January 28, 2016
Greetings!

Thank you for joining us for this issue of Marine Parents News. If this is your first time receiving the newsletter, welcome aboard, we're excited for you to be here!

In 2012, MarineParents.com's Founder and Executive Director Tracy Della Vecchia and her son Derrick Jensen joined National Public Radio's Jacki Lyden on "Talk of the Nation" to discuss some of the challenges associated with the reintegration process. Learn more in our first article.

To see what else is new with the organization or to learn more about the Marine Corps, check out the rest of our articles. We hope you enjoy! 

Be sure to get your FREE 2016 MarineParents' Calendar. See our articles below to learn about the history of the Marine Corps, and learn about our great MarineParents volunteers.

Thank you for your continued support of our brave men and women in uniform.

Semper Fi Marine Families!
When A Child Comes Home From War

Since 2001, more than 2 million Americans have deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. For many of these men and women, coming home and reintegrating into "civilian" society can be challenging.

In 2012, MarineParents.com's Founder and Executive Director Tracy Della Vecchia and her son Derrick Jensen, a combat-veteran who served three tours in Iraq with the 3rd Battalion, 4th Marines, joined National Public Radio's Jacki Lyden on "Talk of the Nation" to discuss some of the challenges associated with the reintegration process.

Click here to learn more....

*Image info:  Tracy Della Vecchia (center) with her daughter (left) and her Marine son Derrick (right).
After the Corps: Individual Ready Reserve Obligations and Requirements

All Marines are required to go through the Individual Ready Reserve (IRR) after their initial active-service comes to an end, unless he or she chooses to reenlist. If a recruit enlists prior to the required age of enlistement, he or she would be placed in the Delayed Entry Program. 

Per Marine Corps policy, IRR Marines are required to:
  • Maintain their basic uniform regulations (i.e., No uniform can be worn during political rallies or protests, etc..)
  • Maintain standards of conduct. (i.e., Allegations or convictions of certain criminal offenses can lead to administrative separation, and if separated, some or all benefits earned as a Marine would be lost, depending on the category of discharge.)
  • Report for involuntary recall to active duty, whether operational, administrative (i.e., Administrative Musters), or legal.
Click here to learn more....

*Image info:  San Diego IRR Marines attend mega-muster. (USMC photo/released)
What's After Boot™: Infantry Training Battalion

The homes of the School of Infantry (SOI), Infantry Training Battalions (ITBs) are located at Camp Pendleton, California and Camp Geiger, North Carolina. Here, over the course of 59 days, newly-minted Marines will be instructed on modern Marine Corps infantry tactics in order to conduct expeditionary combat operations.

 Click here to learn more....

*Image info:  Sgt. Mitchell Savage supervises and instructs Pvt. Tanner Welch and Pvt. Dustin Taylor as they fire the M224 60mm Light Weight Mortar system at Camp Pendleton, California. 
(USMC photo by Cpl. Orrin G. Farmer) 
Unit Information Pages and Permanent Duty Stations

When formal training (Boot camp, School of Infantry, and Military Occupational Specialty) is complete, each Marine is assigned to a Permanent Duty Station (PDS).

Your Marine may be stationed at any number of permanent duty stations around the world, depending on his or her Military Occupational Specialty (the job that your Marine will do while in the Corps).

The Unit Information Pages™ (UIP™), is a searchable database exclusively from MarineParents.com, Inc. By searching the database for your Marine's PDS, you'll find a page full of helpful information, links, message boards, FRO names, and phone numbers. 

Click here to learn more....
Volunteer Spotlight: Karen Langley

Here at Marine Parents, nothing we do would be possible without our amazing volunteers across the country. Our volunteers truly are the backbone of our organization, and we'd like to take this opportunity to recognize the efforts of one individual in particular. 

This week's featured volunteer is a proud Marine mother -- Karen Langley.

Originally from Southern Virginia, Karen now lives in Pennsylvania, working as the Volunteer Services Director at the Doylestown Hospital. Karen has been a Marine Parents Facebook volunteer since March of 2015, and she currently serves as the 4th Battalion Company Leader for Parris Island.

Click here to read more...

*Image info: Karen with her Marine son.

Marine Veteran Released by Iranian Government

Just under two weeks ago, on January 16, Marine veteran Amir Hekmati was released by the Iranian government after spending four-and-a-half years in an Iranian prison. 

