Latest news with #DepartmentofMilitaryAffairs
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Honoring heroes: The significance of coins on their graves
(WWTI) – Why is a quarter on a headstone important and why shouldn't you remove it? According to the Wounded Warrior Project, each coin's denomination has a unique and important value, but placing a coin on a veteran's gravestone is a gesture of respect and honor, as well as letting the departed service member's family know someone was there. What each denomination means: Penny: Means someone has visited the grave; Nickel: Signifies that the visitor served with the deceased service member at boot camp; Dime: Means the visitor and deceased service member served together at some point; and Quarter: This coin is left by someone who was physically with the service member when they died. The tradition can be traced back to the Roman Empire, according to an article by the Department of Military Affairs. To pay for passage and protection over the River Styx, which divides the world of the living from the land of the dead, coins were put into the mouths of fallen soldiers. During the Vietnam War, the tradition became well-liked in the United States as a means of remembering the dead amid political division and turmoil over a contentious conflict. The coins served to quietly honor service members and communicate a message of respect for their family members. This Memorial Day, as we remember our fallen heroes, pay attention to the coins you see and make sure to leave them alone. While our economy makes it seem that coins don't have much value, on a veteran's gravestone, those coins take on a heavy duty of respect and honor and pay tribute to those who fell protecting the rights and freedoms of all US citizens. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
India Today
23-05-2025
- Politics
- India Today
General Anil Chauhan authors book on India's military, Rajnath Singh at launch
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday was present at the launch of "Ready, Relevant and Resurgent: A Blueprint for the Transformation of India's Military", a book authored by Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan. The book talks about the ongoing transformation of India's armed forces, focusing on jointness, integration, and self-reliance to address the challenges of 21st-century warfare and uphold national book, a collection of articles by General Chauhan, lays out a vision to build a future-ready military aligned with the national goal of a "Sashakt, Surakshit, Samridh aur Viksit Bharat" by 2047. It highlights long-term reforms to foster interoperability amongst the services, optimise military resources, and modernise the forces to counter emerging threats."This book is just the beginning of nuanced thoughts," said CDS Anil Chauhan, expressing hope that the ideas within would stimulate further discourse on military transformation. The roots of this reform date back to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's address at the 2014 Combined Commanders' Conference, where he outlined the need for a modern, joint force capable of securing India's interests across both traditional and emerging domains. Acting on this vision, the government in 2020 established the Department of Military Affairs and appointed the first CDS to enhance synergy between the three Chauhan, who attended his first Combined Commanders' Conference as CDS in March 2023, drew inspiration from the event's theme - "Ready, Relevant, Resurgent" - for the title of the book. He said the terms encapsulate the direction India's military must take to remain effective in an increasingly complex global security shifting geopolitical dynamics and the unpredictable nature of future conflicts, CDS Chauhan stressed the importance of developing India-specific solutions rooted in the country's strategic culture. Highlighting this, the book includes a piece on "Ancient Indian Wisdom and its Relevance in Modern Strategy and Statecraft", underlining how India's heritage continues to inform its global outlook and military Watch
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Montana National Guard general to retire in June, Governor names replacement
Major General Pete Hronek, the Adjutant General for the Montana National Guard visited troops at Fort Harrison during a training exercise with sister Guard units and the Special Operations community on February 27th, 2025. Montana training facilities offer unique opportunities for out of state units to conduct high altitude, mountain warfare, and cold weather training. Joint partnerships such as these enhance the readiness of the Montana National Guard by sharing information and practices across the force allowing our Soldiers to deploy anywhere at any time. Photos courtesy of SSG Billy Topaz and SGT Preston Stevens, 103rd Public Affairs Detachment. Major General J Peter Hronek, the Adjutant General of Montana's National Guard, will retire on June 7, following a 40-year military career. Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte on Tuesday announced the leadership change at the Department of Military Affairs, and the appointment of Col. Trenton J. Gibson as the new adjutant general for the state, the highest ranking state military officer. 'I'm grateful to General Hronek for his service to the State of Montana. Under his leadership, the men and women of the Montana National Guard have had a true public servant guiding them and their efforts,' Gianforte said in a press release. 'From helping Montanans recover from disasters to recruiting Montanans to serve their country as a member of the Guard, General Hronek has served Montana with steadfast dedication. I wish him great success as he embarks on this next chapter of his life.' Gianforte appointed Hronek in December 2020 following a stint serving in Washington D.C. Hronek began his military career as a pilot in 1985 and has been with the Montana National Guard since 1986. He served three combat tours in Saudi Arabia and Iraq. 'I have been honored to lead the outstanding soldiers, airmen, and Department of Military Affairs professionals. I am so proud to see them empowered and ready to serve at the next level. They have enhanced their missions and brought on new capabilities to our nation and state. As a result of our efforts, the Montana National Guard is in a better position than ever before to recruit and retain our members,' Hronek said in a press release. Following Hronek's retirement next month, Gibson will take over as the leader of Montana's military force. Gibson, according to the state's press release, began his military career with the Montana National Guard in 1995 and currently commands the 1889th Montana Army National Guard Regional Support Group in Butte. He also has served as director for the Montana National Guard Youth Challenge Academy since 2018. 