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USO Canteen FReeper Style ~ Marine Corps Separation Temporary Policy Change ~ January 10, 2003
SignOnSanDiego.com ^ | 68-69TonkinGulfYatchClub and FRiends of the Canteen

Posted on 01/10/2003 12:35:22 AM PST by 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub

January 9, 2003

WASHINGTON: Preparing for possible war against Iraq, the Marine Corps has taken the unusual step of stopping all Marines from leaving the service for the coming 12 months, officials said Thursday.

The decision was announced to all Marines in an internal message Tuesday from Gen. James Jones, the Marine Corps commandant. He said it applies to active-duty as well as reserve Marines and is effective Jan. 15 through Jan. 31, 2004.

The last time the Marines took this action, known as "stop-loss," was during the buildup to the 1991 Gulf War, said Capt. Gabrielle Chapin, a spokeswoman at the Combat Development Command at Quantico, Va.

Although the order applies to the entire Marine Corps, which has 173,000 men and women on active duty and 100,000 in the reserves, some exceptions can be made, including for those who already have a retirement date of April 1 or earlier. Commanders also can consider exceptions for personal hardship and other circumstances.

Separately, 125 Marine Corps reservists with Company A, 8th Tank Battalion, based at Fort Knox, Ky., were reporting for active duty Thursday. Sgt. Maj. Timothy J. Didas of the 8th battalion said in a telephone interview that the reservists are to report to the 2nd Marine Division at Camp Lejeune, N.C., on Friday.

Another 20 reservists in support positions with the 8th battalion, including cooks, radio operators and motor vehicle repairmen are being mobilized from bases in New York, Kentucky, South Carolina and Miami along with Company A, Didas said.

Didas said he had no information on whether the reservists were going to deploy to the Persian Gulf area. During the buildup to the 1991 Gulf War the entire 8th Tank Battalion was activated and deployed to the Gulf.

Last fall the Army issued "stop loss" orders for nearly all its Special Forces soldiers, who are heavily engaged in the war in Afghanistan, although the action did not apply to the rest of the force. The Marines are the only ones to apply a "stop loss" action to all service members.

In addition to the approximately 1,000 Marines from the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force who recently arrived in Kuwait in anticipation of a possible war against Iraq, thousands more are either heading to the Gulf region from U.S. bases or are preparing to do so in coming weeks.

Specific figures are classified, but Jones said Wednesday in remarks at the National Press Club that if there is a war in Iraq, the Marines likely would contribute between 65,000 and 75,000 troops – mostly from the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force at Camp Pendleton, Calif.

The Pentagon's Iraq war plan calls for the use of up to 250,000 troops from all services.


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KEYWORDS: usocanteen
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To: Kathy in Alaska; 68-69TonkinGulfYatchClub; E.G.C.
Sending out to the NBC (Navy's Braveheart Crews) link daily.

Received:

Please continue to pray for us as we travel this unknown journey...and please also pray that we'll keep peace of mind because the days will definitely get long and redundant.

The redundancy will build in the fight-as-you-train instinct, insuring swift victory and safe return.

God Bless the Finest Fighting Force on Earth on Sea, on Land and in the Air.

Additional squadrons of archangels flying cover as we fly the flag, 24/7.

201 posted on 01/10/2003 9:14:09 PM PST by PhilDragoo
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To: Kathy in Alaska; radu; bentfeather
BABE ALERT




Has anybody seen this person around?


I really need to talk with her.


Her name is BO!


I think that last name is Derek, but who is looking at last names?

Please check your milk cartons!

202 posted on 01/10/2003 9:27:07 PM PST by Radix
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To: Radix
Sorry, Rad, I checked my milk cartons, and she's not there.


203 posted on 01/10/2003 9:31:28 PM PST by Kathy in Alaska
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To: LindaSOG
Why would anyone swear at you?

There is a reason.




There are always reasons!

204 posted on 01/10/2003 9:36:56 PM PST by Radix
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To: Radix

I didn't forget...

205 posted on 01/10/2003 9:39:24 PM PST by Bethbg79
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To: All

206 posted on 01/10/2003 9:43:17 PM PST by 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub (Thank You for your support of the military!)
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To: Bethbg79
Hello my new friend!



207 posted on 01/10/2003 9:44:16 PM PST by Radix
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To: Kathy in Alaska

How you can help:

Operation Independence http://www.oidelivers.org/

Idea List for Typical C-Rats

"If you were on the worst backpacking trip of your life, with no stores around for 6 months, what would you want to drop out of the sky?"

Brenda of San Diego, CA

 

(This perspective will get you into the right frame of mind for creating thoughtful C-Rats for platoon members.)

Here is the beginning of an idea list for your platoon. Please don't feel limited by this list. We're sure there are lots of creative ideas that have yet to be discovered. Please feel free to contact us with your great ideas so we can add to the list from time to time.

 
  • Beef Jerky*
  • Books
  • Cameras (disposable)
  • Camper style foods*
  • Candy*
  • Cards
  • Chapstick
  • Dental floss
  • Facial tissues
  • Fast food Hot Sauce packets*
  • Flashlights
  • Girl Scout cookies*
  • Gum
  • Magazines
 
  • Moist Wipes
  • Music CDs
  • Nerf toys (small footballs, etc.)
  • Odor Eaters (for boots)
  • Pencils
  • Pens
  • Personal message
  • Phone cards
  • Playing cards
  • Postage
  • Powdered drink mix* (non-alcoholic)
  • Razors
  • Sardines*
 
  • Sheets of stationery
  • Snacks* (cookies, granola bars)
  • Tea bags*
  • Toiletries (travel sizes)
  • Toothbrushes
  • Toothpaste
  • Travel games
  • Travel mugs
  • Tuna snack kits*
  • Valentines
  • Vienna Sausages*


208 posted on 01/10/2003 9:49:51 PM PST by Wolverine
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To: Radix

Hello friend!

