^{<2> HEROES HONORED}

Spc. Ricardo Cerros gave his life when he threw himself in the path of a grenade to protect two fellow soldiers a year and a half ago. They survived, and they credit the fallen 24-year-old soldier for keeping them alive.

Sgt. Peter Cimpoes took a similar risk in October when he put himself between enemy shooters and two wounded Rangers, enabling his team to retrieve the injured men during a 35-minute gunfight at close distances.

The Army on Wednesday thanked Cerros and Cimpoes, both members of Joint Base Lewis-McChord’s storied Ranger battalion, for putting themselves in grave danger so others could live. Each soldier received a Silver Star, the Defense Department’s third-highest medal for valor in combat.

Their stories stood out on a night when the 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment handed down 11 Purple Hearts and 12 more medals for valor from deployments to Afghanistan in 2011 and 2012.

SOURCE

Ranger receives medic of the year award

HUNTER ARMY AIRFIELD, Ga. (USASOC News Service, Jan. 15, 2012) – The U.S. Army Special Operations Command Medic of the Year is a Ranger from 1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment....

Message from Army Ranger Mojo Inc., 501(c)3

I am writing to you on behalf of Army Ranger Mojo Inc., an organization supporting past, present and future Rangers. We currently estimate approximately 500 young soldiers that have obtained Ranger contracts that have come here requesting mentorship from one of our vetted Rangers. Our mentor program provides direct feedback and support to our young soldiers in preparing them for their journey to the Ranger Assessment and Selection Program. Our program is so well known now that we receive special forces soldiers, active duty soldiers, officers, and foreign service members seeking assistance with their journeys to Ranger School and some into Regiment.

Army Ranger Mojo is a non-profit organization (501c3) and your donation is tax-deductible. ARMi has several other areas in which it provides assistance and support to our community.

VA Will Use ‘Preliminary Findings’ To Reduce Verification Denials

To speed eligibility determinations of Veteran-owned small businesses for Department of Veterans Affairs' “Veterans First” contracts, VA will allow applicants the opportunity to correct minor deficiencies before an initial denial is issued. Starting May 1, VA will begin providing preliminary findings to applicants before completing a comprehensive review of their submissions. This is expected to greatly reduce the number of VA’s initial denials and subsequent requests for reconsideration from companies.