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OMAHA, Neb., July 30, 2008 – As disabled veterans tested their limits during the National Disabled Veterans Wheelchair Games, which wrapped up here yesterday, nearly 400 military volunteers provided the behind-the-scenes support that officials said made the games a success. Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Phil Stacey, better known as an “American Idol” finalist during season six, sings the “Star-Spangled Banner” at the opening of the slalom obstacle course competition at the 28th National Disabled Veterans Wheelchair Games. Defense Dept. photo by Donna Miles   (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. Nebraska Army and Air National Guardsmen, as well...

WASHINGTON, March 14, 2008 – A new “virtual installation” concept that helps families who live far from a military base get information and tap into services available for them during their loved ones’ deployment is expected to begin rolling out next month. Recognizing the challenges Reserve families face during deployments, Laura Stultz, wife of Army Reserve Chief Lt. Gen. Jack C. Stultz, is promoting a virtual installation concept that helps bring information and other resources within reach of families far from military posts. Army Reserve photo  (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. Plans are being laid to open several...

WASHINGTON, Feb. 28, 2008 – Pvt. Raymond Loree has become the first Army National Guard soldier to graduate directly into the active Army’s ranks through a new program called “Active First,” in which recruits commit to service in the active-duty Army followed by service in the National Guard. Army Pvt. Raymond Loree is the first soldier to graduate from the Army National Guard’s “Active First” program. U.S. Army photo  (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. Loree, who enlisted Oct. 18, graduated from one-station unit training at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., on Feb. 22. Active First recruits enlist in the...

WASHINGTON, Jan. 10, 2008 – All four services met or surpassed their monthly active-duty recruiting goals for December, and five of the six reserve components showing similar success, Defense Department officials announced today. The Army recruited 789 active-duty soldiers last month, 105 percent of its December goal. On the reserve-component side, the Army National Guard recruited 4,985 members, 120 percent of its goal, and the Army Reserve, 3,280 soldiers, 107 percent of its goal. The Marine Corps recruited 1,992 active-duty Marines, 115 percent of its goal, and met its goal of recruiting 410 Marine Corps reservists. The Air Force...

Many years ago, I remember viewing a video of a preacher who had Cerebral Palsy and most people either made fun of him or sold him short of what he could accomplish. His parents would say things like "He will never marry or have children". "He would never be able to work independently or earn an income for himself" and so on and so forth. His name, Rev. David Ring.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 11, 2007 – All military components met their recruiting goals in November, Defense Department officials said here yesterday. It was the sixth month in a row that all services made their recruiting goals, officials said. The military is recruiting in a difficult environment, defense officials said. Only three out of every 10 Americans in the targeted age group qualifies for military service. A good American economy and feelings against the Iraq war degrade the propensity of young Americans to enlist, officials said. Still, the military is doing well. On the active-duty side, the Marine Corps made 108 percent...

Universe's most energetic particles point to huge black holesThe most energetic particles in the universe – ultrahigh-energy cosmic rays – likely come from supermassive black holes in the hearts of nearby active galaxies, says a study by scientists from nearly 90 research institutions worldwide, including the University of Utah. “We discovered the sources of the highest energy particles in the universe,” says Miguel Mostafa, an assistant professor of physics at the University of Utah and one of 370 scientists and engineers belonging to a 17-nation collaboration that operates the $54 million Pierre Auger Observatory in Argentina. “The sources are the...

WASHINGTON, Oct. 11, 2007 – A new agreement between the active Army and Army National Guard represents a big step toward achieving the force structure balance Army Chief of Staff Gen. George W. Casey Jr. calls critical to the Army’s transformation. Senior Army leaders signed a memo of understanding Oct. 9 during the Association of the U.S. Army convention here to firm up a plan to rebalance force structure and resources between the active and reserve components. Under the plan, the Army National Guard will have 112 brigades: 28 brigade combat teams, 46 multifunctional brigades and 38 functional brigades. It...

I discovered while searching that Giant Geyser has become reasonably active, erupting every 7-10 days or so, sometimes even less. Because Steamboat in the Norris Geyser Basin is extremely irregular (1-5 eruptions a year), this probably makes Giant the largest regular performing geyser in the world. For perspective, an eruption of Old Faithful puts out about 10,000 gallons. An eruption of Giant puts out roughly a million gallons. More pictures of this eruption here: Giant Eruptions September 4 and 9, 2006

MIAMI (Reuters) - The Atlantic hurricane season will be exceptionally active this year, according to a British forecasting group, raising the possibility that killer storms like Hurricane Katrina could again threaten the United States. London-based forecaster Tropical Storm Risk on Tuesday said the six-month season, which begins on June 1, was expected to bring 17 tropical storms, of which nine will strengthen into hurricanes with winds of at least 74 miles per hour. Four of those are expected to become more destructive "intense" hurricanes, TSR said. The long-term average for the Atlantic is for 10 storms to form during the...

