Female Soldiers Start Exclusive Military Sorority

An anomaly - an interesting and worthwhile posting on TSM (sister to TFM).

Total Sorority Move | Female Soldiers Start Exclusive Military Sorority:

The exclusiveness of the Greek system is something scorned by many, but mostly celebrated by those who are a part of it. My letters are special, because not everyone can wear them. I was chosen to be a member of this organization, and then I earned my spot as a sister. It’s a sentiment that many of us share.

We tend to believe that anyone who didn’t go Greek either made a poor decision or didn’t belong. Then we remember our members of the military, many of whom are unable to attend college full-time because of their duties to this amazing country. And as we all know, part-time students are ineligible for membership within our community. That sucks. My ability to access and connect with other women is of the utmost importance to me. My sorority was a part of my college experience so significant, that I can’t imagine my life without it. And not even having the option to join? It would have been rough.

That’s no longer an issue for military woman.

On April 4, 2011, YaShica Hill and Moneka Smith-Daily served as the first national president and national vice president, respectively to our country’s first ever military sorority, Kappa Epsilon Psi. Two years later, the first chapter of KEΨ was chartered in Baltimore. Now, the organization is expanding.

From KEΨ’s national website:

Kappa Epsilon Psi has three objectives: 

Honor our Past – Annually each active chapter will honor a female veteran (over the age of 65). The female service member is inducted as an honorary K.E.Y. member, and her legacy/military service is documented.

Unite service members – We aspire to unite female service members of all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces. Membership is open to all female service members who are or have served honorably. Our goal is to have a member or active chapter on every military installation – stateside & abroad.

Mentor future leadership – Candidates with less than 2 years of military service are paired with a Big Sister that has more time in service & wisdom to share. Members that are retired from military service are paired with new members who wish to seek similar career paths in the civilian sector.

After seeing the positive reaction to the military sorority, male service members followed suit and created a military fraternity, Kappa Lambda Chi, which — you guessed it — was founded on July 4 of last year.

'via Blog this'

Friend talks about fallen Guardsman killed in helicopter crash

Brice Schweitzer remembered his friend 1st Lt. Thomas Williams, Jr. as an ambitious person.  The two men met at the University of Tennessee when they pledged Sigma Phi Epsilon together in 2003.

After getting his degree in economics in 2007, Williams joined the National Guard.  He served for three years.

Schweitzer, who knew Williams for almost ten years, said his friend was always willing to help others.  He said Williams started a real estate investment business that helped several Knoxville families get homes in the area.

"He was one of those guys who would just about do anything you needed him to do," Schweitzer said.  "He was a true American, he loved the military and he really loved to fly."

Click to see Full Article

SigEps who Serve: Izzy O'Bryan killed by car bomb in Iraq

We just found out that Bro. Israel "Izzy" O'Bryan (TN Kappa - UT Martin) has been killed by a car bomb in Iraq.

Two Joint Base Lewis-McChord soldiers who were killed in Iraq last Friday by a suicide bomber in an explosives-rigged car have been identified.

Sgt. Israel P. O'Bryan, 24, of Newbern, Tenn., and Spc. William C. Yauch, 23, of Batesville, Ark. died in the town of Jalula of wounds sustained in the attack. They were assigned to the 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division.

The bomber hit a convoy of U.S. and Iraqi forces on joint patrol about 80 miles northeast of Baghdad, near the Iranian border. At least three Iraqis were also killed, and another six Americans were wounded.

O'Bryan enlisted in February 2006 at Memphis, Tenn. and reported to Lewis-McChord in December 2006, the base said Monday. This was O'Bryan’s second deployment with the brigade; his first deployment was in 2007.

Yauch enlisted in August 2007 and reported to Lewis-McChord December of that year. This was his first deployment.

FOB Tacoma - » Two Stryker soldiers killed in Iraq Friday in suicide attack The News Tribune Blogs, Tacoma, WA

Frat Boys in Kabul? Morning Joe thinks so.

My first thought on seeing the footage was "Where's Ed Jones?" but I'm sure he's out in the boonies doing real war stuff.

Seriously, politics aside, I was dismayed to find this behavior compared to stereotypical "Frat Boy" antics. Sadly, though, the pictures could have come from any number of Facebook page pictures or YouTube videos of Greek parties we have seen over the years. Maybe he has a point. The more important question is "What can we do to improve the Greek image?"

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