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A U.S. Army National Guard Soldier with Task Force Spartan, U.S. Army Central, assists families recently evacuated from Afghanistan as they arrive at Camp Buehring, Kuwait, Aug. 23, 2021. U.S. Army Soldiers continue to work with their U.S. Central Command and Department of State teammates to support Afghanistan evacuation efforts with transportation, security, logistics and medical assistance at locations in Kuwait. (U.S. Army Photo by 1st Lt. James Mason)
The Bonus Army
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In 1924, a grateful Congress voted to give a bonus to World War I veterans - $1.25 for each day served overseas, $1.00 for each day served in the States. The catch was that payment would not be made until 1945.
Members of the Bonus Army
encamp within sight of the
Capitol, 1932
However, by 1932 the nation had slipped into the dark days of the Depression and the unemployed veterans wanted their money immediately.
In May of that year, some 15,000 veterans, many unemployed and destitute, descended on Washington, D.C. to demand immediate payment of their bonus. They proclaimed themselves the Bonus Expeditionary Force but the public dubbed them the "Bonus Army." Raising ramshackle camps at various places around the city, they waited.
The veterans made their largest camp at Anacostia Flats across the river from the Capitol. Approximately 10,000 veterans, women and children lived in the shelters built from materials dragged out of a junk pile nearby - old lumber, packing boxes and scrap tin covered with roofs of thatched straw.
Discipline in the camp was good, despite the fears of many city residents who spread unfounded "Red Scare" rumors. Streets were laid out, latrines dug, and formations held daily. Newcomers were required to register and prove they were bonafide veterans who had been honorably discharged. Their leader, Walter Waters, stated, "We're here for the duration and we're not going to starve. We're going to keep ourselves a simon-pure veteran's organization. If the Bonus is paid it will relieve to a large extent the deplorable economic condition."
June 17 was described by a local newspaper as "the tensest day in the capital since the war." The Senate was voting on the bill already passed by the House to immediately give the vets their bonus money. By dusk, 10,000 marchers crowded the Capitol grounds expectantly awaiting the outcome. Walter Waters, leader of the Bonus Expeditionary Force, appeared with bad news. The Senate had defeated the bill by a vote of 62 to 18. The crowd reacted with stunned silence. "Sing America and go back to your billets" he commanded, and they did. A silent "Death March" began in front of the Capitol and lasted until July 17, when Congress adjourned.
A month later, on July 28, Attorney General Mitchell ordered the evacuation of the veterans from all government property, Entrusted with the job, the Washington police met with resistance, shots were fired and two marchers killed. Learning of the shooting at lunch, President Hoover ordered the army to clear out the veterans. Infantry
Troops prepare to evacuate the
Bonus Army
July 28, 1932
and cavalry supported by six tanks were dispatched with Chief of Staff General Douglas MacArthur in command. Major Dwight D. Eisenhower served as his liaison with Washington police and Major George Patton led the cavalry.
By 4:45 P.M. the troops were massed on Pennsylvania Ave. below the Capitol. Thousands of Civil Service employees spilled out of work and lined the streets to watch. The veterans, assuming the military display was in their honor, cheered. Suddenly Patton's troopers turned and charged. "Shame, Shame" the spectators cried. Soldiers with fixed bayonets followed, hurling tear gas into the crowd.
By nightfall the BEF had retreated across the Anacostia River where Hoover ordered MacArthur to stop. Ignoring the command, the general led his infantry to the main camp. By early morning the 10,000 inhabitants were routed and the camp in flames. Two babies died and nearby hospitals overwhelmed with casualties. Eisenhower later wrote, "the whole scene was pitiful. The veterans were ragged, ill-fed, and felt themselves badly abused. To suddenly see the whole encampment going up in flames just added to the pity."
References:
Bartlett, John Henry, The Bonus March and the New Deal (1937); Daniels, Roger, The Bonus March; an Episode of the Great Depression (1971).
Took this with my camera phone, so quality isn't great.
Wasn't too sure what to make of this bike at first - was it really a Harley I wondered? Well it is. It is a Harley MT350 Trail Bike - used by the Army. Could this be the coolest bike to do a "round the world" trip on?
Major Ivor Lopez debriefs the troops after the first phase of the Advance to Contact
Royal Gibraltar Regiment trains in the UK
Soldiers from the Royal Gibraltar Regiment have recently completed their annual four-week exercise in the UK where they have made use of training facilities not available on The Rock.
