Marines to Get Fewer Assault Ships

The U.S. Marine Corps needs 38 amphibious assault ships for conducting crisis-response missions around the world but the sea service will likely have to settle for 33.

U.S. Navy officials have decided to cut five of these versatile ships to deal with the deep cuts to defense spending brought on by sequestration.
The 38-ship requirement comes out of a 2009 report the chief of Naval Operations and the Commandant of the Marine Corps submitted to Congress. It stated the Corps needs 38 ships to support two Marine Expeditionary Brigades conducting forced-entry operations.

Lawmakers on the House Armed Services Committee’s subcommittee on Seapower and Projection Forces told Navy and Marine Corps officials they were concerned about the risks of reducing the requirement at a July 25 hearing.
“I continue to have reservations about the direction of the capacity and capabilities of our fleet, specifically our amphibious power projection capabilities,” Rep J. Randy Forbes, R-Va., said, calling the plan another example of the “dismantling of the world’s greatest fighting force.”
Secretary of the Navy Sean Stackley told lawmakers that the 33-ship forces “has been adjudged to meet the needs of the naval service within today’s fiscal limitations.”
Gen. John M. Paxton Jr., assistant commandant of the Marine Corps, acknowledged the service’s 38-ship requirement, but said the needs of combatant commanders continue to exceed that capability as well.
Realizing this, the Corps created a Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Forces, or MaGTFs, and has positioned them in key strategic areas in the European and African Littorals, he said.
These land-based forces have been useful. In December Marines deployed to evacuate some personnel from the U.S. Embassy in Juba. They launched MV-22 aircraft from allied nations in southern Europe, but mission took 3,273 miles and lasted 15 hours, Paxton said.
“While successful in the mission accomplishment these forward-deployed elements, however, are limited in operational reach and sustainability once they are on the objective.”
Forbes and other lawmakers asked about the risks of going with 33 amphibious ships instead of 38.
The 38 amphibious ships are to ensure the Corps can conduct two, simultaneous operations involving assault elements from both MEBs, Paxton said. The challenge under the 33-ship plan is it’s likely that some ships would have to be pulled out of the maintenance yard early or a new ship would have to be put to sea too early, Paxton said. This stresses the capability of ships over time, he said. It takes longer to get them where they are going, and it’s often uncertain how long they can stay on station.
“There is a hard and fast requirement for 38 ships … but we agreed at least in paper and as recently as 2009 we can live in the fiscal constraints with 33,” he said.

8 Budgeting Tips for Military Families

From credit card debt to frequent moves, military families face financial challenges that have unusual dimensions from civilian families. Here are tips that will help your family save and budget for your daily life and your long-term goals. By tracking your spending and creating habits to contribute towards retirement, you'll be prepared to budget like an expert and save like a boss.
Track Your Spending
Many people say that they don't know where their money goes. Empower yourself by tracking where your money is being spent. Whether you keep track of your spending by writing down your expenditures, keeping a spreadsheet, or using a website that tracks all of your accounts, it's important to know where your money is going. Once you know, it'll make it a lot easier for you and your family to plan and budget for the future.

Get Rid of Your Debt
Military families are more likely than civilian ones to carry significant credit card debt, as they have unique challenges. All of those moves can definitely add up! Some military families also have student loan debt, which can affect your credit score. So what to do? Make it a regular habit to pay off a portion of your credit card debt beyond the minimum payment. If you can pay off even an additional $25 or more per month, your debt will steadily decrease.
Pay Your Savings First
Savings often come in last when you're budgeting, after bills and expenses. Let's turn this around. When you're budgeting, make sure you factor in your savings as though it was a bill. After you're paid, "pay" your savings account instead of waiting to put in what's left over.
Build an Emergency Fund
The best thing you can do for you, your family, and your peace of mind is to build an emergency fund. That way you can roll with the rainy days when they inevitably come. As with paying your savings first, make paying your emergency fund first a priority. Most experts recommend saving at least 3-6 months worth of expenses. If that seems overwhelming, try to get to $1,000 first, and you'll have a buffer.
Creating Habits with Automatic Deductions
Dealing with personal finance requires discipline. Make it easier on yourself through automatic deductions. To really get your savings and emergency fund going, set up separate accounts outside of your main checking account. Then, have regular amounts automatically deducted from your paycheck. Let's say you automatically deduct $50 a week into a savings account. By the end of the year, you'll have $2,600. Not bad for $50 that you probably wouldn't even miss.
Live Off Of Last Month's Paycheck
Once you've built an emergency fund of 3-6 months, you're ready to level up to the next part, which is living off of last month's paycheck. The way to do this is to save the equivalent of one month's paycheck outside of the emergency fund or your savings. You don't need to do it all at once, as building up that amount will take time. But once you do, you won't be living paycheck to paycheck. For more information about how to make this work for you, read this article.
Contribute to the TSP
With automatic enrollment and simple choices regarding investments, the Thrift Savings Plan has been called "a model for all 401(k) plans." Compared to civilian 401(k) programs, the costs of administering the plan are much lower since the investments are all index funds that track the market rather than being actively managed. That results in greater savings that are passed directly to you. Since all members of the armed forces can contribute, start now if you haven't already. Even if retirement is a long ways away, the long tail of compound interest means you'll be very grateful to your younger self for making such a sensible decision.
Take Advantage of Military Benefits
Being in the military comes with many great benefits, from free healthcare to discounts to the GI bill. Make sure you know what kind of benefits come with being in the military. Start here with our section covering benefits in depth so you and your family can start investing in your financial futures.

