New American Socialism--it's a Red and Blue issue

Friends,

If you listen to what we now call "news" in America, with the various pundits and talking heads all espousing their opinions as "news", chances are you will hear about why we are in the economic state we are in.

The Occupy folks, the no more taxes folks, the tax the rich folks, the outrageous government spending folks, the unfair economic policy folks, the Socialists, Marxists, Capitalists, etc. It makes it difficult for a regular citizen to figure out who really is at fault when it comes to the state of our economy.

So, who is to blame? Yes...they all are.

At least according to the authors of this essay.


You may have opinions about the source of the essay, but I found it to be pretty compelling on all sides. It's pretty direct in poking a finger in the chest of Socialists and Capitalists, Republicans and Democrats. From the essay:

We have lost our sense of honor, humility, and the dedication to personal responsibility that, for more than 200 years, made our country the greatest hope for mankind. I want to detail some of the factors that gave rise to the current entitlement society. We have become a country of people who believe their well-being is someone else's responsibility.

Folks, we have got to get our house in order. Yes, this does have to do with individual Values...and National Character. We've lost it. Plain and simple we've allowed our own desires and self interests to separate ourselves from the greatness that is the United States.

All I can say is, God bless the 2nd Amendment and those who exercise that right. Read the essay...you'll understand.

What kind of Army do you want?

This academic paper makes interesting work of the questions surrounding the developement of a "Warrior Class" that may be forming within the U.S. military. It's an academic work, so if you're going to read it, set aside about 30 minutes in your schedule.

However, it makes for an interesting read. The conclusion summation makes the point that we (the big "we", as in Americans) need to think about the kind of military we want to have defending us. Right now the military seems to be trending towards a self-selecting group of citizens, influenced by heritage and familial ties, who have born the burden of defending the Constitution from all enemies, foreign and domestic. The latest numbers I've seen bandied about was something like <1% of American citizens have servied in the Armed Forces. Our experience as Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, and Marines is foreign to most Americans.

Is that good? Is it bad? The author makes some conclusions about it, and offers some recommendations in how to "fix" the possible problem.

Good food for thought...

A Question of Legitimacy

Max Boot- Obama's Tragic Iraq Withdrawal

CFR.org - Obama's Tragic Iraq Withdrawal

In an Oct. 31 Wall Street Journal article, Max Boot lays out exactly what I said last week. If we don't gain the strategic victory in Iraq, it is because our leaders did not make the effort to meet with, and communicate with, al-Maliki and other Iraqi officials. From the article:

So why was it possible for the Bush administration to reach a deal with the Iraqis but not for the Obama administration?

Quite simply it was a matter of will: President Bush really wanted to get a deal done, whereas Mr. Obama did not. Mr. Bush spoke weekly with Mr. Maliki by video teleconference. Mr. Obama had not spoken with Mr. Maliki for months before calling him in late October to announce the end of negotiations. Mr. Obama and his senior aides did not even bother to meet with Iraqi officials at the United Nations General Assembly in September.

Incompetence or indifference, I don't know for certain, but it appears that they just didn't want to do the messy work of relationship building. Withdrawal from Iraq, despite the risk of overall failure there, is the primary concern of the administration.

I still believe strategic victory is possible, and I believe that the military leaders now in place will do everything they can to make it so, but the administration's negligence in Iraq is disappointing.

Your Army Values/Character/Ethics valuable to business

According to the Wall Street Journal, the values system Soldiers have is a valuable commodity in the workplace. Specifically, companies like Chesapeake Energy Corp. want to hire Soldiers because of the values, ethics, and character we bring to the table.

Our Army Values may seem like a trite anachronism of a bygone era to some, but reality tells us that society is hungry for people with these same values.

Be a man or woman of character...live out your values...encourage others to do the same. We all benefit.

FAIL MODE: How NOT to form strategic relationships in Iraq

While visiting with family over the weekend, I was asked over and over again if I thought it was a good thing or a bad thing that we were leaving Iraq (largely) on 31 DEC.

I repeated my opinion--the same I've said here previously--that as long as we maintain a strategic relationship with Iraq, getting the troops out is a good thing. We need to be able to train, visit, share, rely on, and provide for the Iraqi people through an open and mutual friendship forged on the personal relationships that have been made over the past 7-8 years.

