Benghazi attack

It has been a little over a month since the U.S. embassy in Libya was attacked, leaving 15 wounded and killing four Americans, two Navy seals and one an ambassador Christopher Stevens. There is ample evidence that President Obama knew of the attacks and did not react. There were Marines and munitions an hour away at most that could have helped save these men's lives. What have we learned from this?

As we near the 2012 Presidential election, many Republicans are calling Obama a coward for his lack of efforts as the Embassy screamed for help. Up til now, Obama has fulfilled his promise to withdraw U.S. troops from Iraq and we are expected to withdraw from Afghanistan by the end of 2014.

U.S. military generals have expressed that the conficts are not drawing down and now is not the time to pull out. Let's also not forget that Obama wanted to close down Gettmo, Guantanamo Bay Cuba. His brilliant idea was to bring the international terrorists and other criminals to American soil and hold them in a maximum security prison, where they would be afforded the same rights as U.S. citizens. The idea was ludicrous.

Though I have already voted for who I think would be the best candidate as a Commander and Chief of our Armed Forces, the best to help us with our economy, and bring back good values for America, I am quite positive that Obama will still get re-elected. I pray that Americans will realize that national security is still paramount. When the troops come home from Afghanistan, it won't change the true threats from abroad.

But is America's biggest problem it's leadership? I think it is more complicated than that, but for those who rallied around Obama for "Change." Did they get the change they wanted? I think not.

DFAS how could you?

Defense Financial Accounting Service (DFAS) send me a lovely, welcome to retirement from the Army letter. Oh you don’t believe me? You must know how the system works. According to DFAS I owe the military $7,044.79. I thought at first it must be an outrageous bill from equipment that didn’t get turned in. I transferred to so many different state’s National Guards, I figured some stuff had to have gotten lost. But why so much? I don’t understand.

I called the Debt and Claims department at DFAS and the gentleman who answered the phone said that a few hundred dollars were to be recouped because of over payment at a Army training school Summer of 2010 and the rest over $6,000 was because I had received a reenlistment bonus of $15,000 and I had only served a little over half of my commitment. What?

I went through a paper medical board in the summer of 2011, sent to Massachusetts State Med Com where they had determined due to a medical diagnosis that I would be medically discharged. I received a medical HONORABLE discharge July 15, 2011 that ended my 11 years in the Army. The medical disability I occurred as a combat veteran serving my country in Iraq. I stuck through it all: the rapes, the mortars, the terrible chain of command, because I believed in my Army core values and loved being a Soldier.

So to add insult to injury, they want a refund? I didn’t get to plea my case to a real person nor did I receive a medical pension from the United States Army. Instead, they want money I spent to live off of while I was in Graduate school back?

I have $80,000 in student loan debts, $10,000 to pay my car off, $10,000 in medical bills the VA won’t pay for and $6,000 in credit card debt that I owe. I can’t handle all this. I am a newspaper journalist for a weekly and I make a little over $300 a week. It is an unreasonable hardship to even think about these alleged DFAS charges. I gave 11 of the best years of my life to the Army, I was pushed out, and now they want what from me? It’s obscene.

The gentleman on the phone wanted to know how much I would be willing to pay each month, $200 or $300. I told him I couldn’t. I can’t afford to pay that back and I’m hurt that they would even ask for it. The bonus was a re-enlistment incentive the Army was giving in 2007, because retention was so low and we were spread so thin. Why are combat veterans treated like this? Shame on you DFAS; and shame on you Department of the Army, for even asking me to pay this back.

Well you didn’t fulfill your end of the bargain either. I was supposed to get the GI Bill Kicker, which was up to $450 a month while I went to school. I told them to put it in the contract, but they didn’t, so I was screwed. And it looks like I’m screwed over again with a $7,044.79 bill that is expected to destroy what I have left in credit. I have PTSD. DFAS you are not helping. I feel like crying myself to sleep again tonight, because at 31 years old I am stuck living with my parents. I have a job that will never help me break even, let alone get ahead. I just can’t do this. I need help.

Sincerely, Ret. Specialist Felicia Whatley 

All Day Kindergarten in Bolton?

