Not that I fly that often, but when I do, I won’t be using Delta…

Update:  It appears that Delta is looking into the situation, and some of the blame looks to be on the Army.  If the Soldiers’ orders had them flying coach, then their orders should have reflected that only three bags were authorized (even though it’s a real SOB hauling that much gear around in just three bags).

Delta’s response is here: http://blog.delta.com/2011/06/07/military-travel-baggage-policies-our-thoughts/

THE FRONTLINES OF AFGHANISTAN

Taliban insurgents kidnapped 50 Afghan police officers in an ambush in northeastern Afghanistan. Insurgent forces in the Helmand province attacked an American unit with small arms fire, killing SPC. Justin Ross of Wisconsin. Other ISAF members were killed in separate attacks using IEDs and small arms fire. Since our last report nine more American have died in Operation Enduring Freedom. The war in Afghanistan has claimed 59 American lives thus far in 2011, and the total for the war is now 1,514 (www.icasualties.org).

THE FRONTLINES OF IRAQ

Several attacks by gunmen occured throughout the country, and insurgent used bombs to kill contractors, police, and civilians. Gunmen using silenceers killed a police colonel in his house in Ramadi and a roadside bomb was used against a food distribution center in Baghdad. One American soldier died in Iraq since our last update.  American soldiers killed in 2011 is eleven and an overall death total of 4,441 (www.icasualties.org).

If you have a different opinion please email me at [email protected]. Or to learn more visit The Frontlines. Thank you.

very respectfully,

The Warrant

References

The Economist, March 26-April 1, 2011

The Frontlines Weekly Update Brief thefrontlines.com/the-frontlines-weekly-update-brief-march-21-27-2011

iCasualties. (2011). Coalition Casualties in Iraq and Afghanistan. Retrieved from www.icasualties.org

THE FRONTLINES OF AFGHANISTAN

Pakistan pulled out of talks with the U.S. on the future of Afghanistan in protest over repeated U.S. drone attacks into their country. Relations between Pakistan and the U.S. have been strained. Several American soldiers have been killed in fighting in the Helmland Province, as Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) continue to wreak havoc on ISAF forces. The U.S. terminated a contract with an international accounting firm that was providing technical advice to the beleaguered Kabul Bank. No update on the $900 million missing from the Bank. Since our last report six more American have died in Operation Enduring Freedom. The war in Afghanistan has claimed 59 American lives thus far in 2011, and the total for the war is now 1,505 (www.icasualties.org).

THE FRONTLINES OF IRAQ

Several roadside bombs were used throughout the country, killing numerous civilians. Gunmen in speeding cars killed a lawyer near Kirkuk, and a construction worker near Mosul. Gunmen also stormed a house killing two brothers belonging to the government backed Sunni Sahwa militia.  One American soldier died in a non-combat death in Iraq since our last update. However, American soldiers killed in 2011 is eleven and an overall death total of 4,440 (www.icasualties.org).

If you have a different opinion or comment please post it here, or email me at [email protected], or to read the full update go to The Frontlines. Thank you.

very respectfully,

The Warrant

References

The Economist. (2011). March 19-25th, 2011 Issue.

iCasualties. (2011). Coalition Casualties in Iraq and Afghanistan. Retrieved from www.icasualties.org

Regardless of the Obama administration’s decision not to defend the law defining marriage as a heterosexual union, the U.S. military won’t be extending spousal benefits to same sex couples. The federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) remains on the books and the military will continue to follow it after repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell is fully implemented. Signed into law by President Bill Clinton in 1996, the DOMA strictly defines “marriage: as a union between a man and woman. The law has often been cited by opponents of federal spousal rights for homosexual couples. To read this article in full, please go to: http://www.military.com/news/article/dod-no-spousal-benefits-for-gay-partners.html?

Despite selfless service to their nation, a large group of Americans brace the elements each night, often cold, hungry, alone, and sleeping on the streets. Many of these homeless Americans are veterans, some of which have withstood the elements of combat, born the emotional and physical scars or war, only to return home, and later find themselves on the streets of America. The social injustice of allowing our men and women who have served in uniform to become homeless after leaving military service is reprehensible.

