General Military Information

Articles Index

Getting Out of the Military
Hardly a week goes by that I don't receive email from someone asking how they can get out of the military. Sometimes the person is disillusioned -- perhaps their recruiter lied to them, or perhaps they had "selective listening," and only heard what they wanted to hear. Perhaps they simply decide, after basic training and/or job training that they don't like the military, and want out.

U.S. Military 101
The basic description of the United States Military, including the mission of the five military branches, organizational chain of command, and an overview of military ranks.

Burial at Sea
Burial at Sea is a means of final disposition of remains that is performed on United States Navy vessels. The committal ceremony is performed while the ship is deployed. Therefore, family members are not allowed to be present. The CO of the ship assigned to perform the ceremony will notify the family of the date, time, and, longitude and latitude once the committal service has been completed.

U.S. Military Salute
The origin of the Hand Salute is uncertain. Some historians believe it began in late Roman times when assassinations were common. A citizen who wanted to see a public official had to approach with his right hand raised to show that he did not hold a weapon. Here are the saluting customs of the U.S. Military Forces today.

Letters from Santa
Combat weather flight airmen stationed at EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska each year help Santa send out thousands of signed, North Pole-postmarked letters to children worldwide.

Honoring All Who Served
Many people confuse Memorial Day and Veterans Day. Memorial Day is a day for remembering and honoring military personnel who died in the service of their country, particularly those who died in battle or as a result of wounds sustained in battle. While those who died are also remembered on Veterans Day, Veterans Day is the day set aside to thank and honor ALL those who served honorably in the military - in wartime or peacetime.

U.S. Military Beret History
Military forces have worn distinctive uniform items for centuries to create a psychological advantage and boost their esprit de corps, but the United States Military use of berets is a relatively recent phenomenon.

Security Clearance Secrets
A security clearance investigation is an inquiry into an individual’s loyalty, character, trustworthiness and reliability to ensure that he or she is eligible for access to national security information. In part 2 of this three-part feature, the approval/disapproval process.

Getting a Copy of Your Military Records
The National Personnel Records Center, Military Personnel Records (NPRC-MPR), in St. Louis, MO, is the repository of millions of military personnel, health, and medical records of discharged and deceased veterans of all services during the 20th century. Here's how to request a copy of military records on file at the Center.

Security Clearance Secrets
A security clearance investigation is an inquiry into an individual’s loyalty, character, trustworthiness and reliability to ensure that he or she is eligible for access to national security information. In part 1 of this three-part feature, the basics of a Security Clearance.

Security Clearance Secets
A security clearance investigation is an inquiry into an individual’s loyalty, character, trustworthiness and reliability to ensure that he or she is eligible for access to national security information. In part 3 of this three-part feature, finding out what is in the DSS Files about you.

Upgrading Your Military Discharge
Any person who has been discharged or dismissed, or his or her heirs or legal representative, may apply to the appropriate service's Discharge Review Board. The Army, Air Force, and Coast Guard have separate boards. The Navy operates the board for both Navy personnel and members of the United States Marine Corps.

May is National Military Appreciation Month
Both chambers of the U.S. Congress have adopted a resolution calling for Americans to recognize and honor U.S. service members during May's National Military Appreciation Month. Traditionally, May has focused on the military in many ways. For example, Armed Forces Day, created in 1949, is an annual event held on the third Saturday in May, with activities at U.S. military bases around the world. The month culminates with Memorial Day, a federal holiday on the last Monday in May.

United States Military Grooming Standards
In the military, there is little room for "personal expression," when it comes to appearance. Like it or not, the American public often judges the discipline and effectiveness of a military service based, in part, on the manner in which the uniform is worn, and the personal appearance of that service's uniformed personnel. Here are the grooming standards for the Army, Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps.

Military Leaves, Passes, and Liberty
One of the entitlements most new military personnel want to learn about is LEAVE. Leave is paid vacation from duty for recreation and relief from the pressures of job-related duties. You may also take leave for personal reasons and emergency situations. A "pass" (called "liberty" in the Navy, Coast Guard, and Marine Corps) is time-off, not chargeable as leave.

Military Ethics and Conflicts of Interest
Ethics are standards by which one should act based on values. Values are core beliefs such as duty, honor, and integrity that motivate attitudes and actions. DoDD 5500.7, Standards of Conduct, provides guidance to Air Force personnel on standards of conduct, ethics, and conflicts of interest. Violations of the punitive provisions by military personnel can result in prosecution under the UCMJ.

United States Flag Procedures
Reveille is the signal for the start of the official duty day. Because the time for the start of the duty day varies between bases, the commander designates the specified time for reveille. If the commander desires, a reveille ceremony may accompany the raising of the flag. This ceremony takes place in the vicinity of the base flagstaff and is held after sunrise.

U.S. Flag Customs and Procedures
The military retreat ceremony serves a twofold purpose. It signals the end of the official duty day and serves as a ceremony for paying respect to the flag. Because the time for the end of the duty day varies, the commander designates the specific time for the retreat ceremony.

New MREs Coming to a Field Near You
New this year to the MRE menu board are pot roast with vegetables, barbecue pork ribs and vegetable manicotti. New side dishes are hearty New England clam chowder and a carbohydrate-fortified applesauce.

Military Officials Set Holiday Mailing Dates
The dates for mailing items to and from overseas locations in time for the holidays are fast approaching, and Military Postal Service Agency officials have suggestions for ensuring packages and letters arrive on time.

Military Service Credit for Federal Civilian Retirement
In general, military service can be credited to Federal Government Employee Retirement, if the employee makes a contribution to the retirement fund of seven percent of the base pay they received while in the military.

Transforming the Way the Military Trains
The joint force is now a reality, and the American military must train as it fights. To that end, the Department of Defense is transforming the way the services train.

Military Members Can Vote Online
The Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP) has begun conducting a large Internet registration and voting demonstration for the 2004 election. Thousands of absentee uniformed services personnel and their dependents, will have the opportunity to register to vote and cast their ballots from any Windows-based computer with Internet access, anywhere in the world.