United We Roll at Stardust Radio

We are so proud and honored to have hosted interviews with a couple of these Heroes of Freedom and many other members of the units from the 2-1 Advise and Assist Brigade during their last deployment to Iraq. We congratulate the following four soldiers on their visits with the Audie Murphy Club Board representatives and wish them all an invitation to join some of the finest soldiers who have served our country - just as they have been and continue to be.

We salute Staff Sgt. Joshua Bell, Sgt. 1st Class William Mackey, First Sgt. James Lower and Staff Sgt. Julian Colwell!

Deployed “Dagger” Brigade Soldiers attend Sergeant Audie Murphy Club Board
Photos by Sgt. Daniel Stoutamire, 2nd AAB, 1st Inf. Div., USD-C
(photos posted at www.facebook.com/unitedweroll)

BAGHDAD—Staff Sgt. Joshua Bell, left, a gunnery sergeant with 1st “First Lightning” Battalion, 7th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd “Dagger” Advise and Assist Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, United States Division – Center and a Santa Rita, Guam, native, addresses senior enlisted leaders from throughout the Dagger Brigade during a Sgt. Audie Murphy Club board Sept. 23, 2011 at Camp Liberty, Iraq. Bell, who has earned two Purple Hearts during his current deployment, was asked a range of questions about himself and his Soldiers in order to gain entry into the SAMC, an exclusive club for noncommissioned officers whose achievement and performance merit special recognition. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Daniel Stoutamire, 2nd AAB, 1st Inf. Div., USD-C)

Sgt. 1st Class William Mackey, right, a platoon sergeant with 1st “Dragon” Battalion, 63rd Armor Regiment, 2nd “Dagger” Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, United States Division – Center and an Arkansas native, congratulates Staff Sgt. Joshua Bell, center, a gunnery sergeant with 1st “First Lightning” Battalion, 7th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd AAB, 1st Inf. Div., USD-C and a Santa Rita, Guam, native, on his acceptance into the Sgt. Audie Murphy Club Sept. 23, 2011 at Camp Liberty, Iraq. Bell, who has earned two Purple Hearts during his current deployment, was asked a range of questions about himself and his Soldiers in order to gain entry into the SAMC, an exclusive club for noncommissioned officers whose achievement and performance merit special recognition. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Daniel Stoutamire, 2nd AAB, 1st Inf. Div., USD-C)

First Sgt. James Lower, first sergeant of Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd “Dagger” Advise and Assist Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, United States Division – Center, second from left, asks a question of Staff Sgt. Julian Colwell, left, an artilleryman with 1st “First Lightning” Battalion, 7th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd AAB, 1st Inf. Div., USD-C and a Colorado Springs, Colo., native, during a Sgt. Audie Murphy Club Board Sept. 23, 2011 at Camp Liberty, Iraq. Colwell was asked a range of questions about himself and his Soldiers in order to gain entry into the SAMC, an exclusive club for noncommissioned officers whose achievement and performance merit special recognition. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Daniel Stoutamire, 2nd AAB, 1st Inf. Div., USD-C)

Staff Sgt. Julian Colwell, an artilleryman with 1st “First Lightning” Battalion, 7th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd “Dagger” Advise and Assist Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, United States Division – Center and a Colorado Springs, Colo., native, reports to the board during a Sgt. Audie Murphy Club board Sept. 23, 2011 at Camp Liberty, Iraq. Colwell was asked a range of questions about himself and his Soldiers in order to gain entry into the SAMC, an exclusive club for noncommissioned officers whose achievement and performance merit special recognition. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Daniel Stoutamire, 2nd AAB, 1st Inf. Div., USD-C)

CSI: Baghdad—‘Griffin’ Battalion Soldiers teach Iraqi Police crime scene investigation techniques

By 1st Lt. Richard Snyder, 2nd AAB, 1st Inf. Div., USD-C

BAGHDAD—Members of the Local Police Transition Team attached to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, “Griffin” Special Troops Battalion, 2nd Advise and Assist Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, United States Division – Center, hosted a gathering of Iraqi Police investigators from across Baghdad for a crime scene investigation training course Aug. 3 and 4 at Joint Security Station Justice, Iraq.

The two-day course, led by David Carpenter, a civilian police adviser with the LPTT and a Jacksonville, Fla., native, covered forensic evidence collection and tactical site exploitation, or taking evidence from a crime scene or suspect’s home or work area.

The emphasis on CSI is a result of the LPTT’s identification of the need for remedial training to bridge gaps in the IP’s traditional skill set.

