Saturday, March 13, 2010

Family members of U.S. Army Air Force



 Family members of U.S. Army Air Force Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) lay roses during a ceremony at the Air Force Memorial in Washington D.C., March 9, 2010. The ceremony took place to honor the 38 WASPs that perished while serving during World War II. (DoD photo by Staff Sgt. Erica J. Knight, U.S. Air Force/Released)

U S Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates at the Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan Mosque in Abu Dhabi


U S Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates tours the Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan Mosque in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates on March 11, 2010. According to Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority to reflect the spirit of Islam, a religion of peace, education and tolerance, the Sheikh Zayed Mosque is open to visitors of all nationalities for educational tours.You may watch more photos of the Mosque at MixPix Above mentioned picture is captured by Cherie Cullenand and released by DoD USA. --Rector Kathuria

Thursday, March 11, 2010

Some soldiers will do almost anything to stay in shape.


Yes it is a fact. According to a report  Army Sgt. 1st Class Darren D. Heusel Special to American Forces Press Service from Oklahoma City Three soldiers from the Oklahoma Army National Guard are lacing up their roller skates, strapping on elbow and knee pads and taking to the rink as members of the Oklahoma City Red Dirt Rebellion Rollergirls

For those new to the sport, this isn't the roller derby of the 1970s, when practically every move was choreographed as in professional wrestling.

No, this is the real deal -- as evidenced by the bruised and battered bodies of 1st Lt. Jessica duMonceau, 1st Lt. Kristin Sloan and Sgt. Karli Wahkahquah.

All are members of the military intelligence community and became interested in roller derby after attending an evening contest between the Oklahoma City Red Dirt Rebellion and a team from Amarillo.

"We all went to our first bout together, and Kristin and I looked at Karli and said, 'We have to do this!'" said duMonceau, who attended high school in Foley, Minn., before moving to Oklahoma City six years ago. "We can be pretty persuasive like that sometimes."

Wahkahquah said it has been at least 10 years since she donned a pair of roller skates, but she was up to the challenge.

"I'm sure I must have looked like a baby giraffe on skates out there at first," said Wahkahquah, who also hails from Oklahoma City. "There were a lot of bumps and bruises initially, but it's proven to be a lot of fun."

Sloan, a native of Mustang, Okla., said one of the clinchers for her was when "Energizer Honey," a member of the Red Dirt Rebellion, was sent flying over the railing, landed on her feet and got right back into the action without ever batting an eyelash.

"She jumped right up like she knew what she was doing," Sloan recalled. "The crowd went wild, and we knew right then this was the sport for us."

Founded in July 2007 by a group of women with previous flat-track experience, the Red Dirt Rebellion Rollergirls are members of Oklahoma's only all-female banked-track roller derby league.

While flat-track roller derby has taken the nation by storm in recent years, the Red Dirt Rebellion is one of only 11 elite banked-track roller derby teams in the country.

In its heyday, roller derby was one of the most popular sports broadcast on TV. The late 1970s brought viewers professional wrestling-style derby with mixed teams, heated fist fights and dramatic moves.

Then, as if overnight, roller derby disappeared from public view, only to re-emerge 20 years later with a totally revamped attitude. You won't often see men on the derby track any more, unless they're sporting a black-and-white striped jersey and a whistle.

You also won't see any overly dramatic "scripted" behavior on the rink. What you will see are short skirts, fishnet stockings, tattoos and smash-mouth roller derby action.

All the hits, spills, falls and breaks are real, and they're revered in the roller derby community.

Named after the infamous "red dirt" of Oklahoma and their wild "rebellious" spirits, members of the Red Dirt Rebellion Rollergirls come from all different lifestyles and backgrounds, from graphic designers and nurses, to stay-at-home moms and soldiers.

The ladies get together at least three nights a week, and for a few bone-crushing hours, they fly around the track hurling themselves at each other as they participate in their own version of ultimate fighting.

They like to have fun, and they like to play rough, as their motto, "Skate Fast and Kick Butt," states. Once the ladies step onto the rink, they immediately transform into their "alter egos."

