IMPORTANT - Please read, all U.S. Members!!!

[Chreamps]

ETA: Everyone please read the last few posts and I apologize to everyone for this.

Since we've been talking about this huge bailout (that it seems we all agree on) that our wonderful administration has done, I think we need them to help out one of our own here at DST. In case any of you have not read Lena Brandenburg's post, please do so here:

http://www.digishoptalk.com/boards/showthread.php?t=150498

I asked Lena's permission to write to my representatives here in Ohio and she gave me permission. So far I have sent emails to: Senator Sherrod Brown, Rep. Bob Latta, Senator Voinivich (sp?), President George Bush and Vice President Cheney. I've also asked her if she would mind if I contact Senators Barack Obama and John McCain.

So I am asking all of you, let's show our power - please write to your representatives and ask them to help rescue this deserving family.

:clap:clap:clap

I will now step off my soapbox. Thank you.

[kjbstevens]

Yeah I got to spend some time picking up cig butts (aka police call which sounded like an awesome job when I volunteered for it) at Fort Jackson while I was on holdover because they didn't have enough space in the barracks for all of the new people coming in. I hope he is able to pass because it was not very much fun! What would help writing about the most?

[Chreamps]

Well, here is what I wrote, someone else may be able to communicate it better:

Regarding the recent financial crises that is going on, I would like to bring to your attention to how it is affecting an everyday, patriotic American. I belong to a Digital Scrapbooking group and one of the member's husband (they live in Ohio) lost his job and was not able to find work. In order to support his family he enlisted in the Army. To me that is a great sacrifice to make but also a sad one where you cannot find work and have to risk your life in order to support your family. That being beside the point, he has completed basic training but could not pass his PT test when it came to graduation week. He has to run two miles in 17 1/2 minutes and he was a minute over. Right now he is 20 seconds over it. If he doesn't pass this test by next Thursday, October 16, 2008, he will be discharged from the Army. His wife and family will have no income and will be without a home to live in. I realize that I do not know all military requirements but this seems ridiculous to me during this time when this man is doing something honorable to SUPPORT his family. I would also like to mention that his wife just had baby boy this year and they have young children at home. We can bail out huge corporations but where is the help for an everyday American that is willing to sacrifice their life to support their family. I would appreciate it so much if you would please do everything within your power to help this very-deserving family.

Here is a link where Lena Brandenburg tells her story:

http://www.digishoptalk.com/boards/showthread.php?t=150498

[kjbstevens]

Nice. I might just steal your words. Hopefully something will change because everyday while I was there they just send people home for any reason they have. Trust me I know. I was one of them. Holdover is usually a nice word for we're providing your transportation home. I hope something can help him because he deserves the chance.

[Chreamps]

No problem - I ended up putting it in a word document, so the process went a lot faster. I'd like to do something positive this election cycle instead of complaining or fretting.

Thanks.

[Julie]

What a great idea Chris! I'll work on this tonite when I get home.

[Chreamps]

Thanks, Julie, really appreciate it.

[JCSimon]

Great idea, Chris! Thanks for giving us the heads-up.

E-mails sent to Sen. Obama; also to Sen. Debbie Stabenow, Sen. Carl Levin and Rep. Pete Hoekstra here in Michigan.

[Chreamps]

Thanks, Jamie!

[OrianaVianey]

Oh I'm out of the US but just want to add that she had a baby boy (Parker) she already have a y yo girl (Naomy) and the big boy Nathaniel of 8 yo

[Chreamps]

My bad, thank you so much! I'm sorry, Lena!

[alb52]

so what should we ask them to do, really? lower or eliminate the standards altogether???

while i applaud your efforts on behalf of lena's husband and i think sending him letters of encouragement is a great idea, IMHO, asking a congressperson to intervene with one case of someone failing to meet predetermined and predefined standards across the board for the USA is a bit much.

back into my flameproof suit.

ETA: USA being the US Army.

[Nettio]

so what should we ask them to do, really? lower or eliminate the standards altogether???

while i applaud your efforts on behalf of lena's husband and i think sending him letters of encouragement is a great idea, IMHO, asking a congressperson to intervene with one case of someone failing to meet predetermined and predefined standards across the board for the USA is a bit much.

back into my flameproof suit.

ETA: USA being the US Army.

I agree with you. Honestly, I've been following this story and the whole thing is now getting completely blown out of proportion. I think sending him letters of support is a great idea but actually writing to the government is too much. My DH is an Army officer and he said that it is very unlikely her DH will actually be discharged. For one, he has shown progress towards meeting the standards and they do take that into consideration. Also my DH said they have more than a few people who have arrived here in Colorado from AIT who still can't pass the PT standards. I know you all want to help her out but please, let's try and keep a bit of perspective with the issue. With the Army's desperate need for people, I'd be really really surprised that they would discharge him over 20 seconds. :shrug

[Chreamps]

I did not mean to blow it out of proportion and as I stated in my letter:

I realize that I do not know all military requirementsTruly, I was trying to help/not hender Lena and her family, and I'm sure that David will suceed in meeting the qualifications.

