My Brother




soldiers
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My brother Curtis Jenkins is in the army. He has been serving in the army for almost two years. He signed up for six years. He works on helicopters. He is in Afghanistan right now. It is really hard to have someone you really love in the army because you don’t know if they will die or not. Every day he has to risk his life fighting for our country. He has to be brave in order to fight in the army. He doesn’t like going to other countries because they are very different than America. They don’t have most of the stuff that we have over here. When he gets out of the army, he wants to maybe work on airplanes at the airport. Being the army is a very big job. You have to wake up every morning and go outside to fight for your own life trying to save our country’s life. He graduated basic training in Fort Jackson, South Carolina. But while in the army, if you want to go to college the army will pay for it and you won’t have to pay anything. He gets to come home for two weeks in June. I am so excited to get to see him. I haven’t seen him since January. We hope that he stays safe over there in Afghanistan.  When he comes home we are going to do something fun. He has to go and see everyone that wants to see him. I hope that on his flight over here he is safe and on the way back. If you have someone in the army, then you know how it feels to not see someone you love for a long time.  We love him so much and wish to keep him safe during the four years that he has left.

soldiers in afghanistan
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The Army vs The Marine Corps

US Army available at
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The U.S army and U.S Marine Corps are two different services. The Marine Corps are trained to attack from and in water. 


The Marine Corps protects America overseas with safety and security. The army is a ground base military force. It is much larger than the Marine Corps. 


In the Army, "you will be prepared to serve our country whenever and wherever you are needed, combat-ready at all times, trained to counter any threat, anywhere."




Both the army and the Marine Corps have reserve troops. The army has medical people that help them with the medicine and other supplies they need. 

US Marine Corps
available at
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The Marine Corps don’t have medical people; they have to get all their supplies from the navy. The U.S Marine Corps is the smallest military force of all the forces and the Army is the biggest of them all. 


Both Marine Corps and the Army have boot camps. The Marine Corps boot camp is much longer than the army’s boot camp.


 When going into the army, you have to have your head has to have a flat top look and when going into the Marine Corps, your head has  to be shaved all the way. 




The uniforms that the army wear has to be wore all the time, no matter what. The uniforms the Marine Corps wear only have to be wore when they are working or during training. 

Marine Corps available at
http://armedforcesradionetwo
rk.org/Marine_Corps/Img2.jpg

The army is a heavy equipped force and the marine corps is a less equipped force. When going into battles the Marine corps are always suppose to go in first then the army and the other military forces. Both the army and the marine corps goes by military time. 

Army available at
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The Marine Corps was formed on November 10, 1775. The Army was formed on June 14,1775. The Marine Corps is the fastest to respond to something out of all the military forces. They are both very different. You should look and see which one is the best for you before you join it. 

Interview with an 82nd Airborne Veteran

82nd Airborne available at 
http://www.newworldorderwar.
com/wp-content/uploads/
2010/09/82nd-airborne2.jpg



• Barry White age 46, was born in Charlotte, NC. He was raised in Kings Mountain. He is a U.S. veteran of the 82nd Airborne.

• What kind of Armed   forces did  you join?

            82nd Airborne United States Army.

• What made you want to join the army?

        I wanted to join the Armed Military Forces  to show pride in my country, to finish my education, and to travel around the world.

• How old were you when you went into the army?

     I was 17 years old when I joined the Army

Man jumping out of plane available at
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• How many years did you sign up for?

  I enlisted  for a three year tour.

• Where did you go for Basic training  and AIT?(Advanced Individual Training).

I went to Fort Mcellan ,Alabama for Basic training and Fort Lee, Virginia  for AIT.

• How did you qualify for 82nd Airborne?

I went to jump school and graduated at Fort Benning, Georgia.

• What was your permanent duty station?

I was stationed at Fort Bragg, North  Carolina.

82nd Airborne available at
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• Where did you travel to when you were in the Army?

I traveled to Peurto Rico, Panama, and Honduras.

