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 PHOENIX (Aug. 27, 2008) -- Sheriff Joe Arpaio, admittedly, is not the most popular person in Maricopa County, Ariz. He has been the recipient of death threats – he travels with a bodyguard – and has a Web site, www.arpaio.com, dedicated to his removal from office. But that’s fine with the man dubbed as “America’s Toughest Sheriff.”

 The former head of the Drug Enforcement Administration in both Texas and Arizona – in addition to holding posts overseas in the agency – Arpaio has served as Maricopa County sheriff since being elected in 1992. In 1993, he created Tent City, in which 2,000 incarcerated men and women serve out their sentences living in canvas tents in the brutal Arizona heat. He also uses chain gangs – made up of both men and women – to contribute thousands of dollars worth of free labor to the community. And the inmates under Arpaio’s watch are known for their rather unconventional uniforms: black- and white-striped prison suits concealing pink underwear
 
 But Arpaio’s contributions to local law-enforcement aren’t all as hardcore. He has launched rehabilitative programs like “Hard Knocks High,” the only accredited high school under a sheriff in an American jail, and ALPHA, an anti-substance-abuse program that has greatly reduced recidivism. And he’s taken a hard-line approach to illegal immigration. Those who have illegally entered the United States and are arrested for crimes are kept in jail until their trial. Then it’s either back to jail or back to their country of origin.

 Arpaio has his critics – including several politicians in Arizona. But his constituents seem to like his approach; Arpaio has been elected to four terms as sheriff – a feat never before done in Maricopa County.

 The sheriff, a member of American Legion Post 5 in Fountain Hills, Az.,  spoke to a joint session of The American Legion’s National Americanism Commission and National Commission on Children & Youth during the National Convention, drawing thunderous rounds of applause and one standing ovation. Below are excerpts from his speech.

“I did retire as head of the DEA in Arizona. I worked for (my wife) in her business and got tired of working for my wife, so I ran for sheriff. It’s easier being sheriff than it is working for your wife. I’m up for my fifth four-year term, and my wife is doing everything she can to make sure I am reelected.

 “I said I was going to put up tents, and this is our 15-year anniversary. They’re Korean War tents. I didn’t get any help from any politicians around here. I always take the thermometer when I have international TV following me around. I take them into the tent and put the thermometer on the top bunk because it’s 20 degrees warmer, and it was about 140 degrees. They couldn’t believe. ‘How do you survive? This is awful.’ Then I give them the punch line. Our men and women are fighting for our country in Iraq and Afghanistan and are living in tents, so shut your mouth and quit complaining about the treatment. Some of those tents have holes in them. As you know, it never rains in Arizona. Who cares if the tents have holes in them?

 “All the critics (say) he’s doing this for politics. I’m not doing this for politics. It’s very simple. I’m the elected sheriff. People put me in office, not the politicians. Not the bureaucrats. I serve the people.

 “The underwear: why pink? They hate pink Never give them what they like. I took away everything they like – TV, radio. I did leave them three channels on the TV. I give them The Weather Channel, so when it’s hot here, they’ll see it’s snowing in Buffalo. They’ll go up there and never come back. I give then the (Food Network) with the Italian and French cooks because our meals are 20 cents for two meals.

 “I covered the U.S.-Mexican border for 12, 14 years – on both sides. I know where Mexico is. Most politicians that talk don’t know how to get there.

 “(Illegal immigration) is a big problem in the United States. It’s been there for many, many years. Nothing was done, and they keep coming. Now all at once it’s become a political problem. I do know (next year) we’re going to have some form of amnesty, which I’m totally opposed to. We’ve got so many people around the world waiting to come to the United States, legally, and you’ve got people coming here illegally, and we’re going to reward them with some type of citizenship.

 “We lock up everybody (involved in human smuggling). It’s a Class 4 felony, and they can’t even get out on bond. Why are we the only ones, the sheriff, enforcing that law? And when we lock up all guys and gals on the smuggling law – since I do believe I have to train my officers in the jail to speak Spanish – we teach the illegals, give them a quick course on ‘God Bless America.’ Two years ago I put in a policy that everyone sings ‘God Bless America’ in the morning and the national anthem in the evening. These illegals do it, too. Nice touch.
 
“A lot of visitors want to visit their loved ones in the jail, backing up all the way around the corner. I had an idea. Let’s put up signs in every corner of the jail, in English, that said any illegal that comes into this jail isn’t getting out. Now our visitation has gone done. Now U.S. citizens don’t have to wait that long.

