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Rangers from A Company, 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, conducts live fire and night operation training during 2nd Battalion’s Task Force Training at Yakima Training Center, Washington, 27 March 2013. (U.S. Army photo by SPC Liam Mulrooney)
Colonel Bill Veenhof (right), Air Component Commander of Joint Task Force Games, briefs North American Aerospace Defense Command Deputy Commander Lieutenant-General Marcel Duval (left) about air operations for the Olympics using a floor-based map at the Integrated Security Unit Headquarters in Richmond, B.C., Jan. 25, 2010. Operation PODIUM is the Canadian Forces contribution to the overall security of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in support of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). The Air Force’s contribution is two-fold: The Air Component Command of Joint Task Force Games, which provides airlift, medical evacuation and area surveillance for the RCMP, and NORAD, which will ensure airspace security. In preparation for the Games, security and public safety agencies from all levels of government are working together to ensure they are prepared to respond to any potential emergency on land, sea or in the air. The scope and scale of these Games will make it the largest domestic security operation to date in Canadian history. (Photo by Master Corporal Andrew Collins, 14 Wing Imaging)
Rangers from A Company, 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, conducts live fire and night operation and Fast Rope Insertion and Extractions (FRIES) training during 2nd Battalion’s Task Force Training at Yakima Training Center, Washington, 04 April 2013. (U.S. Army photo by SGT Mikki Sprenkle) Released by LTC Brian DeSantis, Regimental Public Affairs Officer
The Chevrolet Task Force pickup truck was the successor to the Advance Design. This one was seen at the Maldon American Car Show.
http:/www.usaraf.army.mil
By Troy Darr
Public Affairs Officer
Joint Task Force-East
NOVO SELO, Bulgaria — U.S. and Bulgarian military personnel joined together for two symbolic ceremonies Sept. 27 and 28 as exercise Lion Strike came to an end.
First, Joint Task Force-East celebrated the ribbon-cutting ceremony for a humanitarian project at a kindergarten in Mokren, Bulgaria. Eleven U.S. Navy personnel from Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 40, otherwise known as SeaBees, finished an extensive renovation of the school during the exercise.
The children from the school, along with parents, teachers, school director, local officials and U.S. and Bulgarian military personnel, crowded the small courtyard during the ceremony.
"We say in the United States that the children are our future," said Army Lt. Col. Bruce Sones, commanding officer for JTF-E "Lion Strike".
"We hope through the efforts of those involved in this project that the improved environment created for teaching the children will contribute to the children's development as they grow and become leaders in your society."
The school director, Margarita Nicolova, thanked the SeaBees and then presented them with a picture painted by the children, a CD of Bulgarian folk music, a photo of the children and a glass vial filled with Bulgarian soil.
Of the soil, she said, "Wherever you go, you know you'll have a piece of Bulgaria with you."
The school children then sang several songs for the audience and the ribbon was cut. But, there was another surprise for the children, a HMMWV full of gifts. All of the soldiers, sailors and airmen participating in the exercise had contributed money to buy much-needed school supplies and educational toys for the school.
"We will maintain what you have done, and promise to continue with improvements," said Emil Enchev, mayor of Mokren. "Hopefully we will continue working together in the future."
The next day, all JTF-E "Lion Strike" participants, both U.S. and Bulgarian, came together again, this time to commemorate the end of the exercise during the closing ceremony.
During the ceremony Sones and Col. Biser Kalinov, chief of Training, Bulgarian Land Forces, presented certificates of achievement to 14 U.S. Soldiers and 16 Bulgarian soldiers for their efforts during the exercise.
"During this training, we had the opportunity to gain military experience from the leading force in NATO - the United States Military, and to show that while representing a small army, the Bulgarian officers, Non-commissioned officers and soldiers are honorable partners and excellent professionals," said Kalinov, who spoke first during the ceremony.
He was followed by Sones, who echoed Kalinov's feelings.
"This closing ceremony does not mark the end of a training opportunity or a farewell to relationships fostered," said Sones.
"In our minds, it marks the hopeful commencement of future training opportunities to be conducted between our nations."
"We can truly say the professionalism and generosity of the Bulgarian Land Forces is unrivaled," he continued.
"We know the strong relationship between the United States and Bulgaria, as demonstrated during this exercise, will continue to grow, and we look forward to training and serving with you in the years to come."
