Defense Department to Kick Off ‘Why We Serve’ Tour

American Forces Press Service ^ | Steven Donald Smith

[SandRat]

Defense Department to Kick Off ‘Why We Serve’ Tour

By Steven Donald Smith
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Aug. 25, 2006 -- Beginning next week, 13 servicemembers from across the force will fan out across the country to speak about their military experience.

Thirteen servicemembers who served in Iraq or Afghanistan meet with Deputy Defense Secretary Gordon England before they begin their speaking tour across the country. The Why We Serve speaking tour is a program created to respond to the requests of the American people who invite returning veterans to participate in community events and a variety of public affairs activities. Defense Department photo  '(Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available.

The Defense Department is launching a program it calls “Why We Serve” in an effort to help the American people understand why U.S. servicemembers choose to serve their country and what the experience entails.

“Essentially, Why We Serve is an armed forces style grassroots movement to reconnect with the American people,” said Marine Maj. Matt Morgan, the program’s director. “What we want to do is close the gap by allowing the servicemembers to communicate directly with the American people about why it is they do what they do.

“We can’t rely on the international press to tell our story,” Morgan said. “We can’t expect them to be communicating the essence of servicemembers’ experience on the ground in Iraq and Afghanistan or the Horn of Africa.”

Morgan said the idea originated with Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld and Marine Gen. Peter Pace, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Rumsfeld and Pace felt the best way to communicate with the American people is to send servicemembers to their hometowns when they return from overseas to talk directly to community organizations about their experience.

“Secretary Rumsfeld has said that he sees servicemembers re-enlisting at record rates, young men and women volunteering to go back to combat zones two or three times, officer retention that is beyond anything we’ve seen,” Morgan said. “We need to tell this story”

The group of 13 will speak at events ranging from Rotary Club dinners to large university forums. “The remainder of it is more grassroots-type coordination, working with the other programs that we have within public affairs, such as America Support You,” Morgan said.

America Supports You is a Defense Department program that helps showcase Americans' support for the men and women of the armed forces and their families.

The servicemembers also will participate in upcoming Freedom Walks that are scheduled around the country to remember those who lost their lives during the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, and to honor America’s past and present military veterans. The Defense Department’s America Supports You program is sponsoring the main Freedom Walk in Washington, D.C., which takes place Sept. 10. Similar independently organized events are scheduled in a growing number of communities from coast to coast.

Morgan said everyone in the pilot group of 13 has been deployed overseas and most are likely to go back. “People don’t understand the sacrifices they make on a day-to-day basis. A lot leave family and friends behind because they believe in what they’re doing,” Morgan said.

The group that is about to embark on the Why We Serve mission is made up of the right mix of people to make Americans understand that military service is more than what they see on television, he said.

One of those getting ready to go on the speaking tour is Army Staff Sgt. Paula Newman, who said she joined the military to serve her country.

“I grew up saying I was going to join the Army,” she said. “I’m glad I did. It has undoubtedly improved my life. I’m proud of what I’m doing.”

Related Sites:
America Supports You
Freedom Walk

[SandRat]

ABOUT TIME!

[Virginia Ridgerunner]

DoD should have been doing things like this a long time ago, beginning right after 9/11, to keep home front morale high, just like in World War II. Why the government doesn't emulate more of those tried and true public relations programs from that time period is beyond me.

[callthemlikeyouseethem]

before we take the "one nation" out of the Pledge of Allegiance...

[CWOJackson]

"Beginning next week, 13 servicemembers from across the force will fan out across the country to speak about their military experience."

I'm sure Hollywood will use the Oscar's to kick off their own "why we hate America" road trip.

[bnelson44]

Click Here

[BIGLOOK]

I'm sure Hollywood will use the Oscar's to kick off their own "why we hate America" road trip.

Today, the Army investigator in Lt Watada's Article 32 recommended the matter to proceed to Courts Martial. Watada is continuing to broadcast the illegality of the Iraq war to this day. (I heard one on the local radio today.)

Here's Hollywood's poster child, Chief.

[CWOJackson]

As luck would have it, we were at Ft. Lewis today when this news broke. The news was well received.

I think the broadcast you heard might have been either an early recording or was from one of his lawyers. He's currently confined to base and is billeted in an "undisclosed" location...which given the mood on base is probably well guarded.

I would love it if it is a new statement though. Every time he makes a public statement like that he can (and I expect will) have a new count (of an existing charge) made against him.

[U S Army EOD]

What would be the statute of limitations on that? How long could a person be charged? I am thinking of a certain Navy LT that did something like that while he was still in the USNR.

[no dems]

Wow! THIS IS GREAT!!!

Send them to Connecticut, Virginia, Missouri, Michigan, New Jersey, Washington, Ohio and Minnesota where the Pubbie candidates for Senate need help diffusing the anti-War movement.

[BIGLOOK]

Don't know if it was a previous recorded statement but it was from the errant Lt himself. I'd never heard his voice nor message before. His father is a political hitman over here and has made a few local broadcast interviews in his son's defense and bashing the administration's efforts in Iraq.

Putting my faith in the Army to do the right thing and send him to the brig (or whatever the Army calls it). The Navy screwed up not following through on Kerry and look where it got us.

On topic of "Why we serve", it's tradition in my family going way back. It's a Rite of Passage. a life lesson not taken lightly. My father (career Navy Chief, WWII) and my grandfather (Army cavalry, WWI) were upset that I'd enlisted during the VN conflict. And glad as hell when I came back. I was sorta glad too.

[DrDeb]

MUST READ ping

[CWOJackson]

I'm VERY impressed with how the Army is handling this case.

For instance, in one charge they are simply charging him with refusal to deploy...not refusal to deploy to a combat zone. Even though they have everything they need to prove either charge, and the caveat of a "combat" zone increases possible punishment, by only charging him with missing movement makes the destination irrelevant to the charge...he and his lawyers cannot use it as a platform to argue the legality of the war.

The Army is not playing the game he wanted...and he's going to pay a stiff price for his miscalculation.

Kudo's to you and your family for their service. I screwed to pooch on that one...four generations of Infantry...before me.

[BIGLOOK]

Good to see ya, EOD.

What would be the statute of limitations on that?

Watada is going to Courts Martial. Sayonara!

Kerry got a pass under Carter's amnesty for draft dodgers and protesters.....don't ask me how but that's how he finagled the UCMJ. His case is moot.......unless records are released. (However, Big Time Thanks to the SBVT and VVFT for unofficial testimonies and documentation exposing the fraud.)

[BIGLOOK]

That wasn't reported here, Chief. Looks like Army just kicked the stool out from under his lawyers. Thanks for the skinny!

[U S Army EOD]

But the infantry smells bad.