http://www.milplace.com/blog/category/air-force/ Blog categories... http://www.milplace.com/MedalsofAmerica/blog/iraq-medal-of-commitment-announcement/ Medals of America's Blog under the name "Iraq Medal of Commitment" and we thought it would be useful to the readers...]]> Medals of America's Blog under the name "Iraq Medal of Commitment" and we thought it would be useful to the readers here at milplace. Medals of America is the premier source for all things military. From Army Awards, Military Rank and Navy Rates we've been the largest supplier since 1976.

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Earlier this year Iraq’s Minister of Defense, Dr. Saadoun Al-Dlaimi, sent notice to the Secretary of Defense authorizing the Government of Iraq Commitment Medal. Here is an example of how we receive information and announcements on new military medals here at Medals of America. This medal has yet to be adopted and produced. Below is the message written to the Secretary.

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Dear Mr. Secretary:

As Iraq and the United States prepare for the final withdrawal of United States forces, we reflect upon the long years during which we have been mutually committed to the effort to achieve peace and prosperity for the people of Iraq. We wish to recognize the contributions of those who have dedicated themselves to this great work. The government of Iraq is pleased to inform you that it has approved the issuance of the Government of Iraq Commitment Medal as a fitting means of acknowledgement.

It is our intention that the medal be awarded to military personnel who served in Iraq as part of the armed forces of the United States and other coalition nations. To qualify to receive the medal, service members must have served for 30 consecutive days or for 60 non-consecutive days within the borders of Iraq, within its territorial waters, or within its airspace during the period of March 19, 2003 to December 31, 2011. Pilots and aircrew members who flew missions within Iraqi airspace will be credited for one day for each day of air operations. In addition, service members who engaged in combat during an armed engagement or were wounded or injured in the line of duty to a degree which required medical evacuation from Iraq qualify without regard to the number of days of service. We expect that more than one million current or former service members may be eligible to receive the Commitment Medal.

We have enclosed a depiction of the medal and its associated ribbon. The Government of Iraq authorizes military authorities of the United States and other coalition partners to award the medal on behalf of Iraq to persons whose military records demonstrate that they qualify. We further authorize the United States and other coalition partners to arrange for the production of the medal and ribbon in their respective countries so that the items may be readily available to the recipients.

May the commitment to the bright future of Iraq, which we have shared through many difficult years, never be forgotten.

Sincerely,

Dr. Saadoun Al-Dlaimi
Minister of Defense

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The Commitment Medal is to be issued by the Government of Iraq to honor the service of the United States and its Allies during the Liberation of Iraq.

Description – The Commitment Medal is a gold-colored medal with enamel, 1 9/16 in diameter. On the front the relief of Iraq represents the area of operation. The lines symbolize the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers, recalling Iraq’s title as “the land of two rivers.” The two hands superimposed over the relief symbolize the friendship between Iraq and her coalition allies. The star at the center top represents a vision of unity for the seven peoples of Iraq (Sunni, Shia, Kurd, Turkoman, Assyrian, Yazidi, Armenian) leading to a more secure, prosperous and free future for Iraqis. The inscription in both Arabic and English merge into a continuous circle symbolizing the closeness of Iraq and her allies.
On the reverse side the rayed disc symbolizes the sun, optimism and Iraq’s future of reconstruction and the establishment of the democratic way of life. The relief of Iraq represents the area of operation. The lines symbolize the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers, recalling Iraq’s title as “the land of two rivers.” The crossed scimitars recall the partnership between Coalition Forces and Iraqi Security Forces essential to bringing a democratic way of life to Iraq. Gold is emblematic of honor and high achievement. It states JOINT COMMITMENT in both Arabic and English symbolizing the unity of effort between Iraq and her Coalition Partners. The palm trees along with the palm fronds on the front represent the sacrifices made by the Coalition Partners.

Ribbon – The ribbon is 1 3/8 inches in width; however it is it is mounted on the ribbon bar horizontally so that the horizontal top stripe is a 1/16 Chamois (67142) stripe with a 3/64 inch Scarlett (67111) stripe underneath it. A 1/16 inch White (67101) stripe on each side of a 1/16 Green (67129) follows. Below the bottom white stripe is a 3/64 Black (67138) stripe with a 1/16 Chamois (67142) stripe serving as the bottom stripe. A device of palm fronds representing the sacrifices of coalition forces, both Iraqi and Allied, is centered on the ribbon.

