Military Dogs Receive Top Honors

American Humane’s Lois Pope K-9 Medals of Courage

A fearless Black Lab who uncovered IEDs in Afghanistan and Iraq; a pound puppy who became a Specialized Search Dog and saved countless lives during his 210 combat missions; a Chocolate Lab who protected our troops and survived deadly ambushes by the Taliban; a four-footed warrior who was part of Operation Iraqi Freedom and safeguarded 26,000 U.S. servicemembers; and a brave Explosive Detection Dog who served overseas on the frontlines of the War on Terror and now protects Americans on the home front, have all been chosen as the 2017 recipients of American Humane’s Lois Pope K-9 Medal of Courage. The awards, presented at a Capitol Hill, are the nation’s highest honor for military dogs for extraordinary valor and service to America.
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American Veterans (AMVETS) Department of California Services Foundation: Addressing Homeless Veterans with National Partner – Living Spaces

On a single night in January 2017, 40,056 veterans were experiencing homelessness in the U.S. The recent HUD Point in Time report revealed that 29% of all veterans in the United States live in California this equates to 11,472 veterans. California’s unsheltered veterans (living outside) rate is 67%. Continue reading American Veterans (AMVETS) Department of California Services Foundation: Addressing Homeless Veterans with National Partner – Living Spaces

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Army vice chief of staff: Women vital to ‘strength of our Army’

History is replete with inspiring examples of female Soldiers who served, said the Army’s vice chief of staff.

“Today, women are a vital part of the strength of our Army,” said Gen. James C. McConville, who spoke Monday on Capitol Hill as part of the 10th Annual U.S. Army Women’s Summit.

The general said a female inspired him very early on in his own career. That woman, Gale O’Sullivan Dwyer, was his classmate during high school in Braintree, Massachusetts. Coincidentally, McConville and Dwyer both entered the same class at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York, he said.

At the time, McConville acknowledged that he had some challenges going through the academy. It was Dwyer who inspired him to persevere, he said, describing her as a little over five feet tall and about 100 pounds but “tough as nails.”

“She had tremendous character and resilience, was extremely smart and super physically fit,” he said. “She motivated me every day by her presence.”

Dwyer later on wrote a book with the fitting title: “Tough As Nails: One Woman’s Journey Through West Point.”

Throughout his career, McConville said he’s seen “hundreds of formations with women, motivating Soldiers left and right.”

The vice chief of staff provided another account of a female Soldier who inspired him. When he was a brigade commander in the 1st Cavalry Division in Iraq in April 2004, he said he got a call from the 1st Armored Division, saying that enemy fighters were on the verge of overrunning a small outpost in Najaf.

Fortunately, McConville said he had a team of Apache helicopters available, led by Chief Warrant Officer 2 Cindy Rozelle, outside of Baghdad. The helicopter team launched, arrived at Najaf in about 35 minutes, and came in shooting, he related.

“I don’t recall any of those Soldiers whose lives were saved talking about her gender,” McConville said. “They were just happy to be alive.”

SOME RECENT MILESTONES

McConville listed some recent achievements made by women in the Army:

— Last year, Simone Askew became the first African-American woman to hold the position of First Captain of the U.S. Military Academy’s Corps of Cadets. Askew was also selected as a Rhodes Scholar.

— Last fall, six women earned Expert Infantry Badges during testing at Fort Bragg.

— By the end of 2017, more than 600 female Soldiers were in infantry, armor and artillery positions that were only recently opened up to women.

— Today, every infantry, armor and artillery battalion in every single active-duty brigade combat team has women assigned — up to hundreds in some BCTs.

Continue onto the Army newsroom to read the complete article.

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American Church Shootings and Crisis Management

by J. Christopher Murphy; Senior Associate, Merletti, Gonzales & Associates International Security Consultants

In the 1960s, there was a popular old gospel song entitled “Church Twice on Sunday and Once in the Middle of the Week.” Church was not only popular for spiritual growth, but also for fellowship and social interaction. It was a central part of life in many communities. It was a safe haven! Continue reading American Church Shootings and Crisis Management

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Garden Grove native supports one of the Navy’s most versatile combat ships

SAN DIEGO – A 2001 Rancho Alamitos High School graduate and Garden Grove, California, native is serving in the U.S. Navy as part of the staff aboard Littoral Ship Squadron One, supporting one of the country’s most versatile combat ships.

Petty Officer 1st Class Darrell Post is a hull maintenance technician serving at Littoral Ship Squadron One in San Diego.
Continue reading Garden Grove native supports one of the Navy’s most versatile combat ships

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