Life in the Military

This will cover everything from what soldiers are thinking to their pay levels to news about promotions and demotions to on-base news to health reports to news from the front lines.

Key topics in this category:

RECENT POSTS

February 22, 2012 | 11:44 AM | By

California Marine Vet Refuses to Leave Foreclosed Home (Video)

Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment / KWCH-TV

Art de los Santos

Former Marine Art de los Santos is refusing to leave his family home – even though Freddie Mac and JP Morgan Chase foreclosed on the house and the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department sent de los Santos an eviction notice Tuesday.

Los Angeles television station KNBC-TV reports de los Santos decided to reoccupy his home after learning through news reports that Freddie Mac had actually made money betting against homeowners like the ex-Marine.

NPR reported recently that Freddie Mac made $5 billion by blocking efforts by struggling homeowners to refinance their homes. De los Santos told KTLA-TV he got mixed messages from Freddie Mac when he tried to refinance:

“They denied the loan modification and they told me not to make anymore payments… They refused to accept any more payments and told me to reapply for the loan modification… [Then] one of the same bank’s departments foreclosed, saying I was being delinquent.”

Members of the Occupy movement have joined de los Santos in protest. KNBC-TV has more:

View more videos at: http://nbclosangeles.com.

FILED UNDER: Life in the Military, Veterans, Art de los Santos, eviction, foreclosure, Freddie Mac, Inland Empire, JP Morgan Chase, Marine Corps, NPR, Occupy movement, refinance, Riverside California, Riverside County Sheriff's Department
February 22, 2012 | 10:40 AM | By

Military Families’ Ire Helps Change Airline Pet Policy

Miss Chien / Flickr

Dog on an airplane

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.”

FILED UNDER: Japan, Life in the Military, Spouses & Families, airline pet fees, Continental Airlines, Houston Chronicle, Japan, Military Families, military pets, overseas travel, PetSafe, South Korea, United Airlines
February 22, 2012 | 8:55 AM | By

U.S. Supreme Court to Hear Case on Lying About Military Honors (Video)

Patricia van Casteren / Flickr

Purple Heart

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:

FILED UNDER: Life in the Military, Veterans, Doug Sterner, First Amendment, George Washington, George Washington's birthday, Medal of Honor, Purple Heart, Stolen Valor Act, U.S. Supreme Court, Xavier Alvarez
February 21, 2012 | 1:37 PM | By

More Than 1,500 Sailors Kicked Out of Navy in 2011 for Spice

US Navy Medicine / YouTube

Navy video on the dangers of Spice

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.

FILED UNDER: Life in the Military, San Diego, USS Carl Vinson, Armed Forces Medical Examiner System, Navy Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention, Spice drug, synthetic marijuana, U.S. Navy, USS Carl Vinson
February 21, 2012 | 9:37 AM | By

USS Makin Island Crew Honors Fallen Pendleton Navy Corpsman

Gunnery Sgt. Scott Dunn / US Marine Corps

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.

Estrada, called “Doc” by those who knew him, died during a training incident in the African country of Djibouti. He was assigned to India Company, Battalion Landing Team (BLT) 3/1, part of the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit.

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.”

FILED UNDER: Camp Pendleton, Life in the Military, San Diego, Spouses & Families, 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, Capt. Matthew McGirr, India Company Battalion Landing Team (BLT) 3/1, Petty Officer 3rd Class Kyler L. Estrada, U.S. Navy, USS Makin Island
February 17, 2012 | 2:23 PM | By

Check Out the USS Vinson’s Latest Shipboard Newscast (Video)

The latest edition of the shipboard newscast for the USS Carl Vinson has a lot of great stories to enjoy. We learn about the Sailor who was able to check off something big on his life’s “to-do” list by re-enlisting in a military helicopter. We get to see what it’s like to be an air traffic controller on an aircraft carrier. Then there’s story of a Sailor who works in the Vinson barber shop, and is admittedly learning on the job.

And, of course, the newest version of “The Most Squared Away Sailor On The Ship.” My favorite!

Here’s the latest edition of “The 70.” Enjoy!

FILED UNDER: Life in the Military, San Diego, Spouses & Families, USS Carl Vinson, "The Most Squared Away Sailor on the Ship", khaki barbership, MC3 Zachary Bell, shipboard newscast, SHSN(SW/AW) Shaun Regains, The 70
February 17, 2012 | 12:12 PM | By

Active-Duty Marine Invents Zombie Video Game (Video)

I Shall Remain / Marine Corps Times

I Shall Remain video game

Marine Sgt. Jacob Way spent more than a year of his life creating a new video game called “I Shall Remain,” according to the Marine Corps Times. The game pays homage to the Marine Corps in many different ways – which might sound surprising, considering the game takes place in a post-apocalyptic world filled with Zombies. But according to the game’s trailer, the main character is a Marine:

Memory impairing head trauma requires him to slowly relearn who he was. As he learns and regains his profession at arms, his peers are more convinced that people like him, are man’s greatest weapon against certain extinction.

