Mullen Blames Pakistan Intelligence for Attack

The top U.S. military officer on Thursday accused Pakistan’s powerful intelligence agency of backing extremists in planning and executing the assault on the U.S. Embassy in Afghanistan last week and a truck bomb attack that wounded 77 American soldiers days earlier.

In his last congressional testimony before he retires next week, Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, insisted that the Haqqani insurgent network “acts as a veritable arm” of Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence agency, undermining the uneasy U.S.-Pakistan relationship forged in the terror fight and endangering American troops in the nearly 10-year-old war in Afghanistan.

See also:
Mullen says Pakistani spies are tied to U.S. Embassy raid
Panetta, Mullen hammer Pakistan over Haqqani network
Mullen Accuses Pakistan’s Intel Service of Aiding Attack on Embassy in Kabul
Mullen, Panetta slam Pakistan over attacks
Mullen blames Pakistan intelligence for attack
Mullen Accuses Pakistan Of Exporting Violence To Afghanistan
Mike Mullen: Pakistan is ‘exporting’ terror
Cell phones link Pakistan to U.S. embassy attack
U.S.-Pakistan Ties Plunge to New Low After Mullen’s Testimony
Mullen’s comments about Pakistan are baseless: Mukhtar
Pakistan fires back at Mike Mullen
Pakistan’s Army Head Blasts Mullen Comments as ‘Baseless’
Pakistan army chief denies US claims of complicity with militants, calls charges ‘unfortunate’
Pakistan Outraged Over Admiral Mullen’s Accusations of Terror Link
Pakistan says US risks ‘losing an ally’
Pakistan warns U.S.: “You will lose an ally”
Is Pakistan America’s Ally?

Pakistan can deny, protest, and be outraged by the truth all they want. The evidence is overwhelming that the ISI aids and harbors terrorists that are constantly attacking, wounding, and killing U.S. forces in the region. There’s enough smoking guns to fill a National Guard armory. Need more proof that the ISI cooperates closely with terrorists? Just remember where and under what circumstances Osama bin Laden was found, ’nuff said. Pakistan is threatening to cease being our ally? Well, with allies like Pakistan, who needs enemies?

/by the way, the attack on the U.S. Embassy was a blatant act of war, the road to victory in Afghanistan clearly winds through Pakistan, do we want to win or tuck tail like the Soviets?

See you tomorrow!

Jacqui Murray is the author of Building a Midshipman, the story of her daughter’s journey from high school to United States Naval Academy midshipman.  She is webmaster for five blogs, an Amazon Vine Voice book reviewer, an ISTE article reviewer, a weekly contributor to Write Anything and mother of a Naval Officer and an Army grunt. Currently, she’s working on a techno-thriller that should be ready this winter. Contact Jacqui at her writing office or her tech lab, Ask a Tech Teacher.

Follow me.

Salem Hasam Ali (62), a shop owner, cries while singing Libya’s national anthem for colonel Muammar Gadhafi in Benghazi, Libya.

Made by: Alexandre Meneghini – Source: Associated Press – All rights reserved

I always look at everything based on the worse case scenario.  The worse case scenario is you dying and leaving everyone that loves you.  The only thing that can top this is the fact most U.S. soldiers are killed in friendly fire incidents meaning they were killed by their own soldiers.  The other bad scenarios which might not be better are coming back without limbs, in a coma, having brain damage, mental issues, having been raped by your own soldiers for females, drug addicted, alcoholic, blind, burned, deaf, not able to have kids, etc. Worse is the fact the United States doesn’t take care of its soldiers when they are active or as veterans.

Active duty soldiers had to fight to get armor in their vehicles and to get new upgraded armored vehicles.  In addition soldiers aren’t paid much and many are struggling while active especially if they have families.  I recently found out that soldiers have to pay to get wired internet and have to get their own webcams to be able to talk to their families.  In addition many are limited to only minutes being able to use computers while serving in the war zones.  Many soldiers experience harassment and discrimination especially if they are minorities.  U.S. businesses are not to patriotic when it comes to soldiers like the recent incident with the airline charging some soldiers coming back from overseas a ton of charges for extra baggage.  Soldiers can’t receive discounts at many places which is unbelievable.  I do understand small businesses not being able to give discounts but large franchises and chains should be able to afford discounts and I am sure they can write it off on taxes anyway.  I can go on and on about the problems with the U.S. military.

