We're the Military and Airpower Guys of Jonah Goldberg of National Review Online + a stray we found wandering around looking lost. All original material JHD, BHD, JR, WT, and KA 2003-2007 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/poking_around_the_service_pic_files_today.html Sun, 03 Aug 2008 17:02:20 Z Movable Type 4.12 en Copyright 2008 http://www.rssboard.org/rss-specification Some pics that caught my eye this week. Some excited my "chickenshite ossifer" instincts, too. First up: Staff Sgt. Brad Smith, from 3rd Battalion, 320th Field Artillery Regiment, 101st Airborne Division, shoots at a suspicious object during a patrol along a main supply road near Tikrit, Iraq. Photo courtesy US Army."> by Spc. Teddy Wade May 5, 2006 Staff Sgt. Brad Smith, from 3rd Battalion, 320th Field Artillery Regiment, 101st Airborne Division, shoots at a suspicious object during a patrol along a main supply road near Tikrit, Iraq. Photo courtesy US Army. In my day, we called this plinkin'... Norfolk,... http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/poking_around_the_service_pic_files_today.html http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/poking_around_the_service_pic_files_today.html Sat, 13 May 2006 10:08:33 -0600 Although there is the outside chance that your local mortorman might get a lucky shot off, there really are not barrages here. A couple few rounds every so oftem, a rocket here and there. And with no FOs there are no effective fires. In other words, the danger is no where near great enough to warrant wearing gear all the time. With IBA the LBE is a thing of the past. Pouches hook right to it. Most of us have a mag in a butstock mag holder so that we have 30 rounds in case a TCN working on post gets stupid. I can't tell if his M16 has one, although muzzle down... well what do want from a DAT! Bloodspite, in regards to the mixed uniform, since the army is still phasing in ACU patterns are a bit mix and match. I have ACU uniforms and DCU gear, last go round it was DCU with woodland vest. Hell, at least I'm clothed and bullet-proof. His gear is in the new pattern and he is wearing his old BDU for training. That makes a lot of sense since the new uniforms are nowhere near as sturdy. I don't think I have a pair of pants left with an intact crotch. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/poking_around_the_service_pic_files_today.html#comment-45261 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/poking_around_the_service_pic_files_today.html#comment-45261 Tue, 16 May 2006 05:13:15 -0600 Although there is the outside chance that your local mortorman might get a lucky shot off, there really are not barrages here. A couple few rounds every so oftem, a rocket here and there. And with no FOs there are no effective fires. In other words, the danger is no where near great enough to warrant wearing gear all the time. With IBA the LBE is a thing of the past. Pouches hook right to it. Most of us have a mag in a butstock mag holder so that we have 30 rounds in case a TCN working on post gets stupid. I can't tell if his M16 has one, although muzzle down... well what do want from a DAT! Bloodspite, in regards to the mixed uniform, since the army is still phasing in ACU patterns are a bit mix and match. I have ACU uniforms and DCU gear, last go round it was DCU with woodland vest. Hell, at least I'm clothed and bullet-proof. His gear is in the new pattern and he is wearing his old BDU for training. That makes a lot of sense since the new uniforms are nowhere near as sturdy. I don't think I have a pair of pants left with an intact crotch. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/poking_around_the_service_pic_files_today.html#comment-45260 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/poking_around_the_service_pic_files_today.html#comment-45260 Tue, 16 May 2006 05:10:21 -0600 Bloodspite - I've been waiting for someone to notice the sailor has no ammo... Pretty dull demo if it's just scooting around Little Creek. