United We Roll at Stardust Radio

United We Roll World Tour Show
Stardust Radio www.stardustradio.com
Tuesday 9/29/09 2pm-4pm Central (Live)
Wednesday 9/30/09 (Repeat)

There are two dates to take note of this week. First, Sunday 9/27/09 was Gold Star Mother’s Day. This organization dates back to its beginning with Mrs Grace Seibold whose son, Lt George Seibold was lost in air combat in 1918. The organization was officially formed in 1928. For more information on these very special ladies and their activities go to the site at www.goldstarmoms.com

The second date is VFW Day today – September 29th! The VFW was established in 1899 when there was no medical care or pension for the Veterans of the Spanish-American war and the Phillipine Insurrection. For more information on the history of the VFW, chapter locations, etc, check the website at www.vfw.org

Now, on to our show! We have two in depth and very interesting visits today where our guests spend a lot of time with us and go into a lot of detail about their responsibilities and experiences. The areas of duty are as different as night and day, but that is where the differences end as you will hear. We truly appreciate the amount of time and information that our guests are able to share with us and we hope that you will agree that these are some memorable conversations.

Our first visit is with two Air Force members of the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing JAG office (Judge Advocate General). Joining us are Lt. Col Joshua Kastenberg and Capt Steven Snortland, both attorneys, who will give us an in depth understanding of what it means to serve in this military legal office and the true dedication they have to assisting the men and women who serve around and with them through a variety of situations. As you will hear, these officers are deeply concerned with helping when a deployed member has a problem at home so many miles away. It is comforting to know that they are there to help!

Next is a visit that should bring the words “Duty, Honor, Country” to the minds of every listener as we hear from Army Maj Justin R Hall, Executive Officer of the 1-227 ARB (Attack Reconnaissance Battalion) with the 1ACB 1 CD (1st Air Combat Brigade 1st Cavalry Division). Maj Hall, a West Point graduate, is an Apache helicopter pilot who graciously worked with us to schedule our meeting so he could share information with you all about his combat helicopter unit, the helicopter itself, the mission and more. This is another visit that will stay with you for a long time – as should they all.

Remember, if you are not able to stay with us through the show this afternoon, it will repeat again tomorrow evening, Wednesday, Sept 30th at 6:30pm Central. In addition, an MP3 copy will be placed on our show archive site for listening and downloading. You can reach our archive site at www.stardustradio.info or through our full website at www.stardustradio.com.

As always, we are extremely honored to bring you these visits with our Heroes of Freedom. And, we are very honored to have you, our listeners, join us each week.

We thank you all for joining us today and we hope that you will be with us again next week when we will have more great visits from our Heroes of Freedom.

Thank you again to all of our wonderful guests today and the PA members who helped to set up these fantastic visits.

Our hearts and prayers are always with our military members, families, Veterans and to all of our first responders & their families - everyone who puts their lives on hold and on the line for us and our families

May God Bless You All & May God Bless America!

The following release has just come out regarding the staffing of an office within the VA to assist the survivors of both Veterans and Active Duty members. If this works as it should, this could be of great benefit to many.

When my dad went on to join that Heavenly fighter squadron, we were fortunate to be surrounded by many members of our military family and also some very helpful active duty folks at the local base who worked together to insure that everything that needed to be processed for my mom was done and done properly. But I have known others who did not have that kind of help and have had the frustrations of trying to deal with survivor benefits, etc., pretty much on their own. I seriously doubt that there is much of anything that one can do in conjunction with the military that does not require a lot of new forms and a whole set of past records just to get started.

I pray that this office will bring much assistance and some peace of mind to the survivors who themselves have contributed to the service of their spouse and to our country. Survivors who have earned and deserve this assistance.
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VA Staffs Office for Survivors of Vets, Service Members
Shinseki: "Voice of Survivors" Will Strengthen Existing Programs

WASHINGTON (Sept. 28, 2009) -- To strengthen the programs of the
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for the survivors of the nation's
Veterans and military personnel, the Department has staffed an office to serve as their advocate, with a charter that includes creating or
modifying programs, benefits and services.

"Taking care of survivors is as essential as taking care of our Veterans and military personnel," Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki said. "By taking care of survivors, we are honoring a commitment made to our Veterans and military members."

The office serves as the primary advisor to the secretary on all issues affecting the survivors and dependents of deceased Veterans and service members. It will monitor VA's delivery of benefits to survivors, make appropriate referrals to VA offices for survivors seeking benefits and explore innovative ways of reaching survivors who are not receiving the VA benefits for which they are eligible.

VA benefits for eligible survivors include educational assistance, home loan guaranties, health care insurance and Dependency and Indemnity Compensation, a monthly payment to the survivors of some people who die on active duty and some seriously disabled Veterans.

More than 554,000 spouses, dependents and other survivors of Veterans
are receiving VA benefits. That figure includes nearly 5,000 spouses of World War I Veterans, 90 spouses and 94 children of Spanish-American War Veterans, and two children of Civil War Veterans.

