Today was spent catching up on sleep and fighting off the urge to get lazy. Idle hands with loaded weapons in them are worse than the devil's playground, you know what I mean???
Flying ahead in time all those timezones makes my head spin and makes the days all blur together. It is 1.25km to the chow-hall and anything to do besides take a shower and get into trouble. I am working on killing a Sudoku book in the time I have to hone the logic bone in my brain housing group. Both my weapons are spotless and that is saying something with all this really, really fine sand/dust out here.
All the things I don't know make it very hard to plan on prepare myself for normalcy. I just have to believe that things will be great and that we will have everything we need.
Hang in there and we will all be back soon, right?
Semper Fi!!!
m
Monday, September 15, 2008
Sunday, September 14, 2008
I am almost there....
Well, Kuwait is HOT!!!
The trip thus far has gone off without a hitch. Flights were on time, people were where they were supposed to be and doing what they were supposed to be doing. Nothing and no one has been broken so far and we are thankful for that.
Tomorrow sometime, we will get the final word as to who is flying in where and how the ground transport will go after that.
As for right now, I am only going to say that me and a fellow NCO will be working out of a police station teaching Iraqi's what we know about our how to do military operations in a law enforcement capacity. Details will remain ommitted until things are operationally secure and no one is at risk.
Keep tabs on this site though, as I plan on posting pictures of my adventures on here and corresponding with the outside world using this site. We don't have a solid, reliable address as of yet, as it will depend on the unit we are attached to here in the city.
We are doing well right now, our morale is good and our mission is still before us.
More will follow!
Semper Fi
m
The trip thus far has gone off without a hitch. Flights were on time, people were where they were supposed to be and doing what they were supposed to be doing. Nothing and no one has been broken so far and we are thankful for that.
Tomorrow sometime, we will get the final word as to who is flying in where and how the ground transport will go after that.
As for right now, I am only going to say that me and a fellow NCO will be working out of a police station teaching Iraqi's what we know about our how to do military operations in a law enforcement capacity. Details will remain ommitted until things are operationally secure and no one is at risk.
Keep tabs on this site though, as I plan on posting pictures of my adventures on here and corresponding with the outside world using this site. We don't have a solid, reliable address as of yet, as it will depend on the unit we are attached to here in the city.
We are doing well right now, our morale is good and our mission is still before us.
More will follow!
Semper Fi
m
Monday, July 28, 2008
36 Classical Stratagems of Ancient China
The 36 Classical Stratagems of Ancient China
Strategy 1 - Deceive the sky to cross the ocean.
Strategy 2 - Surround Wei to rescue Zhao.
Strategy 3 - Borrow another's hand to kill. (Kill with a borrowed knife.)
Strategy 4 - Make your enemy work while you wait at leisure.
Strategy 5 - Use the opportunity of fire to rob others. (Loot a burning house).
Strategy 6 - Display in the east and attack in the west.
Strategy 7 - Create something from nothing.
Strategy 8 - Secretly utilize the Chen Chang passage. (Pretend to take one path while sneaking down the other.).
Strategy 9 - Watch the fires burning across the river.
Strategy 10 - Knife hidden under the smiling face.
Strategy 11 - Plum tree sacrifices for the peach tree.
Strategy 12 - Walk the sheep home, just because it is there. (Take the opportunity to pilfer a goat.)
Strategy 13 - Disturb the snake by hitting the grass.
Strategy 14 - Borrow another's body to return the soul. (Raise a corpse from the dead).
Strategy 15 - Entice the tiger to leave the mountain.
Strategy 16 - In order to capture, one must let loose.
Strategy 17 - Bait a piece of jade with a brick.
Strategy 18 - Defeat the enemy by capturing their chief.
Strategy 19 - Remove the firewood under the cooking pot.
Strategy 20 - Fish in troubled waters.
Strategy 21 - Slough off the cicada's shell. (False appearances mislead the enemy).
Strategy 22 - Shut the door to catch the thief.
Strategy 23 - Befriend a distant state while attacking a neighbor.
