Useful Military Information

Honoring Sacrifice: Remembering Memorial Day with Together We Served

Honoring Sacrifice: Remembering Memorial Day with Together We Served

Memorial Day is a deeply significant and cherished national holiday in the United States, providing an opportunity for Americans to reflect on and pay tribute to the courageous men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice while serving in the armed forces. As we observe this solemn occasion, TogetherWeServed, the largest online community of military veterans and their families, is dedicated to sharing the rich history of Memorial Day, highlighting its distinctions from Veterans Day, and providing guidance on how to observe this day of remembrance with reverence and gratitude. The Origins and History of Memorial Day Memorial Day, originally known as Decoration Day, has a profound historical background that dates back to the aftermath of the American Civil War. The practice of honoring fallen soldiers by decorating their graves with flowers and flags gained momentum across the nation, with various communities independently commemorating their fallen heroes. The official birthplace of...

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National PTSD Awareness Day

National PTSD Awareness Day

If thoughts and feelings from a life-threatening event are upsetting you or causing problems in your life, you may have PTSD. According to the National Center for PTSD, post-traumatic stress disorder is a mental health condition that can occur after somebody has experienced a traumatic event. Going through a traumatic experience can actually affect areas of the brain, especially depending on when the trauma happened during development.  PTSD can occur in all people, of any ethnicity, nationality, or culture, and at any age. PTSD affects approximately 3.5 percent of U.S. adults every year, and an estimated one in 11 people will be diagnosed with PTSD in their lifetime. Women are twice as likely as men to have PTSD. The rate of PTSD is much higher among Veterans, with the VA estimating that up to 20% of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom Veterans, 10% of Gulf War Veterans, and 30% of Vietnam War Veterans have experienced PTSD.  PTSD has been known by many...

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U.S. Military Rank Insignia

U.S. Military Rank Insignia

The U.S. Military Rank Insignia has a long and proud history. Many of the ranks adopted by the United States military at the start of the Revolutionary War in 1775 are still in use today. The early military took a lot of inspiration from the British and French forces. Over time, the military rank insignia has come to represent American valor. These emblems, worn on the uniform to denote rank, help people identify military personnel’s rank and pay-grade at a glance. Evolution of U.S. Military Rank Insignia There are general rules for ranks that can help those unfamiliar with ranks to get a broad idea. The US Military rank insignia has humble beginnings. Initially, while the Continental Army had militia with a rank structure based on British tradition, they lacked uniforms or the money to buy them. At the time, General George Washington proposed “badges of distinction” to separate enlisted men's appearance from the commissioned officers. He recommended a color-coding system. This...

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The New United States Space Force

The New United States Space Force

The Purpose of Establishment of the United States Space Force The Space Force was signed into law on Dec. 20, 2019, as part of the 2020 National Defense Authorization Act. SpaceForce.mil went live shortly thereafter. On June 18, 2018, President Donald Trump directed the Pentagon to begin planning for a United States Space Force: a 6th independent military service branch to undertake missions and operations in the rapidly evolving space domain. The Beginning of a New Military Service The U.S. Space Force (USSF) would be the first new military service in more than 70 years, following the U.S. Air Force's establishment in 1947. Vice President Mike Pence and the Department of Defense released more details about the planned force on Aug. 9, 2018, citing plans to create a separate military command, U.S. Space Command, in addition to an independent service overseen by a civilian secretary, all by 2020. Does the United States Need the United States Space Force? The Department of Defense...

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Gary Sinise Foundation

Gary Sinise Foundation

The Gary Sinise Foundation and Veterans What is the relationship between the Gary Sinise Foundation and veterans? There are many non-profit organizations and charities that endeavor to support veterans, particularly those wounded in the line of duty. The Gary Sinise Foundation’s mission statement is, “We serve our nation by honoring our defenders, veterans, first responders, their families, and those in need...by creating and supporting unique programs designed to entertain, educate, inspire, strengthen, and build communities.” Together We Served takes a closer work at the efforts the Foundation is making to support the veteran community. Who is Gary Sinise? Born in 1955, Gary Sinise is an American actor. He got his start in theater and small television roles. He first attracted substantial attention for directing, producing, and starring in the 1992 film Of Mice And Men, adapting the classic John Steinbeck novella. Shortly after, he made a huge impression as the double amputee...

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Explaining Air Force Basic Military Training (BMT)

Explaining Air Force Basic Military Training (BMT)

Joining the United States Air Force requires comprehensive training to become a proficient Airman. Air Force basic training is considered by some to be the ‘easiest’ of the branches. While it is shorter than the Marine Corps’ and Army’s basic training programs, it is still an exceptional test of a young recruit’s physical and psychological fortitude. Not everyone can become an Airman. Reports have found that over seven in ten young people are incapable of even becoming a recruit. The Air Force takes its pick of the applicants among the three in ten who are eligible, putting them through 8.5 weeks of training, which, for most of them, is unlike anything they have gone through before. Together We Served is a veteran locator tool that helps American military veterans reconnect with others they met during their military career, whether they shared a duty station, squadron, or basic training. We are providing a rundown of modern Air Force training for veterans to compare to their own...