The colors represent the following. The Green is the traditional color for Islam. Red honors the fighting courage for the pursuit of freedom. White denotes generosity and black exemplifies Islam’s success. The tan represents the sands of Mesopotamia.]]> http://www.milplace.com/MedalsofAmerica/blog/iraq-medal-of-commitment-announcement/ Wed, 28 Dec 2011 17:55:30 +0000 Medals of America http://www.milplace.com/anndanner/blog/what-goes-into-a-resume/ From War to Work
Your resume should include key headings that give a brief detail of your work experience and what you have to offer a hiring company....]]> From War to Work
Your resume should include key headings that give a brief detail of your work experience and what you have to offer a hiring company. You don't want to be too detailed to make it lengthy, nor should it be too short and not contain enough of the pertinent information needed. Keep it simple but be sure that it is job specific as the viewer may be seeking specific information for that field. If you are skilled for multiple fields you may need multiple resumes to fit those specific fields. Your resume should contain:

Name
Address
Email Address
Phone numbers(s)
Your objective
Experience
Education
Additional Training
Community
Awards
Licenses
Security Clearances
References

Your resume may include other headings as well depending on your previous history. Hiring a professional is the best way to go since they are skilled at the target areas on a resume. When hiring a service make sure that you choose one that is aware of today's market and offers a job search or other services.]]> http://www.milplace.com/anndanner/blog/what-goes-into-a-resume/ Sat, 26 Nov 2011 15:18:34 +0000 Ann Danner http://www.milplace.com/anndanner/blog/returning-veterans-often-face-financial-challenges/
And since they aren't part of most school curriculums, either, young men and ...]]>
And since they aren't part of most school curriculums, either, young men and women who enlist in the military right out of high school often don't think about things like emergency funds, retirement savings or even household bills while they're living on bases or deployed overseas.

It's when they leave the service that those concerns become real for the first time.

"When you get out of the military, you have to find a place to live, make sure you've got transportation, and find a job," said Mechel Glass, a Gulf War veteran and director of education for CredAbility, a consumer credit counseling service based in Atlanta. Many veterans need assistance to get started with those steps. READ MORE]]> http://www.milplace.com/anndanner/blog/returning-veterans-often-face-financial-challenges/ Sat, 26 Nov 2011 04:39:55 +0000 Ann Danner http://www.milplace.com/MedalsofAmerica/blog/understanding-united-states-military-awards/ military awards system of the United States may be best characterized as paralleling the American passion for individual freedom....]]> military awards system of the United States may be best characterized as paralleling the American passion for individual freedom. To the casual observer, it might resemble an endless series of unrelated regulations designed to confuse rather than to inform. However upon closer look, you find a highly organized, well documented system that has been overcomplicated by historical inertia.

When this country won its independence from Great Britain, most British traditions were retained but all trappings of the old regal system were repudiated. As a result, almost 75 years elapsed between the adoption of the U.S. Constitution and the authorization of our first military award, the Medal of Honor. (The President traditionally presents the Medal of Honor but does so in the name of the Congress).

As the number of awards grew, responsibility for the approval and presentation of an award to a recipient became (and remains today) a function of the importance of the proposed award. As in most Armed Services around the world, the immediate field commander is empowered to nominate deserving candidates for an appropriate medal but here the resemblance ends. In the U.S. Army, for example, final award authority can be a Company, Regimental, Brigade or Division Commander providing the award is for a campaign, good conduct, achievement, commendation or meritorious service. Only when the upper strata of the “Pyramid of Honor” are attained, i.e., Bronze Star Medal and above, is the senior level of command (The Chief of Staff, Secretary of the Army or Secretary of Defense) required to act upon such recommendations. The other Services follow this pattern closely, some going even further by delegating the authority to issue a few of the more senior awards to lower echelon commanders during wartime situations.

In 1947, when the U.S. Armed Forces were unified into the present Department of Defense, one might have expected a series of orderly and clear-cut directives that would totally reorganize all such awards policies. However, with only a few notable exceptions, e.g., standardization of the height and width of ribbons plus some award criteria, this has not been the case.

Although Joint Service awards committees do exist, they can only recommend general policies for those items shared by all the Armed Forces but do NOT have the authority to set standards within the individual Services. As a result, some 104 new military awards have been authorized since unification, only 25 of which are common to all the Services and the rules governing the display of ribbons and devices now vary so widely as to require a road map.

