The United States of America has one of the biggest military forces in the globe. The quantity of veteran's organizations in this nation has also dominated the whole globe with more than a hundred of listed and unlisted support groups ready to provide assistance to the America's servicemen and women.

Big and small groups for veterans assist the America's government with its different programs for veterans. Various organizations is keen to service women's benefit while others are supporting the veterans of foreign wars. There are also others that are committed to giving financial assistance and making programs for the emotional recoveries of military from wars and their loved ones as well.

Joining the United States military has constantly been an ambition of several teens. Since there are different branches of United States' armed forces, each branch has also different age requirements for citizens who desires to be included in the workforce of the country's essential department. For those who aim to be a part of the United States military, below are some essential guides that should be taken into consideration.

1. Understand the kind of service you want to be included - United States Navy, Air Force, Army, Marine Corps and Coast Guard

2. Ask, research and study the enlistment process

3. Conduct a research on the advantages and disadvantages about being in the United States Military, including detailed salary and state & federal benefits information.

There are now further reasons for Veterans Advantage cardholders to be happy. This one-of-a-kind advantage card provides exclusive home and office advantages including exceptional offers that members will definitely like. From gadgets to electronics and insurance services to legal services, the company's home and office parner establihsments have definitely superb offers.

Below is the list of home and office benefits that members can take advantage of:

- Special discounts on air express and ground services from DHL Express

- Receive exclusive discounts (over 50% off published tariff rates) on interstate moving services with nationally trusted movers, Allied and North American Van Lines

- Get $40 off on your SIRIUS Satellite Radio purchase

- VA cardholders will get big savings on XM Satellite Radio hardware, plus FREE activation

- Receive 10% discounts on DELL notebook and desktop computers

- Members are qualified to apply for a life insurance from John Hancock Life Insurance Company

- Members are entitled to receive $50,000 in Emergency Medical Evacuation Insurance

- Enjoy the free installation, equipment, three months of premium channels included when you apply for a DIRECTV, the hottest emerging TV service nationwide

- Receive FREE setup plus one month of FREE service on any of our shared hosting or Ecommerce plans!

- Get up to 30% off with NetZero Internet service (depending on the selected subscription plan)

- Special discounts on Apple computers and iPods

- Receive $30 Jackson Hewitt deals from the filing fees of your next tax return

- the official Tax Preparation Service of Veterans Advantage

- Accident insurance coverage up to $5,000 courtesy of Veterans Advantage AD&D

- Members are entitled to money-saving phone services

- Receive discounts and exclusive offers on Legal & Identity Theft Protection Services

- Special discounts on a wide selection of the leading magazines from Time Warner Magazines

- Get a special offer from ADT, America's #1 Home Security Company

- Powered by CarsDirect.com, get all the tools you need to purchase your dream car...or sell the car you already have.

- iNest provides a 1% Cash Rebate and a $100 incremental rebate only to members!

- Enjoy the best deals on the newest cellular phones and calling plans from the top service providers

The word "Veteran", as it is explained in the dictionary is someone who is experienced in a specific area. In states such as the United States, it applies to someone who has worked in the military.

The United States Department of Veterans Affairs is a government branch that implements the military veterans benefit system. It offers programs of veteran benefits for veterans, survivors of wars and their families and dependents as well. Veterans' benefits at the Federal level are the following: disability compensation, financial support for college, home loans, life insurance, medical and burial benefits, survivors' benefits, and vocational rehabilitation.

Every state in the America also offers benefits to veterans such as education and property tax relief. Each state has specific condition to be qualified for these benefits.

In addition to the government, there are other private institutions and associations that offer benefit programs for US veterans. Many of these institutions are manage by veterans themselves, so they know the special needs of this group. These organizations are usually associated with well-known establishments around the world in giving special discounts and freebies on travel and entertainment, gifts and shopping as well as health and wellness and other services valuable to veterans.

There are other organizations and support groups that provide free assistance to veterans. These groups help veterans and their families in finding medical care or working with them to interface with government agencies.

Veterans were also given a holiday, the Veterans Day or Armistice Day to commemorate their contributions and services via conducting programs and parades and giving recognition. The United States considers November 11 as a federal and state holiday as signed into law by President Eisenhower in 1954.

In recognition to all U.S. Veterans, Active Duty Militaries, National Guard and Reservists, Veterans Advantage Card is working hard to give the greatest benefits to all the heroes of America. The family members of a military person are also qualified to get those special offers and incentives from Veterans Advantage. Veterans Advantage Card provides great assortment of travel and entertainment benefits to all its members via its partners. With this kind of privilege, military staff will enjoy and rest together with thier family. The provided benefits are a fantastic way to escape from the service for a while and have great moments with the family.

Here is the list of travel and entertainment benefits:

- Savings of up to 70% on vacation rentals around the world for VA cardholders

- Have escorted tour or independent vacation packages arranged by Collette and receive 5% discounts

- Acquire the same great benefits as employees of major corporations like Blockbuster, Sea World and Busch Gardens

- Get an instant 5% travel discount from Continental Airlines, plus OnePass Frequent Flier miles

- Enjoy the15% everyday savings on Amtrak deals, and weekend Acela discounts - Immense savings off select cruises by Norwegian Cruise Line

- Special savings available from all the major car rental services, 365-days-a-year, by phone, Internet and at the rental counter, including AVIS, Budget, Alamo, Enterprise, Hertz and National

- Discounts on vacation homes, hotels and travel packages, theme park tickets in Disney Vacation Attractions in Orlando

- Special savings on tickets to two of New York's Wildest attractions, Bronx Zoo and New York Aquarium

- Major cruise line discounts from Interliner, a leading provider of cruise discounts

- Receive 7% discounts on the hot-selling Sports, Concert, Theatre and Broadway passes from TicketsNow.com

- Members can book their trips with Veterans Advantage Travel for all Discounted Travel Needs!

- 15% OFF Delta Shuttle and 40% OFF US Airways Shuttles.

- Special discounts from the popular hotel chains. Members can contact hotel reservations network for hotel reservation needs.

- VA cardholders can now valet park at the airport at a lower price, plus no need to pay the $5 service fee

- members and their families can enjoy up to 20% off choice hotel discounts

- Get discounts on all-inclusive vacation packages from Club Med

- Receive special package offers to our National Parks Resorts like Kalaloch Lodge, Lake Powell, Shenandoah National, Mesa Verde, Lake Quinault Lodge and Olympic National Park

- Receive 15% walk-up fare travel discount -- this works every time the cardholder travels using his personalized Veterans Advantage travel discount code.

- Great offers and definite low prices on renting a car from Thrifty Car Rental

-Get a 5% discount off of Dollar's lowest discountable rate from Dollar Rent A Car

The United States military doesn't only dominates the world, they also governs the Internet in terms of quantity. Hundreds to thousands of blogs dedicated to military owned and maintained by service personnel themselves are the clear proofs of their authority in the Internet.

These military focused blogs are often associated with the experiences of a U.S troop member as well as of husbands and wives who are patiently waiting for their spouses. Other blogs are kept by parents who are liberally expressing their emotions while others are maintained by children who are yearning for the caring arms of their parents. For whoever keeps the blog - each objective all comes down to expressing their thoughts, emotions of sadness and happiness and quiet prayers.

Many military personnel share their stories of everyday survival as well as disappointments to the US government. While others proudly reveal their names and positions, some are doing their stuff behind a pseudonym. Such blogs are also flooded with pictures with their families and the reality of living in a world of war.

On the other hand, parents, spouses and children are all similar when it comes to talking about a family member that has been deployed in battle areas. The prayers of safety and keeping them alive can always be read in their posts. For those who have lost a loved one, posting to their blogs provide them with relief and acceptance - thus opening another channel to say their feelings to someone who will never return.

To add more, there are also other blogs that support the country's veterans and active military. These pages are normally run by organizations and other people who want to be part of an online community of brave and caring soldiers.

Certainly, the fast rising community of military bloggers is not just ruled by the men in uniform but also common people who have something to voice out. Whatever their reasons for blogging, each simply tells the reality of life and hopes for world peace.

A lot of people may not know that the talented comedy actor Bill Cosby is a former hospital corpsman of the U.S. Navy. Like him, there are several popular personalities and celebrities in the industry who served in U.S. Marine, Navy, Army and U.S. Air Force. These former military staff becomes famous not only because of their chosen career but due to their selfless service to the nation.