In 2008, average winter temperatures were 32 degrees F, and the East North central region (Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin had their 10^th coldest December on record (NOAA, 2008, para. 5). According to the Homeless Research Institute’s Vital Mission Ending Homelessness Among Veterans(2008) there were 131,230 homeless veterans in America on any given night. Imagine for a moment, the cold those Americans suffered during the winter months, and you begin to see the absolute necessity for action.  The rate of veteran homelessness in America is more than double the general population. There are 58 homeless veterans for every 10,000 veterans and the numbers have continued to rise as veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan transition from active duty to veteran status (p.1).

Predominantly, the veteran homeless population is male (93%), age 35-54, however, there has been a rise in younger female veteran homeless population. Currently, veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan represent 4% of the veteran homeless population. This number is expected to rise as the wars overseas draw down, and soldiers transition to veteran status. There also exists a disproportionate number of African American homeless veterans compared to White or the Latino homeless population. Homeless Research Institute’s statistics in conjunction with the Veteran Administration’s studies overwhelmingly point to a nationally significant problem in America; they are in danger of becoming homeless.

In 2010, President Obama and the Veterans Administration called for ending veteran homelessness in the next five years. The Veteran Administration’s Health Care for Homeless Veterans program clinics served over 70,000 veterans in 2008 (Homeless Research Institute, 2010, p.1).  The ambitious goal of eradicating veteran homelessness cannot be the sole responsibility of the federal government. While the government does have the funding mechanisms, they often lack the personal connection so often needed in providing direct assistance. While the federal government is moving to address the growing issue of veteran homelessness there are many things at the local level that can be done.  Combining the resources of local organizations, nonprofits, churches and individual citizens willing to volunteer their time we as Americans can successfully end homelessness within the veteran community.

The men and women who have served our country are facing a barrage of bullets, not from enemy insurgents, but instead from high unemployment, family adjustments upon returning home, possible PTSD, and the possibility of facing homelessness. As Senator Robert Menendez said, “A grateful nation would work to ensure that the men and women who risked their lives serving their country are not left stranded when they fall on hard times back home…we should act to make sure veterans can put a roof over their head” (Homeless Research Institute, 2007, p. 5). So the question is what can you do?

To learn more watch Street Vets or The Invisible Ones- Homeless Combat Veterans. If you have a different opinion about this blog or question please visit The Frontlines, or email em at [email protected]. Thank you.

Very respectfully,

The Warrant

www.thefrontlines.com

References

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) 2008 Temerpature for U.S. Near Average, was Coldest Since 1997; Below Average for December

This past week has been a rough one. My recent trip to Walter Reed for treatment, and afterwards being rushed to the ER left my family and I a bit shaken. But despite the experience, I am lucky…my support network of a loving wife, family and friends could not be stronger. However, what if I was a junior, unmarried soldier that had suffered one of the countless horrific wounds that news media channels highlight on TV each day? Would I be as fortunate? The simple answer is no, there will always be those wounded veterans that have to face the seen and unseen wounds of war alone, without family or command support, or a network that truly gets what they are experiencing. Serving in an altered capacity, facing a medical board, and a complete loss of identity by possibly not wearing a uniform again; or attaining the professional career goals I set has been difficult and yet a renewing experience. The difficulties are a strength as I have first-hand seen the real difficulties we as veterans face….unity. In peacetime, combat or on weekends in the National Guard we are unified through a vast network of human resources, housing, career management, healthcare,  and leadership in order to accomplish our mission. Everyone in the military can remember a Non Commissioned Officer or leader that rook the time to mentor us, and show us “the way” in the military.  However, once a soldier is severely injured, or separated where is that mentor or same unified network? Through federal, state, local, and non profit organizations there are mechanisms in place to assist the separated veteran, but they vary in efficiency depending on where you are. Unifying all of these organizations under one common operating network for the nearly 24 million veterans residing in the United States is the only way we will ever be truly able to provide help for those that simply cannot help themselves.

The issues veterans face are complex and unable to be solved simply by increased spending or a creating a new bureaucracy. Homefront engagement by all stakeholders is paramount to success in mitigating the long-term costs of providing medical and disability care to veterans. Providing a seamless transition from active duty to veteran status is a goal of The Frontlines: “To empower members of the armed forces, veterans, family and friends through a network that provides resources, education and a platform for creatively sharing their stories from the frontlines.”

To learn more about our cause or post your organization’s information on our site please email me at [email protected] or visit us at www.thefrontlines.com. Thank you. “Fronts Change. Memories Don’t.”