After their mandatory shooting tests on the impressive ranges at Hythe in Kent, the troops moved on to Sennybridge to make full use of the huge Brecon Beacons training area.
Unusually, the weather in South Wales was warm and sunny, so sunny in fact that a ban was imposed on the use of certain types of weapons because of the increasing number of large-scale grass fires.
During the exercise, the regiment was visited by its Commander-in-Chief, His Excellency Vice Admiral Sir Adrian Johns, and by the British High Commissioner to The Gambia, Mr Phil Sinkinson. Sir Adrian said:
"I have been very impressed with the regiment's skills and motivation. Clearly, the exercise has been planned to gain maximum value from those facilities which are not available in Gibraltar."
Whilst at Hythe, every soldier completed his annual combat marksmanship test which included distances of 50, 100, 200, 300 and 400 metres. To fail at any one of these distances meant that a soldier failed the whole test.
Major Ivor Lopez said:
"Hythe's ranges are excellent. As well as the rifle ranges, there are ranges for sniper weapons, for our underslung grenade launchers and for our light support weapons.
"There is also a full scale 'village' in which we can practise our internal security tactics. We don't have these facilities in Gibraltar so we have to exploit this opportunity to the full."
After a long journey to the Sennybridge Training Area in South Wales, the troops stepped off the coach straight onto the training area and into five days of living 'in the field', carrying everything they needed on their backs.
During this period they practised all their basic infantry skills and relearned the art of living out in the open. Although the days were sunny and warm, night-time temperatures often dropped below zero.
The sheer size of the training area provided an opportunity to brush up on map-reading skills, so essential for soldiers who are not used to such an expanse of training land or navigating using 1:50000 maps.
It also tested the Regiment's ability to communicate by the use of radios across an area many times the size of Gibraltar. Major Lopez continued:
"We have brought twenty Moroccan troops with us and that also makes us think about how we work in a multinational environment.
"Soldiers' basic skills are learned here in Sennybridge and then adapted for use in Gibraltar. And everything that will be used later in the year on Exercise Jebel Sahara has been learned here."
A further advantage of training in the Brecon Beacons is that most of the Army's infantry courses are held there. The better the regiment's troops get to know Brecon, the better their chances of doing well on their career courses.
By the middle of the third week of the exercise, the troops were carrying out company-sized attacks using 'live' ammunition and 'live' hand grenades.
In one attack, three sections each of eight men made their way up a tight valley, knowing that the 'enemy' was hidden somewhere and was about to open fire on them.
The 'enemy' was represented by electronically-operated pop-up targets but as each soldier ran and dived for cover before opening fire with at least thirty 'live' rounds, there had to be some very real safety measures in place.
Private Daniel Rodgers said:
"I've enjoyed all the live firing. A lot of it has been exciting and I've learned a lot of new skills.
"At the recruit infantry training centre you don't do the training for Fighting In Built Up Areas and I've never done platoon attacks with 'live' ammunition. I'm really enjoying it."
Running separately from the main exercise is the six-week Junior Non-Commissioned Officers' cadre. This tough course helps the regiment select which of its top Private soldiers will achieve their promotion to Lance Corporal.
Several members of the cadre have already dropped off the course and others have injured themselves so the numbers are falling.
Private Luke Willis said:
"We know that promotion depends on how well we do here. Everyone wants to get one of the top slots. The first week was tough as we had snow and ice at night but since then the weather has improved - until today!"
The final days of the exercise saw the cadre setting off on its final task whilst the main regimental exercise was moving into its most intense phase.
The officers who planned the annual exercise had aimed for something that was 'ambitious but achievable' and, clearly, they had certainly achieved their aim.
The Regiment's Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Colin Risso, said:
"This exercise qualifies our unit and our people for all our operationally-mandated tasks in Gibraltar and goes further in preparing every commander and soldier for wider professional utility.
"Let's be under no illusion, this is serious business and we will seize every opportunity we can to achieve the best results."
I took these pictures Dec. 2011 of the Army Navy Club. Didn’t know at the time that it would be practically destroyed before anyone could do much about it. We asked the guard at the gate if we could go inside and was denied. The building and grounds looked very unkept but it all, what I seen, looked structurally sound. I have a strong feeling that the developer was lying about the condition of the building and what their real intentions for the building were. I also suspect there was money pasted under the table for them to proceed as far as they got.
