March Newsletter 2013 - sfa-chapter

MARCH 2013
VOL 44
Chapter 16 Newsle er Organiza on and Responsibili es:
President’s Message This issue I will readdress a ma
er that was the subject of my message in the July 2013 Newsle er. As many of you recall it was wri en a er the Army announced that women would be allowed to a end the U.S. Army Ranger Course. At that point in me, there was for the most part, only muted discussion, by the President and the Secretary of Defense, on the opening of all military career fields to women. Since then, Barack Obama has been reelected to his second and final term as President and he has moved quickly to make this a reality. On January 24th, 2013, following a unanimous recommenda on by the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Defense Secretary Leon E. Pane a announced the end of the direct ground combat exclusion rule for female service members. The li ing of the combat exclusion rule has removed a major obstacle that previously pre‐
vented women from assignment in Infantry and Special Opera ons Units at Ba alion Level and below. As a preliminary step, the secretary directed that military services undertake an evalua on of Suspense:
all occupa onal performance standards to ensure they are up to st
Newsle er published (Web):
1 of each date and gender‐neutral. The results of this evalua on are to be odd numbered month submi ed to the SecDef by May 15th 2013, while the en re process th
Input due to editor: 20 of each is to be completed by Jan. 1, 2016. That is the point at which those even numbered month combat arms branches are to either fully embrace the changes or Dra due to President: 27th of each jus fy why there should be an excep on. even numbered month We are at this crossroads because women service members Final Dra due 29th of each recently began suing the DOD, challenging the long‐standing policy even numbered month that prohibited them from direct ground combat, claiming that they are limited in their opportuni es for posi ons of greater responsibility, though they ostensibly take the same risks men do. Their cause was taken up by the ACLU and recognized by the Democrats as an issue that could significantly boost their popularity with the electorate if they ed it to affirma ve ac on and were viewed as leaders of the movement. The direct combat exclusion did create an unnecessary conundrum for commanders in Iraq and Afghanistan. The very nature of an insurgency is that ba le lines are never drawn and that the enemy will strike at the me and place of their choosing. This reality places all military members who serve in a combat zone in posi ons where they are likely to see direct ground combat. Women, who now make up approximately 14% of the force, cannot be effec vely Editor:
Glen Craig Sec ons:
Message from the President: Dave Shell Treasurers Report: Kevin Pa on Sec. Rpt (Staff Mee ng Minutes):
John Pa erson Sick Call/Obituary: Chaplain Butch Hall Blast from the Past: Glen Craig Special Recogni on: John Pa erson Upcoming Events: John Pa erson Calendar: John Pa erson Human Interest Story: Chapter at large SFA Na onal HQ Update: Dave Shell A er Ac on Report: Jim Lessler Membership Info: Roy Sayer Adver sements: Glen Craig Page 1 sidelined by the imposed constraints because the loss of personnel affects unit performance. Women, are jus fiably frustrated by their circumstance, and have voiced their dissa sfac on at this unworkable situa on. Unfortunately, calls for change have begun to degenerate down to personal agendas, poli cs, social engineering, and blind ambi on. It is important to note that it was SOF who created the Female Engagement Teams that have go en all the great press about how well women are able to perform in direct ground combat. The actual jury is s ll out on how value added they are, but the point is that the military saw a void that needed to be filled and made informed decisions on how to make it happen. I can assure you that commanders want every edge and every advantage they can get and are very resourceful at bending the rules and gaining excep ons to policy to ensure mission success. This brings me to two very basic but important ques ons. The first is: Should li ing the policy on the exclusion of women from direct ground combat necessitate the opening of doors to fast‐track posi ons in the U.S. Army’s most pres gious ground combat units? The second is: Can we trust our leaders to make a decision on this ma er that best serves our na ons military readiness? To answer the first, all should understand that there are support posi ons in ground combat units down to the Company level and that those support MOSs have women who are fully qualified in their technical fields. These are generally not the fast‐track posi ons that lead to the Joint Chiefs; however they can be fast movers within the realm of their specific MOS. The li ing of the ban certainly means that women will serve in those units in that capacity. I don’t believe this point it is even debatable and it solves the commander’s conundrum men oned above regarding the legali es of pu ng women in harms way. The real issue is whether they should serve at the shooter level. For this we have to ask ourselves an important ques on: Is the hyper‐masculine culture of our ground combat forces, one which devalues feminine quali es and characteris cs, cri cal to our success in combat or is it a modern day anachronism that needs to go? More simply put, are direct ground combat units a be er figh ng force than they would be otherwise if we dumped the male pride, the indefa gable compe on, the in mida on, the male bonding, and the libera ng absence of decorum during down me that both defines these units and a racts men to this kind of life. There are many of us who struggled to the point of total exhaus on and pushed ourselves beyond what is normal for a person to endure because we wanted to be accepted into a band of brothers and did not want to be considered “wimps, wussies, or punks”. Historically, armies have always indoctrinated and mo vated men through the use of humilia ng comparisons to women and those techniques have been unarguably effec ve at pushing men, especially young men, beyond the fear of death and the physical pain of ba le. Or, could we perform just as well at that level if the culture was feminized through the inclusion of women and the changes that would inherently accompany their arrival. In spite of all the comparisons to the Israelis, the Canadians, and other countries that are purported to have made a success of the process, there is no legi mate metric for us to use as a gauge. We can speculate, however we will probably never know how it affects the performance of those units because of the government’s stated agenda to “managing the public percep on” (Remember what I said in the July NL about the “thousand li le lies”). This brings us to the second ques on I men oned: Can we trust our leaders to make a decision on this ma er that best serves our na ons military readiness? I’ll be frank. No. The DOD has evolved into a system that distains dissent and will not tolerate objec on to authority. At lower levels it manifests itself in slower promo ons and less opportunity for posi ons of responsibility. At higher levels it means termina on through re rement. Every single leader we have from star level to the SecDef is ve ed prior to appointment to ensure they will support the agenda of the President. The message to up and comers is clear: get on board or get out. This is a far cry from the days when President Roosevelt would ask then SecDef Henry L. S mson to run down to General George Marshal’s office and get his view on this issue or that. Sadly, President Obama is the least knowledgeable person in our government on military organiza on, but he does know how to make decisions that are popular with the public and he knows how to pick individuals who are lacking in character to implement them. Lastly, the process will put an enormous amount of pressure on everyone involved. The drama will likely be unbearable for those female soldiers, male soldiers, and commanders who are involved. It will now take the TRADOC CDR’s (4‐Star) authoriza on to terminate females from qualifying programs, a responsibility that has historically been handled at the E‐6 and O‐3 level. The few women who ac vely seek posi ons as shooters will suffer the indignity of being treated differently than their male peers, and all female service members will share the burden of their performances, which will be “I told you so” if they fail, and “you never met the standards” if they pass. This is not a win‐win. Dave Shell
President SFA Chapter XVI
Page 2 2013 Special Forces Scholarships
The applica on window for 2013 SF Scholarships is now open and because the window is a bit shorter than last year, I'm hoping that you can assist me in spreading the word throughout the community ‐ FYI, in terms of fund‐rasing, we're currently ahead of our 2012 standing (and I'm s ll plugging) and are standing at $22,500....which means that we'll be able to award at least 9 scholarships to deserving 1st Group kids, versus the 6 we awarded last year ‐ while I'd hoped to be a bit higher, I'll take a 50% increase! Thanks gents, and please give me a shout if you have any ques ons ‐ Also, if you would, please send me a quick "ACK" so I know I've reached you. ******************************************************************************* ATTENTION 1st SFG(A) SOLDIERS AND FAMILIES: Announcement is made of the 2013 Special Forces Scholarship Fund (SFSF) Applica on Period The United States Army Special Forces Scholarship Fund (SFSF) is now accep ng applica ons for its 2013 Scholarship awards program. Sons and daughters of 1st SFG(A) 18‐Series Soldiers AND non‐18‐Series Soldiers who have served in 1st SFG(A) for at least five years are eligible for considera on (further eligibility requirements are listed below). Scholarship applica ons will be accepted from 10 February through 15 March 2013; amounts awarded under the 2013 Scholarship Fund program are expected to range from $1,500 to $3,000. The Special Forces Scholarship Fund is a non‐profit, tax‐exempt organiza on that awards merit‐based post secondary educa onal scholarships to the daughters and sons of current and veteran Special Forces Soldiers (including Soldiers of other MOS’ who have been assigned to ac ve SF Groups for at least five years). Scholarships are awarded annually to deserving Special Forces dependents pursuing undergraduate and graduate degrees or voca onal cer ficates from accredited colleges, universi es or voca onal/technical ins tu ons. SFSF consists of a na onal execu ve council and the advisory boards of each ac ve component Group; the 1st SFG(A) SFSF Advisory Board will be responsible for evalua ng the applica ons of 1st SFG(A) applicants and awarding scholarships to the best qualified among them. To be eligible, applicants must meet the following criteria:  Must be a daughter or son of a current or veteran United States Army Special Forces Soldier and must not have reached 26 years of age by 15 October 2013 (for undergraduate scholarships) or must not have reached 28 years of age by 15 October 2013 (for graduate scholarships).  Must be a high school senior, high school graduate, or be registered as a full me undergraduate student at an accredited college or post secondary voca onal/technical ins tute.  For graduate school scholarship applicants, must be currently enrolled as a college senior or must have obtained a bachelors degree from an accredited college/university and have applied and/or been accepted to an accredited graduate school program. The 2013 Scholarship applica on is a ached; applicants are to read ALL instruc ons carefully before comple ng the applica on. As part of the applica on, applicants/sponsors MUST include official documenta on verifying the sponsor’s possession of an 18‐series military occupa onal specialty (MOS) and service in the 1st SFG(A) (to include SF Detachment 39), or documenta on verifying the sponsor’s possession of a non‐18‐series military occupa onal specialty (MOS) and service in 1st Special Forces Group for a cumula ve period of not less than five years. Acceptable forms of documenta on are the DD Form 214, ERB, or ORB. Applicants who are not able to provide any of the required informa on must provide to the 1st SFG(A) Scholarship Board a sufficiently detailed explana on as to why; the 1st SFG(A) Scholarship Board reserves the right to accept or deny such explana‐
ons. As indicated above, the deadline for submi ng applica ons, with all required informa on and documenta on, is March 15th,
2013; applica ons postmarked a er March 15th, 2013 will not be considered. PLEASE REMEMBER: Page 3 BOTH THE APPLICANT AND HIS/HER SPONSOR ARE REQUIRED TO READ AND COMPLETE THE STATEMENT OF CERTIFICATION LOCATED ON PAGE 1 OF THE APPLICATION. IF THE SPONSOR IS DEPLOYED AND UNABLE TO COMPLETE HIS/HER PORTION OF THE APPLICATION, A STATEMENT TO THAT EFFECT MUST BE INCLUDED IN THE APPLICATION. INCOMPLETE APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED. ALL APPLICATIONS MUST BE SUBMITTED VIA US POSTAL SERVICE AND POSTMARKED NO LATER THAN 15 MARCH, 2013; APPLICATIONS SENT VIA FEDEX/UPS OR PERSONAL DELIVERY CANNOT BE ACCEPTED. Completed applica ons are to be mailed to: The Special Forces Scholarship Fund [1st SFG(A)] P.O. Box 33990 Ft. Lewis, WA 98433 Ques ons regarding SFSF applica ons can be directed to the 1st SFG(A) Program Director, COL (R) Rick Thomas, or Co‐Director, COL(R) Charley Higbee
As you'll note, our list of sponsors con nues to grow so, once again, please join the Kids of 1st Group and I in extending our sin‐
cere thanks to the following supporters of the 1st SFG(A) Scholarship Fund who have donated thus far....due to the generous sup‐
port of these outstanding teammates, we're ge ng closer to our goal of providing more 2013 scholarships to our kids...and inves ng in our country's future!
