http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/civilian/ en-us Thu, 18 Jun 2009 23:55:26 GMT Focus Forum 15 http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2274811/posts WASHINGTON, June 18, 2009 – The United States and NATO must do everything possible to prevent civilian casualties in Afghanistan, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said here today. Video Gates said NATO defense ministers stressed this point during meetings in Brussels last week. “It is clear that we need to do much more to overcome what I believe is one of our greatest strategic vulnerabilities,” Gates said during a Pentagon news conference. “The Afghan people must be reassured that U.S. and NATO forces are there as friends, partners and, along with Afghan security forces, they're protectors as well.” The... American Forces Press Service http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2274811/posts#comment Thu, 18 Jun 2009 23:55:26 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2272481/posts WASHINGTON, June 15, 2009 – Coalition and Afghan forces detained a suspected Taliban leader and provided medical aid to a wounded civilian in recent operations, military officials said. Afghan and coalition forces captured an area Taliban commander and a suspected associate in a June 13 operation to disrupt Taliban activities in northern Paktika province. The suspect is tied to numerous attacks against coalition forces in the area, military officials said. The wanted Taliban leader was wounded from debris when forces gained entry into the compound, officials said. Medical specialists treated his wounds, and he was evacuated for further medical treatment.... American Forces Press Service http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2272481/posts#comment Mon, 15 Jun 2009 23:57:32 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2270762/posts CAMP ATTERBURY, Ind., June 12, 2009 – Civilian employees representing various federal departments are being trained here alongside their military counterparts in preparation for deployment to Afghanistan. Army Sgt. Carlos Velasquez radios for medical assistance while Air Force Senior Airman Ashley Jackson delivers medical aid during a training exercise at Camp Atterbury Ind., June 9, 2009. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Robert G. Cooper III  (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. As part of a broader focus of operations in Afghanistan designed to include both military and civilian assets, more than 20 civilians from the State Department, the Agriculture... American Forces Press Service http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2270762/posts#comment Fri, 12 Jun 2009 23:45:39 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2251182/posts KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan, May 14, 2009 – As the gray smoke dissipates, men and women lie scattered on the gravel. Some moan, some call for help and some are silent. These U.S. servicemembers are role players taking part in a force-protection exercise simulating a mass-casualty event here. Air Force Tech Sgt. Rick Dickey, the morning shift leader of the U.S. provost marshall’s office at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, evaluates the simulated wounds of a role-player during a combined military and civilian mass-casualty exercise, April 30, 2009. U.S. Army photo by Elisebet Freeburg  (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. The U.S.... American Forces Press Service http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2251182/posts#comment Thu, 14 May 2009 23:35:36 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2246505/posts WASHINGTON, May 7, 2009 – The United States, coalition and Afghan government regret even one innocent civilian death, and they will continue to do all they can to avoid civilian casualties, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said in Kabul today. Gates spoke at a news conference after a day of visiting U.S. and coalition troops in Afghanistan. A joint investigative team is looking into reports of civilian casualties during a May 4 operation against Taliban insurgents in western Afghanistan and has visited the site in Farah province. The team is investigating differing accounts of the events leading up to the... American Forces Press Service http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2246505/posts#comment Thu, 7 May 2009 23:33:13 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2210506/posts There is no higher religion than human service. To work for the common good is the greatest creed. – Woodrow Wilson (and his worship of the STATE) Way back when, during the campaign, Obama made the declaration that America needs a national civilian security force, that is “just as strong and just as well funded as the military.“ Well, folks, here it comes. The Generations Invigorating Volunteerism and Education Act, known as the GIVE Act -- sponsored by Reps. Carolyn McCarthy, D-N.Y, and George Miller, D-Calif. -- was approved by a 321-105 vote and now goes to the Senate. The Gadfly http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2210506/posts#comment Fri, 20 Mar 2009 04:13:39 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2210468/posts OBAMA WATCH CENTRAL House adopts plan for 'volunteer' corps Also requires new evaluation of 'mandatory' service for all -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Posted: March 19, 2009 4:58 pm Eastern By Bob Unruh © 2009 WorldNetDaily The U.S. House of Representatives has approved a plan to set up a new "volunteer corps" and consider whether "a workable, fair, and reasonable mandatory service requirement for all able young people" should be developed. World Net Daily http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2210468/posts#comment Fri, 20 Mar 2009 03:08:50 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2191055/posts KABUL, Afghanistan, Feb. 21, 2009 – An investigation into a Feb. 17 coalition air strike in Afghanistan’s Heart province has confirmed that 13 noncombatants and three enemy fighters were killed, military officials reported. Army Brig. Gen. Michael A. Ryan of U.S. Forces Afghanistan offers his condolences Feb. 20, 2009, to families of those killed during an operation targeting insurgents three days earlier in Afghanistan’s Herat province. U.S. Army photo  (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. A combined Afghan National Army and coalition forces investigation team, accompanied by international observers, inspected the site this week to determine the identities of... American Forces Press Service