“Historically, police cases have been compromised due to improper evidence collection,” said Sgt. 1st Class Roy Gibble, a military police platoon sergeant with HHC, STB, and a Wynonna, Okla., native. “However, with this training we expect to see some strong results, and Iraqi Police will have the required skills to manage crime scenes effectively and therefore help in the arrests and the legal process.”

The CSI training was part of what is an ongoing initiative to create enduring capabilities within the Iraqi Security Forces and ensure they have the capabilities they need to effectively enforce law and order long after U.S. forces leave the country. It is designed to establish the skill sets and create a group of experts who can, in turn, train their fellow Iraqis to have a lasting impact.

The training began with a classroom portion which covered subjects from how to approach a crime scene and how to provide security and cordon off the site, to ensuring proper photography and cataloguing of evidence.
Culminating with a practical exercise on the second day, the training required IP officers to walk into a simulated crime scene and put into practice what they had learned—from start to finish.

“The Iraqi Police were eager and willing to train,” said Sgt. Christian Alvarez, a military police team leader with HHC, STB and a Herington, Kan., native. “This is a strong indication of their ability to conduct independent security operations.”

Upon completion of the course, the IP investigators were presented Certificates of Completion by Lt. Col. John Turner, team chief with the LPTT attached to the STB.
Even as the United States decreases its footprint in Iraq, many units continue to aggressively train their Iraqi partners, allowing for Iraqi Security Forces to manage and secure the nation, as well as create component trainers capable of passing their skills along to others.

“It makes me proud to see the Iraqi Police’s hard work materialize, and I look forward to watching their success,” said Staff Sgt. Henry Pogue, a military police squad leader with HHC, STB and a Vine Grove, Ky., native.

FBI Report - http://www.fbi.gov/news/stories/2011/september/laser_092611/laser_092611?utm_campaign=email-Daily&utm_medium=email&utm_source=fbi-top-stories&utm_content=33788

I can not find any reason why anyone would point a laser at the cockpit of an aircraft or helicopter, knowing full well that they could blind the crew and cause a crash, possibly taking lives of those inside the craft and on the ground. I totally support any legislation that would make this a major crime with heavy duty penalties as in plenty of prison time. I would love to hear the excuses these laser pointers give as to why they do this. However, I am quite certain there is no reason to justify the danger.

What is it with our society when a simple laser pointer can become a weapon in the hands of some --- people?

Making a Point about Lasers
Illegal Use of Devices a Serious Crime

09/26/11

Justin Stouder was aiming a laser pointer at a distant tower from his suburban St. Louis yard one April evening in 2010 when a police helicopter appeared in his line of sight more than a mile away. At the time, the 24-year-old had no idea that his decision to point the laser at the helicopter was a federal felony—or that the beam of light might have serious consequences for the pilot and his crew.

“It’s equivalent to a flash of a camera if you were in a pitch black car at night,” said St. Louis Metropolitan Police Officer Doug Reinholz, the pilot on patrol that night when Stouder’s green hand-held laser “painted” his cockpit. “It’s a temporary blinding to the pilot,” he said during a recent news conference highlighting the danger of lasers directed at airplanes and helicopters.

Interfering with the operation of an aircraft is a crime punishable by a maximum of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, and laser incidents are on the rise. Since the FBI and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) began keeping records of laser events in 2004, “there has been an exponential increase every year,” said Tim Childs from the Federal Air Marshal Service, who serves as a liaison officer with the Bureau on laser issues.

VIDEO - Watch law enforcement arrest a suspect with a laser pointer.
http://www.fbi.gov/news/stories/2011/september/laser_092611/laser_092611?utm_campaign=email-Daily&utm_medium=email&utm_source=fbi-top-stories&utm_content=33788

In 2009, there were 1,489 laser events logged with the FAA—that is, pilots reporting that their cockpits were illuminated by the devices. The following year, that figure had nearly doubled to 2,836, an average of more than seven incidents every day of the year. And the overwhelming number of the incidents involved green lasers—especially dangerous because the human eye is most susceptible to damage from the yellow-green light spectrum.
Hand-held lasers—about the size of fountain pens—are used legitimately by astronomy hobbyists and in industrial applications. Anyone can purchase one, and technology has made them inexpensive and more powerful. Lasers costing as little as $1 can have ranges of two miles—strong enough to target a variety of aircraft.

And what appears as a dot of light on the ground can illuminate an entire cockpit, disorienting a pilot or causing temporarily blindness. That’s because the farther the beam travels the more spread out it becomes. “At 500 feet,” Childs said, “that two-centimeter dot you see on your wall can be six feet wide.” To date, no aircraft have been lost as a result of laser incidents, he added, but there have been eye injuries, and perpetrators have gone to jail.

