MILITARY LIFE and contact thread (NO TROLLS! None at all)

[bigredtruckmi]

As has been said before in the tread way earlier " Better to be very cautious as to personal info and troop locations. " As info from here does get to google search somehow. I even found my name listed several times thru business computer connection to internet about an article for internal use. So beware!

[Greywolf]

Info here is accessable to THE WORLD WIDE WEB.

(DUH)


ANY goat herder with a web connect can view it...

Does THAT make the point effectively?


"Goodness gracious, great morning in the day Newton Crosby - here is a target I think..... YES...."

Don't set yourself up.

[wedefyu]

“We herd sheep, we drive cattle, we lead people. Lead me, follow me, or get out of my way.”
“Wars may be fought with weapons, but they are won by men. It is the spirit of the men who follow and of the man who leads that gains the victory.”
“I do not fear failure. I only fear the "slowing up" of the engine inside of me which is pounding, saying, "Keep going, someone must be on top, why not you?"”

“God of our fathers, who by land and sea have ever lead us to victory, please continue your inspiring guidance in this the greatest of all conflicts. Strengthen my soul so that the weakening instinct of self-preservation, which besets all of us in battle, shall not blind me to my duty to my own manhood, to the glory of my calling, and to my responsibility to my fellow soldiers. Grant to our armed forces that disciplined valor and mutual confidence which insures success in war. Let me not mourn for the men who have died fighting, but rather let me be glad that such heroes have lived. If it be my lot to die, let me do so with courage and honor in a manner which will bring the greatest harm to the enemy, and please, oh Lord, protect and guide those I shall leave behind. Give us the victory, Lord.”

[Greywolf]

George Patton is an inspiration to anyone in all branches of the service. His autobiography "War as I Knew It" is a must read that belongs on all modern warriors shelves - if only for the spirit of his thought.

There were quite a few times while reading his book that it seemed to me: "If I ever need more GUTS - I can borrow some of HIS..."

One of my own favorite quotes:

"Send this message to headquarters- 'Have ALREADY taken Messina. What do you want me to do - GIVE IT BACK?'"

[medhvac]

just another day in the desert!



I had one of these in my sleeping bag!

[medhvac]

Originally Posted by USAF CCM

Greywolf,

Honestly I don't know how I missed this thread. Looks like it started just as I went in for a new ball joint (titanium hip). I'd love to meet you and give you a salute and shake your hand!

This is absolutely great stuff. I couldn't agree with you more about the sensitivity and careful handling of these requests for help.

On a security note: I read here where someone was looking for their DD214 to post as to show proof of who they are. NEVER post this document.....it is a favorite target for those that like to steal other people's identity.

Additionally, remember what we were briefed on when we got our MIL ID cards? I recommend removing the LCPL's from the thread, it could be copied.

Just a little word of caution from a old stickler SNCO. Count me in! V/r Les

that was me that said that!And you know i still havent found it,but i really havent looked for it,but i have it somewhere!

[JimG1098]

Hey crew. Count me in for anything I can do. I'm on the eastern shore, Maryland.

USAF 65' 69'
71st FIS
318th FIS
328th C&E

JimG

[mongo75]

Hell this morning my SgtMaj told me once I'm done with my 1 year TAD as the Company Gunny for the Air Station, when I go back to my parent command they got my slated to fill a Transition Team billet. I "think" that entails training up the Iraqi soldiers and cops??? Hell I'm an aircraft mech, but you know the saying- every Marine a rifleman!!

[stu37d]

Originally Posted by [COLOR=red

medhvac

Originally Posted by [COLOR=red

;6128550]just a little update this pic was taken in New YORK! he is now in kuwait having a ball!lol

[/color]

Sorry I've been away from this thread for so long. For those who want to know, Kuwait is the first stop in theater (unless you're lucky, like me, and get to make a stop in Djibouti, en route from Crete- what a looong day that was!) Kuwait is where your combat pay and entitlements start. You have only to be in theater for one minute of one day in a month and the month is tax free. The planes tend to arrive late at night and the first thing the soldiers and sailors get is the welcome aboard brief. This is what I did over there. They are given a quick rundown of the base (FOBs are in Iraq and Afghan) and told to try to 'acclimate.' Walk around, get used to the heat, drink lots of water, sleep a little. Within a few days they are scheduled to go through convoy training out in the range, where some very professional MPRI instructors live and work. This training is top notch. (Well, as close to the real thing as you can get) There are simulated IEDs, overpasses, traffic circles, etc. The soldiers also get a chance to fire their weapons in a more realistic setting. It is actually quite cool. Once the convoy training wraps up, they are then taken back to the base and are usually scheduled to leave for Iraq the same day- or a day later.

I don't know much about Iraq, but I know that Kuwait is like standing inside an oven. I would think Iraq is almost as hot. Wearing an extra 60 pounds of gear doesn't help much, either. But, hey, nobody ever said being a hero was easy! (I hope some of these guys send a picture or two of them getting a coffee at Green Beans...)

This is a good thread. I hope some real good things come out of it.

[Greywolf]

It makes me wonder - how to survive like a local that has not been re-adjusted to air conditioning.

Without eighty pounds of gear, what is essential? Keep a rifle, keep a knife, and keep what else?

This puzzles me endlessly...

How can a U.S. soldier blend in and survive indefinately in that environment.


SEALS did it in the Rung Sat Special Zone.
Very effectively I might add

(Not first hand knowlege, I studied it)


POSIT:

How can our troops-
1) BECOME the enemy
2) Travel as they do
3) Forage as they do.
4) Be as invisible as they are.
5) Strike as they do.
6) Survive as they do.
7) Gain intelligence as they do.
8) ESCAPE as they do.
9) Interact with the natives as they do.
10) Detect the presence of the enemy as they do...

Curious.

It is a different field and environment, and requires an essentially different kind of a troop.

From what I understand the major counter active against the main troop force in Vietnam was the load of equipment necessary to carry for their own support. It wore them down. They had to go into the field with all of that stuff they could carry. What if they did not have to?

Each man - eighty pound pack. Go figure. Put eighty pounds in a backpack and go for a run around town like you expect to go jogging, what happens?

TRY swimming...
On second thought - DON'T.


You see my point?

What do the natives know that can be useful?

This is not Vietnam's jungles, it is the desert.

What is possible?

[mongo75]

IIRC, Kuwait was hotter than Iraq, especially around Bagdad where the river keep it cooler by a few degrees. I remember when I left Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait, it was 117* in the shade on May 20, 2003.

[stu37d]

I remember when I left Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait, it was 117* in the shade on May 20, 2003.

And I remember seeing 140+ in the sun.

Somebody reminded me, though, that the flight deck on a carrier in the IO could get that high, too. Living on a ship has its own unique challenges, but at least there are no IEDs.

Dutch, I love reading those stories about the early days of the SEALs. Marcinkos books are mostly embellished works of fiction, but infused with a tons of details. Some of his fellow SEALs have also written really good books, too. "Good to Go," by David Constance was humorous as well as informative, and "Point Man," by Master Chief James Watson was an interesting biography.

[Greywolf]

I have a copy of "Point Man".

[05lariatPSD]

Phoenix, AZ here to help!!!!

My gratitude to all of our service men and women!!

[Greywolf]

ONLY in the COMISSARY do you find a "TRAFFIC COP" at the end of the line of all those shopping carts

I was there today at NSA Midsouth - reminded me of Miramar....

(Yeah, the line wrapped all the way around to the back of the place)

Next time I'll bring something to read.