Nothing would make me happier than to have a regular REFORGER or Cobra Gold-type exercise with Iraq on a regular basis. That would be awesome. It would be equally great to have their officers attend our CGSC or other officer training classes.

Instead, this is the kind of senior leadership our nation has to rely on to form these relationships. Our leaders have have completely FAILED to see the importance of our relationship with Iraq. Not just from a strategic standpoint, but also from a psychological aspect.

There are hundreds of thousands of servicemembers who have spent years of personal capital in that country, and they deserve to know that the U.S. government (read: Pres and VP) are willing to do what it takes to make their efforts worthwhile.

You didn't agree with the Iraq campaign...OK, we got it. But you're the leaders! Do something grown up for a change! At least play the diplomat and do what's right for the nation, our stature amongst nations, and the Soldiers who defend the people who call themselves Americans.

Disgusting.

Chandler considers tighter grooming regs - Army News | News from Afghanistan & Iraq - Army Times

Chandler considers tighter grooming regs - Army News | News from Afghanistan & Iraq - Army Times

This is an interesting article--sort of a clashing of cultures. You can make the argument that the genie is out of the bottle, so to speak, when it comes to tattoos. We have so many Soldiers in the Army right now with neck, hand, and "sleeve" tattoos it would be hard to really clamp down on them. I can't see kicking out tattooed Soldiers now when the tattoos were acceptable at the time of their enlistment.

My personal opinion is that they do look unprofessional, and don't present the best appearance to those outside the organization. I'm not tlaking about here in the U.S., either. When deployed overseas we deal with cultures that are easily offended by tattoos, let alone the tattooed images themselves--skulls, monsters, blood, gore, and sexual imagery are common themes for tattoos.

If you want a tattoo--fine. Just keep it out of sight while wearing the uniform. Any uniform. ACU, ASU, APFU...all of it.

As for piercings: none in uniform.

Let's keep the Army uniform in appearance, and represent the Army and our nation in the best way possible.

You are, of course, free to disagree and I would love to hear about your opinions (submit you comments below...wink, wink).

COB Speicher in Iraq's hands!!

The base where I spent 25 months of my life in Northern Iraq, just outside of Tikrit, was turned over to the Iraqi Army in a ceremony held yesterday.

Contingency Operating Base Speicher was a flat, dusty, worthless plot of land to the casual observer. But to the Army, it was a great place to operate out of since it was positioned along the nation's primary north-south running highway, had an airfield capable of landing any aircraft in the inventory, and was centrally positioned in the volatile north.

It will remain a vivid part of my memory. I can clearly recall the times when rocket and mortar fire would fall on us--including the time when Jimi Hendrix literally saved my life (ask me about it some time). I can remember the acrid smell of the garbage pit, and the continuous burning that would go on day and night; reminiscent of Gehenna.

I also remember the CHUs (containerized housing unit) where I lived, and the shower trailers that I'd visit regularly. By the way, don't shower in the mid-day when the local nationals are refilling the generators with fuel. I did that once, and stood there naked in the dark for 15 minutes with a head full of lather, as I waited for the power to return.

I remember the chapel services, the internet cafe, the dining facility, and the people. All the good stuff.

That place was certainly no garden spot--nothing you'd want to visit on vacation, but for me it's loaded with rich memories.

Iraq--congratulations on another step forward! I hope we can continue to have a strong strategic partnership even after the majority of US forces are gone. It's been a long struggle.

Why Do Americans Care So Much Less About Captured Troops Than Israelis? - The Atlantic

Why Do Americans Care So Much Less About Captured Troops Than Israelis? - The Atlantic

This article in the Atlantic brings up a very interesting point--and a conclusion that may not sit well with readers, both military and civilian alike.

The Army has a Warrior Ethos that says, "I will never leave a fallen comrade."

I can understand why we don't negotiate with enemies to barter prisoners back and forth. If you get into that game, where does it end? I mean, the Israelis traded over 1000 prisoners for their one guy, Shalit. What will it cost next time, 2000 prisoners? The Israelis better get busy and start rounding some people up.

But even if we don't negotiate, how do we balance that against our ethos?

