Army Ends GED Program for Aspiring Soldiers

The Army is ending a program that helped nearly 3,000 high school dropouts earn high school equivalency certificates and become soldiers, according to an Army Times article.

The GED pilot program known as the Army's prep school started here in summer 2008, when the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan left the service scrambling to find soldiers. But since then, with the economy in a downward spiral and jobs hard to come by, more people with diplomas have been enlisting.

Army Ends GED Program for Aspiring Soldiers originally appeared on About.com US Military on Friday, August 27th, 2010 at 14:26:02.

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Some Soldiers Plotted to Kill Afghan Civilians

Five soldiers accused of killing civilians in Afghanistan are now facing additional charges of conspiracy to commit premeditated murder -- a plot that allegedly began when one soldier discussed how easy it would be to "toss a grenade" at Afghan civilians, according to an Army Times article.

The five soldiers were charged with murder in June for the deaths of three Afghan civilians in Kandahar Province this year. According to charging summaries newly released by the Army, additional allegations of conspiracy have since been filed against those soldiers, and seven others have been charged in connection with the conspiracy or with attempting to cover it up.

Some Soldiers Plotted to Kill Afghan Civilians originally appeared on About.com US Military on Friday, August 27th, 2010 at 14:24:38.

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Remaining Troops Still Face Danger in Iraq

Lt. Ryan Alexander stands thigh-deep in a dark grove of reeds and palm trees, hunting for rockets. Officially, the U.S. combat role in Iraq is ending this month, but Alexander and his platoon are under orders to keep insurgents from using the south Baghdad field as a hiding place for Katyushas, according to an Army Times article.

"We're going to be doing this as long as they tell us," Alexander said in a near-whisper in the steamy pre-dawn air, his machine gun slung over his shoulder. Behind him, Iraqi Lt. Wassan Fadah Hussein had his handgun out and ready for action.

Remaining Troops Still Face Danger in Iraq originally appeared on About.com US Military on Friday, August 27th, 2010 at 14:23:31.

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Realignment to Affect 12K Airmen, 650 Planes

At least 12,000 airmen will see their jobs shift in a wide-scale shakeup of bases that gives new missions to 14 installations and reassigns or retires 650 planes, according to an Air Force Times article.

The shuffle consolidates F-22 Raptor units, assigns up to 350 F-35 Lightning IIs to four bases, retires F-16 Fighting Falcons as F-35s replace them, establishes a home base for the service's fleet of 37 MC-12W Liberty reconnaissance planes and names the Air National Guard wings that will be home to 38 C-27J cargo aircraft.

Realignment to Affect 12K Airmen, 650 Planes originally appeared on About.com US Military on Friday, August 27th, 2010 at 14:22:19.

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Grave Concern: Hero Buried in Popular Dog Park

The grave site for an 1860s Army hero awarded the Medal of Honor is now a popular Ventura dog park with poop soiling what veterans say should be sacred ground. "Talk to any veteran, he will tell you it is a terrible thing. It's disrespectful," said retired Marine Sgt. Craig Donor, who served two tours in Vietnam and is bent on getting the soldier's remains moved, according to a Navy Times story.

Pvt. James Sumner, who was awarded the nation's highest military honor for gallant actions after a band of Apache Indians kidnapped a settler's child, died in 1912 and he was buried in what was then St. Mary's Cemetery.

Grave Concern: Hero Buried in Popular Dog Park originally appeared on About.com US Military on Friday, August 27th, 2010 at 14:20:56.

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Pakistani Taliban Hint at Attacking Aid Workers

The Taliban hinted Thursday they may launch attacks against foreigners helping Pakistan respond to the worst floods in the country's history, saying their presence was "unacceptable." The U.N. said it would not be deterred by violent threats, according to a Navy Times story.

The militant group has attacked aid workers in the country before, and an outbreak of violence could complicate a relief effort that has already struggled to reach the 8 million people who are in need of emergency assistance.

Pakistani Taliban Hint at Attacking Aid Workers originally appeared on About.com US Military on Friday, August 27th, 2010 at 14:19:40.

