Scheduling, and other responsibilities have kept the blog quiet over the past 3 or so weeks; however, as things settle down for the admin, please stay tuned to the resumption of more frequent updates, newsletters and other pertinent information. If there are any would-be contributors out there, please contact me at admin@vcasny.org.
Thank you all for your patience and support.
Blog Admin VCASNY
These are much better pictures. Please review and enjoy. As previously mentioned, if you have did not attend, I hope we can see you next year. This is Mr. Rohde accepting an Honorary Enlistment into the VCA, presented by VIce-Commandant LTC. Steve Ryan FA VCASNY.
Unfortunately the quality of this set is not very good, but we hope to post some better photos soon. Nonetheless, this should give you a good idea of the event. The talk by David Rohde on his experiences as a Taliban prisoner were amazing. The talks behind the scene that Mrs. Rohde was involved in were also something out of a James Bond movie.
The company and the food were unmatched. For those of you that did not make it this year, we hope to see you in 2012.
Brian Stowe, of Elkmont, Ala., joined the Army in June of 2008. He attended Basic Combat Training and Advanced Individual Training as a human resources specialist at Fort Jackson, S.C. Since his enlistment, he has deployed twice. The first time he spent 7 months in Iraq. Now, he is deployed to Forward Operating Base Shank in Afghanistan with Task Force Knighthawk, assigned to the 10th Mountain Division’s 10th Combat Aviation Brigade.
But Stowe is not your typical soldier, his musical ambitions have led him and his band to a recording contract in a Christian Contemporary genre.
“I sent my song to them, not really looking for a contract so much,” he explained. “I was really hoping for a critique and just wanting to know what they would think.”
In June 2010, Stowe received a call from a recording company and was offered a contract. “I was a bit overjoyed,” he recalled, “then a little disappointed, because we were about to deploy,” he stated. But the executives of the company said they were willing to wait. “They told me we could start recording once I returned,” Stowe said, “so it looks like [in] November or December I’ll take some leave and start recording.”
Stowe is the lead singer of his group. He sings alongside his younger bother Jonathan, on bass, and his school friend Brittany Gibson, on guitar. The band has been playing together since high school.
Anyone else out there “play and fight”?
To learn more about Stowe and his band, please visit Military.com.
Robot systems that have been created by the U.S. Army can decrease the exposure to danger to the American war-fighter.
The U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command is displaying robots and invited the public to use them. The displays of the robots were a part of the many activities surrounding the U.S. Army All-American Bowl.
These robots perform artillery protection and they can protect soldiers from potentially lethal situations. Each of the robots that have been created have unique characteristics that serve a specific duty. These duties may include looking under vehicles for explosives, lifting objects weighing 10 to 15 pounds, and some can even go up and down stairs.
They are remotely operated and a majority of them have cameras that transmit back to the person, or war-fighter, controlling the robot. To control them, the Army Tech Zone uses remote controls that are the same as the ones used for different game systems, such as Xbox and Playstation. They have also used the Wii controller and an iPod touch.
“These machines are well-developed and have been tested in the field — third and fourth generation robots specifically designed for the Warfighter,” said Marcus Randolph, computer scientist for the Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center.
“It’s the Soldiers behind the technology that make the Army. Just as the Soldiers drive the Army, the Army scientists support the Soldiers,” said Randolph. “We are always looking for the best and the brightest to come aboard and do what they can do to support their country.”
For more details, please visit Military.com.
The Knickerbocker Greys is the oldest after school activity in the United States. They will be holding their 129th Annual Winter Review this Tuesday 11 January at 1800 hours at the Park Avenue Armory. Please see the attached PDF for the official invitation. Family and friend of the Knickerbockers are invited.
Under the command of LTC(P) David J. Menegon, USAR, the cadets of the Greys “undergo a series of experiences over the years that build leadership, self esteem, character, confidence, social skills, etiquette, patience, empathy, perseverance, enthusiasm, public speaking, and problem solving.”
