Soldier's Home : Army

The Army's New Electric Cars

David Botti — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 18:36:05 GMT

Starting in mid-December this year new electric cars purchased by the Army will start arriving at U.S. bases for on-site use, the Military Times reports. Joined by the Air Force and Navy, the Army is planning to receive 800 of these vehicles by next year with an ultimate goal of 10,000 overall. Paul Bollinger, deputy assistant Army secretary for energy and partnerships, told the paper:

The Army is moving quickly; the purchase plans were unveiled in October as part of the service’s ambitious new energy strategy, which also calls for the construction of solar and geothermal facilities.
Bollinger, citing General Services Administration figures, said each electric car would use an average of about $400 in electricity per year, compared with the roughly $2,400 in fuel needed to run a gas-powered car. Moreover, the 4,000 electric cars will save 11.5 million gallons of fuel per year, he said.

And on whether Bollinger expects the purchase of so many electric cars by all three military branches will affect the industry, he remarked:

“We are not going to buy enough to be a market maker, but we can be a market initiator,” Bollinger said. “If we buy 10,000 of these vehicles, piggyback that with perhaps 10,000 by the Air Force and 10,000 for the Navy, that is 30,000 vehicles. Automobile manufacturers can then decide if there is a market for these. We have at least created the market to get something started.”

Bollinger is part of the recently created Army Energy and Partnership Office which, in part, looks to make military energy self-sufficient while also cutting down on the overall consumption of energy. According to a recent article published by the Army's own news service, Bollinger layed out the tactical need for removing the military's dependence on the civilian power-grid:

"If we were attacked, or there was a terrible act of nature -- and our Soldiers were called out into the community to either defend or protect -- they need their installation operating," Bollinger said. "You also have critical infrastructure there, hospitals, communications, you may have munitions, and you may need electricity to pump fuel."

Energy security means that an Army installation can still provide power to its most critical operations, even if the civilian power grid is completely down. For the Army to accomplish that, it first needs to know the total energy consumption of each installation as a baseline, Bollinger said. It must determine the most important parts of the mission that need to be powered. Those two pieces of information, coupled with an effort to reduce energy usage through improved efficiency, is how he said the Army plans to gain energy security on its installations.

The article added:

Reducing energy usage and increasing energy efficiency on Army posts are not enough to provide energy security, however. Army bases must also be able to generate their own power for their most critical missions, if called on to do so.

Developing facilities that can power the needs of the Army and at the same time draw on renewable resources is something the Army isn't going to tackle alone.

"This is a partnership with the private sector," Bollinger said. "We are inviting them to come in and assist us in reaching our goal of energy security. The Army is taking a leadership role and is committed to making our installations energy secure and reducing greenhouse gas emissions -- we call that smart energy."

For more on military environmental initiatives, read this post from early October, where we took a look at environmental concerns in Iraq and Afghanistan.

New Online Videos Attempt to Show Soldiers' Iraq

David Botti — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 19:54:33 GMT

There have been two developments recently in the world of online video that aim to convey U.S. military life in Iraq back to the home front -- though for much different purposes. On Monday the New York Times ran a short feature on the redesign of the U.S. Army Website, where potential recruits can now view pared-down, YouTube-esque videos of soldiers in Iraq talking about life there. As the Times reports, the "Straight From Iraq Series," is intended to target the 17-24-year-old demographic using this more current technology. From the paper:

The goal is to provide those considering the Army — along with parents and others who influence their decisions — with “verifiable information about what being a soldier is really like, what combat is really like,” said Lt. Gen. Benjamin C. Freakley, commanding general of the Army Accessions Command in Fort Monroe, Va., which is overseeing recruitment.

The changes in the “Army strong” campaign place more emphasis on the Internet, event marketing and other methods that connect with young Americans on a closer, more personal level...

...In addition to the new content on goarmy.com, there will be new TV commercials, meant to help drive traffic to the Web site. The first ones compare the Army to a company, a team and a school by showing young men and women in settings like an office building, a gym and a campus. The scenes shift into scenes of soldiers performing military tasks like marching and saluting the flag.

A screen shot from goarmy.com.

Oh, and for those of you rodeo fans out there, here's some bad news:

To help pay for the new media features, cutbacks are being made in areas like the Army’s sponsorships of professional rodeos.

Elsewhere on the Internet, a new Website called TroopTube is up and running allowing military members and family/friends to share videos. It may seem along the same lines as YouTube's functionality, but in May 2007 the Defense Department blocked soldiers from accessing that Website for, according to the Associated Press, "security and bandwidth issues." TroopTube's homepage states that it is a Website authorized by the Defense Department. The AP even highlights some interesting technology built into the site:

But the 4-month-old startup's real forte is making sure site searches turn up the best video results. Delve's system turns a video's sound into a text transcript. It pares unimportant words like "this" and "that," then compares what's left against a massive database of words commonly uttered in proximity to each other, collected from crawling hundreds of millions of Web pages.

The result: Even if speech recognition software trips on the one word someone is searching for, there's a good chance Delve can still deliver relevant results.

