Cowboy Up! Thanks the Turquoise Trail Fire Fighters

On April 26th the Cowboy Up! crew presented the Turquoise Trail Volunteer Fire Fighters with a framed photo of its Cowboy C.A.R.E. Open Range First Aid Class # 001. Cowboy Up! Directors Rick Iannucci and Nancy De Santis along with Thomas Wingate presented Fire Chief Kevin Barrows and his crew of fire fighters the photo in appreciation for the use of their facility to conduct this important training.

Death in Libya and Troop Suicide Tolls

Photographer unknown (please let me know if you know).

Today we mourn the loss of Oscar-nominated filmmaker and photographer Tim Hetherington. It is with great sadness that we learned of Tim's death and our condolences go out to his family and friends for we were honored to have met Tim along with Major Dan Kearney only nine months ago at a private reception following the debut of his film "Restrepo" the Afghan War film of which he co-directed with author Sebastian Junger. The film was nominated for an Oscar for best documentary in 2011.

Here is what we read on an AOL news flash: "Tim Hetherington, and Chris Hondros, a Pulitzer Prize-nominated photographer, were killed in the city of Misrata after being hit by mortar fire during fighting between Muammar Gaddafi's forces and Libyan rebels. Two other photographers, Guy Martin and Chris Brown, were also injured."

You most likely will see these photographers deaths reported this evening on the nightly news and in days to come, but here is something you won't be seeing...

Did you know that on average there are eighteen suicides per day by our OIF/OEF Troops? I have been hearing this for close to a year now, yet I have not seen it reported that heavily. I wonder what the current numbers are?

"The Navy Times reported from 2001 to 2009 the Army's suicide rate increased from 9 out of 100,000 soldiers to 23 out of every 100,000. It was also reported during the same time the Marine's suicides rates increased from 16 out of 100,00 to 100,000. Keep in mind from 2001 - 2009 there was a 76 percent increase in psychiatric drug being subscribed !!!! I also want to mention suicides are even higher when you factor in the Veterans here at home that are taking their lives, Infact just a couple of days ago the ArmyTimes reported 18 veterans commit suicide each day ( http://current.com/1uekg4c ). The attempted suicides rates are even higher than those did in fact take their own life. With these statistics there is a serious problem here, and it needs to be addressed."

Remember this does not include the military action in Libya now - are you outraged? I am - for this is why we do what we do here at Cowboy Up!

Blessings to all who have suffered a loss of their loved ones, our hearts are with you.

Nancy De Santis
Cowboy Up! Director

The Christian Science Monitor

Click the article to enlarge


The Christian Science Monitor is an international news organization that delivers thoughtful, global coverage via its website, weekly magazine, daily news briefing, email newsletters, and mobile site. In this week's edition they published an article written by April Reese (above).

The CSM isn't a religious magazine, in fact it's more of a "Monitor" and all about unbiased journalism - just what I like - they report the news and not their opinion unlike the news these days - it's refreshing and eye opening. I've taken some text from their CSM's website to enlighten us all:

"In an era when the mainstream media has narrowed its lens, we're convinced readers yearn for the opposite. This global perspective comes naturally; the Monitor's founder, Mary Baker Eddy, explained our mission this way: "To injure no man, but to bless all mankind."

Mrs. Eddy's statement contains another distinguishing feature. The purpose of our journalism is to "bless" not "injure." That is central to how we cover the news:

* We're unrelenting but fair.

* We're excited by what’s new and developing - yet always mindful of the history behind us.

* We're broad in scope but written for the individual.

* And we make a point of resisting the sensational in favor of the meaningful.

* We're also free to be an independent voice, devoid of the corporate allegiances and pressures that critics say too often skew today's media.

* Join us for a daily distillation of a changing world - your world."

Let me repeat this: "devoid of the corporate allegiances and pressures that critics say too often skew today's media." - Now THAT's real journalism!

Many thanks to April, Melanie and the Christian Science Monitor!

Office Alternatives Visit & Cow Tipping

Friend and Entrepreneur, Deb Austin, of Office Alternatives came up with some of her lovely staff this weekend to take in a breath of fresh mountain air and to visit our Cowboy Up! program. This is the part of our family who answers your calls Monday through Friday making sure your calls get to us directly while we are out working in the field - literally! Thanks for taking the time out of your personal weekend to come up and spend some quality time with us, we so enjoyed having you!

If you are in NM and need a professional office space with board rooms and training facilities or just a space where you can meet clients, and have uninterrupted top-notch phone service, then Office Alternatives is your answer! Please give them a call at 505.796.9600, here is there website too: www.OfficeAlternatives.com

For more pictures on their visit please see our public Facebook page - click our Facebook badge to the right of your screen.



Afterward we got down to our ranch work, tipping the horns on our heifers creating an even safer environment for when we are working with our cattle. Don't worry all, it's like cutting your nails.

Cowboy Up! C.A.R.E.

In preparation for our season of spring branding, cattle drives, and veterans sessions we attended a course being put on by Horses For Heroes- NM Inc. Cowboy Up! called C.A.R.E. (Cowboy Assessment Response Evacuation). In a nutshell, it was Open Range First Aid training specially designed for us and was presented by our own Special Forces Trained, Senior Medic Neil "Doc" Riley, NREMT-P, Wilderness EMT.

We covered preventative medicine, injury assessment, CPR review, spoke about fractures, splinting, simple sprains & strains, concussions, dislocations, lacerations and punctures wounds, heat exhaustion and dehydration.

Thanks Neal for this wonderful, comprehensive class!



We'd also like to thank The Turquoise Trail Volunteer Fire Department for welcoming us and most of all, for the use of their facilities!













L to R: Cowboy Up! Graduate, Volunteer Instructor Chuck Franco, Director Rick Iannucci enjoy a little break and then some lunch!


Future Cowboy!!!