Corporal Tony Easton from 1 Canadian Engineer Regiment (1CER) checks around a corner in a make-shift village at the Marine Corps Training Area Bellows as part of non-live fire military training activities near Kaneohe Bay, Marine Corps Base Hawaii during Exercise Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) on June 27, 2014.
Photo: Sgt Matthew McGregor, Canadian Forces Combat Camera
Le caporal Tony Easton du 1er Régiment du génie de combat (1er RGC) vérifie un coin de rue dans un village de fortune dans le secteur d’entraînement Bellows des Marines, dans le cadre d’activités d’entraînement militaire sans tir réel près de la baie Kaneohe, à la base du Corps de la Marine d’Hawaï pendant l’Exercice Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC), le 27 juin 2014.
Photo : Sgt Matthew McGregor, Caméra de combat des Forces canadiennes
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no locker layout here. all military & civvie kit is all crammed into one metal locker.
supershit compared to pirbright.
U.S. Army National Guard Soldiers assigned to Task Force Red Dragon, Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA), conduct an Emergency Deployment Readiness Exercise (EDRE) at CSL Manda Bay, Kenya, June 17, 2022. During the EDRE, the East Africa Response Force (EARF) forward deployed from Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, to Manda Bay to exercise its capability to provide security augmentation while Soldiers with the EARF and CJTF-HOA security forces conducted presence patrols with Kenya Defense Forces and responded to multiple injects that included base defense drills. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Jeff Clements)
U.S Army Medical Research Unit: Improving malaria diagnosis in Africa, one lab at a time
By Rick Scavetta, U.S. Army Africa
OYUGIS, Kenya – Inside Rachuonyo district hospital, Simba Mobagi peers through his laboratory’s only microscope at a sick woman’s blood sample.
The 33-year-old laboratory technologist’s goal – rapidly identifying malaria parasites.
Dozens more samples await his eyes. Each represents a patient suffering outside on wooden benches.
Mogabi takes little time to ponder his workload. He quickly finds malaria parasites, marks his findings on a pink patient record and moves to the next slide. Much to his surprise, a U.S. Army officer arrives, removes his black beret and sets down a large box.
Inside Maj. Eric Wagar’s box is a new microscope – a small gesture within U.S. Army Medical Research Unit-Kenya’s larger efforts to improve malaria diagnostics in Africa.
For more than 40 years, USAMRU-K – known locally as the Walter Reed Project – has studied diseases in East Africa through a partnership with the Kenya Medical Research Institute.
Wagar heads USAMRU-K’s Malaria Diagnostics and Control Center of Excellence in Kisumu, a unique establishment begun in 2004 that’s since trained more than 650 laboratory specialist to better their malaria microscopy skills.
“Working with the Walter Reed Project is so good for the community, as it benefits the patient,” Mobagi said, who is looking forward to attending the center’s malaria diagnostics course. “Plus, having a new microscope improves our work environment. Work will be easier and we will have better outcomes.”
Back in Kisumu, wall maps mark the center’s success, with hundreds of trained lab technicians from more than a dozen countries across the African continent. International students have come from Ireland, the U.S. and Thailand.
Many students are sponsored through U.S. government aid programs aimed at reducing disease in Africa or by nongovernmental organizations. Most of the center’s $450,000 annual budget comes from the U.S. President’s Malaria Initiative. Other funding is from the U.S. Defense Department, NGOs and pharmaceutical companies.
For students to practice malaria identification, five Kenyan lab technicians work tirelessly to create a variety of blood specimens. Slides may show one or more of malaria’s several species – others are free of parasites. The majority of malaria cases are the falciparum species, but many people are co-infected with other species and it’s important for students to recognize that, Wagar said.
“At our course, lab students learn skills and habits that increase their ability to accurately detect malaria on blood slides. Yet, when they return to their local laboratories, they face the challenge of changing habits and procedures,” Wagar said. “Changing behavior is hard to do.”
In late-April, Wagar accompanied Jew Ochola, 28, the center’s daily operations manager to Oyugis, the district center of Rachuonyo that lies roughly 30 miles south of Kisumu in Kenya’s Nyanza province.