15 Percent of Veterans Report Sexual Trauma to the VA

David Botti — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 13:21:32 GMT

A study released today by the VA's National Center for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder found that 15 percent of the Iraq/Afghanistan vets seeking treatment at VA facilities report experiencing some kind of sexual trauma while serving in the military. Additionally, these veterans are 1.5 times more likely require mental health care. These numbers are derived from the nearly 40 percent of recent war veterans who've sought general medical care since being discharged from the military. Screening all vets coming through VA medical facilities for sexual trauma is a standard practice.

Here are more statistics referenced in the report [via Reuters and USA Today]:|

76 percent of women who've had previous sexual trauma reported mental health problems, 51 percent of which include some form of PTSD.
47 percent of women without a history of sexual trauma reported mental health problems, 22 percent of which include some form of PTSD.
Women with military-related sexual trauma experiences have a 59 percent higher risk of mental health problems.
Men with military-related sexual trauma experiences have a 40 percent higher risk of mental health problems.
One in seven female vets reported an instance of military sexual trauma.
Just under one percent of male vets reported an instance of military sexual trauma.

The study covered 125,000 veterans seeking treatment from the VA between October 2001 and October 2007. Active duty soldiers were not included because the VA is not involved with their care. Additionally, the specific types of sexual trauma were not included, only the number of occurrences.

Reuters spoke to the new report's co-author Rachel Kimerling:

Kimerling said in a telephone interview the term "military sexual trauma" covers a range of events from coerced sex to outright rape or threatening and unwelcome sexual advances...

..."If you think about military service where you are living and working so closely with the same people, that even if it is not sexual assault ... it is possible that severe sexual harassment is just as traumatic," she said...
...Kimerling said that may mean many veterans are unaware they can be helped and she said she hoped more would come forward to seek treatment.
"There are dedicated health care services for military sexual trauma at every VA facility across the nation," she said.

Sexual trauma can lead to depression, anxiety, substance abuse and post-traumatic stress disorder, Kimerling said.

"We know there are effective, evidence-based treatments for them that are used in VA," she added.

Additionally, USA Today wrote of the likelihood female service members will report sexual trauma at all:

Many women are afraid to report the assaults, says Anita Sanchez of the Miles Foundation, a non-profit that provides services to victims of military-related trauma. Fewer than a third of women who come to Miles for help after sexual assaults say they've told the military, she says.

"A typical scenario is it's either a supervisor or someone at her level, in the same military unit. If you come forward, you're tattle-telling on a comrade. Women have told me about the sneers, the sarcastic comments. They can find themselves ostracized," says Sanchez, and when other women see this, the lesson isn't lost on them.

For a detailed introduction to military sexual trauma read this post from last year where I interviewed an expert on the subject.

In the News: Russia Still Has Marine Humvees, Recruits Q&A, and More Vet Political Ads

David Botti — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 13:25:43 GMT

A roundup of military and veterans stories worth taking a look at:

Five U.S. Marine Corps humvees seized by Russian forces when they entered Georgia earlier this summer still haven't been returned:

The Humvees were taken Aug. 19 during Russia’s assault on the Georgian port of Poti, said Lt. Cmdr. Corey Barker, a spokesman for U.S. European Command. The vehicles were in Georgia awaiting commercial transport back to the U.S. following Operation Immediate Response, a multinational training exercise in July involving Georgian and U.S. forces. [Marine Corps Times]

Last week New York Magazine went down to the iconic Times Square recruiting station in New York City for some Q & A with new Army recruits on their way to boot camp. The interviews were spurred by news the Army has passed its recruiting goals for the past three years. The magazine described its subjects as: "four local boys and one Goth girl from Alabama in New York for the first time, all ages 17 to 23." Excerpt:

Chris Biener, 21, Bohemia, Long Island:

New York: So you leave for Army Reserves boot camp next Monday. What'll you do until then?
CB: Hang out with some friends.
New York: What have you been doing up to now?
CB: I went to Stonybrook University and played football there for the first semester, then I went to Suffolk Community College, then I started working and going to school, back and forth, then I decided to do this.
New York: Why didn't you stay in college?
CB: I kept switching my major, which kept putting me back. So I worked at a swimming-pool store.
New York: Why are you joining the military?
CB: I almost did it straight out of high school, but my parents wanted me to go to college. I always wanted to join growing up.
New York: Why?
CB: I've always played sports, but there's no team after high school. So this is a big team to join.
New York: What's your big dream?
CB: I'm going to be an LPN, a nurse. So when I get out [of the military], I know I'll get a good job. And if I stay in, there'll always be people who need help.
New York: We're in two wars right now. You may go and be seriously physically or mentally damaged or die. Does that affect your decision?
CB: I used to think about it, but then I realized I'll be trained enough to probably get away from that situation, so if it happens, it happens.
New York: How would you characterize the situation [in Iraq] right now?
CB: We should be there, but the people don't want us there. It's kind of up in the air.
New York: Should we reinstitute the draft?
CB: No, I think the turnout's positive enough with volunteer people. With a draft you have an Army with people who don't want to be there. If it's volunteer, you'll get 100 percent out of all of them.
New York: Would you pick Iraq or Afghanistan to be deployed to?
CB: Iraq. There seems to be more going on. It'd be more fun. As a nurse, there'd be more jobs for me to do.
[Daily Intel]

A Jewish Army recruit has been transferred to a new training battalion after his involvement in incidents of verbal and physical harassment by other recruits and drill sergeants over his religion. The military is not providing a specific reason for why the recruit was transferred, though his father told the Associated Press it was because his son didn't feel safe.

