Caitlin Foster

The Department of Defense announced Tuesday that active-duty troops deployed to the US-Mexico border will stay there through the holidays. Originally slated to return home on December 15, troops will now remain at their assignment through at least January 31, 2019.

Read more: <a id="13809be9-8298-3b5a-a601-9735334c31bf" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/us-troops-are-staying-at-the-us-mexico-border-through-christmas-2018-12?utm_source=intl&amp;utm_medium=ingest"> US troops are staying at the US-Mexico border through Christmas and into the new year </a>

These are not the only troops who will be away from home for the holidays — some 14,000 service members are currently deployed to Afghanistan, and many more are in Syria to fight ISIS militants, as well as on missions around the globe.

While nothing can compare to spending time with loved ones over the holidays, there are a few ways to make the holiday away from home a little easier to bear.

One of the best ways to help support deployed troops is to send a care package — a box packed with items from home that are difficult to acquire overseas.

Think of anything you use or love that gets you through the day — odds are troops need those things too, and commodities can be difficult to acquire overseas.

Non-perishable food and snacks are always a welcome surprise. Items like peanut butter, jerky, trail mix, nuts and dried fruit are perfect for mailing overseas. Consider powdered drink mixes that can be mixed with water, condiments that can be added to MREs, and individually packed protein snacks.

Try to avoid items that will likely melt or stick together, and if you think something will spill or get messy during the journey — things like chocolate, gum and gummy candy — wrap it in a plastic bag so it won't ruin everything else.

The plastic bag trick also works with toiletries, something troops definitely enjoy. From baby wipes to hair products, the right item in the hands of the right service member can boost morale tremendously. Be careful sending wipes to ships, though — they clog the ship's plumbing system (and nobody wants to know what it takes for the sailors to make that repair).

Unless you know the individual to whom you will be sending the package, try to send unscented items. Lotion, sunscreen, deodorant, mouthwash and hand sanitizer are good items to send. Shaving supplies are also recommended, with a preference for unscented items that can be used by any gender.

Tobacco products. Many service members use tobacco products, and even if they don't, they can trade dip or cigarettes for other stuff. Just make sure any products are sealed. Do not send alcohol or drugs. Just don't.

Books and magazines are a hit or miss, so make sure any reading materials are clean, popular items. Nobody wants to read Dianetics, no matter what L. Ron Hubbard's service record looks like.

Cards and letters have tremendous sentimental value, especially drawings from children, which can also at times provide comic relief. This is a great way to let our troops know that real people at home are thinking of them, especially during the holidays.

Regular rules apply for USPS restricted items. No aerosols, liquids, weapons or animal or plant products. Those are just a few examples, so make sure to check out <a id="adb4f7c2-ffdf-3eb5-af73-7a3b9f613287" href="https://pe.usps.com/text/dmm300/703.htm#ep1113810"> this link for the postal service's guidelines </a> .

The link above also gives details on how to address packages. Take special care not to include any reference to foreign cities or countries on the package and leave out "United States" or any variation thereof. This may result in your package entering an international mailing system, which will subject it and you to extra costs and conditions.

Mail can not be addressed "any soldier" or variations thereof. Packages must be addressed to a specific person or job title, such as "Commanding Officer" or "Sgt. John P. Doe." The second line should identify the individual's unit or PSC, and the FPO/APO and AA/AE/AP designations will fall on the city/state/zip code line. <a id="3ead1ebb-00ca-3eaa-afd5-3e013b681c29" href="https://www.usps.com/ship/apo-fpo-dpo.htm"> This link shows several examples </a> .

If you don't know anyone in the military but still want to send a package, there are a number of organizations that can help you to help the troops.

If you live near a military or national guard installation, you may be able to provide support to one of itsdeployed units. The best way to be sure is to contact the public affairs office for your local base.

The <a id="c23b3b3e-dfb5-3522-ab00-f1bf97ee654b" href="https://usowishbook.uso.org/all-gifts"> USO offers several choices </a> of gifts for purchase, including food packages, deployment kits and books they will ship to overseas bases. You can also <a id="47e0acdf-4169-32c5-a598-2f632c7967fb" href="https://www.uso.org/programs/uso-care-package-program"> submit a form requesting a care package </a> that they will ship to service members. Through December 31, 2018, Johnson and Johnson is matching donations to the USO dollar-for-dollar.