The first area of potential confusion is the order of military ribbon wear on the U.S. military uniform. A careful examination of the various awards manuals and uniform regulations shows that three distinct arrangements for order of precedence exist among the five Services (the Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard share a common scheme).

Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard Order of Precedence

Arbitrarily taking the Navy method as a baseline, the various award precedence schemes break down into general categories as follows:

A. U.S. Military Decorations
B. U.S. Unit Awards
C. U.S. Non-Military Decorations
D. U.S. Merchant Marine Decorations
E. Prisoner of War and Good Conduct Medals
F. Campaign, Service and Training Awards
G. U.S. Merchant Marine Service Awards
H. Foreign Military Decorations
I. Foreign Unit Awards
J. Non U.S. Service Awards
K. Marksmanship Awards
Army Order of Precedence

The order of precedence established by the Army is as follows:

A. U.S. Military Decorations
E. Prisoner of War Medal
C. U.S. Non-Military Decorations
E. Good Conduct Medal
F. Campaign, Service and Training Awards
D. U.S. Merchant Marine Decorations
G. U.S. Merchant Marine Service Awards
H. Foreign Military Decorations
J. Non U.S. Service Awards

NOTE: All U.S. and foreign unit awards (categories B and I above) are worn on the right breast of the Army uniform.
USAF Order of Precedence

The Air Force has been left for last owing to its unique set of ribbon rules. Not only is the Air Force order of precedence different from those discussed earlier but some of their medals and ribbons, designated as “Achievement Awards”, do not fit neatly into the previously defined categories. The Air Force precedence list is as follows:

A. U.S. Military Decorations
B. U.S. Unit Awards
C. U.S. Non-Military Decorations
D. U.S. Merchant Marine Decorations
E. Prisoner of War Medal Combat Readiness Medal
E. Good Conduct Medal
F. Campaign, Service and Training Awards
K. Marksmanship Awards Air Force Training Ribbon
J. Philippine Service Awards
G. U.S. Merchant Marine Service Awards
H. Foreign Military Decorations
I. Foreign Unit Awards
J. Non U.S. Service Awards]]> http://www.milplace.com/MedalsofAmerica/blog/understanding-united-states-military-awards/ Fri, 18 Nov 2011 18:18:02 +0000 Medals of America http://www.milplace.com/MedalsofAmerica/blog/why-i-became-a-soldier-duty-sacrifice-and-honor/ Medals of America. This was originally posted here and thought it would be a good piece to share with...]]> Medals of America. This was originally posted here and thought it would be a good piece to share with the MilPlace community.

As far back as I can remember I always knew I was going to become a soldier. Why I was so certain I would become a soldier even before entering grade school remains a mystery to even me. All I know is what I wanted to be and nothing was going to change that. As I grew up in life I was asked many times throughout my childhood, “What are you going to be when you grow up?” and the answer always remained the same, simple and short, straight to the point “A Soldier”.

When some of the individuals asking the question replied with “A Soldier” I knew right then the question and comment I had grown to hate the most would soon follow which was, “Why do you want to be a Soldier?”, and my answer has always been the same… Still in the end it never mattered how the reality manifested into being, and how both men and women transformed into the Sailors, Soldiers, Airmen, and Marines, whether it was active, guards, reserves, Coast Guard, or Border Patrol, one thing remained one and the same, it was the bond that brought us all together as one, that which unites us until that which made us different became the same, and what we thought made us uncommon come into alignment transforming our differences into strengths, tuning our different values and beliefs into common values and beliefs.

It never mattered how we came to be whether by way of draft, enlistment, or even court ordered but what it came to mean to us all was the belief in our Duty, and how that sense of duty mattered more than ourselves. Being taken in by the truths that our founding fathers found to be self evident as we had to learned those simple truths the hard way, but not only did we learn that all men were created equal but also the freedoms we came to love and enjoy was not free but instead came with a very high price. The cost was one that all who wore the uniforms paid, no matter the level of the payment it was paid in the form of Sacrifices. The sacrifices not only made by the men and women in uniforms but by our families, friends, and neighbors as well. Those sacrifices are forever felt and remembered, engraved on our conscience and subconscious thoughts. Sacrifices I mention not to draw sympathy or pity, but instead to paint a masterpiece of pride, and joy in knowing that those sacrifices in some way touched the life of the many, and the acts being forever entrenched in our way of being. Sacrifices that every man and woman, who ever had the pleasure of raising his or her right hand would tell you, if they had a chance to do it again they would.