Strategy 24 - Obtain safe passage to conquer the Kingdom of Guo.
Strategy 25 - Replace the beams and pillars with rotten timber.
Strategy 26 - Point at the mulberry and curse the locust.
Strategy 27 - Pretend to be a pig in order to eat the tiger. (Play dumb.)
Strategy 28 - Cross the river and destroy the bridge.
Strategy 29 - Deck the tree with bogus blossoms.
Strategy 30 - Make the host and the quest exchange places.
Strategy 31 - The beauty trap. (The tender trap, use a woman to ensare a man.)
Strategy 32 - Empty city.
Strategy 33 - Let the enemy's own spy sow discord in the enemy camp. (Use double agents.)
Strategy 34 - Inflict injury on one's self to win the enemy's trust.
Strategy 35 - Chain together the enemy's ships.
Strategy 36 - Run away to fight another day. (Escape is the best policy.)
Strategy 1 - Deceive the sky to cross the ocean.
Strategy 2 - Surround Wei to rescue Zhao.
Strategy 3 - Borrow another's hand to kill. (Kill with a borrowed knife.)
Strategy 4 - Make your enemy work while you wait at leisure.
Strategy 5 - Use the opportunity of fire to rob others. (Loot a burning house).
Strategy 6 - Display in the east and attack in the west.
Strategy 7 - Create something from nothing.
Strategy 8 - Secretly utilize the Chen Chang passage. (Pretend to take one path while sneaking down the other.).
Strategy 9 - Watch the fires burning across the river.
Strategy 10 - Knife hidden under the smiling face.
Strategy 11 - Plum tree sacrifices for the peach tree.
Strategy 12 - Walk the sheep home, just because it is there. (Take the opportunity to pilfer a goat.)
Strategy 13 - Disturb the snake by hitting the grass.
Strategy 14 - Borrow another's body to return the soul. (Raise a corpse from the dead).
Strategy 15 - Entice the tiger to leave the mountain.
Strategy 16 - In order to capture, one must let loose.
Strategy 17 - Bait a piece of jade with a brick.
Strategy 18 - Defeat the enemy by capturing their chief.
Strategy 19 - Remove the firewood under the cooking pot.
Strategy 20 - Fish in troubled waters.
Strategy 21 - Slough off the cicada's shell. (False appearances mislead the enemy).
Strategy 22 - Shut the door to catch the thief.
Strategy 23 - Befriend a distant state while attacking a neighbor.
Strategy 24 - Obtain safe passage to conquer the Kingdom of Guo.
Strategy 25 - Replace the beams and pillars with rotten timber.
Strategy 26 - Point at the mulberry and curse the locust.
Strategy 27 - Pretend to be a pig in order to eat the tiger. (Play dumb.)
Strategy 28 - Cross the river and destroy the bridge.
Strategy 29 - Deck the tree with bogus blossoms.
Strategy 30 - Make the host and the quest exchange places.
Strategy 31 - The beauty trap. (The tender trap, use a woman to ensare a man.)
Strategy 32 - Empty city.
Strategy 33 - Let the enemy's own spy sow discord in the enemy camp. (Use double agents.)
Strategy 34 - Inflict injury on one's self to win the enemy's trust.
Strategy 35 - Chain together the enemy's ships.
Strategy 36 - Run away to fight another day. (Escape is the best policy.)
Sunday, July 27, 2008
FEUDALISM!!!!
I saw this somewhere and had to jot it down!....
FEUDALISM: You have two cows. Your lord takes some of the milk.
PURE SOCIALISM: You have two cows. The government takes them and puts them in a barn with everyone else's cows. You have to take care of all of the cows. The government gives you as much milk as you need.
BUREAUCRATIC SOCIALISM: You have two cows. The government takes them and put them in a barn with everyone else's cows. They are cared for by ex-chicken farmers. You have to take care of the chickens the government took from the chicken farmers. The government gives you as much milk and eggs as the regulations say you need.
FASCISM: You have two cows. The government takes both, hires you to take care of them and sells you the milk.