 “I do have a passion for the Mexican people, but when this law came into effect, I remembered that I took an oath of office that I will enforce all the laws. You’ve got politicians, from the governor all the way on down, trying everything they can to make me stop enforcing this law. The mayor of Phoenix was in Washington (Aug. 22) blasting me, going to the Justice Department, wanting me investigated for racial profiling. It’s all garbage, and I’m not worried about the Justice Department investigating me. First of all, I worked for the Justice Department. I know that by the time they open the letter it will be 10 years from now.
 
 “We’re going to continue to fight this illegal immigration problem. As long as it’s a violation of the law, I’m going to enforce it.”

 “I’m an equal-opportunity incarcerator. We treat the women the same. When they go to jail, they do the same thing. I’m very proud of our chain gang. When the mothers and fathers drive by with the kids (and) they see the chain gang, they should be saying, ‘You do something wrong Johnny and you’re going to be on that chain gang wearing pink underwear and a striped uniform. That’s why I do it. Not to embarrass the inmates. That doesn’t hurt, either. We always have a method to what we do.”

 

More than 200 motorcyclists roared into downtown Phoenix Friday, culminating a cross-country ride of 1,800 miles to make a college education possible for the children of thousands of U.S. military men and women who have died defending our freedoms since Sept. 11, 2001. Their goal: raising $350,000.
 
The third annual American Legion Legacy Run kicked off Aug. 17 in Indianapolis and ran through seven states to the 90th American Legion National Convention in Phoenix that convenes Tuesday.

During their journey the Riders enjoyed both sunny and rainy days. And while soggy weather may have soaked them to the bone on occasion, it didn’t dampen their spirits.

"There's no such thing as a bad day to ride, especially when we are riding to raise money to ensure a college education for children who have lost a mom or dad," said Phil Whitt of Birmingham Post 151. "Rain is just liquid sunshine."
Mike Harper of New Haven Post 330 in Indiana agrees.

"It's pretty wet on the road," Harper said during a fuel stop in Shamrock, Texas. "But I can't think of a better reason to ride - rain or no rain."

American Legion National Commander Marty Conatser, who traveled with the Riders, greeted them at each of their daily fuel stops, lunch stops and overnight stays to encourage the motorcyclists and to thank them.

"Legion Riders on the Legacy Run, and Legionnaires across the country, are raising funds to ensure that a higher education will be a reality for children who have lost a mom or dad," Conatser said. "Providing for the children of our military personnel who have paid the ultimate price for freedom is our civic duty, and an education is a powerful way to show our thanks."

At St. Robert Post 331 in Missouri, the Riders witnessed firsthand the impact of their efforts. Amy Sabalu and her two young children came out to thank the group. Sabalu's husband was killed in action in Afghanistan, and she said she is grateful to The American Legion and the Legion Riders that she doesn't have to worry about her children affording a college education.

"I intended to explain the purpose of the Legacy Scholarship tonight, but there's little I can add," Conatser told those gathered at the post. "Amy and her children are what this is all about. What more can I say?"

Along the route, which followed the historic Route 66, Legionnaires made donations at lunch stops and during evening activities, along with providing food, bottled water and other support.

By Wednesday, Riders had received more than $208,000 in contributions, and by the time they rolled into Phoenix on Thursday they had raised nearly $300.00. By the time a final check was presented on the floor of the convention Tuesday, the final tally exceeded 500,000 surging past the $350,000 goal.

“Last year I jokingly said, I thought the riders did an outstanding job last year and I just expected them to do better for me. And they did!” Conatser told the attendees Tuesday afternoon.

During the five-day run Riders stopped overnight in St. Robert, Mo., Oklahoma City, Tucumcari, N.M., and Gallup, N.M. Along the route, Legion posts played crucial supporting roles by manning fuel stops, coordinating with local law enforcement officials, and providing the road warriors with food and water.

While Legacy Run 2008 may be in the history books, it’s never too late to support the Legacy Scholarship Fund. For more information on how you can help provide a college education to the children of our fallen heroes, email Robert Caudell  at rcaudell@legion.org.

PHOENIX – Mason, Ariz., resident Jennett Vega already has one nephew serving in the U.S. Armed Forces. A second, 17-year-old Gabriel Valdez, will soon head off to boot camp in the U.S. Marine Corps. Vega didn’t see the older nephew’s swearing-in ceremony. But thanks to The American Legion, she had arena seats to witness the younger man’s ceremony.

