Colleges Ignoring Military Experience

Many veterans are returning or just starting college for the first time. They were probably told by recruiters and other military personnel that their military schooling and experience should count for some college credit. Unfortunately, this is not the case at most colleges and universities.

Up to a half million veterans are using the new GI Bill this year. But colleges are going to make them basically start over, taking classes that they may already have knowledge and experience in. So, for most of the veterans in college, it means sitting through and paying money for things they really should not have to.

Most colleges should award credit for physical education, however. At least this was the case in past years.

If your college or university does not automatically award you some type of credit for your military experience, we encourage you to contact your school. Make them aware of what they should be doing. Many military schools are just as book intense as college classes.

I myself went through boot camp, basic hospital corps school, and pharmacy tech school. That took the complete first year of my enlistment. When I got out, California was actually generous. I was qualified as an EMT, pharmacy tech, and could have taken the LVN test. I also got credit for physical education from Cal State San Bernardino and was exempt from PE. I first got an AS degree in Chemistry, and had to take general chemistry basically all over again. I learned most of that in the pharmacy tech school which was 6 months.

Bottom line, you may make your college choice based on what they give you as college credit for your military service. This will save you time as well as money.

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Martin Luther King, Jr. and Military Service

Probably a lot of people have decided that Martin Luther King, Jr. was a pacifist. Someone who was against military service. One could certainly conclude that he was a pacifist, but there are some interesting quotes from him about military service. Martin Luther King, Jr. made a speech in 1967 about the Vietnam War. Many have cited this. Before he makes any references to military service, he gives quite a history of the conflict in Vietnam, starting with shortly after World War II, up to present day 1967. In fact, Martin Luther King, Jr. was well versed in this conflict and showed that he knew quite a bit. Quite a bit more than most Americans. In this speech, Martin Luther King, Jr. did tell people to become conscientious objectors. But the truth is, he actually only pointed out one group that should do this as a whole. Ministers. What he says about young men in general is interesting: "As we counsel young men concerning military service we must clarify for them our nation...

A Soldier's Silent Night

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USS Constitution to sail under own power

The USS Constitution to sail under its own power for just the second time in more than 100 years. The USS Constitution is the oldest commissioned warship still operating anywhere in the world. It earned the nickname "Old Ironside" in a battle during the War of 1812. The USS Constitution got the better of the HMS Guerriere from Britain. The ship will sail in and around Boston Harbor to commemorate that battle. The USS Constitution first sailed in 1797 and stopped sailing under its own power in 1881. 200 years later, it sailed again. Read more: http://www.ussconstitutionmuseum.org/ || http://www.history.navy.mil/ussconstitution/index.html

Obama addresses Marines in Florida

President Obama was in Jacksonville, Florida, recently and spoke the the Marines. Here is an excerpt from the speech he gave. We are highlighting this to show that words, on both sides of the political aisle, can indeed be used in correct ways. "We're reminded of this again with today's helicopter crashes in Afghanistan. Fourteen Americans gave their lives. And our prayers are with these service members, their civilian colleagues and the families who loved them. And while no words can ease the ache in their hearts today, may they find some comfort in knowing this: like all those who give their lives in service to America, they were doing their duty and they were doing this nation proud. They were willing to risk their lives, in this case, to prevent Afghanistan from once again becoming a safe haven for Al Qaida and its extremist allies. And today, they gave their lives, that last full measure of devotion, to protect ours. Now it is our duty, as a nation, to keep their memo...

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