People across the nation and the world are rallying support for the family of Spc. Benjamin Neal who was killed in Afghanistan after his unit was attacked with an improvised explosive device.

The effort, which started on Facebook, is called "Lighting The Way To Bring Ben Home".

Leaving the porch light on until Ben is brought home. Just a silent way to show we're thinking of him, his family and his wife. Day and Night. Not to be turned off until he is able to come home to his family. Anyone that wants to participate is welcome.  Ben was a Orfordville native and a soldier in Afghanistan that was taken from us Wednesday.

The picture above is a map of locations of many of the supporters who have their lights on for Ben.  According to the Facebook page, over 5,000 people so far are participating.

I learned about the Porch Light Support after reading an article on The Janesville Gazette earlier today.

Gina Duwe writes, "Neal's wife and parents have returned from receiving Neal's remains on the East Coast, but it could be several days before his body is flown home, Eggleston said.  Local American Legion members stand ready to do whatever the family requests. The legion, the Orfordville Fire Department and villages of Orfordville and Footville have offered their support and services, Eggleston said.  "The major player in this is the family and the United States Army," he said. "We're just there for support to do whatever we can, whatever we're asked to do in addition to the military."

You can read more of the news story here.

To learn more about the Facebook effort go here.

To add yourself to the map go here.

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Today is the final day to register for the 2012 Milblog Conference and get early bird pricing.

The early bird registration discount ends at midnight tonight April 30th with ticket prices only $89.

After today prices go up to $110.

Tickets will get you the all Inclusive Conference Pass which includes the Friday night Dinner Reception & Milbloggie Awards, as well as the Saturday Breakfast, Lunch (sponsored by Wal-Mart) and the Conference.

Go to the Official Milblog Conference website for more information.

To register for the conference, go here.

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A Facebook support page has been created for Justin Lansford, a 22-year old 82nd Airborne Infantryman who lost part of his left leg on April 23, 2012, after his vehicle struck an improvised explosive device (IED).

SnellvillePatch reports:

A Facebook page has been created to support Justin Lansford, as he fights to recovery from injuries sustained during a roadside bomb in Afghanistan on April 23.

The page is entitled "Get well Justin Lansford," and after being created Thursday, more than 600 people have liked the page.

On the page are updates and well-wishes for Lansford, who graduated from Brookwood High in 2007, and whose parents still live in the Snellville area.

At the time of this post, the Facebook page has over 1,400 Likes.

You can connect with the "Get Well" page at https://www.facebook.com/GetWellJustinLansford

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Soldier's diary a hit on Twitter. The exploits of a First World War soldier are proving to be a Twitter hit.  Diary entries from Loughborough teacher William Grudgings are being posted on the site to give users a taste of his time serving with the Leicestershire Regiment, from April 1916.The tweeting, by Loughborough Carillon War Museum – which has been given his wartime diaries – began at the start of this month and he now has nearly 300 followers...
(Leicestershire)

Re-enactors breathe life into Civil War-era for curious Alexandria-area children. Ethan Ogletree loves short-sleeve shirts, so he wonders how people survived in the 1800s wearing wool clothing in the summer.  The 8-year-old Hadnot-Hayes Science Technology Engineering and Math Elementary third-grader learned Friday with his fellow classmates that soldiers during the Civil War wore wool jackets, and the pupils learned about life during that tumultuous period at a Civil War Living History event at the Kent Plantation House in Alexandria. The event is one of many being held in Central Louisiana this weekend to commemorate the Civil War...
(The Town Talk)

This Is What Happens When You Tag Along With The Afghan National Army. As I've mentioned before, my co-blogger TSO is embedded with U.S. Soldiers in A'stan and he's sending us his colorful dispatches. Here's the latest. ~ Jonn  Even before I made it out here (Forward Operating Base Andar) I had heard a Non Commisioned Officer (NCO) tell me how lucky I was to get embedded with Able Co, 3-66.  “Awesome unit, awesome leadership”, he said.  “They love the CO, but they worship the First Sergeant (1SG), dude is a stud.”
(Business Insider)

Social media complicate death notifications. The Army has a rigid process for notifying a soldier’s loved ones he or she has died, one that is widely regarded as solemn, sensitive and not to be circumvented.  Since 1966, soldiers have been dispatched to break this news in person on behalf of the U.S. military with the utmost care, face to face.  But the wife of a Fort Carson, Colo., staff sergeant killed in Afghanistan said she learned of his death after a soldier from his unit posted on her Facebook page that there was an emergency; they then spoke by phone...
(Army Times)

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Professional golfer Lexi Thompson is looking for a date, but instead of waiting for someone to ask her, she has taken to YouTube.