Bolton Public School Board proposes All-day Kindergarten. The proposal is welcomed by Kindergarten teachers, school board members, and the Governor. All-day Kindergarten is part of the Superintendent’s proposed Bolton budget for next year.

“For the academic point of view, based on what we are expecting the students to know course-wise at the end of the year, this is why most towns do want all-day kindergarten for their public schools,” said Bolton Superintendent for the Board of Education Paul K. Smith.

The idea is to prepare the kids early because the Governor has said that if the students cannot read at a 3^rd grade level then they will not pass third grade, according to Smith.

“It is crucial to the youth’s development. Kindergarten needs to serve as a strong foundation, not just academically, but socially and physically. They have common course standards they need to meet to create a strong social and emotional piece in their school learning and growing experience to be done in a safe environment,” said Claudia Danna, Director of Curriculum and Instruction for Bolton Public Schools.

She went on to say that this is the time we teach children to work well with others, become friends, and work together to problem solve. “It is important to catch them where they are and if there are deficits to address them.”

This is also the time kids are introduced to the Fine Arts in school. They sing, dance, and learn theater, which they agreed is important to the children’s social growth and physical coordination.

“Many small towns think kids are not ready for all-day kindergarten, but it is then that they get the opportunity to mature. The kids acquire retention and learning in a full day,” said Smith.

Smith and Danna also discussed that likely many of the children end up in day care, which is not a better option.

“Here they get more opportunities to learn and grow. They can practice more what they have learning in a higher order of thinking to apply it,” said Danna.

The intention is not to gear the students up for exams, but instead to give them a full day to grow physically, socially, and mentally.

“We are not a day care program. The intent is not to ease working parents, but to better prepare the children. At that age, they are ready to experiment and be creative in an environment that has the facilities and staffing to help them experiment everything they should at this level,” said Smith.

The proposal would have equal impact on the Kindergarten teachers of Bolton. When asked how she felt about it Arin Rumovicz said, “We need it. We have to squish so much into so little time. We will be working, and then all of a sudden it is time to clean up. This would give me the chance to do some extension activities, review, enrich, and support those who need more support. Some of the kids went to all-day Preschool. This is like a step back. I like the idea of all-day Kindergarten. It is time for it.”

