Band of Brothers

Thank you for taking the time out to read this posting. As you are reading this right now, you can rest assured that there are many soldiers around the world that fall in to the category of liberators and patriots.

Liberators of Iraq

The most recent liberation that we can all identify with is the liberation of Iraq, and as a result of modern communications and technology we could see the actual battle taking place and the defiance of the Hussein regime in stating that they were in full control, as we in the rest of the world saw US Military Tanks roll into the heart of Baghdad. Whether this was the right decision or not, is not for the layman to  say, but certainly, because we live in a democratic society we are allowed to question these decisions, because in questioning can we fully understand the reason we invaded.  Anyway, what was the alternative ! I would welcome your answers and observations.

Who Were The Liberators?

In my humble opinion, the liberators were the men and women of the allied armed services led by the United States were the true liberators, not the policy makers or those in high office who have never set foot on a battlefield. The young men and women of the Marine Corps, the Infantry, the Cavalry and the countless other units and brigades that make up the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force and Coast Guard.

We need to congratulate all members of our United States Military and the Allied Forces that were also in support of this noble cause. When they return to our shores they should be treated with the utmost respect, and lets not have a repeat of what happened to some when the returned from earlier conflicts like Vietnam.

For those who will not return or who have been fatally injured, bow your head in prayer once in a while and remember them and their families. They paid the ultimate price for our freedom……ask yourself, what have I done today?

Gone but not forgotten…should be a little more than just words.

Honor the Liberators of Iraq

One of the most unique ways to honor these fine people is to purchase for the a piece of jewelry like the military rings, which can be customized with all the deatils of their military career.

Click above for prices, designs and more

Since the beginning of the war in Iraq it has been quite difficult to pin point exactly which area was more dangerous than the next.
So here is a link that you should look at to give you some idea of what our brave soldiers go through on practically a daily basis;

Fallujah the Video

I have spent time in Iraq and Kuwait and have witnessed first hand the terror of hearing those words ( incoming – incoming) that was the signal everyone hear on the base when we were under fire. On hearing these few words echoed around the base we had to run for shelter to the concrete bunkers that were strategically located throughout the base and wait there until we heard the words (all clear) echoed throughout the base.

History of Fallujah

In 2003 the US led the coalition forces in Iraq and just after that time Fallujahbecame one of the areas that became not so dangerous. It was home to a resort called Dreamland which was used by the Ba’athist congregation of the area. The area was plagued by looters after the defeat of Saddam Hussein, they went after and targeted government buildings and anything else that represented the former establishment.

Fallujah Abu Ghraib Prison.

Fallujah will always be remembered for the notorious Abu Ghraib prison that was used to intern members of society the were against or spoke out about the dictator Saddam.

Fallujah the Curfew

A curfew imposed by the US in April 2003 was defied by a select group of the local population when they grouped outside a local school. The American 82nd Airborne was guarding the building, when the curfew was defied, the troops in an act of defense opened fire and killed seventeen civilians and wounded another seventy approximately. 

Four contractors were dragged from their vehicle in 2004 beaten to death and then were set alight. They were Scott Helvenston, Jerry Zovko, Wesley Batalona and Michael Teague. This dreadful act was photographed and shown by news broadcasters around the world causing untold pain to the families of these men. Remember them in your prayers today.

Commemorate Your Deployment

Right Here

Never Forget

Sample Images for Rings

 

When we achieve that special goal that we have worked hard for so long for, we like to mark the occasion with something extra special. Now there are various methods by which we can celebrate like taking the family out to for a nice evening or indeed heading off on a vacation if it’s within the budget. As I have spent many years around the world promoting products the help commemorate special military occasions I feel adequately informed to make a few suggestions.

Gold Uses in the Military

• Gold Military Rings
• Gold Navy Rings
• Gold Army Rings
• Gold Marine Rings
• Gold Air Force Rings
• Gold Graduation Rings
• Gold Retirement Rings.

Gold Military Rings

Although not the cheapest metal at the present moment but with the present uncertain economic climate it may actually increase in value but on the otherhand it could decline. It is always considered a pretty safe haven when times are uncertain  and its one of the precious metals that will hold its value when other assets like property and shares are so volatile. As I write this article Gold as actually gone through the $1000.00 mark and this is a major psychological threshold at the same time that the dollars is weakening. I’m not a financial guru, but to a layman it certainly doesn’t look to bright. So I would suggest to you that the time to buy the “Gold Military Ring” is now.

Shop and Save Here

Gold Military Rings for the Army.

