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| October 2008 Newsletter | ||
In This Issue
Quotable Quotes "Every Marine is, first and foremost, a rifleman. All other conditions are secondary." Gen. A. M. Gray, USMC Commandant of the Marine Corps Military Uniform Exchange - online  There is a new website that we think you will be interested in - MilitaryUniformExchange.com. Anyone who has discharged from the service knows that you have some uniforms that you will never part with. However, you likely have many more uniforms that are new or near-new and could be worn by someone else saving who has a need for them. The purpose of the Military Uniform Exchange is to provide a worldwide site for US Military members to buy and sell (Exchange) secondhand service uniforms and military books. Think of Military Uniform Exchange as a worldwide electronic combination of your local base newspaper classified ads and your local thrift shop. The Military Uniform Exchange exists to serve US Military personnel by providing a platform where they can come together at one location and defray the high cost of new uniform items. The Military Uniform Exchange also has a Vintage Military Uniforms category for people interested in pre-2001 Military Uniforms (all types) that are collectible or may be of historical value. (Unlike the other categories a fee is charged for this basic service). Sellers must create a free account in order to list items for sale using our exchange system. The basic listing service for military uniforms and military books is always free. A fee will be charged to list collectible or historical uniforms. A seller can elect additional services (provides more exposure for the ad) for a fee. If additional services are purchased, a one-time only fee is charged for that specific service over the specified period of time. There are no additional fees charged, including final value fees, for the duration of that ad unless the seller elects additional services. Buyers interested in purchasing an item can contact the seller using the "Reply to Ad" button. If a buyer notifies a seller that he is interested or agrees to buy an item listed, the buyer and seller deal directly with each other during the transaction. Buyers do not need to create a free account, but may do so in order to receive email alerts when something they are interested in is listed for sale on-line. I like this website; there are a lot of military classified sites on the web but I like those that specialize in one area. I think this site will be a great tool for service members to find and sell uniforms on the web. Please check it out at: www.MilitaryUniformExchange.com S/F Maj Prater (Ret) TWS CoFounder/Administrator Marine Corps humor from times past... We commonly feature the SemperToon of the Month in this Newsletter, a series of modern-day comics that lampoon life in the Corps by GySgt Wolf (Ret). As many of you are aware, however, comics about life in the Corps are nothing new. TWS Member Cpl Bruce Timby was kind enough to provide us with a digital copy of a 1958 publication entitled "Recroot Daze (This is your life)" by 1stLt Robert L. Fischer, published by Ace Mimeo and Mailing Service, San Diego, 1958. To help reflect on our Marine Corps heritage, we will include a selected comic from this book each month to look back 50 years into the history of our Corps. This month's selection "Tun Tavern Drille"  TWS Ambassador - Spread the word! Marines, TWS exists to support YOU! This website is first and foremost a buddy finder. The more Marines that are registered with TWS, the better it works for everyone. The more this site grows, the better we can serve YOU! In response to member comments and suggestions we're proud to announce the "TWS Ambassador Program" If you're located on or near a Marine Corps Installation and you like TWS and what the site does to support Marines - and if you're willing to serve as a local POC for TWS to spread the word, coordinate events and help support Marines - you're what we're looking for. All Ambassadors will be provided with an array of TWS Promotional materials and the mission is simple, spread the word about TWS to Marines on your installation, such as the newly designed MTWS bumper sticker:  If you live on or near a Marine Corps Installation and you're interested in representing TWS in your area, please contact me via email at: wtprater@togetherweserved.com or send me a PM and I'll get in touch with you to describe the program in more detail so you can determine if this is something you'd be interested to support. Semper Fi, Maj Wes Prater (Ret) TWS Admin TWS Invite Cards are part of the "Ambassador" program and as always, they're FREE for the asking. TWS Invite Cards are two-sided (sample below) and include a spot for you to print your member number and instructions for your invitees to credit you with the invitation. As a reminder, you get 6 months of free premium access for every 5 members you