12,000 or so Paratroopers kicking off All-American week with a 4 mile Division run. Well more of a 4 mile jog, stop, sprint with all the slinky-ing that goes on. Still a Hooah kickoff to All-American Week. For reference that formation is probably about a mile long.
That looks like a nightmare. What the picture doesn't show is the mile of stragglers being policed up in the back. All the way! Doug
This just happened yesterday in Mirramar: F-18 Pilot Goes Off Runway Basically, a pilot tried to land on a runway where another pilot was taking off. No one was hurt, but someone's gonna get burned from this. This hits kinda close to home for me, mostly because if I was stationed there I would be hating life as five company-grade officers screamed at me to pull the tapes. My guess is that either the pilot was a retard, (It's happened before - a few years ago in Twentynine Palms they had a pilot try landing on a closed runway and slammed into a shipping container at 200 miles per hour) or some clueless lance coolie in the tower cleared two planes for the same runway. Either way, someone's career is over. Whoopsie. So... many... glow straps...
Sunnova b ham...that makes me disappointed in our jet guys. Now if he were flying a helicopter, he could slow to a stop mid approach, fly backwards, stop, and circle around to the correct runway. Just another way Helo pilots are better. And that picture also doesn't show the 20 or so humvees picking up the stragglers and giving them the silver bullet as they pass out.
Surprisingly there weren't that many fallouts from what I could see. I'm roughly where the second set of stoplights is in that picture. Division review this morning had a fair share of people fall out, and that's just standing in a parade field. Could hear M-4's hitting the ground from the batt next to mine. It wouldn't be that big of deal but they have bayonets fixed to them. All-American week wraps up tomorrow afternoon with a Division pick-nick. And it's all in summer PT's so we can represent our Battalions/Squadrons with our unit PT shirts. Heres some more photos. They put the total number of paratroopers out there between 17,000-22,000. /Hooah
Who are the hotties? *GRIN* I have some traumatic memories of Pike Field... glad to see it being put to such good use. I don't even think I'd know how to stand in one of those rectangle things anymore. Sometimes I still go out and run that circle to remind myself how glad I am to be where I am. Doug
Now I have my gripes about the Marine Corps, but at least we don't look completely fucking retarded in formations like that. Canteens? Deuce gear? What the fuck?
Aaaaaand...Instrument check complete!! Upon completion of my flights in the next month, I will have a standard instrument rating. To go, I have 2 Solo flights tomorrow to and from Tallahassee, 5 low level flights at 500ft and 200ft, 5 NVG flights, 3 formation flights, 3 ship board ops flights with one landing on a ship, and one Search and Rescue flight to be combined with one of the ship flights. My winging will be either July 1st or the 15th depending on how many flights get cancelled and rescheduled during the next month. And as for my selections, I'm going to try to get Huey's, CH-53's, or Cobra's...and it doesn't matter which coast I'm on, I just want Huey's. We'll see what the USMC has to offer my ass.
Me landing on the ship. Only got one landing and one wave off in before I got an engine chip light (metal shavings in the engine oil, very rare occurrance and really pissed me off), and had to head home. Still, it was pretty cool. Oh, and I have only 13 flights and one sim left before I'm done. Winging should be on July 15th. 3 Low levels, 4 formations, 1 nvg sim, 5 nvg flights.