Some of the famous Veterans include:

Former President George H. Bush. - Former Naval Aviator Lieutenant. He joined in the US Navy on his 18th birthday, June 12, 1942, as a Seaman 2nd Class.

Clinton Eastwood - he served as a trainer in the US Army. He got involved in the military during the war in Korea and became a swimming coach.

George Westinghouse - He served first in Union Army before he joined the Union Navy as an engineer. After his work in the military, he worked as an inventor and after that, he founded the Westinghouse Electric Company in 1886.

Chuck Norris - Before becoming a popular celebrity and martial art professional, Chuck Norris joined the Air Force after high school in preparation for his career in law enforcement.

Tony Bennett - his real name is Anthony Dominick Benedetto before entering the showbiz. He entered in the army in 1944 during WWII. After the war, he studied music and voice lesson which became his passport in music industry as a well-known singer.

Frederick W. Smith - he founded the FedEX Company. He joined the troops as Commissioned Officer of the U.S. Marine Corps.

Other well-known Veterans with their career description in the military are the following: Alan Alda (Actor, Director, Screenwriter/ Former Army Reserve Gunner), Johnny Carson (Host of the Tonight Show/ Former Ensign, U.S. Navy), Drew Carey (Comedian, Actor/Former U.S Marine), Malcolm Forbes (Publisher, Multimillionaire/ Former Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army), Shaggy (Reggae/Pop Superstar/ Former U.S. Marine), Dave Thomas (Founder & CEO of Wendy's/ Former Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army), Jocelyn Elders (Former Surgeon General/ Former Second Lieutenant, Army Medical Specialist Corps), Rocky Manciano (Heavyweight Boxing Champion/ Former Enlisted, U.S. Army) and George Steinbrenner (Baseball Executive, Businessman/ Former General's Aid, U.S. Air Force).

One of the most used themes in movies is about war. In a year, the number of war movies that has been shown in movie houses is remarkable - this includes all movies filmed all through out the globe. The theme constantly features the hardships and life of a military in the midst of war or after a fall from fight. Here is a listing of notable and highly acclaimed war movies ever shown on big screens not just in the United States but virtually all around the world. The listing is not in order and was spontaneously selected according to personal opinion.

Braveheart (1995)

Gladiator (2000)

Napoléon (1927)

Gone with the Wind (1939)

Saving Private Ryan (1998)

Behind Enemy Lines (2001)

The Pianist (2002)

The Thin Red Line (1998)

Letters from Iwo Jima' (2006)

The Deer Hunter (1978)

Full Metal Jacket (1987)

Platoon (1986)

Paths of Glory (1957)

Black Hawk Down (2002)

Hart's War (2002)

Rules of Engagement (2000)

Go Tell the Spartans (1978)

The Longest Day (1962)

Schindler's List (1993)

Apocalypse Now (1979)

The company concentrates not only on entertainment and travel rewards but also on the well being of its cardholders. Since health is one of the primary concerns of people, this privilege card together with their partners gathered some of the greatest health and wellness benefits of cardholders and their loved ones.

The health benefits include:

Prescription Drug Plan - Veterans Advantage Prescription Drug Card provides discounts at more than 50,000 national and regional pharmacies.

Health Clubs - Save on health club dues at leading health clubs such as Bally's Health Clubs, Gold's Gym, World Gym, Curves and a lot more.

Healthy Diet Foods - Get 40% discounts on healthy Mediterranean diet foods from Ayhan's Mediterranean Marketplace

GNC.com Nutrition - Get 10% OFF on health foods at GNC.com

Accident Insurance - Get up to $5,000 in insurance coverage

Long Term Care Insurance - Members and their families are entitled to receive a long term care insurance from John Hancock Life Insurance Company

Medical Evacuation Insurance - Receive up to $50,000 in Emergency Medical Evacuation Insurance

Golf Equipment & Accessories - Enjoy the 10% off on golf equipment, apparel and accessories at TGW.com

Eyewear & Prescription Lenses - Obtain 10% discounts on popular eyewear brands at Eyeweareverywhere.com

Contact Lens Discounts - Get 10% OFF on contact lenses and accessories at ACLens.com

MyPathTV - Receive 15% off on health and wellness services from MyPathTV

Military PTSD Transition Center - Veterans Advantage features special news and interviews with mental health professionals treating those who served, plus directories to tools and special services.

The United States government is giving huge benefits to the entire armed forces. One of the common military benefits is the life insurance. The life insurance is offered to the veterans and service members who may not be able to get an insurance from private insurance companies because of the extra jeopardy entailed in armed service or a service related infirmity.

The Department of Veterans Affairs is providing variety of options to the armed forces. The insurance programs vary for disabled military and current and separating service members. Some of the programs also cover the family members of the veteran that they can purchase along with their personal insurance.

Because our veterans' interests matters most, the company and their partnered establishments are offering the most excellent gift and shopping benefits they truly deserve. These benefits are given to the members who are part of the armed forces as the firm's way of acknowledging and thanking the troops through benefit partnerships.

The gifts and shopping benefits allow members to get significant discount including freebies and special items from Veterans Advantage's premier list of partners. Now, buying the things they want for themselves and their loved ones can be as exciting as coming home for the very first time.

Below is the complete list of establishments where members can take advantage of special prices using their Veterans Advantage cards, whether online or offline purchases.

1. Target.com

2. ESPN Special

3. Barnes&Noble.com

4. eBags.com

5. A&E and The History Channel

6. Omaha Steaks(R)

7. WebbyShop

8. Ayhan's Healthy Mediterranean Diet Foods

9. 1-800-FLOWERS

10. Eyewear & Prescription Lenses

11. AC Lens

12. People, Time, Sports Illustrated Magazines & More

...and a lot more.

The United States Military, the world's largest and most powerful military services was created during the Continental Congress but was permanently established after the World War II. This department is under the civilian control of the president of the United States, serving as the Commander-in Chief.

There are five (5) branches of the United States military services:

(1) United States Army - It was formed on June 14, 1775 and is the largest and oldest division of the United States armed forces. Its primary task is to provide necessary forces and capabilities in support of the National Security and Defense Strategies.

(2) United States Marine Corps - It was formed on November 10, 1775 and is responsible for giving force projection from the sea with the help of the mobility of the U.S. Navy to quickly deliver combined-arms task forces.

(3) United States Navy - It was formed on October 13, 1775 and is one of the seven (7) uniformed services. Its primary mission is to perform naval operations.

(4) United States Air Force - It was created on September 18, 1947. It is also one of the seven (7) uniformed services of the United States that is responsible for aerial warfare. It is also known as the largest and most scientifically sophisticated in the world.

(5) United States Coast Guard - Created on August 4, 1790, this branch is known as the smallest division in the armed service of the United States. Its main responsibility is to look after the people, the environment and the United States monetary and safety welfare in any maritime region.

Veterans Advantage supports the Recycle & Reward (R&R), a program that aims to deliver great privileges to thank and reward our veterans. This unique program allows you to support the armed forces members and veterans without spending any amount.

By recycling your old and used stuffs, you can support the men and women of the military. All revenues from recycling all the devices will be used to support our veterans. As long as your gizmo is still working and in fair condition, you can give it. The following are the things that Veterans Advantage accepts:

Cartridges - Old empty ink cartridge and toner from the popular brands of printer except toner tubes and Epson inkjets.

Laptops - Old laptop or notebook computers. Please include the power cord and other accessories in the package. The recycling partner will format the hard dive so you don't have to worry about your old files.

Palm Pilots - If you have an old colored-screen Palm Pilot, you can donate it to R&R to recycle and support our soldiers. Please include the power cord and other essential accessories.

Cell phones - You can give your old mobile phone of any make and model. When donating used cellular phone, please make sure that you have deactivated your service.

If you have a lot of stuff to give, don't worry about the delivery cost because the recycler will pay it for you. So, instead of discarding your old things, send them to R&R. In this way, you can be a part of a program that expresses gratitude and support our soldiers.

Veterans Advantage doesn't stop in giving the most excellent entertainment, shopping & health and tour deals and the most outstanding business & financial programs to the United States' active and retired armed forces members.

This has been made feasible via the long list of partners of Veterans Advantage. These companies are always ready to provide the US service personnel with their need for excellent and affordable services when it comes to managing their businesses & finances. They are also known not just in the country but virtually all through out the world for their incomparable and really satisfying services.

The following are the prestigious names that provide the best business & financial deals to our veterans and active military service personnel as well as Reservists and National Guards.

