Sgt Stryker

Sgt. Stryker here. If you’ve ever given the military much though, it’s probably been about seeing action or actual battle. A big part of the military’s role (in my very humble opinion) is to help those who need help. Of course that decision is made by those in charge of the government, but for the most part, they do a pretty good job of picking out groups of people and countries who can really use the help of the US military. While it’s great to have a powerful military, it’s also good to have a useful military.

If you look at the roles of soldiers around the world, you’ll see that a lot of them are in helping roles. Oh, there are still plenty of places that battles are the only way to get things done to help bring the peace (witness Afghanistan), but there are also a lot of areas where the military is actively helping people instead of getting into gun fights or killing the enemy. From Afghanistan to Africa to Iraq and beyond, there are literally thousands of US troops that are out in the world helping people from many different nations.

Sometimes when the mass media looks at the military, they only see the mess-ups or the action. Big media never seems to see the little things that the military does to help each and every day. If they started to concentrate on that more than trying to find mistakes, people might actually start to realize how well run the US Military really is. I’m not sure why the big media companies would be against something like that, but it appears they are. If you agree, write your local media and demand that they start carrying more positive stories about the military and the great job they’re doing around the world.

Let me know how they respond.

Sgt. Stryker out.

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Adventure PT’: Team-building With a Few Twists

From left, Staff Sgt. Kenneth J. Ciszek, a communications sergeant with the operations team for 82nd Airborne Division Headquarters, and his teammate, Capt. Evan Hessel, a battle captain with the “The Team,” push a tire as a team nearly four miles up and down hills during a customized morning physical training session dubbed “adventure PT,” April 23. The session involves two-man teams who must paddle a canoe nearly six miles down river before donning a rucksack and body armor and pushing a light medium tactical vehicle tire almost four miles up and down hills in the early morning. Photo by Spc. Benjamin Watson

From left, Capt. James G. Repshire, a battle captain in the operations team for 82nd Airborne Division Headquarters, along with his teammate, Lt. Col. Robert J. Neitzel, chief of operations for the 82nd Abn. Div., push a tire as a team nearly four miles up and down hills during a customized morning physical training session Neitzel calls “adventure PT,” April 23.

School Assessment in Baghdad

U.S. Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division, patrol the streets near a neighborhood school in Adhamiyah, Baghdad, Iraq, on Feb. 26. Photo by Spc. Joshua E. Powell

Lightning Within Five

A storm rolls into Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan, April 20. The 455th Expeditionary Operations Support Squadron, combat weather team, uses a variety of techniques to predict weather. They use of a Mark IV satellite and visual reference to determine type and severity of storm to better prepare personnel on BAF to maintain mission effectiveness. Rainstorms are frequent this time of year and have the ability to change the landscape to include rivers and streams. With the lack of drainage systems, floods occur regularly throughout the southeast region of Afghanistan. Precipitation in east and southeast regions is about forty centimeters per year. Photo by Senior Airman Erik Cardenas

Iraqi Police Graduation in Mahmudiyah

Iraqi policemen march in formation during their graduation from an instructor school in Mahmudiyah, Iraq, April 24. These policemen will instruct other Iraqi police officers on proper weapons handling throughout Iraq. Photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Robert J. Whelan

U.S. Air Force Capt. Richard Martin, center, attached to the Rough Riders, 91st Battalion, Task Force Dragon, congratulates an Iraqi policeman at a graduation ceremony in Mahmudiyah, Iraq, April 24. Photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Robert J. Whelan

U.S. Air Force Capt. Richard Martin, center, attached to the Rough Riders, 91st Battalion, Task Force Dragon, reads a graduation certificate at an Iraqi police graduation ceremony in Mahmudiyah, Iraq, April 24. The Rough Riders are responsible for instructing Iraqi policemen how to safely aim and fire their weapons. The policemen being taught will instruct other Iraqi police officers throughout Iraq. Photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Robert J. Whelan