The article says the reason we don't press for an immediate release of our own prisoners is because, as a nation, the military is out of sight and out of mind due to the nature of an all-volunteer force and the proximity of military installations to major urban centers. The American public just doesn't relate with us in uniform on a day-to-day basis, so it's easy to ignore the fact that we have Soldiers currently in captivity with seemingly nothing being done to retrieve them.

Yet, the nation was fully aware and supportive of the three wayward hikers who were captured by the Iranians after drifting off course into Iranian territory. They received regular coverage on the news, which ultimately pressures our elected officials to action.

As Soldiers, we should not lose faith with our comrades in captivity, and hold fast to our ethos that says they will not be forgotten and never left behind. Regardless of why or how they were captured, we must show our true character and push for their release. Hopefully our citizenry will join us in that effort.

Today, pray for the safety and quick return of both Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl and Staff Sgt. Ahmed Altaie.

Values free-for-all in the Armed Forces

Apparently there is a move afoot to have atheist "chaplains" commissioned into the Armed Forces. According to Jason Torpy, Military Association of Atheists and Freethinkers. According to Torpy, atheists in uniform are under-supported by the current force of serving chaplains (those who ascribe to a set of religious beliefs), thus the need for a crew of secular humanist chaplains to enter the ranks.

Wow.

How did we get here? It would seem to me that a secular humanist can gain access to the counseling Torpy claims is lacking in the military for aetheist Soldiers through the myriad behavioral health facilities and providers, all who conduct their counseling in a non-religious fashion.

This smells of a red herring argument, and I suspect there are other motives at play. The interviewer from Mother Jones reveals his cards when he says:

A lot of Mother Jones readers could be forgiven for wondering why a government department has its own clergy corps in the first place, much less why atheists are interested in working with those clerics.

It appears the Mother Jones crowd is less concerned about filling the perceived gap in support to atheist Soldiers, and more concerned about the elimination of the chaplaincy in the Armed Forces all together.

If you've been reading recently, you know that maintaining the values base in our military leaders is of prime importance to me. People will get their values from somewhere, the question becomes, as Americans, where do we want our military leaders to be getting their value system?

Do Americans want their sons and daughters to be led into very dangerous places by men and women who derive their value system from a "whatever feels good, do it" worldview? Or, would you rather trust your most precious commodity--your children-- to people who view them as valuable gifts, created in the image of God, worthy and precious as individuals?

As I've mentioned before, the Army Values are deeply rooted in a Judeo-Christian way of thinking. The example of Christ can be seen in each and every one of them.

I appreciate the service of all Americans--religious or humanist--but let's not undercut the time-proven systems that support the moral, ethical and spiritual needs of the majority of the force just to satisfy the personal convictions of an admitted few.

Bahrain logistics CO is 19th fired this year - Navy News | News from Afghanistan & Iraq - Navy Times

Bahrain logistics CO is 19th fired this year - Navy News | News from Afghanistan & Iraq - Navy Times

I certainly do not want to paint the Navy with a broad brush here...but this is why military leaders--particularly offiers and NCOs--need to be value driven down to their very core.

Regardless of the circumstances involved, I can assure you that this officer lost his position of authority due to a lack of values, or a temporary breach in his value system. It would appear that the Navy is having a tough go as of late, with 19 officers losing command over their failings this year alone.

Truthfully, we all make mistakes. All of us. Sometimes the ramifications of those mistakes are more serious than at other times. When one is placed in command, and responsible for the health, welfare, and safety of people, and the fiscal stewardship over the nation's resources, the price of failure can be very high...as it should be.

The men and women we place in these positions need to hold firm to the value systems that the services hold dear. The Army has laid out their values, and I'm sure the Navy, Air Force and Marines have done the same, but it takes a steadfast commitment to those values to ensure the responsibilities of command are met.

Pray for our leaders, and that God will raise up the next generation of morally straight and value-driven men and women to lead our armed forces in defense of this great nation.

Did I play my cards too early?

Doctrine_Man
The opera ain't over . . . http://t.co/2LCCNE4i

A trusted agent, Doctrine Man points out that the jury is still out on the Iraq issue. We'll see...

Will we pull out of Iraq completely?-- AP seems to think so

I know and have worked with both Lara Jakes and Rebecca Santana, and have a healthy respect for their work covering Iraq for AP. In my dealings with them, they have always been straight shooters, and this article appears to be another example of their fact-based reporting.

