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Articles by Alex Licea
8 life lessons from ‘Forrest Gump’ legend Lieutenant Dan
Alex Licea July 18, 2024 at 5:46 PM·5 min read Gary Sinise has had a very successful film and television career spanning over four decades. Sinise starred on the long-running TV series CSI: NY and worked on major motion pictures such as Apollo 13 and Ransom. Sinise is a big supporter of the men and women who serve our nation in uniform.
Here are 10 things everyone experiences in jump school
The U.S. Army Airborne School at Fort Benning, Georgia is where U.S. military members of all branches go to become military parachutists. The school is three weeks of intense physical drills, training on towers, and of course, “jumping out of a perfectly good airplane” five times to earn the coveted silver parachute badge (also known as “jump wings”). Here are 10 things Airborne students will encounter when going through Jump School: 1.
This is why the MRE is more than just a meal
The military’s standard individual field ration, the MRE (Meal, Ready to Eat), is the well-known and much-discussed bag of food eaten by service members of the U.S. military when deployed in combat, to remote locations, or when training in the field. The purpose of the MRE is simple; it serves as nourishment for troops. The MRE can be divisive. Some like them, some hate them but most handle them when we have to. There are ways to deal with a diet of this prepackaged manna.
Here are 10 things everyone experiences in jump school
Articles Alex Licea Posted On September 03, 2021 06:14:00 The U.S. Army Airborne School at Fort Benning, Georgia is where U.S. military members of all branches go to become military parachutists. The school is three weeks of intense physical drills, training on towers, and of course, “jumping out of a perfectly good airplane” five times to earn the coveted silver parachute badge (also known as “jump wings”). Here are 10 things Airborne students will encounter when going through Jump School: 1.
7 ooh-rah tips from the career of R. Lee Ermey
popular Alex Licea Posted On August 31, 2021 02:11:00 R. Lee Ermey, better known as “The Gunny”, had a very impressive film and television career following his 11 years of service in the U.S. Marine Corps, before his death in 2018. The former drill instructor and Vietnam War veteran acted in numerous films, hosted television shows, and was also an author.
These are the 7 finest pieces of flair on US military uniforms
popular Alex Licea Posted On August 28, 2021 03:43:00 In the 1999 film Office Space, one of the most quotable scenes is when Joanna (Jennifer Aniston), is confronted by her boss Stan, portrayed by the film’s writer/director Mike Judge, about her lack of “flair” on her work uniform. Pieces of flair are quirky buttons and other accessories with funny, light-hearted phrases or pictures on the uniforms of characters working in a fictional TGI Friday’s rip-off.
7 pictures you won't see in a recruiting brochure
Military brochures are colorful and glossy, full of awesome pictures showing service members doing some really cool stuff. These pictures usually feature troops flying in helicopters, firing weapons, riding in amphibious assault vehicles, jumping from aircraft, and traveling the world. There is no question a military career can be very exciting. However, just like any other profession, there can be some mundane tasks that seem unusual and flat-out odd. This is especially true in the military.
These American military bases are right out of 'Game of Thrones'
MIGHTY MOVIES Alex Licea Posted On May 13, 2021 06:38:00 The HBO series “Game of Thrones” (or GoT for short) is based in the mythical world of Westeros and Essos, continents of the Known World. Westeros is where most of the storylines in the show take place. The continent of Westeros is broken down into Seven Kingdoms made up of nine regions: The North, The Iron Islands, The Riverlands, The Vale of Arryn, The Westerlands, The Reach, The Stormlands, The Crownlands (King’s Landing), and Dorne.
Here's proof that every group of military buddies mirrors the kids from the movie 'The Sandlot'
“It was inevitable.” After breaking the internet with a twitter storm of announcements, Disney finally dropped the next projects coming from the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Phase Three wrapped itself up with Avengers: Endgame and Spider-Man: Far from Home and now, my friends, it’s time for Phase Four. 1. WandaVision Marvel has been teasing its unusual launch into Disney+ streaming series, which will begin with WandaVision on Jan. 15, 2021. On Dec.
6 things you'll miss about life in the barracks
Military Life Alex Licea Posted On February 16, 2021 09:41:00 Most veterans lived in the barracks (or dorms for you Air Force types) at some point during their time in service. Despite the improvements to military quarters over the years, many people just can’t stand barracks life because of things like buffing hallway floors, the senior leader walkthroughs, and the early morning health and welfare inspections. Bottom line: barracks life is not everyone’s cup of tea. Marines barracks party in 1967.