Afghan soldiers from 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade and Afghan Border Patrol agents make their way to conduct a mission in Shaleh, Afghanistan, April 14, 2008. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Johnny R. Aragon/Released)
Task Force Phoenix Soldiers had long journeys to the locations they will be operating out of during their deployment to the Middle East. Here they get a little help from the U.S. Air Force. First Lt. Christopher Tinklenberg, from B Company, 1st Battalion, 171st Aviation Regiment (General Support Aviation Battalion), tries to get some rest in an Air Force C-130 cargo plane en route to his duty station in the Middle East. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. 1st Class William Pace)
Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to Task Force Red Dragon return to Virginia and reunite with loved ones and fellow Soldiers Sept. 25, 2022, in Sandston, Virginia, after serving on federal active duty since November 2021. More than 1,000 Virginia and Kentucky National Guard troops under the command of the Lynchburg-based 1st Battalion, 116th Infantry Regiment, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team conducted security operations throughout the Horn of Africa and provided the East Africa Response Force in support of the U.S. government for crisis response throughout East Africa. A transfer of authority ceremony with the New York Army National Guard’s 1st Battalion, 69th Infantry Regiment was conducted Sept. 19. More Soldiers will return to Virginia in the coming weeks after completing administrative tasks transitioning them back to a traditional National Guard status, but an exact date for their return has not been finalized. Members of the Virginia Defense Force volunteered their time to assist with traffic management and parking. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. 1st Class Terra C. Gatti)
Just because it’s still winter doesn’t mean you can’t get ready for spring. Here are five garden tasks you can do now before spring arrives
Cleaning garden tools for spring
Mid-winter is tough. You’ve been cooped up inside for weeks and spring is finally on the horizon, so you really have an itch to go out and get an early start on the spring garden.
Unfortunately, Old Man Winter gets his full 12 weeks and, just to prove he’s still in charge, makes February and early March the coldest and most unsettled portions of the season. More often than not, that “early start” you had to have becomes your first setback of the year.
But just because getting out and planting isn’t an option, that doesn’t mean you have to sit around and stare out the window waiting for signs of spring. There’s actually a whole bunch of things you can do now so when that first day of the new season arrives you’re ready to get out and get to work in the garden. Here are five you can do now to get your garden off to a running start in spring.
1) Refresh your potting soil
It’s easy to save money be renewing old potting soil
Have some pots with the remnants of last fall’s annuals? How about planters with perennials that kicked the bucket for whatever reason? Save yourself some money, recycle it and it’ll be as good as new again.
Despite what you’ve heard from “Big Soil” (the potting soil producers), unless, you’re running a highly specific plant-breeding operation, potting soil is easy to renew and perfectly safe for most all plants.
To get started, pull the dead plant matter and screen the old potting soil for old roots, weeds, grubs and other undesirable stuff. If the soil is dry, mix in a little water to moisten and then blend in 25% fresh compost or some slow release fertilizer. Let it sit for a couple days to “marinate” and it’s good to go for spring.
If you think the old soil has weed seeds or you had problems with insects or soil-borne fungus last season, sterilize it first by putting it in a black plastic bag (lawn & leaf bags are perfect) and leaving it in the sun for a couple weeks. Even in really cold weather the combination of heat and cold swings will sterilize the soil perfectly.
YouTube has lots of videos on different ways to renew your potting soil.
2) Clean up your growing space(s)
Clean up your growing space before spring gets here
Whether it’s a greenhouse, a potting room, patio, or just a spot in the window, stuff tends to pile up winter. Now’s a good time to inspect, clean and inventory your pots both for seed starting and transplants moving back outdoors.
While you’re at it, if you’ve got plants inside for winter or an abundance of houseplants, see who needs trimming, dividing and/or re-potting before the longer, warmer days kick off a new growing season.
You may also find you’ve got an excess of plants that you can trade with your friends and neighbors. And if you like to trade plants, you might also check out your favorite social media network for plant trading forums. I find it’s a good way to use excess plant stock to get some new things for next to nothing. My favorite is the Take a Plant Leave a Plant subreddit on Reddit.
3) Clean, sharpen and oil your tools
Clean, sharpen, repair and oil your garden tools
Hand tools like pruning shears, garden scissors, hori hori and grafting knives, hand trowels, tillers, etc. should be cleaned, sharpened and oiled. Wash off the dirt and grime with dish soap and water. For rust, use steel wool to scour it off. For tough, built up sticky stuff like sap and plant oils, soak them for an hour in rubbing alcohol to soften the build-up, then use a rag to wipe it off.
Metal parts should be rubbed with a machine oil like 3-in-1 to inhibit rust and moving parts like hinges, springs and joints, should be oiled or sprayed lubricant as well.
Long handle tools – shovels, hoes, forks, etc. – also need to be cleaned, sharpened and oiled.
Additionally, if it’s a wood handled tool, check the condition of the wood. Over time the waterproof coating on the handle comes off (especially if you’re like me and leave your tools out in the rain) and the exposed wood will shrink and decay.
