Stanislava Mladenova, PhD’s Post

Community integration is a vital aspect of a cohesive and inclusive society, irrespective of individuals' colour and nationality. The experiences of individuals like Ahmed Sasso MBE , who has dedicated over 30 years to the Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary, and District Commander Chris Douglas, a former Royal Marines, underscore the importance of supporting service leavers and veterans in their transition to civilian life. By linking initiatives such as #OPNOVA, #OPCOURAGE, and #OPRESTORE, there is an opportunity to prevent foreign and commonwealth military personnel and their families from facing challenges during their career transition and help them integrate into communities. The narrative of foreign and commonwealth troops and veterans struggling to integrate into communities can be changed. It is not about the system but the people behind it. No individual who has served and sacrificed for their country should be left feeling like a refugee. The collective effort under #OPBELONGING, the social arms of Leavers to Leaders is a testament to the fact that we are stronger together. #opbelonging #leaverstoleaders #careerdevelopment #Commonwealth #ltlacademy #military #gurkha #britisharmy #royalmarines #royalnavy #royalairforce

Reposting feels like too small an action - but it is something I can do. When I read about Senior Airman Aaron James Bushnell's self-immolation, I became overcome and sobbed uncontrollably as I mourned for all that the Palestinian people had lost and for Airman Bushnell's sacrifice. His actions speak to a depth of despair and a call for attention to issues that are being overlooked or simplified. This moment of helplessness in the face of such a profound statement has driven me to not only share this story but also to encourage a more nuanced conversation about the complexities of global conflicts, the human cost of ongoing tensions, and the desperate need for understanding, compassion, and peace. It's easy to feel overwhelmed by the magnitude of the world's issues and to feel too small to make a difference. Yet, it's essential to remember that every voice matters and that we contribute to a broader awareness and understanding by sharing stories like Airman Bushnell's. Let's commit ourselves to learning more, empathizing more deeply, and engaging in meaningful actions that promote peace and human dignity every day. I encourage my network to reflect on what is going on in Palestine and the decision of Airman Bushnell and consider how we, as individuals and collectively, can contribute to a world where such extreme measures are no longer seen as the only way to bring attention to critical issues. Let's start by fostering open dialogues, supporting organizations working towards peace and human rights, and never underestimating the power of individual actions to inspire significant change. #Peace #HumanRights #GlobalIssues #CallToAction#gazagenocide#veteransupport

April is the Month of the Military Child! Have you checked out Partners in PROMISE's Month of the Military Child Toolkit? If not click this link: https://lnkd.in/eT2f9sV8 Let's talk about 7 ways that you can celebrate the Month of the Military Child! 1. Wear Purple - Partners in PROMISE has a shirt at our shop! https://lnkd.in/eE7pkDD9 2. Share stories of military kids - military children serve without having the choice and yet they do so with resilience, strength, and bravery. Share their stories and help them see that they are not alone. 3. Give awards to military students - this is a great time to recognize military children for their kindness or resilience. Do you have JROTC programs at your school, how can you recognize our future service members? 4. Host a Q&A - Host a panel with military children discussing what it is like being a military child and how they have handled it. 5. Read a book about military life - to learn more about military culture and military lifestyle read a book about military life! 6. Partner with veteran organizations - support veterans, and their families, and help them support former and current military children. 7. Hold a special event - do something to recognize the military children at your school. Hold a breakfast for the service member and the child, put on an assembly, and have a fun field day! What are you doing to celebrate the Month of the Military Child? Comment below! #MonthOfTheMilitaryChild #MilitaryChildren #MilitaryFamilies #Army #Navy #MarineCorps #AirForce #CoastGuard #SpaceForce #SpecialEducation #EFMP