>>Jackson Hewitt Tax Prep Services - is giving $30 discount on the filing fees of next tax return

>>Hoovers Business Svc - is giving 25% off on subscription for members of Veterans Advantage

>>Dell Computer - gives 10% discount on Desktops and Notebooks all through out the year

>>Apple Computer & iPod - Special prices on Apple PCs & iPods

>>DHL Express - special discounts for members on air express & ground services

>>Web Hosting - FREE Setup and one FREE Month on all Shared Hosting and Ecommerce Plans -Internet Services (1) SAVE on NetZero HiSpeed 3G - (2) NetZero Platinum ONLY $6.95 per month** - SAVE 30% over the real rate

>>Business Magazine Center - Enables you to subscribe from premier Business Magazines...at no extra charge

>>Legal and ID Theft Protection Services - Be a card holder of Veterans Advantage to take pleasure of the following services. (1) Free & Discounted Legal Services (2) Deeply Discounted Services and Guaranteed Low Hourly Rates Personal and Family Related Matters (3) Contingency Fee Discounts for Personal and Family Related Matters (4) Identity Theft Restoration & Insurance (5) Lost or Stolen Credit Card Assistance

>>Veteran Employment - RecruitMilitary offers employers additional ways to hire veterans.

A week after the recent Olympics in Beijing, Team U.S.A got the 2nd spot on the overall medal standing. This great honor was brought to us by our exceptional and determined delegates including our skilfull and courageous military olympians. Once again, they've established their abilities and determination in giving recognition to our nation.

The 2008 Beijing Olympics military delegates are the following:

Jeffrey Holguin

Elizabeth Callahan

Dremiel Byers

Michael Anti

Keith Sanderson

Vincent Hancock

Kevin Eastler

Eli Bremer

Christopher Downs

Dominic Grazioli

Weston "Seth" Kelsey

Jason Parker

Daryl Szarenski

Walton "Glenn" Eller

Congratulations Team USA! Cheers everyone!

The United States has been ruled by 43 presidents including the current Pres. George W. Bush. However, did you know that more than half of these presidents have served the armed forces and fought in wars? Here is the exciting list.

American Revolution

• George Washington - American Revolution

  
  

• James Monroe - American Revolution

Mexican, Spanish-American War

• Franklin Pierce - Mexican War

  
  

• Theodore Roosevelt - Spanish-American War

War of 1812

• Andrew Jackson - American Revolution, War of 1812, First Seminole War

  
  

• William Henry Harrison - Indian wars in the NW territory, War of 1812

  
  

• John Tyler - War of 1812

  
  

• Zachary Taylor - War of 1812, Black Hawk, Second Seminole, and Mexican wars

  
  

• James Buchanan - War of 1812

  
  

• Abraham Lincoln - Black Hawk War

Civil War

• Andrew Johnson - Civil War

  
  

• Ulysses Grant - Mexican War, Civil War

  
  

• Rutherford Hayes - Civil War

  
  

• James Garfield - Civil War

  
  

• Chester Arthur - Civil War

  
  

• Benjamin Harrison - Civil War

  
  

• William McKinley - Civil War

World War

• Harry Truman - WWI

  
  

• Dwight Eisenhower - WWII General

  
  

• John Kennedy - WWII

  
  

• Lyndon Johnson - WWII

  
  

• Richard Nixon - WWII

  
  

• Gerald Ford - WWII

  
  

• George Bush - WWII

The US Department of Veterans offers several benefits related to financial and medical assistance to the military. However, there are four (4) major benefits provided to US servicemen and women who have received an honorable or general discharge.

1. Disability compensation. This "no-tax" benefit is provided to veterans who have committed wounds or ailments happened on the time of his/her service. It is also provided to veterans who have been disabled from VA health care.

2. Education Programs. This benefit is provided to support Active Duty, Selected Reserve and National Guard service members and eligible veterans to cover their costs related to education and training.

3. Veteran's Pensions. The Veterans Disability Pension and the Veterans Pension for Veterans 65 years++ of age are provided to wartime troops who have limited earning and can no longer work.

4. Medical care through VA hospitals & medical facilities. This benefit is offered for free or with discount to qualified service personnel who "need" hospital care and outpatient services.

Even though the various states of America provide different privileges to the members of the country's armed forces, the required documents for getting benefits may be the same in some ways. Below is the list of necessary and common documents required when processing and getting veteran's death benefits.

1. Copy of Service discharge form (DD-214, DD-215, or for WWII veterans, a WD form)

2. veteran's nuptial certificate for claims of a surviving spouse or children 3. service person's certificate of birth to know parents' benefits.

4. service person's death certificate if the veteran didn't pass away in a VA health care facility

5. kid's certificate of birth or adoption documents to know children's benefits

For a comprehensive details of these requirements and/or other documentations needed, you are encouraged to consult your states' Veterans Affair offices.

A person can be considered as a veteran if he/she is presently working in the military or has had extensive work or experience in the army. The soldiers today are treated with great honor because of their huge and unselfish service for the people and their country. Being a veteran, he/she is entitled to various benefits offered by the United States government. The family of the military personnel is also a part of these great benefits like life insurance, retirement fund and education assistance and employment aid. There are also different organizations that offer benefits to the military staff.

The veterans organizations are formed to support the soldiers economically and for personal growth. Each organization provides programs, seminars and services to aid the troops in their everyday life. These groups of veterans also prove that soldiers really have unity and care for each other, apart from the continuing assistance of the government.

Below is a list of some US veterans organizations licensed by the Congress and/or acknowledged by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for claim representation:

- American Defenders of Bataan and Corregidor

- American Ex-Prisoners of War

- American GI Forum of the United States

- American Gold Star Mothers, Inc.

- National Association of County Veterans Service Officers, Inc.

- National Association of State Directors of Veterans Affairs (NASDVA)

- National Veterans Legal Services Program

- Navy Club of the United States of America

- Paralyzed Veterans of America

- Pearl Harbor Survivors Association, Inc.

- Polish Legion of American Veterans, USA

- Swords to Plowshares: Veterans Rights Organization

Source: VA.gov

If you are wondering how much the government is expending for the development of their armed weapons and education, then brace yourself with these numbers. Below is the list of the top 10 countries with their corresponding expenses in Billion dollars.

TOP 10 - MILITARY SPENDING COUNTRIES

1. United States - 335.7

2. Japan - 46.7

3. United Kingdom - 36

4. France - 33.6

5. China - 31.1

6. Germany - 27.7

7. Saudi Arabia - 21.6

8. Italy - 21.1

9. Iran - 17.5

10. South Korea - 13.5

With USA on top of the list, it's not surprising why America has the most prevailing and most technologically-enhanced armed forces weapons in the world.

Allocating a definite date for our veterans is a god way to commemorate those who sacrifice their lives for our homeland and those who are still alive and fighting for liberty and peace. November 11 is the day to honor the U.S. veterans for their patriotism and willingness to serve the public and sacrifice for the good of others. It was known that November 11, 1919 is the date of the first proclamation of Armistice Day by former US President Woodrow Wilson. On November 1954, the Congress amended an act which replaces "Armistice" with "Veterans" and then, the observance has been known as Veterans Day.

Nevertheless, observing Veterans Day must not only happen every November 11. We must always commemorate our men and women who gave freedom and peace that we have today. In line with the occasion, here are some good quotes that offer insights and inspirations. This will help us reflect on the sacridices of our veterans.

"In the beginning of a change, the patriot is a scarce man, and brave, and hated and scorned. When his cause succeeds, the timid join him, for then it costs nothing to be a patriot." - Mark Twain

"To be prepared for war is one of the most effectual means of preserving peace." - George Washington, first annual address to Congress, 1790

"This nation will remain the land of the free only so long as it is the home of the brave." - Elmer Davis

"Keep your fears to yourself, but share your courage with others." - Robert Lewis Stevenson

"We are not retreating - we are advancing in another direction." - General Douglas MacArthur

"Some people live an entire lifetime and wonder if they have ever made a difference in the world, but the Marines don't have that problem." - Ronald Reagan

"Never has there been a good war or a bad peace." - Benjamin Franklin

"Never give in - never, never, never, never, in nothing great or small, large or petty, never give in except to convictions of honor and good sense. Never yield to force; never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy." - Winston Churchill

Reading is one of the most powerful and well known ways to learn. With thousands of books including online books to read about the military, it is sometimes not possible to learn from them all.

Below is a listing of some of the famous and recommended books that were written by various individuals as well as first-time and popular writers. The themes of these books also vary from one topic to another. There are books about military and their experiences as well as books that are particularly written for a member of the military by a loved one.