invite that create a profile page. There's also a new feature in the registration process as now new joining members are asked to include the member number of the person that invited them while they are registering. If you simply write your member number on the invite card, your invitees can enter your member number as they register and you'll automatically be credited for the invite. These cards are a great ice-breaker to start conversations with other Marines and they're the perfect tool to help Spread The Word about TWS. We've mailed out over 45,000 of these cards in the last year. Please drop us a note to share any success stories you've had using these cards to meet other Marines. If you'd like to receive a batch of these cards, please send an email to invitecards@marines.togetherweserved.com and tell us how many you'd like to receive and where to send them.   Useful Military Links Defenselink -- The OFFICIAL source of news and information from the Department of Defense, related agencies and all military branches. Multi-National Force - Iraq -- Official website of MNF-I. Multi-National Corps - Iraq -- Official website of MNC-I, "Leading the transformation of Iraq." International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) -- Official website for coalition forces in Afghanistan The Pentagon Channel -- 24-hour broadcasts of official military news and information for members of the US Armed Forces through select stateside cable systems, and overseas via American Forces Network (AFN). My AFN.mil -- American Forces Network (AFN) provides multi-channel, broadcast-quality radio and television services and expanded internal information products to all DoD members and their families stationed overseas, on contingency operations, and onboard Navy ships around the world. We Bring You Home. Military Homefront -- A DoD Web portal for reliable Quality of Life information designed to help troops and their families, leaders and service providers. Whether you live the military lifestyle or support those who do, you'll find what you need! Stars & Stripes -- The DoD-authorized UNOFFICIAL daily newspaper for US Forces overseas, printed in European, Pacific and Mideast editions. Department of Defense Educational Activity (DoDEA) -- DoDEA operates more than 218 public schools for grades K-12 in 14 districts located in seven U.S. states, Puerto Rico, Guam and 12 foreign countries to serve the children of military service members and Department of Defense civilian employees. Army & Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES) -- The military's largest retailer. A mission-essential, and the premier quality of life provider for all DoD military members, civilians, contractors and their families worldwide. Navy Exchange Service Command (NEXCOM) -- The Navy's Family Store providing quality goods and services at a savings and supporting the naval quality of life programs. Defense Commissary Agency (DeCA) -- Delivering the premier quality-of-life benefit to military members worldwide. United Service Organizations (USO) -- The USO supports U.S. troops and their families wherever they serve. Across the United States and around the world, the American military knows that the USO is there for them. Until Every One Comes Home. Space Avaliable Travel fact sheet -- Answers to the most common Space A travel questions, courtesy of the 60th Air Mobility Wing, Travis AFB, CA. OFFICIAL SERVICE BRANCH MAGAZINES: NAVY - All Hands MARINE CORPS - Marines ARMY - Soldiers AIR FORCE - Airman COAST GUARD - Coast Guard Navy World Wide Locator -- For locating individuals on active duty, those recently discharged, and current addresses for retired Navy service members. Navy Retired Activities Branch -- Keeps the retired community informed of their benefits and provides customer service to Navy retirees and their families. Shift Colors -- The Magazine for Navy Retirees. UNIFORM REGULATIONS: NAVY - NAVPERS 15665I MARINE CORPS - MCO P1020.34G ARMY - AR 670-1 AIR FORCE - AFI 36-2903 COAST GUARD - COMDTINST M1020.6E Global Terrorism Incident Map If you want to know what is going on in the world of terrorism, threats, explosions, airline incidents, etc., keep this web page. It's not just about terrorism - it's about what is happening every day, every minute some place in the world that could affect all of us in some way. It updates every 30 seconds, constantly. You just click on any map icon for full info at any time. Global Incident Map TWS Fallen Marine Memorial Project  TWS is a place to honor the service history of all Marines who served including those who fell in combat. So that they will not be forgotten, we have created a special facility where any TWS Member can post a Remembrance Profile for a Fallen Marine they knew or would like to honor, and this can be accessed via the "Remember a Marine" link on the LH Home page. We have also developed an important feature which will enable TWS Members to adopt the Profile of a Fallen Marine already posted on the site. TWS has already researched and compiled comprehensive information on all 14,387 Marines who fell during the Vietnam War, 1965-1975, and these are now installed as Fallen Profiles accessible via the LH Home Page link. As no one is assigned to maintain these Profiles, we invite TWS Members to adopt one or more Fallen Profiles as custodian and researching and adding any additional information when available. 