Then there are those who paid the highest price of all by making the ultimate sacrifice. A Sacrifice so great they would never be able to see the effects of their selfless service. A sacrifice shown only by the beautiful colors that their loved ones received as receipt of their grand payment, that they so proudly display for all to see whether it’s on a flag pole outside of their homes or in a beautiful flag display case, displayed in their homes for all to see. When we join the different branches of service we all joined for many different reasons. It could have been because we had no choice such as our brethren of the World Wars, Korean War, and the Vietnam War as some enlisted while others were drafted, or like our brethren and sisters of the currents wars enlisted, for the GI Bills, the security, or even out of a sense of duty after 911.

No matter what was the initial reasoning behind joining the service, what was the greatest reason that we continued to serve? Some think it may be because of the opportunities but I say to them no one wakes up and hopes for the opportune time to die. Some may think it’s for the benefits but to be honest with you although they help they are not all that great. Some even think it’s for the money but I can assure you that the money certainly could be better.

The truth is all those reasons may have been good reasons but they certainly were not that which held us. We all stayed for one reason and one reason only, that which we came to live for, and at the same time being more than to proud to die for. That which would ensure we are forever remembered in the most sacred of documents in this world and the next, physical and spiritual, forever lasting, and indestructible. We all chose to stay the course for the because of Honor.

We at Medals of America live with a sense of duty each and every day as we continue the fight to ensure your deeds are never forgotten. We are proud to serve our great customers as we can’t help but to feel their sacrifices as we sit and listen to their stories while they place their orders. Being touched by their love, loyalty and devotion to their family members or friends as try to capture a piece of their love ones history for one reason or another. We feel so blessed to be a part of helping you to build your beautiful display cases, mounted medals and military ribbon racks, so you can proudly display your military awards and decorations that you so greatly and selflessly earned. For you all have served and continue to serve with great credit to your family, friends and community and most of all you all served with Honor; so for the sake of Honor, it’s our pleasure to serve you. Thank you all, and most of all thank you all for your service.

Life is only as long as we live… Death is only as long as our memories are remembered… but Honor… Honor lasts forever.

Boris I. Jones
Medals of America


Be sure to visit the Medals of America website for a large selection of Air Force Caps, Marine Corp Medals, Army T-Shirts and tons of other Military Items for Sale. Visit today.]]> http://www.milplace.com/MedalsofAmerica/blog/why-i-became-a-soldier-duty-sacrifice-and-honor/ Thu, 06 Oct 2011 15:36:10 +0000 Medals of America http://www.milplace.com/MedalsofAmerica/blog/many-veterans-suffer-from-post-traumatic-stress-disorder-a-disorder-that-ne/ Medals of America's Blog. It's a great read and a disorder that we all need to be aware of.


Post-Traumatic Stres...]]> Medals of America's Blog. It's a great read and a disorder that we all need to be aware of.


Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD, is a very serious disorder that many of our veterans deal with in their lives. While this disorder isn’t always widely recognized, it is important that we support our troops and our veterans. Medals of America is doing its part to raise awareness and support this disorder by offering PTSD merchandise, including PTSD shirts, challenge coins and hats. All PTSD items are great for both active and retired military members helping let all of our soldiers know that they are supported.

While PTSD may not always be widely recognized as a disease or disorder, it is one that is very prevalent, as close to one-third of all soldiers returning home after war suffer from this disorder. Despite being angry, confused and even suicidal, many of these men and women refuse to seek help, as they are afraid it will be seen as a weakness or stigma. However, it is important to remember that it can be through the aid of friends, family, and military leaders that these individuals pull through and can begin the healing process. We all can play a role.

PTSD is a type of anxiety disorder that often affects people after they have witnessed or experienced a traumatic event that threatened them with injury or death. Victims of this disorder may suffer from flashbacks, nightmares, severe anxiety, confusion, guilt and anger—all of which may result in thoughts of suicide. Many cannot stop thinking about the traumatic event, or events, that caused the PTSD. The sooner PTSD is diagnosed and treated, the better.

Helping spread awareness about this disorder and how it affects our country’s military, Medals of America is trying to do its part through the distribution of PTSD merchandise. It is important for those suffering from PTSD to know that they are not alone. Additionally, to support Vietnam Veterans with PTSD, Medals of America donates a portion of every purchase made through their VVA Store to the Vietnam Veterans of America Headquarters in Maryland.