Handman began basic training Aug. 29 at Fort Benning in Columbus. He soon wrote a letter to his parents in which he said, “I have just never been so discriminated against/humiliated about my religion.” He told them he feared for his safety.
Handman’s parents contacted U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga., who forwarded their concerns to the Army. Four days after commanders interviewed Handman about being harassed, he was beaten in a laundry room near his barracks and treated at the Army post’s hospital.
Manganaro said investigators don’t believe religious bigotry was the motive for Handman being attacked, though she could not explain why...The investigation of Handman’s allegations of harassment found that one drill sergeant had ordered Handman to remove his yarmulke, which he wore with his uniform, as he ate in a dining hall. Another had called him “Juden,” the German word for Jews. [AP]

A new campaign ad by the group VoteVets criticizes Sen. John McCain for skipping a crucial GI Bill vote. In the ad the veteran remarks: "Vet to vet, Senator McCain. When you put money from your rich friends ahead of vets like me how is that country first?"

A few weeks ago I posted a pro-McCain ad featuring a wounded Iraq veteran. I'm reposting it here for you to compare how veterans from two different ways of thinking voice support for their respective candidates.

The widow of an Iraq veteran who committed suicide after returning from the war is suing the federal government for negligence. The deceased veteran, Donald Woodward, 23, made three suicide attempts and was seeking treatment at a VA hospital. His wife said VA doctors were slow to diagnose her husband's psychiatric condition and did not schedule follow-up visits. Woodward, at the time, was in VA out-patient care for depression.

"I intend to make them make changes," said his mother, Lori Woodward. "I have too many friends whose kids are in Iraq. I have a nephew now in Iraq, in the same unit, and I can't have my family go through this again."
Alison Aikele, a VA spokeswoman in Washington, said the agency does not typically comment on pending litigation. [AP]

9/11 Marks Deadliest Year for U.S. in Afghanistan

David Botti — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 16:39:13 GMT

It used to be that the term "forgotten" was often applied to the war in Afghanistan, at least in comparison to the stream of news coming out of Iraq during the past few years. Now, as Iraq quiets, troop shifts to Afghanistan are planned for the near future, and the media once again devotes more column inches to that conflict, word comes of a new milestone: 2008 is the deadliest year for U.S. forces in Afghanistan since the 2001 invasion.

The Associated Press reports that two U.S. soldiers were killed today, the seventh anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, bringing 2008's death toll to 113, passing the 111 U.S. soldiers killed there last year. At the same time, 33,000 U.S. troops are currently operating in Afghanistan; the most since 2001. As the two latest U.S. deaths are still recent, there are few details available:

The NATO-led force said one soldier was killed when insurgents attacked a compound. The separate U.S.-led coalition said a second service member died in combat. No other details were released, but a Western military official told The Associated Press that both troops were American.

Yesterday the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Adm. Michael G. Mullen, told congress that NATO forces are running out of time in Afghanistan and attention needs to be given to Pakistan's tribal areas along with the border. His testimony came as U.S. forces are openly conducting cross-border raids into Pakistan, which is drawing condemnation from that country's government. From the LA Times:

Mullen said the new strategy for Afghanistan must focus on more than just increasing troop strength. He noted that existing provincial reconstruction teams did not have enough agricultural, educational and judicial experts. The U.S. must focus on boosting foreign investment and improving governance in Afghanistan, he said.

"We can't kill our way to victory," Mullen said.

Mullen said he was not convinced the U.S. and its allies were winning in Afghanistan but said he believed victory was possible.

There's been scant coverage of day-to-day U.S. military operations in Afghanistan, but still there is some quality work out there. The UK Guardian has this interactive piece following U.S. and British soldiers in various regions of the country. The paper also has a striking series of videos riding along with a U.S. Army Medevac helicopter crew. There was also this frightening and candid New York Times Magazine piece following a unit of soldiers operating in the volatile Korengal Valley.

A New Medal of Honor Recipient

David Botti — Fri, 23 May 2008 20:58:19 GMT

Just a quick note to let you know the White House gave word today of a new Medal of Honor recipient. Nineteen-year-old Army Pfc. Ross McGinnis was killed in late-2006 when he jumped on a grenade to save his comrades. From the Associated Press:

McGinnis was perched in the gunner's hatch of a Humvee when a grenade sailed past him and into the truck where four other soldiers sat. He shouted a warning to the others, then jumped on the grenade. The grenade, which was lodged near the vehicle's radio, blew up and killed him.

McGinnis is the fourth service member to received the Medal of Honor for service in Iraq.