Whatever the theme is, every book holds knowledge that we can all grab and apply to our everyday lives.

• In Pharaoh's Army: Memoirs of the Lost War by Tobias Wolff
• Into Laos, The Story of Lam Son 719/Dewey Canyon II, 1971 by K. W. Nolan
• The Killing Zone- My Life In The Vietnam War by Frederick Downs
• Mounted Combat In Vietnam by GEN Donn A. Starry
• Recondo: LRRP's In Vietnam by Larry Chambers
• Ringed In Steel: Armored Cavalry, Vietnam 1967-1968 by Michael D. Mahler
• RIPCORD(Firebase), Screaming Eagles Under Siege, Vietnam 1970 by K. W. Nolan
• Rolling Thunder, In A Gentle Land by Andrew Wiest
• Sappers In The Wire- The Life and Death of FIREBASE MARY ANN by Keith W. Nolan
• Snake Pilot: Flying The Cobra Attack Helicopter In Vietnam by Randy R. Zahn

Source: Wikipedia

Before entering the United States armed forces, one must know the academy he/she wants to enroll as his/her stepping stone. At present, there are lots of military schools and institutions in the United States that includes private college-prep military schools, military junior colleges, state college-level military academies and other military academies. These institutions train the applicants for service in the U.S. Air Force, Army, Coast Guard or Navy.

There are also military academies operated by the U.S. Federal Government. These federal or service schools are for the undergraduates as well as for training of commissioned officers of the U.S. armed forces. These are as follows:

United States Military Academy - also recognized as "USMA", "West Point", "The Point" and located at West Point, New York

United States Naval Academy - also recognized as "Annapolis" and "The Academy" and located in Annapolis, Maryland

United States Coast Guard Academy - also recognized as "Coast Guard" and located in New London, Connecticut

United States Merchant Marine Academy - also recognized as "Kings Point" and "Merchant Marine" and located in Kings Point, New York.

United States Air Force Academy - also recognized as "Air Force" and "USAFA" and located in north of Colorado Springs in El Paso County, Colorado

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder also identified as PTSD is an emotional sickness among soldiers that can start after experiencing shocking situations. Men of the armed forces particularly those in combats or war are almost certainly the ones who can get this type of emotional illness. This can be seen in various soldiers who have been assigned in different foreign wars. The number of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder PTSD cases in the United States is somewhat disturbing. So the National Center for PTSD is formed to resolve this issue. The NCPTSD is a clinical care to guide and help the United States veterans who are suffering from PTSD and other stress-related disorders.

So what the ordinary people can do to help our soldiers regarding PTSD? One of the first and most important ways is to not be afraid if one soldier is suffering from PTSD because it's not a mental sickness. Instead, we must understand him/her about his/her situation and support him/her during the process of recovering.

We use a codename to an individual or object to hide its true identity or meaning to other persons. Even teenagers, sometimes, use code names to keep their crushes or lovers clandestinely. In addition, corporate establishments use a special code to protect their secret projects from business opponents. But how about the code names used by the military? The reason of using code names is somewhat the same. Troops use code names for military functions, intelligence programs and other military actions for safety reason.

The use of code names propagated during the Word War II. This kind of method is used by Allied Forces in referring to military programs or processes, military units, places and persons. The code name can be a word, phrase or term to designate top secret military programs, information compartments and other special programs.

For added information, here are some popular military and espionage code names:

Operation Anthropoid - this codename for the assassination of top German leader Reinhard Heydrich

Operation Barbarossa - this code referred to German attack of Soviet Union during World War II that commenced on June 22, 1941

Manhattan Project - this codename of the project of the United States, United Kingdom and Canada to create the first nuclear equipment during WWII

Project MKULTRA - this codename of a research program run by the Office of Scientific Intelligence and that is the CIA mind-control and chemical interrogation.

Operation Sea Lion - this code of planning to attack the United Kingdom by Germany which was never carried out.

Weapons are vital in the armed forces especially during combat. These equipment are used as an attack or guard for the purpose of holding back the enemies or to destroy counter weapons of the opponent. There are lethal weapons and non-lethal weapons used by the troops depending on their mission. Each node of the armed forces has distinctive weapons in order for them to perform their individual responsibilities and military operations.

For the common people, military weapons are unsafe. This is fairly true because weapons are being used mainly in battling the enemies. In a nation where there is a battle for peace, several kinds of weapons from simple as a gun to the most advanced ballistic missiles can create fright to the civilian groups.

However, looking at the other side, weapons of the soldiers are useful in repressing those groups who want to generate chaos and imbalance in the society, and to maintain the peace and safety of the nation. To give more information about the soldier weapons, below are some of them:

U.S. Navy Aircraft Carriers - The U.S. Navy maintains 11 aircraft carriers that are ready to deal with the threats to U.S. security.

M-16A4 Rifle - The Marine Corps is currently appending a new chapter to the history of its service rifles with the M16A4 rifle.

F-22 - Nicknamed the Raptor, the F-22 is the most hi-tech and expensive fighter fielded by any air force in the world.

M1A1 Abrams Tank - The M1A1 Abrams Tank, described by military specialists as the backbone of the U.S. armored forces, has been in use for 20 years.

The Crusher - The vehicle weighs 14,000 pounds fully fueled, and is made to carry a 3,000-pound payload. Crusher is a highly mobile vehicle designed from the outset to be unmanned.

MK155 Mine Clearance Launcher -It is used to clear a lane through a minefield during breaching operations.

Joining the United States military needs some requirements that one person should pass. The 5 US military branches namely the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard may have similar entrance requirements. Nevertheless, each branch has its own standards and prerequisites based on the type of recruits needed and service offered. To get enlisted in the United States armed forces, here are some basic requirements:

Age Requirements:The minimum age that the army requires is 18, requiring no parental consent. But a 17 year old man or lady can enter the troops as long as he/she has a consent from his/her parents.

Citizenship Requirements: Basically, U.S. citizens and Permanent Resident Aliens who have “Green Card” can enter the United States armed forces. And those who are not citizens of the country can also join but can’t re-enlist or extend their enlistment beyond their first term of service, unless they become naturalized American citizens.

Physical Requirements: The physical requirements in each military branch differ greatly to meet the physical demands of each branch. In general, military candidates should be physically and mentally fit and have suitable weight. There are also other physical screening tests that need to pass.

Educational Requirements: Educational attainment is also necessary to become successful in the chosen service. A high school diploma is ideal for the military. Individuals with a GED or General Education Development certificate can join but there are limitations in some cases.

Aside from books, there are other reading paraphernalia that give facts and information concerning soldiers’ life, military events and news and other issues. These are the military-oriented magazines that offer views about the armed forces.

Below is a listing of some of the famous and most commonly read publications and online magazines that show special interest about the armed forces. Whether you are a soldier, have a family member who is an army or just a civilian, these military magazines will be worthy of your reading as they can give vital information and facts for greater understanding regarding the complex world of the military.

(1) Hackworth - The Wit and Wisdom of America's Number One Military Columnist.

(2) Military Living Publications - This site offers a huge variety of military journals for sale, mostly dealing with recreational travel, that includes Space A guides, R&R maps, billeting procedures, etc.

(3) Military Magazine - is an online monthly journal for Military History stories written by the service men and women who have been there.

(4) Disabled American Veteran's Magazine - Official journal from the nonprofit organization, Disabled American Veterans.

(5) The Gold Bar - Online magazine for the OCS Foundation, an association dedicated to saving the history and promoting mission of OCS.

(6) Fed Week - FEDweek is the most widely-circulated information journal in the federal government and publishes several FREE weekly email newsletters, as well as many in-print and online publications.

(7) Government Executive Magazine - The online edition of the Government's official journal for civilian managers.

A straightforward quote can make a difference in our lives. These citations from notable personalities and anonymous persons can serve as a guide in our everyday life. Some may not directly impact our lives but can make us think and reflect from time to time. In addition, quotations are words of encouragement that can boost our morality. And they can serve as an inspiration for us to go further and do the things that we want to do.

In the military, there are also quotations from superior military personnel. These military citations become prominent not just because they are from the mouth of high ranking military persons but also because of their valuable implication in our society and personal life. And it doesn’t mean that military quotes are only intended for soldiers, rather they are suitable to anyone who can relate.