I've always said I could not see how either side, Obama or Maliki, could politically weather a plan that kept a significant number of U.S. troops stationed in Iraq past the agreed-to departure date of Dec. 31, 2011. This report seems to support my premise.

From what I've read in the blogosphere and in news aggregator sites, some want to paint this as a "cut and run" measure, or a failure vis-a-vis Vietnam. I think we need to look at this a bit more pragmatically. After all, we have to leave sometime.

I've spent my share of time and effort investing in this country and the relationship I hope to share with the Iraqi people and government. I can say with some authority that, while not perfect, things there have vastly improved over the past few years. I would say that conditions in Iraq--the government, institutions, business, education, agriculture--are "Iraqi good." Not neccessarily up to our standards, but certainly good enough for them to move forward on their own.

What some commentors are missing in today's news, however, is this vital piece of information from the article:

A White House spokesman, Tommy Vietor, said discussions with Iraq about the security relationship between the two countries next year were ongoing.

Pentagon press secretary George Little said the U.S. remains "committed to keeping our agreement with the Iraqi government to remove all of our troops by the end of this year."

"At the same time we're building a comprehensive partnership with Iraq under the Strategic Framework Agreement including a robust security relationship, and discussions with the Iraqis about the nature of that relationship are ongoing," Little said.

The Strategic Framework Agreement allows for other forms of military cooperation besides U.S. troops on the ground. Signed at the same time as the security accord mandating the departure deadlines, it provides outlines for the U.S.-Iraqi relationship in such areas as economic, cultural and security cooperation.

The most important thing we need to preserve with the Iraqi people, is the ability to continue fostering a close, strategic relationship. I, for one, want a friendship with the Iraqi people and government. They are hard to understand and operate with at times, but in all I like the people and love their history and culture. As long as the strategic relationship continues to mature, and the door for future partnerships stays open, this is a win that was worth the exhorbitant cost our nation has endured.

I do diverge from one point in the article:

Going down to zero by the end of this year would allow both al-Maliki and President Barack Obama to claim victory. Obama will have fulfilled a key campaign promise to end the war and al-Maliki will have ended the American presence in Iraq and restored Iraqi sovereignty.

I thought Obama's campaign promise was to have US troops out of Iraq within a year of his election?

Instead, his administration has been lobbying all along for the continued presence. Only because of events outside his control will he be able to uphold the thin veil of his promise to leave Iraq.

Let's not give him too much credit for this.

Army changing how we do doctrine

One of the big projects I've been working lately is getting the word out on new changes in Army doctrine. Particularly, the new system we have called "Doctrine 2105" which we're officially launching next week at the AUSA conference in Washington, DC.

Doctrine is pretty boring stuff, in general, but if you would like a good down-n-dirty synopsis, check out this blog posting by a new acquaintance, John Doyle of 4G War blog.

http://4gwar.wordpress.com/2011/10/07/training-army-field-manuals-being-condensed/

Current attiutudes about Afghan/Iraq wars, and faith

http://news.yahoo.com/poll-1-3-vets-sees-iraq-afghan-wars-040253311.html

The big takeaway from this Robert Burns article is that after 10 years of conflict in Afghanistan and Iraq, a majority of serving military members have doubts about what we're doing in those conflicts. They appear demoralized--tired of the tedious and constant rotations in and out of these countries, being separated from family and friends. The wars have sewn seeds of doubt and distrust in our national leadership, and service members are feeling a growing chasm of understanding between those who have served, and the public for whom they are serving.

It's a bit disheartening to see.

I'm sure the POTUS isn't happy about these poll results, either. But what did he really expect? I mean, he campaigned three years ago on quickly ending the involvement in Iraq (within a year of being elected), and quickly resolving the "good war" in Afghanistan. Instead, we're lobbying to stay in Iraq for an even longer time period, and the news out of Afghanistan is rarely painted in a good light. Now, the ones POTUS has to lean on to do these difficult taske are expressing their disapproval in greater numbers.

But even more disconcerting for me is the truth that is revealed in this paragraph, neatly tucked away in the middle of the article:

The survey also showed that post-9/11 veterans are more likely than Americans as a whole to call themselves Republicans and to disapprove of President Barack Obama's performance as commander in chief. They also are more likely than earlier generations of veterans to have no religious affiliation.

Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, and Maries are not only losing faith in their government and in their duties, but also in God.

As I mentioned in yesterday's post, military leadership relies on those who are morally upright. In Western culture, for the past 2000 or so years, our moral foundations have been rooted in a Judeo-Christian ethic. It is the basis (or has been, anyway) for what we acknowledge as "moral."

Consider the Army's Values:
Loyalty
Duty
Respect
Selfless Service
Honor
Integrity
Personal Courage

Every single aspect of our Values can be seen in the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. The Army didn't look to the Bible to determine our value system, but it shouldn't seem unusual that a Western culture would see those same attributes as noble and valuable, and borrow from the Judeo-Christian ethic heavily.

So what happens when a culture is no longer rooted in a system that understands the value of such attributes--that their sons and daughters are not raised with the foundational understanding that having such values are good and desireable? The Army will have to spend a great deal of time inculcating these values into the force. For some, the training will take hold. For others, the importance of the lessons will escape them, and the situational ethics that rule the day in modern society will overtake military life.

I see the military's slide in values far too clearly now, and with current polls showing the military is abandoning religious faith, I am concerned for those who will lead our Armed Forces in the future.

General Mattis on the American experiment and military ethics - By Tom Ricks | The Best Defense

General Mattis on the American experiment and military ethics - By Tom Ricks | The Best Defense

...if we are to keep this great big experiment called America alive-and that's all it is, an experiment-we need cocky, macho, unselfish, and morally very straight young men and women to lead our forces against the enemy.

...Okay, it's not a perfect world, but America is worth fighting for on its worst day. So, if you have got the guts to step across that line, as each of you have, then just go out and enjoy the brawl. Just have a damn good time. Train your men well. Go beat the crap out of people who deserve it, and when they throw down their gun, then you have won.

To many on the outside this may seem like a quote from an overly-testosterone laden man; one who is out of touch with polite society. In fact, those who may feel that way are the ones who are out of touch with reality. This Nation is worth fighting for, and it requires every generation to develop the next band of morally straight and resolute warriors who will do what it takes to employ brutish tactics in order to keep our national "experiment" alive for the next generation.

It only takes one generation to falter in this task before we no longer have a nation to defend.

For me, the key attribute described above is to be "morally very straight." Anyone can inflict pain and death on another. You read about it every day. It's the morally straight people in society who can measure death and destruction, meting it out only when necessary and at appropriate levels required to get the job done. Military leadership is not a task for morally decrepit individuals. It takes men and women with the understanding that bearing the power of military force is a sober and serious effort. It is a thoughtful and intellectual process, not driven by pure emotion, but by measured action.

When has the American Army had their worst moments? Think about My Lai or Abu Gharib. Examples of leaders with moral failings. They had the cocky and macho part down pat, but failed in displaying morality and unselfishness.

Pray for our military leaders, or all branches of service, that they may remain morally straight and able to resist the temptation to be anything but.

Kansas City Renaissance Fest 2011

I took my wife and two of my boys to the Ren Fest this weekend.  We had a good time--this was the largest fest we've been to, and there was plenty to do and see. 

Oh, and what a freak show! 

It's hard to understand what motivates a person to don a pair of fairy wings to go out in public, but there were plenty of "faeries" to be seen...and knights...and wizards...and other "period" characters.  If nothing else, it's a great place to do some people watching.



The KC Ren Fest has more entertainers to see as well.  This guy, John, has been performing for 28 years at this Ren Fest.  He's a local resident--and a court investigator for Johnson County during his day job.  Regardless, we all enjoyed his show even if seeing a big, hairy, shirtless guy in tights is a little off-putting.  Here are some highlights...

Leavenworth Times: Fort officials recall 9/11

http://www.leavenworthtimes.com/sept11/x462622086/Fort-officials-recall-9-11?img=2

It's not my best picture, and the story is a little mangled, but mostly it reflects what the reporter and I talked about.  Of course, if you really want to torture yourself by reading my full account, check out yesterday's post.

I may have a blog, but I never claimed to be a good writer...

