Tag: trenches

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In the Military the Best Ships Are Friendships

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Military news….

4 US Marines killed in Osprey crash in Norway

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Legion of the damned: Inside Ukraine’s army of misfits, veterans, and war tourists in the fight against Russia

Every war has its own dynamics which can be equally lethal to veterans and beginners if not properly understood. 

Video appears to show Russian troops caught in ambush and doing everything wrong

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Marine Corps to curtail usage of Amtracs in wake of deadly accident

The Marine Corps will no longer send its amphibious assault vehicles on regular deployments or training in water except in crisis response, the service said Wednesday.

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The 13 U.S. service members killed in a bombing at Kabul’s airport as they worked to evacuate thousands of Americans, Afghans and allies ahead of the U.S. military withdrawal from Afghanistan will receive the highest honor from Congress, the White House said Thursday.

Service members killed in Afghanistan evacuation attack will receive Congressional Gold Medals

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Norwegian vessel teams up with US carrier strike group, maintaining trend toward cooperation

The Fridtjof Nansen and the Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group sailed through the Strait of Gibraltar to enter the Mediterranean Sea on Tuesday, U.S 6th Fleet said Tuesday in a statement.

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UK restores presence in Germany with hub for army vehicles

The United Kingdom is taking a page from the US Army playbook, sending hundreds of tanks and fighting vehicles back to Germany so its forces can maneuver more freely around Europe.

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Here is another excerpt from my upcoming book, Signs of Hope for the Military: In and Out of the Trenches of Life.

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The Best Ships are Friendships

After the rough ride on the ship on the way over to Korea, I kept some good friendships going. I had two weeks stuck in the hull of a ship full of sick people. I was lucky and didn’t get sick so I was constantly looking after the guys that slept around me in the bunks. They really appreciated me being there for them. There is nothing more terrifying than to be somewhere that no one knows you or seems to care, and be sickly besides all of that.

Once we landed some of the guys thanked me, even though some of them were going to other parts of Korea.  We remained friends at a distance.

I just happened to hook up with a couple of them when we had our R and R (Rest and recuperation,) time in Tokyo since we had the same length of time together.

It was a fun time going to see the Pagodas, the gardens, and seeing the nightlife while I was with them.

We came back to our companies refreshed and ready to work hard again.

Have you had a time when you wish you could find friends to be with you during an ordeal that you were having hard time facing?

Did you have to meet with a doctor to see the results of a very serious test they had done. I have.  Did you feel left alone when you had a divorce, and people frowned on it? I have. Have you lost loved ones and mourned the loss? I have. Have you been accused of something that wasn’t true? I have.

Through all of these trials and storms I had a core of friends and family around me to console me and hold my hand. Without all those friendships and a circle of love ones, I may not have been here today. 

I have battled depression, and self-doubt, but through the consistency of family and friends around me, I was able to realize I wasn’t walking the path alone.

IWILL

Never take on a tough moment alone. Always lean on your family and friends. There is nothing shameful about seeking support for you when you are going through some horrific times. God is also there for you. He is never farther away than a prayer.

You will be surprised how well you can withstand the storms with an army of people, and God, fighting with you.

Think About This

Isn’t it interesting that if you have God on your side you can take on anything?

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There may be more excerpts coming up in future posts, so keep coming back. Better yet…go to the top of this page and click on subscribe. When you do all future posts will directly to your inbox.

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Checking in on you. How are you doing? Did you battle some loneliness while in the military?

FEAR NOT!

There are over 14,150 veterans on this site who have your back.

Here is what I am asking you to do…please share this site with as many other veterans as you can. It has helped so many.

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If you are battling mentally, but you are losing, GET HELP!!

Here is a toll free number that you can call 24/7. There are highly qualified counselors there to help you, and they will no hang up until they know you are OK.

1-800-273-8255…texting 838255

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Remember:

You are never alone.

You are never forsaken.

You are never unloved.

And above all…never, ever, give up!

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+If you like what you see, please subscribe at the top of this page where it says, “subscribe.” When you do, all future posts will come directly to your inbox. Also, if you know some else who could benefit from this site, please let them know.

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Just Making Beds in Basic Training for the Military Was Tough.

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Military news…

‘Russians hit my training base last night’ — Ukraine through the eyes of a US Army veteran fighting there.
“I survived because the missiles struck the hard structures instead of the tents where I was.”

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Where things stand as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine enters its third week

“It is time to stop the horror unleashed on the people of Ukraine.”