Navy Develops Bio-Coatings for Implants, Dressings

Navy researchers are working to create nanofiber coatings for surgical implants and wound dressings that would help promote healing and also combat infection.
The work is being done by the Naval Medical research Unit, San Antonio, according to a report in the July issue of Naval Medical Research and Development News.
In one research area, the report states, scientists “plan to integrate [biocompatible] nanofibers into coatings for use on medical materials, such as titanium implants, to improve treatment for craniofacial injuries.”
Nanofibers bonded to the surface of implants could contain antibiotics to be released directly in the treatment area over a sustained time. Researchers believe this would reduce instances of postoperative bacterial infection and implant rejection resulting in further surgery.
The Navy’s researchers are also looking to create what it’s calling a “biomimetic wound dressing.”
Biocompatible nanofibers incorporated into a dressing would help spur tissue repair by mimicking a natural cell environment while releasing proteins to spur growth and of targeted cells and  helping to minimize formation of scar tissue, the report says.

20 Minute Circuit Workout

Lose Fat, Build Muscles With Circuit Training
When the weather turns cold, I receive many emails discussing running in the cold weather, or alternative exercises you can do in the weight room that will also have a cardiovascular effect. Circuit training is one of the best ways to make a resistance and strength training workout that is also challenging for your heart and lungs.
This workout is a 20-minute workout that will take you to your maximum physical effort as well as your maximum heart rate. The object of this workout is not to rest in between exercises. You will see that one minute of a particular exercise will burn out the targeted muscle group as well as increase your heart rate to a fat and sugar burning zone. Try the 20 minute workout below - if it is not challenging enough for you try it again, totaling only 40 minutes of your time in the weight room.
20 Minutes Circuit Workout
(*choose light weights for max reps)
1) Bench press* or pushups - max in 1:00
2) Squats - max in 1:00
3) Pullups or pulldowns - 1:00
4) Bike or jog - 3:00
5) Military press* - 1:00
6) Lunges - 1:00 each leg
7) Bicep curls - 1:00
8) Bike or jog - 3:00
9) Tricep extensions.- 1:00
10) Leg ext - 1:00 (requires leg machines - or repeat squats with weights)
11) Leg curls - 1:00 (requires leg machines - or repeat lunges with weights)
12) Situps - 2:00
13) Crunches - 2:00
14) Stretch
There is an unlimited number of ways to organize a circuit workout. The above workout is organized with upper body, lower body and cardiovascular exercises. By simply doing the above upper body and lower body exercises in such a way, you will be able to rest your upper body muscles while you workout your lower body muscles, but you will never rest your heart. This is how you make the circuit workout challenging to your cardiovascular system as well as your major muscle groups. Studies have shown that mixing a resistance training regimen with a cardiovascular element will increase your metabolism, therefore burning fat and building muscle. The result is a decrease in body fat percentage.
So, if you are looking to lose inches and body fat, workouts like this coupled with 4-5 smaller meals and 3-4 quarts of water everyday will help you achieve your goal. The best thing about this diet program is that you do not need a single dietary supplement - just good old fruits, vegetables, whole grains, fish and other lean meats. The key is to burn more calories than you take in and this workout will help you with that - promise.
Stew Smith is a former Navy SEAL and fitness author certified as a Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) with the National Strength and Conditioning Association. If you are interested in starting a workout program to create a healthy lifestyle - check out the Military.com Fitness eBook store and the Stew Smith article archive at Military.com. To contact Stew with your comments and questions, e-mail him at stew@stewsmith.com.

USMC Pullups and Women

Removing the Flexed Arm Hang and adding Pullups to the women’s fitness standards in the Marine Corps was an upgrade that was carefully considered, studied and implemented with support throughout the chain of command for the past couple of years.  However, recent events have forced the USMC to reconsider the start date of the new change.  When 55% of the female graduating class at boot camp failed the three pullup minimum, the January 1, 2014 implementation date has been postponed.
Why is this an issue?