Also my DH said they have more than a few people who have arrived here in Colorado from AIT who still can't pass the PT standards. I know you all want to help her out but please, let's try and keep a bit of perspective with the issue. With the Army's desperate need for people, I'd be really really surprised that they would discharge him over 20 seconds. :shrugThis is good to know.

alb52 posted: back into my flameproof suit. I would never flame you! Appreciate your input.

As far as them lowering their standards (http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=89702118), that hit me, too, as they have lowered the standards in previous years to increase recruiting.

[wererich]

I also applaud your efforts to try and take care of one of our own. However misguided, this dh didn't enlist as a patriotic duty. He enlisted in order to have a more stable life and income. Stability in that his income would come in regularly and he has a secure job. Let me explain a little bit about why we have these standards set in place. Imagine being in a battle with the enemy and now they are running after you shooting. But you need to get out of the way now. Yes, adrenaline takes over but you can only run as fast as your little legs will take you. If you can't run the minimum standards, you will lose a man (or woman) because they were too slow. We work as a team and don't want to leave anyone behind. But if you have others shooting at you and you need to take cover, you can't help someone who can't help themselves. Weight standards have been lifted so that larger people can stay in or even go in. However, the biggest requirement is that you are physically fit to do the job. Less casualties means less sad families.

This being said, I do know of several members of the military that didn't meet those standards. They were flown to their first base. If within a year they didn't meet those standards they would be let out at that time. It's a failure to meet standards. It sounds to me like he will eventually meet those standards.

BTW - I'm a 14-year veteran who is now a SAHM with a husband who is still currently serving actively and has been in for 18 years. It's nice to see you caring so very much and I'm glad you are starting to understand why the military does have its standards.

Best hugs to you!

[Lena Brandenburg]

Thank you to Amy, Denise and Lynette for your perspectives.

Please don't think that it was ever my intention to have anything blown out of proportion. I've been out all day and had to search this out to even find out what all the fuss was about.

I'm not at all upset with Chris or anyone else for speaking on David's behalf...although I'm not sure it will do any good it is perfectly fine to exercise civic freedoms, right?

Lynette, I'm happy to hear your husband's opinions on the matter. It really is quite reassuring to me. I'm not new to military life. My dad was in for 22 years and my xdh was in as well. I just have no experience with my sponsor not meeting standards. This was never an issue with XDH or DF. I can only believe what I'm being told, and I've been told more than one thing so it makes it even harder! I want to believe the best and I hope for the best! And in David's case regarding meeting the standards, it's not for lack of trying. He told me he has thrown up after his last two PT tests. So he really is pushing himself. This is a man that was 350 lbs 2 1/2 years ago, so he's come a long way. He's finally being taught some actual technique...working on his stride. He was also told that he was issued the wrong shoes for his feet during reception, which can be fixed now but he's been running on them for months now. :shrug

Denise, don't be so sure that David didn't enlist as a patriotic duty. He expressed desire in enlisting for the last 3 years that we were married. Originally he was grossly over the entrance weight so the point was moot. After that, I told him I'd rather him not because he had a job that was adequate and I was scared of him being deployed. It was only when I felt we had run out of options was I open to the idea. David was all for it from day one though. No he wasn't drafted. No, civic duty is not the only reason he enlisted. A stable job and promise of an education played into the decision very much. But to say that he didn't enlist as a patriotic duty isn't entirely true.

Thank YOU for your service, and for your husband's!

Chris has apologized to me for blowing this out of proportion but I don't feel any apologies need to be made. I truly appreciate her efforts and that of everyone else who has helped in any way, including those of you who have more information on the matter or differing viewpoints. ALL of this has helped me cope with the situation.

I'm sorry if anyone has felt this is overdramatic. I'm just trying to do the only thing I can do from here, which is support my husband! I know him better than anyone, obviously, and therefore I know what motivates him. He's not received much mail (except for a letter from me almost every day) while he's been in as his family and friends seem too busy to write so I know that being handed a stack of mail during formation on Tuesday/Wednesday may just provide that extra 'mental' push that he needs!

Thank you everyone for keeping this informative and respectful!

[wererich]

Lena, I don't think Chris has blown this out of proportion and she needs to quit apologizing. She did a great thing trying to get others involved and hopefully with all of this hoopla, others will see what military members have to go through to stay in the military. I went according to what she said as for the reasons why he enlisted "to take care of his family." It gives me great joy to know that isn't the case. Being in the military is hard enough on a person but when you have to add in the requirements that are needed to fulfill that expectation, it becomes even worse. There are testing periods for rank (my ex-dh never made it past E-4 and was kicked out because he couldn't make his next rank after "so-many" years). You have to be motivated to be in the military in order to make rank, to pass physical exams, to do schooling for your job, and to stay within physical restrictions (as you also pointed out with your dh's weight). Police officers and Fire Department also have these restrictions so they totally and completely understand about them. My heart certainly goes out to you but I think it's great that Chris started all of this.

Hugs,