Read the Medals of America press release, discussing this very real disorder, and what we can do to better recognize it here.]]> http://www.milplace.com/MedalsofAmerica/blog/many-veterans-suffer-from-post-traumatic-stress-disorder-a-disorder-that-ne/ Fri, 30 Sep 2011 18:43:06 +0000 Medals of America http://www.milplace.com/txsgrunt/blog/guns-suns-and-more-guns/ Well let me start by apologizing for my absence. I can list all kinds of excuses for not posting, but I will not other than to say that my daughters w... Anyway, I would like to address the issue that has popping up in many media outlets that has made the US of A look like a main culprit in the instigation, or at least, the responsible party in the Mexican drug war. That subject is the issue of guns flowing into Mexico that perpetuate the drug war. I'd like to start by informing my readers that Mexico and various American news media outlets have accused the U.S. of either supplying the guns or not restricting the flow of guns into Mexico that are being used in the killings of hundreds of Mexican citizens. I would like to respond by saying, BULLSHIP, HOGWASH, and Lies. First off, The Mexican government does not want to and will not take full responsibility for the embarrassing condition they have created in their country. So, to shift a some of the blame, they've resorted to manipulating the numbers by using an old ATF (Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms)program that tracks U.S. registered fire arms serial number in Mexico which is outdated and unreliable. When Mexican Police or soldiers seize weapons from gun battles and cartel members, they check the serial numbers off of a list which is an old list of weapon serial numbers that have been stolen or known to have been smuggled into Mexico provided by the ATF. Funny thing is, they only check the serial numbers off of M-14s,AR-15s, M-16s, and any American made weapon. They do not check any AK 47 or other foreign made weapon serial numbers or state how many they seized. The result will always be that all weapons that were were seized were American made weapons that were smuggled into Mexico and used to kill innocent civilians. At last count, 80% of weapons seized in Mexico were smuggled in from the U.S. This number is coming from a president of a country where corruption is a way of life and anyone can be bought. In my line of work and the working with people in the position that deal with that particular issue, it has been my experience that most of the weapons enter Mexico from the south. Namely El Salvador, Columbia, and Honduras. Most of the weapons I have seen with my own two eyeballs have been AK 47s, variants of the AKs, and foreign made knock offs. Even in the aftermath photos I receive, the narratives state AR 15s seized but see no mention of the AK 47s I see in the photos.

A few months ago, I stumbled upon a blog by a Guatemalen army veteran report on deserting Guatemalen Kaibiles (elite Guatemalen soldiers) being paid to smuggle weapons and or join the Zetas Cartel in Mexico. When I went back to the page for some more research, the page was 404. Personally, I think the blogger was found out and was 404ed with an AK 47, duck tape and a shovel. With all that being said, most of the guns being used in Mexico that are being used in the narco war are NOT coming from the U.S. as the media says but coming from countries like Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, China, Yugoslavia, and other cash starved countries. Yes. I will not deny that some weapons are going in from the U.S., but not in the numbers you are led to believe.

The Mexican press loves to showcase weapon seizures to the media and display all the weapons seized but fail to mention that that the AR-15 in the photos are actually knock offs made in China with no serial numbers. They want you to think the U.S failed to stop them from being smuggled into Mexico so The U.S can be blamed for one thing or another. I am not releasing the U.S. from any blame in this travesty since I have personally seen U.S. made weapons that have been smuggled into Mexico been used in the killings of Mexican citizens. From where I stand on the shores of the US/Mexican border, I see a different picture than the one the politicians and their controlled agenda driven media states as fact.