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Explaining U.S. Marine Corps Military Operations

Explaining U.S. Marine Corps Military Operations

When thinking of American military history successes, one cannot help but think of USMC operations as being prominent among them. The United States Marine Corps has, for centuries, prided itself on being the first to respond to external threats. Historic Marine Corps Operations The Marine Hymn records some of its earliest operations: “From the Halls of Montezuma to the shores of Tripoli” references the 1847 Battle of Chapultepec, part of the Mexican-American War, and the 1805 Battle of Derna, fighting Barbary pirates. These are not the only historic Marine actions, however. The first instance of real amphibious warfare that the Marines engaged in was the Raid on Nassau in March 1776, shortly after the Continental Congress established the Continental Marines in November 1775. The nascent American forces, led by George Washington, were short on supplies. A force of approximately 200 marines and 50 sailors was dispatched to the British-held island of Nassau, which was fortified with 63...

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Explaining U.S. Navy Units

Explaining U.S. Navy Units

How much do you know about the organization of US Navy units? The United States Navy is the world’s most powerful naval force that has ever existed, with the ability to exert military might in the Pacific, Atlantic, Mediterranean Sea, Persian Gulf, and beyond. Not many people know that if all the navies of the rest of the world were combined together, it would just barely amount to more than the US Navy. Since its founding in 1775, the Navy has grown and developed its operational capacity and administrative support. The Navy has a more complicated structure than that of the other defense forces. Together We Served is a veterans-only online repository of military history. Members can upload their service records to reconnect with others from different eras in their military careers, such as those they attended boot camp with and those who served in the same units.  150902-N-XF387-351 Ana Motapalomares records bearings Development of the U.S. Navy The first permanent standing US...

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Explaining Navy Basic Training (Boot Camp)

Explaining Navy Basic Training (Boot Camp)

If you were a sailor in the US Navy, you went through the Navy training program. Basic training (or boot camp) is how raw recruits are shaped into the foundation of the world’s most powerful navy. The Navy hasn’t always had a formalized training program, but things began to change after modernization began in the 1880s. Naval Station Great Lakes was built in Lake County, Illinois, between 1905 and 1911, the first (and since 1996, only) basic training facility for the US Navy. This proud naval history is instilled in Navy basic training in the very fabric: each building in which a barracks is contained is named after a famous US ship. How Long is Basic Training for the Navy? Navy boot camp consists of eight weeks of physical fitness training, new skills and knowledge, and moral rectitude. Being a sailor isn’t just about being fit enough or knowing the ropes. A sailor must be uncompromising in integrity, respectful in service, and loyal in adversity. As honest and respectful with...

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Explaining Army Basic Training

Explaining Army Basic Training

United States Army Basic Combat Training, also referred to as Initial Entry Training, is the recruit training program of the United States Army, for service in the Regular Army, United States Army Reserve, or the Army National Guard. Army basic training is how raw recruits are sculpted into members of the most powerful military force in the history of mankind. United States Army Basic Training Passing basic training is necessary to join the Regular Army, US Army Reserve, or the Army National Guard. While less intense than the Marine Corps, it is one of the world’s most complex military boot camps in the world. It can vary greatly, depending on a recruit’s chosen military occupation. Infantry recruits attend Fort Benning, Georgia, the most intense and physically demanding basic training program. Non-combat occupations still undergo combat training but are more rounded in their approach. They attend boot camp at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, Fort Sill, Oklahoma, or Fort Leonard Wood,...

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Explaining U.S. Navy Operations

Explaining U.S. Navy Operations

The US Navy is the world’s most powerful seagoing force and has amassed a long list of achievements through its numerous naval operations. Together We Served, the internet’s largest repository of personal military history, honors those sailors who have contributed to its successes, from naval operations in World War II to the Global War on Terrorism. Historic Naval Operations While there were plenty of battles in the Pacific Theater that counted as prominent victories: The Battle of Midway, Operation Vengeance, or the Battle of Okinawa, one victory that will stand in the history of US naval operations is the Battle of Leyte Gulf. Over 200,000 naval personnel were involved in this battle, which, according to both sides' representatives, spelled the beginning of the end for Imperial Japan.  The American land forces were landing on the Philippine island of Leyte in October 1944, defended by the 3rd and 7th Fleets. However, three Japanese forces converged on the anticipated invasion:...

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