War Affects Many

Good afternoon folks, In light of the recent news that a US Soldier has killed over a dozen Afghan civilians I would like to share my personal thoughts on this subject.

First and foremost, I would like to emphasize that ALL life is precious. With Please that being said, I do not condone or make excuses for anyone taking the lives of innocent civilians, regardless of their nationality. Be that as it may, I am not in a position to make judgment calls on this particular incident. In fact, none of us are. I ask everyone to please let the appropriate authorities investigate this incident and let them decide the course of action and/or punishment. We were not there and do not have the capability to look into all that took place.

Sadly, there have been many innocents lost in the global war in terror. I emphasize again, that ALL life is a precious commodity and one that should be cherished, not used as a pawn in war. Unfortunately, this does happen. War is an ugly beast which can change an ordinary man and make him see and feel things that we couldn't begin to possibly understand. Instead of passing judgment on any person, instead I ask that you all join me in saying a prayer and having a moment of silence for all those innocent lives that were taken. We may not be able to turn back the hands of time and change what happened, but hopefully we can learn from this tragedy and it will never happen again.

With respect for all those affected by war,

Amanda

Never Forget Tangi River Valley

Today marks the 6 month anniversary of the worst loss of life for Special Operation Forces. On August 6, 2011 our nation was rocked by tragedy when a CH-47 Chinook carrying 38 Warriors was shot down by a rocket propelled grenade in the Wardack Province of Afghanistan killing all 38 people on board.  Of those who died, 17 were U.S. Navy SEALs, 5 were U.S. Naval Special Warfare (NSW) Command Support personnel, 5 were crew members from the U.S. Army's 7th Battallion, 158th Aviation Regiment and 2nd Batallion, 135th Aviation Regiment, 2 were special operations U.S. Air Force Pararescuemen (PJ's) and 1 Combat Controller from the Air Force Special Operation Command (AFSOC); also on board was a highly trained U.S. military dog.

Sadly, the event was reminiscent of a blow we felt a little over six years ago on June 28, 2005, when we lost 11 U.S. Navy SEALs and 8 of our U.S. Army's Night Stalkers in Operation Red Wings.  Until August 6th that had been the single worst loss of life in the Special Operations Command in Afghanistan. The similarities and immense number of casualties served as a chilling reminder of the grief felt six years ago.

Those killed were not just warriors. They were sons, brothers, husbands, fathers and friends to so many.  

Please take a moment to Honor Them and their sacrifice.

May they Never be Forgotten. 

(please click on the individual links)

 

Army Sgt. Alexander J. Bennett 24, of Tacoma, Wash.; assigned to 7th Battalion, 158th Aviation Regiment (General Support Aviation Battalion)

 

 

 

Navy Special Warfare Operator Petty Officer 1st Class (SEAL) Darrik C. Benson 28, of Angwin, Calif.; assigned to an East Coast-based SEAL team.

 

 

 

 

Navy Special Warfare Operator Master Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) Brian R. Bill 31, of Stamford, Conn.; assigned to an East Coast-based SEAL team.

 

  

Air Force Tech. Sgt. John W. Brown 33, of Tallahassee, Fla.; assigned to 24th Special Tactics Squadron, Pope Field, N.C.

 

 

 

Navy Special Warfare Operator Petty Officer 1st Class (SEAL/Parachutist) Christopher G. Campbell 36, of Jacksonville, N.C.; assigned to an East Coast-based SEAL team.

 

 

 

 

Army Chief Warrant Officer 4 David R. Carter 47, of Centennial, Colo.; assigned to 2nd Battalion, 135th Aviation Regiment (General Support Aviation Battalion)

 

 

 

Navy Information Systems Technician Petty Officer 1st Class (Expeditionary Warfare Specialist/Freefall Parachutist) Jared W. Day 28, of Taylorsville, Utah; assigned to an East Coast-based SEAL team 

Navy Master-at-Arms Petty Officer 1st Class (Expeditionary Warfare Specialist) John Douangdara 26, of South Sioux City, Neb.; assigned to an East Coast-based SEAL team.

 

 

Army Spc. Spencer C. Duncan 21, of Olathe, Kan.; assigned to 7th Battalion, 158th Aviation Regiment (General Support Aviation Battalion)

 

 

Navy Special Warfare Operator Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) John W. Faas 31, of Minneapolis; assigned to an East Coast-based SEAL team.

 

 

 

Army Staff Sgt. Patrick D. Hamburger 30, of Lincoln, Neb.; assigned to 2nd Battalion, 135th Aviation Regiment (General Support Aviation Battalion) 

 

 

Air Force Staff Sgt. Andrew W. Harvell 26, of Long Beach, Calif.; assigned to 24th Special Tactics Squadron, Pope Field, N.C.

 

Navy Special Warfare Operator Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) Kevin A. Houston 35, of West Hyannisport, Mass.; assigned to an East Coast-based SEAL team.

 

 

 

Navy Lt. Cmdr. (SEAL) Jonas B. Kelsall 32, of Shreveport, La.; assigned to an East Coast-based SEAL team.

