THOUGHTS FROM A SOLDIER

This post is quite a departure from my usual blog posts but in light of recent world events and as a former combat veteran, I have seen so much misinformation in the media that I feel compelled to weigh in.

WARNING: CONTAINS EXPLICT CONTENT.

It is rare that I will engage in any discussion that has to do with politics and I normally wouldn't dream of posting it on Facebook, so I apologize in advance if I offend anyone.

That doesn't mean that... I don't have my own very strong opinions but they are mine and the fact of the matter is that I feel in no way, compelled to share them. Instead of flapping my mouth and bitching and moaning as many do; I decided to put on a uniform and when I got called to go into combat, I went with honor and pride - even as a single mother with a one and a half year son at home.

The truth, no matter how much it pisses anyone off - is that the American public is so fickle it makes me sick to my stomach. Most only "care" as long as there is war and blood and violence being televised 24/7 but as soon as that subsides, this country - collectively - gets bored. Gone is the support! Gone is any sense of unity! And the bitching and back-biting resumes. But that is your right and as much as I may despise what some say - I and every other Veteran fought for that right for you.

How quickly you forget that when the soldiers returned from Vietnam - you screamed at them and spat on them.

And for all of you that say that I fought in Desert Storm for oil...I fought because to this day I can't get the images of the horrors that Saddam Hussein committed against the Kurds, out of my head. 

SADDAM HUSSEIN GASSES THE KURDS. In 1988, the Hussein regime began a campaign of extermination against the Kurdish people living in Northern Iraq. The attacks resulted in the death of at least 50,000 (some reports estimate as many as 182,000) people, many of them women and children. See More

For those of you who never served, at the heart of the military is the Chain of Command - from your direct supervisor to the Commander-In-Chief. And no matter what you think of anyone in that Chain of Command doesn't matter a rat's ass. You show RESPECT to the rank and follow orders - PERIOD! We didn't get to be the greatest fighting machine in the world by having our head up our butts all these years. It didn't matter what I thought of President Bush Sr. or Jr., President Clinton, or President Obama - they served as Commander-in-Chief and I afford them the respect that every soldier should and takes an Oath of Allegiance to:

"I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God."

If you are so pissed off and disgruntled... shut your f'ing yap, get up off your ass and get involved - you can start by voting. And then, when you see those horrific images on TV...first, turn the channel - stop feeding into the media and giving validation to the idiot talking heads...and second, take a moment to thank God or whomever...or just be grateful that YOU live in a country where you don't have to live in constant terror or stand the chance of being murdered at the whim of some extremist.

-Stefani Ceballos

 

A NewSchool Year: CanYour School Live Up to The Challenge?

By That Car Girl

Well, the weather certainly gives us no clues, but another summer has come and gone and amid all the excitement of back to school shopping, worrying about if you have lunch with anyone cool, or any one of a million things that I know are "stressing you" right now, I ask you to please consider one  - vehicular safety.

Although I know all of you have  the best of intentions,  it is a fact that the initial switch into getting up earlier can have a dramatic effect on disrupting our regular sleep cycle as it puts us out of sync with our circadian rhythm. The biggest impacts of the time change on drivers can be felt on some of the key skills that affect the quality of our driving – poorer concentration, alertness behind the wheel and reaction time to potential hazards. 

Therefore,  it is critical that we all take the issue of safety on ourselves when driving, but especially during times that children are on their way to or returning from school.  

By The Numbers

According to the National Safety Council, chances of being struck and killed as a pedestrian increase 1100% - no that was not a typo - during hours of dark.

Additional research finds that pedestrians are three times more likely to be hit and killed by cars right after the switch.

Cornell University Cooperative Extension Program published a report that states “pedestrians walking along a road in dark clothing in the early morning or at night are first seen approximately 55 feet away, giving a driver less than one second reaction time. A driver traveling at 60 mph needs over 260 feet to stop”. Black\Blue can be seen 55 feet. White can be seen 180 feet ahead. Reflective materials can be seen at 200 - 1500 feet or more.

