The outrage of military families stationed overseas over a new pet fee policy by United Airlines has helped bring about a change in that policy. The Houston Chronicle reports United is giving military families a way to bypass the fee.
First, a little background: United Airlines currently charges a flat rate of about $280 to ship pets overseas. But United plans on changing its pet policy as of March 3rd because of its merger with Continental. That change would bump the cost of shipping pets to the U.S. from overseas to between $1,440 to $3,869, according to the Stars and Stripes.
Military families, stationed in places like South Korea and Japan, became fearful they would not be able to afford to ship their beloved pets back to the United States when they moved back home. Anthony Millsap started an online petition to protest the pet fee increase. More than 2,400 signatures have already been gathered.
And it worked! Today United Airlines released a statement to the Houston Chronicle saying military families could avoid the new fee:
“We evaluated our policies and developed a special process for military families traveling on Permanent Change of Station (PCS) or Orders only. This process allows them to transport their four-legged family members using the PetSafe product without the need for a third-party freight forwarder.”
Today is George Washington’s birthday, and it’s the first president’s image that appears on one of the military’s most recognizable honors – the Purple Heart. So it seems only fitting that the nation’s highest court is hearing a case today on whether it should be a crime to lie about earning military honors like the Purple Heart.
At issue is the Stolen Valor Act of 2005, a which makes it illegal to lie about earning a military medal, according to the Christian Science Monitor. Opponents of the law say it violates the First Amendment.
For a little history on the Stolen Valor Act, here’s a story from CBS News:
The Navy and more than 25 large employers are teaming up to host the first-ever “100,000 Jobs Mission Hiring Event” at Naval Support Activity Bethesda, Md., on Feb. 25 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Defense.gov News Article: Pentagon: No Enemy Involvement in Djibouti Air Force Crash “Four Air Force special operators were killed Feb. 18 when their single-engine U-28 aircraft crashed in Djibouti on the Horn of Africa, Pentagon Press Secretary George Little said Tuesday. The airmen had been conducting a surveillance and reconnaissance mission, Little said. ‘There is absolutely no indication of any kind of enemy involvement in the downing of the plane,’ he added.” (defense.gov)
One woman’s persistence to honor military heroes – CNN.com “Pueblo, Colorado bills itself at the “Home of Heroes,” the only city with four living recipients of the Medal of Honor, the highest award for combat bravery and sacrifice. Former local resident Pam Sterner and her husband, Doug, were behind the grassroots effort to get community leaders to formally recognize these military heroes.” (edition.cnn.com)
Self-Sufficient Robots – Armed With Science “Military planners and scientists envision a day when robots may replace human beings on the battlefield. That day may not be as far away as you think, as the armed forces continue a recent drive toward more autonomous robotic systems.” (science.dodlive.mil)
If defense officials continue with plans to lower military pay increases in coming years, the result could mean thousands less in troops’ paychecks. Here’s a look at how the Pentagon proposal would affect your salary.
The Navy announced today it discharged 1,515 Sailors in 2011 for using the synthetic drug Spice while in the service.
It was almost a year ago, on March 1 of 2011, that the Navy banned Sailors from using the
five synthetic cannabis compounds found in Spice. According to the Navy, the Armed Forces Medical Examiner System has developed a drug test that’s able to detect those compounds.
Lanorfeia Holder, deputy director of Navy Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention, says the side effects of Spice include hallucinations, panic attacks, and delirium:
“We have Sailors who are having mental conditions that they will never recover from. Using Spice is like playing Russian roulette; you never know what is in the package. As detection catches up with manufacturers, makers alter the ingredients in an attempt to avoid detection.”
Last October, Home Post reported that 49 Sailors assigned to the San Diego-based USS Carl Vinson were kicked out of the Navy for using or distributing Spice.
All International Security Assistance Force personnel will complete training in the proper handling of religious materials in the next two weeks, military officials here reported.
Marine Corps Gen. John R. Allen, ISAF commander, today ordered that all coalition forces in Afghanistan complete the training by March 3.
Allen issued the order in response to an incident last night in which religious materials, including Qurans identified for disposal, were inadvertently taken to an incineration facility at Bagram Airfield, officials said. The incident is under investigation.
Friends and colleagues of Marine Sgt. Manuel Loggins Jr. have planned a memorial service for their fallen comrade on February 24th, according to a Facebook page set up in Loggins’ memory. Aaron Banks, who administers the “We Miss You Sgt. Manny Loggins” page, writes that civilians will not be let on base for the service being held at the Marine Memorial Chapel on Camp Pendleton. Banks is a former Marine who served with Loggins in Hawaii.
Loggins’ shooting death by an Orange County Sheriff’s deputy February 7th still mystifies and outrages those who knew the Sergeant – who describe him as a calm, gentle, deeply religious family man. And even those who didn’t know Loggins are full of questions about the shooting of the unarmed Marine in front of his two young daughters.
Last I checked police officers don’t have the authority to trial and
execute people they don’t like the behavior of …[I]f the deputy was that mentally insufficient as to shoot someone dead because they were scared, he should be shoveling sh*t
or a less dangerous job.
The audacity of the people covering for the blatant use of lethal force by what is looking like a corrupt police force and a homicidal group of police officers is completely ridiculous. If there isn’t an official investigation by an outside agency I am sure there will be hell to pay.
San Diego television station NBC 7/39 put together this video package on the questions surrounding Loggins’ death:
Lance Cpl. Kyle Draper kneels before a pair of boots and a rifle at a Feb. 17 memorial service aboard USS Makin Island honoring corpsman Petty Officer 3rd Class Kyler L. Estrada
Members of the Marine Corps and the Navy came together on the San Diego-based USS Makin Island to honor Petty Officer 3rd Class Kyler L. Estrada, 21, a Camp Pendleton-based Navy hospital corpsman who was killed February 14th.
According to the 11th MEU Public Affairs Office, more than 700 Sailors and Marines took part in the special memorial service held February 17th on board the Makin Island.
India Company, BLT 3/1 commanding officer Capt. Matthew McGirr told those gathered for the service:
“Doc died in the company of his brothers, brothers who trained and sweat with him, brothers who rushed to his side and would not give up on him after he fell.”
The Department of Defense announced today the deaths of four airmen who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. They died February 18 when their U-28 aircraft was involved in an accident near Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, Africa. The cause of the accident is under investigation.
Killed were:
Capt. Ryan P. Hall, 30, of Colorado Springs, Colo. He was assigned to the 319th Special Operations Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
Capt. Nicholas S. Whitlock, 29, of Newnan, Ga. He was assigned to the 34th Special Operations Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
1st Lt. Justin J. Wilkens, 26, of Bend, Ore. He was assigned to the 34th Special Operations Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
Senior Airman Julian S. Scholten, 26, of Upper Marlboro, Md. He was assigned to the 25th Intelligence Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
