Spent Christmas at Eglin AFB and am preparing a longer post about that, but…
Reveille sounded at 07:30. I recollect it being a bit earlier?
There was no designated smoking area, BUT there was a “Designated Tobacco Use Area”. There was also a container labeled “for extinguishing only”.
I’ll offer more later, but the Ranger Up video lit a fire.
Let’s make fun of the USAF. I got stories…
Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf, coalition forces leader during Persian Gulf War, dies
Many (most?) here will have more important observations about him than I… but The General became something sadly missing. Whether mythologic or fact based – he was iconic.
Look back over the last 20 years and find a military personage that carried that off. That he was also a ‘Nam vet doesn’t hurt.
RIP General… I salute you!
I’ll leave it for you young folks to dig up the reference if interested.
Thing is… there just ain’t much good news filtering down to me here my ridge. So I’m going for coffee and donuts elsewhere. Barring unforeseen events we’ll be checking in on Eglin AFB next Friday. We did have this excursion planned before the recent spate of events, mind you. Since 12/21/12 is The Wife’s birthday AND some believe the world will end then too; I figured “what the hell?”. Anything else isn’t my fault!
So… if Jonn doesn’t delete this for being irrelevant in the larger context (it certainly is), AND the world don’t end next Friday I’m open to visiting with any TAH commenter in the neighborhood. Also open to: “If you’re in area you should see…”
I have pictures of Jonn and TSO that they don’t know about, BTW.
Admittedly I’m 40+ years out of the USN. Also admittedly I actually LIKED the chambray shirts and bell bottoms as work duds. Countless fire training exercises, and other Damage Control drills leaves me wondering what the hell is going on just now.
Navy uniform ‘will burn robustly until it is consumed’
The Navy removed its requirement in 1996 that uniforms had to be flame retardant, and have been providing special uniforms to engine room, flight-related, firefighters and damage control personnel since then. But this means other personnel working in spaces with fuel lines, oil, steam, heat and tons of combustibles overhead, underneath, and in nearby passageways are ready to be robustly barbecued.
Sooo…. in 40 years our Navy has yet to figure out how to utilize self-extinguishing fabrics? AND I still think that this particular color pattern makes it harder to locate a “man overboard”.
My pal, and a commenter here, OWB, captured a thing that has eluded me.
There are people who come into our lives who quietly have a positive impact upon us. If we are lucky, we realize it before it is too late to thank them.
Such a person was Sharon. While not a veteran herself, she became something of a mama bear to many of us. She married a veteran, a buddy of mine, and for her unfailing support of him I am extremely grateful. But beyond that, she was herself a great patriot. I have no doubt that without her troupe of veterans she would still have contributed to the strength of this country in many positive ways. She did just that and still supported the veteran community.
We lost our mama bear Sharon this week. Suddenly. She was there one moment and gone the next. It’s not something for which any of us was prepared.
One thing that OWB left out is that Sharon stood with us during GoE and her husband was one of the prime movers. Like most of us involved she was determined that younger vets didn’t get the welcome we did.
But…
A coupla weeks ago a Marine ‘Nam vet passed away. He had been a friend here for years.
Getting reminded of one’s mortality isn’t really my point, although that hints at it.
Although we’ve watched the WWI generation depart, and noted the passing of those vets who survived WWII and the Korean War we ‘Nam vets are now of THAT generation.
Please forgive the rambling. Although it is a VERY trivial thing compared to the loss suffered by the families involved it is an eye opener. and just maybe worthy of some small note here.
NB: Not something from The Onion nor our pals at TDB.
‘In the 1700s it was normal to go to war to expand your country’s territory. This strategy has passed its sell by date. But, demands for democracy may be suppressed with violence and result in more violence in the short term. As in Libya.’
His research has found there has been a decrease in armed conflicts and the number of people killed since World War II and this trend will continue.
‘War has become less acceptable, just like duelling, torture and the death penalty.’
I’ll leave it to you to read further at the link if this resonates. Keeping in mind that the article uses excerpts of a scholarly paper I haven’t read I still found the snippets interesting. Before you closet neo-hippies begin partying you should note the disappointment:
‘Prior to the Arabian spring, we expected 5 per cent of the countries in the world to be involved in a conflict in 2050. This percentage has now risen to 7 per cent.
‘The conflicts in the Middle East weaken the clear correlation between socio-economic development and the absence of civil war. The conflicts in Syria and Libya show that we also have to include democratisation processes in the model.
‘To achieve this, we are now working on projecting democratic systems of government and regime changes,’ explains Prof Hegre
Rats… reality bites don’t it?
Kinda missed this. Thanks to Kanani and FB you don’t have to.
007 joins UK Forces in Afghanistan for Skyfall screening
Soldiers, sailors and airmen serving at Camp Bastion in Helmand, southern Afghanistan, met 007 star Daniel Craig when he visited the base today, 18 November 2012.
He surprised the 800 troops who were about to watch Skyfall, the latest Bond film.
After a brief introduction of the film to the enthusiastic audience, Daniel was given a tour of the camp during which he had an opportunity to meet soldiers and see some of the training they do before they deploy to forward operating bases.
I’ve never seen him in a movie as 007. His character in Cowboys & Aliens is my only real reference. Speaking of character; this might define the word.
OWB sent me this. I am so used to THEM not getting “IT” I was surprised. Maybe you will be as well.