EiJoe's Blog (11)

By Samantha L. Quigley American Forces Press Service WASHINGTON, Oct. 16, 2008 – As goes technology, so goes much of the Pentagon Library’s collection, its chief of technological services said. “What we’re trying to do is to improve digital access,” Trudie Root explained. “We call it the ‘virtual library.’” The two-pronged project will help to preserve some of the library’s old, historic documents, and will spare users the trek to the library, allowing them to click through documents on the l… Continue

DoD announced today that the Military OneSource service has established a Wounded Warrior Resource Center telephone number and e-mail address for service members and their families, if they have concerns or other difficulties during their recovery process. Service members and their family members can now call (800) 342-9647 or e-mail wwrc@militaryonesource.com 24/7 to request support. Assistance provided by the resource center will not replace the specialized wounded warrior programs establishe… Continue

Falls Church, Va – Wounded, ill or injured service members and their families now have until November 28, 2008, to help Military Health System (MHS) leadership better understand the needs and expectations of warriors in their care. The deadline for participating in the MHS questionnaires has been extended due to overwhelming response. The questionnaires—one for wounded, ill or injured service members and one for family members—are available on the Military Health System Web site at http://www.h… Continue

Date: October 16, 2008 PICATINNY ARSENAL, N.J. - Morris County community leaders joined military representatives from Picatinny and the New Jersey National Guard to pledge their support to uniformed personnel and their families by signing the Army Community Covenant at Morris Knolls High School in Rockaway Oct. 10. The covenant recognizes the special bond that exists between area military, their families and the community surrounding Picatinny. The signing preceded a performance of the U.S. A… Continue

By Air Force Master Sgt. Adam M. Stump Special to American Forces Press Service BALTIMORE, Oct. 16, 2008 – The current global financial crisis is a far-reaching problem that has implications for the U.S. military and other organizations, the vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said here today. Marine Corps Gen. James E. Cartwright spoke to more than 150 business leaders, professors and students from the Johns Hopkins University Carey Business School about several different business-rela… Continue

By Jim Garamone American Forces Press Service WASHINGTON, Oct. 16, 2008 – Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates is consulting with congressional leaders on the U.S.-Iraq status of forces agreement that will allow American troops to remain in Iraq after Dec. 31. The United Nations Security Council resolution authorizing the U.S. military presence in Iraq runs out on that date, and U.S. and Iraqi officials must reach an agreement for American troops to continue operations and continue to train the I… Continue

By Gerry J. Gilmore American Forces Press Service WASHINGTON, Oct. 16, 2008 – Today’s increased price of oil is fueling Iraq’s ability to pay more for its reconstruction costs that up to now have been heavily funded by U.S. taxpayers, a senior U.S. official said at the White House yesterday. Since Saddam Hussein was deposed by U.S. and coalition forces in 2003 “a lot of the heavy lifting” in terms of cost in restoring Iraq’s worn out infrastructure has been accomplished with American tax dolla… Continue

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Mike Mullen's call Wednesday for each returning combat veteran, from privates to generals, to be screened for post-traumatic stress disorder by a mental health professional brought to mind an exclusive sit-down I had with him in 2006. Mullen was then chief of naval operations, the nation's highest-ranking sailor. He was in stopped in town for Seafair and met with me one morning at the Westin. PTSD was very much on his mind then, and he spoke of being… Continue

By Donna Miles American Forces Press Service WASHINGTON, Oct. 15, 2008 – The war on terror, particularly in Afghanistan , has put the United States and its allies and partners to the test as they strive to apply both “soft-” and “hard-power” capabilities to ward off violent extremism, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said here tonight. “Afghanistan is the test, on the grandest scale, of what we are trying to achieve when it comes to integrating the military and the civilian, the public and p… Continue

BAGHDAD (AFP) — In the early hours of September 14, US sergeant Joseph Bozicevich allegedly drew his rifle, aimed and shot to death two of his superiors on a military base south of the Iraqi capital. According to several US media reports, Bozicevich, 39, allegedly killed staff sergeant Darris Dawson 24, and sergeant Wesley Durbin 26, because he could not bear being berated by them. A US military statement said that "a US soldier is in custody in connection with the shooting deaths. He's being… Continue

By Samantha L. Quigley American Forces Press Service WASHINGTON, Oct. 14, 2008 – Though Halloween still is about two weeks away, preparations have begun to make sure Operation Gratitude’s 6th Annual Holiday Drive ships 70,000 care packages to troops during the upcoming holiday season. “As in the past, we will send Operation Gratitude care packages to every servicemember whose name we receive who is deployed in a hostile … [area] or on naval ships at sea,” said Carolyn Blashek, founder of Calif… Continue