.S. Army Central, “and he displayed a lack of regard for completing his assigned mission and ensuring the welfare and safety of his Soldiers which calls into question his leadership.”
The new investigation, dated March 31, is the third since Sharrett was killed. It backtracks on the first investigation’s widely reported conclusion that Hanson “misidentified” Sharrett as an insurgent and shot him because Sharrett failed to switch on his infrared beacon.
read more here
By Joe Gould - Staff writer
Posted : Monday Oct 31, 2011 7:03:12 EDT
A new investigation into the 2008 friendly fire death of Pfc. David Sharrett II in Iraq blasts the platoon leader who shot Sharrett and abandoned him as he lay dying, saying the officer displayed “serious personal judgment errors.”
After a botched pre-dawn raid, then-1st. Lt. Timothy Hanson left the battlefield on a helicopter while Sharrett and two of his soldiers were still missing, the report stated. Sharrett was found clinging to life at least 10 minutes after Hanson left.
“[Hanson] failed to uphold the Soldier’s Creed to include the Warrior Ethos,” wrote the chief investigator, Brig. Gen. David Bishop, chief of staff of Third Army, U.S. Army Central, “and he displayed a lack of regard for completing his assigned mission and ensuring the welfare and safety of his Soldiers which calls into question his leadership.”
The new investigation, dated March 31, is the third since Sharrett was killed. It backtracks on the first investigation’s widely reported conclusion that Hanson “misidentified” Sharrett as an insurgent and shot him because Sharrett failed to switch on his infrared beacon.
read more here
Iraq Veteran Killed in Grain Elevator Explosion
Iraq Veteran Killed in Grain Elevator Explosion
Carey Wickersham, FOX 4 News
Christie Walton Web Producer
4:30 p.m. CDT, October 30, 2011
ATCHISON, Kan.— The families of three victims of the grain explosion in Atchison received tragic phone calls in the middle of the night. Gary Keil and his family went to the Bartlett Grain Elevator with hope still in tact.
His youngest son Travis is a grain inspector for the state of Kansas and one of the three people initially reported missing.
Carey Wickersham, FOX 4 News
Christie Walton Web Producer
4:30 p.m. CDT, October 30, 2011
ATCHISON, Kan.— The families of three victims of the grain explosion in Atchison received tragic phone calls in the middle of the night. Gary Keil and his family went to the Bartlett Grain Elevator with hope still in tact.
His youngest son Travis is a grain inspector for the state of Kansas and one of the three people initially reported missing.
Travis Keil's three children looked toward the twisted top of the grain elevator with thoughts of their father who was an Iraqi war Veteran who wasn't afraid of anything.read more here
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