👏🏾👏🏾🙌🏾 Thank you Mr. Shebaro —I hope more veterans and members of our Armed forces will see the truth and find the courage to speak up publicly like you and Mr. Bushnell have. We need your voices for this campaign of #WorldWideJustice and #WorldPeace now more than ever… "My name is Alan Shebaro. I was with the 3rd Special Forces Group. I was with the Commanders in Extremis Force in the B23. I was a sniper, an assaulter, and a breacher. I did three rotations: 2008, 2009, and 2007. I know war. What is going on in Palestine right now is not a war. It is the dehumanization. It's the genocide. It's the ethnic cleansing of a specific people to take their land. This is wrong. And there's nothing more American than speaking out against what's wrong. The US taxpayer is paying for this, which makes it even more frustrating. This needs to stop Whatever you can do, anything, this needs to stop." #Veterans #USVeterans #ArmedForces #armedforcescommunity #usarmedforces #military #militaryfamilies #usmilitary #ustax #ustaxation #ustaxpayer #savegaza #permanentceasefirenow #savethechildren #endtheoccupation #endtheoccupationnow #FreePalestine #freefreepalestine #solidarity #solidaritywithpalestine #solidarityforever

Bushnell's self-immolation is having a huge ripple effect in the veteran and American military community - a group that can actually change things if they organized. (It's happened before, as I noted weeks ago when the US military revolted after WWII when called to oppose independence in the Philippines). Among the countless others stepping up is: "...Alan Shebaro. I was with the 3rd Special Forces Group. I was with the Commanders in Extremis Force in the B23. I was a sniper, an assaulter, and a breacher. I did three rotations: 2008, 2009, and 2007. I know war. What is going on in Palestine right now is not a war. It is the dehumanization. It's the genocide. It's the ethnic cleansing of a specific people to take their land. This is wrong. And there's nothing more American than speaking out against what's wrong. The US taxpayer is paying for this, which makes it even more frustrating. This needs to stop Whatever you can do, anything, this needs to stop." #gazagenocide #veteransupport #veteranshelpingveterans #veterans #israelpalestineconflict #Gaza #militarylife #military

I don’t have the answers, intelligence, analysis. I support #Israel. And: I believe in people speaking up, and us having these conversations. I believe #bringthemhomenow #bringthemhome & have blue ribbons, three, hanging in our front yard. I also don’t again, have all the info, but do believe, well, believe they are looking at the options, and, that speaking up matters, maybe can yield new solutions that help Israelis & Palestinians if we keep the focus there, pressure #Hamas to return the hostages with that? I don’t have all the answers. I don’t think Israel is waging a genocide. And: I think speaking up matters. Want to live in that world, hope this ripples out globally and we stop all the wars. I am #Jewish, do not believe it’s a genocide, support Israel and its right to exist, and, don’t know here, as well, unless you are making those decisions, you wouldn’t have the information, but I believe in us speaking up. I don’t understand why cities are making resolutions; letters, protests, shows of solidarity, yes, and the resolutions, what those mean?, have fear come up when I see people saying we have this resolution without intelligence/what does that mean, as someone who is Jewish, by ancestry. And; I want there to be a way. Want to say that, too. Keep the thought, energy there, of trying, and that Hamas can no longer exist as an organization, given the terror focus, horror. Think about it all the time. I wonder if there could be a pocket created for people to go while tunnels are searched: do not believe in this case that is genocide, though get the fear. Bosnia. ? That wasn’t even a pocket/idea of leaving. Japanese internment - not the same, but have read fears people would turn on each other which, ? Would that have happened? And, here, Gaza, terrorists hiding as civilians, in ambulances. I think about the hostage what I want like a child to be killed for them to get me out or would I want to die? I don’t know and I also know it’s it’s not even about just that it’s not OK ongoing attack. Israel protecting itself, a state doing so - I don’t know but my heart is there, for Israel and Gaza, West Bank, Palestinians. I do t have children, either. Think of, again, I don’t know, but, think caring matters. People caring. Believe in God, energy, consciousness, that that caring, by Israel, Palestine, the world, matters. The rest, people know more. I know energy in my own way, study, feel, we all do. Believe in to 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻 heal, yield solutions. 🙏🏻🙏🏻 prayer And asking people if they are Jewish, Muslim, everyone, how they are doing - I know I’ve been feeling a lot emotionally and I read people, energy, and I’m not the only one. Always am not, but it’s felt pretty intense for a while, and this is when we can dig in and say we feel too, vs division, in believing that I don’t know, but am thinking of all. #amyisraelchai and #peace two states 🙏🏻 🙏🏻🇮🇱🇵🇸✌🏻🙏🏻