http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2191055/posts#comment Sun, 22 Feb 2009 01:16:11 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2175424/posts WASHINGTON, Jan. 27, 2009 – The Defense Department is forming a civilian expeditionary workforce that will be trained and equipped to deploy overseas in support of military missions worldwide, according to department officials. The intent of the program “is to maximize the use of the civilian workforce to allow military personnel to be fully utilized for operational requirements,” according to a Defense Department statement. Deputy Defense Secretary Gordon England signed Defense Department Directive 1404.10, which outlines and provides guidance about the program, on Jan. 23. Certain duty positions may be designated by the various Defense Department components to participate in... http://www.defenselink.mil/ http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2175424/posts#comment Sat, 31 Jan 2009 03:44:09 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2174508/posts WASHINGTON -- If you're a criminal and you're not entitled to be in the United States, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano wants you out of the country. Napolitano wants what she calls "criminal aliens" off American streets. She is looking at existing immigration enforcement programs to see if taxpayers are getting the most bang for their buck. "That sounds very simple, but it's historically not been done," Napolitano said, speaking to reporters and senior Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials Thursday. About 113,000 criminals who were in the U.S. illegally were deported last year, Immigration and Customs Enforcement said. The agency... AP via SacBee http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2174508/posts#comment Thu, 29 Jan 2009 23:21:28 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2140028/posts This Christian Home Schooling Family Says “NO!” to Obama’s Plans We have home schooled our children from the very start, now almost twenty-seven years of home school education experience are behind us. We have seven children. Four are grown, graduated, and away. Two are married and have their own children. Three remain in our house and continue to be home schooled. Our youngest is seven years old. We home school with a foundation of firm Christian and traditional family convictions and objectives. We intend for our children to mature and turn out in a certain way. We do not want... http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2140028/posts#comment Sat, 29 Nov 2008 17:02:43 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2131512/posts November 11, 2008 Q: Is Obama planning a Gestapo-like "civilian national security force"? I read a quote from Rep. Paul Broun from Georgia which stated that Obama wants to set up a civilian national security force that was similar to the "Gestapo" or the Nazi Brownshirts. What is the truth behind Obama's statements that he wants to create a "civilian national security force that's just as powerful, just as strong, just as well-funded [as the military]"? A: This false claim is a badly distorted version of Obama's call for doubling the Peace Corps, creating volunteer networks and increasing the size... Laughably named FactCheck http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2131512/posts#comment Thu, 13 Nov 2008 17:00:43 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2128914/posts KABUL, Afghanistan, Nov. 9, 2008 – Afghan government officials and Afghan and coalition forces traveled Nov. 6 to the Shah Wali Kot district of Afghanistan’s Kandahar province to investigate claims of civilian casualties in recent operations. Results of the joint investigation to date indicate 37 civilians were killed and 35 others were wounded in a battle after a combined Afghan and coalition patrol was ambushed in the village. The combined forces met with village elders in Wech Baghtu to discuss the Nov. 3 battle. Village elders told the joint investigation team that insurgents who were not from their village came... American Forces Press Service http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2128914/posts#comment Sun, 9 Nov 2008 20:12:13 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2127407/posts WASHINGTON, Nov. 6, 2008 – Coalition, NATO International Security Assistance Force and Afghan officials are investigating possible civilian casualties during incidents in Afghanistan yesterday and Nov. 3, military officials reported. The incident yesterday occurred while forces were responding to an insurgent ambush on a route-clearance patrol in the Ghormach district of Badghis province. "The coalition, ISAF and Afghan authorities are investigating reports of noncombatant casualties in the Ghormach district last night," said Army Col. Greg Julian, a U.S. Forces Afghanistan spokesman. "We do not know all the facts at this time, but we will investigate this situation to get to... American Forces Press Service http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2127407/posts#comment Thu, 6 Nov 2008 23:45:04 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2120931/posts A chilling chapter in the war between Heaven and Hell. Video HERE. Please send a link to it to everyone you know and to news and commentary sites as well. Only 3 days left to stop the dark tide of Obama. After watching this scary fascist on video, come back and spend a few minutes on the side of angels here. YouTube http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2120931/posts#comment Fri, 31 Oct 2008 17:57:34 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2120365/posts http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tt2yGzHfy7s YouTube http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2120365/posts#comment Fri, 31 Oct 2008 03:31:34 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2100942/posts WASHINGTON, Oct. 8, 2008 – As a follow-on investigation into an operation by Afghan National Army and U.S. forces in western Afghanistan that claimed civilian lives nears completion, a senior defense official here emphasized the U.S. military’s strong record of accountability and follow-through. “No other military in the world goes to a greater extent to prevent civilian casualties,” said Bryan Whitman, deputy assistant secretary of defense for public affairs. “This is something that we take very seriously, and when we have allegations of loss of innocent life, we investigate it.” At issue is an Aug. 22 air strike against... American Forces Press Service http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2100942/posts#comment