Forty Years ago President Jimmy Carter attacked by Killer Rabbit - and Trump thinks he has it bad!

America's New Real Action Heroes - Two soldiers become first female Rangers

.

Care2.com

Two Soldiers Become First Female Army Rangers

by Crystal Shepeard

August 20, 2015

In January, the United States Army announced that 60 women were selected to be in a pilot program for the Army Rangers training program. The Rangers are an elite unit called into the height of war via land, sea or air to conduct lethal and complex joint special combat missions. Like all elite combat units, Rangers are only men. The pilot program is part of an ongoing effort by the military to integrate women into positions that have traditionally done so.

The Army wanted to learn if it was even possible to integrate, as the program is notoriously difficult to get through. On average, only 45 percent of Ranger School students graduate. Sixty percent of all failures happen during the first four days, with many failing the physical fitness test the first day. The focus was not about how many of the female soldiers would make it through, but making sure the standards are uniform.

This week the Army announced that not only were they able to maintain the high standards, but two women will graduate this week. Capt. Kristen Griest and 1st Lt. Shaye Haver have become the first women Army Rangers. The West Point graduates’ march into the history books has been a long and arduous journey.

On April 20, 381 men and 19 women (one soldier dropped out before starting) began the training in Fort Benning, Georgia. The Ranger Course is a “62-day course on leadership and small unit tactics, which pushes Ranger students to their mental and physical limits by forcing them to operate on minimal food and sleep. Approximately 34 percent of students who enter Ranger School recycle at least one phase of the course, adding to the student’s physical and mental fatigue.” Soldiers are allowed to recycle when they have done well in other areas but fall short in areas where improvement can be made.

Eight of the women successfully finished the Ranger Assessment Phase (RAP). The RAP phase consists of physical fitness testing, 12-mile foot march in three hours with a heavy load and mock patrols, among other tasks. All of the eight women did a recycle for patrolling. In the end, five women were dropped from the program and three women moved on to the next phase after a second, one day recycle.

The three soldiers joined 158 of their male soldiers in the second Mountain Phase. Soldiers train in military mountaineering, which included a nearly two mile march up a steep mountain and combat patrols. Six men were dropped from the training and one woman joined 60 men in a recycle phase that will begin at the end of this month.

The remaining soldiers entered into the third and final phase. The 17 day Swamp Phase included airborne jumps, four days of waterborne exercises and leading patrols in the swampy waters off the coast of Florida. On Friday, August 22, 96 soldiers will graduate in a ceremony at Fort Benning. 1st Lt. Shaye Haver and Capt. Kristen Griest will be among them.

Griest and Haver’s journey took four months since they and a few of their fellow male soldiers repeated phases. The third woman is repeating the final phase of the training and if successful will graduate in September. Despite their well deserved honor, the twenty-something soldiers will not be joining their fellow soldiers in the Ranger unit.

The Pentagon is still assessing which units in all branches will be opened to women. The Defense Secretary will be making final decisions in January of next year.

Nevertheless, 1st Lt. Haver and Capt. Griest will wear the coveted black and gold Ranger Tab to show that they are among the elite group of leaders ready to defend our nation in the most dangerous situations.

. 

Bubba Blasts into Master's History as America's newest Hero

.

Humble, Squeaky clean, Christian and wants to change his adopted son's diapers.

Bubba, 33, is a popular guy on tour, part of the new crop of younger, Christian players dubbed the God squad. So maybe it was the golf-gloved hand of God that lifted him to victory on Easter.

Here he was, locked in a sudden death overtime, well it's called a play off in golf, when he blasted a miracle shot from in the woods around a tree to within 12 feet of the cup on the final playoff hole.

Man, woman and child, it was the kind of shot that makes legends of commoners and heroes of the deserving. Here at the Master's Tournament, the 78th Masters, a Bubba came out of Florida, played golf at the Unversity of Georgia, than patiently waited his turn to join the legends such as Palmer, Nickolas and Player. 

There is just something magical to have a guy named Bubba win golf's most prestigious tournament at a club so blue blood they don't even allow women to join.