Veteran soldiers I feel are worse off from my perspective. Most homeless in America are our soldiers.  This is startling but the truth and is one of the main reasons I would never serve.  Our country doesn’t treat soldiers like other countries treat soldiers or even how warriors were treated in history like the Romans.  Soldiers can’t get jobs and are dealing with mental issues from their experiences while serving in combat, being harassed, or raped.  In addition many do not even know how to go back to a normal life since in the military everything is provided and taken care of for the soldiers.  I see this the same as prisoners that can’t reintegrate into a normal life.  Many prisoners rather stay in jail or commit a crime to go back to jail so everything is provided for them and they don’t have to deal with the stresses with everyday life.  While we are taking about prisoners I always have seen serving in the military as going to prison. Would I want  to go to prison, no so why would I want to join the military. Soldiers I believe do multiple tours often I feel because they do not want to face living a normal life since they aren’t use to it and I feel some even do it to escape or be away from their families.  Vets also aren’t given respect from businesses in terms of discounts also or jobs.

I feel soldiers should be provided everything they need free to be able to communicate with their family and friends.  Maybe it is just me but this only seems right.

The only way I would join our military is if we are invaded by an outside nation. Other then that I couldn’t imagine joining any of our military branches.  While I am speaking about branches can anyone really understand why the National Guard and Coast Guard are used overseas for our wars and conflicts.  I do know this started during Vietnam but I just never understood the legality of it.  Since initially the whole point of the National Guard was to protect our country from civil unrest, invasion from foreign nations, and help during natural disasters, etc.  I do not comprehend the logic of the National Guard and Coast Guard being needed to be used outside our nation.  I do know for a fact many join the National Guard and the Coast Guard thinking the same thing in terms of not knowing they can be deployed overseas for our conflicts and wars.  Most people join the National Guard to get an extra paycheck and hope never to be called upon.  If this is the case for you do not join the National Guard or Coast Guard since you could very well end up overseas in a war zone.  The evidence the National Guard shouldn’t be used overseas is the fact they do not train like the regular military in terms of frequency and also have inferior equipment.  I don’t even understand how the National Guard was being used to help try to secure parts of our border with Mexico.  Since they should only be used momentarily but there should be a contingency plan in the works for a long term force being deployed there besides the National Guard.

Minorites and females should never voluntarily join the U.S. military with how they are treated by the military.  If you are in this group and want to be an officer do not join thinking you are going to be an officer.  More likely you will never be an officer.  All you have to do is look at the number of minority and female officers in the military and then look at how many are officers and that will tell you all you need to know.  An example would be to look at the U.S. Army numbers based on race for women.  Most female soldiers in the U.S. Army are Black or African American however most of the female officers are White or Caucasian.  Just look at numbers and it will tell the story.  Also if you are in this group of minorities or females don’t join thinking you are going to be a pilot or any other sought after position.  You will probably end up doing something completely opposite of what you wanted to do and on the low-end of the Totem Pole.

Last why serve this country when they don’t value our lives by getting us into wars we shouldn’t be involved in and have no chance of winning unless we deploy millions of soldiers or wipe out all the native population present.  Sure we are winning in terms of stats if you base it on body count but in terms of achieving an objective besides making certain people rich is nonexistent.

Readers give me your opinion on this topic and if you have suggestions for other topics please contact me.  Thanks for reading I hope you enjoyed yourself and come back.

I grew up when the patriotism of America was such that no one dare desecrate the flag.  It would bring down the wrath of being ostracized on themselves.  The flag stood strong in every school and sometimes in the rooms.

That patriotism needs to be brought back to the society to protect America from the penetration of any foreign ideology along with stopping the flag being desecrated.  Patriotism deteriorated, commencing in 1950, when America’s educations Socialists took over the National Education Association and turned it into a teacher’s union.  Education began to be dumbed down, sans Americanism, for the worldview of multiculturalism and a world with no borders.

As usual, a solution is easy to state.  Education is something else.  The patriotic teachers need to take back their NEA and the Department of Education, and restore the teaching of Americanism.  Putting teeth in the Oath of Office that ‘bite’ would help too.  Except for the military, too few of our elected honor their oath any more!

Toby Elster

Retired USAF Captain

USNA Graduation

still want to be a military officer? How do you get back in once they’ve rejected you?

