Comments for You know you're a planner when...

You know you're a planner when...

2009-06-13T12:49:14Z

"You look at the people working 12 hour shifts on the JOC floor and think, "Man, those cats have got it easy."

-Heartless Libertarian, Afstan, 2009.

Ah, the life of an under-appreciated overworked Staff Weenie, who really *would* rather be out in the boonies vice livin' large on the FOB. At least in the boonies, you can usually shoot what bothers you.

On the FOB, not so much.

So, war heroes and armchair generals... d'you have any more bon mots along the line of "You know you're a planner when...?"

Comment from Cricket on 2009-06-15

2009-06-15T16:10:47Z

My son had a retired AF Col. for his history teacher in middle school. Aside from the 'I Love Me' wall he had in his classroom, all the assignments were outlined, requested actual research and reading, had glossaries, cross-referenced with the dictionary and the text, and was mildly suggestive of the children doing the same in their papers. Oh, and he did want them to cite everything that was relevant, and if they came up with it themselves, they had to know enought about grammar to write the report in the third person and not refer to themselves in the first person.

Bwahahahaha...

Comment from Baldricbear on 2009-06-15

2009-06-15T12:53:58Z

...you finish briefing the CinC and his first comment is, "No plan survives the first shot."
...after you put the combined OPLAN in the system, you do the CONPLAN classified one level higher that moves your allies from Annex A to Annex B. And a few years later, that's the one that gets executed.

Comment from Grumpy on 2009-06-14

2009-06-15T00:21:15Z

MAJ Mike,

"Folks need to remember that a large number of school teachers are retired military and don't fit the NEA mold." Question, shouldn't there have a "TINS Warning" with that comment? What is TINS? "This Is No Sh#t!"

It is a good thing, that you are teaching US History. Good grief, if you stop and think about it, you made it. About being, "politically correct", it has never been my strong suit from either side.

You are teaching US History, this is good. As it is often said, "He who does not learn from history is condemned to repeat it." Coming from the Military, you can understand the importance of the study of all of our history, the good, the bad and ugly. This includes all of us on all sides. This will give you the truth

Comment from MAJ Mike on 2009-06-14

2009-06-14T21:11:02Z

Grumpy: Did an extensive IPB prior to the interview (9 years ago) and they hired me. I'm the second-most politically incorrect teacher on campus. A retired USAF Chief Master Sergeant is just ahead of me.

About 10% of my school's faculty is retired military. Drives the DemCong nuts when I teach the truth (textbooks tend to lie). We have a target rich environment. and many sacred cows get a battery five first round fire-for-effect.

Folks need to remember that a large number of school teachers are retired military and don't fit the NEA mold.

Comment from Heartless Libertarian on 2009-06-14

2009-06-14T19:22:40Z

BTW John, the authoer of The Litanies should be back at Leavenworth to be an instructor and finish out his doctorate right about now.

If you see him, tell him Hi from the Zwei und Achtziger Kaiserlische FallSchirmjaeger Division.

Comment from Grumpy on 2009-06-14

2009-06-14T16:44:03Z

MAJ Mike,

I hope you bring the same type of Military Discipline and Vision of the Battle Space to this new Theatre of Operations, for yourself, not your students. Be the example of history, because you are her representative. *No, I didn't say you are history, that's my role!*

I figure you've already done all of this.

So, I wish you the very best in your new assignment,

Grumpy

Comment from Eric Delegard on 2009-06-14

2009-06-14T13:30:35Z

Here is a hilarious planners website: http://www.nbc-links.com/planner.html

Comment from Desert Sailor on 2009-06-14

2009-06-14T10:46:38Z

"You know you are.....when....."

"The Three" looks over your brief and then points to a slide of formations and asks "Can you make them march through?" resulting in three 20 hr days of animation - which is all scrapped inside 5 mins when the four star reviews "The Great Idea". Think Iraqi Army Day '06.....Grrrrrrrrrrr

..... competing laser pointers are scored by color and brightness as the latest in "staff cool" accessories, thereby making the brief in question look like a rugby match between bright mating skittles up on the big screen.