 Valdez and more than 600 current or soon-to-be soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines stood before thousands of Legionnaires, raised their right hands and swore to defend their nation. They  took part in a massive enlistment/reenlistment ceremony at US Airways Center, home of the NBA’s Phoenix Suns, on Aug. 24 as part of  “The American Legion Family’s Tribute to Service.” The event took place during the organization’s 90th National Convention in Phoenix.

 “I think this is great,’ Vega said. “His older brother had a private ceremony, and I wasn’t able to watch that. Seeing (Gabriel) sworn is really pretty special.”

Brig Gen Colangelo, assistant adjutant general of the Arizona National Guard and commander of the Arizona Air National Guard, administered the oath.

 “I’ve done my share of swearing-ins over the years, but already I am emotional,” Colangelo said before the ceremony. “The American Legion has done an awesome job putting this together. What makes us the strongest military in the world is standing right of you today.”

 American Legion National Commander Marty Conatser asked the crowd, “You want to know what’s good about America? It’s standing right there.”

 To the young troops, he offered words of understanding. “We, like generations before us, know the commitment you are making. All of us in The American Legion family have either taken that same oath or represent the families of those who have served before you. You all know the challenges facing our world today, and the role you will play in the defense of freedom everywhere in the free world. And yet you willingly make this commitment to us and to your nation. For that, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts. From this day forward, you will hold a special place in our hearts and minds. From this day forward you will become our brothers and sisters in arms, our comrades.”

 Due to the heat, the American Legion Family Tribute to Service replaced the traditional American Legion National Convention Parade. Representatives from all American Legion departments marched before the crowd at the arena. The event also included performances by the Marine Corps Silent Drill Platoon, along with music from The Four Tops and Michael Peterson.

Presidential candidates Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., and Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., recently granted exclusive video interviews on military, national security and veterans' issues to The American Legion Magazine. Some of their responses to questions on veterans, military and national security issues will be launched Aug. 19 on Military.com's "Debate 2008" Web site.

The historic interview - billed as "Debate 2008" - is a joint effort of The American Legion, with about 2.7 million members, and Military.com, with more than 10 million members.

Seven of the questions came directly from veterans or off-duty servicemembers who uploaded videos of their queries to Military.com, the largest online military membership destination on the Web. The candidates responded directly to those questions, including one from Linda Perham, who chairs the Legion's National Membership & Post Activities Committee. She wanted to know their views on a constitutional amendment to protect the U.S. Flag from physical desecration.

"I am for it. And I've always supported it," said McCain during an Aug. 9 interview in Las Vegas. "And could I just say, I had an experience in prison camp in North Vietnam, in Hanoi, where a young man who was named Mike Christian, made an American flag and sewed it on the back of his shirt.

"We pledged our allegiance to our flag in our prison cell. The Vietnamese took it out and beat him very, very badly, and then he, because he was a brave, brave American, sewed another American flag, so that we could pledge our allegiance. I have seen Americans literally shed their blood for this flag. I don't think it should be desecrated."

In Titusville, Fla., Obama shared his views on the same question in an Aug. 2 interview. "I believe that we have to revere and honor our flag; it is a symbol of all that is good in America. But I have historically believed that part of what we are protecting is our Constitution. And we don't modify that lightly.

"I recognize how important this is to American Legion members and anybody who has fought on behalf of this country under that flag. But I would also argue that, as a consequence of us teaching reverence and love and respect for that flag and for our country, most children, most young people, most Americans abhor the notion of defiling our flag. And so we don't have a lot of flag-burning going on out there."

"Never before has there been an online video Q&A between the presidential candidates that was focused on military and veterans' issues," American Legion National Commander Marty Conatser said, "This is the first opportunity of its kind for servicemembers and veterans to ask questions of their future commander-in-chief."

The candidates responded to questions about the global war on terrorism, deployment lengths for citizen-soldiers, border security, VA health-care funding and flag protection. The October issue of The American Legion Magazine will include a print version of the historic interviews, and an expanded video presentation - with additional questions - will appear on the Legion's Web site (www.legion.org) in late September.

The American Legion and Military.com have joined forces on many projects over the past three years, including promotion of Military.com-sponsored veterans career fairs.

To view complete responses by McCain and Obama on the flag-amendent issue, click on the links below.