“First I do an assessment of the hospital’s lab, what procedures they have, the number of people on staff and the equipment they use,” Ochola said. “By partnering with laboratory managers, we hope to increase standards and improve efficient and effective diagnosis.
The goal is to lessen the burden of malaria on the local people.”
To mark progress, lab staffs must collect 20 slides each month that show properly handled blood samples. Monthly visits will mark performance improvement.
Through quality malaria diagnosis, USAMRU-K is part of a larger public health effort to reduce malaria’s impacts on Kenyan’s lives. Illness means paying for treatment and less wages earned, creating an impact on the economy.
“By mitigating a public health burden, people should have more time to grow food and have money for things other than medical care,” Wagar said. “We can’t expect to see change right away, but hopefully things will be a little bit better every month.”
Working with the Djibouti-based Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa and other DoD agencies, the center recently offered microscopy courses through U.S. military partnership events in Ghana, Nigeria and Tanzania. The effort supports U.S. Army Africa’s strategic engagement goal of increasing capabilities and strengthening capacity with the militaries of African nations, Wagar said.
“To date, that includes eight Kenyan military lab techs, 17 from the Tanzania People’s Defense Force and 30 Nigerians,” Wagar said.
Accurate diagnosis is also a key factor for military readiness, Wagar said. For example, a Kenyan soldier stationed in Nairobi – where malaria is less prevalent – is susceptible to the disease if posted elsewhere in the country.
“Improving malaria diagnosis within African military laboratories sets conditions for healthier troops,” Wagar said. “When forces are healthy, they are more capable to support their government and regional security.”
To learn more about U.S. Army Africa visit our official website at www.usaraf.army.mil
Official Twitter Feed: www.twitter.com/usarmyafrica
Official YouTube video channel: www.youtube.com/usarmyafrica
An Iraqi soldier attending the Iraqi Army Noncommissioned Officers Academy prepares to clear a room during room-clearing training at Camp Taji, Iraq, in support of Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve (CJTF-OIR), Nov. 1, 2016. CJTF-OIR is a multinational effort to weaken and destroy Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant operations in the Middle East region and around the world. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Craig Jensen)
Master-Corporal Samuel Abbott from 5 Combat Engineer Regiment conducts a radio check during the Basic Jungle Warfare course at the Centre d’Entraînement en Forêt Équatoriale, French Guiana on 18 October 2019.
Corporal Matthieu Racette, Canadian Forces Combat Camera
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Le caporal chef Samuel Abbott, membre du 5e Régiment du génie de combat, effectue une vérification radio dans le cadre du cours élémentaire de guerre de jungle au Centre d’entraînement en forêt équatoriale, en Guyane française, le 18 octobre 2019.
Photo : Caporal Matthieu Racette, Caméra de combat des Forces canadiennes
IS12-2019-0002-024
Army vs. Middle Tennessee State at Michie Stadium in West Point, New York, Sep. 5, 2020 (U.S. Army Photo by CDT Ellington Ward).
Soldater vid AJB genomför stridsskjutning med GRG under sin grundutbildning jägartjänst. Arméns jägarbataljon är ett förband med särskilt uttagning av personal som används mot kvalificerade mål som har mycket stor betydelse för en motståndares verksamhet, ofta inne på dennes eget område. Arméns jägarbataljon är en unik elit och finns vid detachement Norrlands dragoner i Arvidsjaur. Förbandet uppträder okonventionellt och verkar med hjälp av egna eller genom invisning av vapensystem som attackflyg och artilleri. Foto: Jimmy Croona / Combat Camera / Försvarsmakten
Estonian Army Recruits during their final exercise before graduating from Basic training – 11th September 2012
U.S. Army paratroopers assigned to the 173rd Airborne Brigade react to contact while participating in Exercise Immediate Response at Pocek Training Area, Slovenia, May 15, 2019. Exercise Immediate Response is a multinational exercise co-led by Croatian Armed Forces, Slovenian Armed Forces, and U.S. Army Europe. The logistics-focused exercise is designed to test and improve the ability to move forces and equipment rapidly from one location to another. The exercise will improve readiness and interoperability among participating allied and partner nations.
Private Kalab Wessling from the 6th Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment, takes aim during the Basic Sniper Course at Greenbank Training Area, Queensland.
Soldiers from the 6th Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment, completed the Basic Sniper Course to qualify as snipers in the Australian Army.