It’s quite usual for service members from the Department of the Army to engage a company to custom design a “Gold Army Ring” with the various designs that’s appropriate to the individual fro their graduation, retirement or indeed to commemorate a special occasin or deployment. Gold Military Rings are one of the best ways to mark any occasion and a unique way to display that military pride and will also help to create a great family heirloom.

Gold Military Rings and Gold History.

Back in the year of 1971 it was President Nixon who allowed the price of Gold to float. It was President Roosevelt that set the price of Gold at a standard $35 an ounce and it remained at the same price from 1934 to 1971. And with a large amount of people looking to invest their money in something tat would give them security other than property and shares they invested in Gold which drove the price up to $850 an ounce. Gold has a great appeal to people from all over the world and this can be seen by the amount of the precious metal that’s used in the manufacture of jewelry especially Gold Military Rings.

The United States Coast Guard is probably quite similar to other Coast Guards around the world in so far as that their main purpose is to protect the environment, the public and of course the economy and security on the nation. It has jurisdiction in both domestic and international waters and in wartime will work under the Department of the Navy but in peace time it works under the Department of Homeland Security.

The Coast Guard patrols the sea around our nation but also the inland waterways which may be at risk from narcotics dealers and other undesirables.

Coast Guard Ring

The Coast Guard ring is very similar to all the other military rings in that they can be customized with all the personal and military details of the member.

Quite a few of the Coast Guard personnel have served in overseas campaigns and they like to wear the coast guard ring to reflect this.

Coast Guard Ring and the Motto;

Like all other departments of the Armed Forces that have mottos the Coast Guard is no different. Their motto is “Semper Paratus” which is the Latin for “Always Prepared” and we are sure glad that we have them to protect us from evil. The Coast Guards roots stem back to August the fourth 1790 when Alexander Hamilton established it under the Dept of the Treasury and was actually the only Navy Force that the United States had until the re-establishing on the US. Navy in 1798.

One of their functions in that time was to address the situation with regard to piracy which was wreaking havoc on the high seas and to assist and other vessel that might be in any difficulty.

They are often referred to as the 1^st Fleet but this is only an informal way of referring to them as they were in essence the only protection during the years from 1790 to 1798 for our coastline and other sea going vessels.

Modern Coast Guard Ring

In 1915 or around that time the merging of United States Life Saving Service and that of the Revenue Cutter Service formed the United States Coast Guard.

The Coast Guard are not just a docile department, they have taking part in conflicts and campaigns like the War of 1812, the American Civil War and World War Two where they operated under the US Navy.

Coast Guard Ring Ethos;

• I am America’s maritime guardian.
• I serve the citizens of the United States.
• I will protect them.
• I will defend them.
• I will save them.
• I am their shield.
• For them I am Semper Paratus –“Always Prepared”
• I live the Coast Guard core Values
• I am a Guardian.
• We are the United States Coast Guard.

The Coast Guard Ensign 

Coast Guard Ensign is sixteen vertical stripes alternate white and red and the union of the ensign is the arms of the United States in dark blue on a white field. The sixteen stripes represent the number of states in the United States of America at the time which was 1799. For more information check back with us from time to time. Order a beautiful ring by clicking on our shop.

Coast Guard Ring Designs

From the time you entered the service of your country you have been filled with an element of pride from day one. Those hard days spent training for the years ahead, and lets be honest there were sometimes during that training when the drill instructor with his shouting and roaring probably made you question why the hell you were there.

Quite a lot of us in the military are there because its tradition, our fathers, brothers and relatives were in the service and probably fought in some campaign that we now read about in the history books. We probably look in some shadowbox and find the military service rings that were once worn by these brave soldiers.

Army Rings

A very popular range in military service rings is the Army Ring as this particular ring can be customized for almost all departments of the Army. The present campaigns that the military is involved in can be represented by the images and emblems that are available from the selected range. Going back to earlier conflicts like the 1^st World War and indeed the 2^nd World War there are side emblems and text available for the customization of these military service rings.

Air Force Rings

This very capable department of the armed forces is a group of highly trained men and women that fly some of the fastest and expensive planes in the world today. They have been instrumental in the defeat of tyrants both in this century and indeed the last. They fly planes from bases here in the United States and airbases in host countries around the world. I have been lucky enough to have sailed with the US Navy and observed with awe this skilled pilots land on carriers out in the ocean and also delighted of offer a fine selection of military service rings for this department.