Here are some of the popular military quotes: 

"The truth of the matter is that you always know the right thing to do. The hard part is doing it." - Norman Schwarzkopf

"We need to learn to set our course by the stars, not by the lights of every passing ship." - Omar Nelson Bradley

"There is no security on this earth, there is only opportunity." - Douglas McArthur 

"Live for something rather than die for nothing." - George Patton "Leadership is the art of getting someone else to do something you want done because he wants to do it." - Dwight Eisenhower

"There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work, learning from failure." - Colin Powell

The military identification tags, traditionally known as military dog tags, are worn by the staff of the military of United States to serve as quick identification. The tag is a metal plate worn on a chain around the neck of a troop. On the other side of it is consists of vital information about the service personnel. The tag is very significant and always worn by soldiers as a strict requisite especially during military combat to give personal identity.

The information embossed on a military tag typically consists of soldier’s complete name, religion, Social Security Number and blood type for fast action when one troop needs medical attention. And one chain comes with two identical tags. The first tag is used for notification that one soldier has been killed during the battle and the second tag remains at all times whether he/she is dead so his/her identity will remain.

The US military identification tag consists of:

US Marine Corps: Complete Name; Social Security Number with no dashes and no spaces; Branch ("USMC"),Gas Mask size (S-small, M-medium, L-large); Religious preference (or "NO PREFERENCE") or medical allergy if red medical tag.

US Navy: Complete Name; Social Security Number with no dashes or spaces followed immediately by branch blood group; Religion

US Coast Guard: Complete Name; Social Security Number with no dashes or spaces followed immediately by branch; blood group; Religion

US Army: Complete Name; Social Security Number; Blood type; Religion

US Air Force: Complete Name; Social Security Number, followed by "AF" indicating branch of service; Blood Group; Religion

In order to become a staff of the United States armed forces, an individual needs to surpass the thorough physical and mental training programs. The basic training program for army was intended to be very difficult and serious. It is divided into two parts – the basic combat training where future soldiers can learn the fundamentals of being a military person and self-discipline, and the advanced individual training which assists trainees to become expert in their chosen field.

The basic training is designed to assists individuals to learn the rules and regulations in the military as well as to prepare them in the complex responsibility of the Army. To have an idea about the life inside the training camp, below is the common schedule for a day. Depending on the training location and commanding officials, the time can still change.

4:30 a.m. - Wake up and performing personal morning routines

5:30 a.m. - Physical Training like calisthenics and running.

6:30 a.m. - Breakfast

8:30 a.m. - Training exercises

12:00 pm - Lunch

1:00 p.m. - Training exercises

5:00 p.m. - Dinner

6:00 p.m. - Drill Sergeant Time. Discussing any topic that needs attention.

8:30 p.m. - Personal Time. Performing personal activities/ agenda.

9:00 p.m. - Lights Out. Sleep time.

There are several medical benefits and services being provided to the United States' disabled veterans. Such medical services and benefits are the following:

Disabled Transition Assistance Program (DTAP) – This program was created to aid the military in claiming their disability benefits.

Medical Care (service-connected or non-service connected) – The medical care services are mandated to be provided to a military who has been discharged with disability while doing their duty during active service. Meanwhile, if the illness is aggravated or disability was originated outside the service, the benefits to be provided will be based on the discretion of the United States' Veterans Affairs Department.

CHAMPVA (VA's Civilian Health and Medical Program) – This program was created to aid the armed force staff in paying their medical services bills. It also helps a service person's family member and survivors obtain from civilian sources.

Disability Compensation – This monetary privilege is provided to service personnel who got disability in the line of duty during their active service period in the military.

Vocational Rehabilitation – This program aids the military with service connected disability find and maintains a suitable employment.

Disabled Veterans Insurance – If the service person's disability has been rated as service related, the staff should apply for life insurance coverage at standard insurance rates. The military is advised to ask the Veterans Affairs Department for more details.

Whether you are a member of the armed forces or not, you are sure to enjoy this wonderful tourist spot with your family - the military museum. There are many great military museums in the United States that is available to the public. Military museums offer military exhibits, photographs, weapons, heritage, stories and other things that illustrate the life and history of the military.

Below are some museums that focus on the armed forces:

National Naval Aviation Museum – situated in Florida. This tourist destination is the largest Naval Aviation museum all throughout the world and one of the most visited museums in the state.

California State Military Museum – situated in the Old Sacramento State Historical Park. In this museum, you will know the history of military in California.

The National World War II Museum – situated in New Orleans, LA. This one-of-a-kind destination illustrates the American experience during the WWII era.

Navy Museum – situated in Washington, DC. In this attraction, you can explore military history at sea.

Navy Art Collection – situated at Washington Navy Yard, Navy Art Collection, Building 67. It has over 15,000 paintings, prints, drawings and statue about navy.

Stars and Stripes Museum – situated in Bloomfield, Missouri. It is a museum library where you can find the first military newspaper and other print media.

National Museum of the United States Air Force – situated near Dayton, Ohio. It is considered as the world's largest military aviation museum which showcases over 400 aerospace vehicles.

Implementing the military alphabet is essential in military procedures especially in conveying information using radio. This phonetic alphabet is used to avoid misunderstanding in some letters that sound the same. For example, “B” and “E” sounds alike; and same with “M” that might be considered as “N” when there is noise in radio transmission.

Radio transmission is indispensable to troops particularly those in combat so clear comprehension of each letter being told is necessary. So, the armed forces created the military alphabet to clarify communications that may be corrupted during transmission. Nowadays, this alphabet is being applied around the world by aircraft, ships, policemen and other radio operators. Here is the complete listing of the Military Alphabet.

A - Alpha B - Beta C - Charlie D - Delta E - Echo F - Foxtrot G - Golf H - Hotel I - India J - Juliet K - Kilo L - Lima M - Mike N - November O - Oscar P - Papa Q - Quebec R - Romeo S - Sierra T - Tango U - Uniform V - Victor W - Whiskey X - X-Ray Y - Yankee Z - Zulu

In military, expressing the time is different from civilians because soldiers use the 24-hour clock system instead of the usual 12-hour. The primary purpose of military time system is to prevent confusion between A.M. and P.M. This can be applied when a commander made an order with specific time to his fellow soldiers. Using the 24-hour clock, soldiers can easily recognize what time the meeting, activity or program will begin. In addition, military time is shorter to tell the number of hours and helps prevent errors on field especially in sending messages over the radio. Not only in the armed forces, military time is being implemented by train, bus, ships, airplanes and other entities to give precise schedule.

Below is the complete list of 12-hour system and the equivalent military time:

Midnight (12:00 AM) -- 0000 hrs

1:00 AM -- 0100 hrs

2:00 AM -- 0200 hrs

3:00 AM -- 0300 hrs

4:00 AM -- 0400 hrs

5:00 AM -- 0500 hrs

6:00 AM -- 0600 hrs

7:00 AM -- 0700 hrs

8:00 AM -- 0800 hrs

9:00 AM -- 0900 hrs

10:00 AM -- 1000 hrs

11:00 AM -- 1100 hrs

12:00 PM -- 1200 hrs

1:00 PM -- 1300 hrs

2:00 PM -- 1400 hrs

3:00 PM -- 1500 hrs

4:00 PM -- 1600 hrs

5:00 PM -- 1700 hrs

6:00 PM -- 1800 hrs

7:00 PM -- 1900 hrs

8:00 PM -- 2000 hrs

9:00 PM -- 2100 hrs

10:00 PM -- 2200 hrs

11:00 PM -- 2300 hrs

There are several persons who attain great accomplishment in their military life. Nevertheless, there is a small number of people who are named the greatest military leaders ever lived. Here is a list of some of the greatest military leaders of all time.

Adolf Hitler – Hitler of Germany led the Nazi in controlling most of the continental Europe and some parts of Africa and Asia. During World War II, his soliders defeated and occupied France while holding off the Russia, British and United States of America.

Ghengis Khan - Ghengis Khan is the founder and ruler of the Mongol Empire, the largest contiguous empire in history. He achieved the power by uniting the nomadic tribes of northeast Asia. During his reign, the Mongol Empire successfully dominated most of the part of Central Asia.

Georgy Zhukov – He is a Soviet military commander who led the Red Army in separating from the Axis Power's rule and in conquering the Berlin during World War II. Georgy is known as one of the most decorated heroes in the Soviet Union history.

William the Conqueror – Also known as William I, he successfully led the Norman invasion of England. His troops crushed the English military in the battle of Hastings.

Napoleon Bonaparte – He was a General during French Revolution and considered as one of the most prominent persons in European nations. Napoleon became King of Italy, Protector of the Confederation of the Rhine and Mediator of the Swiss Confederation.