To watch video clips of the questions after the Aug. 19 launch, and the candidates' responses, click on the "Debate 2008 Election Center" link below or go to http://electioncenter.military.com/. There, visitors can see video responses to the selected questions, along with other questions that were uploaded onto the site and comments from Military.com members.

VIEW VIDEO OF McCAIN AND OBAMA ON THE FLAG AMENDMENT

2008 ELECTION CENTER

Hundreds of motorcyclists will take the concept of "veterans helping veterans" to a new level next week when The American Legion Riders kick off the third annual American Legion Legacy Run to raise money for the American Legion Legacy Scholarship program. The riders, who are wartime veterans themselves, will travel 1,800 miles to make possible a college education for the children of those who have died defending our freedoms since September 11, 2001.

National Commander of The American Legion Marty Conatser will lead the American Legion Legacy Run which will begin in Indianapolis and run through seven states to the 90th Annual National American Legion Convention in Phoenix that convenes on August 26.

According to Conatser, the American Legion Legacy Scholarship program is one way for all Americans to show their deep appreciation for those who paid the ultimate price for freedom.

"As an unfortunate consequence of America's war on terror, many children of our military personnel are now members of single-parent families," he said. "In most cases, this also means their chances to attend college have greatly diminished. Children of our heroes who die on active duty are entitled to receive some money toward a college education, but it is not enough."

The Riders goal is to raise $350,000 for the American Legion Legacy Scholarship Fund.

"We are raising funds to ensure that higher education will be a reality for these families," Conatser said. "Providing for the children of our military personnel left behind is our civic duty, and an education is a powerful way to show our thanks."

According to American Legion Legacy Run event planners, more than 200 motorcycle riders and 65 passengers are expected to make the entire five-day journey. Legionnaires at posts along the route, which will be run along the famous Route 66, will provide support in the form of food and bottled water.

Conatser also asks American Legion posts and Legion Riders from all over the country to conduct a national fundraising effort on behalf of The American Legion Legacy Scholarship Fund.

"This is something that all Americans can support," said Conatser. "If you ride a motorcycle, join us. If you don't, become a ‘non-rider supporter,' get your patch and help these children."

Conatser will stop in every state to collect donations from riders, American Legion family members, business leaders and members of the public along the way. Stops and events planned include:

Saturday, August 16 - Pre-Run Rally - Indianapolis.
Sunday, August 17 - Indianapolis to Saint Robert (Ft. Leonard Wood) Mo.
Monday, August 18 - St. Robert, Mo. to Oklahoma City.
Tuesday, August 19 - Oklahoma City to Tucumcari, N.M.
Wednesday, August 20 - Tucumcari, N.M. to Gallup, N.M.
Thursday, August 21 - Gallup, N.M. to Phoenix/Tempe, Ariz.

On Friday, Aug. 22, at 9:30 a.m., Conatser will hold a special welcoming ceremony on the steps of the Phoenix Convention Center. Afterwards the riders will meet in a national American Legion Riders conference meeting at the Convention Center.

A small delegation of American Legion Riders will formally present the national donations for the American Legacy Scholarship Fund directly to Conatser onstage at the National Convention.

• Registration information is available at http://www.legion.org/programs/legacyrun/overview

All who register, including riders and non rider supporters, will receive a souvenir map book and vest patch.

The military-to-civilian recruiting firm RecruitMilitary will present a free hiring event for veterans on Thursday, Aug. 14, at the Angel Stadium of Anaheim (Home of the Angels). This event, the RecruitMilitary Career Fair, will take place from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. at the stadium on 2000 Gene Autry Way, Orange County, CA. RecruitMilitary urges all job seekers who have military backgrounds to attend--veterans who already have civilian work experience, men and women who are transitioning from active duty to civilian life, members of the National Guard and reserves, and military spouses.

Veteran-friendly organizations will conduct one-on-one interviews with the job seekers--organizations that will include corporate employers, law-enforcement agencies and other government employers, educational institutions, veterans service agencies, and veterans associations.

RecruitMilitary will produce the career fair in cooperation with The American Legion and HireVetsFirst, a unit of the United States Department of Labor.

More than 500 organizations attended 45 RecruitMilitary Career Fairs in 2007. At those events, an average of 30-plus organizations interviewed an average of over 350 job seekers. RecruitMilitary Career Fairs conducted in 2006 and 2007 generated television coverage by CNBC, ABC, CBS, NBC and CNN; radio coverage by ESPN and numerous regional stations; and articles in metropolitan and local newspapers.

