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CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE ADDER, Iraq, Dec. 11, 2009 – Imagine being a father who served in the military for 10 years, preparing to send your son to basic training, and wishing you could go in his place. After a 17-year break in service, Sgt. Billy Willingham enlisted in the Army as a motor transport operator. Courtesy photo  (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. A soldier in the 1st Armored Division’s 4th Brigade doesn’t have to imagine it. He has lived it first-hand. Army Sgt. Billy Willingham, 121st Brigade Support Battalion, joined the Air Force in April 1982. His first duty...

I don’t disagree with most of what Glenn Beck says in this piece. Courts-martial for Navy SEALS who allegedly gave a terrorist a fat lip while in custody? Does the Navy court-martial sailors who give each other fat lips? Would a SEAL stop at a fat lip if he actually got out of control? (I know a couple of SEALs, and I highly, highly doubt it.) Few would disagree with the thought that we should put the men and women who dedicate their lives to this country as our first priority, either, and that we should give them the resources...

CONTINGENCY OPERATING SITE MAREZ EAST, Iraq, July 23, 2009 – Army Sgt. 1st Class Hershel L. Mayfield is a Vietnam veteran with 39 years of service. But when he re-enlisted here earlier this month, his mind was on the future and the young people he serves with. Army Sgt. 1st Class Hershel Mayfield, right, receives his re-enlistment certificate from Army Capt. Irvin Morris at Contingency Operating Site Marez East, Iraq, July 7, 2009. Mayfield has served 39 years in the Army, including 37 with the 158th Maintenance Company of the Alabama Army National Guard. U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt....

JALALABAD AIRFIELD, Afghanistan, June 9, 2009 – Army Spc. Jonathan Goodwin is a lot of different things: husband, father of seven children, jokester, and the kind of person who can light up a room with his sense of humor. But before he was any of these things, he became a soldier, signing up for his first enlistment in May 1992. Army Spc. Jonathan Goodwin stands in front of the unit’s offices in Jalalabad Airfield, Afghanistan, May 31, 2009. Goodwin, a North Carolina native, is a husband and father of seven who rejoined the Army after a break in service....

David Crockett re-enlisted at the Alamo Wednesday afternoon. But despite having a famous name, he seemed a bit overwhelmed by the pomp and color of his re-enlistment ceremony in front of the Alamo Shrine, not to mention the visitors asking him to sign his autograph or pose for a quick photo. “I really didn’t expect all this,” said Crockett, whose full name is Staff Sgt. David O’Neal Crockett. After 14 years in the Army, Crockett, surrounded by about a 70 spectators, including a dozen soldiers, took his re-enlistment oath. He said he plans to serve about eight more years in...

BAGHDAD, Jan. 5, 2009 – Young men and women frequently follow the footsteps of their parents and grandparents by joining the military. Army Maj. (Dr.) Robert Sexton reversed that role when he followed his two sons into the military after a 38-year-break from his previous service. Army Maj. (Dr.) Robert Sexton, who rejoined the Army after a 38-year break in service, serves as a physician with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 425th Civil Affairs Battalion, attached to the 4th Infantry Division in Baghdad. U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Brock Jones  (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. Sexton was an...

The Largest re-up in American History so worth the look.. it will make you proud. God Bless our Troops, God Bless America!

Baghdad, July 5, 2008 – Servicemembers from all over Iraq gathered here today in the Al Faw Palace rotunda on Camp Victory, to re-enlist and celebrate America’s Independence Day. U.S. Army Gen. David Petraeus, commanding general, Multinational Force Iraq, reenlisted 1,215 U.S. servicemembers from all over Iraq July 4, 2008, during a ceremony in the Al Faw Palace rotunda at Camp Victrory in Baghdad. Photo by MNF-I Public Affairs  (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. All 1,215 servicemembers celebrated by raising their right hand and pledging to continue defending the ‘land of the free’ in what is the largest...

Petraeus: “You and your comrades here have been described as America’s new greatest generation, and, in my view, you have more than earned that description. It is the greatest of honors to soldier here with you.”

WASHINGTON, July 3, 2008 – More than 1,100 servicemembers stationed in Iraq will celebrate the nation’s birthday tomorrow by re-enlisting, the senior enlisted leader for Multinational Force Iraq said today. Army Command Sgt. Maj. Marvin L. Hill said 1,157 soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines will re-enlist at the Al Faw Palace at Camp Victory, in Baghdad. This may be the largest re-enlistment ceremony since the all-volunteer force began in 1973, Hill said via phone from Baghdad. This is becoming an annual blockbuster event for the command. Last year, 588 servicemembers re-enlisted. “We are extremely proud of the accomplishments we have...

More than 1,200 soldiers serving in Iraq gave America a precious gift today. BAGHDAD (AFP) - More than 1,200 US troops serving in Iraq signed up for extended service in the military to mark America’s national day on Friday. At least 1,215 troops re-enlisted for periods ranging from two to six years at the ceremony held at the spacious Al-Faw palace of executed dictator Saddam Hussein near Baghdad airport. General David Petraeus, the head of US-led coalition forces in Iraq, said he was “proud of their decision to re-enlist and help the people of Iraq win their most important battle...