If the handle is still firm but drying and cracking, coat it with a good wood oil like linseed (my preference) or Danish wood oil to weatherproof it. If the wood is soft and bendy or splitting, it’s time to replace the handle. You can pick up a new handle at your local garden supply for about 1/3rd the cost of a new garden tool, so if the head of the tool is still in good shape, replacing the handle is well worth a few bucks and a little time. If you’ve never replaced the handle on a garden tool, here’s a good video tutorial.
4) Prune, trim and transplant before things really get growing
Trim, prune and transplant over grown shrubs and hedges
Pruning, trimming and digging aren’t much fun when the weather is cold and yucky, but doing it now is better for the plant because growth is slow and there’s a lower risk shock, pests, fungus and the like getting into the newly trimmed wood.
Trimming is not only easier when the plant has fewer (or no) leaves, but you can also trim a little more heavily than you would during the growing season which provides the dual benefits of no ugly bald spots or holes in the foliage in spring, as well as allowing you to go longer without trimming again.
Transplanting is a little more work in winter than spring, but it gives you an opportunity to move plants that are outgrowing the space, or didn’t quite work where you originally planted them. The plant will be dormant or semi-dormant so even if you hack up the root ball a bit, you’ll have a lower risk of root shock than you would if the plant is actively growing.
5) Sow longer season seeds now
Sow seeds for long maturity flowers and vegetables early
Of course, now is the time to get early spring seeds started so you can move them outside as soon as the weather will let you, but you can also get a head start on those longer season veggies and flowers that need warm soil and 80 to 90 days to mature.
You can start long season tomatoes, eggplant, peppers, herbs like oregano and thyme, and flowers like geraniums (pelargoniums), begonias, snapdragons (antirrhinum) now and transplant them in mid-spring and you’ll start seeing fruits and flowers 30-45 days earlier than you would if you waited for warmer weather.
These plants generally require warmer soil temperatures and more light than early season seedlings, so you might want to put them on a seedling heat mat or in a brightly lit, warm room for best results.
— § —
So there you have it. Just because mid-winter is cold and icky, that doesn’t mean you can’t get started on the spring garden now. Busy yourself with the items on this list and you’ll be ready to hit the garden running the moment spring arrives!
sagesacre.com/2021/02/09/five-garden-tasks-before-spring-...
http:/www.usaraf.army.mil
By Troy Darr
Public Affairs Officer
Joint Task Force-East
NOVO SELO, Bulgaria — U.S. and Bulgarian military personnel joined together for two symbolic ceremonies Sept. 27 and 28 as exercise Lion Strike came to an end.
First, Joint Task Force-East celebrated the ribbon-cutting ceremony for a humanitarian project at a kindergarten in Mokren, Bulgaria. Eleven U.S. Navy personnel from Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 40, otherwise known as SeaBees, finished an extensive renovation of the school during the exercise.
The children from the school, along with parents, teachers, school director, local officials and U.S. and Bulgarian military personnel, crowded the small courtyard during the ceremony.
"We say in the United States that the children are our future," said Army Lt. Col. Bruce Sones, commanding officer for JTF-E "Lion Strike".
"We hope through the efforts of those involved in this project that the improved environment created for teaching the children will contribute to the children's development as they grow and become leaders in your society."
The school director, Margarita Nicolova, thanked the SeaBees and then presented them with a picture painted by the children, a CD of Bulgarian folk music, a photo of the children and a glass vial filled with Bulgarian soil.
Of the soil, she said, "Wherever you go, you know you'll have a piece of Bulgaria with you."
The school children then sang several songs for the audience and the ribbon was cut. But, there was another surprise for the children, a HMMWV full of gifts. All of the soldiers, sailors and airmen participating in the exercise had contributed money to buy much-needed school supplies and educational toys for the school.
"We will maintain what you have done, and promise to continue with improvements," said Emil Enchev, mayor of Mokren. "Hopefully we will continue working together in the future."
The next day, all JTF-E "Lion Strike" participants, both U.S. and Bulgarian, came together again, this time to commemorate the end of the exercise during the closing ceremony.
During the ceremony Sones and Col. Biser Kalinov, chief of Training, Bulgarian Land Forces, presented certificates of achievement to 14 U.S. Soldiers and 16 Bulgarian soldiers for their efforts during the exercise.
"During this training, we had the opportunity to gain military experience from the leading force in NATO - the United States Military, and to show that while representing a small army, the Bulgarian officers, Non-commissioned officers and soldiers are honorable partners and excellent professionals," said Kalinov, who spoke first during the ceremony.
He was followed by Sones, who echoed Kalinov's feelings.
"This closing ceremony does not mark the end of a training opportunity or a farewell to relationships fostered," said Sones.
"In our minds, it marks the hopeful commencement of future training opportunities to be conducted between our nations."