Prepare and Prevent

Making an effort to adapt to the time change can really pay off. Here are tips to help adjust to the time change:

• Getting into the groove - Be aware of how your own body adapts to the time change and how that may affect your ability to concentrate and avoid hazards. Plan to get to bed earlier on Sunday to be ready for the Monday morning commute.
• Lights on for safety - Prepare your vehicle for the change in conditions, particularly the darker morning commutes. Clean your vehicle’s headlights and check they are all working properly, especially your rear lights.
• Can you see me now? - If walking, running or biking in the early morning hours or at night, wear white or light colors, use appropriate lighting on your bike, and always wear highly-reflective gear which provides 360° visibility. 

Now is the perfect time to start thinking about how to keep your family, friends, and yourself safe and share the road! 

And seriously...what is SO important that you would put your friend's or your own life at risk?? 

And remember, ITS AGAINST THE LAW!

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  • #vehicle safety
  • #pedestrian safety
  • #student safety
  • #Central Florida

Our Sustained Commitment to Care for Gulf War Veterans

June 18, 2013 by Robert Jesse

Twenty-three years have passed since the start of the deployment and combat operations known as Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. These two military operations comprise the 1990-1991 Gulf War. Since then, many Veterans of that conflict have suffered from adverse health consequences.

We’ve come a long way in recognizing the illnesses suffered by Gulf War Veterans, and we have rejected the notion the symptoms result from mental health issues like post-traumatic stress.

That’s why in the years following the first Gulf War, VA has continued to provide quality healthcare and benefits to those Veterans, and to invest in research to understand and treat Gulf War Veterans Illnesses, including Chronic Multi-Symptom Illness and related health areas. In 2009, Secretary Shinseki directed the formation of the VA Gulf War Veterans’ Illnesses Task Force, previously led by former Chief of Staff and Gulf War Veteran John Gingrich, to better synchronize department-wide efforts to serve Gulf War Veterans. The VA’s Interim Chief of Staff, Mr. Jose Riojas, also a Gulf War Veteran, continues this work.

The Research Advisory Committee on Gulf War Veterans’ Illnesses (RAC) has led the way on crucial initiatives ever since. As a result of their work, VA has more than doubled the number of requested research projects on specific Gulf War areas of study. Additionally, VA has funded all proposals for Gulf War research that have met scientific and quality merit review standards. We’ve done that by increasing R&D funding directly obligated for Gulf War research to $7.3 million this year —a nearly $2 million boost from 2011.

In 2010, Secretary Shinseki recognized nine new diseases as associated with Gulf War service, reflecting a determination of positive association between service in the region and those diseases.

VA has relied on the RAC to provide expert advice to the Secretary on optimizing VA’s Gulf War research portfolio. The most technological and current scientific tools are being deployed to better understand these complex illnesses. Recently approved research initiatives include investigations regarding biomarkers, imaging diagnostics, and clinical treatment trials, which have come from committee recommendations. The Committee’s work has been invaluable to bring these issues to light and ensure they are high priorities within the Department from the top down.

As the Committee has matured, changes were made to the RAC ‘s charter to align it with similar VA charters in accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act and the requirements of Public Law 105-368, § 104, for example Women Veterans and the Rural Health Advisory Committees.  VA completed a departmental review of the charter in October 2012. One notable issue was that membership terms have expired so there will be also a rotation of some Committee members.  Chairman James Binns has been asked to stay for another year to help in the transition of new members and oversee the completion of the RAC’s major scientific review, a critical report that assists VA in setting Gulf War research priorities.

Make no mistake—the momentum the Committee has achieved to bring sweeping and lasting change to the research and treatment of Gulf War Veterans’ Illnesses will not falter. We have turned a corner on this issue, and there is simply no going back. VA is continuing efforts to be responsive to the Committee’s recommendations by increasing senior leadership engagement between the RAC Chairman, myself and Dr. Madhu Agarwal, Assistant Deputy Undersecretary for Health for Policy and Services.