Bully Busters

Bullying has become much more prevalent in recent years, erupting on the news in dramatic tragedies like the shootings in Columbine and Virginia Tech, and quietly pervading local classrooms and schools. At Manchester High School, a group of student leaders has put together a group called Bully Busters that goes into elementary and middle schools using live demonstrations and teaching students how they can make a positive impact against bullying.
“I am the lead speaker when we do our presentation,” said senior Logan Welch. “We teach the different types of bullying - relationship, physical, verbal and cyber. We teach them that if you are a bystander, you are involved, and how to be a positive bystander. We teach them positive thinking in a situation. I teach them how to brighten the room, not darken it. I also teach about the different types of bullies in a comfortable environment so they can come forward and share their own stories. We know now what works with each age group,” said Welch.
Bully Busters is made up of MHS student-athletes, journalists and student government representatives that are recruited by school councilors. Each Bully Buster is active in the community and active with the cause of Bully Busters. They communicate and teach with interactive skits and role-playing so the message is clear - bullying is real, it hurts, and needs to be stopped.
The Bully Busters teach students to stand up for others and to have fun turning the situation into a good one. The program started in 2009 and was small in its infancy, but has grown to something the school and its students are being noticed for.
“I do a skit called ‘Nails in the Fence’ where I am the mother of a little boy," said sophomore Savanna Smith, who is also involved in the campus newspaper. "The mother (me) gives him a bag of nails. Every time he loses control of his temper he puts a nail in the fence, and when he can control himself he takes them out. Eventually, he takes them all out, but it leaves scars and things will never be the same. People can be hurt like the fence,” she said.
The Bully Busters are co-advised by Heidi Macchi, a Manchester Outreach social worker, and MHS guidance counselor Laurie Pels-Roulier. Central Connecticut State University Masters in Family Therapy intern Alexis Relyea-Nieman also assists the group. Joel Waldron, owner of the Academy of Martial Arts and Personal Development, is a Bully Busters consultant who helps in training, skits, story ideas and interventions.
“I have been involved since its beginning. I participate in the skits and often play the ‘bully.’ I don’t really bully in real life," said senior Ashley Mills. "I’m also a reader. I read stories to kindergartners through second grade. At the question and answer part, we see how engaged they were and how much of what we taught them, they remember," she said.
“Bennett Academy did surprise ‘thank you’ cards and a list of ways we can prevent bullying," said Mills. "Others have done the same. I like the creative ways we address bullying.” Mills is the class board vice president, she is on the activities planning board, and serves as a representative to the Board of Education. She also serves on Manchester’s Youth Commission as a public relations officer and interns at Bowers Elementary and Manchester Manor.
“These students are the best of the best. They have leadership potential and passion for working with kids. This program has been successful in raising awareness about bullying with brief strategies and principles,” said advisor Roulier.
The influential 19 students are on a mission to inform and make a difference. Some of them know the personal pain of being bullied and how it changed them as people. Sometimes even a joke amongst friends can sting.
“Yes, I was bullied too throughout my scholastic career, even by teachers. I feel like I can connect and relate with kids who have been through that experience," said sophomore Michelle Hegenauer. "As Bully Busters, we have matured and learned how to handle it better now. It is exciting when kids come up to me and say, ‘You are my hero. I am glad you are here,’” she said. Another active student, Hegenauer is on the MHS volleyball team and also won a place on the boys’ dive and swim team.
The program has gone viral. Welch, Mills and Hegenauer appeared on Manchester Review Channel 15 this past April to describe the program. They were interviewed by host Jack Peak, with whom they shared personal stories of being bullied and of witnessing incidents of bullying.
“Bully Busters has been an amazing group. They are kids that excel in every area and grow and mature as leaders to advocate against peer pressure in their community,” said CCU student Relyea-Nieman.

Stain, I was a soldier once

Stain

By Felicia Whatley

I was a soldier once, so young and so strong

I was a soldier once; I ran forever and did push-ups for fun

I was a soldier once, and I thought I would be forever, but I was wrong

As a soldier I remember crawling through the mud; it was in my face, my clothes, all over the place

As a soldier, I lay in my fox hole in the rain or snow, I was shivering, I was cold

As a soldier, I could accomplish anything, and then I got old

I was a soldier once, and I miss it so much

I was a soldier once, I could go days not knowing if there would be dinner or lunch.

I was a soldier once, I felt the quake of the battlefield and the deafening sound of hate

I was a soldier once, and I though I tried not to, I could relate.

As a soldier I was taught to never wear my emotions on my sleeves

As a soldier I fought to keep a straight face, but sometimes it was impossible

As a soldier I was supposed to be tough and never ever give up

As a soldier I could topple mountains, blow through buildings, everything was possible

I was a soldier once and stark eyed and bushy tailed I wanted to trust my comrades

I was a soldier and soldiers never hurt their fellow soldiers, I would always be happy

I was a soldier once and I would never leave a fallen comrade behind,

I was a soldier and once I carried a girl 11 miles, she was cut up real bad

I was a soldier once and I cared for every living soul

As a soldier I thought this is me, this is who I am and will always be

As a soldier I took an oath to put others needs before my own

As a soldier I put my team before my needs even if I was hungry or couldn’t hardly breathe

As a soldier there was no concept of time, just reality, however long it took

I was a soldier once, and my uniform used to fit

I was a soldier once and I love my country and every place they would send me to help

I was a soldier once and I believed in the mission and my mission, how can I help thee

I was a soldier once, and it is still a part of me.

As a civilian I still hit the deck when a jar breaks at the grocery store.

As a civilian I don’t have to count carbs or worry about physical fitness tests

As a civilian, I miss the me I used to be.

As a civilian I look for my side arm when I roll out of bed. Should I buy one?

As a civilian I wonder still what it means to feel normal

As a soldier and a civilian I lay awake at night and think and think and worry

As a soldier and a civilian I dream of being there, part of something more important than me

 I was a soldier once and I did my duty with pride, there nothing cooler than being a G.I.