The USMC made this an issue when they decided to make the change.  However, this is a society problem that is dropped in the laps of our military each year.  This is nothing new.  Unfit candidates have been arriving at boot camps, basic training, police and fire academies for decades.   From the late 80’s until now, the physical abilities of the average recruit have slowly declined or deteriorated may be a better word for it.  Now, the number one reason preventing an 18 year old person from joining the military is they fail to meet the height /​ weight standards.  What happened to the good old days when the biggest obstacle to joining the military was a criminal record or failure to graduate high school?
The fact is the United States is overweight and out of shape.   The heavier you are, the harder it is to do pullups for both men and women.
Whose problem is this?
The military did not create this problem, though the military is forced to deal with it.  And, even though  55% of the women recruits fail the new pullup standard, with some practice (usually 4–6 months) they will meet and surpass the minimum standard.  Again, this is nothing new.  The military had the same issue when they changed from knee pushups to regular pushups for women.  Now regular pushups are the standard in military and law enforcement.
Women and men can do pullups.  Women and men can FAIL pullups.  This is a societal problem.  Men and women have to keep their bodyweight down and practice pullups.   This takes time.  It is not uncommon for young men and women to take up to six months before they score their first pullup.  But the common denominator to passing a pullup test is to practice pullups. The USMC should keep pushing this standard – it will be met eventually.
The pullup and combat debate.
Many talking heads are now equating the women’s higher failure rate in pullups with a lack of ability to perform in combat. Combat roles should be tougher to enter and have higher fitness standards (for both men and women) because the demands of combat arms /​ special operations are higher than any fitness test will prove.  The minimum physical standard should not be someone’s fitness goal if seeking a combat arms specialty.  One day you will rely on your physical ability to save your own life or a fellow Marine in your unit.  The reality is that not everyone in the military (men and women) are in combat roles.  There are cooks, computer technicians, intelligence specialists, logistics, admin /​ supply clerks, photographers, and many more non-​​combat roles that men and women will fill in all branches of the military.  The 45% of the women who not only meet the minimum standard but are doing 10+ pullups should have the opportunity to qualify for advanced training .
How Do We Address the Combat /​ Fitness Role?
For years, advanced fitness tests have been used to prove your mettle in the Special Operations world.  For instance, the regular Navy uses the pushups, situps, 1.5 mile run, but the Navy SEALs /​ EOD /​ Diver community use the 500yd swim, pullups, pushups, situps, 1.5 mile run JUST to get into the 6–12 month training program — which is the true test.  The regular Army has the pushups, situps, 2 mile run, and the Rangers and Special Forces both add pullups, a 5 mile run, and a 12 mile ruck as part of their testing /​ evaluating of their potential combat troops.  The Marines are tough with the regular Marine having to do pullups, crunches, and a 3 mile run.  This is by far the hardest regular military fitness test in the United States.  Perhaps, it is time to adjust the fitness test to combatant and non-​​combatant troops.  If a Marine (man or women) wants to be in a combat unit, the elevated standards apply – everyone does pullups.  If someone is in a non-​​combatant unit, flexed arm hangs are sufficient for both men and women.  One must also remember, just because you can do a pullup does not make you a combat ready troop.  The Infantry Schools, SFAS, Q Course, BUD/​S, RECON /​ MARSOC and other combat training programs are the true test.  Being able to do pullups will help you with your upper body strength /​ grip to grab people and equipment, lift yourself and others from A to B, and up and over obstacles.  The pullup does not ensure your ability to graduate from these advanced courses of instruction.
How Do We Fix the Fitness Problem?

If we want to address and fix the bigger problem, we have to get kids to maintain a healthy weight and practice pullups.  Whether you are a boy or girl, you should start playing on playgrounds and start building your grip and pullup muscles on the monkey bars.  Moms and Dads who watch their kids or coach on youth sports teams – make your team do pullups, pushups, and run regularly.  Coaches and gym teachers in physical education class, add the inexpensive exercises of pushups, situps, running, and pullups to your kid’s list of activities and start testing them now!

Like men who failed the pullup test, the 55% of the women this article is about failed, not because of an unfair fitness standard increase, but because of lack of preparation and not taking advantage of the resources available to them.  Girls should be raised with an expectation that pullups are well within their capabilities.   As a society, we have to make fitness and health standards better known so that meeting these standards becomes the norm for men and women.

Marine Who Disappeared in Iraq in 2004 Back in US

WASHINGTON -- A Marine who was declared a deserter nearly 10 years ago after disappearing in Iraq and then returning to the U.S. claiming he had been kidnapped, only to disappear again, is back in U.S. custody, officials said Sunday.


Cpl. Wassef Ali Hassoun, 34, turned himself in and was being flown Sunday from an undisclosed location in the Middle East to Norfolk, Va. He is to be moved Monday to Camp Lejeune in North Carolina, according to a spokesman, Capt. Eric Flanagan.