She's going to prom on May 18^th and she’s looking for someone special who she respects.

Someone in the military she says.

If you're up for the challenge, you need to be between the ages of 18 and 20.

Go to facebook.com/lexi and click on "Lexi's prom" under her timeline, then upload a photo and explain why you should be chosen for her date.

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Only 2 days left to register for the 2012 Milblog Conference and get early bird pricing.

The early bird registration discount goes through April 30, 2012 with ticket prices only $89. After April 30, prices go up to $110.

Tickets will get you the all Inclusive Conference Pass which includes the Friday night Dinner Reception & Milbloggie Awards, as well as the Saturday Breakfast, Lunch (sponsored by Wal-Mart) and the Conference.

Go to the Official Milblog Conference website for more information.

To register for the conference, go here.

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Ex-Marine Aims Camera At Self To Heal From The War. An ex-Marine filmmaker whose unit carried pocket digital cameras into some of the worst fighting in Iraq is using that footage, and post-war interviews, to open viewers' eyes about combat and help himself deal with the lasting emotional impact.  The videos are stark. One Marine is so badly hurt he filmed himself giving himself the Last Rites. Some of the fighters seem unaffected years later in civilian life, while others have gone through severe bouts of post-traumatic stress and one man, who in Iraq saved fellow Marines' lives, wound up in prison back home...
(NPR)

Civil War exhibit gives different perspective. COOKEVILLE -- A different perspective. That's what the latest exhibit at the Cookeville History Museum will offer regarding the great war between the states from 1861-1865. "It's a traveling exhibit put together by the Tennessee State Museum in commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the Civil War," Judy Duke, administrator of Cookeville museums, said. "It deals with the ordinary people who were left behind -- the women, children and elderly -- and how their lives were affected by the war."
(Herald Citizen)

War correspondent: 'If I don't tell the story, who will?' We were an odd trio, sitting in a hipster lounge in Washington's Dupont Circle neighborhood last November, smoking flavored tobacco, sharing war stories, oblivious to the people around us. Joao Silva, a photographer, was still getting treatment in Washington after stepping on a land mine in October 2010 in Afghanistan while on assignment for The New York Times. He lost both legs. A year later, Silva was in shorts, even though it had been snowing earlier in the day, and the disco lights kept catching the metal of his prosthetic legs in a dancing twinkle that matched our mood...
(The Republic)

Newspaper story helps connect WWII classmates. Until recently, Mervin Medine hadn't thought much about Nolan Ruiz since both of them were elementary school students 80 years ago. Then, a newspaper story brought Ruiz to mind, and told Medine something he didn't know.  Medine helped liberate his former classmate in World War II. Medine, 90, who lives in Baton Rouge, was a soldier in the Army 104th Infantry Division, which was fighting its way through Germany when, on April 26, 1945, they encountered a ragged column of military personnel marching westward. The Americans didn't open fire, because at this point in the war, many German soldiers were surrendering rather than continue what obviously was a lost cause...
(NECN)

Trolls target cancer victim on Facebook: Sick comments about girl who inspired William and Kate. A teenage cancer victim whose bravery inspired Prince William has become the latest target of internet trolls. Sick comments have been posted on the memorial website of Amanda Slann, who died of leukaemia at the age of 17 in February. The culprit has been reported to police but it is thought he may be using a fake name to avoid detection...
(Daily Mail)

Good Samaritan donates kidney to Army veteran. By mid 2011, it became clear Jennings needed a kidney transplant. And that's what prompted the newspaper article and a Facebook page, started by his wife Rebecca, “Veteran Seeking a Kidney.” "I had an interview with the dialysis center," said Jennings. And, in fact, he was all set to begin dialysis at Rhode Island Hospital, but something happened. The calls started pouring in to the hospital's transplant team -- more than 200 of them. "It was remarkable and I imagine that has a lot to do with John first of all being a first-rate human being but also I think the military connection appealed to a lot of people," said Dr. Paul Morrissey, Rhode Island Hospital...
(WHDH)

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I was very sorry to hear the sad news of Janet Manion's death, the founder of the Travis Manion Foundation.  Janet started the foundation after her son, 1st Lt. Travis Manion, USMC, was killed in action in  Iraq.

Via TravisManion.com:

On April 24, the Travis Manion Foundation lost its founder, chairman and visionary when Janet Manion, mother of 1st Lt. Travis Manion, passed away after a valiant battle with cancer. She died surrounded by her loving family in Doylestown, Pa., at the age of 58.

