Salute!!
Happy Armed Forces Day
They may wear different uniforms, but they’re playing for the same team. Happy Armed Forces Day to our brothers and sisters in the US Army, US Navy, US Air Force, Marines, and US Coast Guard.
Thank you for having our backs. Rest assured we have yours.
Deadpool Update: General Norman Schwartzkopf
From Fox News:
Schwarzkopf was named commander in chief of U.S. Central Command at Tampa’s MacDill Air Force Base in 1988, overseeing the headquarters for U.S. military and security concerns in nearly two dozen countries stretching across the Middle East to Afghanistan and the rest of central Asia, plus Pakistan.
When Saddam invaded Kuwait two years later to punish it for allegedly stealing Iraqi oil reserves, Schwarzkopf commanded Operation Desert Storm, the coalition of some 30 countries organized by President George H.W. Bush that succeeded in driving the Iraqis out.
He will always be “The Bear” to us. Godspeed, kind sir.
NOTE: The General was not on anyone’s list but he’s certainly deserving of the honor of a post.
Operation Moniker
I have to admit: naming military operations can be decidedly tricky. Some, like Operation Desert Storm sound majestic and pretty much sum up the purpose of the campaign. Others, like Operation Menu (which was the bombing of Cambodia during the Vietnam War) bear no relation to the actual campaign, and fall very short of being a good descriptor. There are some that take description of the operation way too far, like Russia’s Operation Forcing Georgia to Peace, which as we all know was total bullshit anyway, and should have been named Operation Push Georgia Into Defending Itself. Commie bastards….
Anyway, in the days following the attacks of 9/11, Neal Boortz was talking about the coming war, and the possible names of the operations that would be talking place. The names that were being bandied about fell short in Hubby’s estimation:
Me: Well, what would you call it, then?
Hubby: I would call it Operation Smoking Crater. Or if you want subtle, Operation Desert Glass.
Me: Ooooh… much better.
Names should strike as much fear as the actual physical operation, in my humble opinion. I want the terrorists to have a bowel movement when they hear something like Operation Killemall. Or better yet, Operation Moms Are Pissed.
What operation names can you come up with?? 
Gary O’Neal, the First Counter Terrorist
(Guest post by LC Draco)
Most of you have NEVER heard his name, and for good reason. As most of you have never heard of Blue Light, the precursor to Delta Force. This man is just that….a MAN!!
On Gary’s mother’s side are several notable Sioux Warriors including Chief Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse. His grandfather mentored him according to the Sioux Warrior path which includes a Sundance and eventually a four day vision quest.
Gary joined the military in a not so legal manner at the age of seventeen and completed a tour in Vietnam. He was recommended for the Silver Star for bravery but the Government didn’t take to kindly to Gary borrowing someone else’s name to get into the service, so they kicked him out. An anonymous Special Forces Sergeant Major helped Gary get back into the service again but he had to go through basic training, airborne school and other training all over again. Did he mind? Hell No, he was having fun and looking forward to getting back into combat.
{snip}
While retrieving his friend’s body, Gary’s undercover identity was compromised and he was tortured to the point of near death. Due to Gary’s special training and his life long study of martial arts he was able to slow down his heart rate enough to appear dead to his captors. After escaping and recovering from his wounds Gary was able to track down his enemies and send them to the afterlife.
Here’s the article.
Independence Day
Like most of you, I have read the Declaration of Independence a few times. And at the end of the Preamble, there is this:
But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.
That is my favorite part, the one quote that lies at the heart of what the Declaration means. There are some that choose to forget what this means, and there are others that fight for it, everyday.
There will come a time when we will need to throw off despotism, and provide new guards for our future security. History has taught us this: that she will repeat herself as long as ignorance abounds like putrescent mold upon the fabric of time.
Though this post is somber in thought, I hope you celebrate our country’s independence with joy, and much laughter, and while you are looking up to the heavens enjoying the fireworks, give a thought to the men and women who have sacrificed so much for our freedoms.
Long may she wave 
PTSD Awareness Day
(Guest post by LC Draco)
Yesterday, 27 June 2011, was Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Awareness Day.
Why is it important? Most of us who remember seeing the movie “Patton”, remember him slapping a soldier who had ‘battle fatigue’. Back then, and until a couple of years ago, PTSD/battle fatigue/shell shock had a stigma of weakness. I refused to be diagnosed several years ago with PTSD due to that stigma (That refusal changed last year). Even the military now is changing their mentality. One study has reported that 1 in 6 soldiers returning from Iraq and/or Afghanistan will be diagnosed with PTSD. The issue is it affects not just the soldier, but family and friends, who are usually the first to notice the symptoms.
Now, however, there are actual medical testing that can be done to see chemical changes in the brain during repeated stressful/traumatic situations and events.
Please take a minute and look here for the National Center for PTSD to be better acquainted with the program.
Gates of Hell
Color me oh, so shocked. Our esteemed Secretary of Defense, Robert Gates is touring Afghanistan on his last days as Sec Def, has basically sold out our military to the altar of politics.
Defense Secretary Robert Gates bluntly told Marines on Sunday that they won’t be able to opt out of their enlistment just because they disagree with a government decision to end a ban on gays serving openly in the military.
