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Military

VA Slammed for Unanswered Crisis Hotline Messages

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Sen. Mark Kirk (R., Ill.) blasted the Department of Veterans Affairs on Tuesday after investigators found that 30 percent of their text messages sent to the department’s crisis hotline for veterans went unanswered.

The Government Accountability Office conducted the review of the VA’s crisis hotline after requests from congress. The hotline, which is supposed to provide support for veterans in distress, has faced criticism from some veterans who say their phone calls have gone unanswered.

Kirk also railed against his Senate colleagues for neglecting to address the department’s issues in a VA funding bill this week. The appropriations bill was blocked by Senate Democrats due to their objections about emergency funding to address the Zika virus.

“Failing our veterans who are reaching out in their time of need is unacceptable,” said Sen. Kirk in a statement on Tuesday evening. “Yet today, instead of passing increased VA funding and more protections for whistleblowers, veterans took a backseat to partisan politics in the Senate.”

Read more: Washington Free Beacon

 

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Marine Corps Moving to Gender Neutral Job Titles

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The Marine Corps is eliminating the job title “basic infantryman” along with 18 others and replacing them with terms that are gender neutral.

Others titles, including “rifleman” and “mortarman,” will remain the same, due to their historical and cultural significance for Marines.

The service plans to replace 19 of its military occupational specialty titles, the Marine Corps Times reported Tuesday, seven months after Navy Secretary Ray Mabus ordered the Marine Corps to conduct a review of all job titles to ensure gender neutrality.

For most of the 19 terms that will be changed, the word “Marine” will replace the word “man.” Basic infantryman, for instance, will become Basic infantry Marine, and “reconnaissance man” will become “reconnaissance marine,” according to a list of the 33 titles reviewed that was obtained by the Marine Corps Times.

The service is expected to officially announce the changes within the coming days.

Read more: Washington Free Beacon

 

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Navy Cmdr. Eric Rasch fired over Iran’s detention of US Sailors

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The Navy has fired the commander of the 10 American sailors who drifted into Iranian territorial waters in the Persian Gulf earlier this year and were detained by Iran for about 15 hours.

Navy Cmdr. Eric Rasch was relieved of his duties as commanding officer of Coastal Riverine Squadron 3 as of May 12, according to a Navy statement.

“Rasch was relieved due to a loss of confidence in his ability to command,” the statement said.

Rasch was executive officer of the squadron at the time of the incident, in which two riverine boats drifted off course into Iranian waters after facing electrical malfunctions.

Iranian military boats surrounded the U.S. boats and made the 10 American sailors onboard kneel with their hands behind their heads.

Read more at The Hill

Image credit: Navy

 

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VA Medical Center Puts Christmas on Waiting List

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There is a war being waged on Christianity and the VA medical center in Salem, Virginia has added Christmas to the waiting list.

For a while now, we’ve seen Christians be persecuted for taking a stand for what they believe. One lady was even put in jail for not wanting to issue a marriage license to same-sex couples.

But, now things have been taken to a new level.

In a letter obtained by conservative legal firm Alliance Defending Freedom, we learn that the Salem, Virginia VA medical center leaves the idea to the staff that they could be punished if they display symbols that promote the Christian religion.

Salem VA letter about Christmas

ADF Senior Counsel Erik Stanley said:

“It’s ridiculous that people have to think twice about whether it’s okay to celebrate Christmas as Christmas rather than some watered-down winter holiday. The courts have never ruled that government employees must hide any hint of religious expression. To the contrary, the courts have clearly stated that any such requirement demonstrates an unconstitutional hostility toward religion. If government bureaucrats are afraid of causing offense, they should realize that rules like this offend both the First Amendment and the overwhelming majority of Americans, 95 percent of whom celebrate Christmas.”

So… it looks like our Veterans aren’t the only ones being shoved to the side.

 

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An ARMY First: Two Women to Graduate and Earn RANGER Tab

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Two women have advanced to the final phase of RANGER school and are set to graduate and earn the coveted tab this Friday. In addition to the two women, 94 men are set to take part in graduating also.

This is a first for the ARMY as women have never been invited to take part in the training. They were part of the Army’s gender-integrated assessment of the grueling two-month long school.

Army Secretary John McHugh said in a statement:

“Congratulations to all of our new Rangers. Each Ranger School graduate has shown the physical and mental toughness to successfully lead organizations at any level. This course has proven that every soldier, regardless of gender, can achieve his or her full potential.”

McHugh added: “We owe soldiers the opportunity to serve successfully in any position where they are qualified and capable, and we continue to look for ways to select, train, and retain the best soldiers to meet our nation’s needs.”

Recently, Grunt Style ranked the US Army Ranger School as one of the top 5 toughest in the military.

 

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In 1945 On This Day In History: V-J Day

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On this day in history in 1945, V-J Day, or Victory over Japan Day, the day Japan surrendered in World War II effectively ending the war.

Because of the two different time zones, the announcement was made on August 14 while it was afternoon on August 15 in Japan.

The timeline that led to the announcement happened rather quickly:

  • On July 26, 1945, the Potsdam Declaration was issued by Allied leaders calling on Japan to surrender. If they accepted the terms, they would be promised a peaceful government according to “the freely expressed will of the Japanese people”, if not they would face “prompt and utter destruction.”
  • On August 6, 1945, the Enola Gay dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima.
  • Three days later on August 9, a second atomic bomb was dropped on the city of Nagasaki.
  • The following day, the Japanese government accepted the terms of the Potsdam Declaration.

On the Japanese afternoon of August 15, a speech by Emperor Hirohito was played over the radio.