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“The Distance Between You Grows”—the Many Difficult Truths of Military Family Homecomings

Back-to-back deployments and explosions were “a recipe for disaster,” writes a military spouse. “For my family, reintegration lasted years.”

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A Rescue Team Evacuates Premature American Twins From Kyiv in a Daring Mission

Premature twins were evacuated from Kyiv by Army and Navy veteran Bryan Stern and his specialist evacuation team of U.S. Army veterans.

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House Approves $13.6 Billion in Emergency Aid for Ukraine

The House cleared $13.6 billion in military and humanitarian assistance to Ukraine, including $6.5 billion for the Pentagon to cover the costs of deploying additional U.S. troops to Eastern Europe and sending weapons to Ukraine as it battles a Russian invasion.

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A Ukrainian Learned His family Had Died After Seeing Viral Photos: ‘I Lost Everyone And Lost The Meaning of Life’

Serhiy Perebyinis learned his family had died after seeing a photojournalist’s images of four people lying next to a World War II memorial just outside Kyiv after the Russian military fired on them.

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In Search of a Just War: Why American Veterans Are Answering a Call to Serve in Ukraine

Some veterans who became disillusioned with U.S. missions in Afghanistan and Iraq say they’re traveling to Ukraine to help in what they call the type of righteous war they enlisted for.

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Brent Renaud, Crusading Filmmaker, Is Killed at 50

Peabody Award-winning documentarian Brent Renaud was the first journalist on assignment from a U.S. news organization to be killed while reporting on the war in Ukraine.

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Here is another excerpt from my upcoming book, Signs of Hope for the Military: In and Out of the Trenches of Life.

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Sometimes the Answers Are Right Under Your Nose

There was one aspect of basic training that made the times hard for a soldier. That was when it came to making your bed for inspection.

We had regular inspections by our drill sergeant. When he came through the barracks, he carried a quarter in his hand. When he passed your bunk he would drop the quarter on the bed. If the quarter didn’t bounce, he tore the bed up and told you to try again. 

I had some real stressful times of making beds at first. I usually failed. But then I learned some tricks about tucking in the sheets, and even the blanket. There was a double tuck you could do that made the bed tight and quarters bounced on it easily.

There were some guys who never caught on to the tricks that were right in front of them. They were too proud to ask others for help.

I have seen that in life after the military. People struggling to keep up with the world, because they are too proud to seek help.

Are you one of those who could benefit from outside help, but have never taken advantage of it?

I have compiled a very extensive military appendix for your use. It is in the back of this book. Feel free to search through it for help in almost every possible way a veteran or current soldier may need.

It is not “giving in,” to seek help. It is finally agreeing that what you are doing may not be working for you, and you want to find other ways to cope in this unfriendly world.

Many of the sources have proven to reach out to those who suffer with anxiety, fear, depression, and hopelessness.

Don’t hide in your own self-pity. Take that first most important step and seek help today. Go to the back of this book and find the right sources for your needs.

IWILL

The lists in the back can be overwhelming. There are hundreds of sources there. Think about your own special needs and concentrate on that section only. Then narrow down your choices while checking out each resource. Most of the sources are websites.  If you don’t have access to the net, go to your local library, or visit a friend who has access.

Think about this

Isn’t it sad how we know we need help, but hide our feelings?

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Checking in on you. How are you doing? Did you have adventures while in Basic Training?

FEAR NOT!

There are over 14,135 veterans on this site who have your back.

Here is what I am asking you to do…please share this site with other veterans as you can you may know. It has helped so many.

______________________________________________________________

If you are battling mentally, but you are losing, GET HELP!!

Here is a toll free number that you can call 24/7. There are highly qualified counselors there to help you, and they will no hang up until they know you are OK.

1-800-273-8255…texting 838255

_______________________________________________________________

Remember:

You are never alone.

You are never forsaken.

You are never unloved.

And above all…never, ever, give up!

________________________________________________________________

+If you like what you see, please subscribe at the top of this page where it says, “subscribe.” When you do, all future posts will come directly to your inbox. Also, if you know some else who could benefit from this site, please let them know.

Posted on

There Were Some Good Times, and Some Bad times in Basic training For the Military

+If you like what you see, please subscribe at the top of this page where it says, “subscribe.” When you do, all future posts will come directly to your inbox. Also, if you know some else who could benefit from this site, please let them know.

