Children are the Future. This page is a way to make thier lives Better!

HOT SITES: M ARCH 2 SUCCESS, goarmy.com
The Army Connection, Central Valley Self Storage

Hot Tip! (For Females) If you want/need quarters (for the dryer at your local laundramat or other such place)...go to the men you know. Chances are they will have change in quarters and you won't have to go to the bank or change machine. It is a well known fact, men have quarters, a majority of the time. They tend to carry quarters and folding bills. They hate pennies unless they receive them as change.

Children Now

Operation Homelink

America Supports You

Defend America

BRAC : Base Re-Alignment
and Closure 2005

Ruby Tuesdays

Applebees

Red Lobster

Olive Garden

TGI Friday's

Rest your cursor on the pictures in this page for an extra message.The page changes color and melody, refresh your page to see/hear them all... This page was altered on 01/01/09.

DOD News Releases

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2005 Army Basic Pay

Army MWR-My Installation (click here)

Operation Military Kids

Child CyberSearch

US GOVERNMENT'S KID FRIENDLY LINKS

GAMES KIDS PLAY

Click here to go to a site for american babies...

Parent Dex-A guide for Parents
and youth workers.

Kids Domain: funschool.com

Voices for South
Carolina's Children

For and About the Children

The Military Child Education Coalition. Click here to go there...

Space Available Flying

You Are A No Drama Mama!

No need for drama, you just chill out and don't let things bother you
You've got a peaceful, zen-like attitude... even when things get crazy
You're a pleasure to be around, and you have lots of friends to show for it
You don't need to be the center of attention, you're happy enough as is!

How Much of a Drama Queen Are You?

If Everyone Cared...Iraq...Nickelback

You Should Be in the Military

You are driven, focused, and an extremely hard worker.
And while you can be ruthless in getting what you want, you also have a compassionate side.
You are able to balance your own desires with the needs of others.
You'll do almost anything to get the job done, but you're not willing to step on anyone's toes.

You do best when you:

- Are working with others
- Are in a fast paced environment

You would also be a good CEO or school principal.

What Should You Be When You Grow Up?

Start Hunting For That New Apartment

You two are ready to live together - and probably have been for a while
You're a perfect match, even if you don't agree on everything
What's important is compromise... a skill you and your guy have mastered
So head out to Bed, Bath, and Beyond. It's time for your new life together!

Should You Live With Your Boyfriend?

You Should Stay in Shape With a Personal Trainer

You definitely want a better body, but you don't know where to start.
And it's all so overwhelming, you tend to lose motivation easily.
A personal trainer can help you get the body you desire - even if you have a long way to go!

How Should You Get Your Curves In Shape?

You Should Be a Cherry Redhead

Sexy, dramatic, but still sweetly feminine. Perfect for getting out of the hair color doldrums!

What Kind of Redhead Should You Be?



