I dare steal not even a cup from Smaug's Lair.
Just a little taste of the nocturnal vocal orchestra across the path. Turn up the volume, to about 8/10, dial 9-1, and be concerned.
16 October 2011
15 October 2011
SMART BOMB! Ignorance is a crutch, Part 2
Come with me on a journey. Let's say your at your uncle's retirement party. Your Uncle Sean. He's worked at he same big company for 35 years and made it up above middle management, after starting in the mail room. He's worked with a lot of people over he years and made a lot of good friends. Plus your family is big, and rather close. It's a great occasion and in his honor everyone has come out for a dinner held at the banquet hall of a local classy hotel. All is well. About 3/4's of the way through the evening you learn that Uncle Sean's immediate boss has stopped in to pay his respects and see him off properly, with well wishes. They've worked together and around each other for the last 11 years or so. As word spreads of the unexpected presence of the boss, he gets cornered and asked to get on the microphone and say a few words. He's reluctant at first, but after a few passes shrugs his shoulders "Alright fine, if you all insist".
"Ya know, over the last few years, I've worked with my friend here, and it's been a real pleasure. He is a hard worker, a go-getter, a problem solver, and just an overall excellent person. It's been a privilege to be by his side, making this company better. What else can I say about old...Sam? My good buddy Sam."
You cringe, your Mom cringes, the grandkids are loudly asking "Who is Sam?" Uncle Sean is turning red, but doesn't want to be rude or cause a scene. He continues, "I remember this one time, Sam and I went up to Corporate together. What a time that was. Do you remember that one Sam? That's the kind of bonding that is the glue for this team." Now the adults are grumbling "Is this guy for real? Unbelievable."
Really embarrassing and just overall uncomfortable, right? The words "MDMP Process" give me the same feeling. The Military Decision Making Process (Process) seems to be one of the worst offenders for ingrained acronym failure. I don't know why, but I've had more instructors who will say "MDMP Process" repeatedly, and it makes my skin crawl.
We've entered the decision making process training portion of our time here. A lot of evaluators, the observer controllers/trainers, and even our leadership say it. My instructor at school said it 20 times a day, for a week straight.
The first time I hear it, you've lost credit, which is sad because I've seen and heard many of my respected superiors just throw it around like crazy. Please stop toying with my emotions. C'mon now.
"Ya know, over the last few years, I've worked with my friend here, and it's been a real pleasure. He is a hard worker, a go-getter, a problem solver, and just an overall excellent person. It's been a privilege to be by his side, making this company better. What else can I say about old...Sam? My good buddy Sam."
You cringe, your Mom cringes, the grandkids are loudly asking "Who is Sam?" Uncle Sean is turning red, but doesn't want to be rude or cause a scene. He continues, "I remember this one time, Sam and I went up to Corporate together. What a time that was. Do you remember that one Sam? That's the kind of bonding that is the glue for this team." Now the adults are grumbling "Is this guy for real? Unbelievable."
Really embarrassing and just overall uncomfortable, right? The words "MDMP Process" give me the same feeling. The Military Decision Making Process (Process) seems to be one of the worst offenders for ingrained acronym failure. I don't know why, but I've had more instructors who will say "MDMP Process" repeatedly, and it makes my skin crawl.
We've entered the decision making process training portion of our time here. A lot of evaluators, the observer controllers/trainers, and even our leadership say it. My instructor at school said it 20 times a day, for a week straight.
The first time I hear it, you've lost credit, which is sad because I've seen and heard many of my respected superiors just throw it around like crazy. Please stop toying with my emotions. C'mon now.
13 October 2011
I said WHAT WHAT...
My best day thus far started with a fellow soldier stating that we needed to move out with our C.A.C. Card (Common Access Card, Card), and get in line to reset our P.I.N. Number (Personal Identification Number, Number) by 0800hrs. He proceeded to state "hurry hurry", mind you it is now 0500hrs! Excellent time management SGT, someone promote this guy.