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Gay Officer Gets Reprieve From Discharge

Lt. Col. Victor Fehrenbach will get at least 21 days notice before he is discharged from the Air Force for being gay, according to an agreement by attorneys representing the officer and the Air Force, according to an Air Force Times article.

Fehrenbach's attorneys filed a lawsuit in the Boise, Idaho, federal court on Aug. 11 attempting to stop the Air Force from discharging the 19-year officer if Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley approved the dismissal.

Gay Officer Gets Reprieve From Discharge originally appeared on About.com US Military on Friday, August 27th, 2010 at 14:18:21.

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Civil War: Forces Clash at Chantilly

September 1, 1862 - Union and Confederate forces clash at the Battle of Chantilly. Seeking to take advantage of his victory at Second Manassas, Gen. Robert E. Lee ordered Maj. Gen. Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson (right) to take his command on a flanking march to cut off Maj. Gen. John Pope's retreat. Pausing at Ox Hill, near Chantilly, on September 1, Jackson was soon alerted to the approach of Union troops from the south. Led by Brig. Gen. Isaac Stevens, this force attacked Jackson late that afternoon. In heavy fighting, Stevens was killed before his men fell back. The battle was soon renewed by Maj. Gen. Philip Kearny who arrived with his division. Like Stevens, Kearny attacked and was killed in the fighting. The battle raged until around 6:30 PM when darkness, heavy rain, and lack of ammunition forced both sides to break off the engagement. The final action of the Northern Virginia Campaign, Chantilly allowed Pope to safely retreat towards Washington.

Photograph Courtesy of the National Archives & Records Administration

Civil War: Forces Clash at Chantilly originally appeared on About.com Military History on Wednesday, September 1st, 2010 at 01:00:45.

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World War I: Russians Crushed at Tannenberg

August 23-30, 1914 - German forces win the Battle of Tannenberg. Having suffered in the early engagements on the Eastern Front of World War I, the German high command appointed Generals Paul von Hindenburg and Erich Ludendorff to rescue the situation. Faced with the advancing First and Second Russian Armies, they utilized a daring plan devised by Col. Max Hoffmann to isolate and destroy latter. Utilizing signals intelligence and knowledge of the Russian commanders, they shifted the bulk of the German Eighth Army south and began attacking the flanks of Gen. Alexander Samsonov's Second Army. Driving them back they succeeded in encircling and destroying Samsonov's command before support from the First Army could arrive. One of the few great battles of maneuver in the conflict, Tannenberg saw the Germans dramatically alter the strategic situation on the Eastern Front.

World War I: Russians Crushed at Tannenberg originally appeared on About.com Military History on Sunday, August 29th, 2010 at 01:00:18.

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Persian Wars: Greeks Triumph at Plataea

August 479 BC - Greek forces crush the Persians at the Battle of Plataea. In 480 BC, Persian forces led by Xerxes invaded Greece. Winning at Thermopylae, they swept through Boeotia and Attica, capturing Athens. In September, the Greek fleet won a stunning victory at Salamis which led to Xerxes departing with the bulk of his army. Before leaving, he formed a force under Mardonius to complete the conquest of Greece. In 479, Mardonius assumed a position near Plataea and built a fortified camp. He was followed by a large Greek army which assumed a strong position to the south. After a several day standoff, Mardonius succeeded in cutting the Greeks' access to water. This forced the Greek commander, Pausanias, to order a retreat that night. This movement was badly handled and by dawn the three main segments of the Greek army were separated and out of position. Believing the enemy to be in full retreat, Mardonius attacked. In a two separate engagements, the Athenians defeated a Theban force while the Spartans and Tegeans turned back the Persians and killed Mardonius. With their leader dead, the Persians began fleeing the field. Many sought refuge in their camp which was overrun later in the day by the Greeks. Combined with the Battle of Mycale, Plataea ended the second Persian invasion of Greece and led to the Greeks taking the offensive in Asia Minor.

Persian Wars: Greeks Triumph at Plataea originally appeared on About.com Military History on Friday, August 27th, 2010 at 01:00:25.

