VA Joe has some great features for getting in contact with other members of the military, both Active Duty and retired. We’ve also come across some useful dating/singles websites that are catered towards the military only, and they may be something our single members find fun and useful. Here’s a short spotlight on Military Dating Online:

Today we see many strides by sites like Match.com, Yahoo! Personals, eHarmony.com and others trying to attract more singles to try online dating. While big sites like the ones mentioned are becoming house-hold names, singles are naturally gravitating more towards focused dating sites that appeal to their interests and needs.

MilitaryDatingOnline.com is a perfect example. As an online personals site focused on helping military singles and civilians interested in dating military men and women, MilitaryDatingOnline.com is steadily growing to become the favorite website for singles to meet and connect with singles all around the world. With features that rival most paid dating services, MilitaryDatingOnline.com offers free membership to anyone, regardless of military status and location.

Being a part of our community gives you instant access to all our member profiles complete with photos, interests, location and much more. In an effort to keep our community active and helping you find a date, love, activity partner or friendships, we have sections of our site like:

• Community forums for you to share and participate
• Online dating blog to keep you updated on our plans for the site
• Free Horoscopes
• And much more.

MilitaryDatingOnline.com provides free online personals and dating services to singles in active duty as well as people who are not in the military but are interested in relationships with service members.

Enjoy member features like:

• Free sign ups and No membership fees – Ever.
• Unlimited messaging
• Free photos and video uploads
• Customizable profiles
• Search members by interest, city and military bases
• Meet singles all around the world
• And much more.

If you are single and want to find your match, then come on over and create your free personals account today at MilitaryDatingOnline.com

About MilitaryDatingOnline.com:
MilitaryDatingOnline.com is run by 2 people, Will and Derek. The site started off as a pet project 3 years ago to see if 2 people, living in totally different states can successfully launch a full-featured community site. After seeing the growth in online dating services for niche audiences, we decided to take it a step further and make major improvements to the site by adding more member features, expanding to more countries and so forth.

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This post was contributed by Marilyn Aagaard Martin from www.mmartinbooks.com.

Several months ago my daughter invited me to accompany her on a two-day business trip to Washington, D.C. I readily accepted. And early on the first Saturday in February of 2005, Laura and I flew out of Orlando headed for Dulles Airport. We had two extra days to tour our nation’s capital. I was excited not only to spend time and see the sights with Laura, but also to fulfill a personal vow I made twenty-four years ago
when the Vietnam Veterans Memorial was erected.

Stashing our luggage in our hotel room about three hours later, we set out for Pennsylvania Avenue, both eager to begin our visit in the city of memories. We wandered for hours. As I walked down the steps of the Lincoln memorial my emotions began to build. My long-held promise was nearing an end, for just across the way was the granite wall.

“Sir,” I addressed a guard near the entrance, “I graduated high school along with a tall, redheaded soldier whose name I’m sure is engraved on the wall.” Supplying his last name, I asked if they were listed in alphabetical order. The guard explained they’re listed by the war year, the month, and then the day of the week in which a man died.

(more…)

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Overseas Vote Foundation (OVF) provides a central, nonpartisan resource to register to vote and request an absentee ballot from overseas. With the generous financial support from The Pew Charitable Trusts, OVF has developed user-friendly, online voter tools applicable to voters from every state – www.overseasvotefoundation.org:

• An online overseas voter registration tool that prompts the voter for information necessary to register to vote in accordance with each state’s unique regulations.  Error-checks occur during the process to ensure that the voter does not forget any required information. The program then generates an official form in PDF format and provides the voter with the correct county election office address for mailing.

• A Voter Help Desk where voter questions are answered via email within 24 hours

• An Election Official Directory with contact information for the 7000+ election offices in the United States and its territories. 

• A hot topics list of relevant overseas voter news
• Links to nonpartisan organizations that offer candidate information for all states

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Charity for Charities

You vote. Joe gives $2,000 to military charities.

Vote August 5–20.

Vote for your favorite charitable military organization from August 5–20.  Joe will donate $2,000 to the charities with the most votes. Nominate your favorite charitable military organization now or anytime after the voting begins.

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SGT Grumpy talks about his milblog Sergeant Grumpy.

Question: What are 3 things your readers probably do not know about you?

1. I am not political.
2. Even though I am in an SF unit, I have no desire to be a “long-tabber.”
3. Even though I am an intel guy, I can shoot.

Question: How long have you been blogging and why did you get into blogging?

Just started when I got notified I was to deploy. I needed a way to express my frustrations and keep my friends and family informed without having to send hundreds of e-mails, so I combined the two in a blog that is part update, part rant, depending on my mood and how much BS I have had to suffer that day.

Question: What is your military experience?

Been in intel 12 years. Can’t say much more, and that is also the reason for the pseudonym. Been operational several times, including in the Balkins and Europe. I am now in the Guard which I love, because I can have a civilian career while still being able to respond and help when my Nation or State needs me.