For more information please go to their website, or their Wikipedia Page. You can also read about them in the December 2010 issue of Town & Country.
They served our country with honor. They were willing to be sent to wherever our government would send them. They did their time during WWII, Korea, Vietnam and peacetime. Some may have been scarred, some may have simply been down on their luck, and others may have come home to a country that at one time may not have revered their Veterans. I don’t know. “There but by the grace of God…”
Today Saturday 8 January 2011, at 1100 hours, 20 homeless Veterans will receive Military Honors thanks to the Dignity Memorial Homeless Veterans Burial Program. The Veterans, all New Yorkers, will be interred at Calverton National Cemetery. Keynotes will be delivered by congressman Tim Bishop representing the 1st District (NY), and Steve Israel representing the 2nd District (NY).
If you are near Suffolk County today, The Veteran Corps of Artillery encourages you to pay respects.
For the full press release go here.
Is only 3 days away! Polish your shoes, Spiff up your buttons, do a few extra push-ups. The Veteran Corps of Artillery Annual Mess Dinner takes place this Saturday January 8th at the India House Club in downtown Manhattan. In addition to our own troops, we will have distinguished guests from branches of the U.S. Military, and this year we also have the privilege of being joined by David Rohde the award-winning correspondent.
This Mess Dinner promises to be one of the best R&R events of 2011. If you will not be there, don’t worry…Photos and video clips of the event will be posted on our site.
Don’t forget! Mess Dress, Parade Dress or Black Tie only.
Unfortunately, many deployed Marines and other service members have to spend the holiday season overseas, away from their family and friends. Luckily, they have a great support network, which continues to find new ways to make the holidays as good as they can be while they are deployed.
This year, the Marines and sailors of 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward) were sent hundreds of recordable storybook editions of ‘The Night Before Christmas’. It allowed them to record themselves reading the poem and send it home to their loved ones.
Master Sgt. Fred Dircksen, the officer in charge of chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear defense for 3rd MAW (Fwd) said, “I think the book was the only thing I sent home this year, and they loved it. I think the best part, for them, was just hearing my voice. The support system out here has come a long way [in the last decade]. It really makes you realize how much everyone means to you.”
In addition, service members throughout Afghanistan received care packages from different programs such as AnyMarine. These packages contained treats, essentials, and letters of support and cheer from American citizens.
Sgt. Julianna Sharp, the training non-commissioned officer in charge for Marine Wing Support Squadron 3, 3rd MAW (Fwd) said, “During the holidays, we were able to collect around 30 boxes containing food, hand warmers, socks and things of that nature for Marines in more remote locations, who don’t have the luxury of receiving mail every few days like we do here.”
Many of the service members here will return home this spring due to the changeover between the I and II Marine Expeditionary Force, but the efforts and support received by troops overseas is still much needed to boost their morale and spirits during the time they need it the most.
For full story, please visit Military.com.
On January 8, 2011, CIGNA, a global health service company will be sponsoring the Walt Disney World Half Marathon. There, the Achilles Freedom Team of Wounded Veterans, consisting of 11 members, will be competing. This race will be the first of the new year for the Freedom Team. Throughout the race, the members will be competing by either running or using a hand crank wheelchair.
This race gives the opportunity to injured service members to train and compete in mainstream races throughout the country. Mike Fradera, 33, will be the returning champion and one of the participants in this race. After serving 10 years in the army, Mike lost both legs below the knee to an IED explosion on August 17, 2007, in Baghdad.
“I was taken to Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas where I got fitted with prosthetic legs. Since then, I’ve competed in 13 marathons since my first one in Miami in January 2009,” Fradera said. In last years CIGNA Disney Half, he won first-place hand-cyclist and trains regularly to represent Achilles in races throughout the year.
Could you compete with SSGT Fradera?
Achilles International is a non-profit organization providing mainstream athletic opportunities for people with disabilities. It was founded in 1983, and now has chapters throughout the United States and in 60 countries worldwide.
For the full story please visit Military.com.
