Today

2008 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award

Having a son serving in the National Guard, I’m well aware of how hard it can be on companies who employ National Guard and Reserve Soldiers, when those “citizen soldiers” are activated and have to deploy. It can make it difficult, especially for small companies to continue their business, when their employees are suddenly activated and have to deploy for a year or more. Some employers take this in stride and are proud of the jobs that their “citizen soldier” employee does, serving their country. In recognition of the sacrifice these companies make and the support they provide to their “citizen soldier” employee, the Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award was created. I’m always pleased to read of some of the things these employers are doing in support of these men and women, and this year, one really stands out to me. With so many Reserve and National Guard Soldiers being activated to serve in Iraq and Afghanistan, more and more companies are being affected.

The Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award is the highest recognition given by the U.S. Government to employers for their support of their employees who serve in the National Guard and Reserve.

Nominations must come from a Guard or Reserve member who is employed by the organization they are nominating, or from a family member.

The award was created to publicly recognize employers who provide exceptional support to their National Guard and Reserve employees. It is the highest in a series of employer recognition awards given by the Department of Defense.

Almost one-half of the U.S. military is comprised of the National Guard and Reserve. The Department of Defense shares these citizen warriors with their civilian employers, many of whom provide significant support to their employees who serve in the Guard and Reserve. This award recognizes employers who provide the most outstanding support for their National Guard and Reserve employees and is presented annually by the Secretary of Defense.¹

One such company is Union Pacific Railroad. The heritage of the company is one with strong ties to the military. After the Civil War, thousands of Civil War Veterans helped to build the very first transcontinental railroad, in the 1800s. The railway was considered to be a vital part of the national defense at that time. During World War I and World War II, a railroad canteen located in North Platte, Ne was a resting place for Soldiers on their way overseas.

Because of this history, Union Pacific has always had a strong working relationship with the military. That strong working relationship continues today. Currently the company has over 50,000 employees. More than 7300 of them serve or have served in the military. Since the beginning of the Global War on Terrorism, 530 of those employees have been deployed at some point.

Because of this, Union Pacific works to ensure that their deployed employes are taken care of. They ensure that they balance their work around their training and work in the Guards and Reserves. The company also has a policy that has been in place for many years, before 9/11, in which they offer differential pay to National Guard and Reserve employees during their deployments and other times that they might be activated. All of their health benefits for themselves and their family are continued and each of the employees are assigned a care coordinator who assists with benefits and other needs that the family might have during the deployment.

Union Pacific employees also ensure that their fellow employees who are deployed receive a “personal touch” by sending care packages, writing letters, ensuring that local news media has information about their Soldiers and helping out their families with home repairs and other things that might arise during the year long deployments.

Because of the awesome support of Union Pacific while he was deployed, Iowa National Guardsman and Union Pacific employee, Jesse Swanger nominated them for the Freedom Award. Among his fellow guardsmen were 5 others who were also employees of Union Pacific. They all got to talking and realized just how much Union Pacific did for them during their deployments and felt that this was the least they could do. Union Pacific also recognizes that their Soldier/Employees may suffer from things such as TBI and PTSD upon their return and took steps to establish a program to help identify and promptly treat PTSD. Their idea was to make the transition from Soldier back into being a civilian as easy as possible.

According to Union Pacific’s assistant vice president of human resources, Roy Schroer, the company feels that addressing PTSD is important for not only the employees and their health but for the entire company.

“Many of these people just need some assistance and understanding on our part, so that they can move back into normal physical and mental capabilities and work safely,” he said. “We need everyone to feel confident in everyone else’s abilities to focus on their tasks and be safe. Supporting the military is part of Union Pacific’s culture and heritage and is something that the entire company gets involved with,” Schroer said. Thousands of employees turn out to sign Christmas cards or contribute to care packages for deployed employees. It’s a great morale sustainer across the entire company,” he said. “It’s something that employees show a lot of pride in.”

