What is “Stolen Valor” you ask?  Signed into law by President Bush in 2006, the Stolen Valor Act is a law that makes it a federal crime to lie about being a war hero or posing to be a war hero by wearing military medals that were never awarded.  Many bloggers from around the Military Blog community came together to call out the latest imposter, Michael Patrick McManus, who was finally nabbed by the FBI after posing as a war hero (watch video here).  Mrs. Greyhawk over at Mudville Gazette who has a knack for graphic design, even created a WANTED poster that went viral on the internet and in the news media (image above).  I have no idea what to even say about this guy, except: "kids, stay away from drugs".

A little advice: If you wanna fool people into thinking you’re a war hero, make sure to wear dozens of medals on your uniform that you’ve never earned like a Distinguished Service Cross (minimum: 2).  Also make sure to wear something around your neck that says you’re the "Commander of the British Empire". 

And if nothing else, don’t forget to sport a sweet goatee...

On a sidenote, I'm pretty sure the reporter who surprised Michael McManus at the door with a camera was half-expecting Michael to be wearing knight’s armor and speaking in old English.  I know I was.

Back in early December Google announced the integration of real-time search results from sites like Twitter.   The way it works, is if you’re searching for a term in Google (say,#MilitaryMon), the latest real time results will be displayed on the first page of Google from Twitter feeds.  It’s actually really cool because it allows people to find the latest breaking news or information straight from Google, instead of having to visit Twitter. 

I started tweeting over a year ago with @Milblogging and I can tell you first hand, Twitter brings so many benefits, especially to bloggers looking to expand their reach outside of just a web site.  Take a look at the screenshot above, taken earlier from Google when I typed in: milblogging.  Results from my Twitter feed appear on the first page of Google.

I’ll be the first to admit I can think of a better use of my time than using all these social networking tools.  Namely, sleeping and playing video games.  But when Google is integrating real-time search results from Twitter in its search engine, you know it’s every bit as awesome as people say it is. 

And then some.

The Ministry of Defence recently published the Defence Green Paper “Adaptability and Partnership: Issues for a Strategic Defence Review”.  According to the MoD, “The Green Paper is the first part of the process leading to a new Strategic Defence Review, which will decide the future shape and role of the Armed Forces.”  Shortly after publishing the paper, The Register wrote a story based on their review of the paper called, “MoD turns to bloggers for advice on UK defence policy.”   Here’s a snippet:

The government also reveals that when pondering defence policy, it consults a blog run by armchair generals at King's College London, including a junior US army officer, a German academic living in Israel and a former BBC journalist.

Whatever your opinion on these issues, it seems that if you really want to influence British defence policy you'd best get on over and start commenting on the armchair-general web portal du jour, as the MoD and defence minister Bob Ainsworth informs us that "preparation of this paper benefited from discussion on the Kings of War blog".

There’s more to the story, but I hate to break it to you, when it comes to serious topics my attention span is very short.   Normally when I end up in a conversation about politics or some other dry subject with a group of friends...I start yawning and rolling my eyes.

In case they still don’t get the point, I purposely swallow my own tongue. 

You can read the entire story here.

A lot of military bloggers have published their blogs into books since the early 2000s.  The latest book set to launch, is Kaboom, by military blogger Matt Gallagher.  But have you ever wondered, sixty or seventy years from now, what your wartime diary would fetch if it went to an auction?  The answer might depend on a lot of factors, but the diary of British POW Private William MacDonald who was taken prisoner in 1940, just sold at auction for £4,000.  In USD that’s about $6,257 according to my calculations. While it might not sound like much, this diary looks to be priceless.

Mail Online did a great write up with lots of pictures (My fave).

A soldier's wartime diary that contains incredible drawings of British PoWs digging the tunnel immortalised in the film The Great Escape has come to light 67 years on.

The pencil and watercolour sketches doodled into Private William MacDonald's log depict a humorous side of life at the infamous Stalag Luft III camp during World War Two.

Some of the 28 sketches are harmless jokes at the expense of the Germans but one drawing shows servicemen working on the tunnel nicknamed 'Harry.'

Read the entire story here.

OhMyGov! A news site dedicated to government news has selected Military.com as the top government social network, beating out GovCentral and other social networking sites.  Here’s what OhMyGov! had to say about Military.com.