Andrew over at Ex Vita Verbum covers that topic in depth. He lived it and here’s what he has to say:

So, because of the lack of help or support for “ex-cadets” from Military Academies, I decided to write this step-by-step how to guide for those ex-cadets to get back into the military and become an officer.

Step 1: Determine Your Separation Status

In other words, how did you leave the Academy? Did you receive an honorable discharge, general, less-than-honorable, dishonorable? Did you leave for medical reasons? Was it due to grades, physical fitness, conduct, or honor-related? What is your reenlistment code?

If you didn’t receive an honorable discharge for whatever reason, it will be much harder, but not impossible, to return to the Armed Forces, especially as an officer. While this is unfortunate, and hard to fix, again it is not impossible. eHow gives a good idea on how to get started on this incredibly challenging process by clicking here.

If you left due to medical reasons, it also may be extremely challenging to return to the military. If a medical review board considered you unfit for service, or you were medically discharged, the only way to get back in is to look at your reenlistment code, and/or have a physical which deems you healthy and fit to serve. If you are collecting VA disability payments, you will have to lose them to go back in.

The reason for your leaving the Academy will also play a big role in your ability to become an officer. If you were dismissed due to an honor incident or “in lieu of honor,” than special paperwork will have to be done to go into ROTC and OTS. If grades were the issue, your problem might be getting accepted into another 4-year institution. If physical fitness was the problem, as long as you can pass a military physical fitness test by the time of reentry, there is no problem, and if conduct was the issue, it will all depend on your reenlistment code and discharge type.

Check your reenlistment code. For most ex-cadets, their DD 214 will show a code which means that they were in officer training and did not complete. Reenlistment codes vary depending on military branch, so double check here before you listen to a recruiter tell you that you are not eligible. Also, check here to see what your specific code means. If your reenlistment code makes you ineligible, there is an appeal process. You will need to submit a DD Form 293 to the Board for Military Corrections. This can be done online by going to 
https://secureweb.hqda.pentagon.mil
. You can apply online and then send supporting evidence (reference letters, DD Form 214, etc.) that proves you are ready for service.

Step 2: Select the Proper Route for Your Return

There are plenty of options to returning to service, which include: enlisting, OTS (Officer’s Training School) or OCS (Officer’s Candidate School), ROTC (Reserve Officer’s Training Corps), and even going back to the Academy. Your options determine the way you left the Academy, your career plans in the service, and your accomplished prerequisites.

While enlisting is not what I would recommend for someone who went to an Academy, it is definitely an option. If you were prior enlisted before attending the Academy, it is not impossible to go back in, and most likely required if you still have time on your contract. If you left the Academy because you wanted to deploy soon, or you wanted more a military aspect than an academic one, or you don’t think that being an officer is for you, I challenge you to really consider becoming an officer before you decide to go the enlisted route. If you change your mind later, however, it still is possible for you to become an officer again later on the enlisted track. I was once told that if “you were deemed worthy enough to get accepted to an Academy, than you can make it through the Academy.” Definitely don’t choose the enlisted route just because you’re discouraged because you didn’t graduate. One benefit of going the enlisted route is the ability to earn the Post 9/11 GI Bill after years of service. If you are active duty enlisted for four years, then you will receive 4 years of college completely paid for after your service. You can also use TA (Tuition Assistance) which will completely pay for education while on Active Duty. This makes it very easy and cost-free to get a degree and become an officer after you have experience as an enlisted person.

Before deciding to apply for OTS/OCS, you must first decide which type of school you want to apply for. You can either apply to the Active Duty school or the Reserve school, which will reflect on your commissioning status. The school are pretty much the same, but the difference is whether you will end up as a reserve officer or an active duty officer. Also, make sure you realize that you will have to finish a four year degree from an accredited institution before you apply, but also know that you may be able to pick your career type before entering, and the military accepts online schools as eligible to become an officer. This makes it easy to work and finish your degree fast to get back in. In some cases, if you work hard enough, you could even be commissioned before your classmates at the Academy. Click here to learn more about the different types of Officer Schools.