RecruitMilitary, based in Cincinnati, connects employers with job seekers who have military backgrounds. All of the company's owners, officers, account executives, and retained search consultants are either veterans or active or former reservists. In addition to participation in career fairs, RecruitMilitary offers subscriptions to its database of self-registered job seekers who have military backgrounds, currently numbering more than 185,000, at its Web site, www.recruitmilitary.com, advertising in online and print media, and retained hiring services. The company mails more than 54,000 copies of a quarterly, print newsletter called Incoming! to over 230 military bases throughout the world for distribution to transitioning personnel; employers advertise their job openings in Incoming! The President of RecruitMilitary is Drew Myers, formerly a Captain in the United States Marine Corps. The company was founded in 1998.

USA SHOOTING RANGE, COLORADO SPRINGS, CO – Xentri Garza, a seventeen year-old female shooter from Ft. Worth, Texas, capped off a championship year to capture the sporter crown at the 18th annual American Legion Junior Air Rifle National Championship, August 7-9.

Garza who earlier this year won the National JROTC Championship, added The American Legion sporter championship to her long list of victories by firing a 2286.8/2509. She shoots for the R. L. Paschal H.S. JROTC marksmanship unit, which is sponsored by Post 569.

Eighteen year-old Ethan Settlemires of Walnut, Miss., won the Precision championship with a score of 2462.2/2509. Settleimires, who was a 2006 precision national finalist, is a member of the Cross Roads Shooting Sports Association sponsored by Perry A. Johns Post 6.

Also observing the competition again this year was 1992 rifle Olympic Gold medalist Launi Meili. Meili, got her start as a youth through a shooting program sponsored by the Cheney, Wash., American Legion Post. Meili is the rifle coach for the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo.

Rounding out the top five in the two categories were:

Precision competition – Aaron Holsopple shot a 2457.2 to take second place honors. Holsopple is from Wilcox, Pa., and shoots for the Ridgway Rifle Club Jr. Team, sponsored by Edward Lehman Post 467.

Gina Cheliras of Hubbard, Ohio, fired a 2448.0 to capture third place. She is a member of the Ashland Eagles, sponsored by Frank Bender Post 473.

Michael Kulbacki finished in fourth place with a 2445.5. He is from DuBois, Pa., and shoots for DuBois Rifle and Pistol Club, sponsored by DuBois Post 17. Kulbacki also was a 2006 precision national finalist.

Rounding out the top five was Courtney Duncan of Newman, Ga., who shot a 2437.5. Duncan shoots for the East Coweta H.S. MCJROTC marksmanship team, sponsored by Post 57.

Sporter competition - Second place went to Kim Goldberg of Germantown, Md., with a score of 2270.5. She is a member of the Damascus Air Rifle Club, sponsored by Post 171.

Steven Arrington of Los Lunas, N.M., fired a 2266.2 for third place. He shoots for the Valencia County 4-H Shooting Sports team sponsored by Post 85.

Taking fourth was Mathew Brewer shooting a 2261.9. Brewer, of Hampton, Va., is a member of the Lafayette Gun Club of Virginia, sponsored by Post 273.

Taking fifth place honors was James Keith of Albuquerque, N.M., with a 2253.1. Keith is a member of LaCueva H.S. Marine Corps JROTC marksmanship team, sponsored by Post 49.

The tournament staff selected James Keith as the recipient of the annual Francis M. Redington Sportsmanship award. The Francis M. Redington Sportsmanship award was established in May 2005 in the memory of Redington, a long time tournament staff member, who passed away in 2003. Keith was selected as the athlete competing in the national championship who best exemplified good sportsmanship and fair play.

The American Legion’s Junior Shooting Sports program offers junior shooters the opportunity to participate in Olympic-style competition while also providing instruction on the safe handling of firearms.

The House of Representatives passed its fiscal year 2009 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations bill on Aug. 1 in a strong bipartisan vote of 409 to 4. The 2009 legislation (H.R. 6599) builds on historic increases for veterans and troops passed into law last year, which saw the largest funding increase in VA's 77-year history.

"This bipartisan bill builds on the historic increases in the fiscal year 2008 bill and sends a clear message to America's troops, veterans and their families that we honor and respect their service and sacrifice," said Rep. Chet Edwards, D-Texas, chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs.