Mike Jackson ‐ MilATV.com  Bill and Lysa Adams ‐ iFLY‐Sea le  Greg Strand ‐ SKR Automa on, Inc.  Chapter XVI, SFA  Dan Burwell ‐ TLS Avia on, Inc.  Bart Shreve  John and Deb Maria  Rich Wall  Ed Nieves ‐ Credenda Proper es & Mgmt  Erik Lawrence ‐ Blackheart Interna onal  Bill Gates (SF Bill of CH XVI....not Microso Bill!) Due to the Amount of room the
Applica on takes up it will be
added to the end of the
newsle er along with some
further informa on on the
Special Forces Scholarship Fund.
 Kirk Moeller  Bill Moore  Dave Kilbourn  Rex Bruce  O o Liller  Bob Seals  John and Becky Weaver  Soldiers and Civilians of the 1st SFG(A) Staff I'll update this list as further dona ons arrive ‐ in the mean me, please support the businesses of these great donors who are doing so much for our kids ‐ and our country! ....and remember that it's not too late to support the 1st SFG(A) Scholarship Fund...any amount helps! Send your dona ons to (and remember to earmark your dona on to the Kids of 1st SFG(A)!): Special Forces Scholarship Fund PO Box 1509 Faye eville, NC 28302‐1509 Page 4 Ini a ves By SFA President Jack Tobin
I met with BG Hass, Special Forces Command, on Tuesday and presented him with a list of suggested ini a ves that the SFA would like to launch, and as he owns the Regiment, really needed his concurrence and support to make them really effec ve. I will give a précis of the ini a ve and then his comments. Most of these ini a ves require VOLUNTEERS, and since every SF guy had to volun‐
teer at least three mes, we hope they haven’t lost the habit Opera on Transi on:
In conjunc on with our friends in the Special Opera ons Associa on, we proposed to BG Haas that he allow us to put volunteers at each SF unit transi on point, not only to describe the benefits of being an SFA member, but also to provide each soldier with a list, sorted by zip codes near his des na on, of our members that have volunteered to assist with his transi on. The list will have our members name and either an email address or phone number.to enable the soldier to contact him. If the soldier intends to start a business in his new area, our members will introduce him to folks we trust to assist him. We will also give him the nearest Chapter POC. IF ANY MEMBER WANTS TO OPT OUT OF THIS, PLEASE CONTACT YOUR CHAPTER PRESIDENT, NATIONAL HQ
([email protected], 910 485 5433) OR ME ([email protected] 704 907 5918). Exercise Support
At the last conven on, then Regimental Commander BG Reeder, told us he needed our assistance for off‐site exercises. It could cut his costs from 6.5 million to 1.3 million, money that could be used to train the troops and buy the equipment they need. With looming budget cuts this becomes even more cri cal. The other facet is the return of SF to the UW mission, the door kicking will be le to other units. We, the SFA/SOA have more experience in UW than any group in the world, both MG Reeder, now at SWC, and BG Haas want to use that experience to train our troops. He can provide three hots and a cot for any VOLUNTEERS, who will be role players, mentors, G chiefs, assets, all of the roles we have all seen in exercises since the beginning, There is no “dreaded Circle Trigon” uniforms to wear, so rest easy on that score. This will give our members a chance to get back into the game, see just how great the new troops are, and help SFA be of value to the Current force. There will be no pay or per diem, but I know the troops will be grateful, and it will give the Medics a chance to prac‐
ce geriatric medicine, as they would in the real world. Once again, IF ANY MEMBER WANTS TO VOLUNTEER, PLEASE CONTACT
YOUR CHAPTER PRESIDENT, NATIONAL HQ ([email protected], 910 485 5433) OR ME ([email protected] 704 907 5918).
“Man with a Star” Tribute
Gentlemen, over the last sixty years, especially before SF had a branch, officers were mostly transitory, and then as today, it is the Sergeants Major that hold the units together, even now with officers staying for their whole career, it is s ll the “Man with a Star”, who sets the tenor of the unit. So to honor those men, we propose taking one issue of the DROP, and dedica ng part of it to the SGMs. We are not going to select one of two, but are asking for anecdotes, stories, even legends that feature our SGMs, we know some will have to be “submi ed by anonymous” to protect the guilty. We know there are stories about the great ones, the bad ones, the smart ones and all the rest so write them down and send them in. Once we have enough stories, we will announce the second phase, a tribute to these great men on the HQ Grounds, TBA, with appropriate ceremonies and getaway vehicles for those who submi ed some about living SGMs. Thank You, America
Gentlemen, when we came home from Vietnam there weren’t a lot of parades, not too many organiza ons, even the veterans groups wanted to celebrate our return, we all have our stories, but “Past is Prologue”. Star ng with /DESERT STORM, the country has realized the inequi es and individuals, small groups, and even corpora ons have started veteran programs, support the troops in the field, and those the come home especially to hospitals or yes, even to Arlington and the other military cemeteries across this country. 1. There is a Boy Scout in Lubbock, TX who sent 500 scarfs that fit the collar on the body armor to keep one for rubbing your neck raw. 2. The “Arlington Ladies” , no GI is buried alone, if no mourners, this small group send members to be there for the burial. 3. The Company that has sent Christmas Wreaths to Arlington every year, and never sought the limelight 4. The veterans in Maine that met every airplane with troops to welcome them home 5. The Ladies at the Dallas Airport who did the same. 6. The lady who traveled hours on the weekends to Bethesda to give the GIs scarves and throws to make them more com‐
fortable Page 5 We all have seen these ac vi es, we have been asked to write the criteria, and the SOP for the Regiment, we need your submissions, we will send you the awards and ask you to present them to your nominees, we will select one day probably this fall or early next year, and present them all at one me. Once each Chapter or members have selected those to be honored, the SFA will contact the other veteran organiza ons and asked them to par cipate, but only a er we have made our selec ons.
J. K. Wright Memorial Breakfast, January 5, 2013. This Saturday's breakfast took place at our new breakfast restaurant, Car's on Bridgeport Way in Tacoma. The following members and guests were in a endance: Jim & Elaine Lessler (IMO Red Davis), Steve Epperson, Dave Shell, Alvin Li le, John & Inge Gebbie, Mike & Joy Cassidy, Glen Craig, Bud Lawson, Karl Hamilton, Nick Marvais (IMO Eulis Presley), and Harlow Stevens. Chapter 43 members in a endance: Jerry & Mihui Hampton (IMO Gary Wright) and Skip E nger. Vietnamese Lunar New Year Celebra on On Saturday, January 12, 2013 the Vietnamese Special Forces and Vietnamese Airborne Associa ons of Washington State joined together for the Lunar New Year celebra on. This was held at Venus Chinese Restaurant in South Sea le. There was a good turn‐
out to include South Vietnamese Special Forces, Rangers and Vietnamese Commandos who were trained and lead by U.S. Special Forces. SFA Chapter 16 was well represented. This has become a yearly event that our Chapter members a end. The buffet consisted of an authen c Vietnamese eight course dinner. The entertainment consisted of several Vietnamese singers who took turns on the stage. Captain Ron organized several of our Chapter members to go up on the stage and sing "The Ballad of the Green Beret". Fortunately we sang our rendi on of the classic song near the la er part of the evening. We thoroughly enjoyed the evening. Old acquaintances were renewed and new ones were made. We are looking forward to next year's Vietnamese Special Forces Banquet. Jim Lessler Dinosaurs Luncheon, January 25, 2013.