9-11: My personal story

I worked in the Pentagon from OCT 2000- FEB 2002.  I was the Deputy Chief, Television Division, US Army Visual Information Center and it was my first public affairs position for the Army.

Our office was adjacent to the auditorium that in on the 5th floor, inside ring.  I was sentenced to a life of cubicle living, which for a captain, could have been a lot worse in a land dominated by generals and colonels.  I worked with a bunch of civilian TV pros, and Soldiers and NCOs who were expert videographers/editors.  I was the least qualified person in the office, with television training consisting of a four-hour block of instruction during my introductory public affairs training.  I guess I was the resident Army officer figurehead for the office.

On the morning of 9-11 I arrived to the office as I usually did--sometime around 0800-0830 (I can't remember specifically when).  As I sat at my desk getting ready for the day, one of the sergeants poked his head around the wall and asked, "Hey sir, did you see what happened in New York?"

I hadn't, but he quickly brought me up to speed on the first plane impacting the World Trade building.  Being an aviator, I immediately thought an air traffic controller somewhere made a tragic mistake and vectored a plane into the building.  I was saddened by the accident, but terrorism was not my first thought. 

Shortly afterward, that NCO ran back to my desk from his perch in the editing bay.  He quickly told me about plane #2, as I followed him to the bank of televisions.  We daily recorded news broadcasts for every network 24/7, making the tapes available to senior leaders in the building in case they needed to see a particular newscast or interview.

As I watched the reporting on 6-8 different TVs, the plane hitting the buildings over and over again in a gut-wrenching replay, I began to feel queasy; not wanting to view any more of the carnage.  I left the soundproof bay and returned to my desk.

Soon after settling back into my desk, I first felt a tremor shake the foundations of the building.  I heard a low ominous rumble of an explosion as I shot my head around my cubicle to look across the hall. The windows visible from my desk peered into the center courtyard of the Pentagon.  From that vantage point I saw the blue sky fill with a billowing mass of an orange fireball which was slowly engulfed in black smoke.  We'd been hit!  

I jumped to my feet and sprinted back to the editing bay to find everyone still staring at the TV, oblivious to the events unfolding around them.  "A bomb just went off in the center courtyard!," I loudly exclaimed.

All I got in return were dumbfounded stares, as if purple horns were spontaneously growing out of my head. It was only after I ordered, "Let's go!," did the group begin to move to the door with a purpose. 

Sgt. 1st Class Tim Magee was the NCOIC, and he and I both stood by the door to the office as we counted heads, ensuring no one was left behind.  I had the presence of mind to lock the door, not sure why it mattered at that point, then we followed our crew down the stairs to the exit that faced the physical fitness center and the parking lot.

On the previous Thursday, we had just rehearsed our emergency exit procedures for the building.  With that memory still fresh in our minds, we left the building and assembled in our rally area in an orderly fashion.

As I crossed the walkway that spanned the roadway underneath I glanced back at the tower of smoke coming from the opposite side of the building.  I was immediately dropped to my knees at the gravity of the situation as I prayed for protection for myself and the now exposed thousands who were milling around in the parking area.

Like many others I whipped out my cell phone to call my wife, let her know I was alive, but with all cell towers jammed I was unable to let her know of my safety until about 3p.m. that afternoon.

We had a remote TV crew that operated out of Ft Myers just a few miles from the Pentagon.  We made contact with them and rallied together as we made our way around the building to begin the video documentation of the events.

Tim Magee and I were stopped by an outer cordon of FBI agents in black nylon windbreakers.  They allowed the cameramen to move forward t begin their work, but we had to stay behind--well away from the action, only able to see the smoke and damage from afar.

We did, however, see the unusual sight of a while in color Toyota Tercel or Nissan Sentra (or similar vehicle) that was parked alongside the highway where we were halted.  The car appeared normal, but quickly you could notice the passenger side window was shattered into the seat.  On the dash board was a two foot section of aircraft aluminum, painted white--a piece of the aircraft!

This poor guy was tooling down the highway when the plan came in, hit the building, and splintered into a thousand pieces, sending shards everywhere...even into the front seat of this moving car!  I never saw the driver, but my guess is he was pretty shook up.

I made it home that night by a circuitous route, different from my normal bus route.  I had to take the Metro in a fashion that took us around the Pentagon station, so I didn't make it hoe until 7:30 or 8 p.m.