4,700 Vietnam Fallen Profiles have already been adopted by TWS Members and there are just over 9,600 remaining. To adopt the Profile of a Fallen Marine from the Vietnam War, please click on the Adopt a Fallen Marine Profile link on the left hand Home Page after you log in or click hereMarine Corps Ball Season - Jarhead Red Wine  Have you considered a bottle of Jarhead Red Wine for the Marine Corps Birthday Ball this year? This is not novelty wine. Jarhead Red is a specialty California wine produced to exacting standards from some of the finest vineyards in the region. Here's a description of Jarhead Red Reserve: "Jarhead Red Reserve is an artful Bordeaux-style blend of Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Malbec from our finest estate vineyards. It begins with enchanting aromas of cassis, black cherry, anise and spice. The palate is smooth and elegant, with layers of plum, black currant and mocha." The Jarhead Red family of wines are produced in Carlsbad, CA by Marine Sgt Larry Kinser, who graciously supports the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation with a portion of all proceeds. Please visit the Jarhead Red purchasing store and pick up a bottle of this fine wine for this year's Marine Corps Birthday celebration. This is YOUR Website - help secure it Marines.Togetherweserved is your website - please help secure its future by upgrading to Full Membership  As you know, there are no advertisements on TWS and There is no charge to join MTWS and remain a Free Member. Without advertisments, TWS is a member-supported website and there are considerable benefits to becoming a Full Member. By upgrading to Full Membership, which is modestly priced and very simple to do, you not only have access to premium areas of the website but, in so doing, you also help support the ongoing development, maintenance and promotion of Marines.TogetherWeServed.com and keep it advertisement free. Think about it - how many websites do you visit that have no advertising? TWS is unique and it's here to serve YOU! Jobs for Marines  Visit the Marines Job Board which is on the left hand Home Page. You'll find numerous job listings. All positions, described in detail, are posted by fellow Marines.TWS Membes who are familiar with the credentials and experience offered by Marines. Jobs posted this month: Position Offered: Field Engineer - Wireless Location: Sterling, VA Salary Range: Competitive.... Position Offered: Mechanical Engineer Location: Knoxville, TN Salary Range: $100-$130K+bonuses Position Offered: Quality Assurance Manager Location: Colorado Springs, CO Salary Range: Negotiable Position Offered: Chief Knowledge Officer Location: Ft. Meade, MD Salary Range: negotiable Position Offered: Director of Financial Reporting Location: Lexinton Park, MD Salary Range: negotiable If your company has any positions suited to Marines seeking employment, you are very welcome to post these on the Job Board. This is a FREE service to TWS subscribers Post a Job on TWS Currently Posted Positions. Does the jobs board work? Please see these comments submitted by a recruiting professional: "[TWS]..Thanks for the note and the opportunity to give you feedback. We think of the TWS board as a vital piece of our recruiting capabilities. As a business yourself you know that it is a cardinal sin to refuse work. We do it daily and we are glad to do so! When we look at a company that is asking us to recruit for them, we look first at why they are asking specifically to help them. After all, there are no shortage of recruiting firms. If they are not offering long term stability, we would never recruit for them. If they are just trying to get publicity for hiring a vet, we would never help them. Our vets ARE NOT circus performing monkeys. They are men and women that have been trained to excel while others are running for the door. They are taught to never give up until the battle is done and they are taught others before self. If a company doesn't mirror that philosophy, they are not worthy of having our brave men and women in their ranks. Wal Mart recently asked us to recruit wounded warriors to act as greeters in their stores. We declined, our wounded warriors can do far more than offer a shopping basket to a patron. A key reason that we are able to be selective is because we have been able to keep our overhead low in part because the TWS job board is a integral part of our recruiting tools. The thing that makes the TWS board different from other services is that because it