This Friday's lunch was at the Super Buffet in Dupont. The following members and guests were in a endance: Glen Craig, Jay Lath‐
rop, Kevin Pa on, Bill Frye, Nick & Reiko Marvais, Loyd S. Gomez, Setsko Wright, Jim & Elaine Lessler, Mike & Joy Cassidy, Eric Heid, Bud Lawson, Harlow Stevens, Wayne & Yoko Karvonen, John & Inge Gebbie, Dave Shell, Mike Riel and Butch Hall. Chapter 43 members in a endance: Skip E nger and Stan Ha en. Page 6 J. K. Wright Memorial Breakfast, February 1, 2013. The following members and guests were in a endance: Jim & Elaine Lessler (IMO Eulis Presley), Butch Hall, John Gebbie, Ted Wic‐
orek, Nick Marvais (IMO Eulis Presley), Alvin Li le, Glen Craig, Ron & Marion Hale (IMO Bart Heimsness), Harlow Stevens, Loyd S. Gomez (IMO Eulis Presley) and Bud Lawson. Chapter 43 members in a endance: Stan Ha en, Jerry Hampton (IMO Bart Heimsness), Stacie Hampton (IMO J. K. Wright), Keri Hampton, James & Puyen Yu‐B and Anne Yu‐B. Chapter XVI SFA William R. Card Chapter Mee ng
Minutes Feb. 9, 2013
Call to Order: 11:25 mee ng called to order at 1st SFG can na late due to Fort Lewis front gate security back up. Members will need to expect as much as a 30 minute delay ge ng through. Pledge of Allegiance: led by Bill and joined by all members present . Opening Prayer: Chaplain Butch Hall Welcome & Presidents Report: President Dave Shell was not present due to prior commitments so sans report Vice President Ron Rismon welcomed members and guests. Members Present: John Pa erson, Ron Rismon, Eric Heid, Harlow Stevens, Butch Hall, Nick Marvais, Bryan Rowe, Michael Lee, Ted Wicorek, Jim Beisley, Willi Lindner, Carey Pennington, Mike Cassidy, Jim Lessler, Kevin Pa en, Bill Gates, Roy Sayer. Wives Present: Steph Gates, Joy Cassidy, Elaine Lessler. Guests Present: Rachelle Schmid, Chris ne & Carol Stevens, Don & Michael Lee. Sick Calls: Rob Wekell is now recupera ng at home a er knee replacement surgery. Secretary’s Report: since it had been almost 4 months (excluding xmas party which the secretary missed) report consisted of re‐
capping The Vietnamese Special Forces Assoc Lunar News Years Party Jan. 12, 2013 at the Venus Restaurant in Renton. Several members of our chapter a ended the affair enjoying the cuisine (the jelly fish was disgus ng), entertainment (Vietnamese karao‐
ke) and camaraderie. It was agreed amongst ourselves that we could have done a be er job singing the Ballad of the Green Beret to our hosts (all 200) who politely applauded our effort anyway. Treasurers Report: Jan‐Dec 2012 Total income = $18,200.40 Total expenses = 25,472.15 ‐7,271.75 Net income = Bank Balance as of 2/9/2013 = $10,715.35 Quartermaster’s Report: Mike & Joy Cassidy have a nice selec on of SF Paraphernalia and will be increasing their inventory for the upcoming 1st SFG Reunion. Old Business: Harlow Stevens gave an update re: 1st SFG 2013 Reunion. 66 confirmed and 30 registered. Opening Sunday 6/16‐
6/19/2013. Registra on forms can be go en from Harlow Stevens or John Pa erson. 6/17 turns out to be a training holiday so Fort Lewis excursion may have to be rescheduled for 6‐18‐2013 for the demonstra on sta c and freefall jump. 800 beau fully etched SF logo mug and wine glasses will be for sale provided by Rachelle & Kurt Schmid. 7 golfers have signed up so far for the 40 spots available. New member Willi asked why the website has not been updated. It was explained that when our webmaster Bart Heimsness passed away everything came to a halt. Apparently he knew all the codes, passwords and know how to get it done. It was felt we would eventually get the web page ac ve again. If not “in house” possibly may need to hire a consultant. New Business: Treasurer Kevin Pa on for the sake of transparency wants the “books” audited at a cost of $200‐300. It was the general consensus a er a “second” that it was a good idea. Raffle #1: 1st SFG Reunion. 1st Place= Colt M4A1 SOCOM Carbine. 2nd Page 7 Place= Mossberg Pistol Grip Persuader, 3rd Place= remaining prize not chosen by #2. Costs $1360.00‐$3000.00 (weapons, cket prin ng, transfer fees, adver sing). 5000 ckets @ $5.00. Expected proceeds= $15,000 to $20,000. Drawing at the 1st SFG(A) Reunion Banquet. Any ques ons see Eric Heid 360‐249‐4994. Raffle #2: Chapter XVI Annual Picnic. Prize= a cache of weaponry worth over $6,000.00. R‐15 VTR‐CP 223 Rem 18” PG CS Max, 700 POL MLR 338 LAPUA 24P HB NS HS3, 870 EXP SYN Tact 12/18 CYL BS EXT2, 1911 R1 Enhanced. Costs $3599.53‐$4500.00 (weapons, cket prin ng, transfer fees, adver sing). 300 ckets @ $50.00. Expected proceeds= $15,000.00. Drawing at the Annual Chapter Picnic (Yelm this yr). Any ques ons see Eric Heid 360‐249‐4994. For the Good of the Order: discussion about locking up potluck supplies in the wooden cabinetry along the wall of the SF can na. The idea was seconded. 50/50 raffle totaling $19.00 had no winner so back to the chapter coffers. $59.00 collected for the potluck buffet following the chapter mee ng. Closing Prayer: Chaplain Butch Hall. Mee ng Adjourned: 12:35 and followed by potluck. Respec ully submi ed, John Pa erson Secretary, Chapter XVI Dinosaurs Luncheon, February 22, 2013. The following members and guests were in a endance: Jim & Elaine Lessler, Captain Ron, Thuy Nguyen, Glen Craig, Harlow Ste‐
vens, Nick Marvais, Eric Heid, Bill Frye, John Gebbie, Bud Lawson, Mike & Joy Cassidy and Ron Cietri. Pastor Butch’s Corner
A veterinarian was called to examine a ten‐year‐old Irish Wol ound named Belker. The dog’s owners, Ron, his wife Lisa, and their 6 year old son, Shane, were all very a ached to Belker, and they were hoping for a miracle. Examining Belker it was found that he was dying of cancer. The veterinarian told the family that he couldn’t do anything for Belker, and offered to perform the euthanasia procedure for the old dog in their home. Ron and Lisa thought it would be good for Shane to observe the procedure, as they felt that he might learn something from the experience. The next day, Belker’s family surrounded him. Shane seemed so calm, pe ng the old dog for the last me, that I wondered if he really understood what was going on. Within a few minutes, Belker slipped peacefully away. The li le boy seemed to accept Belker’s transi on without any difficulty or confusion. A er Belker’s death someone wondering aloud about the sad fact that animal lives are shorter than human lives. Shane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, “I know why.” Startled, we all turned to him. What came out of his mouth next stunned us. What a comfor ng explana on. Shane said, “People
are born so that they can learn how to live a good life — like loving everybody all the me and being nice, right?” The six‐year‐old con nued, “Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don’t have to stay as long.” The essence of God is Love: 1John 4:7‐8 7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 8 He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.
Page 8 Hazele D. Ferguson
Bremerton, WA
April 5, 1921 to January 18, 2013
Hazele D. Ferguson passed away peacefully on January 18, 2013 to be with God, with her loving husband and family at her side. Born in Boyden, Iowa to Harriet Gysbers and Hessel Dethmers, Hazele was the seventh child of nine brothers and sisters. A mem‐
ber of Central Valley Chris an Fellowship Church, those she touched knew of her strong Chris an faith. Generous and giving of her me, talents and treasure, she remained ac ve in her community, volunteering and visi ng senior care facili es well into her late 80’s. Hazele served as a sergeant in the US Army Woman’s Corps during WWII where she met her US Army corporal sweetheart Robert W. Ferguson. Their wedding story made na onal news. The military couple, sta oned in different states, planned to wed while on weekend pass for Labor Day. With the help of a local jeweler, the county clerk, a courthouse janitor, and a minster who comman‐
deered his previous church to perform the ceremony, Hazele and Robert overcame many weekend obstacles and married on Sep‐
tember 4, 1950. Hazele and Robert moved to Bremerton in 1952 where Hazele began working part‐ me for the US Postal Service in 1964. In 1966 she began full‐ me employment at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Office of the Comptroller, from which she re red in 1981. Hazele is survived by her husband of 63 years Robert; two sisters Esther S ll and Dorothy Mulder; a brother Arnold Dethmers; her children Bob (Terri) Ferguson, Gary (Rachel) Ferguson, Tim (Joan) Ferguson and Judy (Rob) Henry; her grandchildren Andrea (Kevan) Barry, Erin (Tristan) Anderson, Ryan (Marina) Ferguson, Tim (Billie‐Jean) Ferguson, Chelsea Dana, Ma Ferguson, Chris e (Bruce) Edwards, Luke (Jodi) Henry; and twelve great‐grandchildren. Thomas S. Radomski Thomas S. Radomski, 52, of Waipahu, Hawaii, passed away on June 27, 2012. He was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on April 25, 1960. Thomas was a Project Manager for JIATF West, Department of Defense. Tom spent many years as a member of the 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne) with service in the 1st Ba alion in Okinawa and the 3rd Ba alion at Fort Lewis, WA. He is survived by wife:, Joy Radomski: son: Thomas Jason Radomski; daughters: Jennifer and Jessica Radomski; parents: Thomas Radomski and Carol Gifoli, brother: Daniel (Jackie) Radomski, sisters: Nancy Young, and Lisa (Stephen) McDonald. His widow Joy works at Madigan Army Medical Center. Funeral services were held at Borthwick Mortuary at 1330 Maunakea Street on Tuesday, July 17, 2012. On 30 January 2013 there was a remembrance service held in the Four Chaplains Chapel in memory of MSG (Ret) Tom Radomski. Tom was working as a project manager for JIATF‐W and enroute to Jakarta, Indonesia to coordinate a CD mission when he died from a massive heart a ack. A long‐ me member of the 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne), Tom served in both the 3rd and 1st Ba alions and upon re rement was hired by JIATF‐W as a program manager where he worked closely with both SOCPAC and the 1st SFG(A) coordina ng US CD efforts in Asia. A number of People joined in a short remembrance service to honor this long‐ me 1st SFG(A) NCO and leader. Immediately following the service a recep on was held at the Regimental Mess hosted by SF Associa on Chapter XVI. During the service there is a point at which folks who wanted to offer stories or quips about Tom came to the podium to eulogize Tom Page 9 Douglas M. Vose
Sept 30, 1970 – July 29, 2009
Chief Warrant Officer 2 Douglas M. Vose, III, died from wounds received while conducting combat operations in
the Kabul Province of Afghanistan on July 29 2009 while serving as the Assistant Detachment Commander of
Special Forces Operational Detachment Alpha – 0114, Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 10th Special Forces Group
(Airborne), in Stuttgart, Germany.
Vose, 38, was killed by intense direct small arms fire while deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation
Enduring Freedom as a member of the International Security Assistance Forces (ISAF) – Afghanistan.
Vose, born in Roseburg, Oregon, enlisted in August 1988 as a 19D, Cavalry Scout. He later attended the SF
Qualification Course, graduating in 1999 as an 18E, Communications NCO and was assigned to 3rd BN, 10th
SFG(A). He was reassigned to 1st BN in March 2002 and in 2006, he completed the Warrant Officer Basic Course,
returning to 1st BN in Germany.
