thedrifter
01-24-06, 08:35 AM
January 30, 2006
Marine News Briefs
Drinking age debate
Two New Hampshire state representatives faced off over a plan to lower the drinking age for military members.
Rep. Jim Splaine, D-Portsmouth, is sponsoring the plan. He said Jan. 17 that it is unconscionable that 18-, 19- and 20-year-old service members are put in harm’s way, then treated with disrespect when it comes to drinking.
In 1983, Splaine sponsored the legislation that increased the drinking age to 21 but now says he has concluded it was an experiment that doesn’t work.
However, Rep. Terie Norelli, D-Portsmouth, told the House Judiciary Committee that 29 states lowered the drinking age for the military in the early 1970s, and many soon saw an increase in drunken-driving accidents.
That’s no way to thank young people in the military, she said.
Academy sentries no more
A Naval Academy tradition that lasted 155 years has come to an end.
The Marines of the United States Naval Academy Company, Marine Barracks Washington, were released from their security duties in a Jan. 13 ceremony. They are being replaced by enlisted sailors.
The leathernecks have provided security at the gates and for dignitaries’ visits and special events on the Annapolis, Md., campus since before the Civil War.
Dozens of military installations across the nation have turned to civilian security officers in recent years, and the Navy is leaving that option open for the academy.
The U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., brought on a private security firm in 2004.
The sentries will bolster U.S. forces stretched thin by deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan.
According to a Corps news release, the company was disestablished as part of the Fleet Assistance Program, a Marine Corps headquarters directive that supplies the operating forces with more Marines from the infantry and military police military occupational specialties.
“Obviously, we can use those Marines in more significant roles,” said Gary Solis, a West Point professor and former official historian for the Corps who frequently lectures at the Naval Academy. “But it’s too bad a tradition like that has to end.”
Some get incorrect W-2s
About 1,000 Marines will receive corrected W-2 forms, a Jan. 17 Corps-wide message said.
MarAdmin 17/06 said wage information was not reported on the tax forms of Marines who received combat-zone tax exclusions, lump-sum leave, selective re-enlistment bonuses, separation pay and disability severance pay from Dec. 22-31, 2005.
“Affected Marines must use the corrected W-2 to file their 2005 tax returns,” the message said. “If affected Marines have already used the erroneous W-2 to file their 2005 tax returns, they may be required to file an amended return for 2005 and should consult with a qualified tax preparer for advice.”
‘Superman’ rescue
A leatherneck stationed at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, met the Japanese man whose life he had saved more than a month earlier, a Marine Corps news release said.
Sgt. Bryan Stinger, with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 312, met Masayoshi Tanabe at the air station Jan. 10. Stinger saved Tanabe from a fire Nov. 5, the release said.
According to the report, Tanabe was filling a generator that had been leaking fuel without his knowledge when his pants caught fire.
Stinger was nearby when he heard screams.
“When I looked over to see what was going on, I saw flames rising about three to four feet high around a black car,” said Stinger, who was a volunteer firefighter before joining the Corps.
Stinger grabbed a fire extinguisher and asked the bartender to call the fire department. He battled the fire until emergency personnel arrived.
Unable to communicate with the Japanese firefighters, Stinger left the scene in their control and returned to his meal.
The 21-year-old Marine said he did what anyone else would have done, but Tanabe credits Stinger with saving his life.
“I thought he was superman,” Tanabe said.
Scammers pose as Marines
The old “Nigerian prince” scam is making the e-mail rounds again, but this time the prince has been replaced by a Marine in a swindle to get recipients to reveal their bank account information, a Jan. 18 Consumer Affairs report said.
Officials at the Internet security firm Sophos say they have intercepted a sudden burst of spam e-mails, purportedly from a Sgt. Richard Murphy of the “Military Engineering Unit” in Iraq.
In a variation of what’s known as the standard 419 scam, the e-mail promises the recipients mountains of cash if they turn over bank account information and pay some “processing” fees.
“We have about $15 million that we want to move out of the country. My colleagues and I need a good partner, someone we can trust. This is a risk-free and legal business (oil money),” the message reads.
Security experts say scammers simply change their approach from time to time.
CNO promotes 3/1 doc
Sacramento, Calif., native Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class Morgan Bradley was meritoriously promoted at Haditha Dam, Iraq, by the chief of naval operations Jan. 3.
Adm. Michael Mullen and Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy Terry Scott stepped off a helicopter and made their way to an awaiting formation of corpsmen from 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines.
“You should be proud of [Bradley]; he is a reflection of the kind of people we have representing the Navy,” Mullen said. “Your reputation is what makes the Navy what it is today.”
He then read aloud the warrant making Bradley a petty officer second class.
Bradley also earned the Navy Commendation Medal with combat “V” device for his action risking his own life to help wounded Marines during the battle for Fallujah in November 2004.