• What was your job title and what did you do?

Petroleum supply speciliast. Built fuel systems, learned how to work on Alaskan pipe lines and refuel choppers.

• What weapons were you qualified to use?

I was qualified as an expert in using an m16, 45 cal. handgun, m60 machine gun,  grenade launcher, and a m2a law rocket launcher.

About the Army

The army is about people who go into service to serve our country. They risk their own lives to save ours. It’s a very dependable job, its not like a regular job. 


You can’t  just do your eight hours or so and go home. You can’t get mad and quit. When you sign up for the Army or any other military force, it’s a big commitment. 

The seven army values available at
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There are a lot of advantages in being in the Army. You can see other  countries and things you never thought you would see. You meet people from all over the country. 


You make friends that you would consider your brothers and sisters. You can get a college education for free.


When you enlist in the army, you will have to live by the seven Army values, which are: Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Selfless service, Honor, Intergrity, and Personal courage.By doing all these things, you will prove that you are apart of the United States Army.

Seven values of army  available at
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• Loyalty-  As a American soldier you are seen as a loyal person toward the untied states of america.
• Duty- you are responisble for the people of the united states and to fulfill your jobs as part of the army.
• Respect- you as a american soldier have to treat others with respect and dignity.
• Selfless service- you will serve others with welfare of the nation and not just yourself.
• Honor-  you will honor all the things you do as a soldier of the united states.
• Integrity- Do whats right and not whats wrong.
• Personal courage- The courage that is inside you. The courage that you build by making the right decisions and standing up to others.

Army available at
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/uploads/2011/02/cemetery0134.gif

Here is a song that goes along with the Seven Army values.
"The Army Goes Rolling Along"

March along, sing our song, with the Army of the free.
Count the brave, count the true, who have fought to victory.
We’re the Army and proud of our name!
We’re the Army and proudly proclaim:

First Chorus:

First to fight for the right,
And to build the Nation’s might,
And the Army goes rolling along.
Proud of all we have done,
Fighting till the battle’s won,
And the Army goes rolling along.

Refrain:

Then it’s hi! hi! hey!
The Army’s on its way.
Count off the cadence loud and strong;
For where’er we go,
You will always know
That the Army goes rolling along.

Second Chorus:

Valley Forge, Custer’s ranks,
San Juan Hill and Patton’s tanks,
And the Army went rolling along.
Minute men, from the start,
Always fighting from the heart,
And the Army keeps rolling along.

Soldier avaiable at
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Refrain:

(same as above)

Third Chorus:

(slower, more freely)
Men in rags, men who froze,
Still that Army met its foes,
And the Army went rolling along.
Faith in God, then we’re right,
And we’ll fight with all our might,
As the Army keeps rolling along.

Refrain:

Then it’s hi! hi! hey!
The Army’s on its way.
Count off the cadence loud and strong; (two! three!)
For where’er we go,
You will always know
That the Army goes rolling along! (keep it rolling!)
And the Army goes rolling along!

Joining the Army

If you want to join the army, here are some steps to help you join:

• Step 1: Apply Online. You will fill out the information online about joining the army through their website. 
• Step 2: Talk to a recruiter. After you fill out the information online, a recruiter will call you if they think you qualified to join the army. 
• Step 3: Take the test. You will take the ASVAB test.(Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery). This will help you know what your weaknesses are and what your strengths are. 
• Step 4: Visit The doctor. You will go to visit the doctor to get a physical. After you get the physical and you passed it. You are now a U.S. soldier. 
• Step 5: You will start basic training. Now you are on your way to becoming an Army soldier and serving  our country. 

Joining the army available at 
http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3263/2922437461_ee156c058b_z.jpg?zz=1

“Its doesn't matter what way you choose to serve the country with. You can either be an active duty or an army reserve. They both serve the country, so it doesn't really matter. There is a link to show you the differences in the two. Which ever you pick will do because no matter what you will be serving the country as Amercian Soldier.”


