Iraqi forces can take over by June 2007

Iraqi forces can take over by June 2007, says PM Top News Reuters.com: "AMMAN (Reuters) - Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki said on Thursday his government's forces would be able to take over security command from U.S. troops by June 2007 -- a move which could allow the United States to start withdrawing.
'I cannot answer on behalf of the U.S. administration but I can tell you that from our side our forces will be ready by June 2007,' Maliki told ABC television after meeting President Bush in Jordan.
Bush offered him strong backing in their talks and said Iraqi forces would be trained more quickly to take over but rejected suggestions he was seeking a 'graceful exit' for U.S. troops. "

Pentagon Announces Troop Rotations

ABC News: Pentagon Announces Troop Rotations: "The 3rd Infantry Division and the 4th Brigade of the 1st Infantry are part of the 57,000 troops who were notified by the Defense Department that they would serve as replacement forces in Iraq. The total includes 20,000 combat troops from five combat brigades, as well as 27,000 active duty troops and 10,000 reservists.
The other major units identified for deployment are the 4th Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division from Fort Lewis, Wa; the 3rd Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division from Fort Benning, Ga; the 1st Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division from Fort Bragg, N.C.; and the 173rd Airborne Brigade from Vicenza, Italy."

As proud as I am of my son I still do not think I am ready for this.

The United States Army News

The United States Army News Army announces temporary ACU boot policy: "WASHINGTON (Army News Service, Nov. 15, 2006) - The Army announced yesterday that in certain geographic areas for the next six months the black Intermediate Cold Wet Boot will be authorized for wear with the Army Combat Uniform in lieu of the tan ICWB, which is currently in short supply."

A Hard Day's Night for Echo

A training video from the Ft Benning/Columbus Ledger Enquirer

armyvideo

armyvideo: "Live camera shots of US snipers taking out Taliban with 50 caliber sniper rifles in
Afghanistan.

Pay close attention to the beginning of the video. A Taliban is lying on top of the
peak in front of you... When you hear the shot fired... Watch what happens. Our
sniper is about a half mile away... or more.
These are some examples of the fight in Afghanistan. These video shots are not
made through the shooter's telescopic sight..... They are made looking through the
spotter's scope. The spotter lies right next to the sniper and helps the sniper to
find and home in on the target. The sniper is using a 50 caliber rifle. A 50 cal.
round is about 7-8 inches long and the casing is about an inch in diameter. The
bullet itself is one-half inch in diameter and roughly one and one-half inches long."

2007 Military Basic Pay Charts -- Enlisted

2007 Military Basic Pay Charts -- Enlisted: "Congress has passed the FY 2007 Military Authorization Act, and President Bush signed the act into law on October 17, 2006. "

Strike Hold

It seems to me that having been preparing for the past 15+ years that I would maybe be prepared. Not so -- and when Dallas mentioned on the phone last night that he would be going to Iraq as early as June I wasn't ready.

For now, though, he's stationed at Ft Bragg -- 1st and 504th of the 82 Airborne -- a Red Devil.

Ft Benning -- Echo 2-54

On Pins and Needles
A video from the Columbus Ledger showing the current Echo 2-54 group going green as they get fitted and issued their class A's.
Other videos from the Echo 2-54 training are archived in the September Archives in a blog called Basic Training Ft Benning.

Canadians war over troops

TorontoSun.com - Thane Burnett - Canadians war over troops: "'As a Canadian walking down a street you see one individual assaulting another. What do you do?
'I have enough faith in my fellow countrymen to think that any Canadian would step in and stop the violence or tyranny and help the weak. If we choose to walk by, we condone the violence.'
If Canadians believe we should not help the weak, then let them stand up and say it, he said. Otherwise, he continued, step forward and loudly lend the troops your full support. "

Insurgents kill Canadian serving in US army

Insurgents kill Canadian in U.S. Army
Nov. 1, 2006. 01:00 AM
HALIFAX—Insurgents killed a Canadian serving with the U.S. Army in Iraq this week, just days before his return home.
Cpl. Michael Seeley, 27, of Fredericton was on patrol south of Baghdad with Bravo Company of the 28th Infantry when he died Monday.
Theresa Seeley, his mother, said yesterday her son was due to return to the United States last Saturday but his stay was extended until Nov. 5. Those extra days cost Seeley his life.
The Mi'kmaq joined the Canadian Forces in 1998 before enlisting with the U.S. Marines the next year.
He served with the U.S. Marines in Japan, South America, Africa and Iraq before getting an honourable discharge after four years. He then joined the U.S. Army and was stationed in Fort Hood, Texas, when he was deployed to Iraq.
Theresa Seeley, interviewed in New Brunswick's capital, said her son was dedicated to the military to a fault. "It's what he wanted to do and that is what he kept telling me. He said: `If it ever happened, I died doing what I wanted to do.' But that doesn't help right now."
Seeley said the RCMP informed her of his death Monday night. He was on a training exercise with replacement troops who were being shown the ropes, such as what roads to take. "They were in a convoy and met a vehicle ... and they fired at them. By the sound of it, it was something big they fired and Michael was hit. I am not sure what it was (but) I know that he had on all his armour and his helmet."
Burial will be in Fredericton.
Betty Ann Lavallee, chief of the New Brunswick Aboriginal Peoples Council, in a statement expressed pride in Seeley. "Like so many young aboriginal men and women ... Seeley volunteered to serve."

Stuck in Irak

-- Sen. John Kerry issues a statement saying: "I personally apologize to any service member, family member, or American who was offended" by comments he made about being "stuck in Iraq."