The establishment of this office was authorized in the Veterans Benefits
Improvement Act of 2008.
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To view and download VA news release, please visit the following
Internet address: http://www.va.gov/opa/pressrel

The following article highlights one of our United We Roll Guests on our show to air Tuesday, September 22nd. We all know how weather can delay or cancel a flight or change many other plans we have here at home. Just imagine how weather can impact military planning and strategies! With trained experts like SrA Daniel Jamison and the equipment he has to work with, hopefully that impact from Mother Nature can be lessened or even used to an advantage.

Airmen reign, shine over weather operations in Iraq
http://www.afweather.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123166180

by Senior Airman Alyssa C. Miles
U.S. Air Forces Central Public Affairs

9/3/2009 - CAMP VICTORY, Iraq -- Two weather Airmen used their weather equipment and knowledge to provide on-the-job training to seven Iraqi air force weather lieutenants here Aug. 16.

The training's focus revolved around the set-up, up-keep and function of a tactical meteorological observation system, a portable device which allows its user to obtain weather data used in taking several different weather observations, including wind speed and direction, cloud height, rain, temperature and humidity.

The training instructors, Tech. Sgt. Terry Hutton, Weather Systems Support team leader, and Senior Airman Daniel Jamison, WSS technician, serve day-to-day as the only weather system team in Iraq and perform maintenance on devices when they are not functioning properly.

"Our mission is to have 100 percent fully mission capable weather systems throughout the area of responsibility," said Airman Jamison. "Basically, getting our system up and going allows for safe travel of troops, special operations missions, medevac, cargo and any transportation needed throughout the AOR."

While there are more than four different devices the pair, both deployed from Hurlburt Field, Fla., can use throughout the AOR for an accurate weather reading, the TMOS is used most frequently, and was the foundation of the Iraqi's training.

"This system makes for quick set-up in a tactical environment," Airman Jamison said. "Obviously you wouldn't have time to set up a fixed weather system. It would take a lot of time for it to be set up, calibrated and get it up and ready to go. The TMOS is just in a box -- you grab the box, pull it out, set it up and you're done."

"This system has been used since the beginning of the war," he continued. "We have multiple systems out at multiple sites - it's used constantly."

According to Iraqi air force Director of the Meteorological Department, Colonel Salman, his airmen spent time reading about the equipment in preparation for on-the-job training.
This training is very important for Iraqi weather airmen because this is the first time we were able to work on this kind of machine, the colonel said.

The colonel added that he and his team are training on the equipment now so they can use it on the Iraqi side. They plan to put this device on every base in Iraq - army and air force - sometime in the future.

"It was important to Colonel Salman that each one of them had a hands-on experience setting up the TMOS, so I believe they all learned quite a bit from the experience," said Lt. Col. Marvin Treu, Multi-National Force-Iraq Joint Meteorological and Oceanographic officer, deployed from Offutt Air Force Base, Neb. "The lieutenants are hard working and motivated. They are already providing weather briefings for exercise and operational Iraqi air force missions, as well as learning how to set up and operate the latest tactical weather observing equipment."

"I am confident the Iraqi air force weather officers are going to develop the skills to be able to confidently and successfully support all the future missions of the Iraqi air force," the Murrysville, Penn., native continued.

With the training complete, Troy, Mich., native Airman Jamison says the Iraqis may now get constant weather updates around the local area.

"Today's training felt pretty good," Airman Jamison said. "This was the first step in the scheme of getting the Iraqis to take over their weather forecasting. It will help them out a lot in the future."

Iraqi air force weather advisor Maj. Barry Hunte, deployed from Keesler Air Force Base, Miss., says the OJT the weather airmen received is not the only lesson they have learned.

"The training is very important in not just helping the Iraqi weather department become better at their jobs," the Momence, Ill., native said, "but it is also showing that working together and learning about each other is very important to both fellow Americans and Iraqis, so that we can be viable partners. I'm looking forward to the next eight months of advising Colonel Salman and working with the Iraqi weather lieutenants and watching them grow."

United We Roll World Tour Show
Stardust Radio www.stardustradio.com
Tuesday 9/22/09 2pm-4pm Central(live)
Wednesday 9/23/09 6:30pm Central(repeat)

We have four great visits with 6 deployed Heroes of Freedom to share with you all today. Remember, if you are not able to stay with us through the show this afternoon, it will repeat again tomorrow evening, Wednesday, Sept 23rd at 6:30pm Central. In addition, an MP3 copy will be placed on our show archive site for listening and downloading. You can reach our archive site at www.stardustradio.info or through our full website at www.stardustradio.com.