ROTC is tricky coming from a service academy. If you hope to do Navy/Marine Corps ROTC, and you are a transfer student, you cannot do it if you have more than 30 credit hours under your belt (there are exceptions with a waiver from the NROTC unit commander). If you want to go into Air Force ROTC, it will be better for you if you left the Academy as a freshman or sophomore. If you are a junior, or have completed your sophomore year, you may have to join ROTC without a scholarship for a semester and apply for a scholarship alongside other hoping contenders, which can cause you to graduate a semester later than expected. Army ROTC, on the other hand, has a two year program, which is separate from their other programs and have a separate application and competition group. As a final note, please keep in mind that just because you attended the Academy, or possibly received an ROTC scholarship before you chose to go to the Academy, this does not guarantee your automatic admittance, scholarship, or anything else with ROTC. You must earn it all over again, just like everybody else.

Surprising to many ex-cadets, another possibility of becoming an officer is to reenter the Academy. Downsides of this include having to reapply for a nomination. If you left in good standing, receiving a second appointment to the Academy is generally easy. Most ex-cadets who left in good standing should find no problem returning. If you are an ex-cadet who left because of academics, it may be a requirement to retake all deficient classes with an acceptable, much-improved score. If you left because of physical fitness, prove that you have improved. If you left because of an honor violation, it is not impossible to return. While it may be difficult indeed, if you can show that you have learned your lesson and have worked hard after leaving, showing steadfast improvement and character in all that you do, it is very likely that you could be readmitted. If you do want to reapply, talk to your Congressman, as some have a strict policy in not nominated ex-cadets.

There are also other programs to become an officer through nontraditional means. The Navy has two other programs for commissioning. The Seaman to Admiral Program (STA-21) allows you to enlist in pursuit of a commission through hard work and dedication. The Baccalaureate Degree Completion Program (BDCP) allows you to finish a degree and get paid as an E-5 while in school on Active Duty. No uniforms or military training will occur until after graduation. The downside to the BDCP is that it is very competitive and may take up to 18 months for an acceptance/denial letter. The Platoon Leaders Class (PLC) is program for the Marine Corps similar to OTS/OCS, only taken during summers while still in college.

Step 3: Make it Happen

Having a dream is no good unless you pursue it. If you left the Academy disappointed and discouraged that your dream to serve your country as an officer has failed, do not give up hope. As you have read above, there are plenty of options to be able to achieve your goals and become the officer that you were told you would never be.

I, myself, left the U.S. Air Force Academy Class of 2012 due to poor academics. Through plenty of disappointment, discouragement, pain, and turmoil, along with almost a semester of research, I decided to finish my degree online and apply to the Air Force Active Duty Officers Training School. I will graduate in the coming months of 2011 and I should be set to complete OTS with a commission as a second lieutenant nearly six months before my Academy graduating class.

Any questions, please contact me at fuller.andrew.s@gmail.com.

Related Articles

• The Active Duty Option (ADO) (drumg2g.wordpress.com)
• West Point and Dell Celebrate the Tenth Consecutive Issue of Personal Technology (eon.businesswire.com)
• CollegeWeekLive ARMY ROTC DAY Connects College-bound Teens with Army Leadership Program (prweb.com)
• November To Do List for USNA Applicants (usnaorbust.wordpress.com)
• Once Again, Top-Ranked Army ROTC Cadet in the Nation is Green to Gold (drumg2g.wordpress.com)
• The Division Hip-Pocket Scholarship (drumg2g.wordpress.com)
• SecDef Gates: Don’t Surround Yourself with Yes-Men (waronterrornews.typepad.com)
• Construction Begins on New $20 Million Barracks Facility at Fork Union Military Academy (prweb.com)
• For ROTC students, an awkward limbo (boston.com)
• December To Do List for USNA Applicants (usnaorbust.wordpress.com)

The US military may retain control of foreign detainees in Afghan prison who are linked to insurgents, despite next year’s transfer of all prison authority to Kabul, a top US military officer said Thursday.

Source:

http://rawstory.com/rs/2010/0806/control-foreign-prisoners-afghanistan/

Robot that per-unit costs 400 million won (330,000 dollars) was installed last month at a checkpoint in the middle of the Military Free Zone, which divides the peninsula, Yonhap news agency said. A military officer who was not quoted by name said the ministry would deploy robots guards along the front lines of the Cold War world and then, if the test was successful. Robot using motion and heat detection devices to sense a possible threat, and alert the command center, said Yonhap.