	YOUR FAMILY MIGHT BE TOO HOOAH IF: � Your wife's two favorite shades of lipstick are light green and loam. � You go to a barbecue and insist that your family feed in a tactical chow line at five meter intervals � Before you hit the road on vacation you conduct rehearsals, backbriefs, PCI, and cover your convoy checklist. � Your children clear their hand receipt and housing before they go to college. � Your wife has more jumps than most LTs in the company. � Your kids call the yard their MWR area. � You require your mechanic to replace the sandbags in your floorboard as a part of a tune-up. � Your station wagon is equipped with blackout lights, OVE, OVM, and has to be properly dispatched. � Your kids call their mother "Household 6." � Your kids use the "F" word at least five times in every sentence. � Your kids volunteer to pull air guard on the school bus. � Your doorbell sounds off with the current challenge and password. � Your house has sector sketches posted by every window. � You give the command "Fix Bayonets" at Thanksgiving Dinner. � Your kids show their meal cards at the kitchen door, except the oldest, who is on separate rations. � You make your daughter sign out on pass on Prom Night. � Your kindergartner calls recess "smoke break." � Your wife calls foreplay "prepping the objective." � Your wife conducts an AAR after sex. � Your wife "takes a knee" in the checkout line at the Food Lion. � You do your "back to school" shopping at the U.S. Cavalry store. � Your kids call the tooth fairy "Slicky Boy." � Your son fails the third grade but tells everyone he was a "phase three recycle." � Your kids salute their grandparents. � Your wife's "high-n-tight" is more squared away than your commander's. � Your kids get a LES for their allowance. � Your grandmother won "All American Week" and "Best Ranger." � All your kids have names that start with AR, FM, TM, or DA Form. � Your pick-up has your name stenciled on the windshield. � Your kids are hand-receipt holders. � Your older kids call the youngest one "Cherry." � Your kids recite their ABCs phonetically. � Your wife keeps Mermites in the China cabinet. � You DX'd your wife and then you held a "Change of Command" ceremony. � You call your in-laws the "Slice Elements." � Your dog's name is "Ranger." � All your possessions are military issue. � Your kids call their sandbox "NTC or CMTC" � You have pull-up bars outside the kitchen door. � Your daughter's first haircut was a flattop. � Your kids pull fireguard. � Your newborn's first words were "all OK Jumpmaster." � You "bum dips" from your four year old daughter. � The only channels you get are CNN, and ESPN. April is Sexual Assault Awareness & Prevention Month April is Sexual Assault Awareness & Prevention Month [4/4/2006] ; Source: Army News Service By J.D. Leipold Army News Service WASHINGTON (April 3, 2006) � The Army, in conjunction with the observation of April�s National Sexual Assault Awareness Month, is highlighting its Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Program. �We will use this opportunity to reaffirm our position that sexual assault will not be tolerated in any way, shape or form, and that sexual assault is a criminal offense which degrades mission readiness by devastating service members� ability to work effectively as a team,� said Ms. Carol Collins, Program Manager of the Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Program. LTC Carla Reed, former Program Branch Chief, recently returned from a tour of duty that studied this program in action, including in the OIF and OEF theaters. �As we took the Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Program�s policies and messages to the commanders and soldiers in the field, we conveyed the message that one sexual assault is too many, and that this crime has no place in the Army.� The Program was stood-up in September 2004, as part of the Army�s effort to eradicate sexual assault through training, prevention, education and awareness programs. In cases where prevention measures fail, victims should be assured that a system is in place to provide responsive, caring support, while holding offenders accountable. �Upon entry into the Army, Soldiers will be trained in sexual assault prevention and response, and within all professional military education courses throughout their careers,� Reed said. �We have requirements for annual awareness training within units, as well as during changes of station.� �With regard to responding to sexual assaults, the Army has a system in place whereby all those who provide support are integrated so they�re all talking to one another on behalf of the victim.� �The first resource available to victims is �victim advocacy,�� added Reed. �Service members within units, called �victim advocates,� can assist and support by explaining the process for accessing services, as well as escort the victim to talk to criminal investigators and to medical treatment appointments.