Very respectfully,

The Warrant

Becuase it sure does keep me awake. This is very scary ladies and gentlemen, and just becuase the MSM isn’t covering every night at 6 and 10PM or on every half-hour headlines please don’t take that as a sign of unimportance. 

The clock is counting and I can tell you that our military sees the edge of the cliff coming up. They are no different than if you were driving towards cliff’s edge, they are starting to pump the brakes. Our military’s training, readiness, effectiveness, and ability to defend this country are all starting to show signs of those brakes being pressed. If Congress does not do something quick, our military is heading over that cliff and will suffer. 

 
The failure of Congress so far to pass the fiscal 2011 defense appropriations bill — which creates the possibility of funding the department under a year-long continuing resolution instead — is “the crisis on my doorstep,” Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said in an interview yesterday.
Failure to pass the funding legislation will represent a $23 billion cut in the defense budget in the current fiscal year, the secretary noted.

“It’s the worst of all possible kinds of reductions, in significant measure because it comes halfway through the fiscal year,” Gates told reporters traveling with him to a meeting with Canadian officials here.
The budget request was for $549 billion, and the continuing resolution would come in at $526 billion.
War funding will not be affected, however. The Defense Department will receive $159 billion for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan this fiscal year, a figure that will drop to $120 billion in fiscal 2012, which begins Oct. 1.
The department likely would use operations and maintenance accounts to compensate for the difference between the budget legislation funding and that provided by a continuing resolution, through stretching out programs and making cuts in training and readiness, Gates said.

“Frankly that’s how you hollow out a military, even in wartime,” the secretary added. “It means fewer flying hours, fewer steaming days, cuts in training for home-stationed ground forces, cuts in maintenance, and so on.”
The current continuing resolution runs out March 4. Gates said that if lawmakers don’t pass the appropriations bill before that date, “this new Congress would be responsible for a cut that’s nearly twice the size of our fiscal ’12 proposal, and much, much more damaging.”
Forces deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan probably will be protected from the more draconian cuts, but forces reconstituting or on watch in other areas of the world will be affected, the secretary said.
“Depending on how it comes out, as I say, it could have an impact on training across the entire force, on maintenance, on facilities maintenance,” he added.
Gates pledged to do all he can to ensure military families and wounded service members don’t bear any of the brunt.
“I will do everything in my power to protect all the money associated with family programs, and I mean that,” the secretary said. “I will protect the money associated with family programs and with wounded warriors, and so on.”

Gates questioned the seriousness of members of Congress who are up in arms about cuts to defense in fiscal 2012, but are ignoring the effect the continuing resolution will have on the services.
“In short, talk about not cutting defense in [fiscal 2012], as far as I’m concerned, is simply rhetoric without action on the [fiscal 2011] defense budget that’s already in front of the Congress,” he said.
Gates also discussed some of the congressional concerns over his proposed $78 billion cut in the projected defense budget over the next five years.

The impact on the services is very modest, he said. Of the $78 billion, $54 billion in savings come from reductions in defense agencies and other cuts. About $14 billion of the cut comes from changes in assumptions, Gates explained. For example, he said, inflation is lower than anticipated and pay raises will be smaller than the ones that were figured into budget projections.
“So $68 billion of the $78 billion don’t touch the services, really, at all,” he said. “An additional $4 billion comes from restructuring the joint strike fighter program, and I would argue that’s actually to the advantage of the services. And $6 billion is from the force reductions in ’15 and ’16.”
The bottom line, Gates said, is that “only about $10 billion come out of anything having to do with the troops or investment funds or capabilities.”

The fiscal 2011 budget is getting mixed into issues that range far beyond the Defense Department, Gates said, adding that he is addressing his responsibilities to the department.
“My view is these issues are not optional,” he said. “This has to do with the security of the country.”
The training cuts a continuing resolution would necessitate would work against addressing readiness concerns the service chiefs and some lawmakers have expressed, the secretary noted.

“The irony in this would be one of the service chiefs’ concerns and one of the Congress’s concerns, the Armed Services Committees’ concerns, have been the lack of readiness for the full range of combat,” Gates said. “We are just now beginning to get the kind of dwell time [at home stations between deployments] that would allow us to carry out that kind of training. “And it would be incredibly ironic,” he continued, “if now that we are able to do that kind of training, we are unable to do so for the rest of [fiscal 2011] because we don’t have the money, because we end up on this continuing resolution.”