Julius Caesar – Julius and his troops crushed Optimates led by Pompey in a Civil War and the Gauls at the battle of Alecia during the Gallics Wars.

Alexander the Great - Also known as Alexander III of Macedon, he conquered most part of the known world. He is assumed unbeatable in battle after conquering the Persian Empire, defeating the much bigger military of Darius III and other wars.

Apart from survivor benefits, life insurance and medical benefits, soldiers are given wonderful privileges that will allow them to take pleasure of the life outside the military. These are special travel benefits that are rewarded to a military person and to his/her family.

The military lodging is one example of travel privilege where a soldier and his/her loved ones can take advantage of comfortable, relaxing and inexpensive alternatives during a trip or getaway. From on-base lodging to the most luxurious accommodation presented by Armed Forces Recreation Centers, a military can select the perfect place that fits their budget and preferences. Every branch of the military offers unique lodging services and locations for their members.

In general, the military lodging privilege is applicable to:

- National Guard and Army Reserve Members and their families

- Foreign Military (on orders)

- Soldiers & families on Permanent Change of Station official orders

- Soldiers & families requesting lodging at on a Space-available Basis

- Military retirees and their families

- Army, Air Force, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, Navy, Federal Government, and DOD staff on temporary duty

- Widows/Widowers/Dependents of Retired Military Personnel

- Military and civilian travelers on official orders

- Medical in-patients & family of seriously ill

- Medical out-patients

- DoD and DN (on orders), DoD and DN (not on orders, with Navy Exchange Privileges), Public Health (on orders) and Red Cross (on orders)

- Official guests and visitors of the command may be able to stay in military lodging, but should be checked in by their sponsors.

United States is known as the most powerful country all over the world. Its economy and national defense are indeed the leading reasons for this recognition. Aside from its highly-acclaimed ways and strategic planning to combat terrorism, the United States' army is also known for its amazing inventions. From ships to computer related equipment, their accomplishment in this field is absolutely incomparable.

The two of the most popular inventions are as follows:

1. GPS – Global Positioning System. It was invented in 1960 by National Defense of United States and is mainly used for secure navigation. Nowadays, this invention is still used in navigation but more of personal use like tracking, internet games and geocaching.

2. Internet – The internet was invented in 1983 particularly for secured and dependable communication during the war era. It was out for public used during the late 90s. At present, the Internet is still the most powerful communication technology but utilized more on making company websites and blogging and socializing, service and product marketing and many more.

One of the biggest departments of the American government is the military. So, it also has a lot of branches that are under or connected to it.

For quick reference, the government built online pages of such branches that are readily available to be accessed by anyone who is connected to the Internet. These online pages feature basic information that an inquiring individual would want to learn from a certain department.

United States Official Website - http://www.usa.gov/
Department of Defense - http://www.defenselink.mil/
Coast Guard - http://www.uscg.mil/
Army - www.army.mil/
Marine Corps - www.usmc.mil/
Navy - www.navy.mil/
Air Force - www.airforce.com/
Veterans Affairs - www.va.gov/
CIA - https://www.cia.gov/
Bureau of Political-Military Affairs (PM) - http://www.state.gov/t/pm/
Members of Intelligence Community - http://www.intelligence.gov/1-members.shtml
Veterans Service Organizations Department - http://www1.va.gov/vso/index.cfm

Managing and filing of income taxes can be a very overwhelming job. With numbers of computations and papers to be made, most of us choose to hire professional help specifically from tax preparation service firms such as Jackson Hewitt deals and the likes.

If you do not have time to do the tedious and confusing calculations and managing all by yourself, then looking for a perfect partner to do it for you is absolutely the best thing to do. Below are some of the things that should be considered in looking for a tax preparation service company to protect your income tax.

1. Company Reputation.Do a thorough research about the years of tenure in the business, other industry that they are involved with, office locations and other fundamentals. You can do this on the internet or by inquiring to your colleagues and/or other family members' experiences.
2. Inquire. You may consider your colleague's tax service company as well. All you have to do is ask their personal experiences and other details.
3. Staff Members. The business should have trained experts to do your income tax return calculations.
4. Service Fee. There shouldn't be a question on this.
5. Branches Locations. Inquire about the number of satellite offices they have. This is very essential so you can always reach their office even when you're out of town.

We can never count the number of soldiers who have given their lives in fighting for our country. Ever since the world discovered the word "war", many lives have been laid and we were all divided by envy, principles and power. Today, we're just repeating the history. Still, numerous lives are taken away from their families and lots of innocent individuals are being perished to death with no clear reasons at all.

Memorial Day is being celebrated every 11th day of November. Nevertheless, many individuals who have been engaged with war or who have lost a member of the family during those wars are continuously grieving for their lost and longing. Thus, remembering our country's heroes, their daughter or son and sister or brother is not just every 11th of November but every second of their lives.

As we continue to embrace the digital world, the authority of the www has opened its door to meet other persons that have families who passed away during war. Comforting and providing each other with the spirit to move on and be strong are now as easy as logging into the World Wide Web. Whether a certain person comes from the north or south area, the same feelings, in spite of the difference in location can be shared in an instant. And this was made feasible with the various "memorial sites" that were built to honor, commit to memory and share the happy and lonely times to other users who have lost a loved one as well.

The so-called "memorial sites" were being run by the family of the missing or deceased service personnel from different parts of the globe. Each site has their own virtual wall where they can liberally write their suffering, emotions and yearning. More than just writing an endless sentiment of hurt, the site has also kind members that the users can rely on all the time.

Every virtual wall features photos of a deceased military person or missing fighter. Aside from pictures are the names and details of every service person as well as the message of their loving wife, husband, daughter or son. Every note honors the deceased heroes. The online memorial walls themes vary from place of service of the armed force member or the war they've been engaged with.

Despite of the theme differences, these memorial sites aims are all comes down into one – to give tribute and respect to our courageous heroes, keeping them alive in the digital and contemporary world. The world is constantly changing and the way they are remembered and honored has changed, too. Nevertheless, there is one thing that's all the same until now - war. And we can never change if we will not act now.

Since March is the Women History Month, I would like to share with you a video that paid tribute to their unwavering and incomparable service to the country. This video tribute I found from YouTube was uploaded by KarabSoT on January 6, 2007. Each pic speaks their being a hero, a mother and a sister to all of us.

Let us also remember the women behind every great soldier. The mothers and wives of a service staff in the military should be given with high recognition, too. They have been so bighearted to let their husbands and sons/daughters become one of the United States' armed forces.

I salute everyone! Happy Women's Month.

Since March is the month of women, I would like to commend the "first’s women in the U.S military". Women in the military have always been known for their braveness, perseverance and dedication to their sworn duty. They have shown excellent service and have given our country with great honor.

This article is not just dedicated for women who have been commemorated for being the "firsts in US military history" but to all women who have served and are still serving our nation with all braveness from the bottom of their heart.

Firsts Women to Receive Medals:

Dr. Mary E. Walker - a contract surgeon during the Civil War. The first and only, woman to receive The Medal of Honor.

Annie G. Fox - The first woman to receive The Purple Heart while serving at Hickam Field during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Dec 7 1941.

1Lt Cordelia E. Cook - an Army Nurse Corps, during WWII in Italy. The first woman to receive "The Bronze Star". She was also awarded "The Purple Heart", becoming the first woman to receive two awards.

Lt Edith Greenwood - is the first woman to receive "The Soldiers Medal in 1943" for heroism during a fire at a military hospital in Yuma Arizona.

Lt Elsie S. Ott - The first woman to receive "The Air Medal" for her actions in 1943 as an air evac nurse.

Barbara Olive Barnwell - a SSGT from Pittsburgh Pennsylvania and a member of the Marine Reserve. She was the first woman given with the Navy-Marine Corps Medal for heroism in 1953 for saving a soldier from drowning in 1952.

Colonel Oveta Culp Hobby - the first Director of the WAC. She was the first woman to receive The "U.S. Army Distinguished Service Medal" in 1945.

The First Women to attain E-9 - the highest enlisted rank:
WAVES - YNCM (Yeoman) Anne Dervartanian 1959
WAC - Sgt Major Carolyn H. James - 1960
USMC - Master Gunnery Sgt. Geraldine M. Moran - 1960
WAF - SMsgt Grace A. Peterson - 1960
SPARS - Master Chief Yeoman Pearl E. Faurie - 1964

Source: http://userpages.aug.com/captbarb/firsts.html

There are several organizations in the United States that were exclusively built for the service men and women. Such associations have different programs to support the welfare of its members. Below are some of the highly known veterans organizations in the United States .