Navy Service Rings

Patrolling the oceans and seas of the world and staying away from family and friends for periods of over six months or more we have a wonderful selection in the military service rings range for all Navy personnel to choose from

Marine Corps Service Rings

A tough and well trained group of men that make up the backbone of any military and are in the midst of battle wherever there is one. Trained in places like Camp Lejune, North Carolina and Camp Pendleton, California these men are capable of surviving for weeks on end relying on the most basic needs of humans and will still get the job done. The range of images and emblems from the military service rings range will allow you to create the perfect Marine Ring.

Coast Guard Service Rings

They patrol our seas and keep those bad guys away from our shores both day and night. Choose your military service rings from our selection.

Design Your Ring Here

Military Class Rings make a great gift.

Military class rings are available for all members of the armed force and for affiliate members. All special occasions can be marked and commemorated by the customization of these rings from the text on the sides to the images that represent the various departments of the service. We shall give you some information of what’s available and how you can proceed to create and design your military class ring.

 Military Class Rings for the Navy

USS Stennis 2007

Graduating from Great Lakes, Norfolk or California on any give weekend you can observe the pride in any every person’s demeanour from the proud parents who know that they have given their son or daughter the best chance in life. The Naval Training Officers who put these young people through their paces with assertive control and courteous authority and hope the will uphold the honor and integrity of the Navy. Military class rings can be customized with emblems such as the Dept. of Navy Seal, Seabees and Chief Petty Officer and hundreds of other designs that you can view on the military ring site.

Military Class Rings for the Army

Camp Buehring - Kuwait

The Army is one of the largest departments in the armed forces and whether you have trained in Ft. Knox, Ft. Lee you will also be able design a military class ring to represent your chosen unit or brigade in the Army.

 Deployment rings are very popular especially those with images of “Operation Iraqi Freedom” or “Operation Enduring Freedom” as these campaigns will play a huge part in the history of America and indeed th world. It is quite possible that during your deployments you have spent time in Kuwait and visited the post here in the picture. I myself spent many a day on this post in the searing heat of the summer and during those harsh windy winter evenings.

Military Class Rings for the Marines

North Carolina - Marine Country

Camp Lejune or Camp Pendleton if you’re a Marine then you have probably spent most of your earlier days on one of these two posts. Most of you will have met some of your life long friends when doing your training under a drill sergeant that you thought was the devil but now realize he was most of the time your best friend. The training that was hard to endure at the time has probably help save your life and that of your colleagues. We have beautiful custom marine rings for you to choose from and with the selection of side images you will find something appropriate.

Military Class Rings for the Air Force

Langley AF Base - Virginia

Flying high above the clouds in some place around the world you would expect to find a pilot flying an Air Force F-16 or some other make of military jet. What have they in common? Well they have been trained on one of the finest Air Bases located throughout the United States. These are the most disciplined pilots in the world and are constantly monitored for their alertness and fitness. They travel at the speed of sound and one tiny mistake can have disastrous results. The extensive selection of designs will enable you to create the perfect military class ring for these fine and brave young men and women.

When we think of military rings, we think security and that’s why most members of the armed forces and their extended families when they consider buying a custom military ring they will in the majority of cases place an order for a Balfour Military Ring.

This company has been around for many decades and has manufactured rings for countless members of the armed forces whether at home or serving abroad in places like Iraq, Kuwait and Afghanistan. These are some of the current countries where our armed forces are stationed but prior to this they were in place like Vietnam, Korea and the Philippines. They have travelled to many parts of the globe to assist in the conflicts that has shaped world history over the last centuries and in my humble opinion will continue to do so for the foreseeable future.

I have had the good fortune over the last three decades of travelling alongside these very brave warriors and have gotten to know some of them very well. I had the privilege of doing some promotional work in Kuwait and Iraq introducing the first deployment ring in Ballad. It was unbelievable to experience the huge interest in this particular ring, and when I queried some of the soldiers as to why they wanted this ring they told me that they were actually purchasing a great family heirloom and possibly a part of history.

Balfour Military Ring Designs

The excellent selection and range of images available from the Balfour Military Ring catalogue will allow any person considering buying a ring to do so with the full confidence that they will ultimately custom design the perfect ring. It doesn’t matter from which department of the armed forces you’re from or what campaign you were involved in, you will find an image to reflect you service record.

Besides the images and emblems that are available to you to assist in the design of your ring, you will also be able to enter text which will allow you to personalize the military ring further.

On the top of the “Balfour Ring” you can choose the colour of the stone and even the cut that you would like from a facet cut to a smooth finish that will allow you to insert an image in the stone. Following on from this you can choose a single or double rail wording around the stone to indicate what department you served with like for instance the Army, Navy, Air Force or Marine Corps and above the images on the sides you have the opportunity to enter your name or that of a loved one along with important dates of a deployment or years of service.

