Category Archives: Army

Annual Armed Forces Day Cross-Band Test Set for May 7 – 8

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NATIONAL — The US Department of Defense will host this year’s Armed Forces Day (AFD) Cross-Band Test, Friday and Saturday, May 7-8, in recognition
of Armed Forces Day on May 15. The event is open to all radio amateurs. For more than 50 years, military and amateur stations have taken part in this exercise, designed to include amateur radio and government radio operators alike.

The AFD Cross-Band Test is a unique opportunity to test two-way communications between military and amateur radio stations, as authorized under FCC Part 97 rules. These tests provide opportunities and challenges for radio operators to demonstrate individual technical skills in a tightly controlled exercise in which military stations will transmit on selected military frequencies and will announce the specific amateur radio frequencies being monitored.

The schedule of military/government stations taking part in the Armed Forces Day Cross-Band Test and information on the AFD message is available on the MARS website at, http://www.dodmars.org/home/armed-forces-day-2021.

ADEQ to present webinar on Waters of the United States rule proposal

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On December 11, 2018, the EPA and Department of the Army proposed a rule revision for the Waters of the United States (WOTUS), with the goal of providing a clear, understandable and implementable definition.

During February 2019, ADEQ held stakeholder meetings in Phoenix, Flagstaff and Tucson to listen to stakeholder comments regarding the proposed rule revision. For more information about these meetings, including comments submitted by Arizona stakeholders, visit the website at azdeq.gov/wotus.

ADEQ reviewed the submitted comments and collaborated with other state agencies to draft Arizona’s response to the rule revision. ADEQ will host a webinar on Friday, April 19 at Noon to share this information with Arizona stakeholders.

On the day of the webinar, you can see it here. You can also call in by phone at 240-454-0879 and use Access code 803 335 479.

Robert Martin Pena obituary

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We are saddened by the loss of our brother, Robert M. Pena, in the early morning hours of Saturday, November 10. Though he will be dearly missed, we are grateful that the Lord saw fit to end his lingering illness and take him home.

Bob was born in Williams to Ramon and Inez Pena. They lived in Ash Fork until 1961 when the family moved to Williams. Bob entered Williams High School as a Freshman and graduated in 1965.

Bob joined the army in May of 1966 and attended Basic Combat Training at Fort Bliss, Texas. He served with the 2nd Battalion, 8th Artillery in Korea until October 1967. He served at the 47th General Hospital in Denver, Colorado until his honorable discharge on May 16, 1969.

After his discharge, he attended Yavapai Community College until he was accepted in the Forestry Program at Arizona State University. While working for the Coconino National Forest, he attended Northern Arizona University where he studied education. He continued his Forest Service career at the Tonto National Forest. He relocated to the Lincoln National Forest in Alamogordo, New Mexico. Bob began his forest service career as a Hot Shot and later traveled as a fire consultant.

After retiring from the Forest Service, he continued his passion by teaching forestry at the New Mexico State University-Alamogordo.

After his stroke, Bob returned to his family home in Williams where he passed away peacefully in his sleep. He will be missed for his animated personality, great stories and jokes. He was also an avid photographer.

He was preceded in death by his mother and father, Ramon and Inez Pena and his sister Rachael McHenry. He is survived by daughter Amy Pena of Austin, Texas, Son Andrew Pena of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, his brother John and wife Phyllis Pena of West Palm Beach Florida, his sister Anna and brother-in-law Travis Dick of Williams, Arizona and many nieces and nephews.

Services will be held on November 23rd at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, 900 W. Grant Street in Williams, Arizona. Rosary begins at 1:30 p.m. followed by Mass at 2 p.m. Military graveside services will take place at the Williams Cemetery at 3 p.m. Celebration of his life will follow at St. Joseph’s Hall.