PURE COMMUNISM: You have two cows. Your neighbors help you take care of them, and you all share the milk.
RUSSIAN COMMUNISM: You have two cows. You have to take care of them, but the government takes all the milk.
CAMBODIAN COMMUNISM: You have two cows. The government takes both of them and shoots you.
DICTATORSHIP: You have two cows. The government takes both and drafts you.
PURE DEMOCRACY: You have two cows. Your neighbors decide who gets the milk.
REPRESENTATIVE DEMOCRACY: You have two cows. Your neighbors pick someone to tell you who gets the milk.
BUREAUCRACY: You have two cows. At first the government regulates what you can feed them and when you can milk them. Then it pays you not to milk them. Then it takes both, shoots one, milks the other and pours the milk down the drain. Then it requires you to fill out forms accounting for the missing cows.
PURE ANARCHY: You have two cows? Either you sell the milk at a fair price or your neighbors try to take the cows and kill you.
LIBERTARIAN/ANARCHO-CAPITALISM: You have two cows. You sell one and buy a bull.
SURREALISM: You have two giraffes. The government requires you to take harmonica lessons.
Semper Fi,
m
FEUDALISM: You have two cows. Your lord takes some of the milk.
PURE SOCIALISM: You have two cows. The government takes them and puts them in a barn with everyone else's cows. You have to take care of all of the cows. The government gives you as much milk as you need.
BUREAUCRATIC SOCIALISM: You have two cows. The government takes them and put them in a barn with everyone else's cows. They are cared for by ex-chicken farmers. You have to take care of the chickens the government took from the chicken farmers. The government gives you as much milk and eggs as the regulations say you need.
FASCISM: You have two cows. The government takes both, hires you to take care of them and sells you the milk.
PURE COMMUNISM: You have two cows. Your neighbors help you take care of them, and you all share the milk.
RUSSIAN COMMUNISM: You have two cows. You have to take care of them, but the government takes all the milk.
CAMBODIAN COMMUNISM: You have two cows. The government takes both of them and shoots you.
DICTATORSHIP: You have two cows. The government takes both and drafts you.
PURE DEMOCRACY: You have two cows. Your neighbors decide who gets the milk.
REPRESENTATIVE DEMOCRACY: You have two cows. Your neighbors pick someone to tell you who gets the milk.
BUREAUCRACY: You have two cows. At first the government regulates what you can feed them and when you can milk them. Then it pays you not to milk them. Then it takes both, shoots one, milks the other and pours the milk down the drain. Then it requires you to fill out forms accounting for the missing cows.
PURE ANARCHY: You have two cows? Either you sell the milk at a fair price or your neighbors try to take the cows and kill you.
LIBERTARIAN/ANARCHO-CAPITALISM: You have two cows. You sell one and buy a bull.
SURREALISM: You have two giraffes. The government requires you to take harmonica lessons.
Semper Fi,
m
What do you do?
There is a story out there about a man who dated a mob bosses daughter.
As they were playing pool one day, the boss casually looked at the man and said, "if you break my daughter's heart, I'll kill ya." Of course the man took this very seriously and never intended to hurt the young lady he was courting.
As the relationship matured, the man found the young lady to be very high maintenance. He could not afford to continue to date her, much less marry her, so he decided to break it off. Now he was in a situation of having to possibly hurt the bosses daughter. What could he do to end a costly relationship and keep the boss from killing him?
He went to the boss and asked for help. He went to him and said, "Your daughter is too good for me. I am not able to provide her with the lifestyle she deserves and I need to let her go so she can be happy with someone who can provide better for her. What should I do?"
When the boss heard this, he understood and told him not to worry and that he would take care of everything.
Bad news does not get better with time. In fact, in most cases, it gets worse. When you get into a tough spot, take your issues to the boss and take them to Him first.
Semper Fi,
m
As they were playing pool one day, the boss casually looked at the man and said, "if you break my daughter's heart, I'll kill ya." Of course the man took this very seriously and never intended to hurt the young lady he was courting.
