Any Soldier and the affiliated network of programs work simply and efficiently. By visiting the site, you can select a soldier from the “Where to Send” page. This page includes the names and details for soldiers that are in need of care packages and mail. When you click on one of the soldier’s names, you will be redirected to a detail page that let’s you know the soldier’s address, tour duty, and will give you information regarding the soldier’s preferences for care package contents.

Before you plan to send a care package to an Any Soldier recipient, it is important to understand the rules and contents that may be sent. Any Soldier is designed for sending care packages and letters therefore the soldier’s email addresses are not made public. Also, many people may want to bake cookies and send them to the soldiers but this is not allowed. All food items must be factory sealed to protect freshness during the shipping process. In fact, if the soldiers receive any food items that are homemade or baked, they will discard them. It is a matter of safety, so be sure to send only factory sealed food products.

If you’ve wondered what the top requested item that soldiers ask for you may be surprised. It’s letters. Soldiers need letters and they welcome them more than care packages. Of course care packages are always a blessing, but for soldiers who are in harm’s way, receiving a friendly letter of encouragement can really brighten a soldier’s day and give them the hope they need to do their work efficiently. If you send a soldier your email address, he or she may choose to correspond with you via email, but Any Soldier will never release a soldier’s email address to you. Never feel that there is nothing that you can do to help a soldier in need. Care packages are wonderful, but every little bit helps and the one thing that soldiers need more than anything else is a good friendly letter of encouragement.

In addition there are things that cannot be sent through the Any Soldier program. It is best to check with your local United States Postal Service to find out the exact items on the list, but some main items that cannot be sent to soldiers include pornographic material, firearms and weapons, pork and pork by products, and mass or bulk quantities of religious material that are contrary to the Islamic faith. For more information regarding what may be sent overseas, you can visit the USPS site online here: USPS Restrictions.

The Army states that this is the largest bonus they have ever given, having previously given out bonuses of 10,000 in March and 15,000, but never have they given a bonus of this magnitude before.

The bonus does come with a stipulation however. You see normally when a man or woman enlists in the army, they usually wait about 40 days before they are sent overseas for combat. With the $20,000 bonus, they may be sent to combat immediately (after completing basic and their advanced training). The new bonus program was initiated on July 6th and has already caused a surge in recruits. So far, 6,200 new enlistees have accepted the offer. When a new soldier finishes basic training, they will receive fifty percent of their bonus, the rest of the bonus is received after they have completed all of their training and have begun their active duty.

The $20,000 bonus doesn’t replace other benefits such as the G.I. Bill; the enlistee is still eligible for the college tuition money as well as their other benefits. For those who are considering enlisting, the bonus has been a huge incentive. In fact, the bonus is more than most young adults who are enlisting have ever made before. The bonus comes at a time where many people are hoping that troops will begin to pull out from Iraq.

The war has been undergoing intense scrutiny as people (particularly Democrats); are calling for an end to the war, however the President has pledged to stay on course and this means that we need more recruits.

How do you feel about the bonus? Do you think it is a good incentive, or do you think it is an unfair tactic being used by the government to sway young adults into joining the military? Also, do you think it’s worth it? Would you be tempted to join the Army for a $20,000 bonus?

Many people have already voiced their opinions that they don’t think the $20,000 bonus is a good idea. However, the new recruits don’t seem to agree. Analysts expect that by the end of September, the army should reach their goals for new recruits.

The Quick Ship program means that you will leave for basic training within one month, and you may serve in combat within four months of your initial enrollment date. It doesn’t seem to bother many of the new recruits, however. They seem to be very excited about the $20,000 and they don’t seem to have any problems with the Quick Ship rules or policies. If you are interested in finding out more about the Quick Ship program or would like more information regarding the $20,000 bonus, you may want to contact one of your local recruiters for further information.

In the Valley of Elah features an all-star cast including Tommy Lee Jones, Charlize Theron, Susan Sarandon, Jonathan Tucker, James Franco, Frances Fisher, Tim McGraw, Jason Patric, and Mehcad Brooks.

