Ft Stewart

Awesome TDY times at Ft Stewart Georgia. And by awesome I mean alot of driving, a few overdrafts (my own fault), and general disappoinment. But its alright, just trying to get some extra promotion points in. And this was the reason I haven't posted in a few days.

But either way, everything is starting to turn around. Going to get some major travel pay, a good tax refund, and still deciding what I will be doing for my last year before leaving. I've decided though, if I do leave, I will leave for good (barring a huge war or whatnot). If I do stay, I will stay for good. I'm either in or out, because I want to either go ahead and move on, or keep cranking out points to retirement.

I plan to discuss it with a friend of mine over the next year. Within six months of my ETS date, Ill know for sure. Anyhw, off to the library for now! Peace!

Another Drill Down...

Something like 22 Drills left. I suppose it won't really sink in until I have less than five. I'm gonna miss the people, most definately. But I wont miss the BS work; or being skipped over for promotion many times since I was a PFC. Even when everything was in order, it seemed like the ball was dropped.

Needless to say, I am gad tha I am eligible for the Post 9/11 bill. I've got a goal set to raise my PT score, so that I can make E5 before I leave. But that probably wouldn't even keep me in. Though the investment so far as that its my only current retirement....

It really makes me think.

Either way; Im still fairly young. 23. Its still early enough in life to decide upon a totally different route, and persue that. Who knows, maybe my writing career will take off? Maybe, twenty years from now, I'll take a look back at this point in my life wit something like nostalgia.

Who knows...

Liberal Soldier & Educaion Benefits

After months, back and forth, back and forth, trying to get all my documentation in order, I finally got thrugh, and now have my Certificate of Eligibility. Tommorrow Im riding thetrain into town to sign up for classes for this summer!

Feels great to be back in the Driver's Seat again.

Liberal Soldier & Totems

I find it funny because, I've tried so hard in my time to rationalize religion, and then later to rationalize atheism. I think I'm caught somewhere in between, in a delicate...yet comfortable balance.

One of the things I've noticed about Soldiers, and many people of the same mindset (some whom I call adventurers; and some passionate true idealists from all political and religious spectrum) is a lingering sense of Superstition, no matter what religious or rational views one might hold. And I dont refer to things that I consider shallow, for example horoscopes. Alot of people read horoscopes, not really caring one way or another as to their truth.

What I find myself, and quite a few of my friends doing, is developing somewhat complex, deep rituals. Sometimes they are only important to us, and we might not tell anyone. But for us, at least for me, it is a viable part of the mission, whether others know it or not. Whether or not I admit it to myself.

If ever I walk outside my front door, I usually pop a ciggy in my mouth. But I usually do an odd little ritual that I've developed over my years. I look up, an I see what birds are flying about. The common ones, Pigeons, Sparrows, and the like don't really mean much to me. If I see an Eagle, something in my mind rings out that this will be a good day. If I see a hawk, it is neither good nor bad, but it will be a trying day, and I may not see why for months. If I see a vulture, it doesn't stop me from doing anything, but I am much more wary and open-eyed (at least so I don't step on the carcass its trying to get to). However, for whatever reason, the Crow/Raven is most important to me. If I see one about, and don't see a logical reason for it to be about, I assume, in my mind's eye, that something important will happen today.

But its more than just that. I just suppose my avian omens are the most vibrant bits of evidence about my superstition. But smaller things play a roll. I always wear the same hat, its like a security feeling. I wear a multi-colored 550 cord bracelete on my left wrist that I made myself in Kuwait. All of my tattoos have very deep and personal meaning to me (there are only two).

Alot of the same for most of my friends. I've met people before who get Tattoos because the sun was shining on a specific day, it seems. In truth, what better reason, I suppose? But still, it seems frivilous to me.

Little things like that.

What about you guys? Got any wierd rituals or superstitions you've never told anyone about?

Swine Flu

Okay, so this weekend, while at Ft Gordon, I got my 3rd consecutive vaccination for Swine Flu. Im not sure if it is or not, but I know I've gotten three shots, and when I request to know what they are injecting in me, all the medics have been like 'Swine Flu'.

Im pretty sure I picked up Swine Flue while at Ft Stewart last summer. It was hella gay.

Anyhow, I'm a little under the weather. But thats how the Army works? Any medics able to help me with this? Are there multiple schedules of Swine Flu, like with Anthrax?

I'm up to Schedule C with Anthrax...

Meh...just saying...

The Liberal Soldier & American Drivers

Ladies & Gentlemen

Please, take my advice, and don't break into a convoy, unless its an absolute emergency, and you are immedietely pulling off to the side, or onto an exit. Or if you can't get to the next lane.

But if you are in between two gun-trucks, and you have space to move out, please do. And don't be surprised if one or both gun trucks get on your ass for breaking into our convoy.

Then, more imporantly, don't get mad, scream out the door at us for doing that. And, especially, don't throw your soda at our windshield.

That was a quick way to a felony for that lady.

-Liberal Soldier

Happy February

...Ugh.

This weekend I get an all-expense paid vacation to Ft Gordon for three days. To roll around in the mud, qualify, and eat DFAC nastiness. Well...maybe Gordon Short Order won't be so bad, and I know exactly where to go to get the best DFAC food...

