Home in a war zone

Posted on Thu, Jan 20, 2011 at 8:18 PM By Army 1st Lt. Nicholas Rasmussen of Task Force Lethal PAKTIA PROVINCE, Afghanistan, Jan. 20, 2011 - Most soldiers who are deployed miss their homes. But for Army Spc. Steven Starkey and Army Pfc. Andrew Starkey, a large part of what the word "home" represents is just a five-minute walk up the hill. Army Pfc. Andrew Starkey and his father, Army Spc. Steve Starkey of the Iowa Army National Guard pose for a photo Jan. 6, 2011, while deployed to Afghanistan's Paktia province. Courtesy photo  (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. Steven, a 40-year-old mechanic by trade in Council Bluffs, Iowa, works as a wheeled-vehicle mechanic attached to Company A, 1st Battalion, 168th Infantry Regiment, which currently falls under the 101st Airborne Division's 3rd Brigade Combat Team. Andrew, his son, works in Company A's kitchen preparing breakfast, lunch and dinner seven days a week. Both Starkeys are assigned to the Iowa Army National Guard's Company F, 334th Support Battalion, out of Red Oak, Iowa. Both soldiers said they joined the Guard to serve their country and fulfill some personal goals. Steven enlisted in the active-duty Army in 1989 as a heavy equipment mobile tactical truck wheel mechanic. He was slated to serve during Operation Desert Storm when personal issues at home prevented his involvement. He was young and dealing with a troubled marriage when his chain of command made the determination to let him remain in the rear as his unit prepared to support Desert Storm, he said. "Looking back, I don't feel I was mature enough to handle the task at hand," he acknowledged, adding that his brief service helped him to mature and gave him cause to consider future opportunities for service. The events of 9/11 reignited that simmering ambition. "I felt like I had left something on the table, an obligation I had left incomplete" he said. So almost 15 years after his initial service, he began the process to rejoin the Army, eventually serving with the Iowa National Guard. The process wasn't easy. Steven had remarried and had three additional children -- daughters Ashley and Rachel and stepson Jon -- when he decided to re-enlist for active duty. Despite trying three times, the active Army would not accept his application because he had more than two dependents. Steven gave up trying for active duty after the third attempt. Then, in the spring of 2007, he met his daughter's soccer coach, a staff sergeant in the Iowa National Guard. The soccer coach informed Steven that the Iowa National Guard had waivers and programs to allow people in situations like his to join. A month after speaking with the soccer coach, he was at the military entrance processing station swearing in for service. A year later, Andrew raised his right hand and made the oath to serve his country, but he had a different reason: his daughter, Kyra. Being in the Iowa Army National Guard has given Andrew a means to provide health care and child support for Kyra, he said. "I plan to start a savings account with the money I'm making [on deployment] to help pay for her college," he said. But joining the Guard came with some additional, unanticipated benefits for Andrew. "I see myself grow every day," he said, "whether or not I enjoy it all the time." Before making his commitment to serve in the Iowa Guard, Andrew had a "loose-cannon mentality," as his father put it. He was an unruly youth who often did not think before he acted. That was nine months ago. Now, six months into deployment, Andrew is a much different person. "He's level-headed and can take criticism constructively like an adult," said Steven, who added witnessing this change has been one of the most rewarding benefits to come out of being on this deployment together. Steven said sometimes a father has to be a father, regardless of rank, and stick up for his son. "It's hard to keep the fatherly instinct at bay when I see my son getting in trouble by his boss," Steven said. "I often have to swallow my pride and know my place." The Starkeys act more like brothers or best friends when they're together here, calling each other by their last name and making fun of just about anything the other says. Though they work at the same company, the Starkeys still feel as though they could spend more time together. As trying as some days may get, they said, they usually find some time throughout the week to hang out and unwind together, giving them a chance to solidify, in a unique way, a bond that can only be made between a father and son deployed together. "The one thing that everyone else wants, we have: a family member on deployment," Andrew said.

Related Sites: NATO International Security Assistance Force

Recalling her love days

Posted on Thu, Jan 20, 2011 at 3:29 AM

By Elaine Wilson of American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Jan. 19, 2011 – I’m pleased to introduce a new Family Matters guest blogger, Megan Just, a Navy veteran and the editor of the weekly newspaper at March Air Reserve Base in Riverside, Calif.

Navy Lt. Megan Field, now Megan Just, poses for a photo with her then-boyfriend, Eric Just at Fort Bliss, Texas, May 27, 2007. Eric was visiting Megan while she was on a weekend break from Army combat skills training where she was preparing for a deployment to Iraq. Courtesy photo   (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available.