� Army leaders are being trained about their responsibilities, and to ensure they are fostering organizational climates that encourage service members to treat each other with dignity and respect. Sexual assault is one of the most under-reported crimes in the U.S., and the same holds true within the military�s branches. �Many victims don�t feel free to report sexual assaults because they often think they�ve done something wrong. Often, they feel guilty about having been in the situation in which the assault occurred, so they choose not to report it. They also feel embarrassed or shame, or that their careers may be negatively impacted so they suffer in silence and try to handle the situation on their own,� Reed said. Within the Sexual Assault Prevention Response Program, our goal is to to provide a safe haven, and foster an environment that encourages more victims to come forward to seek the help they need and deserve. �Sexual assault is something the Department of Defense and the Army take very seriously. Our Army is a values-based institution; one in which one sexual assault is one too many,� said Reed.� Find out more about the Army�s SAPR Program. View the Featured Army Families Online Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention section for more. Disclaimer for External Links The appearance of external hyperlinks does not constitute endorsement by the United States Department of the Army or Department of Defense of the linked Web sites, or the information, products or services contained therein. This site provides external linkages as a convenience to our users, consistent with the Well-Being Liaison Office goal to provide accurate and up-to-date information resources for members of the Army Well-Being constituent communities � Soldiers (Active, National Guard and Reserve), Civilians, Retirees, Veterans and Families. All links are provided consistent with the mission of the Well-Being Liaison Office. Please let us know about existing external links which you believe are inappropriate and about specific additional external links which you believe should be included by clicking on our feedback link or via email at: ArmyFamily.link@hqda.army.mil Sexual assault not just 'women's issue,' expert says [4/5/2006] Source: American Forces Press Service By Jim Garamone American Forces Press Service WASHINGTON, April 5, 2006 � Sexual assault cannot be relegated to being regarded as a "women's issue," said Don McPherson, the keynote speaker at the Pentagon's Sexual Assault Awareness Month observance yesterday. McPherson, the executive director of the Sports Leadership Institute at Adelphi University in New York, said relegating sexual assault to being a women's issue means "men can ignore it." The theme of the observance this year is "Sexual Assault Prevention Begins With You." The goal of the month and of the new DoD Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office is to raise awareness of the issue to prevent sexual assaults. "We certainly don't want perpetrators of sexual assaults in our ranks," said Air Force Brig. Gen. K.C. McClain, commander of the Joint Task Force for Sexual Assault Prevention and Response. "We think that many people don't understand [sexual assaults]. We've looked at surveys, and teenagers indicate they don't understand what behaviors constitute sexual assault." McClain said the awareness month is a chance for commanders to emphasize the problem and search for solutions. "Some of the attitudes that people come to the military with [indicate] they don't understand how actions they are taking demean their fellow servicemembers and result in sexual assaults," she said. "The goal is to help everyone begin to understand what sexual assault is and to step back and talk about how men and women interact in our society." McClain said servicemembers must understand that all servicemembers, from both genders and all backgrounds, bring strengths to the table. "The question becomes: 'How do we maximize those strengths?'" she said. McPherson praised DoD for stepping out on the issue and beginning to discuss it. He noticed that about half the audience at the observance was male. "That's very good," he said. "Your presence alone sends the message to your people that you think this is important." Far from being a woman's issue, sexual assault is a men's issue, McPherson said. "More than 90 percent of the sexual assaults are men against women," he said. He told the crowd that it is not enough to speak about preventing sexual assault, setting an example is the best way to prevent the scourge. He said children learn from their parents. Servicemembers learn from their superiors. Everyone learns from people they value and respect. If leaders exhibit behavior that does not tolerate sexual assaults, then their followers will not tolerate it either, he said. The military academies have been a particular focus of the problem, McPherson said. Discussions have started in the academies, and the greater military is also dealing with the problem. Honor and integrity are even more important in the armed forces than in civilian life, and managing the "multitudes of people who come to serve" is key to a successful military, he said. Installations around the world are participating in Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Army Information Line 1-800-833-6622 The Army Information Line (toll-free) provides accurate information, useful resources and helpful referral services to those with issues or concerns about Army Life including but not limited to: Child Support Deployment Family Readiness Family Readiness Groups Finance Military Installations Experienced Constituent Liaisons staff the line and are available to assist members of the Army Well-Being constituent communities � Soldiers (Active-Duty, National Guard