________________________________________________________________

Military news…

Ukrainian women are showing the world what they’re made of in the fight against Russia

“[W]e are enormously strong, and we are enormously brave.”

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Why the US should think twice about arming a Ukrainian insurgency

The U.S. needs to think long and hard before plunging into what would be a long, bloody proxy war against Moscow.

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A Marine special ops commander explains why Russia’s stalled advance in Ukraine is no surprise.

Russia doesn’t wage war elegantly.

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100 women have now graduated US Army Ranger School

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3 Russian generals reportedly killed in Ukraine in less than two weeks

“Russian military leaders are often sent to lead from the front.”

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How an Air Force A-10 pilot pulled off a miracle landing with much of her tail shot off

“I can’t even describe to you what it was like being back on the ground.”

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Here is another excerpt from my upcoming book, Signs of Hope for the Military: In and Out of the Trenches of life.

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Taking Aim On Perfection

One part of the basic training was done at the firing range. We all had to learn how to properly line up the sights on our rifles, and shot at the targets with some accuracy.

I had never shot a weapon before in my life. It was a little intimidating at first. The loud noise each time you shot was one thing, but the kick from the weapon on your shoulder was another. You had to learn how to “hug” the rifle and keep it tight against your shoulder to keep it from kicking.

The first day was mostly learning how to lie down in the right position, and how to wrap the strap properly around your arm to help keep the rifle steady. This got boring pretty quickly, but the leaders were determined to have us all doing it perfectly.

The second day was much more exciting. They had us actually shooting at targets. The targets were pop-up type of targets. You waited until one popped up and then shot. It tested your awareness and your quick judgement. The targets didn’t stay up long.

I took my shots and waited as others did their shooting as well. I wasn’t sure why I was done so much earlier than the others, but the soldier assigned to me told me I was the fastest at hitting all the targets of anybody in the platoon.

Then they had the targets further away. The first ones were about 50 yards. The second ones were 75 yards. I did the same thing. I was done much faster than the other men. I was beginning to like my rifle and what I was accomplishing.

When we started seeing that some of the men weren’t firing anymore. I was told that they were missing too many targets and would have to come back for more training. The targets were now 100 yards way (the length of a football field.) You really had to concentrate because the targets went up and down pretty fast. I hit all my targets again.

There were only about five of us left after the 100 yard distance. Then they told us we were to be shooting at targets about 150 yards away. At this time they taught us about “Kentucky windage.” This is where you aim a little higher on the target and let the wind bring the bullet down to the target, or just less velocity causes the bullet to start falling lower.

This was much harder. You had to aim above the target to hit the target. This was a very hard concept to learn. I had some miss hits, but the first round was just practice to let us get accustom to shooting at that distance. By the end of the first round I was hitting most of the targets. They were so small from that distance, and you didn’t have more than a couple of seconds to react when they popped up.

The final round came and I was ready. The targets popped up and I shot them down. I hit four out of five targets. The rest of the men didn’t do as well. I was named the champion of the shooting range, and from all that I received an Expert medal that I still have to this day.

Have you done something you are very proud of in the military? Even if it was many years ago like my experience was you still should be very proud. If you are now in the service cling to your good experiences to help you through your time there.

You are or have served your country, and anything that was a positive experience should be kept in your memories forever. Be proud!

IWILL

I know that it is hard to “brag,” about anything good you did during your service to your country, but you have had good and bad experiences just like everyone else. We all tend to not talk about our bad experiences because they just reopen the wounds, but please share the good experiences with your friends and love ones. They will enjoy the stories, and you will feel proud of your accomplishments. You are not bragging!!

Think about his

Isn’t it funny that the more we share with others the happier we are?

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Checking in on you. How are you doing? Did you have adventures while in Basic Training?

FEAR NOT!

There are over 14,130 veterans on this site who have your back.

Here is what I am asking you to do…please share this site with other veterans as you can you may know. It has helped so many.

______________________________________________________________

If you are battling mentally, but you are losing, GET HELP!!

Here is a toll free number that you can call 24/7. There are highly qualified counselors there to help you, and they will no hang up until they know you are OK.

1-800-273-8255…texting 838255

_______________________________________________________________

Remember:

You are never alone.

You are never forsaken.

You are never unloved.

And above all…never, ever, give up!

________________________________________________________________

+If you like what you see, please subscribe at the top of this page where it says, “subscribe.” When you do, all future posts will come directly to your inbox. Also, if you know some else who could benefit from this site, please let them know.