I'm just sayin.]]> http://www.milplace.com/txsgrunt/blog/guns-suns-and-more-guns/ Sat, 04 Jun 2011 08:31:06 +0000 txsgrunt http://www.milplace.com/txsgrunt/blog/the-immigration-issue/ Immigration. Aside from the political issues surrounding immigration, I will try to explain why allowing the immigration bills to pass would be a bad ... Just as many Islamic radicals have infiltrated our sovereignty by entering our country under false pretenses such as the 9-11 bombers did, The Mexican illegals have learned from that and attempting the same techniques. If you saw an Iranian Islamic radical terrorist entering the U.S. hidden in the undercarriage of a car would you be shocked and scared? Why not a Mexican National with evil intentions who could cause serious mayhem in the U.S. Yes, I know a dirty bomb would be more dramatic than getting our children hooked on drugs and killing a few rivals on our streets would, but only because cases like that don't make the headlines like a bomb would. I think that's only because we have become somewhat desensitized to drug dealers being killed in the streets as opposed to an Islamic terrorist planting a bomb in New York Square. If you don't think that will ever affect you, it will only be a matter of time if you succumb to political correctness and acceptance of outsiders. To address the human side of immigration, Yes. I believe that there are honest hard working Mexican nationals seeking U.S. citizenship that want to contribute to our society because I know a few. But, we cannot continue to fall for the same old sob story and be blinded by self righteousness and political correctness that endanger our American way of life to ease our conscience in the name of acceptance of other cultures and their ways of life.
OK folks before you start calling me a racist or prejudiced against Mexicans, I must state that I am of Mexican decent and 2nd generation American citizen sworn to defend the American way of life. I have chosen to defend the country I have integrated into as my parents have because the USA has provided us with a prosperous life as the U.S. Constitution states. I am just asking that you rethink the issue of politics and "acceptance" and "understanding" over national security and our way of life as our Constitution states it. Our Constitution has made us the most powerful and most desirable country on Earth. Now is no time time to compromise our principles for the sake of false principles of political correctness or politics.]]> http://www.milplace.com/txsgrunt/blog/the-immigration-issue/ Tue, 08 Mar 2011 04:13:30 +0000 txsgrunt http://www.milplace.com/txsgrunt/blog/the-zetas-role-in-the-third-war/ Tonight, I am writing this post as I listen to the aircraft flying around my neighborhood. I know which aircraft it is and the crew on board. I also h...
So. This post is a block of instruction on the role Los Zetas (The Zetas)play in The Third War. The Zetas as described in my last post is an independent drug cartel fighting for the northern Mexican State of Tamaulipas - deep south Texas drug route against the mighty Gulf Cartel. Now against the New Federation which is the alliance between the Gulf Cartel and Sinaloa Cartel and others who want to destroy the Zetas just out of pure hatred.

The Zetas were originally formed back in the late 80s by a man named Heriberto Lazcano, AKA "El Lazca" and are considered by most as being the most violent paramilitary group in Mexico. Lazcano was at the time a highly trained Special Forces soldier in the Mexican Army who was trained in counter drug operation at Ft. Benning Georgia's School of the Americas to help Mexico fight the drug cartels. He and his subordinates were trained in all aspects of special warfare, counter insurgency, survival, escape and evasion, all the black ops stuff.
Once he returned to Mexico, he applied his skills in support of the Mexican war on drugs and served his country well as Z10. All counter-drug special ops soldiers used the call sign Z with 10 being the commander of the unit. Eventually Lazcano became disillusioned with his mission, mainly because of the dismal conditions, rewards, and pay for the effort he was putting forth. He finally realized he was fighting an uphill battle that could not be won and the only outcome for him would be death and penniless, or Pesoless in his case. Lazcano deserted and took a few of his men with him and brokered a deal with the Gulf Cartel after a few freelance jobs for anyone willing to pay him what he felt he was worth. Now the he was working as the enforcement arm for the powerful Gulf Cartel and making more money in a month than he ever made in a year in the army, he was set and recruited more deserters. He slowly built a small army with his personal ruthless twist of "the more senseless, the better".

The Zetas were quickly becoming well known throughout Mexico as being downright mean, ruthless, and cruel. They would not hesitate to kill, behead, eviscerate, torture, burn, rape, dismember, or mutilate an enemy on nothing more than a nod from a Zeta or Gulf Cartel leader. It was rumored that even the cruel Gulf Cartel leaders feared the Zetas being near them and referred to them as Demonios (demons).