Operation Support Our Troops - America is a four-star charity that can also help send items to a service member overseas. Through their website, you can <a id="7b88103c-f3be-3c02-a2c7-8bdb553f4a53" href="http://www.osotamerica.org/comfort-packages/"> add a name to their mailing list or donate </a> .

Soldiers' Angels is another highly rated charity that offers several options. <a id="1495e194-568e-3a86-aeaf-c30de15eee04" href="https://soldiersangels.org/deployed-support.html"> Check out their website for details </a> .

These and other organizations are perfect for those who may not know a service member or unit's address, as they typically take care of the packing and mailing processes themselves.

If you elect to donate or send packages, or otherwise support a charity keep in mind there have been numerous reports of fraudulent organizations. Those listed above both have four-star ratings from watchdog <a id="90f2da0b-3ef3-399c-a873-42a658bb9b55" href="https://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=content.view&amp;cpid=531"> Charity Navigator </a> .

<a id="6a5bfac1-e528-3f61-a9ec-cc80ad919af0" href="https://www.military.com/spouse/military-deployment/military-care-packages/online-care-package-program.html"> Military.com also compiled a list </a> of helpful — and vetted — organizations.

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How to send US troops care packages they really want this holiday season

<h1> George H.W. Bush joined the US military on June 12, 1942 on his 18th birthday. </h1>

George Bush Presidential Library and Museum

Eager to serve, following the attacks on Pearl Harbor in December 1941 he considered joining the Canadian Royal Air Force, which would have let him join before turning 18, according to the <a id="43b41e10-e73c-3d07-a22e-2fbc2b9cb5e1" href="https://georgehwbush.com/ghb-timeline"> George Bush Presidential Library and Museum </a> .

Read more : <a id="688338b1-bf69-3a15-add6-7c41caec3707" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/21-navy-fighter-jets-to-honor-bush-with-massive-memorial-flyover-2018-12?utm_source=intl&amp;utm_medium=ingest"> A Navy fighter inscribed with George H.W. Bush's name will lead an unprecdented 21-plane flyover for the president's funeral </a>

<h1> George H.W. Bush became the youngest Navy pilot of the era. </h1>

Bush flew the Grumann TBF Avenger, a torpedo bomber that could drop a torpedo or a 2,000-pound bomb.

<h1> He flew 58 combat missions during World War II. </h1>

Read more : <a id="fe7d865b-dd69-3e43-a7c0-195a86336c21" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/president-george-hw-bush-funeral-pictures-2018-12?utm_source=intl&amp;utm_medium=ingest"> Moving photos from George H.W. Bush's state funeral, where every living president, foreign leaders and celebrities paid their respects </a>

<h1> He was shot down while on a bombing run off the island of Chi Chi Jima in 1944, and was rescued by the USS Finback. </h1>

After landing in the water, Bush swam to a life raft. He was attacked by Japanese soldiers on the island, but nearby US fighters strafed them to keep them away, a Navy historian told <a id="0c60f8b9-52b4-385f-ac90-633191b73ee1" href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/how-george-h-w-bush-survived-his-brush-with-death-in-world-war-ii/"> CBS News </a> . The Finback rescued Bush after four hours on the raft.

<h1> After leaving military service, he remained devoted to US troops, and has often visited service members deployed and stationed overseas, even during holidays. </h1>

<h1> As vice president, he visited the Korean DMZ in 1982. </h1>

<h1> Then Vice President, George H.W. Bush USS Iowa re-commissioned the battleship USS Iowa in 1984 </h1>

<h1> In 1990, President Bush spent Thanksgiving with deployed troops in Saudi Arabia after the invasion of Iraq. </h1>

<h1> Right down to his socks, former President George H.W. Bush remained dedicated to serving his country until his final days. </h1>

Bush family spokesman Jim McGrath tweeted a photo of the statesman's burial socks, honoring his time as a US naval aviator:

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SEE ALSO: Watch George H.W. Bush being rescued by the US Navy after his plane was shot down by Japanese forces in WWII

10 photos that show former President George H.W. Bush's lifelong dedication to the US military

At his first public appearance in almost nine months, Rex Tillerson, former secretary of state under President Donald Trump, said the president often asked Tillerson to violate US law.

The surprising comments were made to Bob Schieffer of <a id="cb24023f-edc9-3d23-a12f-9ee32838f632" href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/rex-tillerson-on-trump-his-firing-we-did-not-have-a-common-value-system/"> CBS News </a> at a fundraiser for the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas. The former cabinet member's remarks about the president, including his assertions that the president frequently wanted to violate US law, are unprecedented.