In Washington, D.C., a Vet Refuses Iraq Service

David Botti — Mon, 19 May 2008 08:15:47 GMT

Late last week a U.S. Army soldier stood in the rotunda of the Cannon House Office Building and announced during a press conference that he's now refusing orders for deployment to Iraq. Sergeant Matthis Chiroux, who served as a military photojournalist, gave his statement soon after a number of anti-war veterans testified before Congress -- the first time such veterans have done so. AFP gave this account of the hearing:

Former army sergeant Kristofer Goldsmith told the landmark hearing of "lawless murders, looting and the abuse of countless Iraqis." He spoke of the psychologically fragile men and women who return from Iraq to find little help or treatment offered from official circles. Goldsmith said he had "self-medicated" for several months to treat the wounds of the war...Another soldier told AFP he had to boost his medication to treat anxiety and social agoraphobia -- two of many lingering mental wounds he carries since his deployments in Iraq -- before testifying. A group of veterans in the packed hearing room gazed blankly as their comrades' testimonies shattered the official version that the U.S. effort in Iraq is succeeding. Almost to a man, the testifiers denounced serious flaws in the chain of command in Iraq.

As for Sgt. Chiroux, he said his position as a military journalist gave exposed him to countless disturbing stories he was afraid to publish for fear of retribution by the Army. He arrived in Washington, D.C. with Iraq Veterans Against the War (IVAW), which coordinated the testimonies before Congress. Below is a video of Chiroux's speech, where he also said he will remain in the U.S. despite the great number of war resistors who move to Canada.

In the News: Night Patrols, Psych Units, and Military Town Money

David Botti — Tue, 13 May 2008 16:53:53 GMT

News roundup:

*Bill Ardolino of The Long War Journal takes his readers along on a night patrol with U.S. soldiers and members of a Baghdad neighborhood watch called Sons of Iraq:

Co-founded seven months ago by local leaders and members of the 82nd Airborne, the Al Sadria branch of the neighborhood watch is composed of about 250 members who are paid by and coordinate with American units. The branch is responsible for a series of predominantly Shia neighborhoods in central Baghdad that include part of the Shorja Market. Though leader Faris Abdul-Hassan refers to his group as “the first Shia Awakening” against criminals and terrorists, he refuses to hire anyone with sectarian allegiances.

According to Ardolino, with a decrease in the number of U.S. troops, the Sons of Iraq have been successful in shouldering the burden of peacekeeping in their own section of Baghdad. While the final goal is integration with the Iraqi police, many in the Sons of Iraq are weary of high infiltration rates within the police by members of the Mahdi Army. See a photo slideshow of the patrol here.

*The Marine Corps Times reports that the Navy plans to expand the number of mobile psychiatric teams embedded within Marine units. A bit of context: the Marine Corps doesn't have its own medical services, but rather relies on the Navy to provide personnel (the Marine Corps is part of the Department of the Navy). The units, known as Navy Operational Stress Control and Readiness (or OSCAR), should number at 23 within two years. The purpose is to provide initial psychiatric counseling to Marines while they are still serving out in the field:

“We want to put mental health professionals with our small-unit leaders,” Navy Surgeon General Vice Adm. Adam Robinson said. “We think if we can train them there. Tere’s a real synergy that can come. We can be there to help with treatment, training and surveillance.”

*One doesn't see much reporting out of Basra these days, but the New York Times Baghdad Bureau blog has an interesting piece today. An Iraqi member of the Times staff took a four-day reporting trip to Basra to see just what the situation is there. Some selections:

I stopped for a while and I saw many Iraqi Army cars riddled with bullets. I saw troops deployed everywhere I looked: on the roof of every high building, every road intersection, occupying government offices that before were occupied by political factions.

I was shocked when I saw traces of the fight, which was clear on the buildings close to the main streets.

As an Iraqi from the south who knows exactly what was going on, with the militias controlling everything in particular cities or ports, I did not expect that the Iraqi forces – which are majority Shia - would be able to confront the militia influence.

There was a new feeling. I had never seen before the Iraq Army, without hesitation, accusing the Mahdi Army of being involved in all the disorder there.

One of the soldiers told me: “The Mahdi Army are a group of criminals, they will destroy everything if we don’t stop them.”

In the past, I have never seen soldiers dare to say anything about them. I felt the reign of fear is broken, and that is it. Exactly the same feeling as when the Baathist regime fell.

*Military.com recently posted an article taking a look at the rise in per capita income within military communities:

The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan could be behind the jumps in income, according to experts. Combat pay and re-enlistment bonuses for professional soldiers, combined with the activation of National Guard and Reserve units, put more money in the bank accounts of personnel shipping out of Fort Bragg, said David G. Lenze of the U.S. Commerce Department's Bureau of Economic Analysis, which issued the income data.

According to the piece, in North Carolina two major military communities ranked first and second in areas of the state with the highest per capita growth. The first of these, the Fort Bragg area, saw personal income rise more than $8,900 over five years. Military towns in Georgia and Tennessee saw these numbers rise by between 35 and 37 percent.

