Threats don’t take a holiday

On this Christmas morning, there are U.S. service members protecting the nation around the world. Many are traveling home for the holidays, but let’s remember there are hundreds of thousands still on duty because threats don’t take a holiday. Over all, there are about 1.3 million personnel on active duty, and 810,800 in the selected reserves – serving on all seven continents and in more than 170 countries. From its birth, the Navy has been an expeditionary force. Sailors will man their ships from the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Mexico. About 33 percent of the Navy is deployed at anytime – measuring more than 100,000 sailors and Marines afloat on Christmas - performing missions that can’t stop for holidays. Although serving around the globe, service members can take time to remember the holidays. It is the way it has been since Valley Forge in 1778. The bottom line is that the American military stands guard so the world can know - or hope for - peace. (Source: Defense Media 12/19/17) Gulf Coast Note: Regional service members deploy worldwide from the Seabees at Gulfport, Miss., to Tyndall AFB, Fla.