Schroer said that the company feels that not only do the soldier/employees benefit from the treatment given to them by Union Pacific, but the entire company benefits from the experience, training, service and dedication of their deployed employees when they return to their jobs following their deployments. When told about the Freedom Award that they would be receiving, Schroer said Union Pacific’s leaders were ecstatic

The Freedom Award will be presented to Union Pacific, along with other companies 15 total, chosen for the award, at a ceremony to be held on September 18th at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center in Washington DC. The Freedom Award was began in 1996 under the auspices of the National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserves, in order to recognize the outstanding support and contribution made by the employers of these “citizen” soldiers.²

It sounds like Union Pacific has a great program to support their National Guard and Reserve employees and it’s fantastic that they’ve recognized how difficult it can be for these men and women when they return and are struggling with PTSD. It amazes me that they’ve created their own PTSD program to help their employees cope and be able to continue being productive members of their team. I applaud them for their efforts and hope that more employers will look at their program and begin similar ones in their companies. I plan to email their corporate offices and let them know how much programs such as theirs are appreciated.

1. http://www.freedomaward.mil/ [↩]
2. http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=50861 [↩]

Warriors

Rolling Honor Riders: Keeping The Memory Alive

It’s my honor to be able to tell our readers about a very special group of men, who got on their motorcycles and made a cross-country trip to visit the graves of 4 Soldiers that served with one of them. At each stop, the men also took the time to visit with the families of the fallen, share their grief and their memories. It’s been almost two years since the deaths of their friends, yet their memory remains a strong one and for 1SG Paul Alkire, the ride is most likely a therapeutic one, a means of closure and a way for him to say good-bye.

Almost two years ago, on January 20, 2007, a group of paratroopers were ambushed in Karbala, Iraq. One of the Soldiers was killed immediately and four others were taken prisoner and later were executed. 1SG Paul Alkire and three other motorcyclist left Alaska on a cross-country trip last month, to visit the hometowns of the four men who were executed. Alikre was the 1SG of the men. He designed a patch that is in the shape of a US highway sign, with the number 4 circled by the names of the 4 men who were executed … SPC Johnathan Bryan Chism, 1LT Jacob Noal Fritz, PFC Shawn Patrick Faller and PFC Johnathon Miles Millican. They were assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 337th Parachute Field Artillery Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, that is based out of Fort Richardson, Alaska. Their journey would take them about 5,000 miles, before they were able to visit the hometowns of each of the fallen. Their last stop being Gonzales, Lousiana, where they laid a patch at the grave of SPC Chism.

Photo of the patch from Rolling Honor Riders website

“I knew I had to do something to pay my final respects,” Alkire said. “I got to thinking about the miles between their hometowns and the highways needed to get there.”

¹

While he was still in Iraq, after the deaths of his comrades, Alkire decided that he would visit the hometowns of the fallen personally, as well as make it a point to meet their families. Three of his closest friends, also from Alaska joined him on his journey, leaving Seattle on June 30th. They call themselves the Rolling Honor Riders. The only thing left to do, is to venture back where they began their journey, 3,000 miles away in Seattle. The men accompanying Alkire were Marc Phillips, himself a Special Forces Soldier and father of a son currently serving in Iraq, Laddie Shaw, retired Vietnam Veteran and Navy SEAL, and Todd Bullock, son of a retired Air Force Tech Sgt and supporter of the wounded warrior project.²

The Rolling Honor Riders

While it was comforting to meet the men, Chism’s mother said it was also very emotionally draining. She attempts to stay in touch with her sons friends. The Chism family joined the riders, sharing a private moment and remembering PFC Chism, each in their own way.

“To see the grown men crying and to give each other a hug - it was special,” said Patsy Meades, Chism’s sister. “They have not forgotten.”

³

Please visit the Rolling Honor Riders website, read about the heroes that were lost that day in 2007 as well as read their notes on the trip/ What a great way to honor these fallen heroes. I’m sure that this gesture meant the world to the families of the fallen men, that the riders visited.

Rolling Honor Riders

Army Times

1. http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/07/ap_rollinghonor_072608 [↩]
2. http://www.rollinghonor.com/riders.html [↩]
3. http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/07/ap_rollinghonor_072608 [↩]

Politics

Alqaeda Leaving Iraq for Afghanistan???