Wakanda series coming from 'Black Panther' director
MIGHTY MOVIES Shannon Corbeil Posted On February 03, 2021 15:32:47 The Walt Disney Company announced another — and very exciting — streaming series for Disney+. Straight from Black Panther director Ryan Coogler himself, we are getting a series all about the kingdom of Wakanda. With the devastating death of Chadwick Boseman in 2020, the fate of the Black Panther sequel is currently unknown.
Here's what's going on with the crazy 'WandaVision' promos
MIGHTY MOVIES Shannon Corbeil Posted On November 13, 2020 01:54:12 When we last saw (the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s) Wanda Maximoff, she was at the funeral of Tony Stark after the Avengers finally defeated Thanos. During Avengers: Infinity War, she was forced to destroy the Mind Stone — killing her lover, Vision, in the process — until Thanos used the Time Stone to undo her actions and tear the Mind Stone from Vision, killing the sentient android himself.
7 ooh-rah tips from the career of R. Lee Ermey
Articles Alex Licea Posted On September 01, 2020 21:11:17 R. Lee Ermey, better known as “The Gunny”, has had a very impressive film and television career following his 11 years of service in the U.S. Marine Corps. The former drill instructor and Vietnam War veteran acted in numerous films, hosted television shows, and is also an author.
7 pictures you won't see in a recruiting brochure
Military brochures are colorful and glossy, full of awesome pictures showing service members doing some really cool stuff. These pictures usually feature troops flying in helicopters, firing weapons, riding in amphibious assault vehicles, jumping from aircraft, and traveling the world. There is no question a military career can be very exciting. However, just like any other profession, there can be some mundane tasks that seem unusual and flat-out odd. This is especially true in the military.
5 lessons we can all learn from Marine Gunnery Sgt. Emil Foley
In what is widely considered the best role of his acting career, legendary film and television star Louis Gossett Jr. plays Marine Corps Gunnery Sgt. Emil Foley, a hardcore drill instructor, in the 1982 film An Officer and a Gentleman. (Paramount Pictures) Gossett Jr.'s portrayal of a no-nonsense DI in the film earned him the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. If you watch his performance, you'll quickly see why Oscar came calling.
Here are 10 things everyone experiences in jump school
The U.S. Army Airborne School at Fort Benning, Georgia is where U.S. military members of all branches go to become military parachutists. The school is three weeks of intense physical drills, training on towers, and of course, "jumping out of a perfectly good airplane" five times to earn the coveted silver parachute badge (also known as "jump wings"). Here are 10 things Airborne students will encounter when going through Jump School: 1.
7 ooh-rah tips from the career of R. Lee Ermey
R. Lee Ermey, better known as "The Gunny", has had a very impressive film and television career following his 11 years of service in the U.S. Marine Corps. The former drill instructor and Vietnam War veteran acted in numerous films, hosted television shows, and is also an author. Of course, the Gunny is best known for his portrayal of Gunnery Sergeant Hartman in the 1987 Stanley Kubrick classic film "Full Metal Jacket," a role that earned him a Golden Globe nomination for Best Supporting Actor.
These are the 7 finest pieces of flair on US military uniforms
In the 1999 film Office Space, one of the most quotable scenes is when Joanna (Jennifer Aniston), is confronted by her boss Stan, portrayed by the film's writer/director Mike Judge, about her lack of "flair" on her work uniform. Pieces of flair are quirky buttons and other accessories with funny, light-hearted phrases or pictures on the uniforms of characters working in a fictional TGI Friday's rip-off. When it comes to "flair," the U.S. military has some cool looking badges.
6 tips to live the best life ever from USAF vet Bob Ross
With his soothing voice and famous catchphrases, Robert Norman "Bob" Ross inspired many Americans to pick up a paintbrush and put it to canvas. The famed oil painter brought "Happy Little Trees" and "Mystic Mountains" to our television screens for many years with his show "The Joy of Painting", which aired from 1983 until 1994 on PBS. What many people may not know about Ross is that prior to being an instructional painter, he was a military man. Bob Ross before and after...
8 life lessons from 'Major Payne'
Although it’s not considered an all-time military movie classic like “Full Metal Jacket” or “Stripes,” the 1995 military comedy “Major Payne” is an entertaining family film (with some salty language). The film stars comedian Damon Wayans as U.S. Marine Corps Major Benson Winifred Payne. Payne is a rough and tough Marine who becomes a Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps instructor after being discharged from active duty for not making lieutenant colonel.
6 wild facts about the deadly creator of SEAL Team Six
MIGHTY HISTORY Blake Stilwell Posted On February 21, 2019 18:24:46 These days, Richard Marcinko is a business instructor, author, and motivational speaker. In his earlier years, “Demo Dick” was the United States’ premier counterterrorism operator.