Pat Tillman's Legacy Four Years On

David Botti — Fri, 09 May 2008 17:58:08 GMT

Though he was killed in Afghanistan in 2004, Pat Tillman's death is still a subject of controversy and tremendous reflection. Tillman, you will recall, was the NFL player turned Army Ranger who was originally said to have died under enemy fire (he was awarded the Silver Star), but later reports found he was killed by friendly fire.

Now his mother, Mary, has published a book in which she charges that former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld knew about the cover-up over the details of her son's death. As she writes [via MSNBC]:

“... I believe Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld knew Pat was killed by fratricide and permitted the cover-up. It is not believable that a man known for his propensity to micromanage would not want to know what happened to his most high-profile soldier. I informed the committee that Pat received a personal letter from Rumsfeld shortly after he and his brother enlisted, commending him for his commitment to serve. Pat was obviously in Rumsfeld's consciousness."

During a recent 60 Minutes interview, Katie Couric questioned Army Secretary Pete Geren over the alterations of eyewitness accounts of Tillman's death used for his Silver Star citation. She asked if he knew who manipulated the statements, and he replied:

"Well, that's one of the questions that we will never completely answer. But it certainly is one of the areas that that raises questions. There are so many mistakes. So many things that happened. If you add them all together, it certainly calls into question the credibility of those who handled this. And raises the kind of questions that Ms. Tillman raises. I don't blame her for that. And I don't expect her ever to believe us. But there was no effort to deceive. There were mistakes and grievous errors by the legions. And as a result, we fell short of our duty to her as a mother of one of our heroes."

Over at the IAVA blog, Perry Jefferies takes issue with Sec. Geren's uncertainty, saying that the process for awarding medals should clearly indicate who writes a citation:

Only a certain amount of people handle the citation for the Silver Star, one of our highest military awards. Each commander signs a block on the document and there is a document called a transmittal letter that accompanies it from office to office. Only organizational will prevents the Army from prosecuting the criminal that a) faked an official document and b) tried to leave a lower grade enlisted Soldier to take the blame.

If indeed the medal was awarded under dishonest conditions, should it still stand? A letter to the Arizona Republic newspaper took this stance:

The awarding of the decoration was illegal, as the incident obviously didn't represent "gallantry in action against an armed enemy," as required by the Army's own regulations. This award does a disservice to all of our veterans who have legitimately earned this august award. The Tillman family should return the award to the Army, which should then rescind the award as unjustified and issued illegally.

Another reader then responded:

Yes, it may be true that this star represents "gallantry in action against an armed enemy." What could be more gallant than a young man giving up not only his career but his life? Pat Tillman gave up his life to serve in an illegal war that has ruined our economy with the billions of dollars being wasted but, more important, the loss of the respect of the rest of the world.

In the New York Times' look at Mary Tillman's new book, there's an interesting historical note of other athletes who've been killed in action.

Eddie Grant, the Giants’ third baseman, died in France in 1918. Christy Mathewson, the great Giants pitcher, had his life shortened from a mustard-gas accident in training near the end of World War I. And Nile Kinnick, the star running back from Iowa, died in a training flight in 1943. But Pat Tillman’s death was different because of the way he was used, posthumously, blatantly.

You can read a Newsweek Q&A with Mary Tillman here.

Stephen King and Controversy Over Army Literacy

David Botti — Thu, 08 May 2008 18:52:25 GMT

A war of words began recently between writer Stephen King and a conservative blogger over remarks King made about literacy and the U.S. Army. During an appearance at the Library of Congress last month King said:

"I don't want to sound like an ad, a public service ad on TV, but the fact is if you can read, you can walk into a job later on. If you don't, then you've got the Army, Iraq, I don't know, something like that. It's not as bright."

Blogger Noel Sheppard of the Website NewsBusters: Exposing and Combating Liberal Media Bias, criticized King and likened his words to those of John Kerry when he said in 2006 that having a poor education would get someone stuck in Iraq. Sheppard wrote further: "Nice sentiment when the nation is at war, Stephen."

After Sheppard's blog post appeared, King countered on his own Website:

I guess he also feels that the war in Iraq has nationwide approval. Well, it doesn’t have mine. It is a waste of national resources...and that includes the youth and blood of the 4,000 American troops who have lost their lives there and for the tens of thousands who have been wounded. I live in a national guard town, and I support our troops, but I don’t support either the war or educational policies that limit the options of young men and women to any one career—military or otherwise.

King further instructed readers of his website to email Sheppard with the words: “Hi, Noel—Stephen King says to shut up and I agree.”

According to the Associated Press, the U.S. Army released a statement yesterday responding to King's remarks:

"America's soldiers are proudly serving and fighting for us all. We can be proud of our soldiers' selfless service, their skill and their ingenuity. They certainly are role models for every high-school student in America considering a noble career...and many book authors."

Just as John Kerry's 2006 remarks sparked the ire of veterans and average citizens alike, King has found himself the subject some negative blogging since Sheppard's original post. One commenter for the original post did offer a point of view from the middle ground:

I actually don't think King meant to insult the troops. He made a mistake of trotting out an outdated draft-era notion about the military to prove a totally different point. But he compounded his error by lashing out at those who pointed out his mistake. Now it's a "thing" in the media, and he's not looking very good, or smart.