Balfour Military Ring Sizing

A very important aspect of any ring customization is to get the ring size right and to make sure it’s a comfortable fit. There are many ways of sizing your ring and in the online shop if you proceed to the sidebar there is link that can be activated to assist you in making the correct choice. One of the safest ways of getting the correct size is to go to any jeweller and inform him of your decision to purchase a military ring. A little word of caution, make sure you tell him that is going to be a wide band ring as the size of these rings are about a half size above the normal wedding band.

USS Enterprise 2007

This beautiful ring looks best when its custom made for the specific person. With the wide range of personalization emblems to choose from you will have no problem designing and creating a ring to reflect the career history of the person you are buying this ring for. A little word of caution however, when you are selecting the ring size make sure that you leave a little comfort room as these rings are wide band and may be a half size bigger than a wedding band would be appropriate.

Whether you are at sea or land we have emblems and crests that will help you create a navy ring that will display the integrity, pride and spirit of your service and achievements. From the Department of the Navy Seal, Eagle, Flag and Book, Field Marine Force, Seabees, Chief Petty Officer, Special Operations, Us Navy Seal and a host of others that can be combined on both sides to help you design the perfect Navy ring.

Navy Rings and side Emblems

Navy Rings and choice of Stones

These Navy rings are completely personalized from the sides where you can put your emblems, dates of deployments and names. Around the top of the ring you can have wording engraved that will show whether you are active or retired, whether you served on the carriers or other Naval vessels. For example if you served on the USS Enterprise or the USS Stennis you can have these engraved around the top of the ring to indicate this.

The colored stones that you see on the top of most Navy rings are chosen by the wearer to indicate what month they were born, like the Emerald would indicate that they were born in May and Ruby would indicate that they were born in July.

Navy Rings and Naval Training

USS Enterprise-Anchored in Cannes, France 2007

There are a number of Navy training bases throughout the United States but the ones that come to mind immediately are Norfolk Naval Station where you have the Atlantic Fleet and the Armed Forces Staff College and the worlds largest Naval Station also comprises of Naval Computer and Telecommunications Area Master Station Atlantic and Fleet Supply Center.

In the lovely state of Illinois you will find the Naval Base referred to as Great Lakes Training Center, this is Headquarters of the US Military Entrance Processing Command and Recruit Training Command.

Navy Rings and Major Naval Bases.

In Illinois you have Great Lakes NTC, in Virginia you have Norfolk Naval Base, and in California you have China Lake Naval Air Weapons Station and Point Loma Naval Base and San Diego Naval Station. Florida is home to the Jacksonville Naval Air Station and Pensacola Naval Air Station. Travel to Washington on the West coast and you will be able to visit Bremerton Naval Station, Everett Naval Station and the Underwater Warfare Center at Keyport Naval. All of these bases and training commands can be engraved on the sides of your new Navy Ring. Take a flight out to Puerto Rico and you can visit the Roosevelt Roads Naval Station named I presume after our President Roosevelt.

For that special occasion in a service members life when they dress up for a ceremony or an evening out with family members or special friends, quite a few like to wear the dress uniform and as a special accessory to go with it, most wear a nice gold military ring. This ring can be made of white or yellow gold with the personal details of the service member engraved on the sides along with unit or division badges. The birthstone of the soldier or marine can be inserted on the top of the gold military rings and around the stone the service department can be cast.

Gold Military Rings in Yellow Gold

Throughout Europe especially when soldiers order their new military ring the majority place orders for yellow gold rings as it appears that this type of metal is most popular there. The designs on the rings are individually cast and the finish of the military ring can be in an antique or plain finish. The stones that are inserted on top of the ring, to reflect the birthstone are not precious stones but rather simulated ones. The male soldiers have quite a range to choose from in terms of side emblems for their military rings and can be complimented by the wearing of a military watch or bracelet. Yellow Gold as a metal is found in mines in various parts of the world and is brought to the surface by sheer hard work and determination. The early arrivals to the United States made a good living out of searching for gold and which is historically referred to as the great gold rush.

Gold Military Rings in White Gold

In the United States of America and in the neighbouring region it is common for the soldiers and retired personnel to don the white gold ring. I have asked many times when talking to service members why this is so, they tell me that it’s just a personal preference. The white gold tends to go well with the darker skin but it’s only a matter of choice really. Both men and women wear military rings, the ladies ring is slightly smaller in appearance and because of this there is a limit to the amount of personalization that can be engraved on the sides of the ring. Many of the female soldiers also wear a military pendant or arm band to compliment the choice of military ring.