The Travis Manion Foundation’s board of directors, employees, and volunteers send our deepest condolences to Janet’s husband, Col. Tom Manion (Ret.), their daughter, Ryan Manion Borek, Ryan’s husband, David Borek, Janet’s granddaughters, Maggie and Honor Borek, and all of Janet’s relatives and friends.

The impact Janet Manion has had on our country is immeasurable. The wife of a Marine, Janet helped raise two wonderful children who put service to others before personal gain. Nothing was a greater source of pride to Janet than her family, which she demonstrated every day of her life.

Please visit TravisManion.com to read more.

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Hollywood Stars and 42 Film Screenings Mark Sixth Annual GI Film Festival, May 14 - 20, 2012, in Washington, DC. The award-winning GI Film Festival (GIFF), the nation's only military-themed film festival, is pleased to announce the full schedule of events for the 2012 event, which will feature premiere military film screenings, celebrity appearances, red carpet parties and more. The festival will take place Monday, May 14 through Sunday, May 20, 2012 in Washington, DC. For ticketing information and the program schedule, visit www.gifilmfestival.com...
(Sacbee)

Daily Mail journalist Toby Harnden's book on Welsh Guards fighting in Afghanistan is shortlisted for prestigious Orwell Prize. An acclaimed book about British troops in Helmand written by Daily Mail journalist Toby Harnden has been shortlisted for this year’s Orwell Prize, Britain’s most prestigious award for political writing.  ‘Dead Men Risen: The Welsh Guards and the Defining Story of Britain’s War in Afghanistan’, published last March by Quercus was selected by a panel of three judges from a longlist of 18 books and a record number of 264 entries for the prize...
(Daily Mail)

Enmore journalist back from Helmand. A JOURNALIST from Sedgemoor is recuperating back home in the UK after her fifth tour to Afghanistan.Charlotte Cross, 39, originally from Enmore, toured the wartorn country as a Captain in the Territorial Army in 2006 before joining the British Forces Broadcasting Service as an embedded reporter in 2009. She said: “Having been present right at the start of the Helmand campaign it has been a real privilege to return so often as an objective observer with unhindered access across the whole area of operations...
(This is The West Country)

Sgt. Gary Stein will be barred from the military with no benefits. The U.S. marine who got into hot water by insulting President Barack Obama on Facebook has now been banned from all branches of the military and has lost his benefits. Earlier in April, Digital Journal reported that Sergeant Gary Stein made posts criticizing President Barack Obama on his Facebook page...
(Digital Journal)

Marine discharged for slamming Obama on Facebook. The Marine Corps said Wednesday it has decided to discharge a sergeant for criticizing President Barack Obama on Facebook. The Corps said Sgt. Gary Stein will be given an other-than-honorable discharge for violating Pentagon policy limiting speech of service members.T he San Diego-area Marine has served nearly 10 years in the Marine Corps. He has said he was exercising his free-speech rights...
(The Christian Science Monitor)

A soldier's sketchbook: Henry Buckle's images of the First World War. Henry Buckle was a whitesmith from Tewkesbury who volunteered for active service in September 1914. During his time in France and Belgium with the 5th Gloucesters, he created over 60 paintings which show daily life in the trenches...
(Telegraph)

Most serious charge in WikiLeaks case is retained. A military judge refused on Thursday to dismiss the most serious charge against an Army private accused in the biggest leak of government secrets in U.S. history. Col. Denise Lind rejected a defense motion to dismiss the charge of "aiding the enemy" during a pretrial hearing for Pfc. Bradley Manning. The charge carries a maximum penalty of life in prison. Manning also faces 21 other counts...
(FOX News)

Should we allow Facebook access for actively serving military personnel? The military has a very solemn, dignified way of notifying next-to-kin, but they need the time to make that happen — even if only the travel time to the spouse or loved one for the notification team. But Facebook is instant, so there’s no way for DoD to have responded faster. It’s the curse of openness vs. propriety.  There was a time, of course, when soldiers could only talk to home via snail mail letters (censored, of course) and the rare phone call. While this was hard on families and those serving, it did manage to help preserve operational security...
(ZDNet)

Historians re-enact Gallipoli battle on Twitter. Many Australians have attended remembrance ceremonies around the country. Tens of thousands more flock to the shores of Gallipoli every year to commemorate the horrors of 1915 when nearly 9,000 Anzac soldiers were killed fighting the Turks. This Anzac day, at least 5,000 Australians are expected to pour in for services at Anzac Cove and Lone Pine and a speech by the Prime Minister Julia Gillard...
(Radio Australia)