and Army Reserve), Civilians, Retirees, Veterans and Families. The Army Information Line also serves as a safety net for those who have exhausted all other resources. Contact Us Number: 1-800-833-6622 Hours: Monday � Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. EST Voicemail: Please leave a message after business hours. Your call will be returned the next business day. News and Information Who answers your Army Information Line call? [8/24/2005] Everyone should know more information on a little-talked about service. This service is highly utilized, effective and cost efficient � it is the Well-Being Liaison Office�s Army Information Line (1-800-833-6622). This is a toll-free number that is more than 24-years old, and while it has no battle ribbons it certainly earned credit for operating during two wars and countless operational conflicts. The right information at the right time [8/24/2005] The Well-Being Liaison Office�s constituent liaisons have a wealth of experience in dealing with a variety of issues ranging from supplying information on how to contact local resources such as an Army Community Service office, to more complex issues. Tapping all available resources to resolve issues [8/24/2005] Taking care of Army Families in a proper manner often calls for extraordinary efforts, and sometimes can even require making contact with many different agencies to resolve a problem satisfactorily, especially when deployments and issues relevant to Army life place undue stress on family members. Army Information Line supports Soldiers; present, future alike [8/24/2005] Unlike many other military resources, it�s important to note that the Army Information Line staff will do whatever they can to assist any caller, regardless of their relationship to the Soldier. There is no requirement to be an �ID Card holder� to receive assistance from the Army Information Line staff. Helping Army programs to help people [8/24/2005] Not all calls to the Army Information Line come directly from callers outside the Army�s infrastructure. Sometimes the Well-Being Liaison Office�s constituent liaisons are contacted directly by staff of Army programs who are unable to assist someone that has contacted them directly, and they turn to the Army Information Line to provide that assistance. Americans Need to Recognize Progress in Iraq, DoD Spokesman Says To: DEFENSE-PRESS-SERVICE-L@DTIC.MIL By Jim Garamone American Forces Press Service WASHINGTON, June 16, 2005 - Americans need to go back and evaluate the progress that has been made in Iraq, Pentagon spokesman Larry Di Rita said today. Di Rita spoke at a Pentagon news conference along with Marine Lt. Gen. James Conway, the Joint Staff operations chief. Di Rita said it is important to remember the progress that has been made. Less than a year ago, the Coalition Provisional Authority still ran Iraq. It wasn't until the end of June that the CPA turned sovereignty over to the interim Iraqi government. It wasn't until Jan. 30, 2005, that the citizens of Iraq chose their transitional government. "(Iraq) has had several major milestones of electoral actions," Di Rita said. "It'll have more going forward, and they're scheduled." The Iraqi National Assembly is writing the new constitution. That effort is set to end by Aug. 15. A vote on the document is set not later than Oct. 15. International efforts in Iraq remain strong, with around 30 countries helping in various capacities, and NATO has expanded its training mission in the nation, Di Rita said. The coalition continues rebuilding the country. "We've probably expended or at least obligated to expend, I would say, something south of $10 billion and heading further," he said. But the most notable difference is in Iraqi security forces. Earlier this week, Marine Gen. Peter Pace said that when CPA transferred sovereignty to the Iraqis, there was only one battalion that was effective. That number has risen to more than 100. Conway said around 169,000 members of the Iraqi security forces are trained and equipped, and those units continue "to grow their operational capabilities." The general said the Iraqi forces still have shortfalls - mostly in command and control and experience. "That doesn't happen overnight," Conway said. "We have a plan for growing the force. We're on track with projections of numbers. We're partnering our battalions with theirs, and our military transition teams are working with these units to enable them to operate independently." And Iraqi troops are picking up real missions and handling them well, Conway said. Iraqi brigades have taken over patrolling in large areas of the country and right in downtown Baghdad. "Iraqi troops, along with U.S. transition team members, led the operation to free Australian hostage Doug Wood," Conway said. "Further, on Tuesday, Iraqi and coalition forces captured another one of al Qaeda's key leaders in northern Iraq, the so-called emir of Mosul, Abu Talha." Conway said the Iraqi forces are "taking back their country from the insurgents." Di Rita and Conway spoke about recent polls that show a drop-off of American support for operations in Iraq. "Obviously, the public support of these kinds of operations is critical," Di Rita said. He said that Americans deployed to Iraq are showing a different side of American commitment. "The Americans who ... know the most about Iraq are our