Well, sure, anything labeled "SAFETY ALERT" in all-cap, block lettering, with extensive underlining and Safety Yellow highlighting is gonna catch your attention, right?
Particularly when it's set squarely on the end of your dining table, protected by about 10 mils of clear plastic sheeting (aka, our tablecloth).
So, that's why it caught *my* attention.
Heh.
FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT THE COS WARRIOR MAYOR CELL AT [redacted]
Someone is looking for another bullet point on his -- or her -- OER. The previous regimes only made power-belt wear mandatory if you were walking -- or jogging -- along the road at night, because 99% of the foot traffic around here takes place either on sidewalks (where vehicular traffic is nonexistent), or within the troop housing areas (where vehicular traffic is rare during daylight hours and nonexistent after dark).
And since the periods of "limited visibility" other than nighttime are limited to the gadwalloping dust storms we have, when even the *sun* isn't visible, wearing a reflective belt will only induce a false sense of security while you're walking along a road -- that MRAP driver won't know he hit you until he pulls into the motor pool and finds your reflective belt wrapped around his axle.
The irony of it is that the only vehicle-hits-troop accidents we've had have happened in broad daylight, and they happened either because someone was in too big a hurry to use a ground guide or because a troop thoughtlessly stepped out into the street without looking for traffic.
And needing to wear a reflective belt to get into the DFAC? Ummmmmmm -- let's just say I've never heard of someone being waffled by an MRAP while standing in the chow line and let it go at that...
I could go on. But before anyone starts berating me, I'm a school-trained Safety Officer, and I was taught that safety is common sense. Use a ground guide in the parking areas. Don't step out from between Jersey barriers ten feet in front of a moving MRAP and expect the driver to be able to stop.
So, here's the deal.
I don't have a belt, I self-illuminate. I wear a red LED clip-on and walk with an NVG-compatible mini-mag.
Buuuuuut, I'll need excuses to get into the DFAC past the Power-Belt Gestapo Checker, and here are a few I came up with:
"I *am* wearing a reflective belt -- it's *infrared*-reflective."
"I went to buy one in the PX, but they didn't have my color -- plaid."
"I don't need a belt -- I was exposed to Agent Orange, and I glow in the dark."
Got the idea? Have at it.
And, uhhhhh, could you hurry? I've already used those three, and my stomach is growling...
*heh*
Particularly when it's set squarely on the end of your dining table, protected by about 10 mils of clear plastic sheeting (aka, our tablecloth).
So, that's why it caught *my* attention.
Heh.
WHILE OUTDOORS ON COS WARRIOR ALL
US FORCES, CONTRACTORS, AND
CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES WILL:
US FORCES, CONTRACTORS, AND
CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES WILL:
- WEAR REFLECTIVE BELT OR VEST BETWEEN HOURS OF 1700 AND 0700
- AT ALL TIMES, CARRY REFLECTIVE BELT/VEST IN CASE YOU ARE OUT IN HOURS OF DARKNESS OR LIMITED VISIBILITY
- WEAR A REFLECTIVE BELT/VEST IN ORDER TO ENTER THE DFAC BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 1700 AND 0700
FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT THE COS WARRIOR MAYOR CELL AT [redacted]
Someone is looking for another bullet point on his -- or her -- OER. The previous regimes only made power-belt wear mandatory if you were walking -- or jogging -- along the road at night, because 99% of the foot traffic around here takes place either on sidewalks (where vehicular traffic is nonexistent), or within the troop housing areas (where vehicular traffic is rare during daylight hours and nonexistent after dark).
And since the periods of "limited visibility" other than nighttime are limited to the gadwalloping dust storms we have, when even the *sun* isn't visible, wearing a reflective belt will only induce a false sense of security while you're walking along a road -- that MRAP driver won't know he hit you until he pulls into the motor pool and finds your reflective belt wrapped around his axle.
The irony of it is that the only vehicle-hits-troop accidents we've had have happened in broad daylight, and they happened either because someone was in too big a hurry to use a ground guide or because a troop thoughtlessly stepped out into the street without looking for traffic.
And needing to wear a reflective belt to get into the DFAC? Ummmmmmm -- let's just say I've never heard of someone being waffled by an MRAP while standing in the chow line and let it go at that...
I could go on. But before anyone starts berating me, I'm a school-trained Safety Officer, and I was taught that safety is common sense. Use a ground guide in the parking areas. Don't step out from between Jersey barriers ten feet in front of a moving MRAP and expect the driver to be able to stop.
So, here's the deal.
I don't have a belt, I self-illuminate. I wear a red LED clip-on and walk with an NVG-compatible mini-mag.
"I *am* wearing a reflective belt -- it's *infrared*-reflective."
"I went to buy one in the PX, but they didn't have my color -- plaid."
"I don't need a belt -- I was exposed to Agent Orange, and I glow in the dark."
Got the idea? Have at it.
And, uhhhhh, could you hurry? I've already used those three, and my stomach is growling...
*heh*
P.s. This reminds me of a discussion I had, back when I was riding a motorcycle on the street, as to wearing which kind of clothing made you safer; the screamingly conspicuous, or the dull-colored inconspicuous. We decided that well, it just depends, on whether they are trying to hit you, or miss you.
"Mayor?" "Mayor Cell?" Reeeeeely?
This would be distinct from... "Commander?"
Housing areas in stateside garrisons have "Mayors."
Our mayor in Boz was a female 1LT who was solid gold as far as getting things done for her "citizens," but she knew she had clout and wasn't afraid to use it, even on someone two grades higher. Dunno who our mayor is over here -- it's not like he (or she) has exactly bent over backwards the past year or so to make anybody's time over here any easier.
*wonders whether that should be great-great-great-great-great-great-........great-grandfathered*
Mayors in housing?? What idiot came up with that idea? And who thought it was a good enough idea to implement? Obviously, it's been a looooong time since I've lived in housing. Fortunately, I won't ever have to do so again, but still......mayors? Really?
*shakes head disbelievingly at the inanity*
Woodruff must be his name, and must be all *er* hard-up for his silver oaks. Wherever he goes sotto voce whispers follow him saying: "There goes MAJ Woody".
Then you get a rogue like Mr. B who wears an electric 27# blue thong and they can't touch him because he is essential.
heh.
Actually, they CAN touch him, but since they know he wears an electric blue thong, none of them WANT to. Except for that Captain from San Francisco and...
We are soooooooo screwed.
It's just like you normals to immediately think of the social aspects of the situation.
0>;~}
I got drafted as the Time-Hollerer-Outer because the bullhorn took a powder, and they needed someone who could be heard, unamplified, 200 meters away, over the sound of the KWs zizzing around the pattern.
Hmmmmmm. I think I just discovered why they designated me as "Emergency Essential"...
www.fashioningtech.com/profiles/blogs/tron-quorra-costume
Cheers
I don't know which disturbs me more -- the fact that you found that item or the fact that you cruise the fashion blogs.
Can you be any more disturbed than you already are?
0>;~}
This is nothing new. I remember when AF flight jackets were forest green on the outside, orange on the inside, and reversible.