When he sank the final putt he hugged his caddy and cried, then hugged his mother and cried. No shame, no braggadocio and total humility.

It's hard not to like a guy who uses a pink driver and chooses his wardrobe to help raise money for children's charities.

Need one more reason to think he might be the next household name in golf? Bubba Watson owns the original General Lee hot rod from the Dukes of Hazard television and movie fame.

Here are a few more reasons to like America's newest hero.

Bubba has never had a golf lesson in his life.

Bubba has never had his golf swing electronically analyzed in his life.

Bubba has never had a golf coach in his life.

Bubba is one of the few left-handed golfers on tour and is known for the tremendous length of his drives. In fact five of the last ten Masters winners were left handed but no left hander had won before 2003.

Bubba was nicknamed for former professional football player Bubba Smith.

Bubba is married to Angela P. "Angie" Watson, née Ball, a 6'4" former basketball player. In 2009, she was diagnosed with an enlargedpituitary gland which accounts for her extreme height.

On March 26, 2012 Watson and his wife adopted a one month old baby boy named Caleb. They spent four frustrating years trying to adopt.

Watson's father, Gerry Lester Watson, Sr., died on October 15, 2010 of throat cancer. Watson's mother is Molly Marie Watson and he has a sister Melinda Watson Conner.

Watson is currently one of four golfers in the PGA Tour exclusive boy band "Golf Boys". (The other three are Rickie Fowler,Ben Craneand Hunter Mahan.) The Golf Boys currently have a popular YouTube video for the song "Oh Oh Oh".

Watson recently purchased the original Dukes of Hazzard's 'General Lee' that he uses to raise money for charitable purposes.

All that and then there is Bubba Watson the Christian who shares Tim Tebow's love for the Lord and is not afraid to say it.

Did I mention Bubba and Tebow are friends and will be doing a joint fund raiser for children in a couple of weeks.

Don't you think the PGA, after the prowling Tiger controversy these past few years, would love to have a faithful father and Jesus loving hero?

Welcome Bubba to the short list of modern American heroes.

.

Melanie Oudin Back to Earth after US Open Run

-



America's new Cinderella of tennis 17 year old Melanie Oudin finally had her quest for instant fame and glory come to a premature end with her defeat to Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark. With a height advantage of 5' 10" to 5' 6" Wozniacki patiently allowed the young American to beat herself.




Amazingly, Wozniacki hit only five winners. Of the 69 points she won, 43 were because of Oudin’s unforced errors. The Dane artfully allowed each point to develop; she played the ball to the right spot, and forced Oudin to earn every point.




Wozniacki was all class facing crowd favorite Oudin and charming the American audience. She even waited patiently after the match for ESPN reporter Pam Shriver to break all precedence and interview the loser, Oudin before interviewing the winner. It was a crazy move by Shriver that stunned fellow sports commentators and the thousands in the crowd waiting to hear from the winner. Even Oudin was shocked when Shriver shoved the mike in front of her protesting she was not prepared and they are not supposed to interview the losers.




In the day before the match Melanie seemed to get caught up in the hype about herself and made it a point to practice twice a day while scheduling photo ops and interviews with the international media. That was probably a big mistake. She appeared confused, impatient and frustrated on the court as the fiery determination from previous matches was nowhere to be found.




Perhaps a lesson for the aspiring star, not even the mighty Super Bowl or World Series professionals are allowed to give endless interviews, photo ops and go out on the town until after they have won. Someone let Melanie read and believe not in herself, but in the media hype, as she noted in one interview that when she arrived at the Open no one knew her and by the quarter final everyone in the world knew her. Maybe it wasn't everyone in the world that really knew her.




If she matures and learns from the experience she may one day become a star. In the meantime, Caroline Wozniacki, just 19 years old, has earned her shot at super stardom. As you can see from the photos, she is well on her way to becoming an endorsement favorite of the big corporations.

History Repeats - Russian Tanks on the Move

It seems we've seen the images before, many times before, and they all seem to lead one to the same conclusion. No matter how things change they remain the same. When will the Russians learn we are watching?

Poland 1939

Berlin 1945

Hungary 1956

Czechoslovakia 1968

Georgia 2008