WASHINGTON, D.C. — One year ago, as President Bush decided to send more troops to Iraq, the conventional wisdom in Washington among opponents of the war was that the U.S. Army was on the verge of breaking. In December 2006 former Secretary of State and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Colin Powell warned, "The active Army is about broken." Ret. Gen. Barry McCaffrey, in a much-cited memo to West Point colleagues, wrote: "My bottom line is that the Army is unraveling, and if we don’t expend significant national energy to reverse that trend, sometime in the next two...

BAGHDAD (Army News Service, Dec. 21, 2007) - Army Chief of Staff Gen. George W. Casey Jr. re-enlisted 267 Soldiers in a ceremony at Camp Victory's Al Faw Palace Dec. 19. The Soldiers, who had come from throughout Multi-National Division - Center's area of operations, raised their right hands and pledged to continue risking their lives. "Thank you all for what you're doing, and for the difference you're making in Iraq," Gen. Casey said. "I think it's important, every once in a while, to take a step back and think about the big picture and remind ourselves what's at stake...

Multi-National Corps – IraqPublic Affairs Office, Camp VictoryAPO AE 09342FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASERELEASE No. 20071119-01November 19, 2007Soldier re-enlists hours after IED injury (Balad)4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division PAOMulti-National Division – North PAOFORWARD OPERATING BASE WARHORSE, Iraq – A U.S. Soldier re-enlisted in the Army just hours after being seriously wounded in an improvised explosive attack near Zaganiyah, Iraq, Nov. 13.Spc. Christopher Hoyt, an infantryman with 2nd Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division from Fort Lewis, Wash., suffered severe lacerations to his legs and torso when an IED exploded near him while conducting...

CAMP VICTORY — Everybody has one. It may be a family member, a teacher, or a coach – an extraordinary person who makes such an impact that one’s life is forever changed. For Staff Sgt. Steven A. Holloway that one person was a friend, mentor and leader. The story of Sgt. 1st Class Paul R. Smith is known to the nation. His actions in combat on April 4, 2003, above and beyond the call of duty, led to him being posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor. On Aug. 10, Holloway, on his third combat tour to Iraq, raised his right...

Naturalization, re-enlistment ceremony held on America’s 231st birthday Thursday, 05 July 2007 Senator John McCain and Command Sgt. Maj. Marvin Hill, senior enlisted advisor for Multi-National Force-Iraq, congratulate a Soldier on becoming a U.S. citizen July 4 at Camp Victory. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Jeffrey Hunnewell, Combined Press Information Center. BAGHDAD — Hundreds of Soldiers became citizens of the country they risk their lives for, while others decided to extend their time in service to continue the fight against terrorism. The U.S. Army conducted a naturalization and re-enlistment ceremony at Camp Victory on Wednesday. Over 160 Soldiers became...

More than 600 troops are expected to re-enlist tomorrow, and more than 100 others will become U.S. citizens in an Independence Day ceremony at Camp Victory, Iraq. Army Gen. David H. Petraeus, commander of Multinational Force Iraq, made the announcement during an interview today on Bill Bennett's nationally syndicated radio program. Petraeus and his senior enlisted leader, Army Command Sgt. Maj. Marvin Hill, decided to hold this year's ceremony after the success of a previous ceremony in 2003 for the 101st Airborne Division. "On the Fourth of July back in 2003, we had a re-enlistment ceremony. The idea was we...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=prusbGTi1U4 This event marks the last time I will formally take the oath. My current enlistment is now indefinite so I guess that means I am IN for the long haul. It is truly an honor to serve the People of the United States. SFC David Osborne Operation Iraqi Freedom

IMMEDIATE RELEASE No. 882-06September 08, 2006 DoD Announces Recruiting and Retention Numbers for August The Department of Defense announced today its recruiting and retention statistics for the active and reserve components for the month of August. • Active duty recruiting. All services met or exceeded their recruiting goals in August.   Accessions Goal Percent Army 10,492 10,050 104 Navy 4,090 4,090 100 Marine Corps 4,320 4,053 107 Air Force 3,167 3,156 100 • Active duty recruiting from Oct. 1, 2005 to August 31, 2006.   Accessions Goal Percent Army 72,997 70,200 104 Navy 28,499 28,499 100 Marine Corps 24,300...

FORT CAMPBELL, Ky. (Army News Service, Aug. 31, 2006) – The active Army reached its fiscal 2006 retention goal one month early today when a Fort Campbell Soldier reenlisted. Staff Sgt. Michael Obleton, a truck driver assigned to the 101st Airborne Division, became the 64,200th reenlistment since Oct. 1, 2005. Vice Chief of Staff of the Army Gen. Richard Cody presided over the ceremony. “What a commitment. Our Army has been at war longer than we fought in World War II. Soldiers still reenlist knowing full well the dangers, knowing full well the sacrifice,” said Cody. Obleton, of Columbus, Ga.,...