Wahkahquah, or "Rolling Death," as she is known by her Red Dirt Rebellion sisters, bulldozes her way through a crowded pack of five girls as she makes her way for the "jammer."

Sloan, or "Bruise Clues" as she is known in roller derby circles, finds the gap through the pack and darts in and out as she bursts her way through, dodging opposing "blockers" as they lunge at her.

The jammers, duMonceau or "La Fleur de Mort" among them, claw their way through what seems like a school of piranhas, while the blockers seek to catch an opposing skater off guard and send her skidding across the floor.

Belly flops, bruised jaws, bloody noses and twisted ankles come with the territory. But these ladies say, "Bring it on!"

After an intense bout, the skaters may seek treatment for their wounds. But, you won't see a single unhappy skater in the bunch. They'll limp out with a grin on their face and glints of roller derby glory in their eyes, eager to live on and to fight another day.

"There are definitely some dedicated people on our team," duMonceaux said.

What makes the trio so successful on the banked track is the same tenacious attitude and "can-do" spirit that helps them thrive and survive in the Guard.

"For me, the organization and the planning are huge," said Sloan. "There was no real structure when we first got started. We used troop-leading procedures to make it go a lot smoother."

Wahkahquah said she noticed the team's method of notifying people about an upcoming practice or bout was broken when she first was involved. One person was contacting everyone on the team, and it was taking hours to get people notified. So she instituted a procedure similar to a military recall roster to help speed up the process.

"Now, all is well," she said. "Roller derby has definitely taught me to be a better leader. When we first got here, it was like herding cats. Now, it's like herding sheep. It's a lot more organized."

"I'm definitely developing my communication skills," duMonceau said. "I'm very direct these days and that helps transition over to the Guard."

The women all claim to have been standout athletes in high school. All said roller derby has helped them elevate their physical fitness.

"We're guaranteed at least three practices per week, even more than that, if we have a 'bout' coming up," Wahkahquah said.

Sloan said their experience has helped with recruiting as well.

Sporting a baby blue Thunderbird on their right shoulder that's symbolic of the 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team with which they serve, Sloan said some of the other women will come up to them and ask about the National Guard.

Choosing the perfect roller derby nickname is important, the women said, because it becomes registered and is theirs forever. "Someone can call and ask to create a version of your name, but they have to get your permission," Wahkahquah said.

Wahkahquah's last name in Comanche means "riding death." So, in keeping with the Native American theme, she chose "Rolling Death" as her alter ego.

In French, duMonceaux's name means "the mound." So, she "just went a little darker," as she put it, with "La Fleur de Mort," which means "the flower of death."

Sloan said the nickname she arrived at, "Bruise Clues," is probably the least exciting of the three.

"That's just the one I ended up liking," she shrugged. "It was an original."

As for the reaction the Guardsmen get from people when they discover they are members of the Red Dirt Rebellion, they said most people at first don't realize Oklahoma has a team.

Second, they said, people will ask, "Is that real?"

"I tell them everything about it is definitely real," Wahkahquah said, pointing to the bruises on her left arm.

Meanwhile, the Guard members are slated to deploy to Afghanistan next year. Yet, the women will have each other to lean on, just as duMonceaux and Wahkahquah did when they were deployed together to Afghanistan in 2002.

"We're all pretty tight," said Wahkahquah. "We pretty much became mutual friends after that first deployment. We like to mountain bike, rock climb -- just about anything you might consider extreme."

Some might consider roller derby extreme. But for Oklahoma's Guard trio, sustaining a few more bumps and bruises in the rugged, mountainous terrain of Afghanistan might just make them feel right at home.

(Army Sgt. 1st Class Darren D. Heusel serves with the Oklahoma National Guard.) 