If the command center operator can not identify the possibility of an intruder through audio or video communication system of robots, operators can be ordered to fire a weapon or a 40mm automatic grenade launcher. Carousel is now also developing advanced combat robots armed with weapons and sensors that can complement the soldiers on the battlefield. Carousel has a conscript army with a strength of 655 000 compared to the Pyongyang army which reached 1.2 million. Meanwhile, there are estimates, declining birth rate means Seoul in the future will strive to maintain the number of troops.(AFP)

Discounted tickets for AALDEF members are $10. Please also consider a $5 donation (or more!) to help support AALDEF’s legal and educational programs.

RSVP by July 12. For information or to purchase tickets, contact Jennifer Weng at 212 966-5932 ext 212 or events@aaldef.org.

9500 Liberty by Eric Byler and Annabel Park at 3:30pm on July 17th, at the Quad Cinema, 34 W. 13th St. in New York.

Lt Watada by Freida Lee Mock at 9:00pm on July 17th at the Quad Cinema, 34 W. 13th St. in New York.

The Film Festival runs from July 15th to July 24th. Check out the entire schedule at
http://www.aaiff.org/2010
.

All text, graphics, articles & photographs: © 2000-2010 Lia Chang Multimedia. All rights reserved. All materials contained on this site are protected by United States copyright law and may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed, published or broadcast without the prior written permission of Lia Chang. You may not alter or remove any trademark, copyright or other notice from copies of the content. For permission, please contact Lia at liachang@hotmail.com.

Lia Chang © Tami Chang

Related Articles:
Juan Gonzalez and Larry Tu Received AALDEF 2010 Justice in Action Awards in New York
Multimedia: AALDEF Celebrates 35 Years of Protecting and Promoting the Civil Rights of Asian Americans
AALDEF Honors Dale Minami, Nicholas D. Kristof, Sheryl Wudunn and Sandra Leung with 2009 Justice in Action Awards on 3/26
Raymond Red’s Manila Sky Kicks Off the 33rd Asian American International Film Festival at the Chelsea Clearview Cinema on July 15; Festival continues through July 24
33rd Asian American International Film Festival Shorts Film Program Lineup
Asian Women Donors Grant $82,000 to NYC Artists and Non-profits Committed to Activism Thru The Arts
JAPAN CUTS: Japan Society’s Fourth Annual Festival of Contemporary Japanese Cinema, 7/1-16
Lia Chang Photos at the Shanghai World Expo 2010’s USA Pavilion, Library of Congress and Hollywood Chinese: The Arthur Dong Collection in L.A.
Hollywood Chinese: The Arthur Dong Collection Exhibition at the Chinese American Museum in Los Angeles, has been extended through November 7, 2010
Photo Call: BD Wong and the Cast of Heading East at the Asia Society
Actor Samrat Chakrabarti Receives 2010 TMG Award for Global Achievers
New York Knicks to Honor Wat Misaka at Madison Square Garden
Multimedia: George Takei, Nancy Kwan, Lisa Lu and Tsai Chin attend Hollywood Chinese: The Arthur Dong Collection Exhibition Opening Night
The Chinese American Museum partners with Academy award nominated filmmaker Arthur Dong on a groundbreaking exhibition about Hollywood’s forgotten past
Samrat Chakrabarti is featured in Claire McCarthy’s The Waiting City, which screens at the Toronto International Film Festival
ONE Musical stars Paolo Montalban, Manu Narayan, Pearl Sun and Michael Winther
Review: HBO’s China’s Unnatural Disaster the Tears of Sichuan Province
AAIFF 09 Closing Night Awards and H.P. Mendoza’s Fruit Fly
AAIFF Karma Calling, You Don’t Know Jack and Children of Invention
Jeff Adachi’s You Don’t Know Jack and Tzi Chun’s Children of Invention Screen at AAIFF 09
Multimedia: AAIFF 09 Opening Night Screening of Claustrophobia
Schedule at a Glance: Asian American International Film Festival AAIFF 2009
Asian American International Film Festival 09 runs 7/23-7/26
In Arthur Dong’s Hollywood Chinese, Chinese Tinseltown Tales told by Asian Silver Screen Icons
Fred Korematsu, American Hero and Civil Rights Activist Dies at 86
Click here for the Lia Chang Articles Archive.

