This past Friday, I had the distinct pleasure of being interviewed by Rabbi Herschel Finman on The Jewish Hour, a weekly radio program on Detroit’s WPON.

The offer for the interview came out of the blue, and I was a little unsure about doing it, but it turned out to be a great experience.  I’ve already thanked Rabbi Finman personally, but I wanted to put it up here for all to see as well.

During the interview he offered to submit weekly Torah discussions for Jews in Green, so we now have our own source for a little Torah study each week!  Look for the d’varim Torah staring this Friday.

On a side note, I would highly suggest checking out his website.  His biography is quite amazing, and even inspirational.  His journey to becoming a rabbi is anything but ordinary.

The Army is starting a new recruiting technique; recruiting from the other services.

If you are currently serving in the Air Force or Navy and anticipate honorable discharge from active duty soon, Operation Blue to Green offers you some alternatives to civilian life. Participation in Operation Blue to Green is dependent upon your service’s willingness to release you from your current active duty obligation. Marines and Coast Guardsmen may obtain releases in order to reserve training/assignment options, but will have to complete their current active duty service obligation prior to enlisting in the Army.

Depending on your rank and MOS, you may (or may not) be required to attend new training.  All new soldiers will attend a four-week version of boot camp that the Army is calling the “Warrior Transition Course,” at Fort Knox, Ky. though.  Some select MOSs are even eligible for a bonus when switching branches.

For more information on the benefits and who is actually eligible, visit the
Operation Blue to Green website.

From the American Forces Information Network

Since the Army and Air Force Exchange Service began its “Gifts from the Homefront” program last year, people from all walks of life have rallied around America’s troops by contributing $406,745 toward the program designed to lift the morale of deployed troops around the world, said officials at AAFES headquarters here.

Because the gift certificates can be used for merchandise already stocked at contingency locations, “Gifts from the Homefront” are a safe alternative to traditional care packages that can strain the military mail system and present force protection issues.

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WBIR, in Tennessee reports that a local man who distributes commemorative medals for fallen service members will no longer receive support from the U.S. Army.

Bob Parker, founder of Fallen Friend used to receive the names and ranks of servicemen and women directly from the Army so he could distribute his medals.  The reason the Army has discontinued its support for the program is because the medals are engraved with “John 15:13”, a reference to a Christian bible verse.

You can imagine the controversy surrounding this issue.  While I personally wouldn’t want one sent to my family (because of the Christian reference), Mr. Parker is plainly doing this out of respect for the troops and I can respect that.  The other services still distribute the medals, but offer the families the choice of whether to receive one or not.

Since we would be a prime group that the Army is trying to respect in a decision like this, what’s your opinion on the matter?  Leave a comment below.

The New Jersey Star Ledger has a touching article honoring Sgt Alan David Sherman, a Jewish marine who was killed last week in Iraq when a roadside bomb tore through his convoy.

Donations to the Sgt. Alan Sherman Memorial Education Fund can be made in care of the Jewish Community Foundation of Monmouth County, 100 Grant Ave., Deal, N.J. 07723. 

Nate Bloom of the Jewish World Review has written a follow-up article to his original about honoring Jewish service members who dies in Iraq.

Evidently, Mr. Bloom received a large response from readers (both good and bad).  In the new article he responds to some of the feedback he received.  Just as his previous article, it is an interesting read.  I also want to thank him for his mention of Jews in Green as a useful resource for Jewish military folks.

--> original JIG article

DefenseLINK reports that more than 30,000 troops are eligible for retroactive reimbursement of out-of-pocket air travel costs paid as part of R&R leave taken last year.

It affects service members who took R&R leave between Sept. 25, 2003, and Dec. 18, 2003, from duty in Afghanistan or Iraq and covers your airline ticket costs for to-and-from travel between R&R leave destinations and stateside aerial points of debarkation.

Instructions on how to file a reimbursement claim can be found HERE on CENTCOM’s R&R website.

Stars & Stripes reports that the Army will begin involuntary mobilizations of the Individual Ready Reserve this week.

For those that may not know, the IRR is a pool of more than 111,000 soldiers who have recently left active duty or active reserve service, but still have time left on their obligation.  In most cases, an enlistment of 4 years includes an additional 4 year obligation for the IRR.  Retired soldiers are also exempt.  If you are unsure of your status, read your contract.

The total number to be called up is expected to be around 5,600 troops, and they will primarily be used to fill spots in units bound fro Iraq and Afghanistan.

If you are called up, you will receive a letter by July 6th (with official orders a few days later) and be expected to report within 30 days to your mobilization station.  The tour can last from 18 to 24 months, with no more than 12 months deployed.

Every time I think I’ve heard it all, something like this comes along…

The World Net Daily is reporting that lawmakers have instructed the U.S. Army not to use Israeli made ammunition in Iraq or Afghanistan.

The issue surrounds the U.S. Army’s $70 million purchase of small arms ammunition from the Israeli company IMI.  Rep. Neil Abercrombie of Hawaii and Rep. Curt Weldon of Pennsylvania seem to be the two main voices on the issue.  They warned of “proaganda pitfalls” if we were to use Israeli-made ammo in conflicts with Arab countries.

I think that this is more an issue of political correctness gone wrong than anti-semitism (or anti-Israel sentiment).  Are we really worried that we might offend an Iraqi insurgent when we shoot at him with Israeli-made bullets as opposed to American-made bullets?  And if so, does this mean we should start sorting ammo by the religious, cultural, and/or political stances of its manufacturers?  I can see it now:

Platoon Commader: Where’s that ammo supply?  We’re getting ready to move out!

Logistics Offcier: Sorry sir, but we only have communist-Hindu ammo.  You’re going to have to wait for the convoy with the Slovakian-Budhist shipment.

I’ll get off my soapbox now.  Please leave some comments on this one.  I’m sure there are some opinions about this!

Since some features of the site require you to enter a valid email address (comments, forums, etc.), I thought I should say something about our privacy policy.

In a nutshell, we don’t give your information out to ANYONE.  Period.

Click on “full story” below to read a more in-depth description of the policy.

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