It turns out that this main character, Capt. C.J. Hodges, is named in honor Cpl. Craig Hodges Jr. – a real Marine and friend of Sgt. Way – who died in 2010.

Way also modeled a lot of the main character’s heroic traits after his former superior, Capt. Tyson Ackermann. Ackermann told the Marine Corps Times:

“It’s a little humbling to know you made an impact on his life — that he remembers you months or years down the road.”

Way is a Tagalog linguist stationed at Marine Corps Base Hawaii, Kaneohe Bay. He spent more than $40,000 to create “I Shall Remain.” You can watch a trailer for the game on YouTube:

FILED UNDER: Life in the Military, Capt. C.J. Hodges, Capt. Tyson Ackermann, Cpl. Craig Hodges Jr., Kaneohe Bay, Marine Corps, Marine Corps Base Hawaii, military linguists, Sgt. Jacob Way, Tagalog, video games, zombies
February 17, 2012 | 10:36 AM | By

Study: Military Service Changes Personality

Nichelle / Flicker

Serving in the military can subtly change a man’s personality in ways that can hurt his social ties, according to a new study. Researchers from Washington University in St. Louis say this “lingering effect” on a service member can make it more difficult for him to relate to family, friends, and coworkers.

Psychology professor Dr. Joshua Jackson says his research was done with the knowledge that men who enter the military tend not to be worriers and to be less “neurotic” than those who don’t. They’re also more competitive and aggressive, according to Jackson:

“Military recruits are a little less warm and friendly to begin with and the military experience seems to reinforce this — as after service, men score even lower on agreeableness when compared to individuals who did not go into the military. Interestingly, this influence appears to linger long after the soldier has re-entered the workforce or returned to college.”

Jackson conducted his study by researching German men for six years after they left high school – both those who entered the military and those who did not.

FILED UNDER: Life in the Military, Veterans, Joshua J. Jackson PhD, personality change, Psychological Science, University of Tübingen in Germany, Washington University in St. Louis
February 16, 2012 | 2:12 PM | By

How Does an Aircraft Carrier Restock Food While at Sea? (Video)

USSVinson70 / YouTube

Helicopter restocking USS Vinson

The USS Carl Vinson departed San Diego for deployment all the way back in November 2011. According to Vinson’s YouTube page:

One of the reasons we can stay out for extended periods of time is the Navy’s replenishment-at-sea capability. A supply vessel can pull alongside and deliver food, parts, equipment. In order to make that work onboard Vinson, our Sailors are assigned to “working parties” to help offload the the material we bring aboard.

Recently, the enormous aircraft carrier needed to be restocked with all sorts of supplies, from produce to chocolate-chip cookies. And during the restocking, their was also a delivery of mail. In fact, on February 14, the Vinson received roughly 45,000 pounds of mail. That’s a lot of Valentines!

For the latest installment in the webisode series “Vinson 101” HM3 [FMF] Jonathan Martin shows us exactly how the USS Vinson gets restocked. Class in session!

FILED UNDER: Life in the Military, San Diego, USS Carl Vinson, HM3 [FMF] Jonathan Martin, Marine Corps, Social Media, St. Valentine's Day, U.S. Navy, Valentine's Day mail, Vinson 101, webisode
February 16, 2012 | 12:14 PM | By

Pendleton Commanding Officer Critical of OC Shooting Probe

Darlene Patino-Rousch / SanClemente365.com

Sgt. Manuel Loggins Jr. and Darlene Patino-Rousch

Col. Nicholas Marano, Commanding Officer of Camp Pendleton, has released a statement regarding the shooting death of Pendleton Marine Sgt. Manuel Levi Loggins Jr. by an Orange County Sheriff’s deputy.

Earlier this week, the Association of Orange County Deputy Sheriffs (the union representing the deputy), claimed it was Loggins’ own threatening behavior that caused the deputy to shot Loggins in front of his two daughters, ages 9 and 14.

But Marano is critical of this account. According to the statement:

“Sgt. Manny Loggins was a loved and respected Marine. We have received an unprecedented amount of emails and phone calls this past week from current and former Marines who knew and loved Sgt. Loggins. A family has lost their father, husband, brother and son. An unborn child will never know her father. While I am confident they will do the right thing in the end, I am less than satisfied with the official response from the City of San Clemente and Orange County. Many of the statements made concerning Manny Loggins’ character over the past few days are incorrect and deeply hurtful to an already grieving family.”

Do you agree?

FILED UNDER: Camp Pendleton, Life in the Military, Spouses & Families, Association of Orange County Deputy Sheriffs, Camp Pendleton Commanding Officer, Camp Pendleton Marine shooting, Col. Nicholas Marano, Hawaii, Jim Armomino, Manny Loggins, Marine Corps, officer involved shooting, OIS, Orange County Sheriff's Department, San Clemente, San Clemente High School, Sgt. Manuel Levi Loggins Jr.