Austin, Texas Chapter
The Association for all Military Officers
Companion Bulletin-April
2007
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Companions, Our next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, 12 April at our contracted location, the Holiday Inn Northwest. Companion Stanley Bullard will brief us on the art of Arc Light bombing from a B-52 during the Vietnam War. Obviously, this should not only be entertaining, but also informative as we can quickly make "bomb damage" comparisons with the presently used smart bombs in Afghanistan and Iraq. Our well read members, particularly those with bomber pilot and ordnance backgrounds, are expected to create an active question and answer period that will be enjoyed by all. Colonel Cliff Way, our Region VIII Commander, upon hearing of this great program has decided to visit our Chapter that evening. He will be driving down from Dallas. Good news! Companion Chuck Szendrey, our Chapter Adjutant, is recovering at "home" from surgery for one of two herniated disks that along with the aftermath of his chemo-therapy treatment had severely delayed his ability to leave the Trinity Care Center in Round Rock. You will remember that Chuck went to the hospital on 1 January and has just now gone home. He is one tough Air Defense Artilleryman.
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Please do not forget that each of us has an opportunity to contribute to
our Chapter's Junior and Senior ROTC support programs. A $10.00
contribution will just about cover the costs of the medal, certificate and
presentation folder for the 25 MOWW ROTC presentations that we are
projected to make at 15 ceremonies during the months of April, May and
early June. Each of the 15 ceremonies requires the attendance of one of
our Companions in military uniform or civilian suit. We have (8) Air
Force, (3) Army, (1) Marine Corps and (3) Navy units to physically present
medals and certificates. See me if you are available and willing to make
one or more of the presentations. The list of the schools and their
respective award ceremony dates are on the next page.
If you desire a particular speaker or subject at a future meeting, please contact Companion Stanley Bullard at sgbullard@sbcglobal.net or 926-8438. We aim to please. We should all be sensitive to the needs of our members that require assistance to facilitate their attendance at our meetings. Please do not hesitate to call me at 261-6272, to arrange for this service. Andrew J. McVeigh III Chapter Commander |
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What is the difference between
mechanical engineers and civil engineers? |
2007 National Sojourner Presenters National Sojourner & Scottish Rite ROTC Medals & Certificates
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seems to be largely a matter of hanging on after others have let go. William Feather |
| The Navy Reserve is offering a two-year deferment from involuntary mobilization to Sailors who join the Reserve Component within six months after release from active duty. Additionally, Sailors who join the Reserves seven to 12 months after leaving active duty are eligible for a one-year deferment. Anyone who has been out of the service for less than four years can reenlist in the Navy Reserve and maintain their current pay grade. Navy veterans may be eligible for up to a $20,000 lump-sum bonus if they affiliate with the Navy Reserve for six years | WOUNDED WARRIOR ASSISTANCE ACT On March 28, 2007, the House unanimously passed H.R. 1538, the Wounded Warrior Assistance Act. This bipartisan bill responds to the problems brought to light at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center and other military health care facilities by including provisions to: 1) improve the access to quality medical care for wounded service members who are outpatients at military health care facilities; 2) begin the process of restoring the integrity and efficiency of the disability evaluation system and taking other steps to cut bureaucratic red-tape; and 3) improve the transition of wounded service members from the Armed Forces to the VA system. |
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Normal people believe that if it ain't broke, don't fix it. Engineers believe that if it ain't broke, it doesn't have enough features yet. |
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Program: Companion Stanley Bullard (Major,
USAF-Ret.) will narrate color slides made during Arc Light operations
and during his visit with U.S. Marines in Vietnam in 1967.