The movie is based upon the true story of Specialist Richard R. Davis. After returning home from Iraq, Specialist Davis and four of his friends went out. Specialist Davis never made it back. He was stabled thirty three times and then his body was burned. Two of his friends later confessed to the crime.

In the Valley of Elah tells the story of Mike Deerfield who ends up missing and goes AWOL. Tommy Lee Jones plays his father, and Susan Sarandon plays his mother. Charlize Theron plays a police detective who tries to unravel the mystery.

One thing is certain; many people will play close attention to In the Valley of Elah due to the notoriety of Paul Haggis. With so many outstanding films, people expect this one to do well, however, it should be stated that the U.S. Military has not endorsed the film.

The movie does cause great concerns regarding how the war will impact the troops in the long run. It is very sad and a stark reality that war is one of the world’s greatest atrocities, and our troops are not being spared any of the horrors. We know that our troops are dealing with lifelong disabilities, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Depression, and Suicide. Now, we are looking at the consequences of war on personalities that may have already had serious emotional and psychological flaws.

That is the question that people are asking, as it appears that many of our troops are exhibiting signs of anti social personality disorder and are acting out in increasingly violent ways.

You’ll find that after In the Valley of Elah hits the screens, that more of these questions will surface in conversation. People want to know what the effects of the war will have on the troops and citizens in the long run, and there really is no way to predict the future. All we can do is wait until all of our troops return home to find out what the major effects will be.

How do you feel about the latest war films? It does seem as though more people are dealing with the war through film. It may be that thanks to sites like You Tube and My Space, people are already viewing numerous movies and clips from the Iraq conflict. Today, media is readily available in all forms. Do you think this is good or bad? What are your views of seeing a movie about the war while we are still in war? Typically, it seems that movies are only released after the war is over. The movie is getting favorable reviews from soldiers who have stated that it is very realistic. In the Valley of Elah will be released on September 21, 2007.

I am sure this is going to be a big battle in the upcoming elections, and of course the Democrats are proposing that we get out of Iraq as fast as possible, but I wonder what the impact of that would truly be. We were, and still are, supposed to be there until Iraq becomes a state that can operate under its own power and as a democracy, however with all of the insurgents that are becoming increasingly difficult it seems an endless battle and meanwhile the bloodshed continues. Of course we need to think of what is the best course of action for both our troops as well as the citizens of Iraq.

Now, two United States Senators are pushing the debate even further when Senator Joseph Biden made the announcement that the reality of seeing a government in Iraq wouldn’t happen during this lifetime. The fact is that the unrest is growing at an unprecedented rate in Iraq, and civilians are fleeing in huge numbers, roughly 100,000 people a month are leaving.

In addition, United States Senator Lindsey Graham just returned from Iraq and he states that after coming home from Air Force Reserve duty, that he believes the troops are making a difference and it is just a matter of time before the Iraqi government begins to take shape and Iraq will function as a state. The debate is based on whether or not we should keep our troops in place until we see Iraq operate with full autonomy.

Now with the upcoming elections, the debate is even greater. If we wait until Iraq is established, and keep just enough troops back to help train the Iraqi soldiers many people wonder just how long that will take.

Meanwhile there is an issue that is being overlooked, and that is the toll that the war is taking on our soldiers. Our troops are coming home wounded, battered, and scarred. How will this war affect the future of American citizens?

However, amidst all of the controversy, one thing is certain. Many people have compared the Iraq War with Vietnam, and they are definitely not the same. Vietnam had initiated a draft and the amount of American lives lost was immense. Iraq is not seeing the death toll that Vietnam saw and that is one good point regarding the war. However, no one wants to see our troops hurt, injured, or suffering and one can only stop and wonder how this war will effect our troops thirty or forty years from now. Today, we still have numerous Vietnam veterans who are continually suffering from the horrors they experienced in Vietnam, hopefully we won’t see that in the coming years with the veterans of the Iraq war.