Greetings,

  As some of you have already heard, Alqaeda has reportably left their fight in Iraq for the more rugged mountains of Afghanistan.  I am here today to tell you that this is a grave trap and a bold new tactic that the terrorists are trying on our troops. Do not believe this for any reason.

  The aim is to allow U.S. and coalition forces to “simmer down” for a while.  If they focus on Afghanistan, the hope is that we here in Iraq will lower our guard and ultimately leave ourselves open for a direct attack.  I want everyone to know this scheme and for all of our forces in both Iraqi and Afghani fronts, “Stay alert”.  This could be a very serious outcome if we let ourselves get complacent.

  I don’t believe the stories for one second about Alqaeda leaving Iraq.  The truth is, they are just waiting for the right moment to attack with swift and deadly accuracy.  I.E.D.s are becomming less likely here in Iraq, but don’t let the lull in fighting fool you,  as I have said before, this is a new tactic that Alqaeda is trying. 

  This is a warning to all friendly forces in O.E.F and O.I.F. theaters of operation, be prepared for a possible sneak attack by Alqaeda.  These people don’t just give up, something fishy is going on and I don’t like the feeling I have right now.  They are planning something really big, they wouldn’t just give up the fight, especially what? 5,6, 7 years later, that would be like taking over a country, then saying ok, we quit, we’re leaving.  Don’t buy this idea for a minute.  Head my warning, I think something is up. 

  Soldiers on ground, stay alert, stay alive.  Keep your heads up and report any suspicious activities to your local chain of command.  We hav to stay focused if we want to get out of here in one piece.  I want everyone to know this, my feelings on the war.  I’m here in the middle of it, and I know exactly what’s going on.  I assure you, things are not what they are being made out to be.  Alqaeda is planning something, I know it, and I can feel it.  Anyways, I just wanted to give everyone a heads up.  Don’t believe what is going on.  My gut instinct tells me otherwise. 

  Opsec is the key, do not divulge information that could be detrimental to our forces.  For those of you who are expecting troops home.  Do not, under any unceartain terms, ask them their location and how many troops are with them.  We must stop the enemy, before they can get us.  This is a game of cat and mouse, don’t let the cat win. 

  Remember our troops and pray that we can get out of this predicument and get home to our families soon.  I thank you all here on ASM for your support.  Without you, we have nothing.

Motivation

Wounded Warriors Aim For The “Top”

I’ve always said that anything you set your mind to, you can achieve, with a bit of determination and hard work. Every day, many of our Wounded Warriors are proving that correct, in the things they undertake. So many of them have injuries that have altered their lives, yet, they’ve not let those injuries stop them from living full and productive lives. In fact, for many of them, the challenges they face in regards to their injuries, are just the tip of the iceberg, when it comes to the things that they challenge themselves with.

In the state of Alaska, a team of wounded warriors are currently training to reach the “top.” You might wonder what I’m referring to, so I’ll tell you. The team of wounded warriors are currently training to reach the top of Mount McKinley. Their hopes are that next summer, they will spend a good portion of the time assaulting the mountain. The team, led by Army Major Marc Hoffmeister are planning the climb and currently training to climb the mountain, which is North America’s highest mountain peak. They’ve named the climb, “Operation Denali 2009.” There are 3 objectives that the service members have for the climb. Those are:

* To raise awareness for the needs of severely injured service men and women.
* To work together to overcome their physical limitations and achieve a common goal made to seem insurmountable by the impact of their injuries on their lives.
* To demonstrate by performance and example, that no obstacle is so great the human spirit cannot overcome it.¹

Hoffmeister was injured in Iraqi in April 2007, when he was serving with the 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division. The vehicle he was riding in was hit by a roadside bomb. Hoffmeister lost half the muscle mass and five inches of the ulnar nerve in his left arm. His arm is now titanium from the elbow to the wrist. He still faces more surgeries in the future.²

“My body is still intact, sort of. Not all of my men were so lucky,” he wrote in an online article forthe Web site dedicated to the McKinley mission.

