Big Tobacco has a good post on military bling. He sent me a note:
BT needs to get out more. He's being visited by the shade of Moshe Dayan. That said, it's a great post and he has a great trivia question in it - which 99% of you will have to Google. I had to, though if he'd done it a touch differently, I wouldn't have.
You know you want to read it. Because this is only one of several very good paragraphs in it.
When signal units are out doing route clearance and infantry units are guarding the gate, you kind of become disillusioned quickly.”
Indeed. Just ask the Infantillery of this war. And the infantavalry.
Keep a sharp eye out, BT. Don't be the guy who died for AAFES.
I sent him this back:John,
I wrote that post about combat patches. You don't need to post a link to it. It's not that good, but I'm letting you know about it because I said I would. [BT always sends me a note telling me how crappy his work is... snerk]
A lot of the guys here refused to wear their patches out of principle. They see the other companies leaving the gate every day and can't be with them and it kills them. We recently had to give up a mechanic to the other companies and the mechanics were literally fighting over a chance to go.
Literally, just minutes ago, I got an email regarding our latest mission as Force Protection, for this little FOB. We were going to to provide escorts and gun trucks for the Pogey Bait trailer as they bring it onto the FOB and install it.
I can't make this up, John. We are guarding the movement of a Pogey Bait trailer.
BT
Well, isn't that a sure sign we're winning?
Though I completely understand why it chaps your butt.
Especially if anybody actually gets hurt doing it.
BT needs to get out more. He's being visited by the shade of Moshe Dayan. That said, it's a great post and he has a great trivia question in it - which 99% of you will have to Google. I had to, though if he'd done it a touch differently, I wouldn't have.
You know you want to read it. Because this is only one of several very good paragraphs in it.
“The men are upset about the mission. We got promised Area Security Operations and ended up standing at Entry Control Points watching the rest of our battalion leave the gate. The men ripped their patches off because we aren’t in combat. I don’t know where the hell we are, but it’s not combat. When signal units are out doing route clearance and infantry units are guarding the gate, you kind of become disillusioned quickly.”
When signal units are out doing route clearance and infantry units are guarding the gate, you kind of become disillusioned quickly.”
Indeed. Just ask the Infantillery of this war. And the infantavalry.
Keep a sharp eye out, BT. Don't be the guy who died for AAFES.
- many are called, but few are chosen.
- you can draw yer saber and join the charge, or stand here quietly and hold the re-mounts. you can even run back to the creek and re-fill the canteens. whatever you do, don't cheer for the hostiles. and those canteens DO need re-filling.
- if it pisses you off so much, how come i haven't seen you refusing the imminent danger pay and the combat zone tax exclusion.
- Department of the Army determines criteria for awarding the Right Side Shoulder Sleeve Insignia, not you. many a brave troop has died earning that patch, and the surest way to honor THEM is for you to just shut yer pie-hole and proudly wear it and carry on their legacy by humbly going to re-fill those damn canteens (cuz they ain't gonna fill themselves).
so now, since i have the luxurious choice of which RSSSI i can wear, can you understand that it is THAT one that i still choose to wear?? nothing at all against the other patch to which i am entitled, but THAT original one has a meaning all its own (also).
It ain't about being shot at, BT, it's a recognition that when the Call came, you went.
And you *did*, buddy.
2. Ben Dunkelman ...
Cheers