Comment from KimcheeGI on 2009-06-14

2009-06-14T06:46:55Z

Heartless Libertarian,
No, just a big fan of his. Had the 'pleasure' of being an Exercise Plans NCOIC during my last tour in the ROK. Your first "You know you're a planner when..." hit the nail on the head.

Comment from MAJ Mike on 2009-06-13

2009-06-14T02:11:40Z

Grumpy: Yeah, but when you're the Log Readiness Specialist for a TXARNG brigade, your weekend commander wants things to look pretty when he briefs the Unit Status Report to the division commander. Gotta look good to move up to ADC!!

My skills, both operational and support, didn't get me to LTC though. Now I have a real job, Teaching high school U.S. History amongst the DemCong has given me the opportunity for a Second Front.

Comment from Grumpy on 2009-06-13

2009-06-13T23:53:44Z

@Heartless Libertarian, you really are heartless, "missing chow hall". Snicker, snicker.

@MAJ Mike "....designing tho Powerpoint slide background...." Isn't that the purpose of computer geeks? This is what the Military planners say. I do think there just might be some interesting "behind closed doors" discussion on the subject.

Comment from MAJ Mike on 2009-06-13

2009-06-13T22:31:15Z

"... when you spend more time designing the Powerpoint slide background than on the briefing itself."

Comment from Heartless Libertarian on 2009-06-13

2009-06-13T20:22:15Z

...you only contemplate eating at the aforementioned places when youmissed the chow hall hours due to production deadlines.

Comment from TSO on 2009-06-13

2009-06-13T19:28:35Z

While on Bagram, contemplating dinner you wonder whether you should have Subway, Baskin Robbins, BK or Green Beans, because Viper Chow just doesn't have enough options.

Comment from John of Argghhh! on 2009-06-13

2009-06-13T19:14:55Z

I can see I need to publish the Consolidated Litany. Perhaps tomorrow.

Comment from Grumpy on 2009-06-13

2009-06-13T18:13:41Z

"You know you're a planner when......" everybody gives you the *"WTF"* look. You gotta remember they only have part of the picture. Ain't fair, but that's the way it is.

Comment from R Jewell on 2009-06-13

2009-06-13T18:11:23Z

Joe Snuffy points out that you start every conversation with the phrase..........

THIS is how it's going to be........

From now on.........

NO exceptions!!

Comment from 11B40 on 2009-06-13

2009-06-13T17:35:46Z

Greetings:

...when you have more pencils than bullets.

...when your uniforms have days of the week tags instead of months of the year.

Comment from BillT on 2009-06-13

2009-06-13T16:44:39Z

...when you get an MSM for completing a task that would have earned a Line Guy a verbal Attaboy.

Comment from eric on 2009-06-13

2009-06-13T16:32:59Z

kimchee, are you sure you didn't accidentaly use definitions from an encyclopedia article on sado-masochistic movies?

Comment from Heartless Libertarian on 2009-06-13

2009-06-13T14:54:00Z

Kimchee, you sound a whole lot like a certain caustic Strat Planner formerly of the 101st Imperial

Comment from Alan Briley, RN on 2009-06-13

2009-06-13T14:33:59Z

A FRAG order, followed by an Op-Order is all you need for most problems. Followed by an AAR, and the Infantryman's planning and follw-up is done!

Comment from KimcheeGI on 2009-06-13

2009-06-13T14:25:47Z

You know the difference between FISTCON, HANDCON, and FAVORCON and when to use them appropriately. (From the Consolidated Litany)

You know who Epictetus was and why he's important.

Comment from Argent on 2009-06-13

2009-06-13T14:20:11Z

.. you spend three months getting approval for your pass to get by security in order to hold a 20 minute presentation to get funding for the 40 million dollar project on streamlined security protocols.

.. the only people insightful, skilled or intelligent enough to discuss the merits and issues of the plan with cannot be communicated with due to confidentiality concerns.

.. your flawless 327 page masterpiece which took you one and half years to formulate and polish is picked to pieces in 5 minutes by some pimple faced guy hired yesterday.

.. you demand the kids follow your 33 step justification and approval proceedure for a raise in their pocket money. You discover the limitations in planning methodology when to try the same for the wife's suggestion you mow the lawn.