military," he said. "And in numbers we've probably not seen maybe in my lifetime, ... they're re-enlisting 200 percent of goal -- 150 percent of goal for units that have deployed to Iraq. So those individuals who are the most knowledgeable Americans of all think, 'Jeez, it's something worth doing.'" Conway said it concerns him. He told the story of a Vietnamese colonel and a U.S. Marine colonel speaking after the war in Vietnam. "The Marine said, 'We beat you every time on the battlefield.' And the Vietnamese colonel said, 'That is true, but it's also irrelevant.'" The general said the enemy realizes "that American public opinion is the center of gravity; that a democracy can't do certain things if, in fact, the citizens don't support it." He said he would like to see a reversal in the trend. "It's extremely important to the soldier and the Marine, the airman and the sailor over there to know that their country's behind them," Conway said. "We didn't start this fight. So I don't know that it's our option to simply withdraw at this point." Biographies: Larry Di Rita [http://www.defenselink.mil/bios/dirita_bio.html] Lt. Gen. James Conway, USMC [http://www.usmc.mil/genbios2.nsf/0/24f33df7bf06b3a2852568030060440a?OpenDocument&Click=] _______________________________________________________ NOTE: View the original version of this web page on DefenseLINK, the official website of the U.S. Department of Defense, at http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Jun2005/20050616_1748.html. DoD Readies Biometric ID System for U.S. Bases in Iraq By Gerry J. Gilmore American Forces Press Service WASHINGTON, May 17, 2005 - The Defense Department is fine-tuning a $75 million biometric identification system designed to improve force protection at U.S. military bases in Iraq, according to officials involved with the project. At a recent system demonstration, DoD officials said the state-of-the-art system will use biographical data, facial photographs, fingerprints and iris scans collected from Iraqis and other non-U.S. citizens who want to work on U.S. bases in Iraq to develop ID cards that can't be counterfeited. Biometrics is defined as measurable physical or behavioral characteristics that can be used to identify people. Work on the new biometrics-based system began in late January, when then-Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz pushed for an improved base-access system to provide better protection for U.S. troops in Iraq. The need for a better way to screen people coming onto U.S. bases in Iraq was illustrated by the Dec. 21, 2004, bombing of a military dining facility in Mosul. That blast killed 22 people, including 14 U.S. soldiers, and wounded at least 50. It was first thought the dining hall had been hit by a rocket attack. Further investigation of the Mosul bombing pointed to the likelihood that a suicide bomber had infiltrated the base -- one non-U.S. person killed couldn't be identified -- and set off the explosion. "This is a force-protection initiative," a DoD official noted at the system demonstration. He pointed out that the new ID cards contain embedded information that can't be altered. "This badge will be able to uniquely identify that person as the right person. You can't counterfeit it; you can't tamper with it," he said. Base employees who are issued new biometric ID cards will be required to pass through security-control points where the badges will be electronically checked, he explained. During the demonstration project, managers showed how fingerprints and iris scans are gathered and the data put into computers, how ID cards are printed, and how new ID cards are checked and verified by stationary and mobile scanners. Employee information gathered at enrollment points will be forwarded to self-contained control stations. The control stations feature independent power, heating and air-conditioning systems, all a necessity in an austere, forward-deployed environment like Iraq. The control stations will process the enrollment data to produce the biometrically enabled ID card. Steve Hooks, a former FBI special agent and biometric project consultant, said at the demonstration that "DoD is trying to develop an identification capability so that we can identify unknowns (and) terrorists. These individuals applying for an ID card will have background checks based on those conducted for U.S. military personnel and DoD civil servants." The biometric ID system has been developed to protect troops and save lives, said Army Maj. Gen. Conrad Ponder, the chief integration officer for the Army's chief information office, who attended the recent demonstration. "That's what we're all about," he added. Ponder said he was impressed with the demonstration. "We're developing a significant new capability for force protection. This prototype is a solid first step, and we'll continue improving the systems as we get closer to fielding (the system)." Project managers are now working closely with U.S. Central Command officials who attended the briefing to resolve any remaining issues. The new system will be implemented in Iraq as soon as possible, officials said. _______________________________________________________ NOTE: View the original version of this web page on DefenseLINK, the official website of the U.S. Department of Defense, at http://www.defenselink.mil/news/May2005/20050517_1141.html.