Due to the Zeta's senseless propensity for killing and blind obedience, they accidentally killed a high ranking Gulf Cartel member who strode into town to check on his operation. The problem arose when either the Gulf Cartel member did not announce his arrival in town, or the Zeta gunman did not get the word that the Gulf lieutenant was coming to town. Either way, the unwritten rule among cartels states that if a gunman from a cartel kills an ally, whether intentionally or accidentally, the killer must be handed over for execution. At this point Lazcano refused to turn over his gunman. Supposedly because it was the Gulf Cartel's fault for not following procedure of announcing their arrival.
Because the Zetas broke the "Code", they were now violators and had to be eliminated. The word was put out that it was open season on any Zeta for anyone with a gun. This is a good time to mention that gun ownership by civilians in Mexico is prohibited. So, anyone who has a gun is a criminal.
This was the time that Lazcano felt his organization was big enough, powerful enough, trained enough, and feared enough to start his very own cartel. He felt Los Zetas were feared and trained enough that he could easily wipe out the Gulf Cartel and take over their territory and jump to the top of the drug cartel food chain. Unfortunately for Lazcano, the training his lower level foot soldier Zetas had received was not enough to overcome the fierce loyalty of the more experience Gulf Cartel soldiers. Ensuing battles were lopsided in favor of the Gulf Cartel over the undermanned Zetas that were even hated by the local peasants who would point them out to patrolling Gulf Cartel soldiers. The Zetas were eventually pushed west into remote ranch land areas south of Falcon Lake where they hid out to regroup and recruit anyone with a pulse with promises of wealth and glory.

During this time The Zetas were regrouping and planning their "second coming" when an American Jet Skier and his wife wandered into their territory for a photo session of the local ruins in Guerrero within the Zeta area of operations. The Zeta guards mistook the intruders for spies or enemies and went after them in boats. They chased the couple with AK 47s firing at full bore in an attempt to scare them off. In their haste and poor training, they shot David Hartley in the head and he fell in the water, David's wife circled around to try to help but there was nothing she could do as they continued firing in her direction. She gunned the engine on her Jet Ski and headed north without her husband as they chased her with AKs still firing up to the the International Boundary Line. I received the report on the shooting and started the normal procedure on border incidents. 30 minutes later, my cell phone rang, it was a friend who asked me if I could help with information on the shooting of his associate on Falcon Lake. He gave me the victim's name and my heart sank. It was a mutual friend.

Now many of the Zeta soldier caste are a low level bunch of underpaid under trained rag tag group of uneducated unwilling peasants and criminals threatened into doing the dirty work of the Zetas under threat of a slow painful death. This still makes them an extremely dangerous threat since they have no choice but to kill or be killed. Proof of the Zeta's ruthlessness and cruelty has been seen in cases such as the massacre of the 72 immigrants in San Fernando and the overtaking and mass exodus of scared civilians in the historic town of Mier.

Next week, The immigration issue and a word on Nancy Davis.

The links below will take to the respective story, please be advised that the reports are wrenching and not for the faint of heart but for the reality seeker. The Third War does exists. It is a hidden war, but it does exist.

Mier overtaking: http://mexicotoday.com.mx/en/headlines-footer-links-34/1599-zetas-threat-sparks-exodus-from-town-in-tamaulipas.html

Massacre: http://forums.liveleak.com/showthread.php?t=70907]]> http://www.milplace.com/txsgrunt/blog/the-zetas-role-in-the-third-war/ Sat, 29 Jan 2011 10:18:50 +0000 txsgrunt http://www.milplace.com/txsgrunt/blog/why-all-the-killing/ Why is there so much killing going on in Mexico? The answer is in its simplest form is control by intimidation. Although people are killed for various...
To show their enemies how serious they are about protecting their routes, they have resorted to some of the most grisly methods of killing that would nausiate even the most hardened combat veteran or gag a maggot. Everything from cutting up bodies limb by limb to beheadings, and dipping bodies into vats of acid which they proudly post on the internet. I will leave out many of the other gory details they have resorted to. Anything goes and there is no fear of the law since all levels of law enforcement have been infiltrated and subjected to this type of intimidation as many officers have suffered this fate and are seriously out gunned and under trained to handle this type of violence. In some cases, entire police forces have quit or resigned because of the intimidation or unspeakable ways fellow officers have been killed.

The two largest and most powerful drug cartels in Mexico are the Sinaloa Cartel and the Gulf Cartel which currently dominate the routes into California and Texas respectively. Many other smaller aspiring cartels are vying for those same routes. Inspired by the incredible wealth to be made, they will are willing to do whatever it takes to anyone who stands in their way. Add to the mix, the Mexican government's attempt to stop the cartel from enlarging their operations and you can see how the violence can only escalate. Since millions of dollars are at stake, no drug cartel leader is willing to give up the billionaire's lifestyle, or a drug route to anyone, he will continue to order his troops with the promise of wealth to fight to the death to protect his interests.