Fellow milblogger Matt Gallagher has announced his soon-to-be published book.  Described as “at turns hilarious, maddening, and terrifying,”, subjects in the book range from mission details to immortality, grim stories about Bon Jovi cassettes mistaken for IEDs, and the daily experiences of the Gravediggers. 

My aim was to make it unlike any other modern war memoir out there, in terms of voice, literary style, and bringing my soldiers to life out of the banal silhouettes they are all too often described as. Only time and your feedback can determine is such an ambition was achieved.

On the personal front, I've settled into big city life in New York. The adjustments to the crowds and to the winter has been interesting, but the subway offers endless entertainment, and being able to see City Girl regularly is definitely worthy of hyperbole. I'm in the throes of grad school applications, and will likely be in school next fall channeling my Iraq experience into Islamic Studies or Middle Eastern History of some sort.

Read Matt’s latest blog post here.

While the DoD continues to debate social media, they’ve turned out several new sites including their latest creation the milBook.  The DoD also launched a social media information web site back in November in order to assist members of the DoD and the public, called the Social Media Hub.  Since November the site has only published a handful of stories, with a total of one new story in January.  Has the DoD given up on the Social Media Hub while they continue to debate social media’s place in the DoD?

Even though the site has been pretty inactive, they’ve increased the number of sites listed on their Social Media Registry (located on the Social Media Hub) with dozens of military related blogs, Delicious accounts, Facebook pages, flickr, MySpace, Twitter, iReport and more.

At this pace, I’m guessing the next blog entry could be posted sometime in July.  But if anybody needs their Social Media fill before then, you can head over to FaceTube.  According to the results of one of the DoD’s latest web polls, FaceTube is one of the most frequently used sites on the web for social media.

More of my coverage on DoD and social media as soon as I finish finding this FaceTube thingy.

(Times Online)  CARELESS tweets cost lives. Some military personnel are being disciplined after leaking secrets on Twitter and Facebook, the Ministry of Defence has admitted.

At least 16 potential security breaches have been spotted and 10 people disciplined in the past 18 months. The MoD refused to comment on whether the actions related to operations in Afghanistan or elsewhere. However, it is known that troops in Afghanistan have regular internet access.

The department’s latest guidelines require soldiers to seek permission before publishing any information relating to operations. Service personnel are also barred from giving opinions on armed forces activity or blogging on “controversial, sensitive or political” matters.

Read the entire story here.

(The National Guard)  The National Guard's top officer encouraged a "healthy debate" on the use of social media by the U.S. military today.

"Somewhere in the middle, I know there's a happy medium," said Air Force Gen. Craig R. McKinley, chief of the National Guard Bureau. "And that's why it's important for groups like this to come together and discuss."

He spoke to nearly 50 government professionals, who met here for a Social Media for Defense and Government event.

Participants said social media's presence in the military can include a variety of online tools for personal, career and development goals.

Read the entire story here.  Thanks to my pal Keith for the tip.

Federal Computer Week and many news sites are covering the story about the launch of milblook - an initiative to connect people across the AKO/DKO community. According to the milSuite home page, milBook acts as a central hub for networking workforce professionals with others of similar interests, much like the popular social media sites Facebook and LinkedIn.

The milBook application joins an enclave of other federal social networking platforms modeled on popular mainstream sites, including the Navy Office of General Counsel’s internal Facebook or the Defense Intelligence Agency’s A-Space, also inspired by Facebook.

As part of the milBook program, several military and government programs have implemented professionally-based and social Web presences for their internal communities, using popular or familiar sites in the public domain as a model, Filler said.

“We are actively engaged across the DOD with social media and Web 2.0 projects and are always looking to integrate where possible if the audience is appropriate,” he added.

The military is even planning to develop SmartPhone apps for its milSuite.  But as of now, the milSuite is only accessible by military members and others within in the AKO/DKO community. 

This is great news and all with the blog and wiki and now the ‘book’, but honestly, I don’t think there is five people on Earth I know who use any of these sites for social networking.

Seriously, ask me to name five people who use milSuite to blog about stuff, and I’d have a better chance of knowing the answer to why the sky is blue or what is the secret of the universe.

Read the entire story here.

