Association of the U.S. Army, Delaware Chapter

The Wilmington & Western Railroad is conducting their annual salute to local veterans, many of whom were aided by the local railroads to move military men and women across the Nation during the various conflicts in our history.

As in previous years, they will have a brief ceremony with a few speakers offering their personal reflections and comments.  This year’s keynote speaker will be New Castle County Councilman Timothy Sheldon.  The Delaware Military Academy will provide a color guard and a bugler.  Also, the Delaware Militia Fife & Drum Corps, and members of 509th Infantry Battalion will be in attendance.

This year’s ceremony will take place on Sunday, November 11th; beginning promptly at 11:30 AM, and concluding by 12:15 PM. The first steam powered train of the day will depart from Greenbank Station at 12:30 PM. All those in military uniform will ride the train at no cost.  The Baldwin Locomotive #58 (aka “Our Veterans Locomotive”) will be pulling our riders that day.

All veterans and members of military service organizations in the community are invited so that the Wilmington & Western can express their gratitude and appreciation.

The parade grounds at Fort DuPont (Delaware City) will come alive on Saturday, October 20 for Delaware Military Heritage Day.  All are welcomed to view and participate in the many activities scheduled for that day, between 10am and 4pm.  Visitors will be able to walk through reenactment displays and encampments from many time periods, see vintage military vehicles, experience military maneuvers and the firing of artillery.  Many community groups, historical organizations, local authors and  veterans groups will also be present on this special day.  Fort DuPont operated as an active Army post from 1863 to 1945.

As part of its annual “Still Serving” weekend, the Army & Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES) will salute former Soldiers and Airmen by offering unique specials and events at Exchanges worldwide, 5-11 October.  Army and Air Force retirees will receive a flyer featuring exclusive savings on a wide variety of products, including deals at the food court.  Additionally, local Exchanges will honor the service of retirees with “Still Serving” celebrations to include fashion shows, door prizes, health clinics and much more.  Additionally, AAFEES online store , http://www.shopmyexchange.com , will offer 10 percent off any order of $100 or more to shoppers who sign up for the “Online Savings Club E-newsletter,” which offers online savings and exclusive discounts.  You may sign up for this E-newsletter at: http://bit.ly/RwhsEU.  To learn more about activities planned for the weekend of 5 October, contact information for all Army and Air Force Exchanges can be found online at http://www.shopmyexchange.com through the “Store Locator” link.

AUSA is part of a coalition of organizations that are committed to supporting legislation for veterans, service members, and their families.  They share credit for the “Veterans Skills to Jobs Act”, a law that will address the high veterans unemployment rate of 23.3%.  The Act streamlines the process for veterans to utilize the skills they acquired in the military.  Previously, veterans had to enroll in redundant civilian training to qualify for many technical positions.  Now, their military training will be more readily accepted and ‘certify’ them in a number of job categories.

The Army and the National Football League (TBI) are working together to improve awareness of traumatic brain injury (TBI) and increase research into its causes, prevention and treatment.  The top leaders of both organizations, Army Chief of Staff General Ray Odierno and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, met at the U.S. Military Academy 30 August to discuss the issue and sign a letter of agreement to continue sharing resources to combat TBI.  Mental and physical toughness, discipline, team over self and stressing the importance of resilience are fundamental to the cultures of both the NFL and the Army.  However, these traits can sometimes prevent them from seeking help following concussions.  NFL players and Soldiers are now coordinating strategies and using special types of tests to determine if a concussion has occurred.  Gen. Odierno and Commissioner Godell would like a cultural shift to where there is no reluctance of football players and Soldiers to ask for help after receiving concussions.  Learn more about this effort at: http://www.defense.gov/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=117721

The Association of the United States Army welcomes all AUSA members, military and civilian employees of the United States armed forces and their families to  AUSA’s Annual Meeting which will be held from 20-22 October, 2012 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. The Annual Meeting will include four Military Family Forums in which Army senior leaders and experts in the field of family readiness provide their views on the status of the Army family and Army family readiness programs. All forums will be live streamed across the country and overseas. Anyone eligible to attend the AUSA Annual Meeting may attend the Military Family Forums. Register now by going to http://www.udreg.com/ausa/

An update on the American soldier.

 – The Army provides high caliber young people great opportunities, not a last chance.
 – Today’s Army is not the army of the Vietnam era or even the army of the first Gulf War. Today’s Army has the highest entry standards ever, and aspiring young people must compete to enter our ranks.
 – What hasn’t changed is that the Army is still a great path to the future for many Americans. With education benefits and world-class training, today’s young Soldier improves his or her quality of life with every experience.
 – Not only does a young person earn a very competitive salary with benefits such as health, education, and housing, a Soldier also derives the intangible benefits of increasing responsibility on the job, leadership development, and working as part of a team.
 – While waivers are still granted to enter the Army, they no longer give them for major misconduct or for drug or alcohol misuse, which have proven to be counter to good order and discipline.
 – The Army focuses on life-long learning and achieving goals; education achievement is possible even in deployment.
 – The Army instills in every Soldier the requirement to live by the Army Values of loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity, and personal courage. The Warrior Ethos has become the heart and soul of what we expect from our Soldiers, and forms the core of Soldier behavior in deployment, in the garrison, on duty and off:
  I will always place the mission first.
  I will never accept defeat.
  I will never quit.
  I will never leave a fallen comrade.