I'll keep you posted.

Have a good weekend. Weenies.

Liberal Soldier, for those deploying...

Okay, this one goes out to a specific unit of mine, that alot of friends are in, and alot of new kids about to go roll in the sand for a year, for the first time. Being deployed I always get asked stupid questions, but I dont mind answering them, and I tell my soldiers exactly what I think they should hear.

If your getting deployed, and your not married, take a break. Call it quits for the year, remain friends, and when you come home, the two of you can get together, work things out, or go seperate ways.

If you stay together, chances are one or both of you will cheat. Usually one, and the other one will be pissed as hell, and end up emotionally screwed up over it. Its what happened to me.

And I'm sorry to say ladies, its usually the female in the relationship on either side who is more likely to cheat. This isn't sexist, but rather a rational examination based on two points. Firstly, men who are in the military who are deployed have alot less opportunity to cheat than spouses do at home, unless they are homosexual. Secondly, women in who are in the Military are still a subtle minority, and probably get alot more offers than they would at home.

But this doesn't change the fact that men do it on both sides as well, so keep that in mind.

After you've deployed and come back home, then you can choose to forgive and forget, or what have you. However, it is somewhat likely that both you and your closest friend will have changed multitudes by the time you get back. Especially given the Army's minimum deployment length of a year.

For god's sakes, don't get married or have a kid just for the deployment. I will have to say though, that those who are married or are expecting a family were alot more loyal than others. Engagements were almost all, to 99%, broken in my unit while overseas though.

Another reason, is I can't imagine being married to the person I loved when I was 20, and I'm only 3 years older. Imagine how I would feel at 25???

Anywho, just some advice for you guys out there.

Any other advice, you ask? Keep your hand receipts, and for gods sakes, don't take your M9 apart past operator level! Soldiers break too many weapons.

Liberal Soldier & Work Ethic

Just a short blog post today, as I'm in the midst of writing a short horror story for submission. I've heard police work described as "Vast amounts of boredom, punctuated with short points of sheer terror." I can easily imagine that is accurate.

I think this same motto applies for the military too. However, it can be broken down into two parts, one for garrison, and one for war. "Vast amounts of boredom, punctuated by short periods of incredibly demanding work." Is how I would describe my garrison experience. And my other experience? "Vast amounts of hard work and discomfort punctuated by periods of sheer terror."

Got any war stories? Let me know.

Want to know more about joining the Army or the Guard? Email me.

The Liberal Soldier & Terrorism

Yet another blog post about Terrorism. I was just reading some old lady's reaction to the Christmas Day bombing attempt online. She was very concerned about the issue that he had tried to blow himself up using an underwear bomb, and how it would result in her having to get her crotch screened from now on whenever she went into the Airplane.

I dont mind that this is what she thinks about. I mean, I suppose thats expected from the American audience.

What happened to questions like the following:

How did this happen? Why did it happen?

I've read a little bit of the person's profile, and he seemed to be a young kid with alot of teenage angst, who put most of that blame on America. And sure, maybe the American media is partially to blame for alot of issues he had, as well as kids everywhere.

And don't confuse me. Still t the forefront of my mind, is how did we let this happen? How did he not end up on a no-fly list, and certainly how did the chemical compound make it through scanners?

The only answer I have to that, is that maybe at times alot of people say things that seem anti-establishment, without meaning them. Maybe the key is to figure out what profile of human being will carry through on their anger. Otherwise, he should have been on a "no-fly" list. As a rationalist, this makes sense to me. The probably is ratio for each ethic & socio-economic background, for how many comments he can say before it becomes extremely likely that he is a violent offender/terrorist.

But that comes really close to scientific management, and has a major chance of infringing on civil liberties. What are your opinions on this story? What are your opinions on bending civil liberties to profile potential terrorists?

The Liberal Soldier

Hello everyone. Im a soldier in the US Army Guard, so yes, I am a part-timer. Don't expect me to know about Active Duty life or anything of that regard. However, I was deployed overseas in Iraq for a year, and was on mission in Egypt for a few months. I am going to try to keep myself anonymous, but if you really want to find out info about me, it wouldn't be too hard.

And lastly, yes, I am a Liberal, with my political view on topics ranging from democratic to out-right socialist on a few. However, I don't advocate violent change, and would rather see a peaceful change.

Alot of this blog will be devoted to national issues, and sometimes a few personal issues. I certainly don't have PTSD, and I wont claim to be one of the heroes that was out of the wire everyday. My hat is off to those guys. Rather alot of my stress issues are personal, and I think writing about them is a good way for me to get over them, without draining the resources of stress programs that are needed by people with more serious issues.

Just dont call me a POG though. Ill admit, I got lucky with my job, but I've seen alot of shit inside and outside of uniform. I dont need to prove anything to anyone. However, I'd be more than willing to have guest posters who have their own things to get off their chests.

Lastly, I will have four doodads on this blog, one being a link to my own company (shameless marketing), a donate button, some adsense at the bottom, and a flag counter. I would appreciate any donation or adsense click I get, but I am much more interested in the feedback that I get. So thank you in advance for tuning in.