It was a long time to be out of my wife's arms; to let her know I was OK. 

We went to work the next day.  And every day without fail, even though the building kept burning for another 7-10 days.  It was our way of sending a message, I guess, but there really wasn't much we could do that first week.  The soot laid heavy on all of our sensitive electronic equipment, so the cleanup became the priority for us.

It wasn't until I gathered at church a few nights later, with my buddy and youth minister Wayne Wagner, that I really started feeling exposed and a little frightened.  The danger was long past, but as we talked with the youth, in a misguided attempt to calm their fears, I sparked fears of my own.

God protected my that day, but many people lost their lives.  I am grateful for His mercy and provision, and pray that we never have to face a day like that again--not the US, not Europe, not the Middle East, no one--never.

Unexpected...really?

Jobless claims rise unexp...er, um...I mean, who could have guessed?

I've been wondering about this for a while...what kind of idiots do we have running our economic health in this country, if after every bit of economic news comes the admission that "experts" were surprised by how bad the news turns out to be?

Why can't these people have a better grasp on reality? Isn't it their job to know these things? or, at least be in the ballpark?

Is it the news media that's always surprised?--yes and no. The hardcore leftists in the bunch are probably genuinely surprised that current policies aren't working as they expect them to.

The mid-level lefties in the media only use the word "unexpected" as a cover for Pres. Obama. It's a way of telling the readers, "Hey, it was out of his control. No one knew that was coming. You can't blame him for this crazy bit of economic news!"

Yeah...right.

How about some other "UN..." words like:

UNBELIEVABLE...that you in the media think we're stupid enough to believe this claptrap again.

UNSCRUPULOUS....media are failing at their essential watch dog role for our society by covering for an elected official they share a political allegiance with.

UNEMPLOYED...which is what 9.1% of Americans are right now, despite promises that "stimulus" actions would prevent us from going over 9%.

UNELECTABLE...he never was and he still isn't, but we as a nation were too foolish to figure that out. There's always next time.

9/11 inspired some to take new paths in life - KCTV 5

9/11 inspired some to take new paths in life - KCTV 5

I had the chance to speak with a local Kansas City NBC affiliate concerning my personal 9-11 story. It's true...I have my own story, but we all do. The events of 9-11 are one of those things that every American can look to and say, "I remember exactly what I was doing and where I was on that day. It has affected me like so..."

I am honored to serve with people who were affected by those events so much that they personally, on their own volition, decided to do something about it. They left the comfort of their homes and personal lives and volunteered to defend a nation that they believed was in peril. We were in peril.

At a time when less than 1% of Americans can say they serve in the Armed Forces, please take time out this weekend to say "thank you" to one of those volunteer service members--Armed Forces or first response personnel. Believe me, a simple thanks from a fellow citizen is what gives us energy to go on and continue serving on their behalf.

Morning Study and Breakfast

One of the things that Fort Leavenworth is known for across the Army is that it is home for the Command and General Staff College (CGSC), or Intermediate Level Education (ILE).  It is the location where most field grade officers, mostly brand-new majors, go to receive their mid-level education which prepares them to lead staffs as operations officers, executive officers, and strategic planners.

This school is an intensive, year-long course that exposes officers to upper level military thought at the strategic and operational levels.  Officers from the sister services can attend the course for their own professional credit requirements, and each year hundreds of foreign officers from our partner nations attend and graduate the course.  The atmosphere here is academic and serious.

One thing that makes this different from life down in an operational unit is that for the first time in many years of service, officers get the chance to unwind, think big thoughts about their profession, and rebalance their time with family, friends, and activities.  The days are structured with predictability in mind, so the officers can manage their time and priorities.  When you're in a unit, your time is not your own--the demands of the job can easily cause you to lose balance and focus in your personal life--so time at Ft. Leavenworth is good in a variety of ways.

This morning I attended an Officer Christian Fellowship Bible study/ breakfast.  The guest speaker was Lt. Gen. Robert Caslen, the outgoing commander of Ft. Leavenworth and the Combined Arms Center, and my former boss.  He led us in a great discussion on maintaining perspective and creating balance in your life while continuing to serve the Nation as an officer.