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/poking_around_the_service_pic_files_today.html#comment-45216 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/poking_around_the_service_pic_files_today.html#comment-45216 Sun, 14 May 2006 09:40:50 -0600 Forgive me if I am wrong here, but I have often heard rumors of the Sea going variety aka "Brown water Navy" types using a mild grease to coat their small arms before deploying in the the "field" or water in this case. Mostly to help protect it from water particles, salt etc etc etc. Any chance that lovely sheen is such? Also if the point man there is hitting anything but Rock I'm a camel. He almost has to be the point guy, since theres no one else immediately behind him. If he's the cover fire man in a fire and movement , then god help the guys he's covering. If the enemy don't get them, his ricochet's and rocks will. I'm with John and Neffi on the gear and getting the guy to raise his sight picture. But is it just me, or is he wearing 2 different ypes of camo? Looks suspiciously like the new urban camo hanging over his leg while he is wearing good old BDU's http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/poking_around_the_service_pic_files_today.html#comment-45215 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/poking_around_the_service_pic_files_today.html#comment-45215 Sun, 14 May 2006 09:19:09 -0600 I'll just take the low-hanging fruit here and point out that the M60 (Mk 43) is a .30 caliber (7.62) weapon system... not a .50 caliber. While I usually deal with what comes out of the business end rather than the weapon itself, it's pretty sad when even the doc can correct the caption. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/poking_around_the_service_pic_files_today.html#comment-45213 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/poking_around_the_service_pic_files_today.html#comment-45213 Sun, 14 May 2006 08:14:00 -0600 I think I remember something Thomas Sowell wrote about his experience being a photographer and a Marine: It seems he'd taken some pictures of Marines accomplishing difficult onerous tasks which made them all sweaty and disheveled. He thought (I think) that his photos showed the fortitude of Marines when doing nasty difficult things. WRONG! His photos were not approved, as they showed Marines sweating. Marines never break into a sweat, right? http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/poking_around_the_service_pic_files_today.html#comment-45212 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/poking_around_the_service_pic_files_today.html#comment-45212 Sat, 13 May 2006 23:58:33 -0600 I think I remember something Thomas Sowell wrote about his experience being a photographer and a Marine: It seems he'd taken some pictures of Marines accomplishing difficult onerous tasks which made them all sweaty and disheveled. He thought (I think) that his photos showed the fortitude of Marines when doing nasty difficult things. WRONG! His photos were not approved, as they showed Marines sweating. Marines never break into a sweat, right? http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/poking_around_the_service_pic_files_today.html#comment-45211 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/poking_around_the_service_pic_files_today.html#comment-45211 Sat, 13 May 2006 23:51:55 -0600 I've never, in 10 years active ARmy an 4 in ROTC, seen an M60 with that nice a finish on the feed tray cover. Of course, most the ones I saw were ancient relics my school borrowed from a local NG unit, or the used an abused ones in OBC and Ranger School. I'm also amazed that NTC doesn't have the newer generation MILES. Lot lighter, less bulky, and easier to zero as a bonus. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/poking_around_the_service_pic_files_today.html#comment-45209 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/poking_around_the_service_pic_files_today.html#comment-45209 Sat, 13 May 2006 22:37:54 -0600 Ain't been there, ain't done that, and prefer plain, unmarked t-shirts anyway, but those pix are *so* posed! A digital camera = a bottomless supply of free film, reputedly the secret of Margaret Bourke-White's success. (Which, on second thought, makes me think there's a chance they're *not* deliberately posed, the photographers just culled through dozens of shots for the cool-lookin' ones.) http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/poking_around_the_service_pic_files_today.html#comment-45207 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/poking_around_the_service_pic_files_today.html#comment-45207 Sat, 13 May 2006 21:16:22 -0600 I think PFC Rodriguez would benfit from being back squaded four or five times. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/poking_around_the_service_pic_files_today.html#comment-45205 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/poking_around_the_service_pic_files_today.html#comment-45205 Sat, 13 May 2006 20:09:07 -0600 Heh. Chief, as a groundpounder, I'm *not* impressed with the fact it's the GM's who k them clean, vice the user. I understand the weapons may not be assigned to an indidivual per se - but the only reason my Armorer's ever cleaned a weapon other than their own was because it was unassigned and was getting routine maintenance for the environment, or they accepted it into their Arms Room dirty, and it flunked *my* inspection. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/poking_around_the_service_pic_files_today.html#comment-45204 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/poking_around_the_service_pic_files_today.html#comment-45204 Sat, 13 May 2006 19:36:20 -0600 Due to operating in a salt water environment, the MK 43 must be kept pristine. Most Gunnersmates spend their time cleaning weapons after the MAA take 'em out for fun. We Sailors take our preventive maintenance seriously. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/poking_around_the_service_pic_files_today.html#comment-45203 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/poking_around_the_service_pic_files_today.html#comment-45203 Sat, 13 May 2006 19:17:55 -0600 Sorry Boss, Just that the sight of Airborne Cattle puts me in an impish mood ;> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/poking_around_the_service_pic_files_today.html#comment-45202 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/poking_around_the_service_pic_files_today.html#comment-45202 Sat, 13 May 2006 15:27:56 -0600 Mk 43, M60E4 yadda, yadda, ord dept says it's same system now (what ever differences early mods had being gone)the thing being that even military newsies often (sadly) need to get beat up with a clue bat...I've seen some call a truck a tank etc. Nice set of pics all in all... http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/poking_around_the_service_pic_files_today.html#comment-45201 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/poking_around_the_service_pic_files_today.html#comment-45201 Sat, 13 May 2006 13:27:19 -0600 Boq: Potaytoe, Potahtoe. M60E4, Mk 43 Mod 0. The parts interchange, having been made on the same machinery... http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/poking_around_the_service_pic_files_today.html#comment-45200 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/poking_around_the_service_pic_files_today.html#comment-45200 Sat, 13 May 2006 13:20:01 -0600 Nooooo! not a M60 'tis a Mk 43... Sheesh, them Land Lubbers http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/poking_around_the_service_pic_files_today.html#comment-45198 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/poking_around_the_service_pic_files_today.html#comment-45198 Sat, 13 May 2006 13:11:38 -0600 Ed - thanks! http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/poking_around_the_service_pic_files_today.html#comment-45196 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/poking_around_the_service_pic_files_today.html#comment-45196 Sat, 13 May 2006 12:39:07 -0600 Fred, the ability of the Service captioners to screw it up never ceases to amaze. I copy 'em, I don't edit 'em, and I take shite for it, too. And if I put disclaimers on every pic caption that was bollixed, it would add 1/3 again the time to get the dang things posted. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/poking_around_the_service_pic_files_today.html#comment-45195 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/poking_around_the_service_pic_files_today.html#comment-45195 Sat, 13 May 2006 12:05:35 -0600 On my IA base we are always amber, soft covers no IBA. Most of the FOBs (mostly IA some CF) it has been the same except weapons green. It has been the oddity when I have been on a FOB that was different. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/poking_around_the_service_pic_files_today.html#comment-45194 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/poking_around_the_service_pic_files_today.html#comment-45194 Sat, 13 May 2006 12:04:59 -0600 Ok, I'm going to stop criticizing the MSM for misidentifying military hardware. heheh. "mans his .50-caliber machine gun during a " apparently even the professionals can't keep things straight. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/poking_around_the_service_pic_files_today.html#comment-45192 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/poking_around_the_service_pic_files_today.html#comment-45192 Sat, 13 May 2006 10:34:54 -0600 Get that sumbichin' muzzle outta the dirt, Rodriguez!!!!'That's what I gotta say... and I'm hoping the M16 wasn't put there by Avila, him being a Sgt and all. Incidentally, the positioning of the M16 is *very* similar to the scenario wherein I had to pay the Gummint for the crushed rifle mentioned in an earlier post. Heh http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/poking_around_the_service_pic_files_today.html#comment-45190 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/05/poking_around_the_service_pic_files_today.html#comment-45190 Sat, 13 May 2006 10:23:42 -0600