Friday Cat-Blogging

March 28, 2008 | | Comments (36)

"Well, gosh-all-hemlock, Bill, you have *dogs* -- wazzup with the *cat* deal?"

Patience. All will be revealed in good time. If the bandwidth budget holds...

First off, I believe I can lay claim to being the smallest deployed Task Force in the Army. Nope, not "in the smallest Task Force" -- I *am* the smallest Task Force. Y'see, my 'Structor Pilot gig is supporting a Joint Mission. It falls under DoS, the USAF is the Service Lead and the Army was tasked with providing the expertise for the Rotary-Wing portion. When I got here back in December for the site survey, I got a scorecard, met the management, the coaches and the players -- and any time there's an Army side to a mission that doesn't require employing a "normal" unit, the Army tailors a Task Force (usually smaller than needed, but they're getting better at it) to accomplish the Army side.

"Yeah, yeah, I've read history -- get to the *cats*!"

Re. Lax.

As I was saying, the Army drops the Task Force where it's needed, but in order to identify it (because it's an ad hoc organization, after all), the Task Force usually receives a name, rather than a numerical designator (yeah, I know about TF 160 -- different ballgame altogether). When I met the Army IPs, they figured it was only right that I be brought into the Task Force -- I am, after all, a retired *Army* aviator. So, I learned the seekrit password, the seekrit way to hold the coffee mug and got the official TF patch.

When I got here last month, the Army IPs left on the C-130 that brought me here -- we high-fived each other when we passed on the ramp.

I'm the only one over here, hence my claim to being the smallest deployed Task Force in the Army.

"The cats! What about the *cats*, you addlepated--"

Heh. Remember I told you that Task Forces were *named*? Well, "Army Air Expeditionary Advisory Group" proved a tad cumbersome, so the semi-official title became TF Wildcat.

Heh

Toldja I got the patch.

Keep the comments PG...

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36 Comments

By BillT on March 28, 2008 3:15 AM
No, John, the leathery wrinkled background is *not* my skin. I'm more of a pinkish beige...
 
By Justthisguy on March 28, 2008 4:25 AM
Whut's that "VPB-something" I see there? I think I detect a Naval influence, and maybe PhotoShopping, on that patch! It is cool-lookin, though. I am thinking about telling Lex on you.
 
By BillT on March 28, 2008 5:06 AM
Heh. I was wondering who'd be the first to twig the VPB-71 link. The Black Cats were a WWII Catalina outfit that operated in the Pacific; one of the Army IP's had a family tie to it -- google VPB-71 and click on Dave's Warbirds: "The cat chosen by the squadron was a tough-looking customer all in black, wearing a flotation vest, seaman’s cap, cigar stub in mouth, holding a smoking Colt .45 in both paws. Colors: cat, black with white muzzle and yellow eyes; seaman’s cap, white; flotation vest, yellow; Colt .45, gray." The mascot's accoutrements were updated, eye color changed to NVG green, Army wings added and voila! No PhotoShopping needed. A stateside patch-maker did 'em up and the local tailor added the velcro backing...
 
By Boquisucio on March 28, 2008 6:16 AM
Does that cone-headed kitty also consume massive quantities?
 
By BillT on March 28, 2008 6:21 AM
You tell *me*, Boq -- the cone-headed kitty started life in the Navy, remember? Besides, I have *dogs* -- and you don't wanna know what they consume massive quantities of...
     
By Boquisucio on March 28, 2008 7:42 AM
Dunno JTG. Gustatus Simili Pullus, just sounds all wrong. Not that we don't taste like chicken. Who am I to know. Its just that believe that the sentence requires an Ablative form of Chicken. Thus it should read: Gustatus Simili Pullo. I have to check my good ol' trusty Wheelock, to make sure though.
 
By Sgt. B. on March 28, 2008 8:10 AM
It'll be cool to see that patch up close... I wonder if, since we're gonna be in the same AO and all, if the whole "Joint Operation" concept would entitle us - that is, you and me (and anyone else who can occupy the same grid)- to form another TF... TASK FORCE ARGGHHH Just curious...
 
By John of Argghhh! on March 28, 2008 8:12 AM
Ooooo. Sergeant B, I like the way you think!
 
By Sgt. B. on March 28, 2008 9:12 AM
Well... I'm just thinking... Castle correspondants tend to gravitate towards the sound of the guns (it's who we are, it's how we roll...) I'm not sure if Castle Argghhh was opened before or after we started combat operations, but I'm pretty sure ya'll never expected to have a few Denizenes actually knee-deep in the hoo-ya... I've seen enough un-authorized patrol flags (courtesy of my dad's Silent Service days) to know that the decorations and accolades he's most proud of are NOT the ones that an Admiral pinned on his chest... The tradition of unofficial awards and such is alive and well (wouldn't mind hearing some of the TINS tales about 'em, by the by...) Up until now, my favorite is an empty .50 cal casing with a projectile on a rough-hewn piece of ammo crate and a stamped dog tag with "LCPL B[redacted] HVY GUNS PLT WPNS CO 2/6 [date redacted] - [date redacted]" As I have more than a passing affection for Company Argghhh, I think it would be neat to have something I could show the grandkids someday: Li'l Squirt #1: Grampa, what's 'Task Force Argghh'? Says me: Well, my boy, there was once a forum dedicated to the freedoms granted us by our founding fathers, and the folks who contributed to it were thinkers, war-fighters, and compassionate souls who supported the fight against the enemies of freedom. They discussed pertinent issues and formed well-prepared arguements in support of these issues. Li'l Squirt #1: Okay, but what's 'Task Force Argghhh'? Says me: Why, beloved child, some of us were privilaged to be on the first string of the debate team... I'm just sayin'...
 