Al Qaeda has claimed responsibility for the suicide bombing in Afghanistan last month that killed seven CIA employees and contractors and a Jordanian military officer, according to a statement posted on Islamist Web sites.

Source:

http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiapcf/01/07/afghanistan.cia.al.qaeda/index.html

nuclear weapons

WASHINGTON Military force would have only limited effect in stopping Iran from developing nuclear weapons but must remain an option, the head of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said Monday.Tehran shows no signs of backing down in the standoff over what the United States and other countries say is its drive for a nuclear bomb, Adm. Mike Mullen, the top U.S. military officer, told his staff in an annual assessment of the nation’s risks and priorities.

“My belief remains that political means are the best tools to attain regional security and that military force will have limited results,” Mullen wrote. “However, should the president call for military options, we must have them ready.”

Iran denies that its nuclear program is aimed at producing a weapon. The Mideast nation says it is developing nuclear energy.In the past two or three years the United States had all but ruled out an attack on Iran’s known nuclear facilities as too risky, because of the backlash it might unleash.

“Most critically, Iran’s internal unrest, unpredictable leadership and sponsorship of terrorism make it a regional and global concern,” heightened by what Mullen called “its determined pursuit of nuclear weapons.”

Mullen and other military leaders have suggested that if Iran was determined to build a weapon, an attack would probably fail to completely stop that effort. Mullen has tried to dissuade Israel from launching its own attack on Iran, whose leaders have called for Israel’s destruction.

Mullen’s annual review says nothing about what kind of military force he wants at hand, but any attack would presumably be done by air.

President Barack Obama has set a rough deadline of the end of this year for Iran to respond to an offer of dialogue and to show that it will allay fears of weapons development. The Obama administration is working with allies to ready a new set of international economic sanctions on Iran for repeatedly defying international demands to halt questionable activities and come clean about the nature and extent of the program.

On Monday, Republican Sen. John McCain of Arizona voiced support for attempting economic pressure against Iran before considering military action. “Sanctions have to be tried before we explore the last option,” he said on ABC’s “Good Morning America.”

But McCain, the top Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee, wondered whether other countries such as Israel have the patience to see if sanctions will work.

Mullen, the president’s chief military adviser, had said separately on Sunday that he is worried about Iran’s intentions and said the clock is running on Obama’s offer of engagement.

“I’ve said for a long time we don’t need another conflict in that part of the world,” he told reporters traveling with him on a visit to Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iraq. “I’m not predicting that would happen, but I think they’ve got to get to a position where they are a constructive force and not a destabilizing force.”

In his assessment released Monday, Mullen also wrote that the main effort in Afghanistan must be to push forces into the war zone quickly, including the shifting of some personnel from Iraq. His year-end message serves as general marching orders for the coming year for his large staff of planners and others.

“Afghanistan has deteriorated in the last year, but reversing the Taliban ‘s momentum is achievable,” Mullen wrote.

As to Iraq, he said security improvements mean the planned U.S. withdrawal can go ahead.

“We must finish well in Iraq,” he wrote.

Mullen listed several other threats and concerns, including threats that aren’t identified with a given country such as terrorism, piracy and cyber attacks.

“The United States has given more thought and resources to the cyber threat,” he wrote, “but “impeded progress here is a serious risk to our national security posture.”

The survey was conducted between July 8 and 13, 2008, among 1,010 U.S. adults. 

The occupations at the top of the prestige list:

•Firefighter (62% say “very great prestige”),
•Scientist (57%),
•Doctor (56%),
•Nurse (54%),
•Teacher (51%), and
•Military officer (51%).

Least Prestigious Occupations:

Looking at the other side of the list, only 15% or fewer adults regard the following occupations as having very great prestige:

•Real estate agent/broker (5%),
•Accountant (11%),
•Stock broker (13%),
•Actor (15%).

Substantial majorities of adults (from 65% to 80%) believe that these occupations have “hardly any” or only “some” prestige.

Additionally, several occupations are regarded as “very prestigious” by more people this year than they were last year:

•Business executive, up six points to 23%,
•Military office, up five points to 51%, and
•Firefighter, up five points to 62%.

However, even with this improvement, business executives are still near the bottom of the list with 62% of Americans saying they have only some prestige or hardly any prestige at all.

