To ALL who have served, ever. Sgt Hook out.

Hotel Tango the POAP.

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This post is filed under: Joint Services & The Soldier & Veteran Affairs

The Washington Post reports that several charities focused on supporting our veterans have received failing grades from the American Institute of Philanthropy.

Americans gave millions of dollars in the past year to veterans charities designed to help troops wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan, but several of the groups spent relatively little money on the wounded, according to a leading watchdog organization and federal tax filings.

Eight veterans charities, including some of the nation’s largest, gave less than a third of the money raised to the causes they champion, far below the recommended standard, the American Institute of Philanthropy says in a report. One group passed along 1 cent for every dollar raised, the report says. Another paid its founder and his wife a combined $540,000 in compensation and benefits last year, a Washington Post analysis of tax filings showed.

You can read the entire report at the AIP website. I’m not exactly sure how they came up with the grading system, but I did notice that there were a lot of Ds and Fs handed out. There were a few As though and I think you should know who made the honor roll…

Armed Services YMCA of the USA
Fisher House Foundation
Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund
National Military Family Association

I can vouch for each one of the above organizations and agree that they provide top notch support to your servicemen and women. You’ve probably read about the wonderful work these groups do on more than one occasion here at Sgt Hook.

While Soldiers Angels and the USO didn’t do so well on the exam, I have to say that they’re both doing phenomenal jobs in providing support to our troops deployed and on the homefront. Everywhere I go, I see evidence that the Soldiers Angels and the USO have helped, and continue to help, our men and women serving in uniform. I am personally extremely proud of my association and involvement with the Soldiers Angels and will continue to support their outstanding efforts.

Of course, none of the aforementioned charity organizations would be able to make the differences that they do if it weren’t for the amazing support and efforts of the American people. Thank YOU all. Sgt Hook out.

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This post is filed under: Veteran Affairs

I received this in the mail from Mrs. Jorgensen’s 6th Grade Class, Bluemont Elementary School in Manhattan, Kansas…

Soldier, Sailor, Airman, Marine

Soldier, Sailor, Airman, Marine,
You alone are the people, who have kept us free,
Because of your sacrifice and often our sorrows,
You give us all hope for a brighter tomorrow.

You have served with so many others under the old red, white, and blue,
Whenever we see Old Glory, how can we not remember you?
You answered the call, and often saw the blood, and felt the pain and the hurt,
And many of you and your comrades paid a great price in a foreign land’s dirt.

Many of you have gone into battle with little more than a prayer and a gun,
But you served with honor and stayed until the mission was done.
You have sacrificed for freedom and for our nation’s sovereign rights,
On this Veteran’s Day, we thank you for your service and for winning the fight!

This We’ll Defend. Sgt Hook out.

Posted by Hook @ 2324 zulu | Comments & Trackbacks (4) | Permalink
This post is filed under: Americana & Homefront & Veteran Affairs

Great post up at You Served regarding proposed changes to the G.I. Bill.

The one time payment would be part of a GI Bill education benefits program and would apply to the energy, transportation, hospitality and construction fields. ‘Under the bill, GI Bill benefits that traditionally are paid monthly could be used to make one-time, lump-sum payments for training courses that are approved by the Department of Veterans Affairs.

I’ve always counseled my junior soldiers on the outstanding education benefits the Army offers both while serving and once a veteran. I’m pleased to see the expansion of these benefits and hope the DoD continues to offer our veterans educational opportunities long into the future. Sgt Hook out.

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This post is filed under: Veteran Affairs