As the high speed individual I am, I immediately ran down the hall to get in line, EXSPECIALLY since it came from the big Sarge (once again, someone promote this guy, NOW.) While attempting to locate the location (details, details) I had to get my map and myself ORIANTATED when I spotted a group of OCIFFERS and proceeded to ask "SIRS, where can I find the place to do the thing?" They replied, "be advised, it is approximately 2 millimeters mike mikes to your left o'clock, I REPEAT, YOUR LEFT O'CLOCK" I replied with "roger SIRS (obviously the proper term for addressing multiple SIRS), read you LIMA CHARLEY, over AND out....I copy, there's this road (toe drawing on dirt, on cement (not to me confused with seeeemen)) next to FOB Phoenix... OVER. Mind you this took place in 2 oh 8 (when the fuck was that!?) and then there's this road, completely irrelevant to where I needed to go, once again, details details.
Now that I've successfully pissed off 102% of the contributors on this blog, I will officially start (and end) my post with one last statement: On behalf of most of us, it's frustrating seeing highly competent individuals making reckless decisions. The overall sentiment can best be described by the link bellow.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fbGkxcY7YFU
GET SOME!
...In the but.
12 October 2011
I'm new and ish just got real
I've followed the blog for awhile now and loved every minute of reading the past posts. For the past ten days I contemplated writing in it at night but couldn't find the time and couldn't decide what to write. On second thought, it wasn't a matter of what to write(most people around here know there is no shortage of what could be written) but more how to write it. That said, I've decided to ease my way in with this ish.
All in all today was a decent day. Decent until someone sharted into my homemade chicken noodle soup, which sounds absolutely delicious right now(ahem, babe, are you reading this yet?). I was getting filled in on the info that got passed around while I was out, and was told that our unit cannot play any type of team sports anymore. Understandably there is risk of injury with team sports and semi-understandably there is the concept that we all need to be in mint shape to deploy(so why do we have so many broken people?). The thing that got me was the next piece of info on the list. "physical training tomorrow will be body armor PT". So let me get this straight, we can't play basketball, but running around with a 40lb vest on makes sense. Huh? PT with a 40lb vest on is a great workout, but where was the logic in the decision making process? Redonkulous.
On a more positive note, I hit the gym with one of our "more better"(goes hand in hand with "sirs", and it makes me chuckle...but not too loud, because Thor's hammer has a habit of appearing when morale gets too high) leaders. It felt great, but also painful.
Night Night world.
All in all today was a decent day. Decent until someone sharted into my homemade chicken noodle soup, which sounds absolutely delicious right now(ahem, babe, are you reading this yet?). I was getting filled in on the info that got passed around while I was out, and was told that our unit cannot play any type of team sports anymore. Understandably there is risk of injury with team sports and semi-understandably there is the concept that we all need to be in mint shape to deploy(so why do we have so many broken people?). The thing that got me was the next piece of info on the list. "physical training tomorrow will be body armor PT". So let me get this straight, we can't play basketball, but running around with a 40lb vest on makes sense. Huh? PT with a 40lb vest on is a great workout, but where was the logic in the decision making process? Redonkulous.
On a more positive note, I hit the gym with one of our "more better"(goes hand in hand with "sirs", and it makes me chuckle...but not too loud, because Thor's hammer has a habit of appearing when morale gets too high) leaders. It felt great, but also painful.
Night Night world.
or "No no, please, tell me what you really think"
I'll take "Feedback from the Company-level CCS" for $200 please Alex.
Your answer: "out of touch, toxic".
What is: "How most of the Soldiers feel about their respective Commanders".
BINGO.
A topic of late "around the water cooler" here at work has been the request, by the boss, for Command Climate Surveys to be given to the Soldiers of the two units.this survey is a tool for the leadership to receive feedback, anonymously, from their Soldiers on the overall climate of the unit. It allows them to answer questions like "On a scale of 1 to 5, how much you agree with the statement 'I'm confident my leadership cares about my welfare' or 'makes sound decisions and gives me ample time to execute at my level' or 'is effective in their current position'".
The Soldiers are nervous about having their responses kept confidential, so they can be candid. The Commanders (should be) nervous about overwhelmingly negative responses. The Boss is mostly likely frustrated that he has to do this, and then work within tight limits to make adjustments.