Thu, 9 Oct 2008 00:38:37 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2097064/posts WASHINGTON, Oct. 3, 2008 – An Afghan civilian was killed and four were wounded this morning when militants attacked a village in eastern Afghanistan where coalition and Afghan troops were on patrol, military officials reported. The firefight started when militants engaged the joint forces with small-arms fire and rocket-propelled grenades in Matin, a village in the Pech district of Konar province, officials said. While returning fire, Afghan soldiers also provided immediate medical care to the wounded and transported them to a medical facility for treatment, officials said. The body of the civilian was recovered and returned to his village, they... American Forces Press Service http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2097064/posts#comment Fri, 3 Oct 2008 23:27:58 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2097062/posts WASHINGTON, Oct. 3, 2008 – Affectionately known as “Big Jim,” James McCrindle had a Paul Bunyan-sized heart when it came time for taking care of soldiers and their families as general manager of the Armed Forces Recreation Center’s “Shades of Green” facility on the Walt Disney World resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. Affectionately known as “Big Jim,” Shades of Green general manager James McCrindle had a Paul Bunyan-sized heart when it came time for taking care of soldiers and their families at the Armed Forces Recreation Center. His battle with cancer ended June 1, 2008, at the age... Face of Defence http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2097062/posts#comment Fri, 3 Oct 2008 23:23:35 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2060220/posts WASHINGTON, Aug. 11, 2008 – A California group is offering active-duty servicemembers the chance to secure a key component to finding a job before they reenter civilian life: experience. The group, Military Civilian Experience, created by active-duty servicemembers for their fellow troops, was partly inspired by the military’s practice of thoroughly training servicemembers before sending them to the battlefield, according to the organization’s Web site. The group’s officials feel it shouldn’t stop there, and they’re working to give servicemembers a head start on finding their civilian careers. “In our spare time since 2006, we have helped 96 servicemembers obtain... America Supports You http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2060220/posts#comment Mon, 11 Aug 2008 23:56:51 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2017128/posts WASHINGTON, May 16, 2008 – Psychological health issues and traumatic brain injuries are primary areas of study in military medicine, a senior Department of Defense medical official said. “What we are learning in studies will lead to some major breakthroughs in the world of medicine,” Dr. Michael E. Kilpatrick, deputy director for force health protection and readiness programs in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs, said in an interview on the “Dot Mil Docs” program on BlogTalkRadio.com. Kilpatrick said that the better they understand how to prevent both psychological health issues and traumatic brain injuries... American Forces Press Service http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2017128/posts#comment Fri, 16 May 2008 23:49:40 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1988995/posts Are you tired of the skewed accounts of what is going on in Iraq. Here is a copy of the letter I sent to the 'Iraq Body Count' web site which asks them a few questions that they will never be able to answer. Enjoy. ---------------------------------------------------- Letter to the people at 'Iraq Body Count' http://www.iraqbodycount.org/ Dear People, I stumbled upon your website regarding the Iraq Body Count and was rather amazed at the claims made: aprox 82,000 - 89, 000 civilian deaths. The reason I have doubts about such a fantastic number is because all of our military actions in... Original Material http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1988995/posts#comment Thu, 20 Mar 2008 20:49:25 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1962271/posts WASHINGTON, Jan. 30, 2008 – DonÂ’t be surprised to see a poster featuring a white-goateed Uncle Sam in a star-spangled top hat, his index finger jutting through the canvas above a row of block letters that read: “Я Xочу Bас” -- “I Want You.” A familiar WWI recruting poster altered to reflect a shifting American cultural landscape that places greater demand on linguists. Originial poster by J.M. Flagg, modified by Fred W. Baker III for use by American Forces Press Service.   (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. Starting today, Uncle Sam wants skilled speakers of Russian, Mandarin Chinese,... American Forces Press Service http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1962271/posts#comment Wed, 30 Jan 2008 23:39:58 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1955468/posts WASHINGTON, Jan. 17, 2008 – As U.S. servicemembers and Defense Department civilians ponder candidates during the election season, they should realize there are limits placed upon their involvement in certain political activities. Political-related “dos and don’ts” pertaining to military members of all service branches are proscribed within Defense Department Directive 1344.10, titled: Political Activities by Members of the Armed Forces on Active Duty. The federal Hatch Act delineates what federal civilians, including those working for the Defense Department, may or may not do in the political realm. For example, servicemembers and government civilians may attend political events like meetings... American Forces Press Service http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1955468/posts#comment Fri, 18 Jan 2008 00:55:54 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1951743/posts MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. (Jan. 10, 2008) -- Saving a woman's life was not on the menu for three corpsman from Camp Pendleton while dining at a local sushi bar in Vista, Calif., Dec. 14. They planned to have a casual dinner out in town. The sudden sound of crashing dishes brought something else to the table. "All we heard was dishes colliding and a little girl screaming," said Petty Officer 3rd Class Margaret R. Reusi, a corpsman with Company B, 1st Medical Battalion, 1st Marine Logistics Group. "The little girl was trying to pick her mother up... Marine Corps News http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1951743/posts#comment Fri, 11 Jan 2008 00:39:18 GMT