Marine News Briefs
Drinking age debate
Two New Hampshire state representatives faced off over a plan to lower the drinking age for military members.
Rep. Jim Splaine, D-Portsmouth, is sponsoring the plan. He said Jan. 17 that it is unconscionable that 18-, 19- and 20-year-old service members are put in harm’s way, then treated with disrespect when it comes to drinking.
In 1983, Splaine sponsored the legislation that increased the drinking age to 21 but now says he has concluded it was an experiment that doesn’t work.
However, Rep. Terie Norelli, D-Portsmouth, told the House Judiciary Committee that 29 states lowered the drinking age for the military in the early 1970s, and many soon saw an increase in drunken-driving accidents.
That’s no way to thank young people in the military, she said.
Academy sentries no more
A Naval Academy tradition that lasted 155 years has come to an end.
The Marines of the United States Naval Academy Company, Marine Barracks Washington, were released from their security duties in a Jan. 13 ceremony. They are being replaced by enlisted sailors.
The leathernecks have provided security at the gates and for dignitaries’ visits and special events on the Annapolis, Md., campus since before the Civil War.
Dozens of military installations across the nation have turned to civilian security officers in recent years, and the Navy is leaving that option open for the academy.
The U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., brought on a private security firm in 2004.
The sentries will bolster U.S. forces stretched thin by deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan.
According to a Corps news release, the company was disestablished as part of the Fleet Assistance Program, a Marine Corps headquarters directive that supplies the operating forces with more Marines from the infantry and military police military occupational specialties.
“Obviously, we can use those Marines in more significant roles,” said Gary Solis, a West Point professor and former official historian for the Corps who frequently lectures at the Naval Academy. “But it’s too bad a tradition like that has to end.”
Some get incorrect W-2s
About 1,000 Marines will receive corrected W-2 forms, a Jan. 17 Corps-wide message said.
MarAdmin 17/06 said wage information was not reported on the tax forms of Marines who received combat-zone tax exclusions, lump-sum leave, selective re-enlistment bonuses, separation pay and disability severance pay from Dec. 22-31, 2005.
“Affected Marines must use the corrected W-2 to file their 2005 tax returns,” the message said. “If affected Marines have already used the erroneous W-2 to file their 2005 tax returns, they may be required to file an amended return for 2005 and should consult with a qualified tax preparer for advice.”
‘Superman’ rescue
A leatherneck stationed at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, met the Japanese man whose life he had saved more than a month earlier, a Marine Corps news release said.
Sgt. Bryan Stinger, with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 312, met Masayoshi Tanabe at the air station Jan. 10. Stinger saved Tanabe from a fire Nov. 5, the release said.
According to the report, Tanabe was filling a generator that had been leaking fuel without his knowledge when his pants caught fire.
Stinger was nearby when he heard screams.
“When I looked over to see what was going on, I saw flames rising about three to four feet high around a black car,” said Stinger, who was a volunteer firefighter before joining the Corps.
Stinger grabbed a fire extinguisher and asked the bartender to call the fire department. He battled the fire until emergency personnel arrived.
Unable to communicate with the Japanese firefighters, Stinger left the scene in their control and returned to his meal.
The 21-year-old Marine said he did what anyone else would have done, but Tanabe credits Stinger with saving his life.
“I thought he was superman,” Tanabe said.
Scammers pose as Marines
The old “Nigerian prince” scam is making the e-mail rounds again, but this time the prince has been replaced by a Marine in a swindle to get recipients to reveal their bank account information, a Jan. 18 Consumer Affairs report said.
Officials at the Internet security firm Sophos say they have intercepted a sudden burst of spam e-mails, purportedly from a Sgt. Richard Murphy of the “Military Engineering Unit” in Iraq.
In a variation of what’s known as the standard 419 scam, the e-mail promises the recipients mountains of cash if they turn over bank account information and pay some “processing” fees.
“We have about $15 million that we want to move out of the country. My colleagues and I need a good partner, someone we can trust. This is a risk-free and legal business (oil money),” the message reads.
Security experts say scammers simply change their approach from time to time.
CNO promotes 3/1 doc
Sacramento, Calif., native Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class Morgan Bradley was meritoriously promoted at Haditha Dam, Iraq, by the chief of naval operations Jan. 3.
Adm. Michael Mullen and Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy Terry Scott stepped off a helicopter and made their way to an awaiting formation of corpsmen from 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines.
“You should be proud of [Bradley]; he is a reflection of the kind of people we have representing the Navy,” Mullen said. “Your reputation is what makes the Navy what it is today.”
He then read aloud the warrant making Bradley a petty officer second class.
Bradley also earned the Navy Commendation Medal with combat “V” device for his action risking his own life to help wounded Marines during the battle for Fallujah in November 2004.