Black Military World Forum: Recent Comments

Comment on The Future of the Military

ret12bravo — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 01:05:02 GMT

I think the near future will see a decline as Americans in general try to understand and realize wht has happened these last few years. I think that the POTUS and his service/duty to country first will reignite the pride and patiotism and we will be a force once again.

Comment on Why do we blacks fight for America?

Gabriel Christian — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 18:42:46 GMT

Dear All:

I support Comdr Black in his comments re defending the USA. Black Americans created most of the early wealth of this country, at great cost to themselves. While the country is not perfect, our people have been able to advance the cause of freedom and opportunity we all enjoy because so many African Americans nobly served and compelled respect and honor for our people. The African American military has a honored place in history for defeating the confederacy and acting as a hedge against those who would want to turn back the clock. Hence the importance of that integrity and discipline which is boon to the nation and a great need among our distracted men and women. I urge every young black and woman in need of direction to join the military and so earn values which can serve them and the country well.

Thanks for the leadership Comdr Black.

BTW, visit wow.caribbeanaircrew-ww2.com and view those heroes from the British West Indies who flew over Europe and fought for freedom at home and abroad. They are also portrayed in "For King & Country-The Service and Sacrifice of the Dominican Soldier" by Gabriel Christian and Irving Andre.

Gabriel Christian
gabrielchn@aol.com

Comment on Blacks must drop victimhood and reclaim dignity - By Bill Cosby and Alvin F. Poussaint

Elihu Jones — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 13:48:59 GMT

I agree that we, African Americans, must end the self pity that comes with being the unending victim. On the other hand, we are constantly being victimized by a system and attitudes that is bent on keeping us in an underclass status. A perfect example is my situation, I currently work as a Policy Analyst with US Africa Command and to my dismay I recently learned that my co-workers are earning on average $12-$14K more than I am. I’m one of the most experience workers in my directorate and received great evaluations. So, I ask, when I questions this practice am I proclaiming myself as a victim or bringing to light a gross injustice.

Comment on "N" Word Double Standard

Ingrid — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 14:44:11 GMT

You are right on. I am in the Air Force and it definitely must be emphasized that if it is creating a hostile work environment that it must be reported. If the individuals don't respond to your requests to stop using the word, you must first use your chain of command. We cannot let this type of behavior continue not only in our military but in the civilian sector as well without correcting it. That is how that Master Sgt someone mentioned got to be where he is and still uses language like this without giving it any thought. It must become a conscious effort to tame the tongue whether joking or not.
Ingrid

Comment on The Future of the Military

Boggs — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 02:45:28 GMT

I think that the tremendous drop in the recruitment of minorities, especially blacks, over the past several years was due to a strong mistrust in the past administration to act in the best interest of the military and the nation.

President Obama has convinced the nation otherwise and he has a great deal of trust and respect among the black population and the nation as a whole. As such I think that blacks and other minorities will began re-entering the service in numbers typical of the pre-war years.

I also feel that the economy will also have a great effect on recruitment as the military is a solid career opportunity.

This will no doubt have a positive effect on both the military and the nation as we are all apart of the same team.

Comment on Concerns of a young soldier headed to Iraq

Capt. B. Settles — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 03:52:32 GMT

No Reason for Dying
A Reluctant Combat Pilot's Inconvenient Truth
Brian H. Settles (Author)
A bi-racial orphan, turned fighter pilot, details his ordeal in Vietnam—a war in which he did not believe during a time when black Americans found equality in the U.S. military long before they could experience democracy's promise back at home. Captain Brian H. Settles juxtaposes his powerful story, told through his recollections and letters home to his wife, with allusions to Citizen Kane, examining crucial childhood experiences to explore his reluctance and recklessness while serving. He also investigates the machismo attitude so easily rationalized in combat culture, which often drives married servicemen to infidelity, as it did to him. Yet amongst such accounts of betrayal, apprehension, and guilt, Captain Settles movingly commemorates and intimately recalls the unforgettable friends and associates who were a part of his experience in the longest war in U.S. history—a war with a continuing legacy of national embarrassment and disbelief—through which he struggled as he confronted the awful truths of his private self and prevailed a survivor.
Brian H. Settles is a F-4 Phantom Vietnam veteran who completed 199 combat missions in the U.S. Air Force and a retired airline pilot who worked for Eastern Airlines and ATA Airlines. He served as president of the Board of Education in Highland Park, New Jersey, and as chair and assistant professor of Airway Science at Delaware State University. He lives in McDonough, Georgia.
E-mail---Settles_BH@mercer.edu
Military, African American