1. Enlisted Association of the National Guard of the United States
2. Jewish War Veterans of the United States
3. Military Officers Association of America
4. Military Order of the Purple Heart of the USA, Inc.
5. National Association for Black Veterans
6. National Association for the Uniformed Services
7. The National Guard Association of the United States
8. Non-Commissioned Officers Association
9. Retired Enlisted Association
10. Reserve Officers Association
11. Veterans of Foreign Wars
12. Vietnam Veterans of America, Inc.
13. Women's Army Corps Veterans Association
14. Army Aviation of America
15. Army Historical Foundation
16. American Ex-Prisoners of War Organization
17. American GI Forum
18. The American Legion
19. American Veterans
20. Association of the United States Army
21. Blinded Veterans Association
22. Catholic War Veterans
23. Disabled American Veterans

List from: http://www.army.mil/veteransorganizations/

In our existence, we can experience wars. Despite of where it's happening, the knowledge of it can still bring us fear and uncertainties about world peace. All these years, there have been conflicts and battles between countries or even in a country alone. The causes of wars are different beliefs, rebellious acts of anti-government, terror campaigns and dissatisfaction on government and grabbing of power.

In our generation, many wars have happened and are currently happening. Let's all be aware of what's happening on the other side of the world. Here is a listing of wars and conflicts I got from Wikipedia for the last five (5) years.

Previous Wars

March 2004 - April 13, 2007, Central African Republic Bush War
May 2004- February 2009, Kivu conflict
June 2004- July 17, 2008, Sa'dah insurgency
November 2004 - November 7, 2004, Ivorian-French War
April 2005 - March 1, 2008, Mount Elgon insurgency
July 2006 - August 14, 2006, 2006 Lebanon War
December 2006 - June 17, 2007, Fatah-Hamas conflict
December 2006 - January 30, 2009, War in Somalia
May 2007 - August 7, 2007, 2007 Lebanon conflict
December 2007 - February 28, 2008, Civil unrest
March 2008 - March 25, 2008, 2008 invasion of Anjouan
May 2008 - May 14, 2008, 2008 conflict in Lebanon
June 2008 - Ongoing, 2008 Cambodian-Thai stand-off
June 10, 2008 - June 13, 2008, 2008 Djiboutian–Eritrean border conflict
August 2008-August 16, 2008, 2008 South Ossetia war
December 2008-January 18, 2009,2008–2009 Israel–Gaza conflict

Ongoing Wars

anuary 30, 2009-Ongoing, War in Somalia (2009–)
June 2004 - Ongoing, Conflict in the Niger Delta
November 2004 - Ongoing, South Thailand insurgency
December 2005 - Ongoing, Fourth Civil War of Chad
January 2006 - Ongoing, Mexican Drug War
February 2007 - Ongoing, Second Tuareg Rebellion

According to studies, the armed forces takes up a big percentage of shopper's population in the United States. And this includes the service man's family members.

In line with the growing requirement of military personnel for their every day necessity such as entertainment, food and travel, several shops are providing them exclusive privileges and benefits via deals, discounts and coupons. The shops are usually own and run by military individuals themselves and other privately-owned firms that understand the fundamental needs of every military staff.

In the Internet, members of the armed forces can search for different sites that give deals, discounts and coupons. These e- stores have their own specialties and products to sell. Whether it is for gifts or travel needs, these e- stores have definitely something great to present to our service men and women.

Here are some of the top and legitimate shops when you search for military deals, discounts and coupons on Google.

military deals
www.militarycruisedeals.com
www.militaryspot.com/military-discounts.htm
www.emilitary.org/travel.html

military coupons
www.militarycoupons.com
www.militaryshoppers.com
www.military.com

military discounts
www.4militaryfamilies.com/militarydiscounts.htm
www.militarydiscounts.com/
www.gmmilitarydiscount.com/

The military is one of the departments that give variety of merits and awards to its staff. The American armed forces consist of five main departments, thus the number of military awards being given to every member differs in designs and colors under each department.

Military awards and decorations demonstrate the achievements of a military person. Each award is given to the excellent member as recognition for his/her service and to outwardly demonstrate the highlights of his/her career.

As declared , there are different kinds of awards being granted to our service members. Each has its own category and criteria. Here are the categories:

• Personal decorations
o Service Cross medals. Awarded for "Extraordinary heroism"
o Distinguished Service medals
o Medals for heroism
o Commendation medals
o Achievement medals
• Service awards
o Good Conduct medals
o Reserve good conduct medals
o Expeditionary medals
• Campaign medals
• Service and training awards
o Recruiting service ribbon
o Training service ribbon
o Guard ribbon
o Professional Development Ribbon
• Unit Awards
o Presidential Unit Citation
o Meritorious Unit Commendation
o Efficiency Award
• Marksmanship awards
o Rifle
o Pistol

Note: these are just award categories and the listing is not complete.

Women play significant roles in our society. Their natural love, patience and perseverance are incomparable and extremely enormous for their family and this nation. The big number of women in the military is definitely, one proof of their enduring service to sworn duty for us to have a peaceful world to live in.

To serve better, the Department of Veterans Affairs has established the Center for Women Veterans supervised by the office of the secretary. It was established in November 2004 with a mission to review programs of Veterans Affairs and services for women veterans, and assure that military women receive services and benefits on a par with male veterans, encounter no prejudice in their effort to access them, and are treated with the respect, dignity, and understanding by Veterans Affairs service providers.

Currently, Irene Trowell-Harris, RN, Ed.D is the director of Center for Women Veterans. The services provided by this agency includes an extensive line of medical benefits such as :
- domiciliary
- rehabilitation
- long term care
- health promotion and disease prevention
- women's gender-specific health care
- primary care
- acute medical/surgical
- telephone triage
- emergency and substance abuse treatment
- mental health

Boston Market is one of the numerous yet undisputed restaurants that offer the tastiest and healthiest food to its consumers. It's been in the industry for over 20 years already, with over 550 shops in 28 states in the United States.

More than serving delicious food, Boston Market also aims to help. It is united with Veterans Advantage in rendering the most irresistible deals for the member s of the military. The benefit includes an all year round of Boston Market coupons, providing each card holder with 20% discount on their bill each time they dine and eat in Boston Market shop. This is Boston Market's one mean of honoring the unwavering service of our courageous men and women in uniform.

The selection of food in Boston Market list is certainly huge for big eaters but health and budget conscious individuals. All ingredients are fresh and dish up to deliver not just delicious but healthy meals for their new and returning consumers. Customers are also provided with nutrition information that can be an essential guide for the food they want to purchase.

At Boston Market, customers don't have to choose between tasty and healthy. It's constantly both.

The U.S military has one of the most complete and long list of terms that ordinary individuals don't know. Apart from the terms and the acronyms that are usually heard on news and staff of the military are the types of air craft being used in different operations.

There are several kinds of military air craft that are particularly engineered to perform according to its primary design. Here is a complete list.

• Floatplanes – this air craft is capable of landing and or taking off from the water.

• Helicopters - A general yet detailed attempt at categorizing some of the more remarkable rotary-wing implementations throughout history.

• Multi-Role - These self-descriptive air craft kinds are the new breed of combat weaponry. Multi-role aircraft put an air force at a distinct advantage in any conflict.

• Nightfighters - These killing machines bred for the sole purpose of engaging and destroying enemy air craft in the dark of night.

• Recon Helicopters - covers reconnaissance, observation and light attack kinds.

• Special Purpose- these are technology demonstrator air craft

• Tech Demonstrators – as its name implies, this type of air craft is used for tech demonstrations.

• Trainers - These type of air craft is the backbone of any flying force.

• Transport Aircraft - is used to move weapons, supplies and troops from one point to another.

• Transport Helos - this aircraft has the ability to set down and cargo, troops and supplies in the remotest of places.

• UAVs - These are remote-piloted systems that provide the chief with access to the battle zone.

• Attack Helicopters – These are helicopters that are design to the art of destruction.

• Bombers – is engineered purposely as dedicated bomber platforms. It is usually larger than standard fighters and called on to destroy enemy ground targets.

• Carrier-borne - operates solely from air craft carriers at sea.

• Fighters - most commonly known as combat aircraft.