I hope it goes off smoothly. I hope the Soldiers feel safe being honest. I really hope something changes as a result.due to my position and my rank, I am afforded some extra wiggle room for mandatory BS and additional work. I am hyper sensitive about taking advantage of it when others don't have the same options, but that's another story. I try to go through everything the troops go through, and I feel their pain. I've heard stories of hypocrisy, blatant disrespect and mandates that would make your head spin.
I'll make it a true "Daily Double" that I can call this one. Goodnight y'all.
Your answer: "out of touch, toxic".
What is: "How most of the Soldiers feel about their respective Commanders".
BINGO.
A topic of late "around the water cooler" here at work has been the request, by the boss, for Command Climate Surveys to be given to the Soldiers of the two units.this survey is a tool for the leadership to receive feedback, anonymously, from their Soldiers on the overall climate of the unit. It allows them to answer questions like "On a scale of 1 to 5, how much you agree with the statement 'I'm confident my leadership cares about my welfare' or 'makes sound decisions and gives me ample time to execute at my level' or 'is effective in their current position'".
The Soldiers are nervous about having their responses kept confidential, so they can be candid. The Commanders (should be) nervous about overwhelmingly negative responses. The Boss is mostly likely frustrated that he has to do this, and then work within tight limits to make adjustments.
I hope it goes off smoothly. I hope the Soldiers feel safe being honest. I really hope something changes as a result.due to my position and my rank, I am afforded some extra wiggle room for mandatory BS and additional work. I am hyper sensitive about taking advantage of it when others don't have the same options, but that's another story. I try to go through everything the troops go through, and I feel their pain. I've heard stories of hypocrisy, blatant disrespect and mandates that would make your head spin.
I'll make it a true "Daily Double" that I can call this one. Goodnight y'all.
11 October 2011
or "Guts, and guts, and danggggeeeeerrrr!"
We kicked today off with a mandatory Counterinsurgency (COIN) Operations briefing. It went relatively well, with higher than usual motivation from the masses, false or otherwise. Here's the super summary "country can't provide, group rises up in power to either help or take advantage. We come in to fight and build structure behind whichever side we back, so that they can govern again, hopefully more effectively." Very dumbed down, but the general gist (is that redundant?)
After that I scrambled to pull a group together to head to the main base. We dropped one at the airport, sent 2 through the medical screening, sent 2 to coordinate our urinalysis supplies, one to work logistics, 3 to work weapons and supplies, and 2 of us worked certificate turn-in and schools requests. Pretty full trip. I got both a Starbucks iced and hot coffee out of the mix, so I'm a happy camper.
Back to home base after that, rolling right into a meeting. Info flies around, tomorrow is coordinated, then into the bunk early.
Ladies and gents, that's a day. Minimal bitching and griping, trying to balance this a little with all the frustration day to day.
How's regular life? Any questions I can clarify? Let's get interactive. K
After that I scrambled to pull a group together to head to the main base. We dropped one at the airport, sent 2 through the medical screening, sent 2 to coordinate our urinalysis supplies, one to work logistics, 3 to work weapons and supplies, and 2 of us worked certificate turn-in and schools requests. Pretty full trip. I got both a Starbucks iced and hot coffee out of the mix, so I'm a happy camper.
Back to home base after that, rolling right into a meeting. Info flies around, tomorrow is coordinated, then into the bunk early.
Ladies and gents, that's a day. Minimal bitching and griping, trying to balance this a little with all the frustration day to day.
How's regular life? Any questions I can clarify? Let's get interactive. K
10 October 2011
Far from the Best Coast
I miss LA. I miss the Westside lifestyle. Pretty much New Texico sucks, I'll say it. I'll say it right to the Mayor of El Paso's face. They totally know it.
Outside of us being locked on the military base, our little glimpses of civilian lifestyle around here look...sad, and hot and sandy and rather...fat. They are free though, they are free.