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Vietnam War: Share Your Story

The Vietnam War helped define a generation of Americans and Vietnamese. In our new Vietnam: Share Your Story section we invite veterans and those from the home front to share their experiences about this divisive conflict. This is a place for all those involved to communicate their personal stories and those of family members who may not have made it home.

Photograph Courtesy of the National Archives & Records Administration

Vietnam War: Share Your Story originally appeared on About.com Military History on Wednesday, August 25th, 2010 at 01:00:26.

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War of 1812: Winder Routed at Bladensburg

August 24, 1814 - Brig. Gen. William Winder (right) is defeated at the Battle of Bladensburg. Pressing up the Chesapeake Bay, British forces under Maj. Gen. Robert Ross began landing at Benedict, MD, on August 19, 1814. Moving against Washington, DC, they encountered little resistance until reaching Bladensburg on August 24. Here they were opposed by a largely militia force led by Winder. Poorly deployed in a series of defensive lines, the American troops were driven back one line at a time by Ross' veteran forces. Though the Americans defense inflicted greater casualties than sustained, the bulk of Winder's men fled the field with only Commodore Joshua Barney's sailors fighting to the last. With the Americans scattered, Ross entered Washington that night and promptly burned the White House, Capitol, and Treasury Building. Withdrawing the next day, the British were ultimately halted at North Point and Fort McHenry that September.

Photograph Courtesy of the Library of Congress

War of 1812: Winder Routed at Bladensburg originally appeared on About.com Military History on Monday, August 23rd, 2010 at 01:00:21.

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Peninsular War: Wellesley Holds at Vimeiro

August 21, 1808 - Lt. Gen. Sir Arthur Wellesley wins the Battle of Vimeiro. Landing in Portugal in early August 1808, Wellesley assumed a position near the village of Vimeiro. Marching north from Lisbon, Maj. Gen. Jean-Andoche Junot sought to expel the British. Arriving at Vimeiro, he intended to attack the village while sending a brigade on a wide flanking march to capture unoccupied heights north of the town. This maneuver was spotted by Wellesley who sent three brigades to the ridge. In response, Junot weakened his assault force to reinforce the flank attack. Rather than wait for the flanking columns to be in place, he immediately began attacking British positions in front of Vimeiro. These efforts were defeated in detail. When the flanking force finally met the enemy, it too was turned back. Though Wellesley wanted to pursue the beaten enemy, he was superseded in command during the battle by the aged Gen. Sir Harry Burrard who ordered him to hold his position. Burrard was soon joined by Gen. Sir Hew Dalrymple. These senior commanders soon concluded the controversial Convention of Sintra with Junot which saw the French surrender but be allowed to return to France with the spoils of their campaign.

Peninsular War: Wellesley Holds at Vimeiro originally appeared on About.com Military History on Saturday, August 21st, 2010 at 01:00:29.

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Northwest Indian War: Wayne Wins at Fallen Timbers

August 20, 1794 - Maj. Gen. Anthony Wayne (right) wins the Battle of Fallen Timbers. Educated as a surveyor, Wayne was appointed colonel of the 4th Pennsylvania in early 1776 and sent north to take part in the invasion of Canada. After the defeat at Trois-Rivières, he commanded at Fort Ticonderoga that winter before being promoted to brigadier general. Taking command of the Pennsylvania Line in Gen. George Washington's army, Wayne fought in the Battles of Brandywine and Germantown later that year. Wintering at Valley Forge, Wayne played a key role at the Battle of Monmouth in 1778. In 1779, Wayne was tasked with recapturing Stony Point on the Hudson River. Devising a daring plan, he successfully stormed the position that July. Sent south in 1781, Wayne operated in Virginia and later took part in the victory at the Battle of Yorktown. Promoted to major general after the war, he was recalled to service in 1792 to improve American fortunes in the Northwest Indian War. Relentlessly drilling his force, he defeated the enemy at Fallen Timbers in 1794 and brought the war to a close the following year. Wayne died in early 1796 while returning from the frontier.

Photograph © 2008 Patricia A. Hickman

Northwest Indian War: Wayne Wins at Fallen Timbers originally appeared on About.com Military History on Thursday, August 19th, 2010 at 01:00:44.

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