VA knows we must continue the progress we’ve made together for our Gulf War Veterans. We must ensure every Gulf War Veteran is aware of the disability and health care benefits to which they may be entitled as the result of their wartime service and to assist them in accessing these services.

Since its inception, the RAC has been the catalyst for change and unquestionably guided VA to deliver on its core mission to care for our Nation’s Veterans. They have my greatest confidence in continuing that mission, and we look forward to working with them to achieve our mutual goals.

For more information, read VA’s recently released Gulf War Research Strategic Plan and the Task Force’s Draft annual report.

Dr. Robert Jesse is the Principal Deputy Undersecretary of Health at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

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1. Stefani Ceballos says:

   Your comment is awaiting moderation.
   

   June 19, 2013 at 11:16 pm

   There is absolutely no sustained or any other type of commitment to Care for Gulf War Veterans. The very same day that the results of the PLOS One Study showing that Gulf War Syndrome is not an idiopathic, undiagnosed illness but, in fact, brain damage hit the Associated Press. Secretary Shineski announced his intentions to gut the Gulf War R.A.C. – a little retaliation there? He espouses the use of eBenefits as the best way to submit claims. However, when the system isn’t “down for maintenance”, it is completely non-functional. My profile has not been updated since February.

   And even though I submitted DBQ’s for most of my conditions, my doctor’s insistence that my generalized anxiety is a result of PTSD – the simple act of clarifying the condition on my claim sent it back to square one.

   I received a response from ISIS last week that it would be at least 8 months before they would be able to look at my claim and then what, another 2 or 3 years for a C&P examination? I have waited for 22 years for any benefits – can you honestly tell me, Secretary Shineski, that you actually care about Gulf War Veterans or are you just continuing the tradition of bold-face lies that the VA has become so adept at telling the soldiers that put their lives on the line for this country?

   REPLY

http://www.blogs.va.gov/VAntage/9644/our-sustained-commitment-to-care-for-gulf-war-veterans/#comment-86286

Forever My Buddy, I Will Always Be There

Barely too young to take care of myself, I was given a buddy;

taught to have your back.
Through combat and hard times; so much more than friend;
Far from our families; sometimes fearing the end.

Nights we talked of returning ‘to the World’ and how great it would be.
Too often, when it finally happened we would see we had lost the old you and the old me.

So when times get hard, you feel all alone and hang your head, your heart in despair;
Remember, forever my Buddy, I will always be there.



- S. Ceballos

A Tragedy Beyond Comprehension

This is off topic but in light of today's events, I feel compelled to offer my thoughts and condolences to the families and community of Newtown, Connecticut. 

Where do you find the words try and make any sense out of the unfathomable tragedy of the loss of 27 lives in Newtown, Connecticut?  I think of 20 little children whose only care in the world should have been what Santa will be bringing them and how such a horrific act has taken the innocence of hundreds of other children that were witness to something no one should ever have to see. 

It makes so much of what we complain about seem so senseless. 

Tonight, as I pray for the lost, their families and the community of Newtown, I also appreciate my many blessings, hold my family a little tighter and tell them that I love them. For we never know when may be the last time.

I Recently Filed Bankruptcy and Now I Need a New Car. Can I Do This?

You've just filed Chapter 13 and your old car has finally gone kaput.

Afraid that you'll be limited to paying for another clunker at a Buy Here Pay Here lot?

Isn't there a better option?

In many cases, the short answer is "Yes".

Under a Chapter 13 bankruptcy in the State of Florida, the law states that you may not incur new debt without permission of the trustee or the court.

This is done by submitting a Request to Incur New Debt with the trustee of your case. 

• These requests are routine and frequently granted.

• The request looks at your disposable income and your ability to pay.
• If the trustee signs off on the request, you can buy the vehicle.
• The trustee should approve the request unless he or she decides that you cannot afford the new payment.
• If the trustee denies request, your bankruptcy attorney will file the Request to Incur New Debt with the court and ask the judge to override the trustee's denial. This dictates whether you can buy the car or not.