The problem of violence in the Texas sector has come about because the Gulf Cartel has waged war on it's former enforcement branch, Los Zetas. Los Zetas were formed by ex Mexican military special forces soldiers who deserted for the more lucrative business of drug trafficking. Initially, many of the Zetas were trained by the US Military for the purpose of fighting drug cartels but the Gulf Cartel leader enticed many of the soldiers to work for them as enforcers since they were familiar with the ins and out of counter drug and other special operations techniques. Recruiting them was easy because a cartel leader can easily quadruple a soldier's pay, benefits and status. Los Zetas were initially very effective and helped the Gulf Cartel increase their profits by eliminating many of the Gulf Cartel's enemies and obstacles through technical and tactical know how. One day in early 2010 A Gulf Cartel leader rolled into his plaza in Reynosa, Mexico unannounced or without a Zeta scout being notified and the Gulf Cartel leader was accidentally killed by a Zeta assassin gunman. As cartel rule has it, the killer was to be turned over to the victim's commander for execution regardless of rank or position. The Zeta commander refused to turn over one of his best trained assassins and friend. That was a turning point in the violence in Mexico. That was the day Los Zetas decide it was time to break away from the Gulf Cartel and go at it alone. The next day The Gulf Cartel declared war on Los Zetas who had decide that they would take over the most profitable route into the US for themselves. The Gulf Cartel leader instructed all member of the Gulf Cartel to kill any member of Los Zetas with a reward for a head.
Eventually, the task of killing a highly trained and skilled Zeta became a challenge for poor uneducated, untrained thugs recruited off the streets used to killing Gulf Cartel enemies and policemen for $20.

Los Zetas were now becoming a challenge to the Gulf Cartel and cutting into their profits with the potential of taking over the South Texas routes all together. The Gulf Cartel Leader called upon a longtime rival to join him in an effort to eliminate Los Zetas by convincing him that they would eventually go after the Sinaloa routes as well. The Sinaloa Cartel agreed and formed an alliance with the Gulf Cartel in an effort to eliminate Los Zetas. Thus the war against Los Zetas was been waged along the US/Mexico border with countless innocent Mexican citizens caught in the crossfire of the war between the Gulf Cartel, The Sinaloa Cartel against Los Zetas while the government was trying to eliminate all three.


Next week,

More on Los Zetas on my next post.]]> http://www.milplace.com/txsgrunt/blog/why-all-the-killing/ Wed, 26 Jan 2011 08:45:43 +0000 txsgrunt http://www.milplace.com/forcesdiscounts/blog/official-discounts-scheme-for-all-serving-and-ex-serving-forces/
Please contact me if you know of a company offering discount thats not in the scheme, anywhere in the world.

Thank you for serving our great country, when one person serves the whole family serves.]]> http://www.milplace.com/forcesdiscounts/blog/official-discounts-scheme-for-all-serving-and-ex-serving-forces/ Mon, 24 Jan 2011 14:34:00 +0000 forcesdiscounts http://www.milplace.com/OneWearySoldier/blog/read-my-blog/
To follow my blog you need to go to http://www.onewearysoldier.blogspot.com. I've written about many topics. I'm currently raging about service dogs and how difficult the VHA is making it for me and other Veterans not only to obtain one, but once you have one, to get the VHA to pay for its' care.

I've written about PTSD, MST, treatment of women Veterans at VA Hospitals just to name a few topics. To read the rest, go to my blog and browse it. You won't be disappointed. There's even a step by step guide there on how to apply for SSDI if you're eligible, based on my own experience.

Happy Holidays everyone. Wherever you are I wish you a safe, happy and healthy holiday season and a wonderful New Year. Thanks to all of you, my Sisters and Brothers for each and every day of your service, past and present. Whether you are still in uniform or not, doesn't matter. We all continue to serve.

Until the next time ....

You can also find me at:
http://www.straighttalkforveterans.com

and

http://www.vawatchdogtoday.org]]> http://www.milplace.com/OneWearySoldier/blog/read-my-blog/ Wed, 15 Dec 2010 02:26:14 +0000 OneWearySoldier http://www.milplace.com/rmatonti2/blog/helping-disabled-veterans/ http://apps.facebook.com/causes/473055]]> http://apps.facebook.com/causes/473055]]> http://www.milplace.com/rmatonti2/blog/helping-disabled-veterans/ Wed, 13 Oct 2010 10:19:33 +0000 Ronald P