By kat-missouri on March 28, 2008 9:20 AM
Hoo-Yah Sgt B. We love our first stringers!
 
By John of Argghhh! on March 28, 2008 9:27 AM
Sergeant B... we can work on that. The Castle opened July 2003, on Blogger, IIRC, and we went to Hosting Matters in September. And no, we didn't expect to have Denizens in-theater.
 
By FbL on March 28, 2008 9:30 AM
I'm just waiting for Were-Kitten's comment... :D
 
By Sgt. B. on March 28, 2008 9:34 AM
Well, just shows what happens when ya don't keep an eye on your Warrants and NCOs... We get into all kinds of trouble... Junior officers too, I'm thinkin'... *grin*
 
By Sgt. B. on March 28, 2008 9:46 AM
And as for YOU, Kat, and YOU, FBL, and all ya'll G-2 folks... Without you folks breaking it down into single syllable words for us combat arms types, we might not be as imboldened and truly appreciate the importance of the fight, so.. *humbly* Thanks.
 
By WereKitten on March 28, 2008 9:55 AM
TF Wildcat... I like the sound of TF WereCat better, but it'll do. ps... I WANT ONE OF THOSE PATCHES.... AM WILLING TO PAY Who's Your Kitty!!!??!!!
 
By WereKitten on March 28, 2008 9:59 AM
FBL, TF Wildcat leader, Chief Sugarbuttons, has appparently requested PG COMMENTS. Can you believe that? How.Rude. *pouts while swinging from chandelier*
 
By Sgt. B. on March 28, 2008 10:06 AM
Something tells me that TF WEREKITTY would have mission taskings of a far different stripe...
 
By kat-missouri on March 28, 2008 10:27 AM
First order of business would be to merge TF Werekitty and TF Wildcat to form new TF Bad Kitty. Primary mission would transition from training allies to hands on morale boosting.
 
By TF WereKitty on March 28, 2008 10:37 AM
This is just soooooo hard to resist... I think I need to be restrained. Oh, Sgt. B... are those "different stripes" caused by whips, by chance??
 
By John of Argghhh! on March 28, 2008 10:39 AM
Heh. And to think I tried to get Instapundit, et.al., to link this post. I'm thinking *that* just went out the window... ;^)
 
By kat-missouri on March 28, 2008 10:43 AM
Oh...this was a serious post. On a Friday. How often does that happen? "AAEAG" is almost like "ARGGHHH!"
 
By John of Argghhh! on March 28, 2008 10:52 AM
Yeah, I was trying to work with that too, Kat.
 
By WereKitten on March 28, 2008 10:57 AM
I tried, John. I did. Bill said keep it PG... and so far I don't think it's gone past PG13. But it's SO HARD.
 
By John of Argghhh! on March 28, 2008 10:58 AM
Sigh. Someone needs a visit from someone else, I'm thinking.
 
By WereKitten on March 28, 2008 11:43 AM
I'm thinking you're right, John. *sigh*
 
By 1sg keith on March 28, 2008 1:54 PM
Sgt B, I know what you mean about the unauthorized flags. The day I left Kabul headed for home, I was summoned to the Recruiting Assistance Team office. I traveled around Afghanistan with the 'RAT Team' as they established Afghan National Army recruiting centers. I always went with the advance security team to have more photo time on the ground. And I wrote a nice article about them. Anyway, they presented me with one of their guidons. It had King RAT from the old surfer comics as the logo with all of the RAT Team signatures. It meant more to me to receive that than it did to receive the Defense Meritorious Service Medal for my tour. Although, I was already pissed because I got the DMSM instead of a Bronze Star, but that's an entirely different story. That guidon is one of my most cherished items from that tour.
 
By 1sg keith on March 28, 2008 1:57 PM
I think you're right too, John......
 
By WereKitten on March 28, 2008 2:06 PM
purrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.............
 
By John of Argghhh! on March 28, 2008 2:29 PM
Get a room, you two. This post got linked by The Tank! And Keith - you were screwed. As were two officers I know who had similar experiences in Afstan. Both called-up Reservists. Pure BS.
 
By WereKitten on March 28, 2008 3:59 PM
Congrats on the link, John! And yes, he did get screwed. The reason was stupid back then, and remains stupid to this day.
 
By Sgt. B. on March 28, 2008 9:45 PM
Primary mission would transition from training allies to hands on morale boosting.
Umm, you forgot to mention the whole "putting hot lead on the bad guys" portion of this garden party... And as for:
Oh, Sgt. B... are those "different stripes" caused by whips, by chance??
No ma'am, no whips... Maybe a good tongue lashing... The stripes would be the strawberry and warm chocolate sauces... *looking over as the PGF-17 'bot rushes up* What? I didn't say nuthin'!
 
By bad cat robot on March 28, 2008 10:10 PM
A most excellent patch. Needs more bionics, so it can be elevated to a Bad Cat Robot. Or is that a tab that goes above it? That cat, though, looks very much like one who lived on base at the Naval Research Laboratory in DC. He was properly Navy black, and an inelastic collision with a car (and tough-guy evasive maneuvers to avoid the vet-medic) left him with a permanent list to port, but he was still one tough kitty. Although a civilian, I was occasionally allowed to pet him since I knew where the itchy spot was on the jaw ...
 
By WereKitten on March 28, 2008 10:54 PM
Tongue lashing??!!! ooh mmmyyyyy I just *hate it* when that happens.... ;-)
 
By BillT on March 30, 2008 1:02 AM
Dang. If I'd known that you were gonna show this off ("Hey, everybody -- Bill's coherent again!"), I'd have gotten a decent haircut...