Tillerson also took a strong stance against "very opportunistic" Russian President Vladimir Putin, and said "there's no question" that Russia interfered in the 2016 presidential election.

Regarding his relationship with Trump, Tillerson said he and the president did not have a "common value system."

"When the president would say, 'Here's what I want to do and here's how I want to do it,' I'd have to say to him, 'Mr. President, I understand what you want to do, but you can't do it that way. It violates the law. It violates a treaty,'" Tillerson said in the interview. "I think he grew tired of me being the guy every day that told him, 'You can't do that.'"

Trump would often grow frustrated at those conversations, the former secretary said. Tillerson's experience at what he described as "highly disciplined, highly process-oriented" ExxonMobil Corporation made it difficult to transition to the Trump White House, he said.

"It's challenging ... to go to work for a man who is pretty undisciplined," he said.

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Rex Tillerson says Trump frequently wanted to violate US law while Tillerson was secretary of state

An inspector general for the Department of Homeland Security found a lieutenant commander at the US Coast Guard Academy was retaliated against for complaining of racial bias.

The inspection, reported by Ana Radelat of the <a href="https://ctmirror.org/2018/12/04/ig-report-coast-guard-academy-retaliated-whistleblower-reported-racial-bias/" id="8e271cb2-c04d-3154-a0d1-9d71c4368ee9"> Connecticut Mirror </a> , <a href="https://www.oig.dhs.gov/sites/default/files/assets/2018/WRROI-W17-USCG-WPU-16018.pdf" id="d1829293-a88b-3332-acb4-ff62bcb6d0d6"> found </a> a "preponderance of evidence" that the officer received a poor evaluation as a result of her complaints that she was "subjected to harassment and a hostile work environment" due to her race and gender, according to the <a href="https://ctmirror.org/2018/12/04/ig-report-coast-guard-academy-retaliated-whistleblower-reported-racial-bias/" id="0727b36a-f4bf-338d-a5ab-6316d16702c6"> Mirror </a> .

The inspectors also found "potential disparities" between the handling of the whistleblower's complaints and later complaints filed by a different member of the academy.

This is not the first time the academy has faced scrutiny for alleged racial discrimination, according to <a href="https://ctmirror.org/2018/12/04/ig-report-coast-guard-academy-retaliated-whistleblower-reported-racial-bias/" id="0a26741f-7c5f-3d31-a0b6-70b61073ec4e"> the Mirror </a> .

In a study by the University of Southern California called the "Equity Scorecard," the US Coast Guard Academy <a href="https://cue.usc.edu/files/2018/04/Vital-Signs-Report-FINAL-032818-V2.pdf" id="0ce100d4-c362-3a82-a52e-831a7ab95dfa"> disproportionately disciplines </a> African-American midshipmen, and black students are also "consistently less likely to graduate."

The academy is also under congressional investigation for "harassment, bullying and discrimination against minority cadets," <a href="https://ctmirror.org/2018/12/04/ig-report-coast-guard-academy-retaliated-whistleblower-reported-racial-bias/" id="37819fab-4c60-33f9-a2c0-f4d258fd65ec"> the Mirror reported </a> . Rep. Joe Courtney (D-Conn.) was one three lawmakers to request documents pertaining to harassment and bullying allegations over the last three years, according to <a href="https://ctmirror.org/2018/12/04/ig-report-coast-guard-academy-retaliated-whistleblower-reported-racial-bias/" id="0a26741f-7c5f-3d31-a0b6-70b61073ec4e"> the Mirror </a> .

One of the others, Rep Elijah Cummings (D-Md.) said in a statement to <a href="https://ctmirror.org/2018/12/04/ig-report-coast-guard-academy-retaliated-whistleblower-reported-racial-bias/" id="0a26741f-7c5f-3d31-a0b6-70b61073ec4e"> the Mirror </a> : "It is intolerable that the Coast Guard has retaliated against a service member for making protected complaints of harassment and discrimination, and I expect the Coast Guard to immediately hold accountable all individuals who had any role in carrying out this retaliation."

The Department of Homeland Security, which oversees the academy, has ordered the Coast Guard to update the whistleblower's evaluation, and to document in writing the "reasons for findings and outcomes in response to bullying and harassment complaints," the <a href="https://ctmirror.org/2018/12/04/ig-report-coast-guard-academy-retaliated-whistleblower-reported-racial-bias/" id="8e170188-cea9-3b03-a5da-719018a22777"> Mirror reported </a> . The academy must also provide training to supervisors and managers on the department's harassment and bullying policies, the report says.

