The Status of Proposed Changes to Military Benefits; The Libya Operation Ending? Army to Cut 50,000; Line of Duty Deaths Rise; RIP Sheriffs Roberts and Lowry; Fallen Firefighters Plan on Ringing Chapel Memorial Bells 4 the First Time---Nation To Participate

"I am a military soldier. I fight where I'm told and I win where I fight."---Gen. Patton

• The status of the proposed changes to the military retirement plan are still up in the air. The good news is that the plan will not come up again for consideration until February 2012 at the earliest. Until then, the Defense Business Board will be reviewing their own recommendations again. For an excellent summary of this proposal visit the Military Wallet at http://www.themilitarywallet.com/ for additional information and updates.
• According to AP, Army General Carter Ham, head of South Africa Command, said the military mission in Libya is almost complete. NATO will be meeting next week to decide when to end the mission.
• Army Times reported last week the Army plans on cutting 50,000 troops over the next 5 years. The Army plans on having a force of just over 520,000 by 2016.
• Good news on combating terrorism. AP is reporting, a Somali pirate leader was sentenced to life in prison for killing four Americans on a yacht off the coast of Oman last February. These were the first Americans killed in the wave of piracy in the Gulf of Eden and the Indian Ocean.
• Officer Down Memorial Page reports today that Line of Duty deaths are up 5% this year.  This includes "gun fire deaths" that are up 14%.  Reserve Deputy Sheriffs, Mike Roberts and Tim Lowry, of Pottawatomie County in Oklahoma, were the most recent deaths in the line of duty. Their patrol car was hit by a tractor trailer on State Highway 39. The sheriffs were part of a warrant team on their way to serve warrants.
• The National Fallen Firefighters is reminding everyone that their memorial weekend will be October 16, 2011. For the first time in its 30 year history, the memorial will ring the bells of the Memorial Chapel. As part of this tribute, fire departments and chapels across the nation will also ring their bells in remembrance of those who died in the line of duty.