In this blog, Megan reflects on the sacrifices her now-husband made while she was in the Navy and he was "just a boyfriend." She writes about the important role significant others play in a service member's life and reminds us that while not all dating relationships end happily, all military spouses were first “just” boyfriends and girlfriends. 

Just a Boyfriend
By Megan Just
A gust of frigid rain pummeled my face. The hems of my Navy uniform pants wicked rainwater as I splashed across the sidewalk. Inside the dry safety of my car, I cranked the seat heaters to high. It was another stormy day in the long string of stormy days we'd had so far that winter. It was another day Eric would be soaked to the bone and hypothermic as he biked across town.
Faced with a half year of separation following my deployment to Iraq, Eric left the idyllic, sunny Southern California town where he attended graduate school to join me in Rhode Island.
Because the arrangement was temporary, we shared a car. In theory, Eric could have shuttled me to work and had the car to himself all day. The problem was, Eric was just a boyfriend. While he was allowed to drop me off, he was not allowed to come back on base to pick me up. And so he hunkered down and braved the rain.
One of the most important rituals in a military ceremony is to recognize the honoree’s spouse. The spouse is called on stage to receive a bouquet of flowers: a symbolic thank you for the sacrifices the he or she has made on behalf of the spouse's military service. These are always occasions for tears. The spouse's sacrifice has been great and it's been anything but easy.
Sometimes, when I observe these ceremonies, a lump forms in my throat. The sacrifices Eric made because of my military service ran a lot deeper than a few months of rainy bike rides. For the duration of my time in the Navy, Eric was just a boyfriend and therefore, he was never recognized for his sacrifices.

The truth is that, in many ways, the sacrifices of a service member's boyfriend or girlfriend are no different than those made by a spouse, but they make them without the benefits, recognition, commitment or support.

For a civilian, dating a service member is a lot more complicated than dating another civilian. Yes, there are all the acronyms that have to be translated and the silly little things you have to do (like sneaking your significant other in the backdoor of the gym so you can work out together), but there is so much more to it than that.

Eric has told me that one of the most profound peculiarities of dating a service member was the presence of a third party in the relationship. "It's like you're the most important thing to them, but Uncle Sam is more important."

It was our third date when the shadow of the Navy first altered our plans together. I had a rare four-day weekend and we planned to go rock climbing in Yosemite. I was not allowed to leave a designated radius from my duty station and Yosemite was significantly outside this distance.

Although I knew Eric had been eagerly anticipating the trip, I was afraid of being caught and I chickened out at the last minute.

We had only been dating a few months when I moved across country to my new duty station in Rhode Island. A few months after that, I received orders to Iraq.

"It's a scary prospect to date someone in the military because they are largely absentee," Eric told me once. "It's contrary to the idea of what a relationship is."

In addition to the separation, the deployment raised sobering questions we would have never faced so early in our relationship as a civilian-civilian couple.

As my colleagues prepared powers of attorneys for their spouses, I had to decide if I should list Eric as a life insurance beneficiary and include him in my will. He was just a boyfriend, but he also was the man I hoped to eventually marry. If I was hurt in Iraq, I wanted him to be the first to know. If I died, I wanted to recognize him not for the title held, but for his significance in my life.

Many military couples mitigate these complications by getting married right before deployment. This ensures rights of the significant other in the case of an injury or death, and it also provides perks, such as medical insurance, commissary benefits, a pay increase, and access to family support programs.

Eric and I had been dating less than a year when I left and we did not opt to do this, but he supported me through deployment like a spouse, nevertheless. He sent care packages, letters, e-mails, and he made funny little videos to keep me up-to-date on his life back in the United States. He ran a multitude of errands for me and he handled the details of our post-deployment plans.

Most importantly, he was available on the other end of the phone every time I called, no matter the hour, no matter what else I was interrupting. This was no small commitment; I called him almost every day of my deployment. It was because of this steady connection with him that I didn't implode from all the small stresses that add up while serving in Iraq.

Eric and I married a year after I got out of the Navy. Although he now wears the rank of husband, he is no more important to me than when he was just a boyfriend. He is still the same person I've loved all along and I know it was his continued patience and flexibility during our early years that made our relationship possible.

We've all heard our share of heartless "Dear John" stories, but it's important to not discount the contributions of the significant other during the happy periods of the relationship. Even if the couple never progresses to engagement or marriage, the service member's significant other has bent twice as far to compensate for the service member not being able to bend at all.