The Coast Guard Academy did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

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Coast Guard Academy retaliated against a whistleblower who complained of racial bias

On Saturday, cadets from the Military Academy will take to the field to defend its current winning streak against the Naval Academy midshipmen in the 119th annual Army-Navy football game.

"America's game" is no typical rivalry. Cadets and midshipmen, including the players on the field, endure rigorous challenges that extend far beyond the classroom.

Which of these prestigious institutions outperforms the other is an enduring debate. To settle the question, we compared the academies in terms of academics, the "plebe" experience, location, career options and football statistics — read through to find out which of these rivals has the edge.

Full disclosure: The author of this post graduated from the US Naval Academy in 2010. This comparison is based on totally objective analysis, but you can weigh in with your perspective at the links on her author bio.

<h1> LOCATION: The Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland is nestled in an idyllic location on the Chesapeake Bay. </h1>

Flickr/Public Domain/US Naval Academy

Annapolis, the "sailing capital of the world," is just outside the Naval Academy gates. Midshipmen are part of life in the picturesque town.

The correct term for students at the Naval Academy is "midshipmen," not cadets like their counterparts at West Point.

<h1> Army's West Point is a bit more isolated, and located on the western bank of the Hudson River. </h1>

Flickr/Creative Commons/US Military Academy

Cadets have to travel much farther to experience the joys of time-off in a city.

On the rare occasion they get to experience extracurricular activities, midshipmen have an abundance of options in closer proximity.

In terms of location, the Naval Academy takes the trophy .

<h1> ACADEMICS: US News ranks the Naval Academy as the #2 Public School for an undergraduate degree. </h1>

Petty Officer 3rd Class Kaitlin Rowell/US Navy

The student-faculty ratio is 8:1 at Annapolis, and about 75% of classes there have fewer than 20 students, according to <a href="https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/united-states-naval-academy-2101/academics" id="4988bcf9-e4c3-3977-a549-760fad3e75cd"> US News </a> .

At West Point, the student-faculty ratio is 7:1, and about 97% of classes have fewer than 20 students. West Point also <a href="https://www.usma.edu/curriculum/SitePages/Home.aspx" id="aa7679d0-e5e5-3266-a4e6-5a64908c249d"> offers 37 majors </a> , compared to the <a href="https://www.usna.edu/Academics/Majors-and-Courses/index.php" id="1fbbad94-a520-3a93-ac4b-8a2d31e428b3"> 26 offered </a> at the Naval Academy.

Based on self-reported data compiled by <a href="https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/west-point-2893" id="13850436-a7ba-3e88-adf8-f0091ee18448"> US News </a> , West Point has an edge over Navy in academics.

<h1> MILITARY TRAINING: Academics are only part of the curriculum at these federally-funded academies. Students begin with tough summer training to kick off their military careers. </h1>

These training regimens are generally comparable to basic training for officers and enlisted, and provoke a lot of debate about whether they're easier than what other officers must go through.

<h1> At the Naval Academy, "plebe summer" involves rigorous physical activities, including PT in the surf. </h1>

At both academies, freshmen are referred to as "plebes" to indicate their lesser status. These students are also known as midshipmen fourth-class; first classes are seniors.

<h1> At the end of their first summer, cadets conduct a 12-mile 'March Back' to West Point from Camp Buckner before being formally accepted into the Corps of Cadets. </h1>

The initial summer training at both institutions are physically and mentally challenging. In terms of difficulty, the two stand on even ground.

But Naval Academy midshipmen have to endure one more week than their cadet brothers and sisters, so we have to give the edge to Navy's plebe summer .

(When the last real plebe summer took place remains an open debate among graduates).

<h1> At West Point, plebes celebrate the end of their difficult summer with a giant pillow fight. </h1>

In 2015, cadets took the fight to the next level, and The New York Times reported 24 freshmen got concussions from the <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/05/us/at-west-point-annual-pillow-fight-becomes-weaponized.html" id="cc13343d-80cb-3569-a5ed-911f20f8e019"> bloody brawl </a> .

Navy doesn't have a pillow fight, and it's unclear whether that should count as a win or a loss.