Our first guest for today is 3 months into his deployment with the 772nd Expeditionary Airlift Squadron in Afghanistan. SrA Kyle Jefferson is a Loadmaster, which is a job of great responsibility, as the Loadmaster controls how much and where cargo and people are placed in an aircraft to keep it balanced for take-off and landing. The Loadmaster is also a part of the inflight crew and, like all deployed members, sees some pretty long duty days.

Coming up next is an unusual treat for us as we visit with a married couple who are deployed to the same base, though in separate duty areas. SSG Terence and TSG Nichole Williams currently live in separate quarters and share Saturday night “date night” through internet connection with their kids. SSG Terence serves in the security force with the 332nd ESFS (Expeditionary Security Force squadron) and TSG Nichole Williams is in the Protocol Office with the 332nd AEW (Air Expeditionary Wing).

This is our day for unusual treats as our next visit is not only with two deployed members from the 376th ESFS, but also with two celebrities! Well – kinda, sorta. Manas Air Base recently held their own version of American Idol – appropriately called “Manas Idol”. We are joined today by SSgt Erica Still who won the title of Manas Idol. Also joining us is SrA Dominika Taylor who played the part of Paula Abdul as one of the judges in the Manas Idol contest. This visit combines fun and inspiration.

Our final visit for today is with SrA Daniel Jamison of the Air Force Combat Weather Center and Weather Systems Support Cadre. I am sure we all remember times where the weather has prevented planes from taking off and interfered in other ways with our plans at home. That is no different overseas – in fact, weather has been a major consideration in military planning & strategy for decades. SrA Jamison is one of very few specialists in this area and is frequently traveling to assist at another location or is busy working on equipment at his home base. This is a fascinating visit and I have placed an article in our blog which also discusses SrA Jamison’s mission.

As always, we are extremely honored to bring you these visits with our Heroes of Freedom. And, we are very honored to have you, our listeners, join us each week.

May God Bless You All & May God Bless America!

I was very honored to attend our local remembrance ceremony of the National POW MIA Day on Friday, September 18th. My appreciation goes out to the planners of this ceremony that took place at the Armament Museum just outside Eglin AFB here in NW Florida. It was beautifully done – both the first half which was held indoors with the speakers, Chorus and Missing Man Table, followed by the second half which was held outdoors with the placement of the wreath, the 21 gun salute, Taps and the Missing Man Formation flyover.

As my eyes gazed over the guests, I could not help but wonder who had been waiting for their loved ones to come home – some have waited for as long as 40 years. As some received assistance with walking aids, I wondered if these were due to age or were these due to the wounds of a POW who had suffered at the hands of his captors. But the most important thing I saw was that a large number of people both in uniform and in civilian clothes of all ages who had gathered together to pay tribute to sons and daughters, husbands and wives, sisters and brothers and many to not one person in particular, but to Heroes of Freedom who had given so much so that our country could remain free and we – you, me & our families – could continue to live the American way of life.

During the first part of the remembrance while we were seated inside, was the Missing Man Table Ceremony. Though I have seen this before, it is as powerful each time as it was the first, in its depth of meaning through the empty chairs and the articles on the table. I believe this is a ceremony that should be demonstrated at the front of every classroom or auditorium for older elementary classes on up through college, in Scout meetings and in youth organizations around the country. I believe this would be an excellent tool for teaching our youngsters about how they received their freedom and that it was not free, but was a gift – an expensive gift. I will reserve any further comment at this point, except to share the Missing Man Table & Honors Ceremony along with a couple of the sites where you can find this and more information.

http://www.pow-miafamilies.org/

http://www.pow-miafamilies.org/CONTENThonors.html :

MISSING MAN TABLE & HONORS CEREMONY

As you entered the dining area, you may have noticed a table – raised to call your attention to its purpose – it is reserved to honor our missing loved one.

Set for six, the empty places represent Americans who were or are missing from each of the five services – Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Coast Guard – and civilians, all with us in spirit.

Some here were very young when the Vietnam War began; however, all Americans should never forget the brave men and women who answered our nation’s call and served the cause of freedom in a special way.

Please be seated… while I explain the meaning of this special table, and join me for a moment of silent prayer at the end:

The table is round – to show our everlasting concern.

The cloth is white – symbolizing the purity of their motives when answering the call to duty.

The single red rose reminds us of the lives of these men….and their loved ones and friends who keep the faith, while seeking answers.

The red ribbon symbolizes our continued determination to account for them.

A slice of lemon reminds us of the bitter fate of those captured and missing in a foreign land.

A pinch of salt symbolizes the tears of our missing and their families who long for answers after decades of uncertainty.

The Bible represents the strength gained through faith in our country, founded as one nation under God, to sustain those lost from our midst.

The glass is inverted – to symbolize their inability to share this evening’s toast.

The chairs are empty – they are missing…………….. (silent moment)

Let us now raise our water glasses in a toast to honor America’s POW/MIA’s and to the success of our efforts to account for them.

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Please mark your calendars for every third Friday in September and let's remember our POW and MIA Heroes.