Diary of a Gallipoli soldier. As the nation pauses to remember those who fell in war, we take a look at the life of one soldier, Raymond Baldock, who landed at Gallipoli with the Anzacs...
(WAtoday.com.au)

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Old soldier desperate for return of war diary. Somewhere, lying unnoticed and gathering dust on a shelf, there's a small green notebook that records the story of the harrowing war years of an Ashburton man.  The book belongs to Don Thomson and the 94-year-old is desperate to get it back, Within its pages, in sketch and notes, are details of the events that shaped his time as a prisoner of war, firstly in Italy and later in Germany...
(Ashburton Guardian)

A war correspondent's reflection: If I don't tell the story, who will?  We were an odd trio, sitting in a hipster lounge in Dupont Circle, last November, smoking flavored tobacco, sharing war stories, oblivious to the people around us. Joao Silva, a photographer, was still getting treatment in Washington, D.C., after stepping on a land mine in October 2010 in Afghanistan while on assignment for the New York Times. He lost both his legs...
(Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

After war, Iraqis tell their tales through films. After Saddam Hussein's long, oppressive rule and the subsequent US invasion of Iraq in 2003 that ended only last year, Iraqi and Kurdish filmmakers seem to be in a hurry to make films -- on poison gas attacks on Kurdish villages, mass graves, Iraqi bloggers and even love stories.  "Halabja - The Lost Children" begins with a young man, Ali, visiting the cemetery. He stands in front of a gravestone and says: "Until two months ago, this was my grave." 
(Two Circles)

“War porn” and “who we are”. Be honest now: Were you shocked, or even surprised, at the Los Angeles Times story last week that included pictures of American soldiers posing with the severed body parts of Afghan men? In one, a bemused paratrooper poses with a corpse’s hand propped on his shoulder. In another, grinning soldiers hold up a disembodied leg.  The release of the pictures come just a few weeks after videos surfaced of American soldiers urinating on corpses. There’s a name for this phenomenon — “war porn”
(Philadelphia Daily News)

Facebook-style site connects troops, loved ones. Allee Campbell never thought she’d be part of the military community — until she fell in love with a Marine she met at a Toby Keith concert. Now the 20-year-old girlfriend of a first lieutenant is running CamoConnect, a social networking website for service members’ loved ones. Facebook just wasn’t cutting it after her boyfriend, 1st Lt. Mike Tozzolo — an assistant operations officer with Combat Logistics Battalion 11 — deployed to Afghanistan in 2010, just five days after they met...
(Marine Corps Times)

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By Sarah Blansett

The MilBlog Conference is getting close! 

Here are some items folks have been asking about.

GUEST SPEAKER!!!  Scott Waugh, Producer/Director of Act of Valor will be the guest speaker for this year’s program.  Mr. Waugh will do a Q&A with the bloggers about the making of this innovative movie with real Navy SEALs and answer questions from the audience.

Room Rates are about to expire!  Don’t forget to reserve your room by 26 APR to get the discounted rate!  Simply call the hotel to register and let them know you are with the MilBlog conference to receive the discount.

Registration hiccups:  For those of you trying to register with an APO address we will have this capability next year.  For the time being please use the address associated with whatever credit card you are using to secure your ticket.

Friday night only?  A couple people have asked about Friday or Saturday only tickets—tickets are for the entire conference only but we have extended the Early Bird registration period to 30 APR so you will still save some money if you choose to attend only Friday eve or Saturday during the day.

Don’t forget to check out the speaker line-up for the whole program here  and register today by clicking here.

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Army investigating improper death notification. An investigation is continuing into Fort Carson soldiers involved in using Facebook to tell the wife of another soldier that her husband was killed in Afghanistan. Army officials say Ariell Taylor-Brown of Mobile, Ala., learned of her husband's death through a chain of three soldiers and a Facebook message. Next of kin are supposed to be informed in person by uniformed personnel. An Army spokesman initially said Friday that the soldier who told Taylor-Brown was reprimanded, but military officials later said no reprimand had been issued and the investigation was continuing...
(Denver Post)

Navy shoots down veteran’s war stories. John Carl Pequignot, 85, of Fort Wayne has told many people he fought the Japanese in three major battles as a Navy corpsman during World War II and that he was injured three separate times. Depending on where he is discussing his war history, he may talk about when he was taken as prisoner of war and held in a camp in Luzon, Philippines, or sometimes it’s Guam.  The recounting of his military career often includes details about a clash where half of his face was blown off by a grenade. He underwent 27 reconstructive surgeries made possible by hip bone parts donated by more than a dozen Marines he saved, he has said...
(The Journal Gazette)