Air Guard Tweaks Recruiting Web site

The Internet is set to revolutionise television within five years, due to an explosion of online video content and the merging of PCs and TV sets, Microsoft chairman Bill Gates said in 2007. He is also known as a Sun on Earth. Now it is proving true that his prediction was not baseless. Then started a dangerous era. Hackers attacked a CID website. The official website of the Crime Investigation Department (CID) has been hacked. In spite of all obstacles popularity of  web sites or cyber media is still on rise. No doubt credit goes to Google also because now we can write in any language on a normal English key board with the help of Google Transliteration . Now came another latest news which reports Air Guard Tweaks Recruiting Web site.Air Force Master Sgt. Mike R. Smith Special to American Forces Press Service reports from ARLINGTON, Va.on  March 10, 2010 that Considering today's explosive popularity of social media and online research it may come as no surprise that military recruiting Web sites are rushing to keep up with new technologies and trends.Smith works at National Guard Bureau.


The Air National Guard is riding that wave with more personal interactivity in its public recruiting and retention Web site, using video and photo stories to tell Air Guard member stories directly to online visitors.

The revised recruiting Web site went live in February. Its revised design draws upon navigation links with the newest Web design technologies to present the Air Guard experience in a calendar format.

"The original site was a site we had been using for several years; it wasn't fresh, it wasn't new," said Master Sgt. P.J. Gallagher, who oversees the Air Guard's internet advertising.

He said the design team spent last year talking to recruiters and retention specialists in the field to improve the Web site's connectivity with users.

"There weren't any 'interactivities' for the users," he said.

Gallagher said the new calendar format breaks down the experience of Guard service as new recruits, prior service members, officers and health professionals experience it.

The Web site also uses the latest video technology and photo displays to depict those experiences to public viewers, many of whom may be interested in joining the Guard. Visitors can chat live with a recruiter/advisor.

The administrative functions on the Web site have been improved for the recruiters. It lists specific career field openings at the Air Guard's flying wings and geographically separated units across the nation. It allows easier online ordering of recruiting and retention give-a-ways and other resources and collects and formats online information requests.

The Website also lists units, federal and state benefits, missions, and career openings by state, as well as information to help parents and educators understand the mission of the Air National Guard.

Gallagher said the administrative functions of the revamped Web site were unveiled at the Air Guard Recruiting and Retention Workshop in Dallas last month. The workshop offered training on how to make use of the new Web site to help in daily recruiting and retention projects.

"The conference was a great venue to get feedback from the field in an up-and-close, personal way," Gallagher said. "We are going to continue to upgrade the site." 

Know Yourself...........




when you lost your wealth, All will close their doors on your face.
Your status in society is decided by your wealth, Not By character.

All will be around You,
as long as you sprinkle money around You.

Know Yourself.
Then you will be least bothered about your status in society.

Know Yourself.
That is Your best contribution to Society.

Know Yourself.
Then You will make Best Use of Your Money.
You will use it for meaningful works.



Our Daily routines and activities are like tidal waves.
some times we will be in high mood with happiness.
some times in sad mood with bitter experiences.


When You Go deep in to the Sea, You will find No waves.
similarly when You go deep inside , by self- inquiry.
All these tidal waves of desires will subside.

in the initial stages of practice they will be raising as usual .
with the Practice of Self-inquiry,
they will disappear in a staged manner.

Then You will attain the tranquility of
Stillness of the Sea.
All these practical messages I received on the night of March 10, 2010 which were sent by Datta Swami from Andhra Pardesh.

These messages show an encouraging way even in darkness of life and guide us to know the truth. To know more please click here and find some new facts of practical life.....    
                                                                                                          --Rector Kathuria

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Live-fire exercise



U.S. Sailors conduct a familiarization live-fire exercise aboard the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) March 8, 2010, while under way in the Pacific Ocean. Nimitz and embarked Carrier Air Wing 11 are en route back to the United States after an eight month deployment to the Arabian Sea. (DoD photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class John Philip Wagner Jr., U.S. Navy/Released)

Kabul Meet

Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates meets with President of Afghanistan Hamid Karzai in Kabul, Afghanistan, March 8, 2010. (DoD photo by Cherie Cullen/Released)