If that isn’t a slap in the face, I don’t know what is. I admit I was excited to see the President of Texas A&M University get picked to be Sec Def after Donald Rumsfeld retired (or was thrown under the bus). Gates had shown a lot of improvement at my alma mater, though some things struck an odd note with some Old Ags, like keeping the office of the Vice President of Diversity. And under Bush he did a fair job of being diplomatic. But in my opinion, he wasn’t chosen to be a diplomat.
And we he chose to stay under Prez Obama, I knew it was a problem. He chose to follow whoever is in office, rather than speak for the men and women of our military. And a man like that will not stand for anything.
“We have not given the Marines a chance to decide whether they wish to continue serving [without the Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy]. Is there going to be an option for those Marines that no longer wish to serve due to the fact their moral values have not changed?” [the sergeant] asked.
“No,” Gates responded. “You’ll have to complete your … enlistment just like everybody else.”
{snip}
“[Y]ou don’t agree with each other on a lot of things,” he added. “But you still serve together. And you work together. And you look out for each other. And that’s all that matters.”
According to Gates, there is “training” underway to prepare the military for the new policy.
When I was going to school, we called that “re-education.”
Congratulations, Mr. Gates. You were the first one to screw our military under the new policy. Have a cigar.
In Remembrance
In honor of those who have died protecting our liberties.
In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie,
In Flanders fields.Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
For the brave men and women who died while in service to this great country.
Cross-posted at Sithy Things.
Purple Hearts for Concussions
(Guest post by LC Draco)
Okay, I have been round and round with fellow combat veterans over this subject. Apparently there are several lines of thought. “If you do not bleed, you do not get a Purple Heart.” comes to mind. The Army just released new guidance, that DOES NOT change the criteria, just clarifies it. The Purple Heart is unique in a couple of ways. One, you only need to meet the CRITERIA for the award. Second, there is no statute of limitations for submission. The Army is still giving out PHs for survivors of WWi, WWII, Korean and Vietnam vets.
OK, here is the rub. The first is a Memorandum signed by COL Caravalho in 2008. http://www.pdhealth.mil/downloads/mTBI_Policy6may.pdf He is now the Commander of Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio. I have chatted with him and he is an honest and professional soldier. (Knowing how the Army works, I PERSONALLY think a staff member snuck a specific sentence in the memo. I can not confirm or deny that, though!)
Second, the new Army guidance… www.hrc.army.mil/site/media/releases/042911PHTBIRelease.pdf
Now several of you know my brother was shot in Baghdad and, rightfully, received a Purple Heart for his injury. My team and I were in Iraq in 2004 and were on the receiving end of numerous mortar and rocket attacks, but due to the military mindset and our being in the middle of nowhere, were never submitted for Purple Hearts for concussions/mTBI. I did not even know I was eligible until December of last year. Several of my team, including myself, have been diagnosed several times with Mild Traumatic Brain Injury and Post Concussion Syndrome. New technology (post 2005) allows brain injuries to be documented and verified.
Now the point of this post….Do you believe, regardless of what military regulations state, that concussions or any non-visible wound warrant a Purple Heart? And, does it diminish the award? (As a side note, I am AGAINST awarding the PH for PTSD.)
LC Draco
How Do Soldiers Get From Drinking Beer to Killing Insurgents?
(Guest post by LC Draco)
I have been asked numerous times how the military knows how to do what it is we do. (Especially in combat!!) With this in mind, I have decided to use today’s post to explain exactly that.
The Army, Navy, Marines, and Air Force all have their different planning processes. (Those are for different posts!) But the result of the Army’s planning process is called the OPERATIONS ORDER (OPORD).
The Army actually has three main types of orders:
The Warning Order, or WARNO, lets a unit know they are about to receive a mission, so GET READY!!! It has basic information about an up coming operation and a unit normally receives several before the higher unit releases the actual Operation Order. It allows the subordinate unit to begin preparing for the operation.
The OPERATIONS ORDER, is the actual THIS IS HOW WE ARE GOING TO DO THIS OPERATION!!
The Fragmentary Order, or FRAGO, which updates or changes the OPORD. These are usually based on changing events or situations. I have seen units issue over 400 FRAGOs to a basic OPORD.
One thing that is common in all types of orders is they have FIVE paragraphs:
1. Situation (Discusses enemy and friendly dispositions, etc.)
2. Mission (The who, what, where, when and why)
3. Execution (The HOW we are gonna do this mission)
4. Sustainment (How we are gonna get the beans and bullets)
5. Command and Control (Who’s in charge and what happens if everything goes to hell!)
It is a time consuming process sometimes to develop a full OPORD. There are also Annex’s and Appendices and are branch specific. For example, Annex B -- Intelligence….Annex C -- Operations…Annex F -- Engineers.
I have seen complete Division OPORDs with Annex’s go upwards of over 500+ pages. (Normally at the Company and Platoon levels, however, the pages number about 3-10.)
The Army’s main Field Manual that discusses how to develop orders is FM 5-0 (The Operations Process) and can be found at http://usacac.army.mil/CAC2/FM50/ for those with AKO access.
This was a pretty basic description, but I hope this sheds a little bit of light on how our soldiers get from drinking beer to killing insurgents!!!
Now the gratuitous Army pic that was asked for by B.C:
She can help me write an OPORD any day!!!
See you all next week!!
LC Draco
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