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Introduction

by Pathfinder••26

Jonn was nice enough let me post. Some of you guys maybe familiar as I post under the handle DirtyMick and if you read Captainsjournal.com I’ve been quoted on there numerous times on subjects involving COIN and Kunar province. I also went to high school with Operator Dan so that’s another connection I have here.

I’m going to go ahead and give y’all my background. I grew up the son of an Infantry officer. My dad was in Vietnam and was a company commander at 502nd Infantry. So it was kind of in my blood to be a grunt. When I enlisted at 19 January 2005 I did OSUT and airborne school. Then when I arrived at the 101st Airborne Division I volunteered to be part of one of the Pathfinder Companies. I did a deployment with the company to Iraq from August 2005 to August 2006. I was in Tikrit for 3 months and then Mosul for 9 months. It was a good company to be part of because we conducted airborne ops, pathfinder ops, fast roping, R/S, Direct Action, and various light infantry tasks. When I ETSd June 2008 I moved back home to Phoenix and worked for USAA as a loan officer for about 13 months. Then during the end of August 2009 I got a nice manila envelope from the Army saying I had been recalled to active duty to Afghanistan. After a couple a month train up at Ft. Benning and Camp Shelby myself and my other recall buddies went to Afghanistan December 2009. I was in Kunar Province from Dec 09 to September 2010. I was part of the SecFor for PRT Kunar. During that time I picked up E5 and my duties were TC, Convoy Commander, OP NCOIC and Squad Leader/Team Leader during Dismount patrols. When we got back stateside and I ETSd again I moved to Las Vegas and joined a Cav unit in the Nevada National Guard. I moved there because earlier in the deployment I was attached to NV Guard and I liked the guys I worked with and I’m pretty much in the same platoon I was in when I was in Kunar. It’s also therapeutic for me to put the uniform on once a month. I’m currently a Bradley Gunner (for you mech guys I have done a gunnery) and a team leader. So my infantry background is very diverse and I’m jack of trades pretty much. I also go to UNLV full time and I’m a finance major. Lastly I like long walks on the beach and I listen to Slayer

I’m going to primarily blog about being in the infantry, COIN, Afghanistan and as usual stolen valor asshats. I hope you guys enjoy my posts and I’m happy to be able to blog on this site.

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26 thoughts on “Introduction”

  1. I look forward to reading your posts….as I am learning as a new reader here, there is a wide diversity of opinion and viewpoint along with a healthy slice of impudence…..

    Makes for some great reading all around.

  6. If Jonn says you are good to go, then you are good to go in my book, Pathfinder. Welcome aboard!

  7. Welcome aboard, indeed!

    Look forward to reading more but would ask that from time to time that you remember that many of us are not only from a different generation but are from other military backgrounds. Just every once in a while. 😉

  9. You must have served with the 159 Pathfinder Company based on your time in Mosul. Is that correct? I was with the 101 PFDR Co during the same deployment. This is one of my favorite blogs, so very nice to see a pathfinder posting here.

  15. That comment about “this generation”; I think more than half of the 20 people who can post here are from “this generation” – they just don’t post as often as the seasoned citizens.

  17. @4 you’re the worst squad leader ever.

    @5 The DirtyMick stays I just felt posting here as Pathfinder would be more fitting

    @9 Ya I was with 159. I was up in Mosul with Team 3. The only cat I remember from 101 PFDR was Stackpole (because of his last name). I actually bumped into one of y’alls old first sergeants a few times in Kunar back in 2010. He was C co 1st or 2nd Battalion 327s First Sergeant.

  19. @17 Well, I guess that’s going to be a bullet point for me on next years NCOER…

  20. No. 15:
    So — we the OLD MEN — work harder, longer, faster ??
    (Okay, I love to brag)

  22. @21 I didn’t know wobler. From google it says he was at the duece. Either way I’m sorry man

  24. Hmmmm … Re: DirtyMick … I’m guessing you’re Irish?

    Welcome, brother. I also, am a UNLV student, and live in Vegas. Airborne!

    Old King Cole was a merry old soul
    and a merry old soul was he.
    He called for his pipe, he called for his bowl,
    he called for his Privates three.

    Beer, beer, beer said the Privates,
    merry men are we.
    There’s none so fair and can compare,
    with the Airborne Infantry!

    Infantry Rulz!

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