As the relationship matured, the man found the young lady to be very high maintenance. He could not afford to continue to date her, much less marry her, so he decided to break it off. Now he was in a situation of having to possibly hurt the bosses daughter. What could he do to end a costly relationship and keep the boss from killing him?
He went to the boss and asked for help. He went to him and said, "Your daughter is too good for me. I am not able to provide her with the lifestyle she deserves and I need to let her go so she can be happy with someone who can provide better for her. What should I do?"
When the boss heard this, he understood and told him not to worry and that he would take care of everything.
Bad news does not get better with time. In fact, in most cases, it gets worse. When you get into a tough spot, take your issues to the boss and take them to Him first.
Semper Fi,
m
Graduated!
That is it. I have finally graduated from the National Defense Intelligence College with my Masters Degree! WOOHOO!
Now the real learning begins. The more I learned the less I knew.
Now that that part of my life is behind me, you should see more of my postings and rantings on here.
Semper Fi!
m
Now the real learning begins. The more I learned the less I knew.
Now that that part of my life is behind me, you should see more of my postings and rantings on here.
Semper Fi!
m
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
WEBER, LESTER W.
WEBER, LESTER W.
Rank and organization: Lance Corporal, U.S. Marine Corps, Company M, 3d Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division.
Place and date: Quang Nam Province, Republic of Vietnam, 23 February 1969.
Entered service at: Chicago, Ill.
Born: 30 July 1948, Aurora, Ill.
Medal of Honor Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as a machinegun squad leader with Company M, in action against the enemy. The 2d Platoon of Company M was dispatched to the Bo Ban area of Hieu Duc District to assist a squad from another platoon which had become heavily engaged with a well entrenched enemy battalion. While moving through a rice paddy covered with tall grass L/Cpl. Weber's platoon came under heavy attack from concealed hostile soldiers. He reacted by plunging into the tall grass, successfully attacking 1 enemy and forcing 11 others to break contact. Upon encountering a second North Vietnamese Army soldier he overwhelmed him in fierce hand-to-hand combat. Observing 2 other soldiers firing upon his comrades from behind a dike, L/Cpl. Weber ignored the frenzied firing of the enemy and racing across the hazardous area, dived into their position. He neutralized the position by wrestling weapons from the hands of the 2 soldiers and overcoming them. Although by now the target for concentrated fire from hostile riflemen, L/Cpl. Weber remained in a dangerously exposed position to shout words of encouragement to his emboldened companions. As he moved forward to attack a fifth enemy soldier, he was mortally wounded. L/Cpl. Weber's indomitable courage, aggressive fighting spirit and unwavering devotion to duty upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the U.S. Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.
Never Forget.
Rank and organization: Lance Corporal, U.S. Marine Corps, Company M, 3d Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division.
Place and date: Quang Nam Province, Republic of Vietnam, 23 February 1969.
Entered service at: Chicago, Ill.
Born: 30 July 1948, Aurora, Ill.
Medal of Honor Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as a machinegun squad leader with Company M, in action against the enemy. The 2d Platoon of Company M was dispatched to the Bo Ban area of Hieu Duc District to assist a squad from another platoon which had become heavily engaged with a well entrenched enemy battalion. While moving through a rice paddy covered with tall grass L/Cpl. Weber's platoon came under heavy attack from concealed hostile soldiers. He reacted by plunging into the tall grass, successfully attacking 1 enemy and forcing 11 others to break contact. Upon encountering a second North Vietnamese Army soldier he overwhelmed him in fierce hand-to-hand combat. Observing 2 other soldiers firing upon his comrades from behind a dike, L/Cpl. Weber ignored the frenzied firing of the enemy and racing across the hazardous area, dived into their position. He neutralized the position by wrestling weapons from the hands of the 2 soldiers and overcoming them. Although by now the target for concentrated fire from hostile riflemen, L/Cpl. Weber remained in a dangerously exposed position to shout words of encouragement to his emboldened companions. As he moved forward to attack a fifth enemy soldier, he was mortally wounded. L/Cpl. Weber's indomitable courage, aggressive fighting spirit and unwavering devotion to duty upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the U.S. Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.