Dogs are serving right along with our troops, in both Iraq and Afghanistan, as they are excellent in detecting explosives during the war front. They can sniff out roadside bombs up to a third of a mile away, and are becoming increasingly in demand as the fight against terrorism continues. They are also unwaveringly faithful to their handlers, and many have risked their lives in order to protect their fellow soldiers. When many soldiers are wounded, their thoughts turn to the dog who was wounded alongside them- gives new meaning to the term, “Man’s Best Friend”, doesn’t it?

As you can imagine, Iraq is no picnic for a dog, and a dog that has earned soldier status is no exception. The dry heat of the sun makes it hard for dogs to thrive, and they are also casualties of roadside bombings, gunfire, and other weapons of warfare.

In fact, you’d be amazed at how soldiers become bonded with the dogs that serve with them. When a dog becomes wounded in war, he or she is often whisked away and treated with expert care. They may even enter a rehabilitation process before they can return to the line of fire and serve again. Dentists may even be called to help save damaged teeth and perform root canals.

Just like any other soldier, dogs must undergo vigorous physical training before they are allowed to serve in combat. Training takes place at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas. At first, they are trained to become accustomed to the loud noises commonly associated with war. Next, they learn how to detect the scent of explosives, and how to stop before reaching them.

As you may imagine, German Shepherds are one of the leading breeds used in combat, but another is the Maliniois. Maliniois are a variation of the Belgian Shepherd Dog. In addition to the shepherds, there are other breeds that are being trained. Poodles are also used to help find explosives and are particularly useful for detecting things in small areas, due to their small size.

Typically speaking, dogs fare very well in combat. Right now, only ten dogs have been killed in both Iraq and Afghanistan combined. However, the rate of injuries is much higher. However, the desert heat, not combat, causes the number one cause of injury. Additionally, it isn’t uncommon to see dogs wearing bulletproof vests or other protective gear while they are on the field. The dogs are trained to wear these items, however, due to the desert heat, it can place an additional burden on the dog, and so most dogs may go without them.

It is truly amazing how dogs are serving in the war with soldiers. However, this isn’t the first time they have been called to combat. Dogs served in the Vietnam War, World War II, and World War I.

First, the basic guidelines for enlistment state that you must be a United States citizen, or a resident alien. Next, all enlistees must be at least seventeen years old. Also, if you are seventeen and would like to enlist, you will need your parents consent. You must have a high school diploma; however there are certain circumstances where some people with a GED may enlist. Finally, you must pass a medical health examination. For those who would like to become officers, you will find that to enlist, you will need a college degree. Typically, all officers have obtained Master’s degrees.

Now that you known the very basics, let’s take a look at the various differences between the main military branches: The Air Force, The Army, The National Guard, The Coast Guard, The Marines, and The Navy.

To enlist in the Air Force, you must be between the ages of 17 and 27. Seventeen year olds will need signed consent from their parents. You must not have more than two dependents, and you will need to pass the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude test with a minimum AFQT Score of 36.

For enlisting in the Army, you will need to be between the ages of 17 and 42. Seventeen year olds will also need consent from their parents. You may not have more than two dependents. Entrance in the Army is dependent upon a minimum score of 31 on the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Test.

If you are interested in joining the National Guard, you must be between the ages of 17 and 42, have no more than two dependents, and pass the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery Test with a minimum score of 31.

To enter the Coast Guard, you must be between the ages of 17 and 42 years old. Additionally, seventeen year olds will need written consent from their parents before joining. Enlistees may have no more than two dependents, and must be able to pass the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery Test with a minimum score of 31.

If you would like to enter the Marines, you will need to be between the ages of 17 and 29. All seventeen year olds will need written permission from their parents. You’ll find that the Marines expect more mental and physical demands from its recruits then do the other branches of service. In fact, when women enlist, they will serve in all of the same areas as males, except for combat areas such as: infantry and tank and amphibian crewmembers. To enlist in the Marines, you will also need to pass the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery Test with a minimum score of 31.

Finally, if you would like to enlist in the Navy, you will need to be between the ages of 17 and 34. Women may enlist in all Navy areas except for the Navy Seals. Additionally, women may not serve on submarines. To enlist in the Navy, you must pass the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery test with a score of 35.

