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The 13 funniest military memes for the week of August 10th
In case you haven't heard yet, six Marine Corps lieutenants are facing separation after they were allegedly caught cheating on a land-nav course. That's right — this isn't something you're reading on Duffel Blog. This actually happened, and it's being reported on by the Marine Corps Times.
Now, I understand the whole "if you're not cheating, you're not trying" mentality of the military (I, too, was once in the E-4 Mafia), but come on! If you know that whatever you're about to do might forever get you forever laughed at while reinforcing stereotypes that have existed since the military first gave a lieutenant a compass, you might want to think twice.
Now, these memes may not be as funny as that, but they'll elicit a chuckle or two.
The 5 countries that are most impossible to conquer
Historically, all empires either fall or morph into some other empire... and then fall. We don't use the term "empire" to describe nation-states that much anymore. Regardless of what we call some countries, they are still able to project power outside their borders, being it globally (like the United States) or regionally (like Iran). But when it comes to having to defend their home turf, some countries are just not going to roll over for any reason.
These are those countries.
A communist soldier made a daring escape through the Berlin Wall in an APC
Freedom or GTFO.
May Day was a big deal in East Germany. As a matter of fact, it was a big deal in all of the Communist Eastern Bloc countries during the Cold War era. It was, after all, a day for celebrating workers around the world. Since Communist countries were supposed to be a worker's paradise, it stands to reason they would take a day off from shooting dissenters and waiting in lines to watch a few parades.
And those parades were lit.
It was because everyone was preparing for May Day that Wolfgang Engels was able to escape from East Germany.
Why an award for military dogs is long overdue
Military working animals are just as much troops in the formation as their bipedal handlers. They go through rigorous training, like the Joes. They get weeded out through selection, like the Joes. And they even hold rank, like the Joes. Military working animals, especially the military dogs, are trained in a wide array of specializations, from drug sniffing and explosives detection to locating survivors in wreckage and providing emotional support to our wounded service members at countless hospitals.
These dogs give just as much as everyone else in the formation — yet, unlike the Joes, they didn't have official recognition by the United States Armed Forces for their their gallant deeds. That could change with the recently proposed "Guardians of America's Freedom Medal."
The top-secret plan to cripple Berlin during a Soviet invasion
"It's a strange feeling," said one veteran. "We were 110 miles behind the East German border, ...inside West Berlin, surrounded by close to a million Russian and Warsaw Pact soldiers. Oddly enough, I think most of us were very energized to be where we were."
During the Cold War, an Army Special Forces unit was tasked with sabotaging Soviet infrastructure and crippling an invasion force to buy NATO time should war break out. The mission was so secret that the entire thing was almost forgotten — until a few veterans of the unit stepped forward.
We spoke to two of these veterans to find out what it was like serving as clandestine soldiers in an occupied city on what was likely a suicide mission if the seemingly-imminent war ever started
Military expands OneSource benefits to separated veterans
The Department of Defense announced on Aug. 13, 2018, it will extend eligibility for Military OneSource benefits from the current 180 days to 365 days after separation or retirement from military service to ensure all service members and families have access to comprehensive support as they transition to civilian life. This change goes into effect Aug. 13, 2018, in accordance with the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2019.
Military OneSource provides information, resources and support for active-duty, National Guard and reserve service members, their families and survivors. Provided at no cost, Military OneSource gives exclusive access to programs, tools, and benefits designed to help ensure service members and their families are mission-ready and able to thrive in both their military and post-military lives.
6 military terms that aren't as pleasant as the FNG might think
The military is known for its clever vocabulary. If you cut out the obscenity, you're left with a collection of terms that are either more accurate (i.e. it's not exactly a 'shovel,' it's an "entrenching tool") or overly sarcastic (i.e. it's not "beating the crap out of someone," it's "wall-to-wall counseling").
This overly sarcastic way of referring to things that generally suck is a coping mechanism. It's a way to add color to the typical monotony that comes with military service. The following terms might sound exciting on the surface, but there's a general understanding among troops to not get hyped over any of them — but it's always a good laugh when the new guy doesn't get it.
Hundreds dead and cities under siege as Taliban attacks
The Taliban have killed more than 200 Afghan soldiers and police officers in four provincial districts in the last three days, with the heaviest losses occurring in the key city of Ghazni just south of Kabul, according to The New York Times.
More than 100 Afghan security forces have been killed in Ghazni, about 40 to 100 were killed in the Ajristan District, more than 50 were killed at a base in Faryab Province, and at least 16 were killed in the northern Baghlan Province, The New York Times reported.
President authorizes new military pay raise at Fort Drum
President Donald J. Trump on Aug. 13, 2018, signed the $717 billion Fiscal 2019 National Defense Authorization Act at a ceremony at Fort Drum, New York.
The act – named for Arizona Sen. John S. McCain – authorizes a 2.6 percent military pay raise and increases the active duty forces by 15,600 service members.