6 tips to live the best life ever from USAF vet Bob Ross
With his soothing voice and famous catchphrases, Robert Norman “Bob” Ross inspired many Americans to pick up a paintbrush and put it to canvas. The famed oil painter brought “Happy Little Trees” and “Mystic Mountains” to our television screens for many years with his show “The Joy of Painting”, which aired from 1983 until 1994 on PBS. What many people may not know about Ross is that prior to being an instructional painter, he was a military man.
'Sgt. Bilko' aired a generation ago but vets can still get a kick out of it
Dust off your VHS tape, grab a DVD, or search Netflix for the 1996 comedy ‘Sgt. Bilko’ starring comedic icons Steve Martin, Dan Aykroyd and the late, great Phil Hartman and give it a rewatch sometime. The movie is a remake of the hit 1950’s series The Phil Silvers Show. Most will agree that the movie was not nearly as good as the show. In fact, the numbers to prove it. “Sgt. Bilko” has a 32 percent critic favorability rating on the movie review site Rotten Tomatoes.
Here are the WWE superstars that are the equivalent of your rank
MIGHTY MOVIES Alex Licea Posted On January 28, 2019 18:38:23 Airman 1st Class Logan Porter strikes a pose with World Wrestling Entertainment superstars John Cena, Chris Jericho and Kofi Kingston during a USO visit Feb. 10, 2012. The wrestlers took photos and signed autographs with more than 200 airmen and soldiers assigned to the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing. If the E-4 mafia, those pesky 2LTs, and the old Command Sergeant Major were wrestlers, what would their gimmick be?
8 life lessons from 'Forrest Gump' legend Lt. Dan
Gary Sinise has had a very successful film and television career spanning over four decades. Sinise starred on the long-running TV series "CSI: NY" and worked on major motion pictures such as "Apollo 13" and "Ransom." Sinise is a big supporter of the men and women who serve our nation in uniform.
7 military-related websites you need to bookmark immediately
Current servicemembers and veterans are some of the most remarkable individuals representing the best of our country. The beauty of the people who serve in the military is that they hail from all across the nation, have diverse backgrounds and interesting stories about their time in service. Many of these individuals are not just warriors, but they are also storytellers. For many military members, writing is a powerful tool.
These 8 tips will help veterans be more successful in school
You may be one of the thousands of servicemembers and veterans who will head back to the classroom to pursue postsecondary degrees or technical certifications this fall. Those who seek higher education do it for a variety of reasons. In a competitive job market, many go back to school for career advancement and to increase their chances for promotion to the next rank. Others head to the classroom to change professions or pick up a new trade.
These 5 military drills would be amazing Olympic events
The U.S. Olympic team’s stars – Michael Phelps, Katie Ledecky and Simone Biles – stole the show during the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, performing record-breaking feats on the world stage. But what if the Olympics featured elite athletes crawling under barbed wire or running with an 80-pound rucksack for 5, 10, or even 20 miles? Our men and women in uniform could be winning gold if the following military activities were official competitions: 1.
Here are 8 things you don't miss about basic training
For anyone who’s been through it, recruit training (or boot camp or whatever your service calls it) conjures up memories of hard work, new life lessons and a real sense of accomplishment. But while the reward at the end of the experience seems worth it when it’s over, a lot of boot camp just plain sucks. So here are eight things you surely don’t miss about basic training. 1. Losing sleep The days of sleeping until noon are over. Getting up at 0400 or 0500 every morning is the norm.
8 signs you might be a military brat
Sure, we all know that kids with military parents have to move around a lot. It’s a bummer making friends in school since in a couple years you’re going to be bouncing off to another base and have to start all over again. So, aside from the obvious fact that you can pack your house up in a day and fit most of it on the roof of a minivan, here are some other signs you might be a military brat. 1.
Use Memorial Day to educate not shame
On Memorial Day, U.S. citizens from coast to coast will pay tribute to the nation’s fallen military members who died in service to their country. Many will participate in parades, visit cemeteries to place flowers on grave sites, and attend memorial services in honor of those who made the ultimate sacrifice for the United States. Sgt.
Reason why the MRE is more than a meal
The military’s standard individual field ration, the MRE (Meal, Ready to Eat), is the well-known and much-discussed entree eaten by service members of the U.S. military when deployed in combat, to remote locations, or when training in the field. The purpose of the MRE is simple; it serves as nourishment for troops. The MRE can be divisive. Some like them, some hate them but most handle them when we have to. There are ways to deal with a diet of this prepackaged manna.
Here's what goes on at the Olympics for Special Operations units
The Summer Olympics Games may be in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil but all eyes are on Peru this week as security forces from 20 nations compete at Fuerzas Comando, a friendly military skills competition where the top special operations forces and police forces from the Western Hemisphere compete for the coveted Fuerzas Comando Cup.
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