Friday, June 5, 2020
Message to NFL: The appropriate time to take a knee
Thursday, June 4, 2020
Retired Military Leaders Speak Out Against Using Troops
Here are all the current and former military leaders blasting Trump’s response to nationwide protests
Task and PurposeSince the earliest days of his presidency, President Donald Trump has showered "his generals" with an absurd amount of adoration, transforming America's military brass from mere advisors to symbols of legitimacy and trust within his administration.
But in the protests that have followed the death of unarmed African-American man George Floyd at the hands of a Minneapolis police officer — and Trump's subsequent threats to deploy the military to quell protests nationwide — the president's implicit reliance on generals appears weakened as military leaders speak out and contradict the president's message of force.
In recent days, several generals from past administrations have spoken out strongly against both Trump personally and the approach his administration has taken to the violence that has rocked in recent days, from current Defense Secretary Mark Esper referring to American cities as "battle space" to Trump's demand that governors use the National Guard to "dominate" protestors in their states.
Former Defense Secretary James Mattis
Former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen
VA acknowledges it’s ‘not there yet’ with coronavirus testing for employees
Wednesday, June 3, 2020
Military children should not have problem joining after seeking help
Military children shouldn’t be penalized for seeking mental health care, senators say
The proposal would require the service surgeons general to give “liberal consideration” to children raised in a military family, because of the potential challenges of military family life, when deciding whether to grant a waiver allowing them to join the military despite prior mental health conditions. It the waiver is denied, a mental health provider would have to review the request.
Army Lt. Col. Rudy De La Rosa with his daughter Samantha, who graduated from Air Force basic military training in May, 2019. She successfully fought to overcome notations in her dependent medical record that initially kept her out of the military. (Photo courtesy of De La Rosa family)
Difference between using and supporting and cause
Tear Gas, Rubber Bullets Used On Washington, DC Demonstrators As Trump Threatens To Deploy Military To Quell Protests
Tuesday, June 2, 2020
Air Force Chief Master Sergeant holding review of justice system
Chief Wright: ‘I am George Floyd,’ promises review of Air Force justice system
Air Force Times
Stephen Losey
June 2, 2020
“Who am I? I am a Black man who happens to be Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force. I am George Floyd...I am Philando Castile, I am Michael Brown, I am Alton Sterling, I am Tamir Rice.” Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force Kaleth Wright
Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force Kaleth Wright posted a lengthy and passionate thread on Twitter about police brutality and the deaths of black men like George Floyd Monday night. (Air Force)
Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force Kaleth Wright on Monday announced an independent review of the service’s justice system after a series of scathing reports that showed it disproportionately punishes young black airmen.
And in a lengthy, passionate Twitter thread posted as the nation continued to be roiled by protests and fury over racism, police brutality and the deaths of George Floyd and other black men at the hands of police, Chief Wright — who is the second black man in history to be the Air Force’s top enlisted leader — invoked several of their names and expressed solidarity with them.
read it here
Over 1,000 discover “Beyond Band of Brothers Dishonest”
KOLD Investigates: Arizona veterans, families out thousands after tour company files for bankruptcy
KOLD 13 News
By Shaley Sanders
June 1, 2020
TUCSON, Ariz. (KOLD News 13) - It was supposed to be a bucket list adventure to celebrate our veterans until the trip of a lifetime turned into a trip to nowhere.
Now, hundreds of travelers are out thousands of dollars, and many may not even know.
“Part of the thing that stings the most is that these were trips that were tailored to veterans,” said Alana Stevens.
Stevens, who lives in Tucson, said she wanted to surprise her army veteran husband and WWII history buff with a big trip for his 50th birthday.
“He is a disabled vet. He was a paratrooper,”Steven said.
Stevens said she purchased a WWII tour through Germany through Beyond Band of Brothers Tours. She said she paid the company about $5,000.
With so much uncertainty surrounding COVID-19, Stevens said she tried to contact Beyond Band of Brothers Tours to make sure their September trip was still on schedule.
“I Googled Beyond Band of Brothers and the website was black,” Stevens said.
While searching for answers, Stevens said she stumbled upon a Facebook group called, “Beyond Band of Brothers Dishonest.”
read it here
West Point cadets have tested positive for COVID-19 after forced ceremony
16 West Point cadets test positive for COVID-19 upon returning to campus for Trump's commencement speech
Task and Purpose
David Roza
June 1, 2020
According to the campus newspaper, The Pointer View, the 1,100 cadets of the class of 2020 started returning to campus last week.
At least sixteen West Point cadets have tested positive for novel coronavirus (COVID-19) upon returning to the New York campus President Donald Trump's upcoming speech at the school’s commencement ceremony on June 13.(U.S. Army/Matthew Moeller)
USA Today first reported the infections. A West Point spokesman confirmed the article’s findings for Task and Purpose.
The 16 cadets are receiving treatment but are not showing symptoms of the disease, Lt. Gen. Darryl Williams, West Point’s superintendent, told USA Today.
Of the 16 affected cadets, 14 tested positive for the antibody which indicates they contracted the virus and subsequently recovered, USA Today reported.
The number is a small fraction of the 850 cadets who have returned to campus since spring break in March.
read it here