Open post for those with something to share, updated through the day. New, complete posts come in below this one. Note: If trackbacking, please acknowledge this post in your post. That's only polite.
You're advertising here, we should get an ad at your place...
*********************************
Yesterday's meeting of the Veterans and Military Affairs Advisory Council that Congresswoman Nancy Boyda has established went well. She's pulled together a broad assortment of people with relevant expertise, from retired general officers of multiple services and components to people with specific specialties in military affairs, to family members and multi-component non-commissioned officers. A decently diverse group covering the ground that the council title lists.
That said - there is room for some more representation by the enlisted ranks - and especially among the warriors of all components who have been and are fighting in the war - especially as relates to dealing with VA claims, benefits, and services. As a group we seek individual input - both good and bad, because there *is* good, in people and in services, at the VA, as well as people with an interest in being involved in data collecting and problem solving. More to follow. If you have an interest in that subject - click the email link for "the Armorer" over in the right sidebar and send me a note.
You aren't going to hear much from me about what goes on "in camera" as I made a committment to the assembled group that I'd leave my blogger shoes at the door. This is about getting things done, not scoring blog-foddder. The blog frankly got me to this place, and can have its use as a way of seeking information - but if you're reading about doings of the VMAAC in this space - it's because I've been *asked* to publish it. This looks like fun, I'm looking forward to it. -the Armorer
**********************************
When I confessed to the assembled group yesterday that I was a blogger - I also admitted that this space was #1 on Google for "I bayoneted myself" - which caused some bemused looks from a bunch of people most of whom had never really heard of a blog and who *certainly* don't know me... I bring that up not as an example of "oversharing" but to intro this - there is finally someone who perhaps has outdone me. Or, as CAPT H put it "Your accomplishment now 2nd."
*********************************
A reminder for Kansas residents flying flags today - the Governor has decreed that flags should be at half-staff today throughout the state in honor of Staff Sergeant Bachmann, a Kansas National Guardsman being buried today in Garden City. -the Armorer
On a technical note reference the above - if you're a Kansas resident and you'd like to be notified when the Governor has directed the colors to half staff - visit this page and subscribe to the email notification. -the Armorer
*********************************
*A term of art from the artillery. Harassment and Interdiction Fires.
Back in the day, when you could just kill people and break things without a note from a lawyer, they were pre-planned, but to the enemy, random, fires at known gathering points, road junctions, Main Supply Routes, assembly areas, etc - to keep the bad guy nervous that the world around him might start exploding at any minute.
*Not really relevant to today's operating environment, right? But, it *is*
The UAVs (oops, can't call 'em UAVs anymore - they're now Unmanned Aerial Systems... some Colonel got his Legion of Merit for that change...), er, um UAS's we fly over Afghanistan and Pakistan looking for targets of opportunity are a form of H&I fires, if you really want to parse it finely. We just have better sensors and fire control now.
I call the post that because it's random things posted by me and people I've given posting privileges to. It's also an open trackback, so if someone has a post they're proud of, but it really isn't either Castle kind of stuff, or topical to a particular post, I've basically given blanket permission to use that post for that purpose. Another term of art that might be appropriate is "Free Fire Zone"
4 Comments