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Thursday, 29 March 2012 |
By Amy NewcombGUIDON staff The word ‘friend’ is a profound word and when used in regards to someone you hold dear, can inspire feelings of affection, trust, camaraderie and much more. These types of feelings cannot be forced. Every single great friend that I have right now — the ones I still talk to and visit when their husbands are deployed or when they just need a friend — I met by chance.  Newcomb However the military will always be the military. I actually read about a program at Fort Leonard Wood that is for all spouses, regardless of their military affiliation or rank, to help them make friends. And unless we have somehow transformed ourselves into the show ‘Army Wives,’ then I am pretty sure rank is going to become an issue at some point or another, let alone funding a “find a friend” program that really isn’t needed. I have been in and around the military for the past 12 years, and I have moved five times with move number six right around the corner. I have dear friends stationed all over the world – from Korea to Germany to Florida to Colorado. I made these friends. I made them all by myself. Personally, I think the military is notorious for enabling military spouses. We are making budget cuts at every turn, yet we have a multitude of programs that produce nothing more than dependent dependents, like the one that helps us make friends. Since when did making friends the old-fashioned way go out of style? Don’t get me wrong, there are definitely certain situations where these types of “groups” would be feasible, like if you live in a foreign country or your Soldier serves the military under special circumstances like as a drill sergeant — these are called Family Readiness Groups. |
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 11 April 2012 )
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Thursday, 29 March 2012 |
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By Air Force Maj. Gen. A. J. Stewart
Air Force News Service
I had the world by the tail: U. S. Air Force Academy graduate, Air Force pilot, six-time commander, 30-year Air Force career, and two stars; fit, healthy and strong. But subtle problems appeared out of nowhere: occasional vertigo, mild persistent headaches, cognitive challenges, having to stop during a run.
I went to see the flight surgeon and was immediately referred to a neurologist. An MRI revealed a golf-ball sized tumor on the left temporal lobe of my brain and the doctor bluntly told me, “Your life will never be the same.” I was literally stunned.
Swelling was critical and I was admitted for surgery five days later. The surgeon briefed me on all that could go wrong, but the young Air Force captain performed expertly. He gets my vote if I ever need another surgery.
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 11 April 2012 )
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Thursday, 29 March 2012 |
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By William Bradner
Special to GUIDON
It’s the pre-school child who — without being asked — passes his dessert to his little sister, simply because she looks sad. It’s the second-grader who bravely puts a picture of her father at the head of the table for her birthday party, and the fifth-grade siblings who donate all their earnings from their lemonade stand to the USO that both their parents passed through on the way to Iraq. It’s the junior high band member who asks if the spring concert can be dedicated to our deployed service members, and it’s the high school cheerleader who organizes a “care package” drive. It’s the college graduate who clings just a little longer to her father, wishing that her mother was at the commencement ceremony instead of in Afghanistan.
These are our military children; our nation’s heroes.
With so much media attention focused on the Soldiers returning from war and the sacrifices they’ve made for our freedom, we don’t want to overlook the youth who quietly support them in the background. Approximately 2 million children have experienced the deployment of one or both of their parents in the last ten years.
They brave their own battlefields. They rely on an inner strength to face each day. They swallow their fears and disappointment because they know that their Soldier-parent is doing something important. They inspire us with their resiliency.
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 11 April 2012 )
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Thursday, 29 March 2012 |
 A group of Marines run on the Engineer Trail Monday. Story and photo by Melissa Buckley
GUIDON staff
Troops and their Families are already enjoying the upgrades on two recreation areas on post — the U.S. Army Engineer School Running Trail and Colyer Park.
After three months of work, the 2.6-mile running trail, commonly referred to as Engineer Trail, has seven new bridges and 15 new exercise stations. The trail was resurfaced and the drainage improved, plus a new section was added to the trail to avoid a steep slope.
Col. Charles Williams, Fort Leonard Wood garrison commander, uses Engineer Trail and is delighted with the makeover.
“The trail was something that has needed a facelift for years, so I’m glad we finally got after it,” Williams said. “You need to go check it out.”
According to Dan James, Directorate of Public Works landscape architect, the improvements not only make the trail safer and more enjoyable, but will stand up to the elements longer.
“The bridges are metal with wood floor and will not require painting. The new exercise stations are all metal and plastic edger which contains the mulch. The new surface on the trail should not erode or wash as fast,” James said.
The improvements have had a positive affect on Williams’ physical training experience — he said the difference is obvious.
“Like night and day. The trail was always beautiful, but it now it’s like new again; even better,” Williams said.
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 11 April 2012 )
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Thursday, 29 March 2012 |
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By Melissa Buckley
GUIDON staff
Out of thousands, only 14 active-duty Soldiers Army-wide had what it takes to win the prestigious Gen. Douglas MacArthur Leadership Award this year — two of them from the U. S. Army Training and Doctrine Command, one of them from Fort Leonard Wood.
Capt. Charles Mallard, Company A commander, 787th Military Police Battalion, 14th Military Police Brigade thought just being nominated was honor enough and attributes his new award to his fellow Soldiers.
“It’s a great honor. We have a lot of great people within this battalion and Fort Leonard Wood. I was happy just to be nominated. I may be the one receiving the award but this is absolutely a team effort,” Mallard said. “It’s a credit to the people I work with.”
The Gen. Douglas MacArthur Leadership Award recognizes company grade officers who demonstrate the ideals for which Gen, MacArthur stood — duty, honor, country.
This distinguished award isn’t the first for Mallard. Among his numerous leadership awards in 2004, he was selected as Fort Leonard Wood’s Drill Sergeant of the Year.
He said the awards are nice, but they are just icing on the cake for his career. Mallard prides himself most with turning civilians into Warriors.
“I don’t come to work every day to win Drill Sergeant of the Year or the Gen. MacArthur Leadership Award. I come to work because our young Soldiers deserve a leader that cares about them and about what they are going to train on that day,” Mallard said. “A commander in TRADOC has the duty of training the newest enlisted members of our Army. The cadre and I take this very seriously.”
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 11 April 2012 )
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