 

 

 

 

Navy Special Warfare Operator Master Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) Louis Langlais 44, of Santa Barbara, Calif.; assigned to an East Coast-based SEAL team.

 

 

 

 

Navy Special Warfare Operator Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) Matthew D. Mason 37, of Kansas City, Mo.; assigned to an East Coast-based SEAL team.

 

 

 

Navy Special Warfare Operator Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) Stephen M. Mills 35, of Fort Worth, Texas; assigned to an East Coast-based SEAL team.

 

 

 

Army Chief Warrant Officer 2 Bryan J. Nichols 31, of Hays, Kan.; assigned to 7th Battalion, 158th Aviation Regiment (General Support Aviation Battalion)

 

 

 

Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technician Chief Petty Officer (Expeditionary Warfare Specialist/Freefall Parachutist/Diver) Nicholas H. Null 30, of Washington, W.Va.; assigned to an East Coast-based SEAL team.

 

 

Navy Special Warfare Operator Petty Officer 1st Class (SEAL) Jesse D. Pittman 27, of Willits, Calif.; assigned to a West Coast-based Naval Special Warfare unit.

 

 

 

Navy Special Warfare Operator Senior Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) Thomas A. Ratzlaff 34, of Green Forest, Ark.; assigned to an East Coast-based SEAL team.

 

 

 

Navy Special Warfare Operator Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) Robert J. Reeves 32, of Shreveport, La.; assigned to an East Coast-based SEAL team.

 

 

Navy Special Warfare Operator Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) Heath M. Robinson 34, of Detroit; assigned to an East Coast-based SEAL team.

 

 

 

Navy Special Warfare Operator Petty Officer 2nd Class (SEAL) Nicholas P. Spehar 24, of St. Paul, Minn.; assigned to a West Coast-based Naval Special Warfare unit.

 

 

 

 Navy Cryptologist Technician (Collection) Petty Officer 1st Class (Expeditionary Warfare Specialist) Michael J. Strange 25, of Philadelphia; assigned to an East Coast-based SEAL team.

 

 

 

Navy Special Warfare Operator Petty Officer 1st Class (SEAL/Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist) Jon T. Tumilson 35, of Rockford, Iowa; assigned to an East Coast-based SEAL team.

 

 

 

Navy Special Warfare Operator Petty Officer 1st Class (SEAL) Aaron C. Vaughn 30, of Stuart, Fla.; assigned to an East Coast-based SEAL team.

 

 

   

Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technician Senior Chief Petty Officer (Expeditionary Warfare Specialist/Freefall Parachutist) Kraig M. Vickers 36, of Kokomo, Hawaii; assigned to an East Coast-based SEAL team.

 

 

Navy Special Warfare Operator Petty Officer 1st Class (SEAL) Jason R. Workman 32, of Blanding, Utah; assigned to an East Coast-based SEAL team.

 

 

Air Force Tech. Sgt. Daniel L. Zerbe 28, of York, Pa.; assigned to 24th Special Tactics Squadron, Pope Field, N.C.

"Bart"

PTSD ~ Where there is HOPE, There is HELP

PTSD... Four little letters which can dramatically change a person’s life. PTSD stands for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Its definition tells us it is a mental health condition that's triggered by a terrifying event. Symptoms may include flashbacks, nightmares and severe anxiety, as well as uncontrollable thoughts about the event.

While much of that definition seems true to what those who suffer through PTSD endure, the word disorder doesn’t quite seem to be appropriate. A disorder is defined as an irregularity, while a wound is defined as an injury. United States Army General, Peter Chiarelli recently said in an interview that he would like to see it changed from PTSD to PTSI, Post Traumatic Stress Injury.  

 

Some may ask and even argue, why does it matter what it’s called? The answer is simple. It helps remove a stigma that sadly many associate with PTSD. We have some of the bravest people in the world volunteering so much of themselves and answering the call to duty. Even the most courageous of warriors are still human though. They can hurt and feel pain just like you and I do. 

       “Few sights are quite as heartbreaking as an ordinarily powerful man, broken, devastated, and reduced to wordless grief.” - Retired U.S. Navy SEAL, J. Robert DuBois - from the forthcoming book, Powerful Peace.

One of the hardest decisions someone suffering through PTSD can make is to take that first step and ask for help. Many may feel they can handle it on their own, or simply believe it will just go away in time. This is not the case. Just as one cannot perform surgery on oneself and take the place of a medical professional to cure all that ails them, the same holds true for PTSD. Even the strongest, bravest, selfless and most valiant warriors need help. 

That need for help is where we all come in. There are numbers that they can call if they are in crisis or just need someone to talk with, but it is up to every one of us to make sure that all of our men and women who suffer know what their options are. Data released last year tells us that a staggering 18 veterans commit suicide every day and that over 950 suicide attempts are made every month. The information obtained also revealed that they were able to rescue approximately 7,000 veterans from the act of suicide after they called the Veterans Crisis line at (800) 273-8255 (TALK), Option 1.