Those responsible for “lasering” aircraft fit two general profiles, Childs explained. “Consistently, it’s either minors with no criminal history or older men with criminal records.” The teens are usually curious or fall victim to peer pressure, Childs said. The older men simply have a reckless disregard for the safety of others. There are also intentional acts of laser pointing by human traffickers or drug runners seeking to thwart airborne surveillance, Childs added.

As for Justin Stouder, the helicopter pilot he lasered helped guide police to his house, where he was arrested minutes after the incident.
“I had no idea it illuminated the whole cockpit and blinded everybody inside,” Stouder said during the news conference. He offered a public apology and volunteered to tell his story in the hopes of educating the public about the dangers of laser pointing. “It was really a selfish mistake,” he said of his actions.

Resources:
- Press release
- More information about laser pointers and safety

United We Roll World Tour Show
Stardust Radio www.stardustradio.com
Tuesday 9/27/11 2:00pm – 3:40pm Central (Live)
Wednesday 9/28/11 6:30pm – 8:10pm Central (Repeat)

Welcome Stardust Listeners! Thank you for joining us on United We Roll
Tuesday, the 27th day of September, 2011.

For this week's United We Roll on September 27th, we will check in with three deployed members, two in the Air Force and one serving with the Army. Each of our guests will share information with us that will touch on a variety of issues around military service and lifestyles. This show will start at the usual time of 2pm and end at appr 3:40pm Central. Remember, if you are not able to stay with us through the afternoon today, this show will repeat again Wednesday (Sept 28th) at 6:30pm Central.

(2:08pm) For our first visit, we are joined by Army SPC Cameron Holmes who is on deployment with Bravo Battery, 1-7 FA BN, 2-1 AAB in Iraq. SPC Holmes will be spending Christmas at home this December for the first time in two years.

(2:43pm) Our next visit is with Air Force CPT David Alpar & TSgt Denny Pack who are with the USAF Band called "Top Cover" that is currently making appearances at bases and in communities in deployed areas. Our visit takes place from Transit Center Manas in Kyrgyzstan.

We would like to express our appreciation to some folks without whom the visits this week would not be possible. Our deepest appreciation goes to Army CPT Selina Tolonen, Air Force TSgt Tammie Moore and Army SFC Christopher Roberts.

MAY GOD BLESS YOU ALL & MAY GOD BLESS AMERICA!

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United We Roll Shoutouts:

Our overseas shoutout goes to the 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment currently
deployed to FOB Jackson in Afghanistan. You are in our prayers. Stay well and take good
care of each other.

Our stateside shoutout goes out to John Keith of OIF Veteran Community (http://www.oifveterancommunity.org) with congratulations on perseverance that led
to the capture of Joseph Alvarado, who used a fraudulent military career to steal untold
amounts of money from caring Vets.

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A nation of sheep will beget a nation of wolves

~ Edward R. Murrow ~

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Let's talk about jobs - you know, employment.
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Tune in (www.stardustradio.com - click Listen Live)
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Join us each week for real discussions on real matters for Americans.

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Veteran Programs
Once again, we would like to remind any of our listeners who are interested in health and legislative issues that affect those who protect our freedom to tune in to our other broadcasts – OFFE with Gene Simes at 8pm Central on Tuesday nights ...... and also with Rick Townsend and Firebase Network Sundays at 6:00pm Central.

Talk About a Dream
If you have ever wondered about the meanings of dreams, or have questions about why they are in color or black and white, be sure to tune in and call in to our new show on Mondays from 7pm to 8pm Central called "Talk About A Dream". To learn more about the host, Craig Groethe, check his website at http://www.theinterpretersview.com

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Tapes of Earlier Shows:
Our archive server is currently under reconstruction. Announcement with new instructions to be coming soon. If you need assistance, please contact us at unitedweroll@gmail.com.

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Sadly, we know that more injured Veterans who are waiting on slow claims will also be needing help for utilities, groceries, and some for help with rent. We are talking about Veterans who served one to four tours in Iraq and/or Afghanistan and came home with serious, life changing injuries, but whose claims still have not cleared the VA.
Until these claims are settled on a timely basis and until our Vets who are trying to recover from amputations and worse are able to focus on healing without worrying about keeping a roof over their heads, we must be ready to help.

Veterans For Change is great about locating organizations and churches to help, talking to landlords to work out payments, etc. But each week, there is still help needed to see that 4 - 6 injured Vets have shelter, food and power. Please help whenever you can. THANK YOU!

And a reminder to all - Will you please contact your elected officials and ask them to expedite the claims of the wounded from your state so they do not suffer the additional stress of worrying about losing their homes while they also try to heal?