Nancy Pelosi states that she is adamant about bringing the troops home, but believes that it must be done in a timely and safe manner. Apparently, that isn’t good enough for Sheehan.

Sheehan made world headlines, as she has undoubtedly been the war’s loudest voice of protest. Her son, Casey was killed while serving in Iraq. He was just 24 years old. It is understandable that Sheehan is sad and distraught over the loss of her son, however it amazes me that she never focuses on the fact that he willingly volunteered for the armed forces.

It is one thing, to protest the war, when there has been a draft, as with Vietnam, however there is no draft. Casey wasn’t killed because President George Bush sent him into combat against his will. Casey was a grown adult, who made a conscientious decision to defend the rights of his fellow Americans. He served his country and died receiving the highest honor any military member could receive.

Yes, it is painful and the sorrow is great. However, we cannot ignore the fact that Casey, like countless thousands in our Armed forces, knew that war is part of the Military package. Is it really fair to blame the President for his death?

Personally, I think not.

I also don’t think that Cindy Sheehan is going to get very far with her run against Nancy Pelosi. First, Nancy Pelosi has been in politics for a very long time, and she has been in Congress since 1987. The odds are immensely stacked against Sheehan. It has been reported that she has absolutely no financial backing (despite experience), and is refusing to accept money donated from companies.

I think this woman has lost her mind.

I’d like to know if she really believes that her son Casey would be proud of what she is doing. First, he joined the military willingly. He swore on an oath, to serve this country with his life. He did that. He knew what he was doing. He obviously didn’t ask his mother’s permission to join. Would he appreciate her vehement attack upon the nation and the president as well?

Military personnel are sworn to uphold the decisions of the president, whether they personally agree with them or not. The president is the head commander in chief. All military personnel know this. Casey joined the military and vowed to follow President Bush’s orders. He did follow the president’s orders, honorably and self-sacrificially. Would he find his mother’s behavior honorable? Would he find the actions of his mother honorable?

My gut says that he wouldn’t. If he felt the way she did, he would have run from the military as soon as he had a chance. Maybe Cindy Sheehan should stop running her mouth, and follow the example her son left as his legacy.

Some of them want to come to America. In fact, our government has made provisions for 2,000 Iraqis to be admitted into the United States by September 30, 2007. What is amazing is that there have been many hindrances and a large number of the Iraqi refugees who seek asylum in America have yet to reach the border. So far, there have been roughly 200 refugees that have made it to America. With the goal being 2,000 by the end of September, it doesn’t take much calculation to figure that there should be quite a large number of Iraqi refugees coming to America over the next month.

Life for Iraqi refugees has been hard, if not brutal. Many children have stopped receiving education, as there has been no room to accommodate them in foreign schools. The majority of the refugees have moved to Turkey, Syria, Egypt, Lebanon, and Jordan. Part of the delay of the Iraqis coming to America is due to strict Homeland Security Laws. U.S. officials are working on allowing more Iraqis access to America at a quicker speed. Yet, many wonder if it will be quick enough. During the months of April and May, reports show that there was only one Iraqi refugee per month who gained entrance in the United States. Compare that to 63 Iraqis in June. However, the number was down to 57 for the month of July. It is important that the Iraqi refugees, who seek life in America, can gain the security clearance needed to reach our shores. The problem lies with other countries that restrict our nation’s access to government clearance.

Currently, there are 1.5 million Iraqi refugees in Syria alone. That number is followed by a whopping 750,000 in Jordan. Egypt has housed 150, 000 and Iran 50, 000. Turkey currently has 20,000 refugees. We should expect to see a large number of refugees coming to America in the next month.

Additionally, what has taken a surprising turn is the fact that some Iraqi refugees are moving to Sweden. Some experts believe that Europe will see a total of 40,000 refugees by the close of 2007. The European Union is currently taking a closer look at their asylum laws, as they expect the amount of Iraqis seeking asylum to nearly triple. However, this isn’t the first time that Iraqis have sought asylum in Sweden. The first group was during Saddam’s years, between 1997-2003. In fact, there are many Iraqis currently living in Sweden, enough that they have their own communities such as Sodertalje and Malmö.