Text of Hirohito’s address:

TO OUR GOOD AND LOYAL SUBJECTS:
After pondering deeply the general trends of the world and the actual conditions obtaining in Our Empire today, We have decided to effect a settlement of the present situation by resorting to an extraordinary measure.

We have ordered Our Government to communicate to the Governments of the United States, Great Britain, China and the Soviet Union that Our Empire accepts the provisions of their Joint Declaration.

To strive for the common prosperity and happiness of all nations as well as the security and well-being of Our subjects is the solemn obligation which has been handed down by Our Imperial Ancestors and which lies close to Our heart.

Indeed, We declared war on America and Britain out of Our sincere desire to ensure Japan’s self-preservation and the stabilization of East Asia, it being far from Our thought either to infringe upon the sovereignty of other nations or to embark upon territorial aggrandizement.

But now the war has lasted for nearly four years. Despite the best that has been done by everyone – the gallant fighting of the military and naval forces, the diligence and assiduity of Our servants of the State, and the devoted service of Our one hundred million people – the war situation has developed not necessarily to Japan’s advantage, while the general trends of the world have all turned against her interest.

Moreover, the enemy has begun to employ a new and most cruel bomb, the power of which to do damage is, indeed, incalculable, taking the toll of many innocent lives. Should We continue to fight, not only would it result in an ultimate collapse and obliteration of the Japanese nation, but also it would lead to the total extinction of human civilization.

Such being the case, how are We to save the millions of Our subjects, or to atone Ourselves before the hallowed spirits of Our Imperial Ancestors? This is the reason why We have ordered the acceptance of the provisions of the Joint Declaration of the Powers.

We cannot but express the deepest sense of regret to Our Allied nations of East Asia, who have consistently cooperated with the Empire towards the emancipation of East Asia.

The thought of those officers and men as well as others who have fallen in the fields of battle, those who died at their posts of duty, or those who met with untimely death and all their bereaved families, pains Our heart night and day.

The welfare of the wounded and the war-sufferers, and of those who have lost their homes and livelihood, are the objects of Our profound solicitude.

The hardships and sufferings to which Our nation is to be subjected hereafter will be certainly great. We are keenly aware of the inmost feelings of all of you, Our subjects. However, it is according to the dictates of time and fate that We have resolved to pave the way for a grand peace for all the generations to come by enduring the unendurable and suffering what is unsufferable.

Having been able to safeguard and maintain the structure of the Imperial State, We are always with you, Our good and loyal subjects, relying upon your sincerity and integrity.

Beware most strictly of any outbursts of emotion which may engender needless complications, or any fraternal contention and strife which may create confusion, lead you astray and cause you to lose the confidence of the world.

Let the entire nation continue as one family from generation to generation, ever firm in its faith in the imperishability of its sacred land, and mindful of its heavy burden of responsibility, and of the long road before it.

Unite your total strength, to be devoted to construction for the future. Cultivate the ways of rectitude, foster nobility of spirit, and work with resolution – so that you may enhance the innate glory of the Imperial State and keep pace with the progress of the world.

(Hirohito’s signature and Privy Seal)

 

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Marine Court-Martialed and Discharged Fights Back on Refusal to Remove Bible Verse

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Marine veteran Monifa J. Sterling was court-martialed for refusing to remove a bible verse she posted at her work station, which resulted in a bad-conduct discharge. She is now appealing the conviction.

This started because she had posted on the wall of her workspace a reference to Isaiah 54:17, paraphrasing it saying, “No weapon formed against me shall prosper.” Her supervisor requested she remove it, to which she did not.

Monifa Sterling quote

Her reason for not removing it was because “she believed it was her First Amendment right,” according to Michael Berry, a Liberty Institute attorney who’s representing her.

She later testified that she posted it for encouragement and inspiration.

In the military, an order is just that, an order. You are expected to follow through, and if you don’t then you face the consequences. In this case, Sterling was given an order and she elected to disobey.

Does that set the stage for her being court-martialed and ultimately being discharged from the Marines? While it is certain that there could be more to this story than is being reported, there also is a level of discretion that could have been exercised.

We are operating in a society today that permits certain cultures to have beards and head-dress due to religious customs, but punishes another for paraphrasing a scripture that motivates them in troubled times.

Sterling’s attorney, Berry says: “It’s the first case that I’m aware of [that will test] whether or not and how RFRA (Religious Freedom Restoration Act) applies to service members who have sincerely held religious views.”

Washington Post reports “a brief filed Tuesday by Sterling’s legal team requests that the case be reviewed by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces, which is considered one level below the U.S. Supreme Court.”

SUCCESS: Navy Tests Laser Weapon System (LaWS)

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The following post is reprinted with permission from ANM News.

On Wednesday the Navy released video of their laser weapon system (LaWS). It was the first time it had been aboard a naval vessel, and it is reported to have ‘performed flawlessly.’

Chief of naval research, Rear Adm. Matthew L. Klunder said:

“Laser weapons are powerful, affordable and will play a vital role in the future of naval combat operations. We ran this particular weapon, a prototype, through some extremely tough paces, and it locked on and destroyed the targets we designated with near-instantaneous lethality.”

Among the targets that were destroyed was a Scan Eagle unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), a target mounted on a small speeding boat, and other moving targets.

And, it does it at minimal costs. It is reported as cheaper to build and operate than traditional weapons systems.

Rear Adm. Klunder said:

“At less than a dollar per shot, there’s no question about the value LaWS provides. With affordability a serious concern for our defense budgets, this will more effectively manage resources to ensure our Sailors and Marines are never in a fair fight.”