350 pages, Trade Paper, 6 x 9
Distribution Rights: WOR
$17.95 (CAN $19.95)
9780883783016 (0883783010)
Pub Date: Early 2009

Comment on The Heart of the Matter - Military Brothers

alexia — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 09:06:58 GMT

hey i think you are very wrong brothers in the military don't live from pay check to pay check.military brothers are more discipline,hard worker, me as a master sergeant work in finance know for sure that military brother make more than the average brother on the outside.major dobbs that was a great story.thank you search

Comment on The Heart of the Matter - Military Brothers

PUMAPACNC08 — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 19:50:16 GMT

.....(I Would Definitely Be Very Interested In Meeting Some Of These Brothers(MEN) Just Tell Me Where)

COME TO NORTH CAROLINA!

Comment on Commentary - Will Globalization Destroy Black America?

Natures Last Stand — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 22:59:55 GMT

Peace
It is incredible how we respond or the lack of it...to crisis thats clearly vital to our life and or quality of life.
There is a litany of historical voices that echoes to us from our past.. such as Carter G. Woodson, Dubois, Garvey and many more, but only few of us are able or capable to respond in a RIGHT and TIMELY MANNER, Our community have been devastated by conscious and unconscious attacks and frontal assaults ,the lack of institutions and or collective strategic planning in our self-determined interest..
BUT STILL THERE IS A VANGUARD OF SAINTS who reach out and feed one another with inspiration as the previous commentor has done, and the author of this GLOBAL observation...
I Salute You
Naturs Last Stand

Comment on The Heart of the Matter - Military Brothers

john l thomas jr — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 15:13:12 GMT

Unsung heroes at the Arts Center Music Schools...When I was cited as active duty Air Force there were several disparities that I now have come to realize, and I hope this disclosure will help other brothers/sisters as they attempt to make their transition from military to civilian lifestyle. First, outside of my required duties as Acctg and Finance Supvr., I was also a member of the Social Actions team which worked outside of the normal chain of command, was a member of several enlisted advisory councils, base advisory councils, and though entering the Air Force with a Black Belt as awarded by renowned Walter King of Detroit, I studied on base the Mandarin language at Island of Formosa and the Tagalog language once I arrived in the Philippines...I am not bragging I'm stating fact! Once I arrived in RPI I found that after training in HsingI kungfu and TKD under Chinese and Korean masters I found myself to be the highest ranking belt at Clark AB, RPI. So I opened classes on base and a school for my Filo student population off-base. After three years I opted to go back to the States (California) where again I got involved in Equal Opportunity and Treatment, Travis AF Base Tae Kwon Do instruction, managed a nightclub off base and attended college courses at Solano and Chapman colleges as well as extension courses (LACC, Eastern washington university). The reason for this entry is that my resume nor my APR (Airman Performance Reports) reflect these erstwhile endeavors and yet some have termed me incompetent since Travis, question my abilities and extracurricular services or the fact that I used my G.I. Bill to train to become a CPA via of becoming a licensed Field Underwriter and a GS Vice-President American Federation of Government Employees of which further training was necessary. When fully active the saying was.."You could fool some of the people, some of the time but not all of the people all of the time..." Outside of life's trials and tribulations and then rendering special services at a designated outpost near Detroit, my contemporaries benefited yet di not give credit where the true credit belonged.. it was/and still is just little ole' me! At your service, please fellow servicemen don't be fooled by dishonest politicians and bureaucrats who really consider you cannon fodder rather than a Soul worth considering. You don't always have to be a pawn, not questioning your orders. Institutionalized racism does exist...really get my story and then ask if the enemy is outside of the foxhole! In Loving Memory...Sir John Warlock