Vose’s military education includes the Warrior Leader Course, Basic Non-Commissioned Officer Course, Advanced
Non-Commissioned Officer Course, SF Communications Sergeant Course, SF Operations and Intelligence Course,
WOBC Course, SF WOCBC, Basic Airborne Course, Military Free Fall Parachutist Course, and MFF Jumpmaster
Parachutist Course.
His awards include the Bronze Star Medal with “V” device and two oak leaf clusters in lieu of third award, the
Purple Heart, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Commendation
Medal, the Army Achievement Medal, the Army Good Conduct Medal, and the Humanitarian Service Medal. His
decorations include the National Defense Service Medal, South West Asia Service Medal, Kosovo Campaign
Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Iraqi Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Armed
Forces Service Medal, Non-Commissioned Officers Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon,
Overseas Ribbon, NATO Medal, Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia), and the Kuwait Liberation Medal
(Kuwait).
Vose also earned the Airborne Badge, Combat Infantryman’s Badge, Parachutist Badge, Military Free Fall
Jumpmaster Badge, and the Special Forces Tab.
Vose is survived by his wife Nicole and sons, Aidan and Connor, who reside in Stuttgart, Germany. He is also
survived by his daughters, Sharon and Noel, who reside in Germany; as well as his mother Paulette, sister Kellie
and brother Jason of Oceanside, Calif.
Memorial Statue for CW2 Douglas Vose
The statue will be a life-sized bronze sculpture of Doug in his Green Beret Uniform (Army Greens) and will be
dedicated to the town of Concrete on July 27th 2013, two days prior to the 4 year anniversary of his death. The
base of the statue will be constructed of engraved bricks in which sponsors will be literally supporting Doug's
statue with their own words and memories.
The ceremony will be conducted at Concrete's High School. In addition to the dedication of the statue, the
ceremony will include a full day of festivities in celebration of Doug's amazing life and sacrifice. Doug's brother, a
Marine Corps Officer, has coordinated the day to include parachute operations with Force Recon and Army
Special Forces who knew and fought with Doug.
This project is a memorial statue with full dedication ceremony immortalizing a fallen hero. The memorial will be
crafted by an individual artisan and built on Concrete, WA High School grounds where Douglas Vose started his
life leaving an impression on the people; the true definition of honor, respect, courage, and hard work.
The statue will be a life-sized bronze sculpture of Doug in his Green Beret Uniform (Army Greens) and will be
dedicated to the town of Concrete on July 27th 2013, two days prior to the 4 year anniversary of his death. The
base of the statue will be constructed of engraved bricks in which sponsors will be literally supporting Doug's
statue with their own words and memories.
The ceremony will be conducted at Concrete's High School. In addition to the dedication of the statue, the
ceremony will include a full day of festivities in celebration of Doug's amazing life and sacrifice. Doug's brother, a
Marine Corps Officer, has coordinated the day to include parachute operations with Force Recon and Army
Special Forces who knew and fought with Doug.
Norman Allen Doney Born October 1928 in Warrenton, Oregon, the second son of Charles and Etta Doney, he grew up in Hammond, Oregon. He is married to the former Hazel Patricia (Patti) Sorensen. He has 4 sons (one deceased) and two daughters, all adults with families of their own. In January 1946, Norman quit high school and joined the U.S. Navy, serving on the U.S.S. Valley Forge. Norman was discharged as Seaman First Class in November 1947. He returned to high school and graduated in 1950 from Warrenton (OR) High and enrolled in the University of Oregon but dropped out. In March 1953, he joined the U.S. Army. He completed basic combat training and Engineer training in March '54 and received orders for the 70th Combat Engineer's located in Austria. He returned to the states and discharge June 1956. He stayed out for 89 days before re-­‐enlisting, and joining the 5th Infantry Division at Fort Ord, CA where he trained recruits. After a year or so, he requested airborne training, and was assigned to the 326th Combat Engineer Battalion, 101st ABN Div. in Camp Campbell, KY. He completed basic airborne training in November '57. In April 1959, he was assigned to the 8th Engineer Battalion, 1st Cavalry Division, in South Korea. In 1960, he returned stateside to the 307th Combat Engineers, 82nd ABN Div., Fort Bragg, NC. Early in 1961, he requested Special Forces Training and in March, was assigned to the 7th SFGA at Fort Bragg, where he participated in Operation "White Star", in Laos from Nov 1961 -­‐ May 1962. He was then assigned to the 8th SFGA, in the Panama Canal Zone from Dec 1962 – Dec 1965. He spent much of 1965 and spring 1966 assigned to Special Forces Training Group. In April 1966 he was reassigned to the 5th SFGA in Vietnam and to DET B-­‐
52, "PROJECT DELTA", from Apr 1966 -­‐ Apr 1967. He rotated back to the 6th SFGA, at Ft. Bragg, for three months and went back to the 5th and to DET B-­‐52 in Jul 1967. After a year, he again rotated back to the 6th SFGA, at Ft. Bragg. In March1969, he returned to the 5th and to B52, now reinvented as CCC, MACV SOG, where he was assigned through Mar 1970. He again rotated back to the 8th SFGA, at Ft Gulick, Canal Zone, through Jan. ‘71; returning to the 5th SFGA, (SMAG) in Vietnam, through Jan. 1972. CSM Doney was one of the last to 1 leave Vietnam. In January 1972 SGM Doney was assigned to the 10th SFGA, at Ft Devens, MA, through June 1972. CSM Doney retired from the Army on 30 June 1972. AWARDS and DECORATIONS Silver Star medal, Bronze Star medal (sixth award) for Valor, Achievement and Service, Air Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster, Army Commendation Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal, Purple Heart, Good Conduct Medal, Vietnam Cross of Gallantry w/Silver Star (fourth award), Vietnam Cross of Gallantry w/Bronze Star (second award), Vietnam Training Service Honor Medal Second Class, Vietnam Staff Service Medal, WWII Victory Medal, Army of Occupation Medal (Germany), National Defense Service Medal w/Oak Leaf Cluster, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Vietnam Service Medal w/twelve Campaign Stars, Vietnam Campaign Medal, and Korean Defense Service Medal, the Combat Infantryman’s Badge, Master Parachutist Badge, Expert Rifle and Pistol Badges, Halo Badge and the Vietnam Parachutist Badge and the Special Forces Tab. Unit citations earned while Norm was a member; Presidential Unit Citation (fourth award), Valorous Unit Commendation, Meritorious Unit Commendation, Navy Unit Commendation, Civic Action Honor Medal First Class, and Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm (2. In his career, Norm accumulated Eight (8) overseas combat bars, and Five hash marks for service. Additional Awards/Recognition Norm has been recognized by the American Legion with numerous awards. He has earned performance awards from the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the State of Oregon Highway Division, the American Red Cross. Everyone who knows Norm knows of his dedication to the cause of returning / repatriating our MIAs and KIAs from South East Asian conflicts. He’s been a tireless advocate for the missing, and for the return of “lost” remains of American servicemen. Norm has carried his message to countless schools, public officials, and international assemblies. Norm was a life member of the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Special Forces Association, Military Order of the Purple Heart, Disabled American Veterans, Special Operations Association, The Retired Enlisted Association, Veterans of the Vietnam War, The J.F.K. Special Warfare/Special Forces Branch Museum Association, and the White Tops, an association of past Oregon District Commanders, The American Legion. (extracted from Norm’s bio on the B-­‐52 website) 2 Jim Thompson, longest‐held American POW, had heart of true hero By Tom Philpo Army Col. Floyd "Jim" Thompson survived nine years of torture on dreams of returning home to a loving wife, four adoring children and a grateful na on. Army Col. Floyd “Jim” Thompson, Longest –held prisoner of war in American history, died July 16, 2002 in Key West, Fla. At age 69, his heart finally gave out, ending one of the most remarkable lives among heroes of the Vietnam War. Thompson passed away 34 years a er fellow POWs thought they saw him die in Bao Cao, the nickname of a vicious prison camp in North Vietnam. Through nine years of torture, starva on, unimaginable depriva on, he survived on dreams of returning home to a loving wife, four adoring children and a grateful na on. When none of that squared with reality, years of bi erness followed. The avalanche of challenges at home, Thompson believed, did not diminish his heroics or steadfast resistance before the enemy. Those who saw his strength agree that what he endured, and how, won't be forgo en. "I am a soldier. Period," Thompson would say if asked about the poli cal correctness of the Vietnam War. By spring of 1968, Thompson had been held in jungle cages and dank prison cells for more than four years, all of it in solitary confinement. The experience turned a 170‐pound Special Forces officer into a "skeleton with hair," said one POW. His appearance frightened other Americans, most of them soldiers captured in the Tet Offensive. Warrant Officer Michael O'Connor glimpsed Thompson through a crack between wall and cell door. "This guy is dead, I thought," O'Connor told me for "Glory Denied," my book about Thompson. "As part of some cruel joke, I thought they had stuck a corpse up against the door. Then I realized he was moving." Months later, during a rou ne indoctrina on session for POWs, Thompson collapsed into a violent convulsion. His heart was in seizure, probably from starva on, doctors later surmised. "A couple of us were told to carry him back to his cell," O'Connor recalled. "We didn't see him move." Guards later took Thompson away. The other POWs figured he was dying or dead. Before leaving Vietnam in 1973, they learned he survived and his mys que grew. His five years of solitary ended April 1, 1969, when he was tossed into a cell with three other Americans, including Lew Meyer, a Navy civilian firefighter. Meyer and Thompson began an astonishing daily exercise regime, leading to escape, Thompson's fi h a empt, in the fall of 1971. The pair avoided recapture in North Vietnam for two days. For his courage and leadership in this incident, the first observed by other POWs, Thompson would receive the Silver Star. Back home, within a year of losing her husband, Alyce Thompson saw her support structure collapsing. She decided to move her four children into the home of a re red soldier, and posed as his wife. She instructed the Army to withhold Thompson's name from POW lists. For years, the Army complied. By the me Thompson was freed, in March 1973, Navy Lt. Cmdr. Evere Alvarez had returned and been celebrated as the longest‐held POW. At first, he didn't care. He was struggling to fulfill dreams of family and career. He and Alyce tried to save their marriage, with devasta ng consequences for the children. Thompson himself wasn't well‐armed for that task, ba ling alcoholism, depression and a deep sense of betrayal. Page 13 A er losing his family, Thompson fought to save his career. Again, alcohol interfered. But Thompson never blamed the Army or the war for his troubles. He suffered a massive stroke in 1981, which forced him to re re. Disabled, he moved to Key West, Fla., and shut himself off from family and friends. His iden ty as a former POW, as longest‐held, made life worthwhile. He had flag poles installed in front of his condominium com‐