The military-civilian dating relationship is difficult, but there are things each party can do to make it easier. With our one-car situation in Rhode Island, for example, I started asking questions around base and learned that my commanding officer could write a special permission letter that would allow Eric to pick me up from work. It wasn't much, but anything that can ease external stress on your relationship is important, especially when you're working on the foundation of something you hope will last a lifetime.

As a former service member who had a civilian boyfriend, I have an appreciation for spouses' organizations that extend invitations to significant others, especially during deployments. I also think it's fantastic that the Reserve and National Guard's Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program welcomes spouses, as well as service members' boyfriends and girlfriends. After all, every military spouse was first a girlfriend or boyfriend.

As I look back on the years when my husband was just a boyfriend, I realize the guilty feeling I sometimes have at military ceremonies is not just because Eric never received a showy bouquet of flowers from the Navy. It is because I failed to thank him enough for his sacrifices.

Here are a few questions for you:

How did your experience as a service member's girlfriend or boyfriend differ from your experience as a military spouse?

How can a service member make the dating relationship easier for his or her significant other, and vice versa?

They do all at once

Posted on Wed, Jan 19, 2011 at 7:27 PM By Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Nathanael Miller U.S. Naval Forces Central Command ARABIAN GULF, Jan. 19, 2011 - Armed with scissors, clippers, keys to the ship's store and laundry detergent, the sailors who wear the crossed quill and key of the ship's serviceman, or SH, rating badge provide a multitude of services to the crew of amphibious transport dock USS Ponce. Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Harlan Jones, clad in a black barber's smock and awaiting his next customer, said the ship's serviceman rating brings a variety of services to Ponce. "Ship's servicemen provide services to the crew, generally anything other than what the culinary specialists provide and general parts the logistical specialists provide," he explained. Culinary specialists provide food service for the crew, while logistical specialists are responsible for all supply matters, but a gap still exists, Jones added, and the ship's serviceman rating fills that gap. Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Harlan Jones, a ship's serviceman, trims Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Patrick Smith's hair in the barber shop aboard amphibious transport dock USS Ponce in the Arabian Gulf, Dec. 22, 2010. USS Ponce is part of Kearsarge Amphibious Ready Group, supporting maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility. U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Nathanael Miller  (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution imageavailable. "We run the barber shop, ship's store, and laundry all at once," Jones said. "There's an SH in every one of them," he said. Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Eric Chandler noted that sailors require several skill sets to be successful in handling the rating's diverse responsibilities. Security, laundry, sales, retail management and barber services are some of the skills a sailor must master to qualify, he said. One example of the daily challenges ship's servicemen face is keeping the ship's store stocked. "You can never know exactly how much you need in the ship's store," Chandler said. "You're constantly going up there to check up on it." Although the ship's laundry is not as labor-intensive as the ship's store or barber shop, it is just as critical to the crew's readiness. Even though Ponce has a "self service" laundry, a ship's serviceman has to man the space to ensure the machines are functioning and assist shipmates if there is a problem. Noting that clean uniforms are as much a part of daily hygiene and sanitary living conditions at sea as daily showers are, Jones said the ship's laundry affects more than morale. The crew's health can be at stake as well, he explained. In the ship's barber shop with their clippers buzzing and scissors snipping, ship's servicemen help to keep their shipmates' hair within standards and boost morale at the same time. "I love being able to help people out," Jones said. "There are little things about your self-esteem that start when you wake up in the morning. You look at yourself in the mirror, and if you have a messed-up haircut that takes a little bit off. Those little things start to turn into bigger things as you go along during the day." With the broad range of duties required, the ship's servicemen stay busy. Their efforts affect readiness as well as morale. Whether it's keeping the laundry running, selling candy in the ship's store or chatting with shipmates while cutting hair, the ship's servicemen said, they provide a valuable service to the fleet.

Related Sites: USS Ponce U.S. Naval Forces Central Command

She has been a role model to the women in our office

Posted on Fri, Jan 14, 2011 at 7:02 PM 
By Army Pfc. Karina Paraoan of Alaska National Guard

Army Staff Sgt. Diane Singh of the Alaska National Guard works on her form when pulling weights with the help of her personal trainer, Valentina Chepiga. U.S. Army photo by Pfc. Karina Paraoan 
(Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 14, 2011 - An Alaska National Guardsman will compete in the figure bodybuilding competition at the Arnold Sports Festival in Columbus, Ohio, March 3-5.