Gold Military Rings in Rose Gold

Rose gold has a slight reddish tint to it and most of the old jewelry was manufactured in this metal. Should you have the opportunity to visit antique fairs or shops you will see that about twenty five percent of the jewelry on display is made of Rose gold.

It is not a requirement by any army to wear the gold military ring but it is a great way to display the pride we have in our units and divisions. One of the most popular military rings today is the one where you can have the emblem of the Operation Iraqi Freedom and the Operation Enduring Freedom cast on the side of the ring and above it you mane and date of deployment.

Here are some of the MOS’s of the United States Special Forces and we trust gives you some idea of what these MOS’s means and the work they entail especially during military deployments.

Military Deployment and the Communications Sergeant!

This MOS requires that the sergeants have a thorough knowledge and grounding in all aspects of communications, such as the following like communication procedures, the technology of computers and the assembly and dis-assembly of systems applications.

They must understand the use of and the maitainence of AM, HF, VHF, FM and UHF radio systems and the Joint Base Station.

Communications is so important that they must be proficient in voice to data, continuous wave and burst radio nets by being able to work networks and the various computer systems.

Critical messages that link the SFODA with its command is very important for the Sergeant to be able to perform, and must be able to give orders in any occasion and under any circumstance to any group of combat forces.

We have created a military deployment ring for this role.

Military Deployment and the Engineer Sergeant!

This MOS is mainly about planning, design and construction of buildings, demolition, special purpose munitions, mine warfare, counter booby traps, and unexploded ordinances clearance operations and improvised munitions and explosives.

The “Engineer Sergeant” must be an expert and also be proficient in this field as it carries a huge amount of responsibility.

Combat engineering, demolition engineering, and construction in deployment zones such as Iraq and Afghanistan sometimes requires that the Sergeant must be able to communicate in English and the local language by himself or through the aid of a translator.

They can organize, train and recruit any size of command in any area of the world if the situation requires them to do so.You can create a beautiful military ring to reflect all of this especially if their was a deployment involved.

Military Deployment and the Medical Sergeant!

The MOS of Medical Sergeant like any body in the medical field plays a huge and important role anytime, anywhere both in peace time and times of deployment and engagement.

They specialize in trauma management, surgical procedures, cardiac procedures, and a basic understanding of dental and veterinary procedures.

They establish field hospitals in areas of engagement to support operations in wartime and at the time of this writing they are in Kuwait, Iraq, Afghanistan and other well know areas.

I myself have attended their facilities in Kuwait and Iraq.

Recruits selected for medical positions attend two hundred and thirty days of advanced medical training, they also spend two months of the year on a trauma rotation in emergency rooms of select hospitals.

One of the nicest military rings available to custom design and also a military deployment special.

Give them they respect they deserve as one day you might be the one on your back looking into the eyes of this person totally depending on their skill to keep you alive.

When we think of the infantry, one of the first things that come to mind is the ” Big Red One” a lovely big red letter on a green background and it sure indicates that you are looking at the symbol or emblem of the 1st Infantry Brigade a historic and brave division and one of the oldest in the United States Army formed way back in 1917.

This is one military ring of all the infantry rings that service members are proud to wear or receive as a gift.

The 1st Infantry Division.

The 1st Infantry Division is headquartered in Fort Reilly, Kansas along with the 24th Infantry Div. and this state is bordered to the East by Missouri, West by Colorado, North by Nebraska and south by Oklahoma a very beautiful state with wonderful coloredwheat fields and majestic windmills.

Besides the 1st Infantry Div we must never forget all the other divisions that can also have their infantry rings custom made to commemorate their contridutions to deployments and involvement in actions around the world.

The 4th Infantry Division.

They are the 4th Infantry Division, the 5th Infantry Division, the 6th Infantry Division, the 7th Infantry Division, 24th Infantry Division, the 25th Infantry Division, 29th Infantry Division, 84th InfantryDivision, 2nd Infantry Division Regiment and the 10th Mountain Division

Put any of these very beautiful and historic emblems on the side of a ring with possibly an Operation Iraqi Freedom or an Operation Enduring Freedom emblem on the other side, with dates of your deployment or service years, your family name, and you will have just created a miltary ring that one day will be one of the most treasured infantry rings and a true family heirloom.

Remember your that every day you served defending our freedom you played a part in the history of the world.