Question: What are some of your other favorite Milblogs?

Michael Yon, Blackfive, Soldier Girl, and (though not Milblogs) Small Wars Journal, Iraq The Model

Question: What has been the biggest factor in helping you create and publish a successful blog?

Well, I wouldn’t call it a success yet, that would be something, but only my readers can decide if that is in the cards.

Question: Do you have anything else you would like us to mention about you, your blog, or your readers?

I’d love to hear from anyone who is interested in what I have to say, even if you disagree. And no matter what you think of the war, if you haven’t served, you owe something to those who have been wounded or killed for your freedom. Find a way to repay that debt.

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Eighty Deuce on the Loose in Iraq

From Airborneparainf82: Im 25 years old and Im a team leader in an Infantry line squad with the 82nd Airborne. This is my first experience in Iraq, and being inspired by another blogger from before I joined, I decided to keep a record of my experience; a perspective of the war from boots on the ground.

Q & A with Airborneparainf82

Question: What are 3 things your readers probably do not know about you?

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Airborneparainf82 talks about his
milblog Eighty Deuce on the Loose in Iraq.

Question: What are 3 things your readers probably do not know about you?

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SFC Chuck Grist talks about his milblog American Ranger.

Question: What are three things your readers probably do not know about you?

They probably are not aware that I have four children, three grandchildren and have been married to my wonderful wife, Debbie, for over 33 years.

Question: How long have you been blogging and why did you get into blogging?

I started my blog late last year when I knew I was returning to active duty. During my tour in Iraq, I kept a detailed, day-by-day journal which I am currently editing into a book. I am still maintaining the journal, but I liked the idea of sharing my feelings, ideas and experiences as they happen. It is rewarding to me as a soldier and I have heard from a wide variety of people from all over the world.

Question: What is your military experience?

I first entered the Army in December, 1968 as a private. I graduated from Officer Candidate School at the age of 20 and was commissioned a second lieutenant. After finishing Airborne and Ranger schools, I served as an infantry platoon leader in Vietnam from 1970 to 1971. When I came home as a first lieutenant, I was barely 23 and was more interested in going to school and having a civilian’s social life. I didn’t keep up with the military education required of officers and lost the commission. Some nine years later I was recruited to rejoin and came back as a sergeant. Because of my civilian career, I have been in and out of the Army two additional times. My mandatory retirement date is in two years and I am hoping for one more overseas tour to either Iraq or Afghanistan. I am currently involved in training and mobilizing troops who are headed to the war zones.

Question: What are some of your other favorite Milblogs?

I am impressed with the creativity of Michael Yon and his on-line magazine. I also like “365 and a wakeup”. I especially enjoy reading the blogs of the soldiers who have been there and done that. They write from the depths of their souls about war, the pain of lost friends and how war changes them.

Question: What has been the biggest factor in helping you create and publish a successful blog?

I believe in the American warrior, whether soldier, sailor, airman or Marine. They are the best we have and they are giving their hearts, their souls and their blood to keep everyone safe back home. I will do everything I can, whether here or abroad, to make sure their sacrifices are not forgotten. I also want to share my own experiences in both Vietnam and Iraq because I believe I have a unique perspective.

Question: Do you have anything else you would like us to mention about you, your blog, or your readers?

I want to thank those who have taken the time to check out my blog and I hope they will continue to do so. I will do my best to make it interesting and informative.

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Buck Sargent talks about his milblog American Citizen Soldier.

Question: What are three things your readers probably do not know about you?

1. I love classical music.
2. I was born in Berkeley, People’s Republic of California, of all places.
3. Before I joined the military, I actually voted for Ralph Nader in 2000 (still can’t explain that one).

Question: How long have you been blogging and why did you get into blogging?

Since July 2005, just prior to leaving for Iraq. I had kept a longhand journal in Afghanistan that I used to tear pages out of and periodically send to my parents, who’d then xerox and send around to family and friends.

I figured an online journal this time around would save them a lot on postage. Once I was deployed, however, the blog took on a life of its own.

Question: What is your military experience?

I enlisted in 2002 as a paratrooper and my first unit was the 501st PIR (currently in Iraq under the 4th/25th Infantry). I saw action with them in Afghanistan and a year later in Iraq with the 172nd Stryker Brigade (also from Alaska). We would ultimately serve out a 16 month tour throughout Iraq, to include Mosul, Tal Afar and Baghdad. Presently, I’m back in Alaska and working on my graduate degree until I leave active duty by this fall.

Question: What has been the biggest factor in helping you create and publish a successful blog?

Question: Without my own laptop in Iraq, there’s no way I could have accomplished all that I did. It’s next to impossible to write with any depth when you’re limited to a 30 minute session on a public internet kiosk. You have to write on your own time and then use the public computers just for uploading and formatting. Plus, your email communication with family and friends would suffer and your wife would probably end up divorcing you because “you love a blog more than her.”