The festival, founded by former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, is billed as the nation's largest multisport event and features competition in archery, boxing, amateur bodybuilding, cheerleading and dance, and other sports. Army Staff Sgt. Diane Singh, an Alaska National Guard drug demand reduction noncommissioned officer, will compete in the amateur figure bodybuilding category. One way to qualify for the category is to be a nationally qualified bodybuilder, a qualification Singh met when she competed in the Emerald Cup amateur figure bodybuilding competition in Seattle on April 16. "This competition is different [from] the others I have competed in, because everything I have done up to this point is going to culminate in this show," Singh said. "Every show I have done so far has been a stepping stone and learning experience. For me to say that I'm competing in the Arnold is a dream come true." Along with a strenuous workout schedule, Singh said, her diet plan is a challenge. For the next few weeks, Singh is limited to eating only grilled chicken, fish or turkey with green vegetables, brown rice and sweet potatoes. Another key to staying healthy with her workout plan, she added, is to drink a lot of water. "I have always been impressed with Staff Sergeant Singh's enthusiasm before, during and after her competitions," said Air Force Tech. Sgt. Jennifer Theulen, also an Alaska National Guard drug demand reduction NCO. "Even if she wins fifth place, her smile never disappears and she only has positive things to say about the experience." Singh has represented the Alaska National Guard for the past two years in various bodybuilding competitions in and out of state, including two nationwide events. "Ever since I started competing, I've had so many soldiers ask me questions," Singh said. "They've asked me questions about bodybuilding and what to eat. I'm always happy to help Guardsmen out, and I love sharing that information with them." Singh said she'll continue to compete after the Arnold event, and plans to take part in the Alaska National Physique Committee State Championships on April 30. "She has been a role model to the women in our office, as she is always sharing fitness regimens and techniques," Theulen said.

Related Sites: Alaska National Guard

Now TV journalist Wali Khan Shot dead in Karachi

Posted on :January 14 at 12:32am 

Iftikhar Chaudri 

KARACHI: Pakistan A young talented , Wali Khan Babar,repoter of a privte TV Channel GEO NEWS has been shot dead in a terrorist attack in Liaquatabad, Geo News reported Thursday.

Reportedly , the reporter journalist was on his way back home from Geo News office, when he was attacked by terrorists.

According to initial report, he was intercepted by unidentified saboteurs, who on recognizing him, opened gunshots at him point blank, leaving him dead on the spot. His body was recovered from a car.

Geo News said it was an incident of target killing, as Wali Khan received at least five bullets—two in forehead, one in jaw and two gunshots hit his neck. According to hospital sources, Wali Khan received at least five bullets.

It should be mentioned here that Wali Khan Babar was covering operation against drug-traffickers in Pehalwan Goth. He filed his report at Geo News office and was on way back home, when he was gunned down.

Journalists For Internatioal Peace strongly condemned murder of a journalist, who fell prey to ongoing terrorists' activities in Karachi . JIP condoles the family of martyred reporter and pray for the departed soul- JIP demands immediate arrest of the culprits. Pakistan is considered as one of the most dangerous country for working journalists , as projected by various national and International Journalists Bodies.

Iftikhar Chaudri
President
Journalists For International Peace
Islamabad, Pakitsan

Face book website will closed on March15th, 2011

Posted on : January 9 at 10:32pm

Jaffar Memon 

acb

PALO ALTO, CA –Mark Zuckerberg announced that Facebook will be shut down in March. Managing the site has become too stressful.
“Facebook has gotten out of control,” said Zuckerberg in a press conference outside his Palo Alto office, “and the stress of managing this company has ruined my life. I need to put an end to all the madness.”

Zuckerberg went on to explain that starting March 15th, users will no longer be able to access their Facebook accounts.

“After March 15th the whole website shuts down,” said Avrat Humarthi, Vice President of Technical Affairs at Facebook. “So if you ever want to see your pictures again, I recommend you take them off the internet. You won’t be able to get them back once Facebook goes out of business.”

Zuckerberg said that the decision to shut down Facebook was difficult, but that he does not think people will be upset.

“I personally don’t think it’s a big deal,” he said in a private phone interview. “And to be honest, I think it’s for the better. Without Facebook, people will have to go outside and make real friends. That’s always a good thing.”

Some Facebook users were furious upon hearing the shocking news.

“What am I going to do without Facebook?” said Denise Bradshaw, a high school student from Indiana. “My life revolves around it. I’m on Facebook at least 10 hours a day. Now what am I going to do with all that free time?”