'I thank Major General Hronek for his honorable service to our state and nation and his steadfast leadership of the Montana National Guard. I appreciate Governor Gianforte offering me the honor and privilege of serving in this capacity,' Colonel Gibson said. 'The Montana National Guard and the Department of Military Affairs are home to exceptional professionals, and I have been blessed to serve in both organizations for over 25 years. I also thank my family for their support and sacrifice as I step into this critical role.' The Montana National Guard comprises 2,290 soldiers stationed in 16 different communities across Montana. Montana's National Guard has been in the news recently after three Army National Guard members were cited for criminal trespassing after allegedly landing a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter on private property near the Crazy Mountains. The Big Timber Pioneer first reported on the incident, in which the guardsmen collected elk antlers and a skeletonized head with antlers, according to the Sweet Grass County sheriff's office. The Montana National Guard said the troops had been on a training flight from Billings to Helena, and turned over the antlers to the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks. One of the three guardsman charged with misdemeanor trespassing is also a Montana Highway Patrol trooper. In a statement about the alleged incident last week, Hronek said an internal investigation was underway. 'If true, this behavior does not align with the values of the Montana National Guard. Misuse of military equipment erodes the trust we strive to uphold with the people of Montana,' Hronek said. 'Every member of the Montana National Guard is expected to uphold the highest standards of integrity, responsibility, and respect for the law.' A spokesperson for the governor's office said Hronek's retirement is 'in no way related to the current events of the department.'
India Today
18-05-2025
- Politics
- India Today
How 'Haldi Ghati' exercise helped India mobilise military rapidly for Op Sindoor
Several units of the Indian armed forces were undergoing a critical tri-service communications exercise named 'Haldi Ghati' between April 18 and April 22 when the deadly Pahalgam terror attack took place, killing 26 civilians, mostly tourists, sources told India Today exercise, held under the aegis of the Department of Military Affairs, sources said, played a crucial role in enabling the forces to quickly mobilise and launch Operation Sindoor, targeting terrorist infrastructures across Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied-Kashmir (POK).advertisementThe exercise focused on establishing seamless communication and integration among the Army, Navy and Air Force. Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, anticipating imminent hostilities, ensured the deployment of advanced communication systems and the consolidation of air defence assets into Joint Air Defence Centres in forward areas. As a result, when Operation Sindoor was launched, the tri-services were able to maintain real-time communication and monitor Pakistan's responses with clarity. Integrated radars and combined command-and-control systems provided defence headquarters with a comprehensive battlefield picture along the India-Pakistan border, facilitating swift and coordinated formations, trained extensively in future warfare techniques under the Department of Military Affairs, successfully countered drone attacks launched by Pakistan on the nights of May 7, 8 and 9, sources INDIA-PAKISTAN CONFLICTIndia launched Operation Sindoor with precision strikes on nine terror camps in the early hours of May 7, retaliating to the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam. In the days that followed - May 8, 9 and 10 - Pakistan attempted strikes on Indian military however, hit back hard, delivering substantial damage to several critical Pakistani military assets, including airbases, radar sites, air defence systems and command the evening of May 10, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri announced that both countries had agreed to an immediate halt to all military actions, across land, air and sea. IN THIS STORY#India-Pakistan#Operation Sindoor
India Gazette
18-05-2025
- Politics
- India Gazette
How 'Haldi Ghati', 'Tropex' helped India deploy military rapidly for Operation Sindoor
New Delhi [India], May 18 (ANI): India was carrying out a tri services war game Exercise 'Haldi Ghati' between April 18-21 to ensure seamless communications between the three services and enable them to talk to each other without any obstacles. Around the same time, the Indian Navy was carrying out a major theatre level readiness Exercise Tropex in the Arabian Sea where almost all the major warships of the force were taking part. Right after the Pahalgam attack that took place on April 22, the Department of Military Affairs led by Chief of Defence Staff Gen Anil Chauhan went ahead with the implementation of the lessons learnt during the communications exercise, defence sources told ANI. The officials concerned carried out the trials successfully to enable a seamless communication between all three forces, the sources added. The time period in the run up to the real attack on May 7 was used fully to ensure jointness in communication. Meanwhile, the Joint Air Defence Centres of the three forces were also formed in forward areas of the India-Pakistan border where the air defence weapon systems and command and control systems of the defence forces were brought together, they said. The success in having a common seamless communication systems and air defence network was helpful in dealing with the attacks by drones by Pakistan Army on May 7,8 and 9. The jointness in communications also helped the force commanders in the headquarters in Delhi to get a clear picture of the real time situation in the battle ground. The Tropex in the Arabian Sea also helped the Indian Navy to immediately carry out deployment in every corner of the Arabian Sea forcing the Pakistan Navy to keep its assets close to the Makran coast, the sources said. The Indian Navy had all its frontline warships in the forward locations and was ready to get into action. (ANI)
