"Act of Valor" Opening Friday; 51 Year Old Woman Completes Army Boot Camp; Warriors Networking For Employment; First Black Marines To Be Honored; VA Family Caregiver Program; RIP Trooper Tony Radulescu; 12 U.S. Firefighters Died To Date

"Wars may be fought with weapons, but they are won by men."---Gen. George S. Patton, Jr.
"Act of Valor" Opening Friday

What more can be said about "Act of Valor" that has not already been said? The good news is that Hollywood is finally making a film that does not portray our military as crazed maniacs (they have a tendency to do the same with films about police) or distort what our military actually does each and every day. In fact, it took the creators of the film over a month to gain the trust of the Navy SEAL community. As many now know, the directors decided to use actual SEAL team members instead of actors. In fact, no one in Hollywood wanted to touch the film because of the lack of "stars." (Little did they know, the real stars are located at the Naval Special Warfare Center not in Hollywood).  They also knew actors could not re-create and replicate the intensity and aura surrounding Navy SEALs. In fact, much of the dialogue in the film was re-written by the SEALs themselves. Let's help make this film a hit!
(As I write this reports out of Arizona say 7 Marines were killed in a helo collision. Developing).


51 Year Old Woman Completes Army Boot Camp

She's 51 years old. She served in the Navy from 1982 to 1993. She had to lose 30 pounds. And she just completed Army boot camp.  Her name is Sandra Coast. She's now Sgt. Sandra Coast, U.S. Army. She didn't simply complete boot camp, but she also finished training with one of the highest physical fitness test scores in her company. Sgt. Coast also has a son who is a United States Marine. I have a hunch I know where her son got his gumption from. Dedicated to Heroes would like to give Sgt. Coast a big HOOOOOAH!!!



Warriors Networking For Employment

Four military services' wounded warrior programs are co-hosting the 2012 Wounded Warrior Hiring Conference at Ft. Belvoir Officers Club in Virginia on February 28 and 29. Anyone interested in attending should contact: megan.haydel@navy.mil.

Recruit Military is hosting a Recruit Military Conference on March 1, 2012 from 11:00 am to 3:00 p.m. The hiring fair will be held at Irving Convention Center at Las Colinas in Irving, Texas. For more information contact support@recruitmilitary.com


First Black Marines To Be Honored

They faced the Japanese in WWII in the Pacific. They also faced segregation and racism. They were the nation's first black Marines, 19,000 strong. They became known as the Montford Point Marines (Montford Point was their training base located about five miles from Camp Lejeune, where white Marines were trained).  This spring they will be honored at the U.S. Capital Visitors Center in Washington, D.C., with the nation's highest civilian honor, the Congressional Gold Medal. It is estimated 400 are still alive and will be bestowed the honor. Philadelphia Inquirer


The VA's Family Caregiver Program

Eligible post 9/11 veterans can receive caregiver support from the Department of Veterans Affairs.  Programs include:

• In-Home and Community Based Care
• Respite Care
• Caregiver Education and Training Programs
• Caregiver Support Groups and Other Related Services
• Other services include medical equipment, prosthetic and sensory aides. In addition, funding is available for home modifications.

The caregiver application (VA CG 10-10) can be obtained at www.caregiver.va.gov



Washington State Trooper Killed Making Traffic Stop

Trooper Tony Radulescu of the Washington State Patrol was shot and killed while making a traffic stop in Gorst, WA.  Trooper Radulescu was a military veteran and served in the Washington State Patrol for 16 years. Officer Down Memorial Page

U.S. Firefighters Who Died On Duty In 2011: 81.  Firefighters Who Died In 2012 To Date: 12
USFA