Maj. Gen. Raymond Fox, commander of the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force at Lejeune, will determine whether to court martial Hassoun.

In a written statement from its headquarters at the Pentagon, the Marine Corps said the Naval Criminal Investigative Service "worked with" Hassoun to turn himself in and return to the U.S. to face charges.

Hassoun disappeared from his unit in Iraq's western desert in June 2004. The following month he turned up unharmed in Beirut, Lebanon and blamed his disappearance on Islamic extremist kidnappers. He was returned to Lejeune and was about to face the military equivalent of a grand jury hearing when he disappeared again.

Flanagan, said the Hassoun case is unrelated to the matter of Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, who disappeared from his post in eastern Afghanistan in June 2009 under unexplained circumstances. Members of Bergdahl's unit have said he walked away on his own and should face desertion charges.

The Bergdahl case triggered a flood of controversy in part because of questions about the deal the U.S. struck with the Taliban to gain his release May 31, after five years in captivity, in exchange for freeing five senior Taliban commanders from the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Bergdahl has not commented publicly on the circumstances of his disappearance and the Army has made no charges against him.

It is unclear where Hassoun, 34, has spent the past nine years after disappearing during a visit with relatives in West Jordan, Utah in December 2004. Nor is it known why he chose to turn himself in now. He was born in Lebanon and is a naturalized American citizen.

He enlisted in the Marine Corps in January 2002 and was trained as a motor vehicle operator. At the time of his disappearance from a Marine camp in Fallujah in western Iraq in June 2004 he was serving as an Arabic translator. That was a particularly difficult year for the Marines in Iraq. In April they launched an offensive to retake Fallujah from Islamic extremists but were ordered to pull back, only to launch a second offensive in November that succeeded in regaining control of the city but at the expense of dozens of Marine lives.

Seven days after his June 2004 disappearance, a photo of a blindfolded Hassoun with a sword poised above his head turned up on Al-Jazeera television. A group called the National Islamic Resistance/1920 Revolution Brigade claimed to be holding him captive.

On July 8, 2004, Hassoun contacted American officials in Beirut, Lebanon, claiming to have been kidnapped. He was returned to the U.S. and eventually to Camp Lejeune. After a Navy investigation, the military charged Hassoun with desertion, loss of government property, theft of a military firearm for allegedly leaving the Fallujah camp with a 9 mm service pistol, and theft of a Humvee.

Shortly after his return to the U.S., Hassoun said in a public statement that he had been captured by insurgents in Iraq and was still a loyal Marine. "I did not desert my post," he told reporters. "I was captured and held against my will by anti-coalition forces for 19 days. This was a very difficult and challenging time for me."

In the initial months following his return to Lejeune, Hassoun was not held in confinement because charges had not yet been brought against him. He was considered non-deployable until the case was resolved, but he was allowed to make personal trips.

A January 2005 hearing on the matter was canceled when Hassoun failed to return to Camp Lejeune from his Utah visit. His commanders then officially classified him as a deserter, authorizing civilian police to apprehend him.

A short time later Hassoun was been placed on a Navy list of "most wanted" fugitives. A mug shot of him appeared on a Navy criminal justice Web site, which claimed the missing corporal used the alias "Jafar."

In a February 2005 interview with the Associated Press in Salt Lake City, Hassoun's brother, Mohamad, said Wassef Ali Hassoun was a victim of anti-Muslim bias in the U.S. military. The Marine Corps denied this.

The brother also said the pressure of facing desertion charges was partly to blame for Hassoun's decision to flee while in Utah.

"Instead of them giving him medals and making him feel good about his service and what he was doing for his country, they gave him an Article 32," Hassoun said of the military court proceedings that his brother was to have faced in January 2005.

Family members have said they last saw him on Dec. 29, 2004.

Do not Shop at Walgreens at Kearney

This Walgreen was rude and vary disrespectful towards a disabled vet and his service dog. Do not shop for they do not support our troops. 

Here is the story from the Veteran's wife, So I caught part of my husbands altercation with the manager at Walgreens at Kearney and Galloway in mesquite, tx. As we walked in the manager and another employee told us to get the dog out. Ben is my husbands service dog prescribed to him by the va. Cris told them it was a service dog and went on about his business only to be confronted in the store again. The manager asked for identification and he said bens silver service dog cross wasn't enough. Even after he sees how mad he gets my husband who suffers from chronic PTSD and depression he still smiles. Then he tells my husband he has the right to refuse service to whoever he wants. Please reshare this because this has got to stop. Ben is highly trained as you can see in the video. A professional employee would've approached my husband discretely to make sure his dog was a service dog, instead my husband was told across the store to leave with the dog upon entry of the store.

Walgreens

401 N GALLOWAY AVE

Mesquite TX 75149

972-329-7440

Store #: 3822

Galloway & Kearney