"This is about the moral responsibility of keeping our promises to those who have kept their promise to serve. The humility of this bill is our knowing that we can never fully repay the debt of gratitude we owe (to) all who have served in uniform to protect the American family."

Overall, the bill totals $118.7 billion and provides $72.7 billion in discretionary spending, $47.7 billion for the Department of Veterans Affairs, $24.8 billion for military construction, family housing and Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC), and $241 million for related agencies. It is $3.4 billion more than the president's request, and $8.8 billion more than the historic fiscal year 2008 bill.

In his first year as chairman in 2007, Edwards authored historic increases of $11.8 billion in veterans health care and benefits.

H.R. 6599 must now be passed by the Senate. Following is a more specific breakdown of the appropriations:

VA: It's getting $47.7 billion - $4.6 billion above 2008 and $2.9 billion over the president's request - for veterans medical care, claims processors and facility improvements. The Veterans Health Administration estimates it will treat more than 5.8 million patients in 2009, including more than 333,275 veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan (40,000 more than in 2008). Some notable provisions include:

Mental Health Care: Dedicate a minimum of $3.8 billion, $900 million more than 2008, to specialty mental-health services for veterans with mental illness and PTSD, and for suicide prevention.

Priority 8 Veterans: $568 million to increase enrollment of Priority 8 (low- to middle-income) veterans by 10 percent.

Mileage Reimbursement: Increased funding to raise the gas mileage reimbursement rate from 28.5 cents to 41.5 cents per mile for veterans traveling distances for care, and a freeze on the associated deductible.

Claims Processors: Increased funding to hire 2,100 additional claims processors to alleviate the backlog of 390,000 benefits claims, and to reduce the six-month wait to process new claims.

Rural Veterans: $200 million more to provide increased access to local health-care providers for veterans, Guardsmen and reservists living far away from VA facilities in rural areas.

Maintenance: $300 million more to address the backlog in maintenance at VA medical facilities to prevent another Walter Reed Annex 18 tragedy.

Prosthetics: $116 million more to increase availability of new-generation prosthetics.

Research: $58 million more for medical research in trauma, traumatic brain injury, mental health and other critical areas in finding the best treatments for Iraq and Afghanistan veterans.
Homeless Veterans: $130 million to provide additional case workers and medical services.

Oversight: Additional $11 million for the Office of the Inspector General to provide additional personnel to inspect the community-based outpatient clinics and Vet Centers, to avoid a Walter Reed scandal in the VA system.

Construction: Increases VA construction by $1 billion above the president's request, which will provide needed funding for six additional major construction projects, and another 145 minor construction projects at VA facilities for fiscal year 2009.

Military Construction: $24.8 billion, $400 million above the president's request and $4.2 billion above 2008. The large increase is mostly due to the costs of implementing BRAC, and plans to increase the size of the Army and Marine Corps.

Some notable provisions include:

2005 BRAC and Re-stationing: $9.1 billion, ($1.8 billion above 2008 and meeting the president's request) to implement base closures and realignments, and support the re-stationing of 70,000 troops and their families from overseas to the United States.

Quality of Life Initiative: $336 million, not requested by the president, to continue a quality of life initiative for troops and their families started in the 2008 supplemental, including nearly $200 million for five new trainee and recruit housing facilities for the Army and Marine Corps, and $136 million for medical military construction.

Growing the Force: $5.6 billion in military construction and family housing, to increase the size of the Army by 65,000, the Marine Corps by 27,000, and the Guard and reserve branches by 9,200 personnel.

Military Housing: $3.2 billion, $300 million above 2008, to further eliminate inadequate military housing.

H.R. 6599 INFO

The military-to-civilian recruiting firm RecruitMilitary will present a free hiring event for veterans on Thursday, Aug. 14, in Milwaukee’s Bradley Center. This event, the RecruitMilitary Career Fair, will take place from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. at the center on 1001 N. Fourth St. RecruitMilitary urges all job seekers who have military backgrounds to attend--veterans who already have civilian work experience, men and women who are transitioning from active duty to civilian life, members of the National Guard and reserves, and military spouses.

Veteran-friendly organizations will conduct one-on-one interviews with the job seekers--organizations that will include corporate employers, law-enforcement agencies and other government employers, educational institutions, veterans service agencies, and veterans associations.

RecruitMilitary will produce the career fair in cooperation with The American Legion and HireVetsFirst, a unit of the United States Department of Labor.