“I don’t have feeling in my left arm, leg or several fingers and can’t fully control it’s use,” he said. “As time crawls by, I struggle to rediscover my own ability. Slowly, I am gaining strength.”³

Every member of the team is a military member who was severely wounded in the Global War on Terrorism. In a recent training mission, the team spent 12 days on Pika Glacier in an area of the Denali National Park that is known as Little Switzerland. There they trained on roped team movement on the glaciers, camping in winter conditions, self arresting, crevasse rescues and other skills that will be necessary for them to successful complete the high altitude mountaineering they’re planning for next summer.

Each team member is challenged by not only the difficult terrain they face and the dangers that go along with it, but the limitations that are created as a result of their injuries. Some of the Soldiers participating are amputees and must adapt the climbing techniques for use with their prosthetic.

I can honestly say that I was extremely amazed at what these service members will be doing next summer. As always, I’m humbled and proud of the courage, determination and dedication they show, in the face of their injuries. Please visit the team’s website and learn more about Operation Denali 2009.

Operation Denali 2009

1. http://www.army.mil/-news/2008/08/12/11612-wounded-warriors-train-to-climb-mount-mckinley/ [↩]
2. http://www.army.mil/-news/2008/08/12/11612-wounded-warriors-train-to-climb-mount-mckinley/ [↩]
3. http://www.army.mil/-news/2008/08/12/11612-wounded-warriors-train-to-climb-mount-mckinley/ [↩]

Rebuilding

Helping Iraqis Bring Their Country Into The 21st Century

One mission, besides security, that our Troops have spent a lot of time on Iraq and are very dedicated to, is helping to rebuild the country’s infrastructure and update facilities and equipment. Technologically speaking, Iraq is about 25 years behind the rest of the world, mostly in part, because of the fact that for 25 years, under the reign of Saddam Hussein’s regime, they weren’t allowed the technological advances that the rest of the world enjoyed. Hussein and his regime, kept the country in the “dark ages” so to speak, not allowing citizens access to modern conveniences, things that for us, are commonplace.

“You’re looking at a nation that has … suffered from 25 years of tyranny under Saddam Hussein and has not had the things that you and I take for granted,” Air force Col. Karlton Johnson, communications director for the Multinational Security Transition command in Iraq told online journalists and bloggers in a teleconference.¹

For instance, much of Iraq was without electricity for much of each day, before the 2004 invasion of the country, so the things that we enjoy, such as televisions, dvd players, computers, etc weren’t able to be used for much of the time. Modern sewer and water filtration systems are another thing that our Troops have been working on. As our Troops made their way into Iraq, the stench of sewage in the streets was often overpowering.

“What we intend to do over the next 500 days is to take the Iraqis from where they are to the next level,” he said.²

That process isn’t an easy one, as the entire backbone of the country, electrical services, water services, etc are so far behind, that those have to be updated prior to updating other things, such as computer networks. The initial plans are to upgrade the government security, communications systems, to support the country’s security functions. Experts in all fields are focusing on mentoring and building relationships with their Iraqi counterparts. Because their needs are different than those in the US and Europe, it’s imperative that those officials are involved in the process. The hopes are, that even though the focus at this point is on the technological capabilities of the government, that will eventually filter down to the citizens. Col. Johnson recalled an incident, where he wanted to loan a CD to an Iraqi friend, only to find out that his friend did not own a CD player.

“When I look at what we’re providing in terms of education, mentorship and training to senior Iraqi leadership,” he explained, “I always have in the back of my mind; ‘This is something that’s got to permeate down to those people who, like this one individual, don’t have things like computers, don’t have things like the Internet.³

Johnson did mention that he feels it will take many years to bring Iraqi up to date and into the 21st Century. However, the things our Troops are doing, will go along way towards helping them advance technologically. Without that help, they might have still remained 25 years behind, without the things that we as American see as necessities, things they never had the opportunity to have.

1. http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=50805 [↩]
2. http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=50805 [↩]
3. http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=50805 [↩]