plex so one could fly the POW‐MIA flag. A bronze plaque mounted nearby refers to Thompson, the resident hero. Bolted to the fender of his new black Cadillac were two large U.S. flags, fit for a motorcade. His license plate read POW. Thompson le instruc ons to be cremated and, without ceremony, that his ashes be spread at sea — unless, at me of death, he had been awarded the Medal of Honor. In that case, with his sacrifices properly recognized, he wanted to be buried at Arlington Na onal Cemetery, Va. Whether Jim Thompson deserves the na on's highest military honor, others will decide. Surely, for what he gave, he deserved more than he got. The Future of Special Opera ons Beyond Kill and Capture By Linda Robinson November/December 2012 Over the past decade, the United States' military and the country's na onal security strategy have come to rely on special opera ons to an unprecedented degree. As iden fying and neutralizing terrorists and insurgents has become one of the Pentagon's most crucial tasks, special opera ons forces have honed their ability to conduct manhunts, adop ng a new targe ng system known as "find, fix, finish, exploit, analyze, and disseminate." They have adopted a fla er organiza onal structure and collaborated more closely with intelligence agencies, allowing special opera ons to move at "the speed of war," in the words of the re red army general Stanley McChrystal, the chief architect of the contemporary U.S. approach to counterterrorism. Implemen ng McChrystal's vision has been costly. Spending on sophis cated communica ons, stealth helicopters, and intelligence technology; building several high‐tech special opera ons headquarters; and transforming a C‐130 cargo plane into a state‐of‐the‐art flying hospital have consumed a large (and classified) por on of the total special opera ons budget, which has increased from $2.3 billion in 2001 to $10.5 billion in 2012. The investment has paid clear dividends, however, most drama cally in May 2011, when U.S. Navy SEALs, opera ng in coordina on with the CIA, raided a compound in Pakistan and killed Osama bin Laden. The target and loca on of that raid made it excep onal. But similar opera ons, which in earlier eras would have been considered extraordinary, have become commonplace: during the height of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, U.S. special opera ons units some mes conducted as many as 14 raids a night, with each successive raid made possible by intelligence scooped up during the previous one and then rapidly processed. When decision‐makers deem raids too risky or poli cally untenable, they some mes opt for strikes by armed drones, another form of what special operators refer to as "the direct approach." (The CIA conducts the majority of drone strikes, but special opera ons forces are also authorized to employ them in specific cases, including on the ba lefields of Afghanistan.) NATO: No Evidence for Afghan Claim of Misconduct Feb 25, 2013 Associated Press| by Patrick Quinn KABUL, Afghanistan ‐‐ Afghanistan's president ordered all U.S. special forces to leave a strategically important eastern province within two weeks because of allega ons that Afghans working with them are torturing and abusing other Afghans. The decision Sunday seems to have surprised the coali on and U.S. Forces Afghanistan, a separate command. Americans have frequently angered the Afghan public over issues ranging from Qurans burned at a U.S. base to allega ons of civilian killings. "We take all allega ons of misconduct seriously and go to great lengths to determine the facts surrounding them," the U.S. forces said in a statement. A spokesman for the U.S.‐led coali on in Afghanistan says NATO has so far found no evidence to support Afghan allega ons of misconduct by American special forces in a strategic eastern province. Page 14 German Gen. Gunter Katz said on Monday that the Interna onal Security Assistance Force will work with the government to find a solu on to the concerns of Afghans. Katz says that ISAF cannot comment un l NATO meets to discuss the issue with the Afghan government. Also Sunday, a series of a acks in eastern Afghanistan showed insurgents remain on the offensive even as U.S. and other interna onal forces prepare to end their combat mission by the end of 2014. Suicide bombers targeted Afghanistan's intelligence agency and other security forces in four coordinated a acks in the heart of Kabul and outlying areas in a bloody reminder of the insurgency's reach nearly 12 years into the war. Presiden al spokesman Aimal Faizi said the decision to order the American special forces to leave Wardak province was taken during a mee ng of the Na onal Security Council because of the alleged ac ons of Afghans who are considered linked to the U.S. special forces. He said all special forces opera ons were to cease immediately in the res ve province next to Kabul, which is viewed as a gateway to the capital and has been the focus of counterinsurgency efforts in recent years. The Taliban have staged numerous a acks against U.S.‐led coali on forces in the province. In August 2011, insurgents shot down a Chinook helicopter, killing 30 American troops, mostly elite Navy SEALs, in Wardak. The crash was the single deadliest loss for U.S. forces in the war. Afghan forces have taken the lead in many such special opera ons, especially so‐called night raids. "Those Afghans in these armed groups who are working with the U.S. special forces, the defense minister asked for an explana on of who they are," Faizi said. "Those individuals should be handed over to the Afghan side so that we can further inves gate." A statement the security council issued in English said the armed individuals have allegedly been "harassing, annoying, torturing and even murdering innocent people." Ceasing all such opera ons could have a nega ve impact on the coali on's campaign to go a er Taliban leaders and commanders, who are usually the target of such opera ons. Faizi said the issue had already been brought up with the coali on. The U.S. statement said only that the announcement was "an important issue that we intend to fully discuss with our Afghan counterparts. But un l we have had a chance to speak with senior Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan officials about this issue, we are not in a posi on to comment further." The brazen assaults, which occurred within a three‐hour mespan, were the latest to strike Afghan forces, who have suffered higher casual es this year as U.S. and other foreign troops gradually take a back seat and shi responsibility for security to the government. The deadliest a ack occurred just a er sunrise ‐‐ a suicide car bombing at the gate of the Na onal Directorate of Security compound in Jalalabad, 125 kilometers (78 miles) east of Kabul. Guards shot and killed the driver but he managed to detonate the explosives‐packed vehicle, killing two intelligence agents and wounding three others, according to a statement by the intelligence agency. Provincial government spokesman Ahmad Zia Abdulzai confirmed the casualty toll and said the building was damaged in the a ack. A guard also shot and killed a man in an SUV filled with dynamite that was targe ng an NDS building on a busy street in Kabul, not far from NATO headquarters. The explosives in the back of the vehicle were defused. Blood stained the driver's seat and the ground where security forces dragged out the would‐be a acker. Shortly before the Jalalabad a ack, a suicide a acker detonated a minivan full of explosives at a police checkpoint in Pul‐i‐Alam on the main highway between Kabul and Logar province. One policeman was killed and two others were wounded, along with a bystander, according to the NDS. Also in Logar province, which is due south of Kabul, a man wearing a suicide vest was stopped by police as he tried to force his way into the police headquarters for Baraki Barak district, said Din Mohammad Darwesh, the provincial government spokesman. The a acker detonated his vest while being searched, wounding one policeman, according to Darwesh and the NDS. Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid claimed responsibility for the Jalalabad a ack and two others in the eastern province of Logar in an email to reporters. He did not address the a empted assault in Kabul. ‐‐ Associated Press writers Heidi Vogt, Rahim Faiez and Kim Gamel contributed to this report. Ft. Bragg May Stop Using Goats for Trauma Training Jan 14, 2013
Faye eville (N.C.) Observer| by Drew Brooks
On average, soldiers on Fort Bragg slaughter 300 goats a month for medical trauma training meant to help save lives in ba le. Animal ac vists say the animals are shot, stabbed, bludgeoned and blown up to simulate the types of injuries soldiers face. For three decades, the ac vists have tried to end the prac ce. Their efforts appear to have finally paid off. Page 15 The 2013 Na onal Defense Authoriza on Act, signed into law this month, requires the Department of Defense to provide Congress with a strategy and detailed meline by March for the replacement of animals for medical training. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, which applauds the move, said Fort Bragg training accounts for about a third of the animal deaths caused by the military each year. Government documents show that officials at Fort Bragg's Army Special Opera ons Command solicited up to 3,600 goats for use in training last year. The documents show that the command planned to use about 300 goats a month. Officials with the John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School and Army Special Opera ons Command confirmed that they use animals for training but said they could not comment further. The officials said they have not been given specific guidance on the requirements outlined by the authoriza on act. PETA and other groups have protested the use of live animals in military training, advoca ng for simula on and other modern, non‐animal methods, said Jus n Goodman, director of the group's Laboratory Inves ga ons Department. In the 1980s, advocates were able to stop the use of dogs and cats in the training, Goodman said, but the language in the authoriza on act represents the first me Congress has required the military to formalize its efforts to end all animal use. Goodman said 10,000 animals are killed each year during trauma training conducted by the military and private military contractors. Up to a third of those animal deaths are a ributed to training on or around Fort Bragg, and several thousand more are a ributed to civilian contractors who do work for various military groups. Dr. John Pippin, a Dallas cardiologist who advocates on behalf of the Physicians Commi ee for Responsible Medicine, said it is important to realize that this isn't a choice between saving a soldier and saving a goat. "The use of goats and pigs for this type of training, if it was ever the best method, is not the best now," he said. "Anyone who tells you it's choosing between a goat and a soldier is devoid of a valid argument. That's a cop‐out. It's not the only way or the best way." The commi ee helped to cra a bill last year that would force the Department of Defense to end the prac ce of using live animals in trauma training within five years. That bill did not pass the U.S. House but served as the basis for the language inserted into the authoriza on act, officials said. Pippin said the use of live animals in medical training was commonplace when he went through medical school in the late 1970s. But even then, he said, many ques oned the prac ce. "We just knew, intui vely, that this was not relevant," he said. Now, only about five medical schools out of nearly 180 in the United States and Canada use live animals as part of their curricu‐
lum, Pippin said. 'Cut suits' Pippin and Goodman advocate for the use of various simulators, including "cut suits" that they say are be er suited for the trau‐
ma training. Some simulators look like humans, they said, and feature lifelike skin, anatomically correct organs, breakable bones and realis c blood flow. Others can be worn by humans while s ll providing many of the realis c features. "The anatomy and physiology of a goat and a pig are drama cally different from humans," Goodman said. "The simulators are be er in all regards." Goodman and Pippin said many military schools moved to simulators long ago, including the Rascon School of Combat Medicine at Fort Campbell, Ky., the Air Force Center for Sustainment of Trauma and Readiness Skills and the Navy Trauma Training Center. PETA officials said Camp Lejeune, at one point, also stopped using live animals in training. Lejeune officials did not respond to inquiries, but government documents show that officials on the Marine base do use live animals for trauma training, sta ng on bid paperwork that the live ssue training "has proven to save lives and lessen the severity of injury in combat." Goodman said PETA would ask the Marine Corps to cease the use of animals in training. Part of the problem, Goodman said, is that the training curriculum within the military is decentralized, with no overarching structure. The use of live animals occurs on at least 20 bases across the country, he said. But, he said, it's largely nonexistent in other parts of the world. Twenty‐two of the 28 countries in the North Atlan c Treaty Organiza on have banned the use of live animals in training, Good‐
