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Military Associations: Veterans of Foreign Wars

Military Associations: Veterans of Foreign Wars

There are many notable US veterans organizations, but one of the most notable is surely the Veterans of Foreign Wars. The VFW organization is over 100 years old, founded in 1913 in Denver, Colorado. Multiple veterans organizations founded in 1899 on returning to the country after the Spanish-American War consolidated to form the VFW. It currently counts its membership at over 1.15 million. The only way of obtaining membership in the VFW is by being an American citizen, served in the United States armed forces, received a United States military campaign medal, either active duty or honorably discharged. What Does the Veterans of Foreign Wars Do? The Veterans of Foreign Wars' stated mission is to “foster camaraderie among United States veterans of overseas conflicts...to serve our veterans, the military and our communities,” and “To advocate on behalf of all veterans.” In practice, this means speeding the rehabilitation of disabled US veterans and making sure that deceased veterans and...

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Military Associations: The American Legion

Military Associations: The American Legion

Perhaps the most well-known veterans organization in the country, the American Legion is a non-profit organization of US war veterans, with a membership of approximately 1.8 million. A thousand members of the American Expeditionary Force founded the Legion in Paris in 1919 as a patriotic veterans organization devoted to mutual helpfulness. The American Legion was chartered and incorporated by Congress in 1919 and has enjoyed a high profile since its largest veterans organization. Ten of the last thirteen Presidents of the United States have been members of the Legion. What is the Purpose of the American Legion? The organization endeavors to mentor youth and sponsor community programs that promulgate the values of patriotism and honor. It also advocates for strong national security and the support of both active duty service members and veterans. One prominent program is American Legion Baseball, cultivating sportsmanship, citizenship, and fitness in young people. Another is Operation...

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Understanding Military Job Codes

Understanding Military Job Codes

As the world’s largest employer, the United States Department of Defense has a complex system of military job codes to help manage employment in various military branches. However, each branch’s job code functions differently. Military Occupational Specialty Codes The United States Army and United States Marine Corps, the MOS code, or military occupational specialty code, is used to identify specific military jobs. This system is distinct from the standard occupational classification (SOC) codes that civilian jobs are typically classified by. It is a nine-character code in which each digit or section of digits signifies a different part of the role. However, in the United States Air Force, a system is used called Air Force Specialty Codes (AFSC), which is either four or five characters depending on whether the airman is enlisted or commissioned. The Navy has its own system, too, the Navy Enlisted Classification, or NEC. The Coast Guard and Space Force do not have analogous systems at...

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What is a Military Shadow Box?

What is a Military Shadow Box?

A shadow box is typically an enclosed, deep frame, glass-front display case for items of personal or artistic significance to be grouped and shown together. The items are typically held a short distance above the material backing the box, which creates a striking visual distinction. Shadow boxes can be used to display ceremonial weapons, medal ribbons and medals, unit and combat patches, rank insignia, and other meaningful items from a veteran’s military career. Why Are They Called Shadow Boxes? The tradition of calling these display cases shadow boxes reportedly comes from superstition sailors. When a sailor retired from shipboard service, it was bad luck if his shadow touched shore before he did. This superstition extended to a sailor’s personal items, which constituted a ‘shadow’ of sorts. If his belongings were enclosed in a box, though, it would be safe for them to touch shore first. The name ‘shadow box’ was promulgated among sailors, and the term spread from there. Military...

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Stars & Stripes Newspaper Partners With Together We Served

Stars & Stripes Newspaper Partners With Together We Served

The illustrious and storied Stars & Stripes newspaper partners with Together We Served to provide its members with a half-price subscription to their publication. Veterans and active service members that make use of Together We Served should not miss out on this opportunity to receive quality military journalism five days a week. Introduction to Stars & Stripes A daily American military newspaper, Stars & Stripes publishes news-breaking stories concerning members of the United States Armed Forces and their communities around the world. The paper is especially focused on service members stationed outside of the United States. While it is within the Defense Department from an organizational perspective, it maintains editorial independence that is protected by the United States Congress.During the Civil War, soldiers of the 11th, 18th, and 29th Illinois Regiments camped in the city of Bloomfield, MO. The local newspaper’s office was empty, so they decided to print a...

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Interesting Facts About the Korean War

Interesting Facts About the Korean War

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Sixty-eight years ago, the Korean War began and threatened to turn into WWIII. Here are five basic facts, some small, some large about the Korean War. Korean War & Prisoners of War Tens of thousands of South Korean troops were taken prisoner by the North during the war. Many never returned South. Most are presumed dead, though word has gotten through that many still live as senior citizens in North Korea to this day. Likewise, many North Korean and Chinese were taken prisoner by American, South Korean, and United Nations troops. Unlike the unfortunate South Koreans, many of these captured men survived the war. Surprisingly, most (not all) wanted to return to their native countries when the war ended. One reason was patriotism, but another reason was the fear of what would happen to their families should they decide to stay in the South. Almost ten thousand US and Allied troops were taken prisoner during the war. It was not an easy captivity. They were given bare rations and...

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World War II Veterans

World War II Veterans

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How Many World War II Veterans are Still Alive Today? According to Pew Research, the number of living WWII veterans dropped to under 300,000 in 2020 from over 930,000 in 2015. The oldest of these veterans is Lawrence Brooks, an Army veteran born in Louisiana in September 1909, drafted at the age of 31, and sent to the Pacific front with the 91st Engineers. One of the 1.2 million African-Americans served during the war, PFC Brooks mainly cooked and cleaned for his superior officers. The Coast Guard has contributed to the nation’s maritime protection since its previous incarnation was founded in 1790. The United States Revenue Cutter Service initially had a fleet of just ten cutters, known as the Revenue-Marine, to enforce tariffs and collect vital income for the young country. From this humble beginning, the Revenue Cutter Service’s responsibilities grew, taking on more maritime services and even homeland security missions, starting with the Quasi-War with France in the late...

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Fascinating Facts About The Film “Saving Private Ryan”

Fascinating Facts About The Film “Saving Private Ryan”

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One of the most accurate and raw depictions of World War II can be found in the film Saving Private Ryan. This film portrayed the terror and chaos that typifies war, rather than the sanitized and unrealistic images that Hollywood tended to put out in past films. Opening scene capturing D-Day, storming the beaches of Normandy, FR. With the realism portrayed in the film, there were many behind-the-scenes tricks that director Steven Spielberg employed to ensure that the ageless footage and intense combat scenes made it from the film set to the cinema screen. Here are a few of the little-known facts that make this film so unforgettable. Scenes of D-Day Landings in Saving Private Ryan One iconic part of the film is the D-Day Landings. The realistic portrayal of the terror of the men landing on the beach, along with the inevitable chaos of efficiently getting so many men into such a small area, is realistically shown, but this came at an enormous cost. The D-Day shoot cost $12...

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What is the New United States Space Force?

What is the New United States Space Force?

If you haven’t been paying attention to military news for the last few years, you could easily be forgiven for asking, ‘What is the Space Force?’ Though it sounds like something out of a cheap science fiction novel, it constitutes a significant proportion of the ongoing defense budget. President Donald Trump instituted several changes in the Department of Defense policy during his tenure as commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces, but none more dramatic than creating a new branch. What Will Space Force Do? The goal of the Space Force, stated by President Trump during his public proposal, is American dominance in space. In practice, the goal is not to immediately turn outer space into military space: the Space Force will not be comprised of astronauts slinging laser guns. Instead, the focus will be on protecting America’s interests in space. Essentially, the United States Space Force will be continuing the work that Air Force Space Command and other commands have...

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