I was a soldier once and the money for school was good

I was a soldier once and I would wear my uniform in public if I had to, and people would thank me

I was a soldier once and wondered if I would ever feel free

As a civilian I don’t panic before putting on a uniform

As a civilian I can sleep in and be warm and out of the rain

As a civilian the Army will never leave me, it sits on my soul like a stain

As a civilian I dream of coming back in

As a soldier I never knew if coming to work meant getting hurt

As a soldier I tried to stay super organized and in a route

As a soldier I would get nervous but I would say what need to be said

As a soldier I was a leader but I never got promoted

As a civilian I don’t allow superiors treat me like that ever again

As a civilian, I wish my body was in shape like it used to be

As a civilian I am trying to make it in the real word

As a civilian I make $300 a week as a newspaper journalist

As a civilian, I don’t think I’ll ever dig myself out of debt and get ahead

As a civilian I live with my parents and wish things would change

As a civilian, when I sleep I dream of being an important soldier once again.

I was a soldier and I never will be again.

Life Marches On

Well after three months of unemployment, I got the Reminder News in the mail. I called them up and asked if they were hiring. Surprisingly, a vacancy opened up four days ago. The interview went well and I started the following Monday. I will be going on my third week this Monday. The job is very demanding. I am expected to write 8 articles a week and I am covering three cities-Bolton, Manchester, and South Windsor, CT.

I think I am going to start posting some of my stories here. I don't know who reads this blog, but I have been retired from the Army National Guard since July. It all came to me as such a shock. I was medically boarded out. I thought I was going to be a soldier forever, but I think life marches on.

My health is much better, after two needed surgeries and time to rest. I need to focus on losing weight. I should be able to start running again soon. My job is neat that I get to do something I enjoy and am good at, but the downside is that it really does not pay very much. So I continue to live with my parents.

My new boss asked me at the interview what I would be doing in five years. I said management, but really I don't know. So many wars in the Middle East are winding down while others are gearing up. I feel left out not being involved in that. Maybe in a few years, I will apply to Stars and Stripes or continue a search for a Public Affairs job or Intel job, which seem to be impossible to get.

For now I am content, driving, interviewing, writing, taking photos, and publishing. Sure I bought a few lottos, with the record high $665 Million Mega Millions lottery drawing yesterday. Three people won. The articles I read on it said that if they took a lump sum after all the taxes they would go home with $105.1 Million. Somehow that seems deceiving from the promised amount. Not that that is not a ton of money none the less.

A fellow Soldier and friend of mine asked us on Facebook, what we would do with that money. I for one would be debt free and gain independence. That would be a great feeling. But for now, I count myself lucky to at least have a job and be contributing to society in a way that is smart and challenging. I march on.

A Call For Help for Syria

Assad must go and the Syrians need international support. It has been a bad couple of years for dictators and the time is up for Syria's president. As thousands of citizens are murdered by their own government's military, Turkey steps up support, but why hasn't NATO made it a priority yet?

No surprise China and Russia veto a UN Security Council resolution on February 4th. Were they ever helpful in ousting terrible dictators? Bashar Assad tries to appeal to the Arab League as the unified group pleas for international support.

Obama tiptoes around the topic and presses mild sanctions on Iran instead. The turmoil in the Middle East cannot be ignored. "It is time for a transition. It is time for Assad to go. It is time for the Syrian people to stop being killed," said President Obama today. Words need to followed up with action. As each day goes by, families are massacred.

This conflict is difficult to aid many experts like those in the Economist and Senator John McCain because they believe air power would be ineffective. And what American public press wants to avoid is another invasion. But would arming the rebels be enough? No, of course not. They need manpower and trained soldiers to fight a country's military.

It is not a question of will Assad go, but when and how many will die first, praying for democracy and for an international community to give a shit. When Americans pulled out of the embassy in Damascus, we knew this was for real. As the U.S. government works to sadly downsize our military, we could be helping the Syrians instead. And NATO, how many bodies need to stack up before you realize this is unchecked genocide?