More than 500 organizations attended 45 RecruitMilitary Career Fairs in 2007. At those events, an average of 30-plus organizations interviewed an average of over 350 job seekers. RecruitMilitary Career Fairs conducted in 2006 and 2007 generated television coverage by CNBC, ABC, CBS, NBC and CNN; radio coverage by ESPN and numerous regional stations; and articles in metropolitan and local newspapers.

RecruitMilitary, based in Cincinnati, connects employers with job seekers who have military backgrounds. All of the company's owners, officers, account executives, and retained search consultants are either veterans or active or former reservists. In addition to participation in career fairs, RecruitMilitary offers subscriptions to its database of self-registered job seekers who have military backgrounds, currently numbering more than 185,000, at its Web site, www.recruitmilitary.com, advertising in online and print media, and retained hiring services. The company mails more than 54,000 copies of a quarterly, print newsletter called Incoming! to over 230 military bases throughout the world for distribution to transitioning personnel; employers advertise their job openings in Incoming! The President of RecruitMilitary is Drew Myers, formerly a Captain in the United States Marine Corps. The company was founded in 1998.

BY JAMES V CARROLL

Attitude, leadership and accountability are crucial to recruiting new members and retaining current ones, American Legion National Commander Marty Conatser told the 45^th Annual Membership Conference in Indianapolis July 31 to Aug 2.

Are the leaders of your state participating, or are they just wearing caps?” Conatser asked. “Those are the questions you have to ask yourselves as leaders and motivators of The American Legion today. Those are the challenges that stand in front of you. Are you ready for them? Do you have a plan? Do you have a good attitude? Are you excited?

Conatser said it is difficult for him not to be excited when talking to people about The American Legion, and is puzzled why his excitement is not universally contagious.

>“If you look at the good things The American Legion is doing, if you look at the absolutely great things we are doing in family support, if you can explain the Legacy Scholarship and what that means to our commitment to America, and you are not excited – something is wrong.”

=The attitudes and excitement of department and district commanders and membership chairmen directly affect their districts, departments and The American Legion, Conatser said. Recruiting new members and retaining those already in the fold is not rocket science, but department and district leaders must lead by example. They must communicate their goals and expectations. And they must track their progress along the way.

“What do you expect for the year?” Conatser asked. “What are you going to achieve this year? How are you going get your people to do the job for The American Legion? How are you going to motivate them, hold them accountable in a positive way? You as a leader must be able to do more than recognize a problem. You must be able to offer positive suggestions to help your people to achieve goals”

As an example, Conatser told a story about a district commander showing up at a post meeting and saying, “We need more membership,” but he never suggested to others how they might recruit new members.

“When you go to a post and its leadership tells you they can’t get it done, do you come with positive ideas to help, or do you commiserate with them?” Conatser asked. “It is my experience that if you expect them to do things, they will do it. But you are going to have to take the lead, encourage, and move things along. That’s your challenge as a leader.”

Dave Rehbein, leading candidate for 2008-2009 national commander, told the 350 workshop attendees that pride and purpose drive American Legion programs and membership recruitment and retention.

“You’ve heard ‘back to the basics’ and the four pillars upon which our organization was founded – veterans affairs and rehabilitation, national security, education and mentoring of our youth, and honor and patriotism,” Rehbein said. “I’d like to add a couple other words – pride and purpose – should you elect me as your national commander in Phoenix. Those words encompass the meaning of the four pillars and ’back to basics.’ Those two words represent who we are.”

Rehbein said he intends to ask all Legionnaires in leadership positions to lead by example, by making personal contact with posts in their departments and districts.

“How you conduct yourselves and the way you fulfill the duties of your office set the tone for the folks under you,” Rehbein said. “If you choose to contact your posts by telephone, your posts will contact members by telephone. But if you care enough to go visit them in person, you can then look them in the eye and say, ‘I need you to care enough to go visit your membership in person.’ We know that face-to-face contact is how we recruit membership most effectively.”

Traveling from post to post provides an opportunity to learn firsthand the challenges and successes of each post, Rehbein said. Some people need to be challenged; some need to be encouraged. Leaders of the organization need to recognize the difference, he said. Face-to-face contact is the best to find out.

Rehbein unveiled monetary incentives for district commanders to visit posts. To earn the award, district commanders or vice commanders must personally visit every post in their district. Awards range from $100 to $500 depending on the number of posts in a district. Rehbein also intends to reward posts that show excellence in four areas: membership, youth activities, community service, and support to active duty troops or veterans. Posts meeting the criteria will receive framed certificates.