Be Wary Of How The Mainstream Media Covers Military Stories. That’s the difference between blogs and the media – the media would run the story regardless of the effect that it would have on the troops and the conflict in general. Blogs are generally more responsible, the rational grown ups, if you will. There are times that we discuss things for months before we publish a word, just among ourselves in the milblog community. It’s like I told Jake Diliberto (HuffPo) on Facebook one time, before I answer a question from the media, I think about what the troops would want me to say if they were asked the question...
(Business Insider)

Veterans tell their stories of war in 10-part radio series. Veterans from World War II and wars in Korea, Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan are sharing their war stories as part of a new 10-part radio series at St. Xavier University dubbed “Veteran Matters.”  Producer Peter Kreten said the veterans’ experiences are “very much” a part of our American history. “You can hear honest experiences,” Kreten said.  “You’re going to hear stories about being a sailor on the USS Bunker Hill; about Korea and running away from aircraft fire; and of the experiences from Army nurses.”
(Southtown Star)

LA Times Reporter Frames Horrific Aghanistan Photo Scoop. In an interview with the Washington Post, Pulitzer Prize winning LA Times foreign correspondent David Zucchino (pictured) shares some fascinating background information about how he obtained those grisly photos of U.S. soldiers posing in 2010 with the remains of Afghanistan insurgents. Although the reporter’s source, a one-time fellow member of the 82nd Airborne Division, came forward because he felt the pictures violated the U.S. Army’s general code of conduct, he also told Zucchino he recognized how a war-is-hell environment can lead to such objectionable behavior...
(Mediabistro)  

Civil War soldiers still telling stories. A cemetery may seem too quiet and serene a place to relieve the explosive action of the Civil War. But 150 years later, the numerous Union and Confederate soldiers resting around Athens have many stories still to tell. "Civil War Veterans at Rest: A Guide to Civil War Veterans and Soldiers Buried in the Athens City Cemeteries" provides 68 carefully documented biographical sketches of Civil War soldiers buried in Athens' three cemeteries...
(The Daily Post Athenian)

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Via Marines.mil

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif.  — An office adorned with colorful finger paintings can speak volumes of the person who works there.

A “daddy” necklace hangs on the wall, wooden shelves are stocked with parenting books and a Captain America motif sets a light-hearted mood in this office.

Most people would assume the office belonged to a proud parent. In this case, the assumption couldn’t be more accurate.

The National Fatherhood Initiative selected Navy Lt. Dennis Kelly, the chaplain of 1st Radio Battalion and 1st Intelligence Battalion, as one of three finalists for the Military Fatherhood Award. The NFI is an organization that aims to improve the well-being of children by promoting responsible fatherhood.

According to their website, the Military Fatherhood Award recognizes and lifts up as an example, a military dad who displays an ongoing commitment and dedication to his children, makes extraordinary efforts to father from a distance or while deployed, successfully balances military and family life, and makes an effort to mentor other military fathers and military children. All contestants submitted an essay about fatherhood and three participants were chosen as finalists.

“The three finalists are all very involved with their kids,” said Kelly, 38, from Dallas. “They’re not just a provider, but are emotionally and intimately involved with their kids.”

The award winner will be decided by popular vote on NFI’s Facebook page starting April 23 and will continue until May 20.

Full press release here.

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Voting in the 2012 Annual Milbloggies closes today at 8pm eastern time.

Winners will be announced on Friday, May 11, at the Milblog Conference taking place in Arlington, Virginia.  The results are sealed until the reception. 

If you would like to attend the conference, you may register here.

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Presented by USAA, Conference Showcases the Best of the Military Blogging Communit

MCLEAN, Va., – April 19, 2012 – Military.com announced the speaker line up for their annual MilBlog Conference today. The conference, which will be held May 11 and 12 at the Westin Arlington Gateway Hotel is in its seventh year and is the premiere event for the military blogging community comprised of service members, veterans, military spouses, military parents and military supporters.

The discussion panels include information on the military and the media, the rise of social media, veterans’ benefits and a look back at key bloggers who have made an impact over the past 7 years.

“This conference showcases the best in the military blogging world and brings together some prolific writers who really ushered in the era of blogging as an alternative to mainstream media,” said T. McCreary, President of Military.com and retired Navy Admiral.

