Women to be cleared for combat duty

Today, a defense official has told the media that Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta is giving the okay for women to serve on active duty in several positions in combat.

On Thursday, Secretary Panetta will announce that the exclusion of women in ground combat will be eliminated. Previously, women below the level of brigade would be excluded from direct combat.

Keep in mind that will not take effect immediately and is only really opening up review and study of the situation. But, we are moving to the point of having women as boots on the ground soldiers in combat.

There are over 200,000 women currently in the armed forces who may be affected, with roughly 5,000 being Marines.

Because this is only a preliminary step toward female infantrymen, for lack of a better word, women will not be in direct combat forces until at least 2015.

In fact, this will even allow the branches of the armed forces to develop guidelines and even exceptions to this rule.

People are probably on both sides of this. It's not been an American ideal to see its women on the front lines being killed in combat. Is the United States ready for this?

Like it or not, there is something a little disconcerting at the thought of our daughters coming home in coffins. No, this is not making it seem that sons are different. Civilization seems to have always held women and girls in a different light.

It should also be noted that women have already been serving, if not at the front lines, certainly combat areas. There will just be more direct involvement of women in combat.

- Military scholarships.

- Military support groups.

Military members can get free National Parks Pass

Active duty military members can take advantage of a great benefit from the Department of the Interior and the National Park Service. If you are on active duty, you can get a free National Parks pass for 2013.

Overview of the Annual Pass for US Military and Their Dependents
-Free
-Available to US military members and their dependents in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and Coast Guard, as well as most members of the US Reserves and National Guard. Proper military ID is required (CAC Card or DoD Form 1173).
-Obtained in person at Federal recreation sites that charge entrance or standard amenity fees.
-Covers entrance to Fish and Wildlife Service and National Park Service sites that charge Entrance Fees, and Standard Amenity Fees at Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management and Bureau of Reclamation sites.
-Admits the pass owners and any accompanying passengers in a private non-commercial vehicle at per vehicle fee areas, or the pass owner and up to additional 3 adults at sites that charge per person.
-Non-transferable
-Free admission at sites that charge entrance or standard amenity fees for one full year from the month obtained (through last day of that month).
-Allows pass owner and accompanying passengers in a single, private, non-commercial vehicle to enter federally operated recreation sites across the country.
-Covers the pass owner and three (3) accompanying adults age 16 and older at sites where per person entrance fees are charged. No entry fee charged for children 15 and under.
-The pass does not cover or provide a discount on expanded amenity fees such as camping, boat launch or interpretive fees.

>> Heated Electric Socks.

>> The Quebe Sisters.

USS Enterprise sails into history for the last time

Since the Revolutionary War, their have been eight US Navy ships named Enterprise. During Word War II, it was attacked many times and had become known as the most decorated ship in US Navy history. The current USS Enterprise, finished in 1962, became the world's first nuclear powered aircraft carrier.

A young John McCain, later Senator, was a pilot on The Enterprise when it was called into duty as blockade during the Cuban Missile Crisis.

Originally stationed in Norfolk, the ship was moved to the Pacific Fleet in 1965.

The ship further moved into history, notorious history, in 1969. Going from Hawaii to Vietnam, a rocket on deck accidentally exploded, causing a major fire on board.

This disaster later became a major part of the Navy training film, "Accidents Don't Just Happen." Many sailors since then have seen that film.

After 9-11, the ship immediately sailed towards Pakistan, and launched the first salvos against al queda in Afghanistan.

The story will end up on a sad note. On December 1, the ship will be decommissioned. The nuclear reactors will be removed, and the rest will be scrapped.

Ghosts of History

A Dutch historian, has overlaid photos of WWII over present day France.

They are quite stunning. Here are two references:

See some photos of Ghosts of History at: http://news.yahoo.com/photos/ghosts-of-history-slideshow/ghosts-of-history-photo-1350676600.html

Visit the Facebook page:https://www.facebook.com/thenandnowghostsofhistory

Visit them on flikr:http://www.flickr.com/photos/hab3045/collections/72157629378669812/

Click the photo for an enlarged version.
Photo credit: the above mentioned websites.

USS Michael Murphy named for Navy SEAL

The newest warship to be commissioned in the Navy will be named for Navy SEAL Michael Murphy. It will be commissioned in New York October 6, 2012.

The 510 foot warship will bear the name of the Navy SEAL who lost his life in Afghanistan in 2005. He and fellow servicemen were ambushed. Michael Murphy, under heavy fire, moved to a better position to call for help. Michael Murphy was killed with 16 rescuers. The Navy lieutenant became the first American awarded the Medal of Honor during the Afghanistan War.

The signatures of Murphy's family will be engraved on a plate fastened to the ship:

Read more on Michael Murphy.

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