A West Point Cadet Opts for the NFL

David Botti — Tue, 06 May 2008 14:36:05 GMT

There's been some pointed discussions lately over the future of West Point cadet Caleb Campbell, who was a seventh round NFL draft pick of the Detroit Lions late last month. While many of his classmates may be deploying to Iraq and Afghanistan in the future, Campbell will (if he makes the roster) do recruiting and PR events for the Army during the offseason. The Army's point of view is that Campbell can use his NFL status in a unique way to help the service. The New York Times provides the Army's official policy:

Any member of the Army with an exceptional skill who could provide recruiting and public affairs benefits to the Army could be assigned to the nearest recruiting unit for their two-year active-duty period. Those approved can participate in their professional activity — in Campbell’s case, pro football — as long as it does not interfere with military duties. Then they can apply for early release from active duty.

Campbell also described to the Times how he came to the decision to pursue football:

“I had a talk with myself,” he said on the conference call. “Either way I could win. I decided if football presented an opportunity to play in the NFL, I would take it. Me, as a football player, would be very beneficial representing the United States Army.”

There are two sides to the argument over whether this was a proper decision. As the Army struggles to expand, any strong recruiting effort by Campbell may truly help. At the same time, how does one go play football while his classmates go to war? Phil Carter at Intel Dump wondered how effective Campbell could actually be:

Isn't the Army hemorrhaging junior officers? Don't we need young, tough, aggressive West Point football players to be platoon leaders in Iraq and Afghanistan? Isn't now the time for the "Petraeus Generation" to step up?...I'm not so sure. For starters, Campbell hasn't actually served as an Army officer. So it's not like he can go into some high school and talk about Army values and Army leadership and what those things mean from personal experience. It'd be different if he'd served a combat tour and then come back to the NFL. But all he knows is football and West Point. Which doesn't help much in recruiting enlisted personnel (as opposed to West Point cadets).

The UK Guardian had mixed feelings on the issue, but did acknowledge Campbell's position does offer the chance to get prospective recruits to listen:

"Join the army and live the glamorous life of an NFL player," he won't be saying. But then again he doesn't have to say anything to the impressionable kids ushered into the presence of the star of the 2008 NFL draft.

USA Today's sports blog Game On took an informal poll of its readers, finding that 53 percent believe Campbell should not be playing football at this time. A sampling of two reader comments show just how heated the discussion can get:

US YOUR BRAIN: I am a West Point graduate and I retired after a 20 year military career. While Campbell did not make these rules he is unfortunate to be one of the first to take advantage of them. This action and the rule disgusts me on many levels. There is NO HONOR in this action. During my time at WP we had one of the top field goal kickers in the the nation. He did not get to go into the NFL. He honorably served his time.

mrkeepingitreal: Geeezzzz... let the kid play and get over it. he's busted his butt for 4 years at the academy and had every intention of serving his tour. He just happened to be good enough to get drafted by the NFL...his publicity alone at the draft paid for his education. The Army and Armed Forces in general embrace stories like Campbell's and it's a great opportunity for his to represent them.

The Lions' defensive coordinator says he's impressed with Campbell so far -- but, I just wonder what happens if he doesn't make the cut. If he goes back to the Army, how will his soldiers treat him?

Airline Goes Bankrupt, Homecomings Delayed

David Botti — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 19:03:04 GMT

The Air Force Times reported today that the bankruptcy of a civilian airline under contract to provide flights for the military is delaying homecoming for some troops. ATA shut down the day after filing for bankruptcy on April 2--the airline's second bankruptcy in nearly three years. An army spokesman told the AF Times that troops could expect delays of two to six days for the next several weeks.

ATA was part of the FedEx Teaming Arrangement, a group of airlines contracted by the military to transport troops and their families overseas. The Indianapolis Star reported on the circumstances of the local air carrier's demise:

Hampered by unprofitable routes, ATA lost $75 million last year and was in talks with five potential suitors when FedEx, with apparently little explanation, decided to cut off the Indianapolis carrier's only money maker: military charters...Its roots were passenger charters that led the carrier, earlier known as American Trans Air, to branch out into troop charters. ATA operates a $340 million-a-year airborne bus line ferrying troops and their families to and from places where the U.S. military stations troops worldwide.

Back on the home front, military families awaiting the return of their stranded loved ones are speaking out. The Hartford Courant has the story of one father who reached out to his old college roommate, Miramax Films co-founder Harvey Weinstein, for help:

"I'm just a frustrated parent right now — even though my son might be OK with what's going on right now," William Currao said Monday.

Currao, desperate for a better answer, called U.S. Rep. John Larson and U.S. Sen. Chris Dodd. He even reached out to his old college roommate and Miramax Films co-founder, Harvey Weinstein, who is friends with the Clinton family.

"He's been a great friend and I've never asked him for anything," Currao said. "I just wanted to run this by him. Maybe I can get him to send out his jets over there to get the whole battalion picked up."