When you get to basic training, you will get a uniform. The only other clothes you have is the ones you wore there. You can only take things like shampoo, soap, deodorant, and etc. 


You will have to start a checking account because your checks will be deposited. You don’t see any of your money until you graduate basic training. This is about twelve weeks. 


You can’t see any of your family until graduation day.  They have a big ceremony that day. After basic training is completed you then go to do your AIT. this is Advanced Individual Training. 


You can be sent anywhere in the country. This lasts about two- three months. Then you get a leave to visit your family. Before you go on leave, you will get your next orders and where you will be stationed. Sometimes it’s in another country. 


Depending on where you go will deciede when you are deployed during the war time. Most single soldiers stay on base and share rooms with other soldiers. Married soldiers can live off base with their families. No families are allowed in other countries when we are at war with them.

Welcoming Our Soldiers Home

Some Americans might not agree with our government sending soldiers to fight a war in another country. But as americans  we have the right not to agree and can voice our opinions about it.

 Some people are so mad about it that they protest at a soldiers funeral. I think that is horrible. Our soldiers  are doing their job and if they should die doing it, its honorable.

All of our soldiers should be welcomed home as heros that they are. Many soldiers come home from war with life changing injuires. Some come home in a coffin.



Little girl welcoming home her dad.
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July 2011

The greatest thing a returning soldier can see when he steps off that plane is a cheering crowd with banners saying “welcome home” and “thank you”.

 Our soldiers need our support. It’s not their fault that some people don’t like war. Soldiers don’t like war either, but it’s thier job.

Just this week a marine was welcomed home, here in North Carolina. He lost both of his legs in a bombing in Afghanistan. He was welcomed home by lines of people on the streets to see him as he rode by. 
The news camera and newspaper reporters were there.


This is unbelievable what this town has put together for me," Carnes said. "It shows the true love they have for our service men. "This is great and everything but I wish my brothers and sisters in Afghanistan, especially those in my unit, could be here for this special day."

 It must have felt good to him to see so many people  there for him. I hope that every soldier, especially  the wounded get a welcome home like that.

There shouldn’t be people protesting the war. Some soldiers come home completely changed, physically and mentally. It would be ahrd for them to see some of the bad things of the war and not be affected by it.


 Some of my family has been soldiers and have fought for our country. They had nightmares and it took them a long time to get back to the way they were.
 God Bless our soldiers and the people that welcome them home with a thank you!!

What they really do

Many people don't really know what soldiers do. People think that it's about soldiers just going into the army to serve our country, but it's more than that. 

Soldiers have to fight for their life's for ours and have to try and protect us while fighting. Serving in the army, is a tough job because soldiers go everyday without knowing if their going to die or not. 

Soldiers helping Afghan people
http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3355/4620516499_193dc402c9_z.jpg
Apirl 9,2010.

Our soldiers go to different countries to show them how their soldiers are suppose to protect them from threats. Most people probably don't know that our soldiers help the civilians along with the countries government officials. 

This is how soldiers help others. Dare to reach out your hand into the darkness, to pull another hand into the light. ~Norman B. Rice

Like in Afghanistan, our American soldiers give out candy to the children. The soldiers have an important job that they have to do such as: protecting the civilians and looking for the threats to the civilians. 

Before they can do that they have to train and go to work. Being in the army is more than just a job, it's a way of life.American soldiers are going to other countries to help their civilians and their government. our soldiers help train theirs so they will be able to protect themselves once the Americans go home. 

Our soldiers help with distributing food and medical supplies. They talk with the civilians and help them in anyway they can.Sometimes there is gunfire in the streets and children may get hurt or killed. Our soldiers are there to protect them and try to get the bad guys away. Terrorists are the bad guys and they don't want the governments getting better or stronger. They are bullies and use weapons to get what they want. 

That's why American and other NATO soldiers are sent to these countries. They are there to teach how to be better countries. Everyone has the right as human beings to live in a happy and peaceful life. This is our soldiers, in these countries.

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