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...
Time to add a new caveat, because from email it's not clear to some folks (mind you, if you don't read this it won't matter...) Being an open post, people (collectively, the Denizens) other than I post in the H&I. They sign their work (most of the time) - keep that in mind when you want to flame someone in email please - if it doesn't say "The Armorer" or "John" then I didn't write it! And honestly - if you don't like something said or posted... leave a comment, and hash it out (within the context of The Rulez which are clearly posted on the comment form, I would add).
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CJ, over at his VA Mortagage Center blog, talks about why he has stayed an enlisted soldier, vice striking for a warrant or commission;
One of the questions was, “why does a Second Lieutenant make so much more money than a Staff Sergeant?” The simple answer was that the LT CHOSE to become a commissioned and the Sergeant had CHOSEN to remain enlisted.He had a good point. Every single Soldier has the choice to go Green to Gold - going from the enlisted to commissioned ranks - provided we were high speed Soldiers who stayed out of trouble. I’ve been hounded by many of my commanders and Warrant Officers about getting a commission or going warrant. However, I like being enlisted. Why?
Heh. As if we ossifers care why you lot do what you do, as long as you do what we want you to do… and, of course, make us look good doing it! I mean, really.** ;^ ) -the Armorer
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This is good stuff. I'd sign up for this, were I still a uniform-wearing kind of fellow. Not least because I've known Greg Fontenot for a long time, from getting our respective units to REFORGER 88 and back, and beyond and between. He's a sharp man to work with and for.
To Battle Groupthink, the Army Trains a Skeptics Corps -the Armorer
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I admit, the officer in me twitched when I saw this story - the first thing out of my mouth when I saw the pic was... where-the-helk is this Marine's body armor and helmet? Answer? On the ground behind him. I wonder if he's still that macho, after being made famous by this set of photos... There are lots of reasons why he could be "combat-nekkid" but most of 'em aren't good ones. -the Armorer
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*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 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 that particular topic. Another term of art that might be appropriate is "Free Fire Zone".
**For the irony-impaired... joke, and CJ liked it, too. -the Armorer
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