However, parents across the country have been experiencing a long anticipated sense of relief.

“I’m glad the Facebook nightmare is over,” said Jon Guttari, a single parent from Detroit. “Now my teenager’s face won’t be glued to a computer screen all day. Maybe I can even have a conversation with her.”

Those in the financial circuit are criticizing Zuckerberg for walking away from a multibillion dollar franchise. Facebook is currently ranked as one of the wealthiest businesses in the world, with economists estimating its value at around 7.9 billion.

But Zuckerberg remains unruffled by these accusations. He says he will stand by his decision to give Facebook the axe.

“I don’t care about the money,” said Zuckerberg. “I just want my old life back.”

The Facebook Corporation suggests that users remove all of their personal information from the website before March 15th. After that date, all photos, notes, links, and videos will be permanently erased.

4 Northeast Youths and One Woman Assaulted in Delhi

New Delhi, January 8, 2011:Four North-East youths were allegedly assaulted by a landlord on Friday night at Munirka in New Delhi. Culprits arrested under pressure from Police Officer.

The victims John (25), Richard (23), Calvin (24) and Jenny (24) belong to Manipur. All names are changed. John and Kalvin are working in private companies in New Delhi. Jenny is a mother of one-year old child. The victims were temporarily residing in Munirka.

Madhu Chandra Spokesperson of North East Support Centre & Helpline reported the matter to Joint Commissioner of Police for Southern Range of Delhi Amulya Patnaik and Deputy Commission of Police for South Delhi Mr. Daliwal, who responded to instruct the police officers on duty to take action.

Man accused arrested by Vasant Vihar Police station and a case registered under FIR 12/2011 under section of 323/341/506/34 of Indian Penal Court.

According to John, the incident occurred on Friday at around 9.30 pm when he visited his cousin brother to inform about a job vacancy. While he left his cousin’s room, he met the landlord Dinesh on the road in Munirka, near by Dinesh’s building. John, an old tenant of Dinesh, rented a room from March 2010 to November 2010 in Dinesh’s building.

John said: “Dinesh call me, saying he want to speak to me. At that moment, I left him hurriedly to pick-up some of my friends who are already waiting for me.  I told my old landlord politely that I’ll be back soon and have a talk with him”.

“Suddenly Dinesh felt annoyed and started thrashing me. In the meantime, some of the locals also joined him in assaulting me. I sought help, but to no avail. I bleed profusely. At least I could manage to escape from their irony hands,” said John.

John was soaked with blood. John’s forehead and left cheek wounded severely. However, he luckily escapes the brutal attacked by running away.

When his sister Jenny, his brother-in-law Calvin and Richard knew the incident, they approached Dinesh politely to enquiring about the matter.

Dinesh and some of his friends were still there on the road near his building where the incident occurred. While seeing the couple, Dinesh and his friends began thrashing and smashing them mercilessly. Jenny, Calvin and Richard got injured.

Jenny, a mother of one-year old baby felt down on the road while her husband Kalvin was continuously beaten with iron rods and sticks by Dinesh and his associates.

According to Jenny, Dinesh said: “I beat your brother because he came to my building. What can you do with me? Do whatever you want; I’m not afraid at all. He used abusive and lewd comments”.

John’s mobile phone was forcibly snatched away and crushed on the road by Dinesh and his friends.

The victims call the leaders of Kuki Students Organisation Delhi. KSOD general secretary T Douminlian, KSOD member Mangkai Haokip and Bruce K Thangkhal, reported to North East Support Centre & Helpline rushed to the spot immediately from JNU campus.

KSOD leaders met the victims and discussed the matter. Then they lodged a formal complaint at the Vasant Vihar police station around 1.30 am.

The victims were taken to Safdarjung hospital for medical examination (MLC). At 4.30 am this morning, one of the victims Jenny informed this reporter that the seriously injured John and Calvin were still in the hospital for X-ray test. They were left alone without the police.

Jenny and Richard after medical test, were dropped near Aggarwal Sweet shop in Munirka by the police.

“I am really afraid of Dinesh. Earlier he had assaulted two North East guys. The first one suffered a broken head and the second fractured arms. I’m afraid he might target us,” said Jenny, the distress victim.

“Dinesh is accused of assaulting the North East frequently which went unreported,” says Bruce.

North East Support Centre & Helpline is a joint initiative of various human rights activists, social workers, students, journalists and lawyers seeking to prevent harassment and abuses meted out to North East People and tribal communities of other states.

Released by

Angam Haokip

Media In-charge