The who will go on

The MCAS Miramar Air Show will be held this year, although it won’t feature the Blue Angels Flight Demonstration team and it will only be two days instead of three.

Taking the place of the Blue Angels will be The Patriots Jet Team. The Patriots six L-39s have electrified spectators with fast-paced formation flying, choreographed diamond formation aerobatic maneuvers and their signature “Tail Slide” where the aircraft actually slides backwards toward the ground.

Other performances will include Sean Tucker’s “Oracle Challenger,” Chuck Aaron in the Red Bull Helo, John Collver’s “Wardog” and the Shockwave Jet Truck. Highlighting the Marine Air Ground Task Force, there will be a large static display of Marine Corps aircraft and ground combat equipment, both past and present. Also returning this year, the Twilight Show on Saturday will conclude with a spectacular fireworks demonstration and the “Great Wall of Fire.”

5,000 military families losing food stamps

The House action that stripped food stamp funding from a massive farm bill would threaten vital assistance for about 5,000 military families, mostly from the junior enlisted ranks, Pentagon officials said recently.

A Department of Agriculture report last year showed that more than 5,000 of the 48 million Americans receiving Supplementary Nutritional Assistance Program (food stamps) listed their employment status as “active duty military,” officials said.

The 5,000 military families receiving food stamps is a tiny percentage of the 48 million recipients nationwide, but it was a major increase over the previous year when the Department of Agriculture reported that only 1,000 recipients listed “active duty military” as an employment status.

Sailors making progress where synthetic drugs are concerned

The Navy is making progress in the fight against synthetic drug use. The number of positive results for synthetic drug in urinalysis tests has decreased significantly since testing began in March 2012. For more information about Navy Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention or the Keep What You’ve Earned campaign, visit www.nadap.navy.mil.

Marines ‘not leaving a single thing’ behind in Afghanistan

U.S. officials say the cost of the troop drawdown in Afghanistan is rising as the Kabul government imposes heavy fines for cargo without valid customs forms.

The Afghan government is demanding the U.S. military pay $1,000 for every shipping container crossing its border without a proper form, and the fines so far add up to $70 million, The Washington Post reported Thursday. U.S. military officials are resorting to heavier use of air transport to move the cargo, the report said.

The Afghan government practice could add hundreds of millions, or perhaps even billions, of dollars to the cost of the U.S. withdrawal, the newspaper said.

The issue is part of a larger dispute involving Afghanistan’s power to impose business taxes and fines on U.S. defense contractors, the reported said — and has the potential to complicate negotiations on a U.S.-Afghan security agreement covering U.S. military forces remaining in Afghanistan the NATO-led coalition’s mission formally ends in 2014.

The Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction notified Congress in June Afghan government officials were trying to collect nearly $1 billion in business taxes and fines from U.S. contractors, the Post said. Afghanistan this week blocked inbound fuel and equipment shipments intended for use by Afghan security forces, resulting in a buildup of U.S. military cargo.

Gen. Joseph F. Dunford Jr., commander of the International Security Assistance Force and U.S. Forces Afghanistan, has requested a meeting with Afghan President Hamid Karzai on the matter.

War Dogs exhibit opens on Camp Pendleton

By Linda McIntosh, UTSanDiego.com
CAMP PENDLETON — An exhibit honoring the work of military dogs in the battlefield is scheduled to open to the public at Camp Pendleton’s Ranch House.

The display covers 1,000 square feet with more than 200 historical photographs along with memorabilia from military working dogs and their human comrades and caretakers dating back to World War I.

A public preview of the exhibit will be held Saturday, Aug. 3 from 2 to 5p.m. at the Ranch House, 1344 Vandegrift Blvd. Admission is $50 and includes live music, hors d’oeuvres and other displays.

For more information go to thedawgsproject.com or for exhibit tours, email mcbcampen_history@usmc.mil. You can also call 760-583-5304 for details.

Retired Marine and author featured in Oceanside Writer’s Festival

Officer Matt Lyon, who retired from the Corps in 2000, completed a historical book about the Oceanside Police Department. The book covers the early western times of 1888 to present day.

Matt’s book entitled “Images of America — Oceanside Police Department” chronicles the history of the small town OPD, its growth and progress in police management, cutting edge technology and strategies of a modern metropolitan agency. With more than 200 vintage images of the police department, Mtt’s book brings to life the people, places and events that define the OPD and the early charm of Oceanside.

Book royalties have been donated to the National Law Enforcement Officer Memorial Fund, http://nleomf.com.

Veteran Job Fair to be held in August

This is an exclusive veteran hiring event, connecting veterans and military spouses with local and national veteran-friendly employers. The fair will be held Thursday, Aug. 15, from 11 .m. to 3 p.m. at Hotel del Coronado, 1500 Orange Ave. More than 300 veterans and military spouses are expected to attend this great opportunity to meet face-to-face with veteran-friendly local and national employers including General Atomics, BGA Insurance, Airstreams Renewables, C.R. England, Inc., Military Sealift Command, Level 3 Communications, Amtrak National Passenger Corp., Home Depot, Lockheed Martin, and many more. For more information, call 513-677-7035 or email jkrabacher@recruitmilitary.com

9-digit zip codes mandatory for FPOs

Effective immediately, family, friends, and businesses sending mail to Navy mobile units must use a nine-digit ZIP code to ensure delivery. The nine-digit ZIP code is required for all classes of mail. Mail not addressed correctly, including mail already en route, will be returned to the sender as undeliverable. Visit http://goo.gl/fCbbk for more information.

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