doesn't cost us to post, we charge a much lower fee to firms when we get the resume from TWS. We have 3 people that we are placing that found us through TWS. As such, we are going to make a $500 donation to the Wounded Warrior Project and cite TWS as the reason. It is a joy for our company to place service members and it is even more rewarding to us when these folks find us through together we served because it proves that the fellowship and brotherhood that binds servicemen and women is one that transcends what color uniform you wore, what your rate or MOS was or is, or what your race, gender or economic status is. We are all brothers and sisters in arms. Our company only focuses placing veterans and the spouses of active duty service men and women. My team is very focused on finding a great match for them with a company that will value them as valuable contributing member of their team. Every email that our team sends out to potential job candidates and or transition counselors has a reference to the Together We Served website. I think that if someone leaving the military maintains ties to active duty folks as well as join a network of prior military, it will make their transition back to civilian life much smoother. If we as a company are able to play a part in helping them find positive careers using TWS to do it, that is much better for everyone involved. Military.com approached me about 3 weeks ago about becoming a partner for military transition for some new thing they are trying to do. I thanked them for the call but told them they had lost focus on what they had originally wanted to do and that they needed to take the TWS model and copy that because their model isn't working anymore. I have assembled a very strong board of advisors including a former assistant attorney general, a retired Navy Captain, a retired Navy 2 star and very soon, we will have a retired 3 star Army General. All of them are impressed with what you are doing for our service men and women. None think that Military.com is anything more than a site that is out to just make a buck. Keep doing what you are doing. You are doing great things for our veterans and for that, I say thank you very much." Kevin Dunlap President/CEO Vetrecs Services Corporation a Veteran Owned Business 1005 Warren Drive Westminster, MD 21157 P (866) 829-0555 x702 F (866) 576-6976 If you have had success with either finding employees or with locating employment on the TWS Jobs Board, please let us know! This is a valuable FREE service to all TWS Members and employers and we're always interested in hearing your success stories. Please email TWS Admin with the details: info@marines.togetherweserved.com Marines.TWS Forums and Chat Boards - Sound Off!  What was your best duty station or assignment and why? What is the recipe for that good chow you know how to make out of an MRE? Where's the coldest beer on on WestPac? Do you have any tips about keeping healthy, or things to watch out for if you have a disease? These are just a few of the topics that are covered by the many Forums on Marines.TWS. These forums provide you, the members, a variety of places to discuss with other members the many topics we have in common. Those members still on active duty would probably like to know about good assignments when they make out their "dream sheets" or talk to their Monitors. Those who have worked as Monitors or served on a board might want to provide a few tips for members in preparing to talk about their next assignment. If you have a disease like diabetes, what tips can you give others about the disease and things to watch out for with diabetes? Encourage a fellow Marine to keep on top of a health problem so he stays with us for a long time. These are but a couple of topics that are available for you to offer advice, warn others about, discuss with other Marines, etc, or just vent your frustrations about. So pull up a foot-locker and start shooting the breeze, the forums are for you. Lost Your Password? If you have forgotten your User ID and Password you can be quickly and easily reminded by clicking on the "Reminder" link contained on the Login page or following this Link. Your Username and Password will be immediately sent to you by e-mail. Marines.TWS 2009 Printable Calendar TWS Member: Trina, Jay (Preacher), LCpl has created a ready to print 2009 Marines.TWS Calendar in Power-Point Format. Click here to open the file in .ppt and print your copy. Marine Corps History from the month of October Click here for a thorough list of Marine Corps historical events that occurred during the month of October. Historical Marine Photo  Legendary Marines: L-R: unknown, John Quick (standing), Wendell Neville, John Lejeune, Smedley Butler. Vera Cruz, circa 1914-1915 submitted by: Yost, Scott, LtCol It's Your Money with Suze Orman  Personal finance expert and motivational speaker Suze Orman created her brand of mega-success by bringing financial planning out of the echelons