"We can truly say the professionalism and generosity of the Bulgarian Land Forces is unrivaled," he continued.
"We know the strong relationship between the United States and Bulgaria, as demonstrated during this exercise, will continue to grow, and we look forward to training and serving with you in the years to come."
Digitised image from the Town Hall Photographer's Collection - GB127.M850
The Town Hall Photographer’s Collection is a large photographic collection held in Manchester City Council’s Central Library archives, ranging in date from 1956 to 2007.
The collection consists of tens of thousands of images, covering the varied areas of work of Manchester Corporation and latterly, Manchester City Council.
The photographs were taken by staff photographers, who were tasked to document the work of Corporation/Council departments and, in doing so, captured many aspects of Manchester life and history, including significant changes to the Manchester landscape.
The collection includes many different formats from glass negatives, to slides, prints, CDs and even a couple of cine films.
What is especially exciting is that the majority of these images have never before been available in a digital format and therefore have only ever been seen by a handful of people.
A team of dedicated Staff and Volunteers are currently working on the systematic digitisation of the negatives held within the collection.
This album represents the result of their work to date.
This is a Malie Tasker Monster High Novi Star hybrid I made. Check out her video here. ---> www.youtube.com/watch?v=oLE2DsRDzFM
Task Force Leader Soldiers from the 101st Airborne Division conduct training for the Call for Fire Lane during Cadet Field Training, May 31, 2022. (U.S. Army Photo by Michelle Matos)
Up-armoured vehicles begin Afghanistan operations
The first of the enhanced Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance (Tracked) [CVR(T)] fleet is now operational on the front line in Afghanistan.
The up-armoured vehicles are giving extra protection to the soldiers of the 9th/12th Royal Lancers, as they provide security in the Nahr-e Saraj (North) district of Helmand province.
The main task of the 9th/12th Royal Lancers is to overwatch the battlespace either side of Highways 1 and 611, the two main supply routes that run through the Task Force Helmand area of operations.
BAE Systems has upgraded the armour on all five vehicles that make up the CVR(T) family - Scimitar, Spartan, Samson, Sultan and Samaritan - through an Urgent Operational Requirement process worth around £30m. CVR(T) is on display in the UK for the first time this week at the DSEi defence and security equipment show, currently taking place in London.
As part of the contract, the vehicles have been re-hulled to give better mine-blast protection for troops, and improved armour added for enhanced resistance to blasts and ballistics, as well as new mine-blast protection seating in every position in every variant. Other enhancements include repositioned foot controls and a revamped fuel system.
Scimitar Mark 2 builds on a number of upgrades that have previously been made to the CVR(T), which address the problems experienced while operating in the harsh Afghan environment. These previous upgrades have included improved power output, new gearboxes and transmissions, air-conditioning, improved communications, air filters and night-vision systems.
The Scimitar Mark 2s are proving a hit with the troops. Sergeant Matthew Pook, aged 31, from Hinckley in Leicestershire, has served on operations in Kosovo, Iraq and Bosnia and has seen previous versions of the vehicle in action. He said:
"Significant progress has been made with the vehicle since I first used it. It makes you feel more confident when out on the ground. The old ones needed regular maintenance and fixing, which is hard work at the end of a day."
Trooper Ashley Doyle, aged 21, from Plymouth, praised the changes to the vehicle. He said:
"Where we operate, it's a lot safer to move around in vehicles because they act as a deterrent against the insurgents. This new vehicle can cope with all the terrain in the Green Zone, even irrigation ditches, because of the new suspension."
9th/12th Royal Lancers' tour has been varied but they have used the CVR(T) in its classic reconnaissance role, providing security in convoy support.
Lieutenant Ed Aitken, aged 25, from London, is Troop Leader of 1st Troop, Formation Reconnaissance Squadron:
"Our area of operation is 250 square kilometres so the mobility the CVR(T) has allows us to have an effect on the area that we wouldn't otherwise achieve," he said. "The Highway is an arterial supply route so security is essential. Without vehicles such as this, it wouldn't be possible."
[Picture: Petty Officer (Photographer) Hamish Burke, Crown Copyright/MOD 2011]
Two extra pictures here from my most recent photoshoot, and featuring my most favourite model of 2024, my way of celebrating Hogmanay and welcoming 2025. Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to view my work over the year.
Let’s say that in this scene, the Sea King has been tasked to transport urgently needed blood products from Aberdeen to Gilbert Bain Hospital in Lerwick.
Rangers from A Company, 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, conducts live fire and night operation and Fast Rope Insertion and Extractions (FRIES) training during 2nd Battalion’s Task Force Training at Yakima Training Center, Washington, 04 April 2013. (U.S. Army photo by SGT Mikki Sprenkle) Released by LTC Brian DeSantis, Regimental Public Affairs Officer