<h1> CULMINATION OF TRAINING: Midshipmen must endure a rigorous 14-hour set of physical and mental challenges known as "Sea Trials" at the end of their freshman year. </h1>

Cadets do not have a "Sea Trials" equivalent.

Overall, the Naval Academy's plebes face more hurdles than plebes at West Point — the scales therefore tip towards Annapolis for a more challenging regimen that they can, and will, brag about.

<h1> The plebes then climb a monument called Herndon, which their upperclassmen have greased with tubs of lard, to replace the iconic 'plebe' dixie hat with an upper class cover. </h1>

The tradition is also a competition among classes — bragging rights belong to the class that can replace the cover in the shortest period of time.

<h1> The tradition has seen various iterations throughout Naval Academy history, but can sometimes get ugly — and even bloody. </h1>

The Herndon climb is considered the final rite of passage for 'plebes' at the Naval Academy.

<h1> CAREERS: Upon graduation, newly commissioned Navy and Marine Corps officers 'join the fleet.' </h1>

Marines will be selected for either an air or ground option. Once they graduate from a common officer training course, the officers will go on to receive specialized training in their fields, which include infantry, artillery, intelligence, aviation, and several more.

Navy officers are commissioned for roles in surface, subsurface, aviation and special operations communities. A handful will be selected as Navy SEALs. A select few may be accepted into medical school.

<h1> West Point commissions its cadets into one of over 17 branches of the Army when they graduate, sending them into careers ranging from artillery and infantry to intelligence and engineering. </h1>

While West Point has an impressive selection of career options, when considering both Navy and Marine Corps communities, Annapolis offers more options and therefore has an edge .

<h1> ATHLETICS: On December 8, the cadets and midshipmen will face off in the 119th Army-Navy football game. </h1>

In terms of their football team's 2018 statistics, Army has the edge to beat Navy for the third year in a row .

West Point's current record stands at 9-2, and holds a current 7-game winning streak this season.

Navy's record is bleak: 3-9 this season overall.

<h1> Overall, midshipmen have won the majority of Army-Navy games, in football and most other sports. </h1>

Historically, Navy is the better team. In football, and most other sports as well.

Navy holds 60 wins over Army, who has won only 51 games. (Seven games have ended in a tie).

Midshipmen also hold the longest streak — 14 wins between 2002 and 2015. This year, Army will have to defend its 2-year streak.

Though other sports are largely overlooked by the public, the Army-Navy rivalry extends well beyond the gridiron. The all-time Army-Navy competition record holds Navy as the better athletic program, with a 1071-812-43 win-loss-tie ratio.

Some of the teams that have boosted the <a href="https://navysports.com/sports/2018/8/16/army-navy-record-summaries.aspx" id="286ad13b-dca0-3906-a949-ec2c5121884d"> Naval Academy's record </a> are listed below:

Navy Women's swimming and diving crushes Army with a 34-4 W-L record.

Navy Men's basketball has defeated Army 78 times, with only 50 losses against their rival.

Overall, the Naval Academy takes the trophy as the better service academy.

Although Army's current athletic season and academics are impressive, the Naval Academy's prime location, rigorous training, career options and overall athletic program give it an edge over its rival.

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ARMY VS. NAVY: Here's how America's most elite military academies really stack up

Air Force Staff Sgt. Dylan Elchin was one of four US troops killed Tuesday when their vehicle struck an improvised explosive device.

Sgt. Elchin, a 25-year-old from Beaver County, Pennsylvania, was highly decorated for his age, according to <a id="69d1808c-c506-3cdf-aefc-a30d7ecc0020" href="https://www.post-gazette.com/local/north/2018/11/29/Decorated-Beaver-County-airman-was-among-3-soldiers-killed-in-Afghanistan/stories/201811280202"> a report by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette </a> . Interviews conducted by the newspaper show the sergeant was a devoted hero with a kind heart.

His brother, Aaron Elchin, told the newspaper about the last time he spoke with his younger brother, who was assigned to 26th Special Tactics Squadron.

"I told him that I love him," <a id="e8a33bf1-c4a7-348a-a285-424f37b41d7e" href="https://www.post-gazette.com/local/north/2018/11/29/Decorated-Beaver-County-airman-was-among-3-soldiers-killed-in-Afghanistan/stories/201811280202"> Elchin said in the interview </a> . "And I didn't know that was going to be the last time I'd talk to him."

