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Hi!,

As a fellow collector of cool stuff I was looking through your page, what a collection! Anyhow, long sotry short, I'm doing a report for a college course on the Jap knee mortar and have found almost everything I need to know about it except two blasted things. Seeing the picture of your friend firing one gave me hope that there is an answer! 1) What type of propellent was used in the lifting charge for the Type 91 mortar round, black powder, smokeless? 2)What is the size, grains or oz's, of powder used for the lifting charge, I'm assuming it was a standard amount. If you can ask your friend or send me his contact info so I can ask him that would be most appreciated!!!
Cheers!
Jason

posted by Jason on October 29, 2004 11:45 PM

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« Dismissed, Soldier!

The Sergeant had a pretty good working definition of leadership at the Sergeant's level - and was combat focused, which I would expect from a young warrior. Especially in todays operational environment.

My definition is a bit more expansive, but then, I'm a bloviating officer...

A leader is someone who sees what needs to be done, and gets people to do it.

A successful leader is the person who see the *right* things that need to be done, and gets people to do them. Both types of leader exist, you'd rather work for the latter than the former.. 8^)

Within that general framework what do I mean?

The leader:

Has a vision for where the organization should go.

Has a plan on how to get there, or knows how to get talented people to develop that plan - i.e., he recognizes good ideas and good people when he sees them - and doesn't have to do everything himself.

Knows that if he is truly loyal to the unit - that he can't make himself indispensable to the unit. (Arlington is full of indispensable people, yet the Republic still stands) Custer is an especially good example of a bad leader in that regard. I am not a fan.

Understands the difference between being respected and being liked - and understands that respect is more important than liked, but that earning one will generally (though not always) segue to the other - but not vice-versa.

Trains and develops his subordinates, passes out recognition liberally, knowing that he will benefit from the overall glow.

Trains hard to hard standards - because the the Romans and Prussians had it right: Sweat in peacetime saves blood in wartime.

Understands that politics exist in any organization, and learns how to move in that environment without sacrificing his people or his integrity - but will sacrifice himself before his integrity.

Too many of us fail on that last one.

Regardless of what your politics may be, here's an example at the Presidential level:

Clinton rarely, if ever, led. And when he did, it was generally by proxy, with him prepared to take the credit, but pin the blame elsewhere such as letting Hillary run the Health Care Task Force. More often than not, Clinton looked at where the polls said people wanted to go, he then metaphorically ran to the head of the herd and said, "Follow me!".

That is not leadership.

Bush, by contrast stands up and says, "Let's go here." or, "We don't want to go there." And then (with varying degrees of success) he tries to influence people to get them to go where he thinks they should go. The key point is he has a vision of where to go and lays it out and says "That's where I'm going, come along." And he doesn't sway with the wind, but that doesn't mean he can't be swayed.

That's leading. We'll find out in November is it's successful leadership or not, but it *is* leading, as opposed to what Clinton did. Part of the definition, remember, is being able to influence people that your vision is correct.

Now, if you have the wrong vision, can't implement it, etc, well, that's where the successful part comes in.

I prefer leaders who lead, rather than figureheads who pander and then take credit.

Panderers succeed, especially in times where there is no real stress. This is true in the corporate world as well. Enron, Arthur Andersen, and Worldcom are examples of that (with lots of other complicating factors).

Don't beat yourself up about not having served, Bill. There's only 1.5 million of us in uniform out of 280 million citizens. The reason we have the military we do is because of all the rest of you who's productivity is such that we can afford to have the military we do. In that regard, we all do our bit. Just like you don't have to feel bad you weren't a cop, or a fireman, either. Though, I gotta admit,
if I can lose another 40lbs I'm gonna join the local volunteer fire department. I did that while I was in college and it's great fun.

You want to serve? Donate your time and talents. Join a service club like Rotary, Lions, Kiwanis, Optimists (I'm partial to Rotary, being a third generation Rotarian). Volunteer with local charities (I sit on the board of one local charity - a job I got solicited for via Rotary and it's fun and not too demanding). If you are retired and have a decent steady income, become a Red Cross volunteer and do disaster relief. If you've got some organizational experience, contact FEMA and see if they need any reservists. FEMA maintains a cadre of people (many like me, because we've run operations centers and know how to gather and disseminate information) to augment Disaster Field Offices. It's not full time work, you only get called up when they need you, and it's hard work when you are doing it, if only in terms of hours - but you want to do a little serving, and have the time to do it, those are venues where you can have a real, true impact. If my financial plans didn't require it while I'm getting my kids through school and beyond, I would be a FEMA reservist now.