United Services Automobile Association (USAA) will serve as the presenting sponsor again this year. 

“USAA is proud to join forces with Military.com on this important gathering, said Mike Kelly, Executive Director for USAA’s Military Communications team. “This conference attracts world-class bloggers who have led the charge in shifting the way we as a military culture communicate. They’ve played an important role in how the world views the stories of our service members and their families, driving greater awareness and understanding of the challenges they face.”

The discussion panels are listed below and registration information is located here.

Panel 1
Military and the Media
Panel will examine the changing role of traditional and nontraditional media and their coverage of defense issues and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.  How did the different kinds of media coverage change and evolve over the past 10 years of conflict?  What were the key accomplishments and what will defense coverage look like going forward as a new defense posture and budget realities emerge in a post-war era?
Moderator: Jamie McIntyre, (NPR)
Panel: Jim Dao (NY Times), Greg Jaffe (Washington Post) Austin Wright (Politico.com)

Panel 2
Benefits: Promises Delivered, Delayed or Dismissed?
After a decade plus of combat operations the issue of how we care for our veterans is taking center stage.  From changing retirement time frames to medical care and wounded warrior programs, this panel will examine if the promises made to our fighting forces are being delivered, delayed or dismissed. 
Moderator: Rick Maze (Military Times Newspapers)
Panelists: VADM Norbert R. Ryan, Jr., USN-Ret (MOAA), Tom Tarantino (IAVA), Brandon Friedman (VA), Terry Howell (Military.com), Kristle Helmuth (Author: The Story of a True American Hero, His Princess, and their Struggle with TBI/PTSD), Chazz Pratt (USAA’s Military Veterans Community Manager)

Panel 3
Rise of Social Media in Service Branches
From the Arab Spring to the Twitter war between NATO and the Taliban; social media is the next emerging voice in covering world news and defense issues.  Is social media a source for news?  An extension of a blog?  Is it the front lines of direct communication between entities, or just an information source?  This panel will look at how the service branches have responded to the rise in social media and examine how social media is changing reporting and information dissemination in the defense arena.
Moderator: Frederick P. Wellman, Moderator (ScoutComms)
Panelists: LCDR Chris Servello (Navy), Greg Reeder (Marine Corps), Chris Lagan (Coast Guard)

Panel 4
Pen and Sword: MilBloggers Who Had An Impact
Discuss with key military bloggers their experiences blogging from and about the front lines.  This panel will look at the evolution of milblogging and how it changed the information flow out of war zones as well as how it made stories that became headlines.  We’ll talk to key bloggers about their process, the roadblocks they faced from the military and how they evolved as writers and newsmakers in their own right.
Moderator: Jacey Eckhart (SpouseBUZZ)
Panelists: Alex Horton (VA), Matthew Burden (Blackfive), JP Borda (Milblogging.com), Matt Gallagher (IAVA), Tara Crooks (Army Wife Network- Loving A Soldier, USAA’s Military Spouse Community Manager), and 1st Lt. Hannah He (US Army)

Media interested in covering the conference should contact press@military-inc.com to arrange access.

About Military.com
Military.com is the nation’s largest military and veteran online news and membership organization serving active duty personnel, reservists, guard members, retirees, veterans, family members, defense workers and those considering military careers. Military.com enables Americans with military affinity to access their benefits, advance their careers, enjoy military discounts, and stay connected for life. Military.com is a business unit of Monster Worldwide Inc. More information is available at www.military.com.

About USAA
USAA provides insurance, banking, investment and retirement products and services to 9 million members of the U.S. military and their families. Known for its legendary commitment to its members, USAA is consistently recognized for outstanding service, employee well-being and financial strength. USAA membership is open to all who are serving or have honorably served our nation in the U.S. military – and their eligible family members. For more information about USAA, or to learn more about membership, visit usaa.com.

###

Links:
MilBlogging Conference: http://milblogconference.milblogging.com/
Military.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/Militarydotcom
Military.com Twitter: http://twitter.com/MilitaryDotCom
Military.com Press Center: http://www.military.com/aboutus/twocolumn/0,15929,Press-Room,00.html

Contact:
Military.com
Sarah Blansett
703-346-8523
sarah.blansett@militaryadvantage.com

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Afghan war photos: social media response. In the wide-ranging discussion about The Times front-page story on U.S. soldiers posing with the body parts of Afghan bombers, readers zeroed in on the decision to publish the photos -- and whether publication would help ensure that alleged security shortcomings were not repeated, or whether publication could endanger troops. As Times Editor Davan Maharaj said in a live online discussion Wednesday: "The two photos published were chosen because they clearly and unambiguously depict conduct that the Army described as inappropriate."
(LA Times)