of millionaires clubs and delivering it to every day people.Orman frequently takes calls from servicemembers on CNBC's The Suze Orman Show, and has reached out to troops by making speaking appearances at bases and by being involved in the www.militarysaves.com campaign. Each month, The TALON will feature a money tip from Orman to help stretch your hard-earned military dollar every payday. Q: What is the formula for building wealth? A: Get rid of credit card debt and other high-interest, short-term debt, like car loans. Create an emergency savings fund. Six months is ideal. It can be a bank savings account or a certificate of deposit. Consider a high-return plan like that on www.saveyourself.com, which pays $100 after you’ve contributed $100 per month for 12 months. Besides an emergency fund, start saving for retirement. Start putting money in the Thrift Savings Plan and maybe you also start saving for a down payment for buying a home later. Once you're out of the military, you have to decide where you want to go to get a job and buy a house. So go rent there, and then buy. It's OK to keep renting until you know where. Be very careful about your children's college education. It's so incredibly expensive, it's not even funny. Realistically speaking, with military salaries, it's very hard to pay for everything - a house, retirement, college. It's better to teach your children that they have to get good grades to qualify for scholarships, or they may need loans or go into the military, which is what my nephew did. Here is the problem: a kid goes to college and still doesn't know what he wants to be and the parents are $100,000 in debt. There's nothing wrong with community college. From our Marine Humor Board Wisdom of the Ages It is hard to understand how a cemetery raised its burial rates and blamed it on the cost of living. THE IRONY OF LIFE IS: BY THE TIME YOU'RE OLD ENOUGH TO KNOW YOUR WAY AROUND, YOU'RE NOT GOING ANYWHERE ANY MORE. Submitted by: Haight, JJ (JJ or snake), Cpl The "Guidon" - MTWS Monthly Newsletter A monthly online publication of Marines.TogetherWeServed.com, a commercial entity in no way affiliated, authorized or endorsed by the US Government, Department of Defense, Department of the Navy, or any of its agencies. Opinions and views expressed herein are not necessarily those of Marines.TogetherWeServed.com, the U.S. Government, Department of the Navy or the Department of Defense. The GUIDON - MTWS Newsletter is published and distributed for informational purposes only and should not be considered official Marine Corps policy, regulation or doctrine. Contact your command's administration section concerning all current Marine Corps policy, regulation and doctrine issues. All photos used in this online publication are official US Navy/Department of Defense imagery and cleared for public release, unless otherwise indicated. Please send any comments, quality improvement suggestions or story ideas to: news@marines.togetherweserved.com. Maj W.T. Prater (Ret) Administrator/Editor Reunions & Get Togethers The TWS Reunions & Get Together's Forum Board has grown into a clearing house of information and we're happy to feature any specific announcements you may have. If have reunion or get together information you'd like to have published let us know. Email your command/club/association reunion announcement as early as possible to: news@marines.togetherweserved.com There are 17 Marines who are Amputees serving in Iraq!  U.S. Marine Cpl. Garrett Jones was re-deployed just a year after losing his left leg to a roadside bomb while serving in Iraq as an infantry fighter. In previous wars, Jones would have received a medical discharge and returned to civilian life. But the Pentagon has made it possible for Marines who’d like to return to the front lines, to return.Beirut Remembrance Walk - 25th Anniversary of the Bombing of the Beirut Barracks 23 October, 1983, to benefit The Wounded Marine & Family Assistance Program and Veterans Memorial Day Tribute.Source: PatDollard.com Joseph Kinney | July 24, 2008: Thirty-nine years ago I was shot in an ambush while a Marine on a night patrol in Vietnam. I had potentially fatal wounds to my chest and a serious wound to my right leg. To put matters bluntly, I had never been more terrified in my life. Would I die? And if I died, would I go to heaven? I also thought about the buddies I was leaving behind. Somehow, I wanted to believe that they would be better off without me to slow them down. The next morning I woke up at a hospital in Da Nang. The doctors told me that my days as a fighting Marine were over. Somehow, I felt that I had more to give but wouldn’t get the chance. My history is relevant only because there are huge differences between then and now when it comes to our Wounded Warriors. For the past couple of years I have had the privilege of knowing Col. Jack Cox (USA, ret.) who is a stalwart in the Wounded Warrior Program at Fort Bragg. He has