		Here's a poem for Army Children. I was considered one once (My father is retired from the Army.) and can identify with them, hence it being shown on this page. It will also be featured on "For and About the Children" (geocities.com/ravet2005/children.html). I am an Army Child. My hometown is nowhere. My friends are everywhere. I grew up with the knowledge that home is where the heart is and the family� with no dependence on the dwelling. Mobility is my way of life. Some would wonder about roots, yet they are as deep and strong as the mighty oak�I sink them quickly. Absorbing all an area offers and hopefully, giving enrichment in return. Travel has taught me to be open. Shaking hands with the universe. I find brotherhood in all men. Farewells are never easy. Yet, in even sorrow comes strength and the ability to face tomorrow with anticipation�and if when I leave one place, I feel that half my world is left behind. I also know that the other half is still waiting to be met. Friendships are formed in hours and kept for decades. I will never grow up with someone, but I will mature with many. Be it inevitable that paths part, there is the constant hope that they will meet again. Love of Country, Respect and Pride fill my being when Old Glory passes in review. As I stand to honor the Flag, so also do I stand in honor of all Soldiers, and, most especially, to the parents whose life created mine. Because of this, I have shared in the rich heritage of Army Life. ANONYMOUS



Army Families Online E-Newsletter, Vol. 2006, No.8 Date: Fri, 29 Sep 2006 15:23:53 -0700 Army Families Online E-Newsletter - Vol.2006, No.7 An Army Families Online monthly e-newsletter for families, Soldiers (Active-Duty, National Guard and Army Reserve), Civilians, Retirees, and Veterans. Forward this e-mail to your colleagues and encourage them to sign up to get their own copy. And check out Army Families Online for more about your Army Life. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Our Survivors Army Families Online recently launched a new section providing information and resources to surviving family members of those who lost their lives serving our nation. Focus On ... Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder or PTSD is being thrust into the limelight as more service men and women experience the stresses of war while supporting Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) and Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF). Find out more about PTSD and take the opinion poll. Featured Resource -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Check out "U.S. Army War College: Military Familiy Program" in the Featured News and Resources highlighted in the Your Army Family Section. News Highlights -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Missing WWI Soldier buried at Arlington National Cemetery ARLINGTON, Va. (Sept. 27, 2006) - Eighty-eight years after being killed in action along the not-so-quiet Western Front of World War I, Army Pvt. Francis Lupo of Cincinnati was buried September 27th with military honors at Arlington National Cemetery. Personnel recovery training to begin for all Soldiers WASHINGTON (Sept. 26, 2006) - The Warrior Ethos, "I will never leave a fallen comrade," makes clear the Army's commitment to recover Soldiers, Department of the Army civilians and its contractors should they be lost, isolated, missing, detained or captured while in an operational environment. Fake calls target Soldiers' families FORT LEWIS, Wash. (Sept. 26, 2006) - The Army Human Resources Command is researching a particularly callous type of fraud aimed at military family members - false casualty notification calls to families of deployed Soldiers. Army widow christens Navy ship, 'Freedom' MARINETTE, Wis. (Sept. 26, 2006) - The Navy christened and launched the nation's first Littoral Combat Ship, Freedom (LCS-1), at the Marinette Marine shipyard Sept. 24. Operation Arctic Linebacker tackles hardships for Alaska military families FORT WAINWRIGHT, Alaska (Sept. 25, 2006) - A checking account set up by USA Cares, a military family assistance organization, is helping 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team families. FLO Notes Chief's Corner -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Looking ahead to Army Families The 2006 Army Posture Statement (www.army.mil/aps/) was released earlier this year to outline the strategic direction our Army needs to take to stay "on course." It is interesting to examine the 2006 Army Posture Statement and compare the conceptual skills needed by our new leaders and how the same skills are needed to grow the next generation of strong Army Families. Access the October issue of FLO Notes. Subscribe/Change Address -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- To subscribe to this news service, send a blank e-mail with "Subscribe to Army Families Online E-Newsletter" in the subject line. To change your e-mail address, simply subscribe again at the above link with your new e-mail.			