209 posted on 01/10/2003 9:51:18 PM PST by Bethbg79
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To: 68-69TonkinGulfYatchClub
Good day off? Weather? Pets? Fences? Broken things? *HUG* Coast Guard Base? LOL!


210 posted on 01/10/2003 9:59:29 PM PST by Kathy in Alaska
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To: radu
Current Military News
U.S. Soldier Loses Foot In Mine Explosion

WASHINGTON, Jan. 10, 2002 — An American soldier lost his right foot Jan. 9 when he stepped on a land mine at Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan, outside the capital city of Kabul. A U.S. military spokesman at Bagram said the soldier was participating in a mine-clearing operation at about 9 a.m. local time when he stepped into an uncleared area and tripped the mine.

U.S. officials this morning reported the soldier is in stable condition and en route to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany. A Polish soldier was also injured in the explosion, but no details were available on the extent of his injuries or his condition.

An Afghan contract worker also was injured seriously Jan. 9 in a separate mine explosion at the air base. He underwent surgery at the U.S. Army hospital on Bagram and is listed currently in critical condition.



211 posted on 01/10/2003 10:00:22 PM PST by SAMWolf (To look into the eyes of the wolf is to see your soul)
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To: Kathy in Alaska; 68-69TonkinGulfYatchClub; bentfeather; tomkow6; Radix; Valin; bluesagewoman; ...
Oh my, I'll never catch up on all of the past two days' threads but I'll catch as much as I can.

In response to the e-mail I sent out yesterday on the NBC 7/39 site, I received an e-mail from a sailor on the USS Tarawa. I replied and before I knew it, he came back with another one. Here's what he had to say:

"our morale is very high because of all of you who have sent us such amazing e-mails. it is weird because we didn't think we had such great support until all of the e-mail came in. we thought it was kind of like out of sight out of mind type of deal but we are happy to know that we were wrong. everone on the USS TARAWA says thank you and not to worry we will protect and defend our beautiful USA. GOD BLESS"

I only wish there were sites similar to the NBC site for the other branches of the military, so we could let them know they're not "out of site, out of mind". I know some go to Operation Dear Abby because I've heard from one who saw one of my posts there. We have an opportunity we haven't had in the past, and I hope everyone takes advantage of that opportunity to show our support to those who are out there defending the country.

212 posted on 01/10/2003 10:09:37 PM PST by radu (I love our troops and veterans!)
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To: SAMWolf
Oh no! I'm sorry to hear about the soldier who was injured in Afghanistan! I'm glad he's in stable condition and wish him a swift recovery! The same goes for the Polish soldier who was also injured and the Afghan contract worker.

It's sometimes hard to believe there are people in this country who actually think our troops are finished with the job in Afghanistan. They're oblivious to the fact that our fighting men and women are still in harm's way over there. News like this should be shoved under their noses every time, so they won't be allowed to forget.
213 posted on 01/10/2003 10:18:10 PM PST by radu (I've not forgotten and never will!)
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To: Wolverine; Kathy in Alaska; 68-69TonkinGulfYatchClub; bentfeather; SAMWolf; tomkow6; Radix; ...
Thank you for posting the link to Operation Independence, Wolverine!! This is awesome! The more ways to show our support to those who are defending this country, the better. The site is in my Faves and I'll put it to good use!
214 posted on 01/10/2003 10:31:24 PM PST by radu (I love our Troops and Vets!)
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To: radu; Kathy in Alaska; 68-69TonkinGulfYatchClub; bentfeather; SAMWolf; tomkow6; Radix
My office put care packages together for the USMC son of one of our employees deployed in Desert Storm.

We included a string saw so he could build a folding chair from mortar crates. We also included magic markers for map overlays. I guess there were 40+ different items that could be used in the field.
215 posted on 01/10/2003 10:43:04 PM PST by Wolverine
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To: Wolverine
A string saw, huh? I never would have thought of that. Thanx for the suggestion!!

I love finding out about more ways to show support for the men and women who are out there protecting those of us who dwell in this country. The e-mails I've received from the sailors the past couple of weeks show how much it means to them to know someone cares. I've gotten teary-eyed more than once while reading them.

Thanx again for posting that link!!
216 posted on 01/10/2003 10:52:34 PM PST by radu (I love our Troops and Vets!)
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To: All
To our troops -

Thank you for protecting US. Sleep well and safe. May you be protected.


217 posted on 01/10/2003 10:59:21 PM PST by American Preservative
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To: radu
You can keep Operation Independence visible by posting that link in every USO thread, every day!

BTW, We got the string saw from a hardware store...You put your thumbs thru loops on each end. It coils up so you can carry it in your pocket.
218 posted on 01/10/2003 11:01:41 PM PST by Wolverine
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To: tomkow6; southerngrit; LindaSOG; All
WHAT THE HECK HAPPENED TO SUMMER?

It was 60+ degrees here in TN. yesterday and today's high was 40. If we see 40 the next couple of days, we'll be lucky.

Currently (at 1AM Sat.) it's 25 degrees and falling. Don't know what the wind chill is other than COOOOLD!!

Normally I'd say it's time to move to Florida but it's not exactly warm down there either, is it? brrrrrrrrrrrrr! LOL!!
219 posted on 01/10/2003 11:02:32 PM PST by radu (I love our Troops and Vets!)
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To: Wolverine
I'm still a 'newbie' to the world of computers and haven't learned how to post links yet. LOL!! This gives me a good reason to learn, doesn't it? Fortunately, I know where to go to learn...the HTML Sandbox right here on FR.
220 posted on 01/10/2003 11:08:15 PM PST by radu (I love our Troops and Vets!)
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