Free is what I miss. I miss being at the armory in Manhattan Beach, and after checking in on my email Inbox, taking a walk up the hill at Rosecrans. Cresting over the hill and getting the full on view of the ocean and the beach. I miss breakfast at Four Daughters Kitchen. I could throw down a El Porto scramble WITH the cheese and the home fries. Washed down with some coffee. Good coffee. Not coffee brewed in a "silver bullet", set to percolate again and again over the course of 3 or 4 days, until it's caffeinated sludge (which actually makes it taste better).
With this delicious grub-fiesta I miss the freedom of schedule. Here we are bound to the Dining Facility (DFAC) hours of operation. 0500-0800, 1100-1300, 1630-2000 (I think). You get there or you pursue other options. I've missed breakfast 3 times in the past week, for scheduling conflicts, and settled for home baked cookies and a protein shake. Quite delicious, but not a full meal. You end up planning your day around chow times, which is wack, regimented, but wack, smothered in weaksauce.
I want a healthy, vegetable-laden, deliciously crispy thick cut bacon garnished, egg concoction first. Then I want a crazy Griddle Cafe gluttonous pancake stack with Peanut Bubba French Toast on the side and a giant brick of hash browns. I want it to give me the Diabeetus (just for like 20 minutes) and I want Wilford Brimley to show up and tell me about Liberty Medical and how we can live together with our Diabeetus. I want him to teach me the art of mustachio growing while we drink Cokes and shoot Insulin and suck on sugar free candies, because that how we do it.
If your in the Southbay, represent at FDK or Uncle Bill's Flapjack Shack and Pancake Emporium. That's what I would do. Relish life at the beaches, because the CONUS (Continental US) Suck exists...and these poor saps don't even know it's them (sorry anyone out here, or anywhere similar, by choice).
Cool, I'm done. 0630ish tomorrow, it starts all over again, and it's all sub par. I'll have the bacon, eggs, and some salsa, AGAIN, for the 14th day in a row (except for the aforementioned cookie/shake days). It could be worse...but it could a lot better.
Outside of us being locked on the military base, our little glimpses of civilian lifestyle around here look...sad, and hot and sandy and rather...fat. They are free though, they are free.
Free is what I miss. I miss being at the armory in Manhattan Beach, and after checking in on my email Inbox, taking a walk up the hill at Rosecrans. Cresting over the hill and getting the full on view of the ocean and the beach. I miss breakfast at Four Daughters Kitchen. I could throw down a El Porto scramble WITH the cheese and the home fries. Washed down with some coffee. Good coffee. Not coffee brewed in a "silver bullet", set to percolate again and again over the course of 3 or 4 days, until it's caffeinated sludge (which actually makes it taste better).
With this delicious grub-fiesta I miss the freedom of schedule. Here we are bound to the Dining Facility (DFAC) hours of operation. 0500-0800, 1100-1300, 1630-2000 (I think). You get there or you pursue other options. I've missed breakfast 3 times in the past week, for scheduling conflicts, and settled for home baked cookies and a protein shake. Quite delicious, but not a full meal. You end up planning your day around chow times, which is wack, regimented, but wack, smothered in weaksauce.
I want a healthy, vegetable-laden, deliciously crispy thick cut bacon garnished, egg concoction first. Then I want a crazy Griddle Cafe gluttonous pancake stack with Peanut Bubba French Toast on the side and a giant brick of hash browns. I want it to give me the Diabeetus (just for like 20 minutes) and I want Wilford Brimley to show up and tell me about Liberty Medical and how we can live together with our Diabeetus. I want him to teach me the art of mustachio growing while we drink Cokes and shoot Insulin and suck on sugar free candies, because that how we do it.
If your in the Southbay, represent at FDK or Uncle Bill's Flapjack Shack and Pancake Emporium. That's what I would do. Relish life at the beaches, because the CONUS (Continental US) Suck exists...and these poor saps don't even know it's them (sorry anyone out here, or anywhere similar, by choice).
Cool, I'm done. 0630ish tomorrow, it starts all over again, and it's all sub par. I'll have the bacon, eggs, and some salsa, AGAIN, for the 14th day in a row (except for the aforementioned cookie/shake days). It could be worse...but it could a lot better.
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