During the workshop, Linda Perham, chairman of the Membership & Post Activities Committee, briefed attendees on the status of an ad-hoc committee on Direct Membership Solicitation. The committee was established earlier this year to study ways to improve DMS, a national program instituted to recruit new members by direct mail.

Mike McDaniel, department adjutant of Florida, briefed attendees on the department’s fledgling virtual post – an online cyber post created to recruit new members and to provide information on Legion programs and activities. Bill Pease, deputy director of Americanism and Children & Youth, touted capabilities of a multi-faceted interactive teleconference software package.

On behalf of five Hendricks County, Ind,, American Legion posts – Avon, Plainfield, Danville, Pittsboro, and Brownsburg – Ralph Zoccolillo presented a $10,000 check to the American Legion Legacy Scholarship. The five posts conduct an annual Blue Star Banner salute to recognize families whose loved ones are serving in the U.S. military. Legionnaires were also briefed on two ongoing Department of Defense and American Legion programs: Wounded Warriors and Heroes to Hometowns.

By National Commander Marty Conatser

There’s a saying I once heard: “You can’t talk a hog into slaughtering itself.” I am not sure I believe that anymore, after the U.S. Supreme Court’s June decision to give detained enemy combatants the ability to sue us in our own judicial system. Captured terrorists from foreign lands, or so the ruling suggests, have U.S. constitutional rights, just like you and me. Members of al-Qaeda, the Taliban, and various other rogue cells committed to our destruction, are now granted legal privileges previously enjoyed only by U.S. citizens.

The decision is what it is. And we must respect it. However, the 5-4 ruling raises many chilling concerns about the future of America’s ability to fight and defend itself in a time of war.

The ruling punches a hole in the president’s wartime decision-making authority and subordinates Congress, in order to give suspected terrorists their day in our courts. To extend the argument, split-second battlefield decisions of U.S. officers and troops fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan may soon be influenced by the odds of winning in court, should it come to that. That’s a lot to ask of soldiers caught in firefights against an enemy without insignia, flag, military uniform or any respect for the Geneva Conventions.

To shoot or not to shoot? To detain or let go? U.S. combat troops have to trust their training, instincts and morals, which are already far superior to those of any foe on the planet.

As the high court’s decision was reported, I thought of Matt Maupin and his family. In 2004, the 20-year-old private first class from Ohio was captured by insurgents in Iraq. He was riding in a fuel tanker as part of a 26-vehicle convoy between Balad and Baghdad International Airport when the ambush came. The last time the young Army reservist was seen alive, he was surrounded by masked gunmen in a video aired by Al Jazeera. Another video was later released, depicting the execution of a U.S. soldier who may have been him. Maupin’s parents spent four years in anguish without word – not knowing – until their son’s remains were identified last spring, using DNA testing.

Such is the courtroom of our enemies.

Maupin’s terrorist captors, who stormed out of private homes and roadside ditches in their ambush on the convoy, scoff at justice. They simply attack, capture, murder and make a public spectacle of it. That’s Terrorism 101.

We need to remember who the enemy is. The enemy hijacked four U.S. jetliners on the morning of Sept. 11, 2001, and killed thousands of innocent people. The enemy seized journalist Daniel Pearl and executed him in a cowardly act of public bravado in Pakistan; a terrorist at Guantanamo Bay took credit for that beheading in 2007. The enemy is not a soldier but a fanatical thug who, at Guantanamo Bay, is fed well, treated by doctors and dentists, given religious freedom and afforded recreational activities. Those who are not dangerous are returned to their countries of origin. Those who remain devoted to our destruction, or are seriously suspected of it, remain in U.S. detention.

It’s pretty simple, really. At least it was until the ruling in June.

The U.S. Coast Guard traces its roots to U.S. Revenue Cutter Service, which was established by Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton on Aug. 4, 1790. At the time, the Revenue Cutter Service was the only naval force of the United States.

Today, the U.S. Coast Guard consists of approximately 42,000 active duty personnel, 252 cutters, 1,600 boats and 194 aircraft.

The Coast Guards primary missions are to ensure maritime safety, maritime security, maritime mobility, national defense and the protection of natural resources. Members of the U.S. Coast Guard are eligible for full membership in The American Legion if they served honorably during The American Legion war-time eligibility periods.

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