been a great friend and mentor, and has taken the time to introduce me to some of this generation’s wounded. There are at least two important differences between my generation and the young men I have seen at Fort Bragg’s Womack Hospital which is near where I live. For openers, the Army acts as if the wounded person is going to remain forever a soldier. That is their basic operating assumption moving forward. Second, the attitude of these kids is amazing. These brave warriors, no matter how badly wounded they are, believe that they will soon be back with their units fighting in Iraq or Afghanistan. Today, there are 17 Marines who are amputees fighting in Iraq. I am certain that there are as many soldiers doing the same for the Army. Recently, I received a widely distributed email from Col (Dr.) Brett Wyrick. He was a trauma surgeon at Balad Air Base in Iraq. He wrote: “If I ever hear (anyone) griping and complaining, I jump into them pretty quickly, now. Most people over here have nothing to gripe about compared to Marines. Marines are different. They have a different outlook on life . . “One Marine Private was here for several days because he was a lower priority evacuation patient. He insisted on coming to attention and displaying proper military courtesy every morning when I came through on rounds. He was in a great deal of pain, and it was a stressful to watch him work his way off the bed and onto his crutches. I told him he was excused and did not have to come to attention while he was a patient, and he informed me he was a good Marine and would address ‘. . . Air Force colonels standing on my feet, sir.’ I had to turn away so he would not see the tear in my eye. He did not have ‘feet’ because we amputated his right leg below the knee on the first night he came in. “I asked a Marine Lance Corporal if there was anything I could get him as I was making rounds one morning. He was an above the knee amputation after an IED blast, and he surprised me when he asked for a trigonometry book. ‘You enjoy math do you?’ He replied, ‘Not particularly, sir. I was never good at it, but I need to get good at it, now.’ ‘Are you planning on going back to school?’ I asked. ‘No sir, I am planning on shooting artillery. I will slow an infantry platoon down with just one good leg, but I am going to get good at math and learn how to shoot artillery.’ I hope he does. “I had the sad duty of standing over a young Marine sergeant when he recovered from anesthesia. Despite our best efforts there was just no way to save his left arm, and it had to come off just below the elbow. ‘Can I have my arm back, sir?’ he asked. ‘No, we had to cut it off, we cannot re-attach it,’ I said. ‘But can I have my arm?’ he asked again. ‘You see, we had to cut it off.’ He interrupted, ‘I know you had to cut it off, but I want it back. It must be in a bag or something, sir.’ ‘Why do you want it?’ I asked. ‘I am going to have it stuffed and use it as a club when I get back to my unit.’ I must have looked shocked because he tried to comfort me, ‘Don’t you worry now, colonel. You did a fine job, and I hardly hurt at all; besides I write with my other hand anyway.’ Now, please tell me that these young guys aren’t the Greatest Generation that has ever lived. POW-MIA - You are Not Forgotten!  You are not Forgotten! |
Growing Strong! Marines.TogetherWeServed.com has now grown to over 196,000 Profiles with more than 4,250 New Members joining in the last 30 days. Log in today to see if anyone you served with is now on board and looking for you! They Came in Peace... Remembering the Fallen Marines of the Beirut Bombing 23 Oct 1983 25 Years have passed, but their sacrifice will never be forgotten. - - - - - - - "They did no make war. They were simply victims of war, in the honorable attempt to keep the peace. The gift of these men was of the ultimate quality and we know that it was of such value that it cannot be given again..."  On Sunday, October 23,1983 at approximately 6:20 a.m. 241 Marines, sailors and soldiers were killed and hundreds of others were wounded or disabled. This was the result of a suicide truck, laden with explosives carrying the equivilant of 20,000 pounds of TNT that detonated on the ground floor of BLT 1/8 headquarters barracks in Beirut, Lebanon. The largest non-nuclear explosion of its time. Other servicemen from 1982-1984 perished from sniper fire and other atrocities. Others died years later or are permantly disabled as the result of their wounds. This makes a total of 270 Marines, sailors and soldiers that died during a peacekeeping mission.  Click this icon for a list of names of the Service Members killed in this attack.  Click this icon to link to the proposed Memorial Stamp initiative. A link to a currently active Forum Thread on TWS "Remember the Peackeepers" Video of the Month YouTube Video of the Month - Honoring the Marines of Beirut TWS Member Challenge - Honor those who have gone before
What is it about you Marines?