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is a condition where an individual, who has suffered a traumatic experience, continues to suffer from anxiety and fear as a result of the trauma they endured. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder or PTSD for short is often associated with victims of rape, accidents, serious abuse, or even a surgery. However, combat veterans see it in a large scale. In fact, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder officially made it into the medical textbooks after countless Vietnam Veterans were diagnosed with the disorder.

One of the most disconcerting facts regarding PTSD is that it doesn’t necessarily have to occur immediately after the traumatic experience. Sometimes it may take up between six months to several years before symptoms appear. Some of the most common symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder include:

Feelings of despair; this is attributed to depression and is a direct response to the traumatic event Flashbacks from the traumatic event, these may be brought about by triggers, or events that make one remember the trauma.

Memories regarding the event may be overwhelming and feel as if the person is reliving the event Exaggerated emotional responses to triggers, this is in regards to the feeling that the event is happening Lack of emotions, likewise there may be emotional numbing or a shutting down of feelings of love, joy, and peace.

Feeling detached, this is also very common and the person dealing with PTSD may feel as if they are detached from the rest of the world, including their family members.

Hopelessness is a common feeling along with despair Nightmares, people dealing with traumatic events may find that they dream about the events repeatedly. This can cause for great anxiety and fear, and interrupts normal sleeping patterns.

Uncontrolled Anger may occur as people dealing with these events are on edge and dealing with overwhelming emotions
Loss of Interest in activities that one used to participate in. This is referred to as avoidance, and in an attempt to forget the traumatic experience, people may avoid anything that reminds them of the experience.

Irritability is a common symptom where people just don’t have a feeling of peace anymore. They may snap at others easily and have feelings of anger, aggression, or compulsive behaviors. There is also a symptom of people being on guard. They may feel the need to protect themselves so greatly that they startle easily and are always on “guard” mode.

If you are experiencing any of the symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, you need to let someone know so that you may seek help. Counseling is available and the only way you can deal with the trauma of your life is to take the steps necessary to heal.

On February 22, 2006, the beautiful golden dome on the al-Askari mosque was destroyed. The attack took place as several bombers, entered the mosque, bound and tied the guards, and then set explosives. It is believed that the bombers disguised themselves as members of the Iraqi Special forces. The mosque was severely damaged in addition to the golden dome being destroyed.

The Al-Askari shrine, located in Samarra is one of the holiest mosques for Shi’ites. The attack triggered numerous uprisings and killings for the sake of revenge, as Shi’ite youth took to the streets in defense of the attack. In fact, the uprising is said to be the cause of the deadliest surge of violence within Iraq since the time of the invasion.

The Al-Askari mosque was first built in 944 and is one of the most sacred structures in Islam. In addition to the February, bombing, just seven weeks ago, on June 13, 2007, the al Qaeda mastermind was said to have staged another attack on the same Shi’ite mosque, al-Askari where its minarets were destroyed.

In fact, UNESCO (The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization) is planning on helping to rebuild the Al-Askari shrine. They are known for preserving some of the most culturally valuable structures throughout the world. However, they are waiting for Iraq to come to a place of peace, before they can begin reconstruction. UNESCO states that the Iraqi officials are ready and willing to begin the reconstruction process and they are waiting for security conditions to come to a place when the process may begin. In fact, the director of the UNESCO Iraq office, Mohamed Djelid and Hak Al-Hakeem who is the advisor to Iraq’s Prime Minister for Reconstruction and Environment Affairs, signed the official Memorandum of Understanding.

Removing terrorist cell groups and al Quaeda are imperative to restoring peace and security measures throughout Iraq. The U.S. is very proud and hopeful of this victory, as they believe that they have finally captured and killed the mastermind of this terrorist cell group. U.S. forces state that they spotted Haitham al-Badri and his cohorts as they were preparing an ambush just east of Samarra. This is an amazing step in the fight against terrorism, and it is believed it will be a major step forward in the advancement towards bringing peace to Iraq. The fight against al Qaeda has been a long one, but this is definitely a step ahead.