Hekmati was arrested in 2011 while visiting relatives in Iran and accused of being a spy for the CIA. After initially receiving the death penalty, Hekmati's sentence was later reduced to 10 years. 

Hekmati's release came as part of an agreement between the United States and Iran and included three additional Americans that had been detained by Iran. The other prisoners were Washington Post reporter Jason Rezian,  pastor Saeed Abedini, and Nosratollah Khosravi-Roodsari. Rezian and Abedini returned to America with Hekmati. Khosravi-Roodsari opted to remain in Iran following his release.

Click here to read more...

*Image info: Amir Hekmati in his Dress Blues (USMC photo).

Marine Injured in Chattanooga Attacks Receives Purple Heart

On July 16 of last year, a gunman went on a shooting spree at a military recruiting center and a U.S. Navy Reserve center in Chattanooga, Tennessee, killing five and wounding two.

On Tuesday, January 26,  Marine Sergeant DeMonte Cheeley, who was shot in the leg during the attack on the recruiting center, was awarded the Purple Heart in a ceremony in Chattanooga. 

“I feel honored, but at the same time, I still don’t want to take away from the fallen five,” Cheeley said in an interview with Marine Corps Times after receiving the medal. “I’ll definitely wear it in honor of the fallen five.”

Click here to read more...

*Image info: Sgt. DeMonte Cheeley stands for a photo after receiving the Purple Heart at a Jan. 26, 2016, ceremony in Chattanooga, Tennesee. (USMC photo by Cpl. Diamond Peden).

Marine Raider Receives Silver Star

Approximately two weeks ago, on January 15,  Staff Sgt. Robert Van Hook, a critical skills operator with the 2nd Marine Raider Battalion, was awarded the Silver Star for heroism during a 2013 deployment to Afghanistan.

The medal, our nation's third-highest award for valor, was presented to Van Hook  by Major General Joseph Osterman, commander of the Marine Corps’ Special Operation Command, during a ceremony at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.

According to his award citation, Van Hook was credited with “conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against the enemy” while serving as the element leader of Marine Special Operations Team 8224 while deployed to Afghanistan's Herat province in 2013.

“Any Raider could have been switched out with me and done the same exact thing,” Van Hook said. “A Raider isn’t going to let anybody down: not the brothers that went before him, not the Marine beside him. He might have done it differently, but he would have got the job done.”

Click here to read more...

*Image info: Staff Sgt. Robert T. Van Hook, a Marine Raider, was awarded the Silver Star for heroism during a 2013 deployment to Afghanistan.(USMC photo).

This Week in Marine Corps History: Operation Desert Storm Begins

Twenty-five years ago this week, on January 29, 1991, 
the first serious ground-combat of Operation Desert Storm broke out when Iraqi troops mounted an attack into Saudi Arabia along a 40-mile front. Iraqi units centered their efforts on Khafji, a port city six miles south of the border. Saudi and Quatari troops, supported by artillery from the 1st Marine Division, attack helicopters, and other allied coalition aircraft, recaptured the town two days later.

Click here to learn more....

*Image info:  U.S. Marine artillerymen set up their 155 mm howitzer for a fire mission against Iraqi positions on January 20, 1991 during Operation Desert Storm .
(USMC photo by Staff Sgt. Vance) 
This Week in Marine Corps History: Battle of Seattle

One hundred and sixty years ago this week, on January 25, 1866, Marines and sailors from the 
American sloop Decatur went ashore at the village of Seattle, Washington, to protect settlers from raids by the local native population. The Native Americans launched a seven-hour attack on the settlers, but were driven off later that day after suffering severe losses. Only two civilian volunteers were killed and no Marines or sailors were lost.

Click here to learn more....

*Image info:  Seattleites evacuate to the town blockhouse as USS Decatur opens fire on advancing tribal forces. (painting by Emily Inez Denny/released)
This Week in Marine Corps History: MAGTF CM 2-88 Arrives in Persian Gulf

Twenty-eight years ago this week, on January 27, 1988, approximately 400 Marines and sailors from the 2nd Marine Division, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, and 2nd Force Service Support Group deployed for the Persian Gulf. The Contingency Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF) CM 2-88 would relieve Contingency MAGTF 1-88 in the region and provide the effective landing force capability to Joint Task Force Middle East.

Click here to learn more....

*Image info:  The 2nd Marine Division insignia.
(USMC photo/released) 
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