man said. And news reports indicate that German officials have barred U.S. soldiers sta oned in that country from training involving live animals in the past. Once the military's ban on using live animals is in place, Goodman said, it will bring the U.S. up to the standards set by those coun‐
tries, while improving the training itself. "It's a win‐win," he said. Page 16 "The Gun Is Civiliza on" By Maj. L. Caudill USMC (Ret) Human beings only have two ways to deal with one another: reason and force . If you want me to do something for you, you have a choice of either convincing me via argument, or force me to do your bidding under threat of force. Every human interac on falls into one of those two categories, without excep on. Reason or force, that's it. In a truly moral and civilized society, people exclu‐
sively interact through persuasion. Force has no place as a valid method of social interac on and the only thing that removes force from the menu is the personal firearm, as paradoxical as it may sound to some. When I carry a gun, you cannot deal with me by force. You have to use reason and try to persuade me, because I have a way to negate your threat or employment of force. The gun is the only personal weapon that puts a 100‐pound woman on equal foo ng with a 220‐pound mugger, a 75‐year old re‐
ree on equal foo ng with a 19‐year old gang banger, and a single guy on equal foo ng with a carload of drunken guys with base‐
ball bats. The gun removes the disparity in physical strength, size, or numbers between a poten al a acker and a defender. There are plenty of people who consider the gun as the source of bad force equa ons. These are the people who think that we'd be more civilized if all guns were removed from society, because a firearm makes it easier for a [armed] mugger to do his job. That, of course, is only true if the mugger's poten al vic ms are mostly disarmed either by choice or by legisla ve fiat ‐ it has no validity when most of a mugger's poten al marks are armed. People who argue for the banning of arms ask for automa c rule by the young, the strong, and the many, and that's the exact opposite of a civilized society. A mugger, even an armed one, can only make a successful living in a society where the state has granted him a force monopoly. Then there's the argument that the gun makes confronta ons lethal that otherwise would only result in injury. This argument is fallacious in several ways. Without guns involved, confronta ons are won by the physically superior party inflic ng overwhelming injury on the loser. People who think that fists, bats, s cks, or stones don't cons tute lethal force, watch too much TV , where people take bea ngs and come out of it with a bloody lip at worst. The fact that the gun makes lethal force easier, works solely in favor of the weaker defender, not the stronger a acker. If both are armed, the field is level. The gun is the only weapon that's as lethal in the hands of an octogenarian as it is in the hands of a weight li er. It simply would not work as well as a force equalizer if it wasn't both lethal and easily employable. When I carry a gun, I don't do so because I am looking for a fight, but because I'm looking to be le alone. The gun at my side means that I cannot be forced, only persuaded . I don't carry it because I'm afraid, but because it enables me to be unafraid. It doesn't limit the ac ons of those who would interact with me through reason, only the ac ons of those who would do so by force. It removes force from the equa on... And that's why carrying a gun is a civilized act !! By Maj. L. Caudill USMC (Ret.) So the greatest civiliza on is one where all ci zens are equally armed and can only be persuaded, never forced!! 13 Gun Rules 1. Guns have only two enemies rust and poli cians. 2. It’s always be er to be judged by 12 than carried by 6. 3. Cops carry guns to protect themselves, not you. 4. Never let someone or something that threatens you get inside arms length. 5. Never say, “I’ve got a gun.” If you need to use deadly force, the first sound they hear should be the safety clicking off. 6. The average response me of a 911 call is 23 minutes; the response me of a .357 is 1400 feet per second. 7. The most important rule in a gunfight is: Always win – cheat if necessary. 8. Make your a acker advance through a wall of bullets . . . You may get killed with your own gun, but he’ll have to beat you to death with it, because it’ll be empty. 9. If you’re in a gunfight: – If you’re not shoo ng, you should be loading. – If you’re not loading, you should be moving. – If you’re not moving, you’re dead. Page 17 10. In a life and death situa on, do something . . . It may be wrong, but do something! 11. If you carry a gun, people call you paranoid. Nonsense! If you have a gun, what do you have to be paranoid about? 12. You can say ‘stop’ or ‘alto’ or any other word, but a large bore muzzle pointed at someone’s head is pre y much a universal language. 13. You cannot save the planet, but you may be able to save yourself and your family Places I have been I have been in many places, but I've never been in Cahoots. Apparently, you can't go alone. You have to be in Cahoots with someone. I've also never been in Cognito. I hear no one recognizes you there. I have, however, been in Sane. They don't have an airport; you have to be driven there. I have made several trips there, thanks to my friends, family and work. I would like to go to Conclusions, but you have to jump, and I'm not too much on physical ac vity anymore. I have also been in Doubt. That is a sad place to go, and I try not to visit there too o en. I've been in Flexible, but only when it was very important to stand firm. Some mes I'm in Capable, and I go there more o en as I'm ge ng older. One of my favorite places to be is in Suspense! It really gets the adrenalin flowing and pumps up the old heart! At my age I need all the s muli I can get! And, some mes I think I am in Vincible but life shows me I am not! Pane a to Li Ban on Women in Combat Wednesday, 23 Jan 2013 03:19 PM Senior defense officials say Pentagon chief Leon Pane a will remove the military's ban on women serving in combat, opening hundreds of thousands of front‐line posi ons and poten ally elite commando jobs a er more than a decade at war. The groundbreaking move recommended by the Joint Chiefs of Staff overturns a 1994 rule prohibi ng women from being assigned to smaller ground combat units. Pane a's decision gives the military services un l January 2016 to seek special excep ons if they believe any posi ons must remain closed to women. "A er a decade of cri cal military service in hos le environments, women have demonstrated a wide range of capabili es in combat opera ons and we welcome this review," said House Armed Services Commi ee Chairman Howard P. “Buck” McKeon of California. Rep. Tammy Duckworth, D‐Ill., a former Army helicopter pilot who lost both of her legs figh ng in Iraq, called the “long overdue.” “This is a win for our na on," Duckworth, a member of the House Armed Services Commi ee. told Poli co. "This is a win for our military — that the talents of all of these women are going to be able to be used by our na on to protect and defend this great democracy.” A senior military official says the services will develop plans for allowing women to seek the combat posi ons. Some jobs may open as this year. Assessments for others, such as special opera ons forces, including Navy SEALs and the Army's Delta Force, may take longer. The official told the Associated Press that military chiefs must report back to Pane a with their ini al implementa on plans by May 15. The announcement on Pane a's decision is not expected un l Thursday, so the official spoke on condi on of anonymity. Pane a's move expands the Pentagon's ac on nearly a year ago to open about 14,500 combat posi ons to women, nearly all of them in the U.S. Army. This decision could open more than 230,000 jobs, many in Army and Marine infantry units, to women. In recent years the necessi es of war propelled women into jobs as medics, military police and intelligence officers that were some mes a ached — but not formally assigned — to units on the front lines. Women comprise 14 percent of the 1.4 million ac ve military personnel. The news came as complete surprise, with no leaks to the media on a day when Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's rive ng tes mony on the Benghazi killings of a U.S. ambassador and three Americans consumed much a en on. Page 18 But lawmakers, conserva ve ac vists and former military leaders were quick to react. "The focus of our military needs to be maximizing combat effec veness," said U.S. Rep. Duncan Hunter, a Republican from California and a member of the House Armed Services Commi ee. "The ques on here is whether this change will actually make our military be er at opera ng in combat and killing the enemy, since that will be their job too. What needs to be explained is how this decision, when all is said and done, increases combat effec veness rather than being a move done for poli cal purposes ‐‐ which is what this looks like," Hunter said. "Li ing the ban is contrary to law and the wishes of the American people," said Phyllis Schlafly, the conserva ve ac vist and cons tu onal lawyer. "It is an embarrassment to the country." Re red U.S. Army Gen. Paul E. Vallely tells Newsmax that physical limita ons prevent women from serving is special combat forces, including the Navy SEALs. “There are two ways to look at it,” Vallely said. “Women are already in combat zones — flying in helicopters, providing military intelligence, and in support units in Afghanistan. “But I don’t think they should be in Special Forces or infantry units or deployed, in a conven onal way, as part of special opera ons forces like Navy SEALs.” “The upper‐body strength that it takes to carry the weapons and gear — and especially on long hikes they’d have” prevents them from serving these opera ons effec vely, said Vallely, who re red from the Army in 1993 as Deputy Commanding General, Pacific. “It’s been proven that women just don’t develop that upper‐body strength.” But others argue the U.S. isn't figh ng trench warfare as it did in World War II. It's figh ng insurgencies. As the Center for American Progress argued last month, "Policies designed to keep servicewomen from the frontlines of ba le cannot be enforced where frontlines do not exist." More than 130 women have been killed in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, according to the Associated Press. In all, about 2 percent of U.S. deaths in Iraq and Afghanistan have been women. Some 280,000 women have been deployed to the war zones over the past decade, about 12 percent of the U.S. total. Defense officials noted that 10 years of combat had made it clear that some of the military's gender‐based restric ons were obsolete because the ba lefields faced by U.S. troops in Iraq and Afghanistan had no clear front lines and no obvious ways to limit exposure to the figh ng. "This policy has become irrelevant given the modern ba le space with its nonlinear boundaries," the Defense Department said in a report to Congress. Of the more than 200,000 women serving as ac ve duty members of the military, about 37,000 are officers. Women in Military Combat January 24, 2013 | 0312 GMT STRATFOR Women have served in the military in various capaci es throughout history, but in many cases cultural norms have prevented women from ac ve military service in combat zones even when there was an acute military need. The U.S. decision announced Wednesday to allow women to serve in direct military combat roles is a step toward gender equality in the military. Each military branch has un l 2016 to implement this new policy and decide on any exemp ons they deem necessary. Uniquely, this move is being driven by the cultural impera ve for the all‐volunteer force to resemble the society it defends as opposed to filling a need, so