I asked him for his thoughts on how to maintain your Christian walk while serving in an environment that is undergoing so many changes and challenges.  The repeal of DADT, new Soldiers coming in who are more frequently from broken homes, and a culture that is growing increasingly more hostile towards the Christian faith were some of the challenges that I offered.

His advice was as simple as it was wise.  He suggested that a leader does not have to be too "in your face" (my words) with his faith to make an impact; the way you live your life will show that something is different.  We are here to follow Christ's example by serving others: the Nation, our citizens, other Soldiers, each other...our works will be an example to others and cause them to wonder what makes us different. 

His message was simple: Trust in the Lord, and He will take care of the rest.  Don't worry about the promotions or the jobs--trust in him and he will take care of all that. 

One of the OCF leaders offered this verse:

1 Samuel 2:30

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

³⁰ Therefore the LORD God of Israel declares, ‘I did indeed say that your house and the house of your father should walk before Me forever’; but now the LORD declares, ‘Far be it from Me—for those who honor Me I will honor, and those who despise Me will be lightly esteemed.

I appreciate men like Lt. Gen. Caslen serving in such a humble way, and sharing their hard-won experiences with the rest of us in uniform. I hope and pray for his continued success as he departs Kansas and continues to serve, God willing.

Heart Of The Rock from 3rd Infantry Division on Vimeo.

You can tell the public affairs team at Fort Stewart really put some effort into this production.  Great graphics, great storyline, good feature interviews with the combatives team...everything is top notch.  I wish I could have been a part of it, but I'm glad to see they took hold of an interesting concept and ran with it.  I'm sure Marne Soldiers at Fort Stewart and Fort Benning will enjoy watching this show--if nothing else it will draw more attention to combatives in the 3rd ID and help them attract the talent they need to win the All-Army tournament next year.  Rock of the Marne!!

Being With Family

There's not much better than being with family.  Spending time with your parents, siblings and their children should be a joy for everyone, but for me it's especially enjoyable.  We simply don't get together enough, and when we do it's always fun to catch up and spend time laughing with each other.

I also enjoy being with my church family.  We've been around the world, and have Christian brothers and sisters from all over the U.S., but no one is closer to us than the members of Gateway Christian Church in Clarksville, TN.  Scott and Lynn Witt are the leaders of the flock, so to speak, and we love them dearly.  They have fed us with spiritual "meat" over and over again. 

We are now PCSing (Permanent Change of Station) to our next Army adventure at Fort Leavenworth.  We look forward to the opportunity to meet new people, find new friends, serve in a new church home, and do great work for the Nation.  The family is doing well as we make this adjustment.

Awarded for Service in the Marne Division



Friday afternoon, six of the division staff members, including me, were awarded Meritoriuos Service Medals for our time in the 3rd Inf. Div.  The six of us who were awarded represented about 20 combined years of duty as "Marne Men".  Each of us are moving on to new assignments, and I for one am grateful for the opportunity to be on the division staff to work with such fine officers and under such capable commanders.  It's been a good developmental experience for me.  COL Roger Cloutier, the current Chief of Staff, gave out the honors.  He's a great officer and a very good man--it was an honor to have worked with him this past year.  He will make a great general officer and DCG-M for the division. Rock of the Marne!

L to R: LTC Steve Aiton-G1, me, LTC Paul Heinlein-PMO, LTC Mike Marti-G2/DCoS, LTC Dana Smith-G-3Air, MAJ Jesse Pooler- DPMO







2011 Marne Combatives Tournament

What is "Combatives" you ask?  Plainly speaking, it is the latest version of the Army's hand-to-hand combat technique.  It is based on Brazilian jiu-jitsu, boxing, and other techniques and adapated to the needs of Soldiers while they are unarmed or require less-than-lethal force options.

This was a cool opportunity for me to do something new, and I thoroughly enjoyed myself.  I hope you enjoy it too.


Marne Combatives Tournament 2011 from 3rd Infantry Division on Vimeo.

Girls Are Pretty

This video is over a year old now, but man, it makes me laugh. It has so many memorable lines, like, "How much do they cost, like, 3000 yen?" and "Dude, you're a wizard!"

I wish I could take credit for all of the talent displayed in this work of master craftsmen, but alas, I am responsible for none.

Check out all of SALL Studio's work on YouTube.