Sgt. Elchin's awards included the Bronze Star Medal, the military's fourth-highest award for meritorious service in a combat zone. He also received a Purple Heart and Commendation Medals from both the Air Force and the Army, according to the Post-Gazette.

<a id="f719ef2d-cefa-303d-a00c-4051600c4744" href="https://www.post-gazette.com/local/north/2018/11/29/Decorated-Beaver-County-airman-was-among-3-soldiers-killed-in-Afghanistan/stories/201811280202"> Elchin told the newspaper </a> he was not surprised that his brother received such high recognition.

"I think it is very unusual to be so highly decorated," he said. "But you've got to understand, Dylan was very dedicated in everything that he did."

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Sgt. Elchin enlisted as a combat controller in 2012. In high school, he had a variety of interests; he played the horn in the high school band and also participated in the school's shop program, according to the Post-Gazette. He was also known for his kind nature.

"[Dylan] was part of a student group who sent holiday cards to residents at McGuire Memorial, a school for students with individualized special education needs," said Carrie Rowe, Elchin's former middle school principal, told the newspaper. "Dylan's Beaver Area School District family will remember him as a young man with a kind heart, who was studious, curious about life, and loved his family."

<a id="207fffb4-8e44-36e4-a5f7-9aa976049b16" href="https://www.post-gazette.com/local/north/2018/11/29/Decorated-Beaver-County-airman-was-among-3-soldiers-killed-in-Afghanistan/stories/201811280202"> Aaron Elchin told the Post-Gazette </a> his family is living in a state of shock since learning about the explosion, one of the deadliest attacks against American forces since 2017.

"We're all basically waiting to wake up," he told the newspaper. "We feel like we're in a giant fog, and we just don't want to believe it."

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Body of Staff Sgt. Dylan Elchin arrives in the US.

The 25-year-old Air Force special operator killed by a bomb in Afghanistan is being remembered as a compassionate hero

The commander in chief was way off when he thought his top military officer made millions, according to a <a id="7f14a0b4-058b-3477-a179-324c8b6b4bde" href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-demands-action-to-reduce-deficit-and-pushes-new-deficit-spending/2018/11/25/86bdf120-d88c-11e8-9559-712cbf726d1c_story.html?utm_term=.65b0b586c91c"> report </a> by The Washington Post.

The Post marked it as an example of how out-of-touch the president is with federal spending and the military. When prompted by his chief of staff, who is a retired general, the president guessed that Gen. Joe Dunford, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, earns $5 million, the report said.

Trump was surprised, sources told The Post, to find that Dunford's base salary is less than $200,000.

That may be because Trump is more familiar with a corporate model for compensation, which <a id="232ed26f-1ed7-3d8c-aece-7a6a7b3ad1fa" href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/dianahembree/2018/05/22/ceo-pay-skyrockets-to-361-times-that-of-the-average-worker/#9b54010776dd"> notoriously overpays </a> chief executives via high salaries, lucrative bonuses, and stock options.

CEOs also typically receive pay raises at a much higher percentage than their employees. A study from the <a id="b95c3439-afe1-3aa7-a4fc-1859d7d93e90" href="https://www.epi.org/publication/ceo-compensation-surged-in-2017/"> Economic Policy Institute </a> showed that in 2017, the average CEO salary increased by nearly 18% while employee pay increased by as little as 0.3%.

Read more: <a id="6cbf1dd9-4d81-3a19-a8f5-3fa07ea0870e" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ceo-pay-2017-vs-average-us-worker-2018-8?utm_source=intl&amp;utm_medium=ingest"> A new study found CEOs at America's biggest companies raked in $19 million on average last year, while workers' pay barely budged </a>

Military pay, by comparison, is strictly regulated. Salaries are limited by <a id="198ffd7d-d658-38ec-a71c-d5d4a01c6f8b" href="https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/37/203"> US Code </a> and overseen by the same entity that <a id="379e69b4-586a-37eb-a757-df78ad8cb1d6" href="https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/salaries-wages/"> manages </a> all government compensation.

In terms of base pay, military personnel are compensated based on rank and time in service. Typically, troops advance to the next bracket when promoted and after every two years of additional experience, though there are some exceptions.

For example, an E-5 (an enlisted service member rank) who has six years of experience receives just over $2,850 per month in base pay, according to <a id="2508e7f1-1ac7-3dae-af41-26e08533bbb2" href="https://www.federalpay.org/military/2017"> 2017 pay tables </a> . Her battalion commander, an O-5 (an officer rank) with 15 years of service, made nearly three times that amount. These figures do not include the housing allowance, which takes into account the price of housing in the area and whether the person has children.