Jake Wood who blogged from the frontlines of Iraq and Afghanistan, while dealing with sniper fire and hunting I.E.Ds, is now blogging about the relief efforts in Haiti. On January 17th, Jake and his 4 man team began taking medicine and much-needed supplies to the people of Haiti.  His web site Jake’s Life, has now become Team Rubicon.  You can stay updated on all the good they’re doing by visiting Jake’s blog.  Military Blog Blackfive has also been covering their journey since the beginning, posting daily updates including photos and dispatches.  Team Rubicon’s efforts have also received attention in the news – including a story by Catholic Online, a Catholic news site that reaches over 100 thousand users per day.

Jake Wood, a remarkable young US Marine military blooger (milblogger) and former University of Wisconsin Badgers football player, has established Team Rubicon for a joint medical relief operation with Jesuits in Port au Prince.

The operation is able to move more swiftly than larger, established aid organizations because it is privately-funded and overcomes three critical blocks in the flow of aid: security, lack of water, and organizational cumbersomeness.

Wood blogged his recent combat experience in Iraq and Afghanistan as Badger Jake at Jake's Life, which has now become the home of Team Rubicon. He also served as a volunteer in the aftermath of hurricane Katrina.

According to Jake’s blog, Team Rubicon is assembling a second team to go to Haiti and they’re in need of: ER doctors, EMTs with pediatric skills. Rally point will be Fayetteville, NC. Click here for more info.

Read the entire Catholic Online story here.

ArtDaily, an online fine art newspaper, has a story about a war photography exhibition being held at the Stellam Holm Gallery in New York.  The works being showcased, have also been published in a book called I.E.D.: War in Afghanistan and Iraq and it includes military blogger stories from Doonesbury’s Sandbox.  It’s another testimony to military blogs – as the article states, “This 'boots-on-the-ground' testimony adds a powerful voice to the compelling and harrowing photographs constructed by Levinthal.”  The photographs aren't of real people, but of tiny miniature Soldiers and figurines. 

I.E.D.: War in Afghanistan and Iraq features eighteen color photographs by renowned photographer, David Levinthal, which seek to examine the way in which our society looks at war. The idea for this series was conceived when Levinthal recognized a flood of figurines and models available to the American consumer, depicting the ongoing conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan...

Released by powerHouse Books, the publication, I.E.D.: War in Afghanistan and Iraq, compiles the entirety of Mr. Levinthal's series of photographs. The book features seventy color photographs along with an introduction by the artist. It is accompanied by a series of writings culled by David Stanford, editor of The Sandbox, an online military blog that posts writings from troops deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Though the photographs look stunning, I was slightly disappointed.  It doesn't appear as though David Levinthal consulted any military action figure experts (like my 3-year old) before publishing the book.  

I mean because, when I glanced at the book online, I didn't see any "Pew! Pew! Pew!...Pew! Pew! Pew!" balloons photoshopped on top of the photos...  

Read the entire story here.

By Andi

Admiral John C. Harvey, Jr. is no stranger to blogging. In addition to authoring his own blog, he's also a contributor at the USNI blog. We're pleased to announce that ADM Harvey will be a featured speaker at the 2010 MilBlog Conference. ADM Harvey will join contemporaries from other branches to address the use of social media by senior military leadership. More on this panel soon.

Our Generals and Admirals are busy folks these days. They have pesky little things to deal with, like wars and natural disasters.... Confirmed speakers on this panel are tentative. They plan to appear unless duty dictates otherwise.

Ever wonder what Civil War buffs do for fun?  A Curator for the National Civil War Museum, based in Harrisburg PA, will live the life of a Civil War soldier on picket duty for 2 weeks starting February 6 at 10:00am through February 20 until 5:00pm.  Picket Duty basically means maintaining watch for the enemy.  The story is getting press, and Brett Kelly the curator who will be pulling duty, is also going to be tweeting updates according to the news.

Brett Kelley's plans for two weeks in the Union Army include picket duty, 10-mile marches, improving defensive position and taking care of Twitter and YouTube.

It is not the Civil War of the 1860s.