Featured Upgrades this Month World Map TWS Marine Store - For All Your Marine Merchandise Needs! Pay a visit to our online TWS Marine Store. For all your Marine Merchandise needs - Shirts, Jackets, Hats, Jewelry, Footwear, Medals, Patches and much, much more! (The Marine Store can also be found under the "Marine Store" tab or on the left hand Home Page just as you log into TWS) Over 9000 Quality Items at lowest prices and a 30 day money back guarantee! Here are some brand new items just arrived:    
"I'm, a new customer, and a satisfied one at that. Your service is excellent, and so are your prices - talk about time to receive items! Its service like the old days. Semper Fi" Thank you for your support of the TWS Marine Store. All Store proceeds go towards advertising the TWS website, bringing more Marines to the TWS Community. Vet Topics VA Establishes Waiting List for Washington Crossing National Cemetery
Complimentary Upgrade to Those Serving in OIF/OEF
 Just let us know who you are, on the honor system and we'll upgrade your profile. email TWS Admin Marine Corps Ball Season - TWS Challenge Coins The Marine Corps Ball is fast approaching. Be sure to attend this year well armed for challenges as you belly up to the Bar with a Marines.TWS challenge coin in your pocket.  The graphic on this coin is very clear with raised epoxy over it, the lettering around it is yellow (gold). Credit Card orders are accepted for these coins online at the TWSCafe - for the same price. Military News - Around the Services  A FRIENDLY GAME - Army SPC Steve Stewart attempts to show a group of Iraqi teens how to play foosball as his unit and an element of Iraqi National Police conduct Operation BOAR BOBCATS in eastern Baghdad. Stewart is with the 10th Mountain Division's Co. A, 2nd Bn., 30th Infantry Regiment. - US Army photo by SSG Brian D. Lehnhardt DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE - SECDEF urges SE European nations to send troops to Afghanistan - Gates reaffirms support for Ukraine - USFK Commander: N. Korean nuclear activities destabilize region - Mock village preps US, NATO forces for deployment - Threat reduction agency marks 10th anniversary - Armed Forces Retirement Home gets prestigious accredation - Services meet fiscal year recruiting goals  SWEPT OFF HER FEET - Marine Corps SSgt. Jeff Vandentop unleashes a sweeping hip throw on Sgt. Sarina Young at Camp Fallujah, Iraq. Vandentop is chief instructor of Fallujah's Marine Corps martial arts instructor course, and Young is a fellow black belt instructor. Vandentop recently trained a class of 95 Marines to become Marine Corps Martial Arts Program instructors. - USMC photo by Cpl. Sean P. McGinty  HAWAIIAN SUNSET - The aircraft carier USS Abraham Lincoln is framed by shafts of sunlight at dusk while moored at Pearl Harbor Naval Station, Hawaii during a recent port visit. The Lincoln Carrier Strike Group is on a scheduled deployment to the US 7th Fleet area of responsibility. - USN photo by MC3 Rialyn Rodrigo ARMY - New manual to cover "full spectrum" training - UH-72 Lakota helicopter flies to annual powwow - AKO hits 1-billionth log-on, continues improvements - First round fired from Future Combat System chassis - Hawaii sees demonstration of new floating causeway - CSA Casey: NCO corps "glue that holds Army together"  LIKE MY KEVLAR? - Kaithlyn Gibson, 6, decked-out in a helmet and body armor, sits in a Humvee at her preschool in Temple Hills, MD. Members from the 11th Logistics Readiness Squadron at Bolling AFB, DC brought the vehicle for students to explore as part of the school's "Truck Day." - USAF photo by SrA. Tim Chacon NAVY - SECNAV, CNO & MCPON send Navy Birthday messages to fleet - SCOTUS hears Navy sonar case - USS Peleliu, Halsey strengthen century-long partnership with Sydney - Sea Cadets experience life aboard USS Bonhomme Richard - FLTACTS Yokosuka school kids learn fire, earthquake safety - USS Howard monitoring pirate-seized ship  COMCAM AT WORK - Petty Officer 2nd Class Angela McLane, a Navy combat cameraman, documents Soldiers as they provide