Never Forget.
Monday, May 19, 2008
Marcus Luttrell Talk
You have got to see this video.
http://www.eyeblast.tv/public/video.aspx?RsrcID=2507
Marcus Luttrell, a former Navy SEAL whose story of heroism in Afghanistan is told in his book "Lone Survivor," shared his world view at the National Rifle Association event in Louisville on May 16.
http://www.eyeblast.tv/public/video.aspx?RsrcID=2507
Marcus Luttrell, a former Navy SEAL whose story of heroism in Afghanistan is told in his book "Lone Survivor," shared his world view at the National Rifle Association event in Louisville on May 16.
Thursday, May 8, 2008
First Person Singular
This is a really neat article about one of the more unpleasant parts of leadership. All leaders wish those they lead would only do the good things and surprise them with how well they could perform, but that just isn't the reality of the situation.
Moral follows discipline. If the discipline is high, moral will be high. I am not referring to abuse, but discipline. Discipline of the self or discipline of the unit must be consistant and administered with love for moral to exist. All actions, both positive and negative, should be appropriately, evenly rewarded...
Washington Post Magazine
May 4, 2008
First Person Singular
Gen. Richard Cody, Vice Chief of Staff, Army, Washington
I LEARNED EARLY ON, when I was a platoon leader during my first tour, that leaders have to set the example. They have to exact discipline. I always woke up every day assuming that every soldier in my outfit wanted to do well. And it's the leader's job to ensure that they do well.
My first platoon, I'm not so sure I was a good platoon leader. At the time I did. But you learn at each posting. You get more mature. You get to see different things. I think the first time it hit me was when I was a company commander in 1982, as a captain, when I had to give my first Article 15, which is punishment under the Uniform Code of Military Justice. And I had a young soldier that kind of messed up a little bit. He had a family, two kids, and here I was a young 32-year-old captain, and I was judge and jury.
May 4, 2008
First Person Singular
Gen. Richard Cody, Vice Chief of Staff, Army, Washington
I LEARNED EARLY ON, when I was a platoon leader during my first tour, that leaders have to set the example. They have to exact discipline. I always woke up every day assuming that every soldier in my outfit wanted to do well. And it's the leader's job to ensure that they do well.
My first platoon, I'm not so sure I was a good platoon leader. At the time I did. But you learn at each posting. You get more mature. You get to see different things. I think the first time it hit me was when I was a company commander in 1982, as a captain, when I had to give my first Article 15, which is punishment under the Uniform Code of Military Justice. And I had a young soldier that kind of messed up a little bit. He had a family, two kids, and here I was a young 32-year-old captain, and I was judge and jury.
What type of punishment was I going to give this man? Whether I was going to take a stripe away from him, which meant he'd lose money, which meant his family would lose money. And I can remember sitting there as I listened to him explain to me why he made a mistake. And I asked myself, "I wonder if I failed as a leader or if the leaders below me did everything they should have done to ensure that this soldier didn't make the mistake -- and didn't think he could get away with something?" I let him off easy. He ended up being a good soldier. I let him off because I wasn't sure, in my mind, whether we set the right conditions for his success. It reminded me that we're all human beings.
I grew up in the '50s and '60s, and, you know, there was more punishment than there was counseling. And I think I may have been a better father, having been platoon leader and company commander. So, when my kids didn't do well, I always asked myself: "Okay, did I tell them exactly what I wanted?
Did they fully understand?" And then, when they made a mistake, I'd say, "Okay, did they really mean to do this, or was it just because they're 16 years old and immature? And how do I get them to understand why I don't want them to do it again versus just saying, 'Don't do it again.'" By the way, today, both of them are leaders in our Army. They're both captains. One's [deployed] as a company commander in combat for his fourth tour. They both fly Apache helicopters. I don't know if I was a role model, but I know that I was a leader.
Semper Fi,
m
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