The most important thing to remember is that all those who suffer must know that we are here for them. We do not judge, we do not question, we do not ever falter in our dedication to help them cope with all they’re suffering through. If that means they need us to sit and hold their hand, then we sit and hold their hand. If it means they need us to listen to them, then we will listen to them. If that means they need us to hold them tight while they cry, then we hold them so very tight so they know that we won’t let go. We must be there for them. There is simply no excuse not to be. We must be there to help them find their way back.   

Do not let their grip loosen, place your hands over theirs and give them the strength to hold on. 

We know you will make it through! We owe so much to you!

This post was a collaboration between the Honor Them

and SEAL of Honor pages.

Please share and  spread this blog in hopes that our veterans and active duty

know that as long as we are here, there is hope and there is help.

U.S. Army memorial knife for Wardak, Afghanistan, Extortion 17

In honor of the 5 crewmen lost from the 158th Aviation Regiment and the 135th Aviation Regiment, U.S. Army National Guard aboard Extortion 17, Wardak, Afghanistan, 8/6/11, DS&S Tactical is offering for auction a very special knife.... This CQBT-B Advanced Combat Knife - a M390 Super Steel blade has now been coated with Diamond-Like Carbon (DLC) - the toughest, most advanced coating available for knife blades. The knife is being auctioned off with 100% of the proceeds to benefit the Special Operations Warrior Foundation.

DIRECT LINK TO THE AUCTION:
CLICK HERE

 

The production of this blade was made possible by Donny Bassett and the Society for the Preservation of Military History as well as the work of Re-New Sharpening and the assistance of Waterjet Cutting Inc. of Albuquerque. The next-generation coating was applied by Ion Bond and the engraving was done by KaMo Engravers of Albuquerque. The concept for this blade came from a discussion with Ssgt Manny Alvarez, U.S. Army.

Navy SEAL Academy

Part of my mission to Honor Them is to not only support our troops and veterans, but we must also look to the future soldiers who will be defending our freedoms and liberties in the years to come. It is because of this that I asked the gentlemen of Navy SEAL Academy to tell us a little bit about what they do. Here's what they had to say:

A Day in the Life Of a Navy SEAL

Navy SEAL Academy is a military adventure company dedicated to provide its clients the most authentic “day in the life” of a Navy SEAL. We currently have operations in California, Washington DC, North Carolina and Hawaii.

From a few hours at the beach performing exercises mimicking the notorious BUD/s training made famous on the Discovery Channel’s BUD/S Class 234, to spending 4 days rappelling down structures, breaching doors, learning tactical marksmanship, to even fast-roping out of a helicopter, the Navy SEAL Academy has pulled out all of the stops and can give its client full access to an authentic Navy SEAL experience.

Our SEAL instructors bring a wealth of experience to our course. We currently have an Active Duty BUD/s Instructor on staff, as well as an Active Duty Sniper Instructor. We also have a Former SEAL Officer who runs our operations with his SEAL Cadre in Hawaii. All of our SEAL cadre’s military qualifications are many
and diverse. They are all currently working on obtaining all civilian and law enforcement licenses, and qualifications. We have a Quality Management program in place and will be soon certified ISO 9001-2008 to ensure the safety and management of our courses. We are fortunate to have a highly motivated and educated group of Frogmen!

Our courses are extremely diverse, as we cater to many groups. Our clients range from 17 year old students who aspire to become Special Operation Forces candidates, to YPO Executives who run and operate multimillion-dollar companies. We have taught CEO’s, MMA legends, Professional Athletes, Moms, Dads, Grand dads, teens, and more.

We have most recently started a Scholarship Program in California and Hawaii to provide Free Training to any student who holds a contract to any Special Forces Program. We look forward to giving back and helping our new generation of warriors attain their full potential. Hooyah!!!!

For more info please go to:

 

navysealacademy.com

 

Other places you can find Navy SEAL Academy:

TWITTER

FACEBOOK

 

USTREAM

Veterans Day

History tells us tales of brave warriors and fierce soldiers who will fight to defend our freedoms and liberties without hesitance. As children, we sat in classrooms and read text books with images depicting battle scenes of men with weapons drawn. Do those books do justice to all our brave and selfless military has done for us, though? 

It takes a certain kind of man or woman to be willing to risk everything that they have for a cause which is bigger than they are. In fact that type of person is so rare that our current United States Armed Forces only accounts for 1% of our population. That number is staggering low and should be an awakening to all of us that there are not many who are willing to stand up and protect all that we hold dear.

Throughout the years our troops have fought in many wars. During that time we have lost a great deal of our sons and daughters. While we will forever honor the men and women who have fallen, we must also remember to pay our respects and gratitude to those who are still with us. 

Those who have served are instilled with a duty to protect and serve our country and it's people. It's more than an idea. It's a way of life for them. Their duty to serve is ingrained somewhere deep within them, never leaving, always prevalent, always true. Our veterans are part of a unique group of individuals who hold steadfast to a form of honor that goes deeper than the written word. 

I call on every American nationwide to find a way to honor our Veterans on this day. As the day passes and Saturday comes, honor them again. Then on Sunday, honor them again. As you begin a new your new work week and Monday comes, honor them again. Do you sense the pattern? HONOR THEM forever and always.

THANK YOU, VETERANS!

Veterans Day 2011