"Arc Light" was the designation for the dropping of
conventional bombs from B-52 aircraft during the Vietnam conflict. Major Bullard was sent, with the commissioned officer members of his crew, to visit with the U.S., Marines in 1967 for the purpose of familiarization with their operations. At that time, the Marines were directing U.S. military operations in the northern third of South Vietnam, including B-52 bomb drops. Bullard wrote a narrative report, part of which was published in "Boeing News," of his visit for his Wing Commander. The title of the magazine article was "Returning the Salute." Schedule: | Air Drops: The C-130's now have a GPS air drop capability. They can release their loads at 9000 feet where they used to have to release at 800 feet. March 21, 2007 GOWEN FIELD GPS-Guided Air Drops Aid Accuracy Air Force , Boise, Idaho -- Mobility aircrews now have a new tool which uses Global Positioning System, or GPS, to help them deliver cargo more accurately and safely in deployed theaters of operation. The Joint Precision Air Drop System, or JPADS, allows airdrops to be conducted from higher altitudes with improved accuracy, which allows deployed aircrews to remain out of harm's way while delivering important supplies and equipment to the troops that need them, First Time |
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Quote to Ponder Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail. Unknown Inspiration Selection I an the light of the world: he who follows me will not walk in darkness but will have the light of life. John 8:12 Staff Meeting |
Chapter Officers Commander - COL McVeigh Senior Vice Cmdr. - MAJ Bullard Junior Vice Cmdr. - COL Holland Adjutant - COL Szendrey Treasurer - CAPT Burrill Chaplain - CDR Cochran Surgeon - MG Bernstein Judge Advocate - COL Philips Austin Chapter Website If you have items for the website contact LTC Howard 255-2206 or e-mail: jr99howard@austin.rr.com |
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— Excerpts - Brookings Institute Daniel L. Byman, Nonresident Senior Fellow, Saban Center for Middle East Policy Iran's leadership is hostile to the United States and often aggressive in undermining U.S. interests in the Middle East. A nuclear weapon would make Iran an even more formidable threat. Despite this danger, U.S. options are limited at best. Many Iranian leaders are highly committed to the nuclear program, and it appears to enjoy widespread popular support. U.S. levers to move the clerical regime in Tehran, never strong, are weak. The debacle in Iraq has curtailed overall U.S. influence in the Middle East and improved Iran's bargaining position. U.S. policy will have to recognize the relative weakness of the U.S. hand even as it strives to maximize pressure on Tehran. Regime change, bombing campaigns, and other high-profile and blunt forms of pressure are likely to fail and may even backfire. A U.S.-led multilateral strategy to press Tehran economically and isolate it diplomatically offers the most potential leverage. Such a strategy must be calibrated to strengthen voices in Iran that worry that the nuclear program will lead to international isolation, which in turn would derail Iran's economy. Washington also must prepare for the possibility that its best efforts will not sway Iranian leaders. View Full Testimony (PDF file on the web) To the optimist, the glass is half full. To the pessimist, the glass is half empty. To the engineer, the glass is twice as big as it needs to be. |
VA Reviews Maintenance Needs for Facilities To ensure the 1,400 hospitals, clinics, nursing homes and other facilities where veterans receive health care from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) are in top-notch physical condition, the Department's senior physician said a special review of all facilities concludes most deficiencies involve "normal wear and tear." "The overwhelming majority of issues identified by this special review are the kinds of items you would expect to find -- and see being addressed -- in an organization with nearly 150 million square feet of space where 1 million patients come each week," said Dr. Michael Kussman, VA's Acting Under Secretary for Health. Secretary of Veterans Affairs. Kussman said the Department's $519 million maintenance budget for this year, coupled with $573 million proposed for next year, should take care of any maintenance shortcomings. If further funds are needed, VA pledged to work with congressional committees to identify how to best address those needs. "VA facilities are inspected more frequently than any other health care facilities in the nation," Kussman said. VA operates the largest integrated health care system in the United States, with 155 hospitals, nearly 900 outpatient clinics and 135 nursing homes. VA treated more than 5.4 million patients last year, accounting for about 55 million outpatient visits and 600,000 hospitalizations. VA's health care system has been widely cited as the best in the country, with accolades ranging from Harvard University, which last year awarded VA the prestigious "Innovations in Government" award for its computerized patient records, to major news media outlets, such as U.S. News & World Report, which said in a headline last summer, "VA Hospitals Are Models of Top-Notch Care." |