while the poli cal implica ons are grand, the military reality is negligible. The U.S. decision will likely not be a completely open door due to possible exemp ons, but it will serve as another step toward mee ng this cultural requisite. The opening of this demographic to combat roles comes at me when the United States dominates militarily, does not face an existen al threat and is not in need of personnel. In fact, it is currently downsizing the en re force. These last two factors have been the usual historical drivers for militaries to accept the greater ‐‐ albeit limited ‐‐ inclusion of race and gender in the military, despite exis ng cultural dynamics. With the dawn of World War I, the mass inclusion of women in the war effort became inescapable. In the United Kingdom, in a process known as Dilu on, women replaced the millions of men sent to the front lines by working primarily in armament factories, agriculture, logis cs and medical services on the home front. Even during the Great War, the no on that women could serve in the trenches was culturally impossible. Page 19 The only excep on to this rule was a short‐lived experiment in 1917 by the Russian government to deploy women's ba alions ‐‐ largely for propaganda purposes ‐‐ to revitalize the army's flagging morale. The 1st Russian Women's Ba alion of Death did charge an enemy trench during the Kerensky Offensive, with mixed results. For the most part, though, the only viable way women could serve close to the front lines was by working as nurses in the medical corps; hundreds of women lost their lives doing so. The role of women in combat evolved drama cally during World War II. Nearly half a million American women served in the armed forces, but the U.S. military decided not to include them in direct combat because the American people would not tolerate it. The United Kingdom, once again desperately in need of more personnel, included women in a number of protected units that were technically involved in combat but were unlikely to be overrun or captured. The most notable examples are the an ‐air ar llery ba eries in which then‐Prime Minister Winston Churchill's daughter Mary served. Opposi on to ac ve female service‐in‐combat roles are best demonstrated by Germany during World War II. The German need for addi onal personnel started reaching cri cal levels by 1944, and yet in November 1944, Hitler s ll issued an official order that no women were to be trained in weapons use except in the most extreme cases. The Germans finally decided to raise a female combat ba alion in February 1945 to shame men into figh ng, but the war ended before the ba alion was raised. Once again, it was the Soviet Union that broke the trend by deploying female soldiers in combat. Nearly one million women served in the Red Army during World War II, half of whom served in front‐line duty. That is not to say that there wasn't some resistance to the mass involvement of women in combat, but due to military need and the much greater cultural ac‐
ceptance of an equal female role in the Soviet Union, the Red Army was able to call on vast numbers of women without going through the intermediary auxiliary service stage. Russian women served in an ‐aircra ba eries, in tanks, as snipers, as par sans and as combat pilots. The only two female aces in history, Lydia Litvyak and Katya Budanova, served in the Red Air Force 586th Fighter Avia on Regiment. A er World War II, the pace of reform involving the inclusion of females in the military drama cally slowed. With the evolu on of cultural norms in Europe, the United States and around the world over the past 60 years, women have been able to steadily acquire more la tude in military service. Europe witnessed the fastest pace of reform in this regard. By 1978, Danish women could serve in all areas of the military. In 1985, the Royal Norwegian Navy became the first navy in the world to permit female personnel to serve in submarines. In 2000, the Israeli Equality amendment to the Military Service law enabled women to enter combat roles, including establishing a co‐ed infantry ba alion. In September 2011, Australia ins tuted a phased five‐year plan under which restric ons would be gradually li ed on women in combat roles. The United States faces three major considera ons regarding this new policy. First, how far will the exemp ons extend throughout the various services? Pu ng women in combat units but limi ng them to a company headquarters element is very different than allowing them open applica on to all levels with access to all jobs within that unit. The second considera on will be physical standards. Most of the military services run a dual physical assessment for male and female personnel evalua on. It will need to be established whether this system is appropriate for combat‐related jobs, especially ones where there is already more selec on criteria for the men, such as in special opera on forces. The third considera on is how to overcome the culture in all‐male units into which women may be integrated. The military is already struggling with sexual harassment in mixed gender units and this policy will likely exacerbate the problem. In many ways, the dis nc on between women in combat roles and women in support roles has been blurred by recent conflicts. An occupa on force figh ng insurgents has no clear line of ba le, and many female service members in support roles have found themselves in the line of fire. The truth is that these bureaucra c dis nc ons are just catching up with reality. The U.S. military will accept women in combat roles regardless of the decision's popularity within the ranks. There is a precedent for the services' accep ng force restructuring despite resistance from U.S. society or from within the ranks themselves, such as desegrega on, allowing openly gay service members and the ini al allowance of women into non‐combat roles. This has led to occasional fric on, but in general the military has con nued to operate as usual. Despite the punditry to be had on either side, the real constraint on future combat power will be from fiscal constraints and poli cal will, not the demographics of personnel. North Korean Military Medals Page 20 Grand opening special is $7.00 until the end of May
Page 21 Special Forces Associa on Blazers Here is the website that has the blazers. The polyester is a great blazer, plus the pocket patch is embroidered directly onto the jacket. The first line is for the polyester jacket, the other two are for the wool jackets depending on whether it is a larger or regu‐
lar size. This company also carries the SF Associa on es too. Hope this help. h p://stores.uniformspro.com/‐strse‐100/Special‐Forces‐Associa on%2C‐SFA%2C/Detail.bok h p://stores.uniformspro.com/‐strse‐99/Special‐Forces‐Associa on%2C‐SFA%2C/Detail.bok h p://stores.uniformspro.com/‐strse‐98/Special‐Forces‐Associa on‐%28SFA%29/Detail.bok Page 22 THE GREEN BERETS...
America’s Vanguards of Freedom
The United States Army Special Forces - the
Green Berets - have led the way in America’s
armed conflicts from the Vietnam War through
present day conflicts in Afghanistan and
Iraq. The largest component of U.S. Special
Operations Forces (SOF), Special Forces has
suffered tremendous losses in the ongoing War
on Terror; since 9/11, 136 Special Forces and
Special Forces Support Soldiers have made the
ultimate sacrifice in the fight for freedom.
The families of America’s Green Berets,
especially their children, continue to bear a
particularly heavy burden as they endure
repeated deployments of their parents into
harm’s way.
ABOUT THE SF SCHOLARSHIP
FUND
The Special Forces Scholarship Fund (SFSF)
recognizes the sacrifices of these children
through its merit-based educational
scholarship fund for those pursuing postsecondary education.
The Special Forces Scholarship Fund
(SFSF) was incorporated in the state of
North Carolina (home to the Fort Bragg
headquarters of the U.S. Army Special
Forces Command) on March 8th, 2011
to operate exclusively for charitable and
educational purposes under Section
501(c)(3) of the U.S. Internal Revenue
Code; it is a charitable tax-exempt
organization as defined by North Carolina
General Statute 55A-1-40(4).
The SFSF is focused solely on awarding
merit-based scholarships to children
of current and veteran Special Forces
Soldiers. All SFSF board members are
volunteers who work pro-bono for the
fund. All fund activity expenses are borne
by board members so as to ensure that
every dollar donated is used to create
scholarships for Special Forces children.
The fund’s long term goal is to create an
endowment that will provide over $400,000
in scholarships to SF children each year. In
the near term, the SFSF is focused on funding
scholarships to children of the Army’s five
active duty SF Groups located throughout the
United States. In its pilot program last year
(2011), the SFSF awarded 11 scholarships,
worth nearly $20,000, to children of the 3rd
Special Forces Group; this year, SFSF will
award approximately 25 scholarships - worth
$70,000 - to deserving children of all active
duty SF Groups in Washington, Colorado, North
Carolina and Florida.
YOU CAN HELP SUPPORT
OUR HEROES
Your tax-deductable donations to this worthy
fund can help shape the futures of our very
deserving Special Forces children - and the
future of our country as well.
While donations of all sizes are most welcome,
corporate sponsorhip and assistance is highly
encouraged; various levels of corporate
involvement are outlined on our website at
www.sfscholarshipfund.org
Special Forces Scholarship Fund
PO BOX 1509
Fayetteville NC 28302-1509
Donors wishing to direct their contributions
to the children of the 1st Special Forces
Group of Fort Lewis, Washington, may
indicate that on their donation.
Support
America’s Heroes...
CONSIDER SUPPORTING THE
SPECIAL FORCES
SCHOLARSHIP FUND NOW...
You’ll be supporting
America’s Heroes…
AND investing in our nation’s future!
www.sfscholarshipfund.org
For more information on how you can
help, please contact the 1st Special
Forces Group Scholarship Fund
Director at
[email protected]
By Investing in
America’s Future
The Special Forces
Scholarship Fund
*SFSF Tracking Number______________
(Admin use only)
The Special Forces Scholarship Fund
2013 Application
INSTRUCTIONS TO THE APPLICANT
The Special Forces Scholarship Fund (SFSF) is a non-profit, tax-exempt organization the
purpose of which is to award merit based post secondary educational scholarships to the daughters
and sons of current and veteran Special Forces Soldiers. Scholarships are awarded annually and are
limited to undergraduate and graduate studies that result in a degree or vocational certification from
an accredited graduate school, university, college, or vocational/Technical Institution. Recipients of
SFSF awards will be eligible to receive no more than four (4) annual scholarships for undergraduate
studies and two (2) scholarships for graduate studies.
Please read all instructions carefully before completing the application. The deadline for
submitting an application with all required information and documentation is March 15th, 2013.
Applicants are required to provide all of the requested information. Applicants who are not able to
provide requested information must explain why. Any incomplete applications or packets
postmarked after March 15th, 2013 will be ineligible for consideration. Applications will only be
accepted via regular mail; use of certified mail is discouraged.
ELIGIBILITY: Applicants must meet the following criteria:





Daughter or son of a current or veteran United States Army Special Forces Soldier.
Age criteria:
o Undergraduate student must not have reached 26 years of age by 15 October 2013.
o Graduate student must not have reached 28 years of age by 15 October 2013.
Full time student pursuing degree/certification completion at an accredited post secondary
institution.
A high school senior, high school graduate, or registered as a full time undergraduate student at
an accredited college or post secondary vocational/technical institute.
For graduate school scholarships, currently enrolled as a college senior or obtained a bachelors
degree from an accredited college/university, applied and/or accepted in an accredited graduate
school program.
APPLICANT ELIGIBILITY VERIFICATION: Both the applicant and their sponsor are required to read
and complete the Statement of Certification at the bottom of the first page of the application.