Been on the rifle range for the last few days. I fucked up the 300 yard rapid-fire and didn't even get Sharpshooter. I thought I'd done fine, and then I watch the lolipop start marking down 3's and 2's. Way too high. I was frustrated and dropped some more points on the 500 yard line as well. Didn't shoot as badly, though. I'll get my points back on Table 2, but I had been shooting really well on Monday and Tuesday and had been hoping for Expert. My buddy got a 232, another guy from my shop got 239. I'm happy for both of them. Me in the pits, sunburned as fuck and annoyed because one of the shooters shot a support spar and blasted me with splinters... I'm squinting because I was staring at the impact berm for an hour and a half. It's bright out. Spoiler
I found this today and wanted to share. I figure this is the best place to do it. It is long, but worth the read. This letter was written by Charles Grennel and his comrades, veterans of the Global War On Terror. Grennel is an Army Reservist who spent two years in Iraq and was a principal in putting together the first Iraq elections in January 2005. They wrote it to Jill Edwards, student at the University of Washington , who did not want to honor Medal of Honor winner USMC Colonel Greg Boyington. Ms. Edwards, other students and faculty do not think those who serve in the U.S. armed services are good role models. Spoiler To: Jill Edwards, Student, University of Washington Sheep, Wolves, and Sheepdogs Miss Edwards, I read of your student activity regarding the proposed memorial to Colonel Greg Boyington, USMC, and a Medal of Honor winner. I suspect you will receive many angry emails from conservative people like me. You may be too young to appreciate fully the sacrifices of generations of servicemen and servicewomen on whose shoulders you and your fellow students stand. I forgive you for the untutored ways of youth and your naivete. It may be that you are simply a sheep. There's no dishonor in being a sheep, as long as you know and accept what you are. William J. Bennett, in a lecture to the United States Naval Academy November 24, 1997, said "Most of the people in our society are sheep. They are kind, gentle, productive creatures who can only hurt one another by accident. We may well be in the most violent times in history, but violence is still remarkably rare. This is because most citizens are kind, decent people, not capable of hurting each other except by accident or under extreme provocation. They are sheep. Then there are the wolves who feed on the sheep without mercy. Do you believe there are wolves out there who will feed on the flock without mercy? You better believe it. There are evil men in this world and they are capable of evil deeds. The moment you forget that, or pretend it is not so, you become a sheep. There is no safety in denial. Then there are sheepdogs, and I'm a sheepdog. I live to protect the flock and confront the wolf. If you have no capacity for violence, then you are a healthy productive citizen, a sheep. If you have a capacity for violence and no empathy for your fellow citizens, then you have defined [yourself as] an aggressive sociopath, a wolf. But what if you have a capacity for violence, and a deep love for your fellow citizens? What do you have then? A sheepdog, a warrior, someone who is walking the unsheltered path. Someone who can walk into the heart of darkness, into the universal human phobia, and walk out unscathed. We know that the sheep live in denial, that is what makes them sheep. They do not want to believe that there is evil in the world They can accept the fact that fires can happen, which is why they want fire extinguishers, fire sprinklers, fire alarms, and fire exits throughout their kids' schools. But many of them are outraged at the idea of putting an armed police officer in their kids' school. Our children are thousands of times more likely to be killed or seriously injured by school violence than fire, but the sheep's only response to the possibility of violence is denial. The idea of someone coming to kill or harm their child is just too hard. So they choose the path of denial. The sheep generally do not like the sheepdog. He looks a lot like the wolf. He has fangs and the capacity for violence. The difference, though, is that the sheepdog must not, cannot, and will not ever harm the sheep. Any sheepdog who intentionally harms the lowliest little lamb will be punished and removed. The world cannot work any other way, at least not in a representative democracy or a republic, such as ours. Still, the sheepdog disturbs the sheep. He is a constant reminder that there are wolves in the land. They would prefer that he didn't tell them where to go, or give them traffic tickets, or stand at the ready in our airports, in camouflage fatigues, holding an M-16. The sheep would much rather have the sheepdog cash in his fangs, spray paint himself white, and go Baa. Until the wolf shows up Then the entire flock tries desperately to hide behind one lonely sheepdog. The students, the victims, at Columbine High School were big, tough high school students, and under ordinary circumstances would not have had the time of day for a police officer. They were not bad kids; they just had nothing to say to a cop. When the school was under attack, however, and SWAT teams were clearing the rooms and hallways, the officers had to physically peel those clinging, sobbing kids off of them. This is how the little lambs feel about their sheepdog, when the wolf is at the door. Look at what happened after September 11, 2001, when the wolf pounded hard on the