Good morning, Service Members transitioning to Civilian workspace. Transitioning from military to civilian life can be a challenging process but breaking it down into manageable steps can help. #ThriveDaily is a daily tip to assist #ServiceMembers in making a smooth transition: #Community Involvement: Get involved in your local community through volunteering or joining clubs. You GOT This as you make steady progress towards a successful #Transition from #Military to #Civilianlife. #ServiceMembers #Military #Transition #CivilianLife #Veterans Operation Healing Forces

🌍✨ Celebrating the International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers! Since 1948, over 2 million peacekeepers have served in 71 missions, guiding nations from war to peace. Today, 76,000+ peacekeepers from 120+ countries are deployed in 11 operations, fostering global peace and stability. Australia first joined in 1947, sending military observers to Indonesia. Over 75 years, tens of thousands of Australian military and civilian peacekeepers have served in more than 60 operations across 30+ countries, playing crucial roles in conflict prevention and recovery. 🕊️ Despite challenges, peacekeepers remain steadfast, safeguarding civilians and promoting peace. Every May 29th, we honour their bravery and remember those who sacrificed their lives for peace. 🌟 This year's theme, "Fit for the Future: Building Better Together," highlights 75 years of vital peacekeeping work and calls for collaboration to tackle evolving challenges. Let's raise awareness and support the incredible work of UN Peacekeepers worldwide. #InternationalPeacekeepersDay2024 #IPKD2024 #Veterans #Defence #ADF #Military #VeteransFamiles

How would we summarise Op:Belonging Africa Day by Leavers to Leaders yesterday? Belonging is not the same as joining, following, or participating. It goes deeper. Many serving in the British Armed Forces feel left out, labeled as NON-UK VETERANS, raising questions and fears about life post-service. Putting on a uniform doesn't always erase the feeling of being an outsider for Commonwealth. Conversations with Commonwealth and Gurkhas highlight the struggle to belong beyond the uniform. It's time for Britain to acknowledge the urgent need for Veterans to be truly integrated into the country they served. The call to Reinvent The Commonwealth Experience in Britain is crucial. The next book OP: BELONGING by Samuel T. Reddy - When Did Britain Stop Seeing Us As A Band of Brothers, aims to shed light on this topic. Tbc... #OPBELONGING #military #Commonwealth #gurkhas #veterans #leaverstoleaders

Hilary Engward Anglia Ruskin. While writing my MSc dissertation in 2022, I grappled with the term ‘Commonwealth personnel.’ Instead, I found it more fitting to refer to refer myself as a ‘spouse of a Zimbabwean-born personnel serving in the British Army.’ I had hoped that the government’s replacement of ‘Foreign & Commonwealth personnel’ with ‘Non-UK serving personnel’ and ‘Non-UK veterans’ would be more inclusive, but it has proven otherwise. These labels inadvertently create division within the organisation. In reality, anyone serving in the British Army, regardless of their place of birth, is a British Army serving personnel or veteran —period. Rather than using terms like ‘Commonwealth’ or ‘non-UK’ to describe people, let’s recognize all service members as part of the same organisation. By emphasizing unity over division, we can foster a more cohesive and supportive environment within the British Army. Promoting inclusivity and acknowledging the shared commitment of all personnel will undoubtedly strengthen our collective resolve. let's keep fighting for a better world 🌎 🙏