« Secure this line!

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In addition to your comments, specifically this one: "Has a plan on how to get there, or knows how to get talented people to develop that plan - i.e., he recognizes good ideas and good people when he sees them - and doesn't have to do everything himself."

I would like to add that he "Has or can develop a way to measure results of that plan." (e.g. metrics)

I've seen many good plans where the results were obvious. But there are times where you have to provide a method to _show_ the results were achieved.

Good advice, btw.

posted by _Jon on July 29, 2004 5:10 PM

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Good point.

Given that I get paid to be an analyst right now, dealing in MoMs and MoPs, ya'd have thought I might have mentioned that!

posted by John of Argghhh! on July 29, 2004 9:32 PM

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« Dismissed, Soldier!

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I love it when you post the PGW. Gives me that warm, fuzzy feeling. ;)

posted by pam on July 26, 2004 8:11 AM

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Of course, so does wetting your pants! 8^D

That probably lost me a reader or two...

posted by John of Argghhh! on July 26, 2004 8:29 AM

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Have fun in Vegas. Remember, what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas.

posted by Rosemary the Queen of All Evil on July 26, 2004 9:15 AM

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Have fun in Vegas, and say "Hi" to Elvis for me.

posted by Jack on July 26, 2004 11:04 AM

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Thanks, you two. I'm sure we will. Penn and Teller are on the agenda, as is Mystére. We'll be staying at the Luxor for the first time. We've always liked the place, we thought we should finally stay there - besides, we've seen the Blue Man Group there twice! Our other fave is the Rio.

We don't gamble much, I can't sit at a slot machine for more than 10 minutes before my head explodes (which annoys people nearby) and I suck at anything else and am too chicken with my own money to bet big enough to win big, anyway.

We did Circus Circus once. And that number is likely to never change.

posted by John of Argghhh! on July 26, 2004 11:28 AM

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If they have it there, try Pai gow poker. It's fun, and the odds aren't so stacked in the house's favor that you can't play for a long time on $20. I have played several times for hours on a $20 investment, and the free drinks made losing the $20 at the end pretty cheap.

The rules are here:

http://www.casinocity.com/rule/paigow.htm

posted by Jack on July 26, 2004 12:39 PM

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Sorry but your email address returned as "unroutable" (mailto:armorer@DIESPAMDIEthedonovan.com)

Hi John;

Sorry to bother you but someone posted
a quote of yours over on Jennifer's blog
and I'm beside myself with glee. I want
to share it but I've read all the way down
your new page on donovan.com and
don't find it. It's the one about

"Singularity Stupid"

I want to share it with my list but I also
want to properly link to the original page.
Did that survive the move? If so I'd much
enjoy being pointed to it. I should be
able to rustle you up some readers in
exchange.

Keep up the good work over here.
Thanks for your service and more
recent actions to keep America free.

Earl Doty
fmr. CH-47 driver for the 101st
I Corps, RVN Sep 68 - Aug 69

posted by Earl on July 26, 2004 4:55 PM

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Earl, I think this is the URL you want: http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/001467.html
John didn't write it but he shared it with the world and it is funny.

posted by Beth Donovan on July 26, 2004 5:15 PM

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Well, I'm glad to know I'm not the only one who won't be doing convention blogging. I'll be happily reading everyone else, but I can thing of few things that would waste my time more, than watching a convention. I've never watched, and don't care to watch - either the Dem or Rep BTW - I'm a non-partisan non-convention watcher. :-)

posted by Teresa on July 26, 2004 8:57 PM

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Oops! Forgot... Have a terrific time in Vegas. I've never been, but I'll still hope all goes well and you come back happy and rested. Some vacations aren't worth the hassles they cause - LOL.

posted by Teresa on July 26, 2004 9:00 PM

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Teresa and I are on the same exact plane!

Have a great time in Vegas. I've heard it's fun and there is good food! Nothing like a good vacation to soothe the soul.

posted by Boudicca on July 27, 2004 8:51 PM

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Speaking of food, tomorrow is all Emeril all day. Emeril's cajun place at the MGM Grand for lunch, Delmonico's at the Venetian for dinner.

10PM Showing of Mystere at Treasure Island.

Beth will probably blog it.

posted by John of Argghhh! on July 27, 2004 9:01 PM

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« Dismissed, Soldier!