2007 United States Military Handbook The United States Military Handbook is designed to help all active duty U.S. Military personnel by giving them the most accurate and complete information available anywhere on pay, allowances, taxes, health care and TRICARE benefits, Veterans and Social Security Benefits, travel, transportation, SBP, retirement, Spac-A, installation listings, statistical data, and much, much more! Click here to request your Handbook. 2007 U.S. Military Retired Handbook The United States Military Retired Handbook is designed to help all U.S. Military personnel who have retired - or who are planning to retire. This unique guide covers everything from...

WASHINGTON, Feb. 12, 2007 – All active components of the military services met or exceeded their recruiting goals for January, the Defense Department announced today. The Army achieved 111 percent of its goal with 9,306 troops; the Air Force, 100 percent of its goal with 2,552 troops; the Navy, 100 percent of its goal with 2,764; and the Marine Corps, 108 percent with 3,403. Four of six of the reserve components met or exceeded their recruiting goals for January. The Army National Guard, Marine Corps Reserve, Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve all achieved more than 100 percent...

Calendar To Raise Funds For Wounded Vets NEW YORK -- A group of Marines and ex-Marines who fought in Iraq -- including two wounded there -- is featured in a beefcake calendar being sold to help wounded veterans. "It's a stopgap effort to help people where government programs leave off," said Rudy Reyes, who served two tours in Iraq and one in Afghanistan and is on the calendar's cover. "This is a way for citizens to help citizens." The "America's Heroes" calendar is being sold by Freedom is Not Free, a San Diego-based nonprofit group that helps injured service members...

WASHINGTON, Aug. 10, 2006 – All active-duty military components met or exceeded their July recruiting goals, Defense Department officials announced today, marking the 14th consecutive month the services have met or exceeded their goals. The Army exceeded its goal of 10,450 recruits; it signed up 10,890 new soldiers, for 104 percent of its goal. The Navy and Air Force both came in at 100 percent, with 4,043 and 2,121 recruited respectively, while the Marine Corps hit 112 percent of its July goal, with 3,197 recruits. “It demonstrates that men and women of military-service age are finding that they want to...

Researchers work to shrink technology that harnesses sun's energy to both heat and coolEvery day, the sun bathes the planet in energy--free of charge--yet few systems can take advantage of that source for both heating and cooling. Now, researchers are making progress on a thin-film technology that adheres both solar cells and heat pumps onto surfaces, ultimately turning walls, windows, and maybe even soda bottles into climate control systems. On July 12, 2006, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) researcher Steven Van Dessel and his colleagues will announce their most recent progress--including a computer model to help them simulate the climate within...

Data on 2.2M Active Troops Stolen From VA By HOPE YEN ASSOCIATED PRESS WASHINGTON (AP) - Nearly all active-duty military, Guard and Reserve members - about 2.2 million total - may be at risk for identity theft because their personal information was among those stolen from a Veterans Affairs employee last month. In a new disclosure Tuesday, VA Secretary Jim Nicholson said the agency was mistaken when it said over the weekend that up to 50,000 Navy and National Guard personnel were among the 26.5 million veterans whose names, birthdates and Social Security numbers were stolen on May 3. The...

Superstition stops villagers fleeing active Java volcano By Sebastien Berger on Mount Merapi (Filed: 15/05/2006) Clouds of ash and smoke and a fiery stream of lava were pouring out of Mount Merapi yesterday as Indonesian authorities grew increasingly concerned. Thousands of villagers fled the fertile slopes of the volcano after officials on the island of Java said an eruption was imminent. A fiery stream of lava cascades down the side of Mount Merapi on the island of Java yesterday They raised their alert to the highest possible status and ordered an evacuation of territory stretching up to seven miles from...

Political offensive targets Bush By Rowan ScarboroughTHE WASHINGTON TIMESMarch 18, 2006 Senate Democrats have mapped a political battle plan for the March congressional recess that calls on lawmakers to stage press events with active duty military personnel, veterans and emergency responders to bash President Bush on virtually every one of his national security policies.

While sometimes I feature the work of professional photographers, I found these three at the linked site. Interested readers are invited to search and post their own favorites of these features, if so inclined. Lassen Peak Bumpass Hell Burney Falls -- a beautiful and unique waterfall I'd never heard of before

Well, this is not what I expected, but at National Guard Drill this weekend, I expected to receive orders to deploy to New Orleans, LA in support of Operation Katrina relief (yes, Arkansas National Guard is still there), or to Iraq/Afghanistan since I didn't go with the 142nd FA this month. But instead, I received orders to active duty for many months to Fort Huachuca, Arizona.I was needing advice on the SE area of Arizona, specifically, Sierra Vista, Tuscon, Bigsby, etc.I spent all day with ATF getting my Class III firearms ready to go to be stored at the company...