Additionally, without the attention sent my way via the big-time milbloggers like Mudville and Blackfive, my readership would likely still consist of my mother and the random college buddy. The rest of us owe them a lot for widening the field and sharing the spotlight.

Question: Do you have anything else you would like us to mention about you, your blog, or your readers?

I’d like to take the opportunity to apologize to my loyal readership for hyping up my documentary project “Give War a Chance” and then dragging my feet on putting it all together now that I’m finally home. Life tends to get in the way of big ideas, but it will eventually see the light of day.

That I promise.

Thanks to everyone who’s supported me in the past and continues to do so today.

Buck

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Jack Army talks about his MilBlog JACK ARMY.

Question: What are three things your readers probably do not know about you?

That’s a tough one since I’ve blogged about so much, from education, to military experiences and training, to opinions on things such as religion, childrearing, politics, etc… I’m not sure that I’ve mentioned that I would love to be a writer. I’d love to make a living from it. Not sure that I have the skill or discipline, though. People don’t know that my middle name is a family name: Truett. It’s my father’s middle name as well as my great-grandfather’s. Pa-paw (my great-granddad) got his middle name from his mother’s maiden name if I remember correctly. That name dies out with me as I don’t have a male heir to pass it on to. People also don’t know that I have many little collections that are pretty pitiful. As a kid, I marveled at the various collections I saw and wanted one for myself: my grandmother’s spoon collection was the main inspiration. I tried collecting patches, marbles, coins, stamps, and many other things. All were miserable failures as collections and mostly served to frustrate me. It wasn’t until years later that I realized that the key to building a nice collection of anything was patience, something I had almost none of as a child.

Question: How long have you been blogging and why did you get into blogging?

I started my blog in February 2005. The first blog I ever saw was Wizbang! (http://wizbangblog.com//) and their post with the video of the Tsunami in December 05. I started reading other posts, clicking the links in their blogroll and discovered the wondrous world of the blogosphere. It was a magical time. So, after a few weeks of reading blogs, I felt like it was something I could do: it was writing, which I enjoy, but it was short blurbs instead of pages and pages of work. I had a lot of free time on my hands at that time so I decided to join the club and started JACK ARMY. I love blogging and reading blogs.

Question: What is your military experience?

I’ve been in the Army 18.5 years. I entered as a mechanized infantryman and my first assignment was in Germany. Good times. But I wanted more of a challenge so I tried out for Special Forces and was accepted. I spent a few years there before being assigned to recruiting duty. Now, I’m back in the infantry world and in Iraq. I’ve been to Airborne and Jumpmaster schools, SERE school, ANCOC as well as couple of the recruiting courses. I was taught to speak Polish while in SF and earned the parachutist’s badge from Poland and Germany. I’ve been to about 9 different countries and 20 or so states in the US either assigned there or for temporary duty.

Question: What are some of your other favorite Milblogs?

I enjoy several other Milblogs and check many regularly when I’m able. The one’s I always look at even if I only have a few minutes are Andi’s World (http://andisworld.typepad.com/welcome_to_andis_world/), Badger 6 (http://badgersforward.blogspot.com/), Countercolumn (http://iraqnow.blogspot.com/), Adventures of a Detailed Recruiter (http://detailedrecruiter.blogspot.com/), and Recruiting Tirade (http://recruitingtirade.blogspot.com/). Like I said, I check out many more, but those are a few of my regular reads.

Question:

What has been the biggest factor in helping you create and publish a successful blog? I’m not sure I would characterize my blog as “successful”. I don’t have a huge readership but I know there are a loyal few that check JACK ARMY often. Some are family (hi Katy!) and some are friends (hi Ernie!) but some are just folks that stumbled upon my blog and enjoy what I have to say. While I do blog about the military, and the Army in particular, a lot on my blog, I talk about a lot of other topics as well. I think one of the things that people like about my writing is that it is easy to read. I almost write like I talk and I’m able to make it flow easily. Of course, a generous portion of sarcasm gives it a bit of a sour twang, but the humbleness and truthfulness help take the edge off that bitterness.

Question: Do you have anything else you would like us to mention about you, your blog, or your readers?

Sure. I love blogging. If I could do it for a living I would. I love the Army, and luckily I’ve gotten to do that for a living for my entire adult life. I know the Army isn’t perfect, but it’s full of people that believe in the greatness of America and are willing to fight and die for the principles and ideals that make it a great place to live, work, play and raise a family. I have done so many things, gone many places and met many, many people that I would never have had the opportunity to do if it hadn’t been for the Army. Finally, thanks for this opportunity to share a little bit about myself and my blog. I don’t believe that I’m a great blogger, but I enjoy it and I’m thrilled that there are folks that find at least a little of what I have to say interesting enough to read and sometimes discuss.

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