door. Remember how America , more than ever before, felt differently about their law enforcement officers and military personnel? Understand that there is nothing morally superior about being a sheepdog; it is just what you choose to be. Also understand that a sheepdog is a funny critter. He is always sniffing around out on the perimeter, checking the breeze, barking at things that go bump in the night, and yearning for a righteous battle. That is, the young sheepdogs yearn for a righteous battle. The old sheepdogs are a little older and wiser, but they move to the sound of the guns when needed, right along with the young ones. Here is how the sheep and the sheepdog think differently. The sheep pretend the wolf will never come, but the sheepdog lives for that day. After the attacks on September 11, 2001, most of the sheep, that is, most citizens in America , said "Thank God I wasn't on one of those planes" The sheepdogs, the warriors, said "Dear God, I wish I could have been on one of those planes. Maybe I could have made a difference." You want to be able to make a difference. There is nothing morally superior about the sheepdog, the warrior, but he does have one real advantage. Only one. And that is that he is able to survive and thrive in an environment that would destroy 98 percent of the population. Research was conducted a few years ago with individuals convicted of violent crimes. These cons were in prison for serious, predatory crimes of violence: assaults, murders, and killing law enforcement officers. The vast majority said they specifically targeted victims by body language: Slumped walk, passive behavior, and lack of awareness. They chose their victims like big cats do in Africa , when they select one out of the herd that is least able to protect itself. Some people may be destined to be sheep, and others might be genetically primed to be wolves or sheepdogs. But I believe that most people can choose which one they want to be, and I'm proud to say that more and more Americans are choosing to become sheepdogs. Seven months after the attack on September 11, 2001, Todd Beamer was honored in his hometown of Cranbury , New Jersey . Todd, as you recall, was the man on Flight 93 over Pennsylvania who called on his cell phone to alert an operator from United Airlines about the hijacking. When they learned of the other three passenger planes that had been used as weapons, Todd and the other passengers confronted the terrorist hijackers. In one hour, a transformation occurred among the passengers - athletes, business people, and parents - from sheep to sheepdogs - and together they fought the wolves, ultimately saving an unknown number of lives on the ground. Edmund Burke said "There is no safety for honest men except by believing all possible evil of evil men." Here is the point I want to emphasize, especially to the thousands of police officers and soldiers I speak to each year. In nature, the sheep, real sheep, are born as sheep. Sheepdogs are born that way, and so are wolves. They don't have a choice. But you are not a critter. As a human being, you can be whatever you want to be. It is a conscious, moral decision. If you want to be a sheep, then you can be a sheep - and that is okay, but you must understand the price you pay. When the wolf comes, you and your loved ones are going to die, if there is not a sheepdog there to protect you. If you want to be a wolf, you can be one, but the sheepdogs are going to hunt you down, and you will never have rest, safety, trust, or love. But if you want to be a sheepdog and walk the warrior's path, then you must make a conscious and moral decision every day to dedicate, equip, and prepare yourself to thrive in that toxic, corrosive moment when the wolf comes knocking at the door. This business of being a sheep or a sheepdog is not a yes/no dichotomy. It is not an all-or-nothing, either-or choice. It is a matter of degrees, a continuum. On one end is an abject, head-in-the-sand-sheep, and on the other end is the ultimate warrior. Few people exist completely on one end or the other. Most of us live somewhere in between. Since 9/11, almost everyone in America took a step up that continuum, away from denial. The sheep took a few steps toward accepting and appreciating their warriors, and the warriors started taking their job more seriously. Its OK to be a sheep, but do not kick the sheepdog. Indeed, the sheepdog may just run a little harder, strive to protect a little better, and be fully prepared to pay an ultimate price in battle and spirit with the sheep moving from "baa" to "thanks." We do not call for gifts or freedoms beyond our lot. We just need a small pat on the head, a smile, and a thank you, to fill the emotional tank which is drained protecting the sheep. And, when our number is called by The Almighty, and day retreats into night, a small prayer before the heavens just may be in order to say thanks for letting you continue to be a sheep. And be grateful for the millions of American sheepdogs who permit you the freedom to express even bad ideas. Charles Grennel
So as a civilian I have "ask a servicemen" questions time to time I thought of another one the other day much like my ear protection question. What type of protection or protective wear do they make for protecting your manhood? If there was one part of the body Id assume every guy would want in working order it be his cock'n'balls. Some sort of kevlar jock strap with ceramic plates? Honestly, if it were anything less than something that could withstand a high yield thermonuclear bomb I'd refuse to step foot on a battle field.