The ATA-related stranding of a number of Vermont soldiers in Kuwait, Afghanistan, and Iraq prompted a letter from the Vermont Congressional Delegation to Secretary of Defense Gates. The letter cited that many of the soldiers had their combat tours extended from 12 to 15 months as a result of the surge--and, it's time for them to come home. From the letter:

The parents of two different Vermont soldiers have contacted our offices to express frustration that their sons are facing delays in coming home. First and foremost they wish to know when their loved one will be returning home, and second, they want answers about how this delay was allowed to happen.

As a result of the troop surge, many of the service-members participating in Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom have had their deployments extended from 12 to 15 months. Ask any of these men and women when they are going home and most can give you a precise day and time. The same is true of their families who have been eagerly anticipating the return of their loved one. To be told within days of shipping out that your trip home has been delayed until a date uncertain is demoralizing. Unnecessary delays also result in additional troops remaining in a war zone beyond when their presence serves any constructive purpose for the war-fighting effort.

Earlier this month, Aviation Week gave some background on the FedEx Teaming Arrangement:

The military airlift business was a steady and lucrative one, transporting military personnel and their families to and from overseas postings. In September, the FedEx team won a $1 billion firm-fixed price contract from the U.S. Transportation Command covering a year’s worth of flying for the entire FedEx team. Apart from FedEx itself and ATA, members include Air Transport International, of Little Rock, Ark.; Purchase, N.Y.-based Atlas Air, Northwest Airlines, Omni Air International, Inc., of Tulsa, Okla., and Polar Air Cargo Worldwide, also based in Purchase.

The "Stop-Loss" Continues

David Botti — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 15:25:36 GMT

The army announced yesterday that the practice of "stop-loss," where a solider is held past his/her enlistment contract, should continue for at least another year. While military leaders are making efforts to reduce combat tour lengths, and increase the size of the army, the Associated Press reports there are roughly 12,000 soldiers serving under the stop-loss. The numbers break down to: "6,800 active-duty Army, about 3,800 in the Army National Guard and close to 1,500 in the Reserves."

USA Today breaks down the numbers even further, putting the latest stop-loss news into a wider historical context:

-In May 2007 the practice of stop-loss reached a three-year low of 8,540.

-"Since then, the number of soldiers forced to remain in the Army rose 43% to 12,235 in March."

-"Soldiers affected by stop loss now serve, on average, an extra 6.6 months...Key leaders at the small-unit level — sergeants through sergeants first class — make up 45% of those soldiers. Soldiers typically enlist for four-year stints."

-58,300 soldiers have been affected by the stop-loss since 2002.

People have often asked me what exactly a stop-loss is -- especially after they hear it referred to as the "back door draft." First, USA Today offers this concise summary of how the army views the policy: "Stop loss can keep a soldier in the service if his or her unit deploys within 90 days of the end of the soldier's commitment. It is necessary, the Army says, to maintain the integrity of units headed to war."

Second, I sometimes use the example of my own unit on the eve of the invasion into Iraq back in 2003. Most of us in my reserve unit enlisted under a six-year contract. That meant that for six years were would actively train with our home unit, and be subject to mobilizations if ordered by the president. Afterwards, we would spend two years in the Inactive Ready Reserve (IRR) during which time we would not train, but would still "be on the books," in case the military needed more troops.

In March 2003, when my unit got word it was heading to Iraq, a number of marines were reaching the end of their six-year contract. Depending on how long we stayed in Iraq, their contract might end while they were over there. It was these marines who were subject to stop-loss. They were senior members of the unit whose experience would be invaluable during the deployment, and our company would be hurt if our numbers decreased. So, they stayed and deployed with us; then left the military after returning home.

Most did not complain about serving past their enlistment contract. Their buddies were going to war, and the stop-loss marines wanted to go with them -- and, at that point, the war was still new. Many felt they'd miss out on a major historical event that would go down in the history books. But, times have changed, and the war is more than five years old. As James Martin, a social work professor at Bryn Mawr College and retired Army colonel, told USA Today: "These are the guys who bear the brunt of it. They just get put back into the grinder continually."

19 Percent of Iraq/Afghanistan Vets Suffer from Depression

David Botti — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 17:22:13 GMT

A new comprehensive report by the RAND Corporation has concluded that 300,000 veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan suffer from depression or PTSD--and only about half have sought out treatment, according to the Associated Press. The report surveyed 1,965 vets in what the AP calls the first large scale private study of its kind. The numbers show that 18.5 percent of all Iraq and Afghanistan vets suffer from these these symptoms. According to RAND, possible solutions to temper these problems may be available:

Among our recommendations is that effective treatments documented in the scientific literature — evidence-based care — are available for PTSD and major depression. Delivery of such care to all veterans with PTSD or major depression would pay for itself within two years, or even save money, by improving productivity and reducing medical and mortality costs. Such care may also be a cost-effective way to retain a ready and healthy military force for the future. However, to ensure that this care is delivered requires system-level changes across the Department of Defense, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and the U.S. health care system.