There are still other famous air craft used before in WWI and WWII. Some of the designs are enhanced while others were already dumped for military usage and are just exhibited in museums.

In general, there are hundreds to thousands of veterans support organizations and programs that help and provide support to the United States' armed members. There are organizations that are just founded temporarily and there are also others that are permanently established to maintain the programs they have initially designed.

Since the armed forces is a large and vital entity of our population, each support organizations has their own program that aims to render the different needs of the military. Some of them are vigorous in monetary or health aid for the veterans while others are into maintaining a community of lost veterans and their loved ones.

Here are eight organizations that our men and women of the armed forces can turn to at times they need help.

1. Iraq War Veterans Organization, Inc. – this association focuses on Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder of the soldiers from Iraq. The group has several branches in all throughout the world.

2. The Virtual Wall Vietnam Memorial - this is an online page that features images, letters, poems, and messages and awards remembering those who died in the Vietnam War.

3. Helping Our Heroes Foundation - The aim of this group is to give funding, services, and volunteers to augment the support of our military injured in either Operation Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan) or Operation Iraqi Freedom.

3. SoldierSupport.net - "Support Our Troops Fund" is a 501(c)(3) organization.

4. YellowRibbonSG.org - This organization wishes to provide support to the armed forces of the United States active military forces deployed to foreign shores via letters, prayers, and "wish list" packages on behalf of all Americans.

5. OperationTroopSupport.us – this is a 501c3 non-profit organization that wants to help soldiers and their loved ones.

6. Adopt Our Troops Campaign - Register a service person for prayer or 'adopt' a member of the military service for prayer.

7. NetPets.org - This organization wishes to render service that will temporarily house, nurture, and care for the pets such as dogs, cats, and birds for deployed military personnel.

8. Retired Military Support Group – gives information for military retirees, widows and widowers of retirees, and their loved ones.

The United States administration including the non-government associations has programs that provide retired military support for our men and women in service. Aside from retired and active military workforce, the government has also designated a day for the departed service men and women of the military that will honor their bravery and immense contribution to the nation. The Memorial Day is one of these days.

Memorial Day, also recognized as the "Decoration Day" is a United States national holiday being celebrated on every last Monday of May. This year, we are observing the Memorial Day today, May 25, 2009.

The military person's members of the family, support groups and government officials, local and national are creating a preparing annually to observe this day. Many of them are meeting in cemeteries and memorials for a short program that usually begins at 3'oclock P.M., Easter Time. There are still other still traditions that take place on Memorial Day like flying the American flag at half-staff from dawn until midday. All activities are dedicated for our service men and women. Families and friends are also taking this day for some sporting activities and picnics.

This day, let us all remember our departed service personnel. We will never have a beautiful life that we are taking pleasure now without their unwavering service. Stop for a while and pray for their soul and their loved ones – not only today but each day of our lives.

One of the veterans support and assistance programs created by the government is intended for the homeless veterans. The Veterans Affairs department's programs intends to help our homeless members of the military to live as self-sufficiently and independently as possible. Such programs are limited to military members and the members of their family.

The following are the enhanced treatment programs for our homeless veterans:

Rehabilitation, long-term sheltered and transitional and case management support
Support programs for constant housing assistance
Assistance and help programs on employment and linkage with available income supports
Clinical referrals and support for needed treatment for psychiatric and physical problems.
Outreach programs to veterans who are living on avenues

Aside from the Veterans Affairs, there are still private individuals and groups that support our veterans on the streets. Their systems are basically similar to what the Veterans Affairs provides.

As civilians, we must realize that it is difficult to raise a family if one of the members is at war. American soldiers have given up so many things - their own lives and the chance to live a happy and peaceful life with their loved ones.

The United States active armed service personnel and veterans deserve more than just appreciation. They also need practical help like monetary support. Hence, we must also thank those private associations that understand and continuously work to provide the practical necessities of our veterans. Such associations and companies have clear goals in supporting the military in making most of their income as well as in providing them with great programs that will give them more savings.

One of the several businesses that have been supporting the US armed forces for years now is Amtrak. Amtrak is partnered with Veterans Advantage in rendering support to our veterans via Amtrak discounts to VA card holders who are using the Amtrak's travel services. Amtrak is giving 15% discount on the lowest available rail price on most of their trains to any destination. Amtrak also has a program known as "Amtrak Guest Rewards", in which regular clients can get points that they can use for shopping.

Please note that the VA card can be availed for one-year, three-year and five-year plans. VA is also offering 30-day trial.

As defined in Wikipedia, the National Guard (Air Guard or Army Guard), is a "reserve military force composed of state National Guard militia members or units under federally recognized active or inactive armed force service for the United States". This branch is under the control by the National Guard Bureau, which is a combined activity under the Defense Department. It is being supervised by the Chief of the National Guard Bureau (CNGB), who is a four-star general in the Army or Air Force.

Since the National Guard of the United States was founded in 1903, they have listed famous individuals who have served as Guards men. These include the previous presidents of the United States of America such as follows:

1. George Washington - served in colonial militias
2. Thomas Jefferson - served in colonial militias
3. James Madison - served in colonial militias
4. Harry S. Truman - Army National Guard
5. George W. Bush - Air National Guard
6. Benjamin Harrison – militia
7. Ulysses S. Grant – militia
8. Abraham Lincoln – militia
9. Theodore Roosevelt– militia

The United States military has a long list of benefits. This includes the benefits mandated by the government and the benefits offered by non-government businesses and establishments that give savings to the US military.

Aside from these benefits, service personnel can also make most out of their regular income by joining in well-recognized benefit membership programs such as the Veterans Advantage. Participating in Veterans Advantage can provide them with great means to enjoy and save more with their day to day expenditures including travel expenses.

Amtrak is known as the primary train service in America. Their wide-ranging destination is what makes it a vital service for all travelers. Thus, various individuals would like to use it as their means of transportation.

Members of Veterans Advantage can get 15% discount every day as part of its benefit program in providing Amtrak deals. Members can also enjoy Acela discounts on weekends and 1000 bonus points when they enroll in Amtrak Guest Awards. Since Veterans Advantage has a special page for Amtrak benefits in Amtrak's website, members can simply access, obtain their discount code and create reservations at anytime, anywhere. They can also reach and ask through the provided numbers. Members are also automatically granted with travel and accident insurance amounting to $55,000 for FREE.

Armed service personnel can also extend this saving to the members of his/her family by enrolling them in Veterans Advantage at half price of the membership fee.

A missing member is not a new issue in the military. It is a fact that every armed person and his/her loved ones should be aware of since the day one of training.

Currently, we have the www in helping us to locate a missing military member or an old friend from the service. These can be service personnel who have been victims of battles and veterans who desire to meet by their old friends.

If you are searching for an old pal or a deceased member in the service, here are the dedicated sites that will make your search simple and easy. The web sites are in random order and were picked based on the real time results of the search engine I used.

1. Veterans Search - www.veteransearch.com/
2. World War II US Veterans Website – www.ww2.vet.org/
3. Gulf War Veterans Resource Page - http://www.gulfweb.org/
4. Military People Search - www.military-search.com/
5. VetFriends Military & Veteran Search! - www.vetfriends.com/
6. The Seeker's Site Seeking Section – www.the-seeker.com/milseek.htm
7. Military Personnel Locator - www.peopleofamerica.com/military.htm
8. Military Connections - www.militaryconnections.com/
9. National Gravesite Locator  - www.gravelocator.cem.va.gov/j2ee/servlet/NGL_v1\
10. Buddy Finder - www.military.com/buddy-finder/

Veterans Advantage along with partnered companies offers a long list of benefits that our servicemen and women can take advantage to. Here is an exciting list of benefit programs that will help our veterans in maximizing their day to day expenditures.

Travel and Entertainment

1. Amtrak, the premier train system in America offers 15% discount everyday and special 15% weekend off on travel on Acela Express and Metroliner.

2. Continental Airlines gives our veterans a 5% saving on Tickets Purchased at Continental.com. Please see rules and restrictions before booking.

3. US Airways and Delta offers special prices on Northeast Shuttle Fares with no restrictions.

4. Greyhound offers 15% discount on “Walk-up Fares” daily.

5. Red Roof provides 15% off daily on their affordable room rates.

Home and Office

1. Dell offers 10% savings on their offered computers & peripherals from Dell which can be combined with Dell’s other offers.

2. Apple offers big savings plus FREE SHIPPING and 90-day support on Apple notebooks, desktops, software & peripherals.

Get more veterans discounts by visiting Veterans Advantage today.