PHOTO: Army Sgt. Maj. Jose Velazquez joined the Army as a way to get out of his hometown and fight the possibility of becoming a “statistic.” U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Kimberly Nagle JOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS, Va.– Army Sgt. Maj. Jose Velazquez, U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command public affairs sergeant major, is one of the more than 158,000 Hispanic Americans serving in the military today. Reflecting on National Hispanic Heritage Month, which began Sept. 15 and runs through Oct. 15, he recalled what joining the Army meant to him and how it changed his life.- Details
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June 10, 2014, Horn of Africa - Dear Generous Americans, On behalf of the Troops, I want to express our heartfelt gratitude for your generosity. Your care packages mean so much to so many. Every act of kindness is magnified for us when we are so far from home. The simplest gesture brings us joy, and inspires us to persevere and reminds us that what we do here is truly appreciated by our fellow citizens. When we are deployed so far from home it is gifts like yours that help to make the days more pleasant and the time pass quickly. While packages are filled with tangible items, they are valued more because they are a reminder that while we are far from home, we are not forgotten. Once again, on behalf of all of us, I assure you of our prayers, best wishes, and heartfelt gratitude. ~ Chaplain John ____
Read more: Thanks Americans from Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, Horn of Africa
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Ammerman, killed December 3rd, 2014Afghanistan, December 5, 2014: We honor Staff Sgt. Matthew Ammerman, killed December 3rd, 2014. Ammerman was a member of 3rd Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne) when he was killed in combat operations in Afghanistan. Good Americans will never forget their fallen heroes. "Staff Sgt. Matthew Ammerman was an exceptional Soldier in all regards.
He showed himself to be a standout shortly after arrival in the unit and his efforts have made an impact on his unit and our mission. We, as a nation, are fortunate to have men like Matt," said Lt. Col. Tommy Stoner, Commander of the 7th SFG(A)'s 3rd Battalion. "He not only represented what we should all aspire to be, but he lived it. His loss is a great blow and he will be missed and mourned by this unit. Our focus will be supporting his family in any way possible and ensuring that they are taken care of during this difficult process." Our prayers are with his family, friends and fellow soldiers.
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PHOTO: Army Capt. David Kingery, senior researcher with the Joint Combat Casualty Research Team, smiles for the camera April 4, 2014, at the Role 3 NATO Multi-National Medical Unit Hospital, Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan. Kingery’s role is to capture medical lessons learned during Operation Enduring Freedom and use the research to help further military medicine. U.S. Army photo by Cpl. Clay BeyersdorferKANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan – Army Capt. David Kingery was faced with a tough choice a few years ago. “Originally I wanted to be a doctor, but I just wanted to do something more with science. I enjoyed it more than the ‘business’ aspect of it,” he said. “I wanted to make a difference. So after doing some research, I found a place where I could do that -- the Army.” After getting his Ph.D. in biochemistry from Yale University, Kingery received a direct commission as a captain in the U.S. Army Medical Department in 2010.
Shortly after his commissioning, he began his first assignment as a biodefense researcher at the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases at Fort Detrick, Md., where he conducted laboratory research with the goal of increasing soldier effectiveness. Kingery, whose father and grandfathers also served in the military, said the combination of science and being able to serve as a commissioned officer and leader was the perfect mix.
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PHOTO: Army Sgt. Maj. Jose Velazquez joined the Army as a way to get out of his hometown and fight the possibility of becoming a “statistic.” U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Kimberly Nagle JOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS, Va.– Army Sgt. Maj. Jose Velazquez, U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command public affairs sergeant major, is one of the more than 158,000 Hispanic Americans serving in the military today. Reflecting on National Hispanic Heritage Month, which began Sept. 15 and runs through Oct. 15, he recalled what joining the Army meant to him and how it changed his life.Velazquez said he grew up in the lawless Essex Street Projects of Lawrence, Massachusetts, with his mother, who had moved from Puerto Rico to the United States. “My mother worked in factories to help provide and raise me,” he said. “Her hopes for me were to not become another statistic of the city, with working in a factory or ending up dead on a street corner.” After graduating from high school, Velazquez said, he tried his hand at community college, but fell short. “At the time, I was [still] struggling to not be a statistic, but in many ways I already was,” he explained. “By 1990, I had already failed out of college and had been hired by a clothing factory, working in what was known as the ‘sweat shop.’” Velazquez said he knew this was not the life he wanted to live, but was not sure about how to survive otherwise. ‘I knew I couldn’t stay there’ “I still remember like it was yesterday,” he said. “What I remember the most is the blank stares of the good, decent men and women who worked there. It felt like their hopes and dreams had died amongst those mill walls. I knew I couldn’t stay there. I knew I had to find a way out.”
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July 24, 2014: Awesome job Scouts! Good job Americans! We just shipped eight pallets of chocolate coated pre-popped popcorn to the Warrior Transition Units located in Texas!
I can't tell you how excited we are! As soon as I know when it will be here I'm planning a movie night for all the Soldiers, Staff and their Families! ~~ Shelly ----, WTU coordinator
WTUs are located at major military treatment facilities and provide support to wounded, ill and injured soldiers who require at least six months of rehabilitative care and complex medical management.