Pay raises are also regulated. Regardless of rank, base pay is increased by the same percentage, calculated by the Bureau of Labor Statistics and finalized by the president. So, when the E-5 saw her monthly salary increase by 2.6% at the start of the 2019 fiscal year, her battalion commander's pay also increased by 2.6%.

Dunford made roughly five-and-a-half times the E-5's salary last year — a striking comparison to the average CEO, who made 312 times her employees' salaries.

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Trump was reportedly shocked to learn his top military officer doesn't make millions — here's why generals make fractions of CEOs' salaries

The US Navy has <a id="97ad6985-2d0a-3c70-a1ab-44dce97f6cb0" href="https://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=107922"> announced </a> that 15 months after its tragic collision at sea, the USS John S. McCain achieved a major repair milestone as it left dry dock Tuesday.

The ship is now moored to a pier in its homeport of Yokosuka, Japan. There, the ship's crew will continue making repairs, according to Cmdr. Micah Murphy, the ship's commanding officer.

"I'm proud of and thankful for every person who has worked together to move USS John S. McCain another step closer to both normalcy and sailing again with U.S. 7th Fleet," Murphy said.

The guided-missile destroyer collided with an oil tanker in August 2017, resulting in the deaths of 10 sailors.

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While at dry dock, the USS McCain saw repairs made to its hull and berthing compartment that were damaged in the collision, the Navy said. The destroyer also received a new thrust shaft, one of the two rotating shafts that turn the ship's propellers.

The US Navy press release did not say how much the repairs cost.

A time-lapse video shows the ship leaving dry dock.

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The US destroyer McCain is returning to sea following a deadly collision 15 months ago

<h1> They say he's old and gnarly... </h1>

Bill's <a href="https://www.usna.edu/PAO/faq_pages/BilltheGoat.php" id="cf028091-754a-3773-a800-72c344a3786f"> origin story </a> is a simple one.

The Naval Academy adopted the goat as its mascot after the USS New York anchored off Annapolis. Ship's sailors brought their mascot — a goat named El Cid — ashore with them to observe the Army-Navy game in 1893.

The midshipmen won that game, and after a few more wins attributed to El Cid's presence, the goat's position was cemented. He was named "Bill" a few years later and to this day has a team of caretakers (and an abundance of blankets).

Read more: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/the-bizarre-history-of-the-us-naval-academys-mascot-bill-the-goat-2018-9?utm_source=intl&amp;utm_medium=ingest" id="c9d7f71a-f07a-3756-a537-da448224182a"> The bizarre history of the US Naval Academy's mascot, 'Bill the Goat' </a>

<h1> Other aspects of the uniforms are steeped in naval heritage and tradition. </h1>

" <a href="https://www.navalhistory.org/2010/06/01/dont-give-up-the-ship" id="dcc51e34-9f22-3262-ad35-8e3fb302c44f"> Don't give up the ship </a> " were the last words of Navy Captain James Lawrence, who died from a gunshot wound sustained during battle in the War of 1812.

Lawrence's crew, well, they gave up the ship: they <a href="https://www.bostonglobe.com/ideas/2013/05/18/the-real-shameful-story-behind-don-give-ship/AVYGogGB9gtXrydeyRx1BP/story.html" id="9510c2ba-0196-31e5-a820-f45b9dfbcccd"> surrendered </a> to the British after a mere 15 minutes.

Regardless, Lawrence is remembered as a hero, and his words became an unofficial battle cry of the US Navy. Captain Oliver Hazard Perry, another hero from that war, had the motto stitched into his battle flag, which still holds a place of honor to this day in the Naval Academy's Memorial Hall.

<h1> Six lines on players' pants represent the Navy's first six frigates. </h1>

<h1> The Naval Academy uniform always features a symbol representing the US Marine Corps. </h1>

In the past, the eagle, globe and anchor has appeared on helmets and sleeves, and uniforms sometimes feature a "blood stripe" as a nod to the Corps' dress uniforms.

Naval Academy midshipmen are directly commissioned into the Navy and Marine Corps at graduation. Of the class of 1,000, a handful typically seek commissions in the other services.

<h1> On December 8, Navy will try to upset Army's 2-year winning streak. </h1>

Historically, Annapolis still has the edge, having won 60 out of 118 games.

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