Unfortunately, our soldiers are not always honorable men. Though our government does its best to screen out those who may have murderous or psychotic tendencies, there is no doubt that many people who are not deemed “fit” to serve in war serve anyway. It may be due to underlying psychological issues that went unnoticed, possibly soldiers were healthy individuals and the pressures and horrors of war caused them to go over the edge, or maybe some people are just bent on hurting other people without lack or feelings of empathy, maybe some soldiers do not know how to separate war from murder and are bound with PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) and just lose it, whatever the reason, it happens. To the shame of our nation, our country, and fellow servicemen, it not only happens, but it happened again.

On August 4, 2007 a 23 year old Army Private named, Jesse Spielman was sentenced to 110 years for the rape and murder of an Iraqi girl and her relatives for a crime that occurred in 2006. Along with Jesse Spielman, Sgt. Paul E. Cortez, 24 years old, Specialist James P. Barker, and Steven. D. Green were also charged in the attack. Both Specialist Barker and Sergeant Cortez pleaded guilty and received 100 years and are currently serving time in Fort Leavenworth. Steven D. Green is currently awaiting trial.

Now here is where the case gets interesting. Apparently, Jesse Spielman has been declaring his innocence from the beginning. Specialist Barker, and Sergeant Cortez both plead guilty, but also attested to the fact that Private Jesse Spielman was an unwilling observer who never participated in anything. He did not plead guilty, because he believed that the facts would prove his innocence and he would be cleared of all wrong doing- not so. In fact, Jesse Spielman received 110 years, where the two who admitted their wrongdoing received 100 years with the possibility of parole in 10. As you can tell, many people are scratching their heads trying to determine what is going on.

If this sounds like the Tom Cruise hit, “A Few Good Men” to you, you’re not alone. This story has Hollywood production written all over it, and the fact of the matter remains that Jesse Spielman was found guilty and convicted for what apparently seems to be Army orders. He was ordered to go with his superior to meet a terrible fate. The crimes committed were atrocious, but if Jesse Spielman did not participate, does he deserve 110 years in a federal penitentiary?

The Asian Cup was founded in 1956 and the Asian Football Confederation runs it. Not only have the Iraqis been declared the champions of Asia, but also with their win, they are now eligible for the FIFA Confederations Cup. The tournament is held every four years, but was moved up a year early. Due to the fact that with the Summer Olympics and European Football Championships also taking place in 2008, they changed the schedule for the Asian Cup. However, after this year’s win by the Iraqis, the tournament will be held every four years from 2007.

The game was filled with anticipation, and the Iraqis were clearly the underdog. All eyes turned however, when Younis Mahmoud (who was also declared most valuable player) delivered the winning play. With 71st minute header and a kick from Hawar Mulla, the Saudi Arabian goalie, Al Mosailem didn’t know what hit him. Unable to block the winning goal, the three time champions handed victory to the Iraqis. Overcome with emotion, the Iraqis upon hearing the final ring and realizing they were the champions, dashed across the soccer field and collapsed in a large pile. The crowd was ecstatic and shouts of victory broke forth throughout all of Iraq. Against police orders, the Iraqis shot celebratory gunfire into the streets and celebrated well into the early morning; joy had broke out in the streets of Baghdad once again.

To say that the Iraqi win was surprising is an understatement. Most people revere the victory as a sheer miracle. The Iraqi team overcame tremendous obstacles to claim this victory, and no doubt they will be honored and became legends with this feat. In fact, the Prime Minister of Iraq, Nouri al-Maliki, announced that each member of the winning team would receive 10,000.

Their Brazilian coach, Jorvan Vieira worked with the team in very difficult circumstances. First, he needed to take the team outside of Iraq for training. There is no doubt that the team had to overcome low morale at times to focus on their sport. During training and right before the match, several players lost relatives due to the war. In addition, violence haunted the team with bombings taking the lives of fans as they celebrated the Iraqis early win. Coach, Vieira mentioned one casualty, team phsyio, Anwar who succumbed to a bombing while collecting tickets for a pre-tournament training camp. The war continually follows Iraq, but for this day, Iraq’s spirit truly overshadowed the political turmoil and declared them victorious.