overwatch security during the opening of a hospital in Khalis, Iraq. The soldiers are assigned to 4th Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment. - DoD photo by SPC Ronald Wright  THE NOSE KNOWS - Coast Guard Petty Officer 1st Class Rick Leland and his Labrador retriever Asia, both attached to Maritime Safety and Security Team Los Angeles/Long Beach, conduct a security sweep near the Ferry Building in San Francisco in preparation for Fleet Week. Asia is one of 14 working dogs in the USCG trained to detect explosive materials. - USCG photo by PA3 Cory J. Mendenhall MARINE CORPS - MARCENT transfers Marine duties in Africa - CU L8TR: No text messaging while driving in CA - On target: Scout snipers zero-in - Armorer keeps weapons ready to fire, Marines ready to fight - US, ROK Marines strengthen bonds during Korean exercise - Marines Magazine highlights "The Epitome of Drill"  SECDEF WELCOMED - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates walks though an honor cordon of Macedonian special guardsman after attending the Southeastern European Defense Ministerial earlier this month in Ohrid, Macedonia. - DoD photo by TSgt. Jerry Morrison COAST GUARD - Buoy tending: Dirtiest job in the Coast Guard - New artwork accepted by CG Art Program - USCGC Dallas returns to homeport after historic deployment - CG to provide safety, security during San Francisco Fleet Week 2008 - de Ocampo: USCG's oldest enlisted retiree - Barnegat Lighthouse celebrates 150 years of service  FIRST MEETING - Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class David Boswell meets his one-week-old son Peyton for the first time after his return from a recent six-month deployment. Boswell is a sonar technician aboard the Mayport, FL based guided missile frigate USS McInerney (FFG 8). - USN photo by MC1 Leah Stiles Member Submitted photos of the month TWS now hosts over 663,000 member submitted photos! Here's a sample of some of the more than 18,000 photos you added this month... Member Comments "thank you for the welcoming message! I just recently got out of bootcamp at MCRD San Diego and am very proud of the Corps and its values! Sincerely, Brian Beamer" To Your Health! Tricare takes aim at childhood obesity FALLS CHURCH, VA - October is Children's Health Month and Tricare has launched a new Web page at http://www.tricare.mil/getfit to promote a healthy lifestyle partnership aimed at military families. The new page serves as campaign "headquarters." Former POWs Now Eligible for Posthumous Purple Hearts Story by Donna Miles SemperToon of the Month Trade Banner Links with TWS  If you operate a Marine orientated website and are willing to trade links with TWS, click here for information on posting a TWS banner on your site. In return, please contact us at admin@marines.togetherweserved.com with your site's URL, up to 100 words describing your website and a 468x60 website banner in jpeg format, if available. We'll be happy to post a reciprocal link in our Preferred Marine Links Section in the category of your choice. TWS Marine Links Pages are conveniently organized under different categories including Marine Associations, MCL Detachments, Marine Businesses, Marine Charities and others. Comments/Suggestions Please forward any comments or suggestions that you feel would further improve the website to info@marines.togetherweserved.com or just reply to this newsletter. Enjoyed This Newsletter? Please forward this on to any other Marines you know. As TWS grows so does its potential to find old buddies and new friends as well as creating a vibrant and enjoyable Marine Community representing all eras from WW2 to present day.
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As Marines, we have a duty to remember and honor those who have gone before us, it's part of who we are and what we do. 
How many times have we been asked, "What is it about you Marines?"
The revision maintains the integrity of the award while allowing a reasonable presumption that servicemembers who die in captivity did so as a result of enemy action or complicity, he said.