Agencies Safely Dispose of Grenade at Schuff Steel

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FLAGSTAFF – On August 2, 2017 around 9:10 am Deputies responded to Schuff Steel in Bellemont, AZ for a report of a found hand grenade in a construction area. The grenade was located by employees while they were installing new equipment. The grenade was partially exposed above ground in an industrial area. Deputies secured the scene and evacuated the immediate area. Members of the Flagstaff Police Department Bomb Squad and Navajo Army Depot (NAD) Explosive Ordinance Division responded.

The device was a WWII era hand grenade and appeared to be intact. The grenade was secured in an explosives safe container and transported to NAD where it is scheduled to be destroyed.

Trump takes heat from Bergdahl lawyer for calling him a traitor

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Defense attorney for Bowe Bergdahl—Eugene Fidell—is publicly berating Donald Trump for remarks in which he calls Bergdahl a “…dirty, rotten traitor.”

According to a report in the Army Times, Fidell said that Bergdhal cannot respond to the comments because he is currently under an Article 32 investigation to determine if charges should be brought. Fidell said that Trump’s remarks threaten Bergdahl’s right to a fair trial.

The remarks were in response to a video released by the Wall Street Journal of a town hall meeting in which Trump said:

We get a traitor named Bergdahl, a dirty, rotten traitor, who, by the way, when he deserted, six young, beautiful people were killed trying to find him.

Trump has used this example on his campaign trail over the past few months. In July he quipped that he would send Bergdahl back even if they do not want him.

Bergdahl disappeared in Afghanistan on June 30, 2009 and spent five-years in alleged captivity as a prisoner of war. He was traded for five Taliban terrorists. Fidell said that no soldiers were killed searching for Berghdahl.
soldiers-killed1The six soldiers in question are Staff Sergeant Clayton Bowen, 29, Private 1st Class Morris Walker, 23, Staff Sergeant Kurt Curtiss, 27, 2nd Lieutenant Darryn Andrews, 34, Staff Sergeant Michael Murphrey, 25, Private 1st Class Matthew Martinek

Bergdahl is now assigned to a desk job at U.S. Army North at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, Texas while he awaits charges of once count of desertion with intent to shirk hazardous duty and one count of misbehavior before the enemy.

Bowe Bergdahl gets leave cut short when found during a pot raid.

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2014-8aug-07-bowe-in-uniform-ft-sam-nbcMendocino County, CALIFORNIA — Bowe Bergdahl, the U.S. Army deserter who was traded for four terrorists, was “detained” in Mendocino County, California at a marijuana raid while on leave.

According to FOX news, the Mendocino County Sheriff’s office took Bergdahl into custody during a raid in Redwood City by the county’s Marijuana Eradication team. The team found 180 mature marijuana plants growing at the house.

It was determined that Bergdahl was not part of the operation and was released to the U.S. Army North command where he is stationed. Sheriff officials said it is not unusual to release persons who might find themselves in a situation where they did not know the plants were growing.

Army spokesperson Cynthia O. Smith confirmed to FOX news that Bergdahl was returned to his duty station at Fort Sam Houston in Texas and has not been charged with any crime involving his time on leave.

Williams remembers those who passed

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20150525aaWILLIAMS — After the graduations, the parade, the roping and all of the other Memorial weekend activities, Williams ended with a memorial service to honor those who went to serve our country and did not return.
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Veterans and the families of loved ones who have passed gathered in the Williams Cemetery to honor their memory. The solemn occasion was accompanied with a 21-gun salute and the playing of taps by Lu Carle. Volunteers assisted in the placing of flags to mark the resting places of veterans. Some with only a small marker to indicate their presence.
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The event was scheduled by “Perico” Avila and the American Legion Cordova Post #13. Father Killian of St. Joseph The Worker Catholic Church gave the invocation.

Unfortunately, due to a scheduling conflict, we could not get the names of all of the participants.