Interestingly, the most recent Executive Quiz results conducted by The Korn/Ferry Institute reveal that nearly half (47 percent) of employed executives are either somewhat or very dissatisfied with their current position. The lackluster job market has not only left executives unhappy with their jobs, but survey results also uncover a lack of trust for corporate leadership.

When asked what best describes employee morale within their company, 45 percent of employed executives said either “fair” or “poor,” followed by 42 percent who said “good” and only 13 percent who said “outstanding.”
“The global recession has left fewer employees to do more work, often for less pay. Stress levels are high and some executives are getting burnt out. However, irrespective of the business cyclicality, companies must take proactive steps to keep key employees engaged if they want to retain them for the long term and be seen as an employer of choice.”

Two occupations lost four or more points since last year:

•Farmers, down five points to 36%,
•Accountant, down four points to 11%.

Biggest Changes over Last 30 Years

The Harris Poll first asked this question, but with a shorter list of occupations, in 1977. The biggest change since then has been a 22 point increase from 29% to 51% in those who believe teachers have very great prestige.

Two occupations have lost substantial ground since 1977: scientists, down 9 points to 57% and lawyers, down 10 points to 26%. In addition, two have remained unchanged – priests/ministers/clergy at 41% and journalists at 17%. Also, two have remained very stable – entertainers, down 1 point to 17%; and bankers, down 1 point to 16%.

So What?

While some of the numbers may fluctuate from year to year, one thing remains constant, especially in the past two decades. The professions that are at the top of the list and considered to have very great prestige are ones that are not considered to be high-paying jobs – firefighters, nurses and teachers. The ones at the bottom are ones that may have a lot of fame attached to them – athletes, actors, entertainers – or are ones that have the potential to earn large salaries – business executives, stockbrokers, real estate agents. People do not equate money and fame with prestige. These are two completely separate concepts to the American public.

Most Accountants Loyal To Their Companies

The accounting profession, when compared to the rest of the U.S. job market, has held up well in terms of job losses, shedding less than 2% of jobs since June 2008. Perhaps as a result, accountants are loyal to their employers with 57% saying they plan to stay with their companies once the economy improves, according to a new survey by Ajilon Finance, a leading specialty finance and accounting recruitment firm, in conjunction with the Institute of Management Accountants’ Inside Talk Webinar Series.

In contrast, a smaller but still significant number of accountants – more than one-fifth (23%) of the 458 accountants surveyed – say they plan to look for new jobs when the economy rebounds, according to the survey. Impressively, however, when asked where they see themselves in five years, 44% of accountants anticipate serving in a more senior role at their current company with a much smaller 25% saying they see themselves at another company in five years.

“Despite the deterioration of the overall job market over the past year, accountants are still in great demand nationwide,” said Jodi Chavez, senior vice president of Ajilon Finance. “That said there is still a strong core of highly-skilled accounting professionals available for hire. Companies which are gearing up for the transition to International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), the implementation of XBRL-tagged financial statements or even just for the coming tax season should take the opportunity now to snap up top accounting talent while it is available.”

Terminator Salvation için yayınlanan ikinci ve uzun fragman.

Terminator Salvation için yayınlanan ilk fragman olan bu teaser, heyecanlı bekleyiş için aynı zamanda ilk adım.

Terminator Salvation için yayınlanan ikinci ve uzun fragman.

Terminator Salvation için yayınlanan ilk fragman olan bu teaser, heyecanlı bekleyiş için aynı zamanda ilk adım.

Terminator Salvation için yayınlanan ikinci ve uzun fragman.

Terminator Salvation için yayınlanan ilk fragman olan bu teaser, heyecanlı bekleyiş için aynı zamanda ilk adım.

This weeks slide show actually compliments an earlier blog, Learn to Fly – Military Path. It is a detailed explanation of commissioning sources. If you haven’t read this blog and you have any plans of pursuing military flying, I recommend you read it. It explains what a commissioning source is along with a host of other helpful information. In case the imbedded link doesn’t work, try this

 .

The next blog will cover more detail on Learn to Fly – Civilian Path. I’ll be back with it in 10 days to 2 weeks. In the mean time, check out these sites for some civilian flying information.

http://pilotjourney.com/learntoflykit

http://www.atpflightschool.com/

For information about sources for potential jobs and interview information, in relation to 2 previous blogs -The Formal Interview and You and The Informal interview and You , see
http://www.jet-jobs.com/

That’s it for now.