Incomplete applications will not be accepted. If the sponsor is deployed, include a statement of that
fact in the application packet. You must include official documentation verifying the sponsor’s possession of an 18-series military occupational specialty (MOS) or service in a Special Forces
Group for a cumulative period of not less than five years. Acceptable forms of documentation are
the DD Form 214, ERB, or ORB. The children of non-18-series Soldiers who have served honorably in
an active duty group for at least five years are eligible to compete.
1
*SFSF Tracking Number______________
(Admin use only)
SAT/ACT/GRE/GMAT SCORES: High school seniors will submit a copy of their SAT/ACT score sheet
or transcript reflecting the score. Graduate students must provide a copy of their GRE/GMAT test
results. If multiple tests were taken, include your highest scores, but do not mix individual scores
between tests, even if scores are shown on your transcript.
CLASS RANKING: If class ranking is not shown on the transcript, applicants must provide a letter
from a school official indicating their class ranking/standing. Many schools do not have class ranking
systems. If you are unable to submit your class ranking, use block 10 on your application to explain
the reason why.
GRADE POINT AVERAGE/TRANSCRIPTS: Applicants must submit their most recently completed
transcript that clearly states their cumulative GPA and reflects all courses completed and grades
earned. If you are unable to provide your most recent transcript, use block 10 on your application
to explain the reason why. If not explained on the transcript, applicants must use block 10 to
define the GPA point scaled and explain if course scores are weighted or raw.
APPLICATION EVALUATION: SFSF scholarships are awarded based solely on merit. There are nine
(9) categories the Board of Directors will evaluate. Each category is worth six (6) points and given
equal weight by the board. You will receive zero (0) points for any category left blank and not
properly explained. Non-traditional students include students with children, students with part time
jobs, students with special needs, or students starting college several years after high school
graduation. If you are a non-traditional student and not involved in school activities or clubs, please
provide other information you feel would assist us in the evaluation. The Board of Directors will
consider all other information submitted with the application. The last section in each application
(block 10) is where you have a chance to tell the SFSF board anything that you think it needs to know
about you in order to better evaluate your application. Scholarships will be awarded without regard
to race, color, sex, religion, national origin, or physical ability. When possible, use bullet comments
to answer the questions.
COMPLETED APPLICATION: Completed scholarship applications including all supporting
documentation must be submitted to the SFSF via regular U.S. Postal Service (USPS) mail. If a school
will not provide official SAT/ACT/GRE scores, official transcripts, and/or class ranking directly to the
student, that information can be mailed separately by the school to the SFSF. Information from
previous applications will not be considered. Additional information relevant to the application that
might be of assistance in our evaluation may be submitted. This is especially important for nontraditional students who are unable to be evaluated in a specific category. It is imperative you
answer all questions. If you are unable to answer a question, please provide an explanation in
block 10 of your application. Completed applications must be submitted via the United States
Postal Service mail only. Applications sent using FEDEX, UPS or other parcel services will not be
accepted. Please do not send photos or resumes. No portion of the application will be returned to
you.
2
*SFSF Tracking Number______________
(Admin use only)
The Special Forces Scholarship Fund
2013 Application
SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION / FINAL CHECKLIST
Mail completed application packet to the SFSF postmarked no later than March 15, 2013:
 DD Form 214, ERB, or ORB verifying the sponsor’s possession of an 18-series MOS or service
in a Special Forces Group for a cumulative period of not less than five years
 Complete Application (pages 4-9 of this document)
 SAT/ACT/GRE/GMAT Scores
 School Transcripts
 Class Rank & GPA Documentation (if not reflected on transcripts)
Mail all required documents postmarked no later than March 15, 2012 to the one SFSF location with
which your sponsor is most closely affiliated:
The Special Forces Scholarship Fund [1st SFG(A)]
P.O. Box 33990
Ft. Lewis, WA 98433
The Special Forces Scholarship Fund [3rd SFG(A)]
P.O. Box 74200
Ft. Bragg, NC 28307
5th SFG SFSF
P.O. Box 31043
Clarksville, TN 37040
The Special Forces Scholarship Fund [7th SFG(A)]
P.O. Box 2395
Crestview, FL 32536
The Special Forces Scholarship Fund [10th SFG(A)]
2316 N. Wahsatch Ave.
P.O. Box 205
Colorado Springs, CO 80907
The Special Forces Scholarship Fund [19th & 20th SFG(A)]
P.O. Box 1509
Fayetteville, NC 28302-1509
*Note: Use the US Postal Service; do not mail documents via certified or registered mail.
Application related questions may be addressed directly to any SFSF Director or e-mailed to us at:
[email protected]
3
*SFSF Tracking Number______________
(Admin use only)
The Special Forces Scholarship Fund
2013 Application
APPLICANT INFORMATION SECTION
Applicant’s Name (First, Middle Initial, Last )______________________________________________________________
Applicant’s Social Security Number (SSN) (last four numbers only) ____________________________________________
Gender (M/F) _______Date of Birth (YY/MM/DD) ____________Place of Birth__________________________________
Applicant’s relationship to the Sponsor: ___________________
Sponsor status: (Please check one) Current Special Forces Soldier___ Veteran Special Forces Soldier____
Special Forces Group Assignments______________________________________________________________________
Date(s) Sponsor Served in U.S. Army Special Forces: From (YY/MM) ____________ To (YY/MM) _______________
Applicant’s Contact Information (PLEASE DO NOT USE TEMPORARY/SCHOOL YEAR ADDRESS!)
Applicants Name____________________________________________________________________________________
Number and Street Address___________________________________________________________________________
City________________________________________ State_________________ Zip Code_________________________
Home Telephone Number ________________Cell Number ________________Work Number_____________________
Email Address________________________________________________________________________________
Are you enrolled in a College ROTC Program? (Please check one) YES_______ NO_______
If not, do you intend to enroll in College ROTC Program? (Please check one) YES_______ NO_______
Have you ever been convicted of any charges other than minor traffic violations? (If yes, please explain below)
YES_______ NO_______
Sponsor’s Name_____________________________________________________________________________________
Number and Street Address___________________________________________________________________________
City__________________________________________ State_________________ Zip Code_______________________
Home Telephone Number ________________Cell Number _____________Work Number_________________
Email Address________________________________________________________________________________
Was your Sponsor awarded the Purple Heart? YES_____ NO_____
Was your Sponsor Killed in Action? YES_____ NO_____
Does your Sponsor have a Veterans Administration Service Connected Disability?
YES_____ NO____
4
*SFSF Tracking Number______________
(Admin use only)
The Special Forces Scholarship Fund
2013 Application
STATEMENT OF CERTIFICATION
I certify the information provided in this application is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge. I
understand failure to provide full documentation or falsification of credentials will result in disqualification of this
application. I agree to provide, if requested, official documentation to verify information reported on this
application. In the event I receive a 2013 SFSF scholarship award and elect not to attend school during that school
year, the award will be returned to SFSF. I also understand the decision of the SFSF Board of Directors is final.
Applicant’s Name_________________________________________________Date____________
Applicant’s Signature______________________________________________
Sponsor’s Name __________________________________________________Date____________
Sponsor’s Signature _______________________________________________ If the Sponsor is unavailable to certify the application with a signature, please explain why below:
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________
5
*SFSF Tracking Number______________
(Admin use only)
The Special Forces Scholarship Fund
2013 Application
EVALUATION SECTION
List the High School you currently attend and/or previously attended:
Institution:_____________________________City______________________State______YY/MM________________
Institution:_____________________________City______________________State______YY/MM________________
Institution:_____________________________City______________________State______YY/MM________________
Institution:_____________________________City______________________State______YY/MM________________
List current or future post secondary schools to which you have applied, been accepted or are attending:
Institution____________________________________________________ Attending___ Applied___ Accepted___
Institution____________________________________________________ Attending___ Applied___ Accepted___
Institution____________________________________________________ Attending___ Applied___ Accepted___
Institution____________________________________________________ Attending___ Applied___ Accepted___
Grade you will be entering in the fall of 2013 (check one) Freshman___ Sophomore___ Junior___ Senior___
Area of Study_____________________________________ Degree Type: BS________ BA_________ Other__________
1. SAT/ACT/GRE Scores: SAT_______
ACT__________ GRE___________ Other___________
2. Class Ranking: High School Ranking____ of______ total students
Undergraduate Ranking____ of______ total students
3. Grade Point Average (GPA):
High School Cumulative Un-Weighted GPA: _______ Weighted GPA______
Undergraduate Cumulative GPA________
Graduate School Cumulative GPA________
4. List any clubs/organizations in which you were a member of within the last 12 months (Include High School /
College, Social, Service, Fraternal, Professional Organizations, Religious Organizations, etc.; List the organization, the
duties that you performed, and the time period that you were a member).
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________
6
*SFSF Tracking Number______________
(Admin use only)
5. List any volunteer/community service in which you participated in during the last 12 months (List the activity/event,
the duties that you performed, and the period of performance).
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
6. List leadership positions held within the last 12 months to include any awards and/or honors. (i.e., Student
Government, Team Captain, Club Officer, Scouting, ROTC, Shift Leader, Coaching, teaching, mentoring, etc.).
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
7. List athletic participation in organized sports, physical activities, or other similar activities during the last 12 months,
include awards earned and honors won. (i.e., Collegiate Basketball Team, Cheerleading, Drill Team, Marching Band,
Recreational Sports, Intramural Sports, Church League, Coaching, etc.)
___________________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
8. List any employment during the last 24 months:
YY/MM_______to_______Employer___________________________Position_________________Hrs/Wk________
YY/MM_______to_______Employer___________________________Position_________________Hrs/Wk________
YY/MM_______to_______Employer___________________________Position_________________Hrs/Wk________
YY/MM_______to_______Employer___________________________Position_________________Hrs/Wk________
7
*SFSF Tracking Number______________
(Admin use only)
9. Please complete an essay not to exceed 300 words. Essay must be included with this application. The topic is as
follows:
>> How has being the daughter or son of an Army Special Forces Soldier influenced who you are?
Begin your essay here:
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*SFSF Tracking Number______________
(Admin use only)
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10. List any additional information that the USASFSF Board should be aware of (i.e. are you a Special Needs Family
Member, were you Home Schooled, do have a Special Needs Family Member at home, are you a caregiver for aging
Grandparents, etc.). Are you a High School Student taking AP or college level courses?
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