The course involved a theory module where participants learned about navigation by day and night, and were assessed on basic soldier skills.
The following module focuses on camouflage and concealment, judging distances, observation, stalking an enemy, and refining their marksmanship skills at various distances on the SR98 Sniper Rifle.
The Basic Sniper Course is competitive to ensure the Australian Army chooses the best for employment as Sniper Team Leaders, and only the most capable participants finish the course as qualified snipers.
Photos: Pte Jacob Hilton
U.S. Army National Guard Officer Candidates from Arizona, California, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas, Washington and Wisconsin conduct a confidence and rappel course as part of the consolidated OCS Phase III on Joint Base Lewis-McChord, August 1, 2018. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Spc. Bradey Petit)
Russian Army engineers conducting mine clearance of the Citadel of Aleppo – 2017
Photos: Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation
Basic Recce Course, June 2015
Members of The 3rd Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment participate in The Basic Recce Patrolman's Course which qualifies soldiers to perform tasks associated with reconaissance.
Norwegian Army Soldiers from the Telemark battalion training in Poland during Exercise Noble Jump 2019.
Photo: Sgt. 1st Class Michael O'Brien
British Soldiers from The Kings Royal Hussars, during a footpatrol while serving in Helmand Province, Afghanistan – September 2012
Crown copyright 2012
OBUA Training at Caerwent
Soldiers from A Coy 6Rifles during an OBUA training weekend – July 2013
MOD/Crown copyright 2013
Mongolian Soldiers from the Army Quick Reactionary Force (QRF) during a training exercise before deploying to Afghanistan with ISAF
In the red square. Bring my parents visit around moscow and luckily saw this unique marching by russian army
90 degree perfect!
US Marines, Instructors SOTG, demonstrates "snatching" techniques during crowd control tatics training in using Non-Lethal Weapons to Bangladesh Army personnel during NOLES-01-03...The US Marines are attached to the Special Operations Training Group (SOTG), III Marine Expeditionary Force (III MEF), Okinawa, Japan...The Non-Lethal Weapons Seminar (NOLES) held 09 September to 11 September 2003 is a US Army Pacific Command (PACOM) funded, US Marine Force Pacific (MARFORPAC) coordinaded initiative designed to improve the ability of the armed forces of all participating countries to conduct Humanitarian Assistance/Disaster Relief (HA?DR) and Peacekeeping Operation (PKO) Missions where civil unrest may create a potential force protection issue. The countries of USA, Bangladesh, Indonesia, India, Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka participated.
Russian Army Snipers live-fire training with the large caliber ASVK-M(Kord-M) Rifles at a military base in Tajikistan.
Photos: Russian Army
Latvian Soldiers from a 160 strong Infantry Battle Group during field training exercises for future deployment with the Swedish led EU Battle Group.
Swedish-led battle group will have 2400 Soldiers from Sweden, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Norway, Finland and Ireland serving in the Battle Group.
Photos: Normunds Mežiņš (Rekrutēšanas un jaunsardzes centrs)
Swedish Soldiers during operations in the Qush Tepa/Darzab area of Sar-e Pul Province of Afghanistan – 2012
Ukrainian Army during Peacekeeping operations with the United Nations in Liberia – Receiving their UN Medals
L-R
0.704 (musket ball) Brunswick 1886 - 1885
0.577 (Minie ball) Pattern Enfield 1853 - 1867
0.577 (cartridge) Snider-Enfield 1866 - 1880
0.577 Martini-Henri 1871 - 1891
0.303 Lee-Metford / Enfield 1889 - 1950s
7.62 NATO 1947 - Date
5.56 NATO 1985 - Date
Army vs. Air Force Football at Globe Life FIeld, Arlington, Texas. 06 November 2021. US Army Photo by CDT Tyler Williams.
A U.S. Army CH-47 Chinook heavy lift helicopter lifts off from Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan on Feb 29.
FORWARD OPERATING BASE SPIN BOLDAK, Afghanistan – Soldiers, with Blackfoot Company 2nd Battalion secure the area around an Afghan Border Police check point in order to enable the ABP to conduct a Traffic Control Point on a major highway Feb. 21 in the district of Spin Boldak, Afghanistan. A TCP is used to interdict contraband and disrupt insurgent movement. (U.S. Army Photo by Staff Sgt. Shane Hamann, 102nd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment.)