This Military Blogger Gets A Full-Blown 'Welcome To War' As He Arrives In Afghanistan. My co-blogger TSO writes that he has arrived in Afghanistan and that he’s in a bunker that smells like ass. I reported last week that he was deploying with the 3rd Expeditionary Sustainment Command from Fort Knox, Kentucky.  Here's TSO's fresh, unfiltered report from the 'Stan...
(Business Insider)

Human atrocities now more visible because of social media. Over the past two weeks, social networks (specifically Twitter) have seen the explosive popularity of three crucial tags: #KONY2012, #STOPKONY and #invisiblechildren. But what do they mean? You probably know about the Ugandan warlord Joseph Kony, who founded a radical military group called the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA). Since the LRA’s founding in 1987, Kony has ordered the abduction of about 20,000 children, according to data from the Notable Names Database (NNDB)...
(CardinalCourierOnline)

Is It Time to Delete Facebook? When I opened my laptop the other day and started my traditional newsgathering, I came across a disturbing story. Marine sergeant Gary Stein posted anti-Obama sentiments on his Facebook page and is now facing an "other than honorable discharge" from the military. This case raises a lot of questions. Do military officials have the right to criticize his or her commander-in-chief? Does being in the military mean sacrificing your First Amendment right to freedom of speech? Should a marine sergeant receive an "other than honorable" discharge just for something he posted on Facebook?
(Huffington Post)

Iran Turns Its Guns on Facebook. On April 17, Iran celebrated its National Army Day with military parades and a warning to its enemies, which apparently includes Facebook. Pictures from the military parade in the city of Isfahan show military jeeps carrying anti-Facebook banners, which declare that the social-networking site is one form of proof of the “soft war” Iran says its enemies have launched to bring down the Islamic establishment.  Facebook is very popular among Iranians, who have to access the site through anti-filtering tools...
(Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty)

Photo Mystery Solved, Then Doubted, Then Deciphered, Thanks To Readers. Remember when I declared a history mystery solved? Turns out I was wrong. Thanks to many Civil War buffs who commented on the story, we recognized a critical error.  It's not T.A. It's A.T.  The photo of the mystery soldier is a tintype, a direct positive of the scene, which produces laterally reversed images. The process produces mirror images of what they actually are — like belts, hats and, of course, initials. (The Library of Congress has a good explanation of this.)
(NPR)

Website helps vets share military stories. There’s probably no story more gripping than one told by a veteran of the armed forces. The amazing sights witnessed and heroic actions of those who served are by their nature extraordinary. In honor of veterans and their stories, one Litchfield man has created a new website that might become an online archive of their tales. Michael Morgan, owner of Shoal Creek Designs of Litchfield, helped organize and create mymilitaryhero.us, a site where veterans can submit their stories for the world to read...
(my journal courier)

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You can now cast your online vote for your favorite military blog in each category on the Milblog Conference website. 

Click here to vote.

Voting will close on Friday, April 20, at 8pm EST/5pm PST.

Just like last year, the names of winners will be sealed until Friday, May 11, where they will be revealed at the Seventh Annual Milblog Conference. 

After the voting closes, I won’t even know the results up until the winners are announced on Friday, so make sure to keep up with the Twitter hashtag #milblogcon for news being posted by bloggers at the Milblog Conference.

Winners are not required to attend the Milblog conference to receive an award.  Each finalist is welcome to send me an e-mail (milblogging@gmail.com) with their contact information or someone that is attending the conference who is entitled to accept a Milbloggies award on their behalf.

The results will be posted online after the Conference.

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Terrorist used Facebook, cellphone to escape from Pakistan jail. Islamabad:  Taliban militants had stormed a jail in Pakistan's northwest primarily to free Adnan Rashid, on death row for an attempt to assassinate former military ruler Pervez Musharraf, and who was in touch with the outside world through a mobile phone, Facebook and blogs.  Over 380 other prisoners along with Rashid had escaped from the Central Jail at Bannu in the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province yesterday.  Security officials have told the media that the Pakistani Taliban carried out the attack primarily to free Rashid, who was sentenced to death by a military court for the attempt on the life of Musharraf in 2003...
(NDTV)

An app for Fort A.P. Hill. The Army has launched a new app for what’s happening at Fort A.P. Hill.  Here’s some of the topics, according to a press release: chow, shopping, the post directory, attractions, recreation (hunting, fishing and gyms on post), training, and a calendar of events. In addition, a news section features top  stories via the installation’s website, Fort A.P. Hill blog, YouTube, Twitter feeds, and on the post’s and Army Flickr feeds...
(Fredericksburg.com)