Texas Governor orders Texas State Guard to monitor Jade Helm

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mrap-mohaveThe Raw Story web site proclaims:

Paranoid Texans grill Army spokesman on Jade Helm 15 exercise that’s sparking fears of military takeover

At least in their headline. In the text they become “concerned citizens.” They continue on expressing the believe that United Nations Agenda 21 is a “conspiracy theory” even though it is clearly documented (PDF) by the United Nations itself. Interestingly they even use an Alex Jones video of the event.



Broadcast live streaming video on Ustream

The concerns expressed by the Texans, however, seem to have reached the office of Texas Governor Greg Abbott who has ordered the Texas State Guard to monitor the Jade Helm operation. The statement from the office of the governor reads, in part:

Following discussions aimed at ensuring Texans are fully informed on Operation Jade Helm 15, Governor Greg Abbott today met with Major General Gerald “Jake” Betty, Commander of the Texas State Guard, and directed him to monitor the Operation.

It also provides a link to Governor Abbott’s full directive to General Betty.

The Texas State Guard is not to be confused with the Texas National Guard. The Texas State Guard is one of the true militias formed in compliance with 32 U.S.C. §109.

Is Jade Helm operation a casual exercise or prelude to martial law?

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OPINION
Updated: 4/2/2015, 9:10 a.m.

300-jade-helm

But in republics there is more vitality, greater hatred, and more desire for vengeance, which will never permit them to allow the memory of their former liberty to rest; so that the safest way is to destroy them or to reside there.—The Prince, Nicolo Machiavelli CHAPTER V

Since the Daily Mail news story on Operation Jade Helm (PDF), the blogosphere has exploded with every possibility of conspiracy.

Concerns in the southwest are not totally unfounded; particularly in light of the Bundy Ranch episode last year on March 27. One communist web site, relying heavily on reports from the Southern Enriched-By-Taxpayer-Dollars Law Center, was stressed that the militia was actually doing what it is supposed to do. Stopping national government encroachment. The government-approved Federalist papers as, well as those Federalist Papers not so well-known, make that clear.

One can certainly question the premise of “Master the Human Domain.”

According to the Mail, the operation scheduled from July 15 to September 15 will feature:

  • Operation Jade Helm will see 1,200 service members including Green Berets and SEALs and special forces from the Air Force and Marines in July
  • Soldiers armed with blank rounds will operate in and around towns in Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, California, Nevada, Utah and Colorado for 8 weeks
  • The so-called Realistic Military Training has some residents fearful the drill is a preparation for martial law

The premise of this operation is that Texas has been invaded by a “hostile force” and has to be retaken.

Lieutenant Colonel Mark Lastoria denounced this as a prelude to martial law in Stars and Stripes.

Army Lt. Col. Mark Lastoria, a USASOC spokesman, confirmed that there is an upcoming exercise called Jade Helm 15 which is scheduled to take place this summer at locations in Texas, Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, Colorado, California and Nevada. But he denied the event is preparation for some sort of military takeover.

A judge in Texas apparently agrees.
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Wyatt J. Martin killed in action in Afghanistan

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morris-martinPHOENIX – Governor Jan Brewer ordered flags at half-staff for the death of an Arizona soldier. Specialist Wyatt J. Martin of Mesa was killed on Friday, December 12 along with Sgt. 1st Class Ramon S. Morris of New York city. The pair died as a result of a homemade bomb in Parwan Province in Afghanistan.

Specialist Martin joined the Army in August of 2012. He was assigned to the 3rd Cavalry Regiment of the 1st Cavalry in June 2014.

The proclamation of the governor reads:

I have ordered that flags at all state office buildings be lowered to half-staff from sunrise until sunset Monday, December 15, 2014, in honor of United States Army Specialist Wyatt J. Martin, 22, of Mesa, Arizona.

Specialist Martin died Friday, December 12, in Parwan Province, Afghanistan, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. According to initial reports, Specialist Martin died of injuries sustained when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle.

He was assigned to A Company, 3rd Engineer Battalion, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.

Please join me in offering a prayer for Specialist Martin, for his loved ones, and for all the men and women who have risked and given their lives to preserve and protect freedom throughout the world.