Yes, Level III SAPI plates for your crotch do exist, but they are bulky, limit movement, and at the end of the day, aren't worth it. Security (and therefore, safety) is a tradeoff between speed and resilience. I've donned side plates and shoulder plates before, but the additional 10 pounds isn't worth it to me. And if my buddy is also wearing it, and I have to carry him off the battlefield, that's another 20 pounds to worry about. Your dick is important, sure. You know what's more important? Your life.
Is anyone familiar with the Marine Corps household moving policy? There was some concern and doubt as to whether the Corps would pay to have my (our) things shipped since I was not on his orders and he is already at his station. I called the DMO and they said that yes, it could be done, but essentially the things being moved would have to be marked as his on this side and either he would have to sign for it, or I would through power of attorney. There is also paperwork that must be filled out. I'm quite hazy on the process: Where to get this elusive paperwork, who to contact, etc etc. If someone who is familiar with the process could pm me, I would be greatly appreciative. Thanks!
Hey guys, I'm going to go into some detail here about my situation from the R&R thread, read if you'd like. Spoiler I have done very well flying the helicopter in what is called Advanced flight school for the past 5 months. I had one flight that I could not perform one maneuver very early on, but was able to flawlessly perform the next day. None of the things I have done in advanced have been unsafe in the least, and everything was within standards. All my instructors say I'm doing well, granted they tell that to every student. Somehow, my grades do not agree with the instructors or me and I have very slightly less than the minimum score to get my wings. I have been trending upward grade wise throughout advanced as one is supposed to do also. My grade, as of yesterday is a 33, with the minimum at a 35. This grade is based on my grades added up throughout school set against the previous 60 students who have winged. Somehow, the class that recently got their wings last week were able to miraculously pull grades ranging from 50-80, which is completely unheard of. All of the guys who I'm supposed to finish with have grades ranging from 32-45, which is normal. Next week, I have to go talk to my squadron CO, the base's assistant commander, and the highest ranked Marine in charge of us down here. The first two will be pulling for me like they always do, but the third is the problem, he has to make his winging numbers and his cutting numbers. In addition, I've heard there are too many Marine Aviators right now. This does not bode well for me. Also, My grades from the first portion of flight school were not the best, this also does not bode well for me. What I do have going for me are a few things: 1. I have done very well in the past 4 months and have not had any problems flying. This makes me extremely confident in my abilities to perform at the next level. 2. I am incredibly motivated to continue and help out the Marine's in any way that I can, so be it if they choose to get me out of the aviation program, I'll still be a Marine and I'll still do my job well. 3. They've already invested 2 years worth of flying time in me, so it wouldn't be int heir best interest financially or logically to not wing me. 4. An external factor, my father is friends with the prior Senior Marine who still has a lot of pull right now. And Marines are very into legacy stuff, and seeing as my father was a Marine Pilot, this is in my favor. So there's my situation. I know how to talk to all the brass and convince them that I need to stay for me, and for the rest of the USMC and be 100% confident about it. So when I do, I'm going to pitch my story or game or whatever it is and put my life and career in their hands...