What a Tangled Web We Weave--Decoding the Mystery That is HOOAH By Sgt. Michael Volkin Author, Ultimate Basic Training Guide Book One of the most widely used military acronyms of all times, and no one can agree on its spelling, origin or even on its meaning for that matter. Undoubtedly it will be the first acronym you will hear as you arrive at Basic Training. You will hear thousands of new soldiers utter the acronym, whisper it, shout it and even sing it. But what exactly does it mean? Heck, is it even an acronym at all? I have scoured the Internet, referenced books, and asked military scholars. Only one conclusion has become of my research: There is no known origin for the meaning of hooah; many have opinions but there is no single theory. Personally, when I went through Basic Training, I was taught the acronym HUA stood for I hear you, I understand you, and I acknowledge your statement. Urbandictionary.com claims the term hooah was originally used by the British in the late 1800's in Afghanistan; then, more recently adopted by the United States Army to indicate an affirmative or a pleased response. The book Absolutely American: Culture War at West Point defines huah as " an all-purpose expression"� if you "want to describe a cadet who's very gung-ho, you call them huah"� if you "understand instructions, say huah"� if you "agree with what another cadet just said, murmur huah ". Perhaps the broadest definition I have come across in my research might very well be the best, and even most comical definition. If I had a prize to award, I would give it to The Department of Military Science and Leadership, University of Tennessee who claim HOOAH" refers to or means anything except no." So while military experts and personnel alike disagree on the term, spelling, origin and meaning of HUA, huah, hooah , etc, it remains to be widely used throughout the military. Regardless of it's meaning, a common aspect encompasses each of the definitions for this term. The term is an expression of high morale, confidence, motivation and spirit. I welcome all questions and comments at michaelvolkin@ultimatebasictrainingguidebook.com. SGT Michael Volkin is the author of The Ultimate Basic Training Guidebook. The Ultimate Basic Training Guidebook is available in both book and e-book format at www.ultimatebasictrainingguidebook.com. Wounded Iraq Veterans Generate New 'Traumatic Injury' Legislation By Terri Lukach American Forces Press Service WASHINGTON, April 20, 2005 - Three soldiers wounded in Iraq sparked new legislation to provide low-cost �traumatic injury� insurance for members of America�s armed forces. The legislation was announced April 19 at a Capitol Hill press conference by its sponsor, Idaho Sen. Larry Craig. The three soldiers, Staff Sgts. Heath Calhoun and Ryan Kelly and Sgt. Jeremy Feldbusch, were all seriously wounded in Iraq. They each underwent extensive medical treatments and periods of recuperation that resulted in severe financial hardships for their families. All wanted to do something to help alleviate similar hardships for those wounded in the future. Craig said the soldiers visited his Senate office last week to discuss the need for this type of benefit. �It was their idea,� he said. The legislation will be offered as both an amendment to Emergency Supplemental legislation currently being debated in the Senate and a stand-alone bill. It would add a low-cost traumatic injury insurance benefit to the Servicemembers Group Life Insurance now provided to military members. In the event of traumatic injury, the benefit would provide an �immediate� lump-sum payment of $25,000 to $100,000 for certain catastrophic injuries incurred on active duty. Traumatic injuries covered will include blindness; loss of limbs, speech or hearing; paralysis; burns greater than second degree covering 30 percent of the body or face; and certain traumatic brain injuries, according to a press release from the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee. The cost of the benefit would be covered by an insurance premium of about $1 per month for each servicemember. The coverage would also be available to members of the National Guard and Reserve. Family members would not be included in the benefit. During the press conference, David S. C. Chu, undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness, expressed the Defense Department�s support for the legislation and praised the soldiers for their efforts to make the legislation a reality. �These young men and their families have already nobly served their country in the theater of operations in the global war on terror,� Chu said. �And they serve us again by bringing forward an important effort to help ensure that the transition back to civilian life will be as smooth as it can be.� Chu said the department recognizes there is no way to anticipate every expense, every challenge severely wounded veterans will face as they recuperate. �That is why we support this legislation and hope it will go on to a successful conclusion and become the law of the land,� he said. The three soldiers responsible for the legislation were also present at the press conference to lend their support for the bill. Feldbusch, an Army Ranger, was severely wounded when a piece of shrapnel entered his brain during an intense Iraqi artillery barrage, leaving him blind in both eyes. Calhoun lost both legs in a rocket-propelled-grenade attack, and Kelly lost his right leg to a roadside bomb. �It was during my recovery process that I noticed there were some gaps in the financial coverage,� Kelly said. �It wasn�t a lack of support by DoD or the (Department of Veterans Affairs), but just a gap in the system. �I can�t stress enough the effect this will have on our brothers and sisters in the services,� he said. �The difference it will make on the family unit during covalence is tremendous. The financial stress far outweighs the physical stress.� He said a soldier learning to walk on a prosthetic leg shouldn�t be �wondering how long they can continue to make a payment on their home or how long their family can continue to visit.� Kelly urged the Senate to pass the legislation quickly. �Every day we wait,� he said, �is a day another soldier and his family will have to deal with the recovery process without this insurance.� _______________________________________________________ NOTE: View the original version of this web page on DefenseLINK, the official website of the U.S. Department of Defense, at http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Apr2005/20050420_690.html.