ourmenandwomen-blog

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The 75th Ranger Regiment deploys more often, but for shorter durations than conventional military units. The OpTempo is so high...

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US Marines, from the fields of France to Afghanistan, carrying their wounded comrades.

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In Flanders fields the poppies blow Between the crosses, row on row, That mark our place; and in the sky The larks, still bravely singing, fly Scarce heard amid the guns below. We are the Dead. Short days ago We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, Loved and were loved, and now we lie In Flanders fields. Take up our quarrel with the foe: To you from failing hands we throw The torch; be yours to hold it high. If ye break faith with us who die We shall not sleep, though poppies grow In Flanders fields.

Canadian soldier John McCrae, “In Flanders Fields” 1915

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http://guardianofvalor.com/salute-seen-around-world-wounded-ranger-salutes-commander-despite-injuries/

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We’re the same generation, yet, we had such a different experience of what the world was. For you, that semester you spent studying abroad meeting new people, tasting strange foods, visiting the tourist sites, and were introduced to new ideas were defining moments in your life. For us, the defining moments were those months spent in a war torn-land where any person in the population could be an insurgent, where we saw the cities through the green hue of our night vision goggles, and were introduced to new insurgent tactics and counter-insurgency tactics. Just like you, it drove us to understand the world in a deeper sense. We read books, articles, and watched documentaries about the middle east and the world in general, in turn we learned to determine our own thoughts and opinions on it.

The Division of Generation Y

http://thoughtcatalog.com/raul-felix/2013/10/the-division-of-generation-y/

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"If you are anything like me, however, you also may have inherited a few other character traits. One of which being intolerance. I see things like two idiots dressing like the world trade centers being blown up for Halloween and I want to gut them. I want those people to feel the pain that every US service member has felt standing in front of a soldier’s cross built with the boots, rifle and helmet of their good friend. I want the person that called me a terrorist for “fighting in Bush’s war” in my political science class in college to understand what using that word means. When people talk during the national anthem I take it as a person insult. To me that person has a disregard for the sacrifices made on their behalf they are selfish and should be flogged in public. I could go on and on here but I think you get my point."

On being a Veteran, Hit the Woodline Blog http://hitthewoodline.com/bridgingthegap/2013/11/7/on-being-a-veteran

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U.S. and Afghan soldiers take a knee during an operation near the town of Walli Was in Paktika province November 1, 2012. *******/Goran Tomasevic

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UK troops Patroling in Afghanistan

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While the outside perspective of the civilian world on the type of punishments and corrective training used by the military, especially the infantry, might seem harsh, it is nothing compared to the repercussions of an ineffective fighting force facing a hostile enemy. I would much rather low crawl a kilometer than ever take a 7.62 round to the body armor. I would rather do 1000 push-ups than ever have to carry one of my Soldiers in a flag draped coffin into the back of a C-130. I would rather do flutter kicks until I rip another abdomen hernia than ever have one my Soldiers experience what I did and have a limb ripped from their body by an IED. I would rather have a mother curse me for what she thinks is cruel punishment to her son, than ever have to apologize for not bringing him home alive. War is not a game. It is a matter of life and death. The repercussions are eternal.

-J.R. Salzman, Iraq Veteran - The Final Word On Private Danny Chen Part I

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U.S. and Afghan soldiers take a knee near a U.S. Army Chinook during an operation near the town of Walli Was in Paktika province November 1, 2012. *******/Goran Tomasevic

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A U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III cargo aircraft taxis to its parking spot Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, Sept. 25, 2012. The Globemaster III is a regular visitor to Bagram Airfield, transporting troops, equipment and supplies in and out of Afghanistan. (U.S. Air Force photo by Capt. Raymond Geoffroy)

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ARABIAN SEA (Oct. 4, 2012) The guided-missile destroyer USS Porter (DDG 78), left, maneuvers alongside the Military Sealift Command fast combat support ship USNS Supply (T-AOE 6) and the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CVN 65) during a replenishment at sea. Enterprise is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility conducting maritime security operations, theater security cooperation efforts and support missions for Operation Enduring Freedom. The U.S. Navy is constantly deployed to preserve peace, protect commerce, and deter aggression through forward presence. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Scott Pittman/Released)

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Sgt. Adam Serella, a narcotics patrol detector dog handler with the 3rd Infantry Division, and his dog, Nero, search a vehicle during the 563rd Military Police Company’s Operation Clean Sweep conducted in districts throughout Kandahar City, Oct. 3. This was the first operation a narcotics patrol detector dog was used alongside an explosive patrol detector dog, which enhanced searching capabilities.

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Corporal Barry Lloyd came second with his photo of soldiers from the Brigade Reconnaissance Force having 40 winks after a search mission (UK). 

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Chief Warrant Officer 3 Micah Howell (back seat), tactical operations officer, 1st Battalion, 2nd Aviation Regiment, 25th Combat Aviation Brigade, and 1st Lt. William Gorosave (front seat), pilot, A Company, 1st Battalion, 285th Aviation Regiment, currently attached to the 25th CAB, conduct power checks on an AH-64D Apache Longbow during a preflight check before heading out on a mission on Forward Operating Base Tarin Kowt, Afghanistan, Aug. 22.

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Sept. 24, 2012. U.S. military soldiers tend to a local Afghan man, who was shot after being suspected as an insurgent and planting an IED roadside bomb. The wounded man denied being Taliban.

Tony Karumba–AFP/Getty Images

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Sept. 23, 2012. Dust lifts off the ground during an operation at dawn by U.S. Army soldiers at Zangabad foward operating base in the Panjwai district, Afghanistan.