Kelley, curator of collections at the National Civil War Museum in Harrisburg, will serve two full weeks standing guard at the museum in a fund-raising and consciousness-raising activity,

"People say I'm crazy for doing this in February," he says. But then he talks about wearing a wool uniform being produced by a manufacturer of period clothes in Gettysburg. He does not want to emulate the slow-cooking process that drained Civil War combatants in the summer campaigns.

"I'd really be nuts to do this in July," he says.

Kelley will be on duty Feb. 6 to 20 outside the museum, trying to experience life as a Civil War soldier. He will be housed in a wood-floored tent and cook meals in a cast-iron stove.

It’s actually pretty interesting, although, I could think of better things to do for 2 weeks.  Normally when I’m really into something I watch a movie or read a book about the subject. But truthfully, that’s only because dressing up like an enchanted mythical creature outside of my apartment, would likely end up in a phone call to the Police by my neighbors.

I anxiously wait the day unicorns are accepted as people, too. 

Read the entire story here.  You can check out the museum’s web site here.

American country music artist and American Idol contestant, Kellie Pickler recently packed her bags according to her Twitter account and is off on her third USO Tour.  Her first two USO tours in 2007 and 2008 took her to military bases all around the world including Iraq, Germany, Afghanistan, and Kosovo.  In addition to participating in USO Tours, she’s trying to bring attention to the USO through microblogging – and hear nearly 200,000 Twitter followers.   In her most recent tweet sent on Jan 10th @4:12 PM, she wrote:

Bringing a little piece of home to our service men and woman in Iraq. #USO

And earlier that same morning, she tweeted:

All packed for the Middle East. Lets make #USO a trending topic!! ;)

Seriously, this is a cool story.  I think it’s great any time someone uses their fame to support the troops.  But Kellie doesn’t seem too interested in following others on Twitter.  While she has nearly 200,000 followers, she follows exactly ZERO people back *sniff* (despite repeated requests). 

Now I don’t personally know all 73,000 of my Twitter followers, but life without friends can be pretty lonely.

Patting cat on head. “Isn’t that right, Linguini?”

A vertical sidebar banner is now available for download as a way to spread the word about the Fifth Annual Milblog Conference Bash.   This is the first banner I’ve used on the Milblogging.com site and hopefully more will be added soon.  I’m using the banner at the top of the right sidebar.  When more banners or buttons are available I’ll make sure to update the Milblog Conference section of Milblogging.com.

On a side note:   Another year has passed, and the conference is right around the corner in April.  You can keep updated on the goings-on about the huge Conference Bash planned here.  Registration and hotel information is also available.  I’m sure several of you are gonna point out the banner is pretty big.  And because it’s vertical it’s a little difficult to read.  But it’s actually freaking awesome if you look at it long enough. 

I highly recommend turning your head all the way to the left until your ear touches your elbow.  Then hold that position.  If you do it for like 5 minutes the banner starts animating and changing colors.  Neato.

Download the image here.

The Task Force Mountain website, the official site for news and information from the 10th Mountain Division,  gained a lot of attention over the last year after the Commander Major General Mike Oates regularly blogged on the web site.   At least year’s Official Milblog Conference held in the D.C. area, Major General Oates even called in from Iraq (you can watch the video here).   MG Oates departed Fort Drum in August, but the new commander Major General James Terry picked up right where he left off.  By the looks of it, MG Terry is doing everything he can to keep the communication open with soldiers and families.  In late November he posted a story titled: Communication – How are we doing? That received nearly 2 dozen comments from readers. 

We have a lot of venues for communication and information here: FRGs, the Mountaineer, DrumTV, Channel 13, the Fort Drum and Task Force Mountain websites, etc. But I keep hearing Soldiers and Families don't feel like they are informed of what's going on.

How do you get your information? What is the most effective way for me to get the community the information they need?

While many in the ranks of the DoD are still trying to figure out the best way to use social media, MG Oates has left a lasting impression on the 10th Mountain Division’s new commander – and how they communicate. 

Now I’m not saying every General in the Military should become versed in the way of blogging, but it’s great to see participation at all levels.  I mean, you’ve got to respect people like the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs and Major Generals who can find the time to blog...

I’m sure nothing brings them more joy than hopping on Facebook or Twitter in between fighting for the free world and running the entire military. 

Thanks to my good pal Andi, who has been busy behind the scenes organizing the Fifth Annual Milblog Conference, for the tip.