The AP offered up more conclusions drawn from the study, including why vets are not seeking care:

They gave various reasons for not getting help, including that they worried about the side effects of medication; believe family and friends could help them with the problem, or that they feared seeking care might damage their careers.

The report also noted who is most susceptible to depression and PTSD, although, in the end, it is a vet's exposure to combat trauma that is the greatest predictor:

Rates of PTSD and major depression were highest among Army soldiers and Marines, and among service members who were no longer on active duty (people in the reserves and those who had been discharged or retired from the military). Women, Hispanics and enlisted personnel all were more likely to report symptoms of PTSD and major depressions.

Last November the Pentagon opened the Defense Center of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury in an effort to bring together education, treatment, and research. From the Department of Defense:

The center also will set standards and assess, survey and validate DoD programs, and decide, in part, how resources are directed... Center officials are reviewing hundreds of research project proposals that hope to claim a piece of the $300 million set aside by Congress last year for brain injury research. The office also will work with the military services to see which of the many programs funded with another $600 million from Congress are working and how to direct those funds to programs most beneficial to servicemembers and families.

In the News: Iraqi Recruits, Grassroots, and a New Memoir

David Botti — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 17:49:17 GMT

A selection of military news stories over the recent days:

The Associated Press reports on troubles with training the Iraqi Navy and Marine Corps, and cites recent issues with Iraqi Army troops fighting in Basra as indicative of the overall training situation. As the rebuilt Iraqi navy is tasked with defending the country's two vital oil platforms, the AP tells of a disconnect between the reality of the situation and how it is perceived by the navy recruits:

The day when Iraq alone can defend its shores — and protect its critical offshore oil installations — seems remote.

Iraq’s navy now has five Chinese-made patrol boats and 26 fast-attack aluminum vessels — fewer than half of which are operational. Its personnel number about 1,350, including 350 Marines.

“They think they are an elite unit, but they are not,” said Capt. Jock Alexander of the British Royal Marines, who is in charge of training Iraqi Marines to guard the 1.8-mile exclusion zone around each of the country’s two oil platforms.

The struggle to build a credible Iraqi navy is mirrored — on larger scales — by the mounting delays and costs to form a new Iraqi army and air force after Washington disbanded Saddam Hussein’s military.

The San Francisco Chronicle reports on a series of grass-roots efforts aimed at joining Iraq veterans in need with U.S. citizens ready to help. Among the programs are an upcoming online forum of therapists around the country who've offered their services to treating Iraq veterans. Many of these therapists have committed one hour of free counseling to Iraq vets per week, for as long as they wish. Then there's a series of Websites dedicated to linking vets with people willing to donate money for basic necessities. Still, the VA is hesitant to get on board with these groups:

While Veterans Affairs officials appreciate the support of community groups like Bobrow's, they're careful about embracing them. Because of privacy regulations, the VA can't disclose who has used their services. Often, VA employees are reluctant to even hand out flyers from fledgling groups until thoroughly checking them out.

"The veterans and their families have suffered enough. So when they put up a public profile or say they need help, we want to make sure they don't get injured again," said Patricia Matthews, a spokeswoman for the Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Center.

In a profile of Elise Forbes Tripp, author of "Surviving Iraq: Soldiers' Stories," the Portsmouth Herald News details some of her most interesting findings through interviews with Iraq vets, including this one:

She was surprised at the men being upset at having women in their units. "I would get long responses about how useless women are in war ...; not sexist but how they don't belong there."

Men said they created sexual tension and diverted attention. They require involvement from male colleagues for their safety, for example, having to guard their showers or to calm them during a difficult time. "And I think they felt it was unfair that woman could get pregnant and go home," she says. "I was just listening, thinking this is amazing."

The New York Times reports that Donald Rumsfeld is set to pen his own memoir:

Donald H. Rumsfeld, who resigned as secretary of defense in late 2006, will write his memoirs for the Sentinel imprint of Penguin Group USA. Mr. Rumsfeld, 75, will cover not only his years in the Bush administration but also his experiences with Presidents Richard M. Nixon, Gerald R. Ford and Ronald Reagan; his work in the private sector; and his early life. In contrast to other recent political figures who have produced memoirs, Mr. Rumsfeld is forgoing an advance and will donate profits to a nonprofit foundation he recently established to make educational grants to young people interested in public service and establishing links between the United States and Central Asia.

The Marine Corps Times reports that Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) is proposing new measures that would provide homes for severely injured veterans on VA property. The proposal came during a Senate defense appropriations subcommittee hearing where issues of long-term veterans care were raised. Sen. Feinstein cited VA property in West Los Angeles that includes 300 acres of undeveloped land:

Feinstein said she offered VA’s West LA campus as an example because she often visits the site, but she believes such housing also could be built at other VA facilities around the country.

Feinstein and other California lawmakers have been trying to block VA from leasing out the unused land for commercial purposes, but they have not agreed on what to do with the property. Some want the land to be public park land, some have proposed building housing for homeless veterans and others have talked about leaving it completely undeveloped so it can be used by future generations.