VETERANS FOR CHANGE
Provides Assistance to Vets Weekly Who Have Qualified For Help
The Following Is A Sample Of Vets Who Need Their Help Every Week
A New List Will Come Out For Next Monday, But
Donations Are Welcome Anytime

Marine LCPL Dustin Z, 25 of Arkansas, was injured when enemy forces attacked their unit with a makeshift bomb in the Shorabak district of Kandahar province, Afghanistan.Dustin has been going thru heavy physical therapy having to re-learn to walk after his back and leg injury and he’s all but exhausted what savings he had waiting and waiting for final approval on his claims and has asked our help with his rent. We’re looking to raise $425.00 for him.
Army SPC Robert F, 26 of South Carolina, was injured while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. Robert had been working part time and was able to keep up with his obligations, then his company closed down due to losses and has been unable to get more work, and because of this situation fell into a depression and is now going thru counseling. He is on an emergency grant for his rent, but still needs assistance with utilities. We’re looking to raise $175.00 which will cover the amount past due for one month plus his current month.
Army SPC Matthew H, 24 of Missouri, was injured when insurgents attacked his convoy vehicle with a makeshift bomb in Muqdadiyah, Iraq. Matthew lost his right leg during the attack of his convoy, spent 2 months in Germany for the amputation and reconstruction surgeries and since being back home still goes through therapy and he too has just about exhausted his savings. Matthew needs assistance with a portion of his rent, his church has covered most of it, and also needs assistance with utilities. We’re looking to raise $190.00 for him.

We (VFC) do make every effort possible to connect with local organizations, charities, social service programs and when a claim is stalled for whatever reason we do our best to either provide a better VSO or contact their Senators and Congressmen to put pressure in the right places to expedite claims.

If you’re able to make a tax deductible donation of $10, $25, $50, $100 or more, please click on the link below to be taken to (VFC) PayPal or copy and paste the link below:
https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=WGT2M5UTB9A78

Your continued support of Veterans and Active Duty families is critical. - VFC
JDAVIS92840@SBCGLOBAL.NET - Sign up for Veterans For Change Newsletters

Justice Department Resolves Claims Against ServiceMaster 24-Hour and Gregory Tullar to Enforce the Employment Rights of Army Reserve Member

http://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/2011/September/11-crt-1246.html

WASHINGTON- The Justice Department announced today that it has resolved claims made by U.S. Army Reserve member Kyle A. Sharp against ServiceMaster 24-Hour and Gregory Tullar, ServiceMaster’s owner and operator, alleging that they violated the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA). The department alleged in its complaint that ServiceMaster and Tullar violated Sharp’s rights under USERRA when they failed to reemploy him following his return from active military duty in November 2010.

Subject to certain limitations, USERRA requires that individuals who leave their civilian jobs to serve in the military be reemployed promptly by their civilian employers in the same positions, or in positions comparable to the positions, they would have held had their employment not been interrupted by military service.

According to the department’s complaint, filed today along with a consent decree in the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona, ServiceMaster and Tullar violated USERRA by not reemploying Sharp in his pre-service position as a crew chief for ServiceMaster in and around Scottsdale, Ariz. Sharp was ordered to report for active military training in the United States Army in May 2010 and notified Tullar of his upcoming military service. Upon his release from active military training, Sharp notified Tullar that he wanted to return to his job as a full-time employee with ServiceMaster. Tullar informed Sharp that a new crew chief had replaced him in his absence and would be continuing in that position and did not reemploy Sharp. Sharp filed a USERRA complaint with the Labor Department’s Veterans’ Employment and Training Service, which investigated and attempted to resolve the complaint before referring it to the Justice Department. Under the terms of the consent decree, ServiceMaster and Tullar will pay Sharp $15,000 in back pay to resolve Sharp’s USERRA claims.

“Employers have a legal obligation to reemploy our uniformed service members after they return from military duty,” said Thomas Perez, Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division. “The Department of Justice is committed to vigorously enforcing the federal laws that protect the rights of our service members who sacrifice so much to serve our country.”

“Our military service men and women sacrifice tremendously to serve our country,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Ann Birmingham Scheel. “At the very least, this agreement should give military personnel the peace of mind to know that they will not lose their job while they bravely serve. Additionally, it is a reminder to employers that they have an obligation to do their part.”

The Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division has made the enforcement of service members’ rights under USERRA a high priority. Additional information about USERRA can be found on the Justice Department website: www.servicemembers.gov and www.justice.gov/crt/emp, as well as on the Labor Department’s website at www.dol.gov/vets/programs/userra/main.htm.