Marine Leverages Military Skills to Launch Production Company After Several Shut Doors. Think your skills aren’t transferrable? Think again. Even if hiring managers fail to see the value of your comprehensive skill set to transition into media, the key is recognizing your own in order to connect the dots. Former Marine captain, Brian Iglesias, leveraged his military skills by forming his production company, Veterans Expeditionary Media, but not before having several doors slammed shut in his face...
(Mediabistro)

Wanted: Robot. Willing To Pay $2M. Hey you, robot enthusiast! Do you want two million dollars?  Can you build amazing robots?  If so, have we got the most awesome contest FOR YOU!  No, seriously.  This isn’t the premise for a 1980′s SciFi action flick.  This is for real, folks.  The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is offering millions to the person who creates a robot designed to handle disasters of epic proportion.  The kind humans can’t handle, no matter how noble or determined we are...
(Armed with Science)

New phishing scam targets military users, DFAS warns. A new phishing campaign is targeting military service members, retirees and civilian employees receiving disability compensation, the Defense Finance and Accounting Service warns.  The e-mail scam dangles the prospect of additional disability compensation in an effort to get recipients to give up their personal information, according to a post on DFAS' website, which urged anyone receiving such an e-mail not to respond to it...
(GCN)

WWII veteran shares his story. WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - More than 80 World War two veterans will be leaving for a trip of a lifetime Monday.  The veterans will be flying to Washington D.C. on Lafayette's first Honor Flight.  One of those veterans that will be going on the trip is Ralph Johnson of Lafayette. Sixty eight years have passed since veteran Ralph Johnson decided to serve his country. At 89 years old, Johnson remembers the day he left for World War Two like it was yesterday...
(WLFI18)

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Via DoD Live:

May 4th – 6th, thousands will gather for the air show at the Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point.  The show will celebrate the heritage of 100 years of Marine aviation.  Starting April 16th on the MCAS Cherry Point Air Show Facebook Page, join the Marines for the start of the first ever MCAS Cherry Point Air Show Scavenger Hunt.

In order to win, fans must find and post comments under clues for each participating page.  The fan who comments on each page’s post and is the first to comment on the last page of the scavenger hunt wins.

Full story here.

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Marine in trouble for tweet about Trayvon Martin shooting. A Marine at Twentynine Palms is facing punishment after making an "inappropriate" reference to the Trayvon Martin case in a Twitter message, the Marine Corps said Saturday. The Marine, a staff sergeant with 10 years in the corps, put a message on Twitter: "Rifle range all day today. Shooting black all day like George Zimmerman." Silhouettes on rifle range targets are painted black. Once his command found out about the post, he deleted the post, erased his Twitter account and took down his MySpace account...
(Los Angeles Times)

Sgt. Gary Stein Loses Bid For A Restraining Order To Stop His Discharge Proceedings. A Camp Pendleton Marine facing expulsion from the military for posting comments critical of President Barack Obama on Facebook lost his bid today for a restraining order to stop the discharge proceedings. Last week, a three-member military panel unanimously recommended that Sgt. Gary Stein, 26, be kicked out of the Marine Corps with an "other-than- honorable" discharge...
(Camp Pendleton Patch)

Why YouTube Has Become an Important Intelligence Source. A tall, muscular figure silhouetted against a palm-studded city block shoulders a rocket-propelled grenade launcher, aims and fires at a Syrian armored vehicle in the distance. The video of the attack, one of thousands posted on YouTube by the Syrian opposition, reveals the rebels’ growing capabilities and the wear-and-tear on the Assad regime’s forces, said Jeffrey White, a retired U.S. defense intelligence analyst. The Russian-made BMP infantry fighting vehicle was buttoned up tight, a sign the soldiers inside were wary, he said...
(Bloomberg)

Iowa Civil War exhibit features unique stories, artifacts (audio). A new exhibit — “Iowa and the Civil War, Nothing But Victory” — opens at the State Historical Society of Iowa Saturday. In the second of a two-part series, Radio Iowa’s Dar Danielson previews of some of the displays and other activities in the exhibit.  The exhibit features some of the personal stories from the thousands of Iowans who went off to war 150 years ago. Museum history curator, Jack Luftkin, says one of the more interesting tales includes an actual piece from a prison brought back from South Carolina by Iowan Samuel Byers...
(Radio Iowa)

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