I had the opposite effect, my Brigade Commander wasn't too pleased with the short story I had written and which was accepted into a book about Soldier's points of view in Iraq. He thought I was going to tell the tale about how the Brigade did this and that, but the story was how life was for the small unit leader. So he was somewhat pissed because I told him, "Sir, this isn't Hemingway." Just to clarify I did seek permission, had the rough draft reviewed by my Brigade S2 & S3, sent to the Bde PAO and then the MACOM PAO was sent a copy and made aware of the situation. But the discussion wasn't about, "I am the greatest and I have seen the horrors of war....." It was more based on just what the average joe may go through. I wasn't a "fobbit" but many times I wish I was because the situation outside the wire was not where I really wanted to be. Those who do their mission and do it well, let me say thanks because without any of the CSS crew we would be throwing rocks at the insurgents instead of rounds down range. Fobbit, hobbit, or door kicker, you wear the uniform and do your job in support of the mission you rate the respect. We can't all be gun-bunnys and go crashing through the building like some bad episode of "COPS" (I know I can't do it so I don't attempt to speak about it), do your time and come home safe that should be the focus. As far as NCOs or enlisted going to the O-club and getting beat down? Everyone has an opinion. Any time I had to go to the O-club the only thing I found were women looking to become Officers wives. But the E-club has them as well so I guess it all evens out.

The 1LT has a point, some of these guys are trying to come off as “steely eyed killers” as one of my comrades would call it. But in fact they probably didn’t do so much “trigger time”. In my opinion, they need to shut their mouths and load up more supplies. They should be proud of what they do because it is needed. I am no infantryman but I still serve with honor. Then again, I don’t make records (not talented enough) or write newspapers explaining my opinion (again, lack of talent).

Reenlistment, please refer to the previous post by SPCA before you go threatening people. You should have nipped that in the bud at the same time instead of singling out the LT. Granted, he should be held to a higher standard, but hey what do I know.

Who knows he may be a hypocrite, but what if you saw someone trashing you would you want to go check it out and set them straight? I would. I probably wouldn’t expect him to come back here and spout off. He has accomplished his mission by setting the record straight. He may reply to serious discussion but not to childish baiting and internet tough guy talk. But who knows, I’ve been wrong before, it’s bound to happen again.

The 1LT rendered his opinion and his assessment so no big deal. There are countless discussions in the military of who does what and what the other person is or isn't doing whether they are grunt, CSS, whatever. In the end sooner or later he will see that even the so called "fobbits" are needed. Maybe that fobbit did his/her first dep' back when the war kicked off? No one should render judgement on one's military service record unless you were right there and sitting in the same soup as he/she were in. But with the situation in Iraq like it is, you could just as easily get killed knocking a door down while conducting a sweep just as walking to the shower trailer and getting hit by mortar or rocket fire. Seen it, done it, been there and then some.......

quote:

Originally posted by DoubleDuece:
Reenlistment, please refer to the previous post by SPCA before you go threatening people.

Wow, missed that one.

No one should be threatening anyone in this community. Keep things civilized/semi-professional; repeated offenses will dealt with accordingly.

So I guess being in Iraq isn't enough already to be putting our lives on the line? Last time I checked, it was still a combat zone...

I never left the FOB during my second deployment, but I did have the most dangerous and life threatening job on the FOB. Oh, and I am maintenance by the way. So I would just like to say that just because I am not in a combat arms MOS doesn't mean I haven't put my life on the line.

quote:

Originally posted by PKoucheravy:
I do not have any problem with support personnel. My problem is with those personnel who over-talk and over-emphasize their contributions. It would be the same as if I started talking about how I was an "operator" or said that I do the same thing as the Rangers. I'm a paratrooper infantryman, I know my place, I know my limitations and you won't find me on TV, Radio, or on the shelves of a record store tooting my own horn or making more of myself than I am.

Sir, with all due respect, I have had Soldiers come from the 82d plenty of times failing their PT test and busting tape. No one is really impressed that you are so great compared to lowly support Soldiers. You make a bad name for the paratroopers by being so high and mighty.

quote:

Originally posted by PKoucheravy:
My problem is with those support personnel who you see on the news every week talking about "putting their lives on the line" and other such dramatic cliches that CNN and MSNBC eat up. I believe one of the lines from "Voices from the Frontlines" -- yes, I've listened to the CD -- talks about how he's got Iraqis lives in his hands and he can see the fear in their eyes. Give me a break, he was a supply clerk or something.

How do you know what that supply clerk did on a day to day basis? Myself and other interrogators spent just as much time outside of the FOB doing the same crap paratroopers do (unless the infantryman have had some worthwhile combat jump within the last 17 years or so that I don't know about; don't even try to talk about Afghanistan or Iraq OER bullet jumps), only interrogating and collecting intelligence on top of that. Then at night, while the 11Bs were playing Spades and hanging out in the MWR, we were typing up interrogation reports. But yet, every time you meet an 11B, he sneers and says "HAH, another MI puke." Funny, because by the end of their first mission with us, they are amazed at how well we handle ourselves and ruck right with them. As a matter of fact, a friend of mine brought back a BSM with V for his actions under fire embedded with an infantry platoon on a mission. None of them received awards. Oh, and two PFCs working for him (also interrogators) brought home ARCOMs with Vs.

What was the point of this long-winded post? You never know what someone has done in the past or what they are doing right then and there, unless you somehow have a bead on all troops deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq. Maybe Soldiers are simply proud they are serving their country and feel that they are holding people's lives in their hands and take that seriously. Maybe they don't need some LT telling them how wrong they are to feel that way, especially since he doesn't know them or what they are doing.

quote:

Originally posted by PKoucheravy:
Instead of actually reading and thinking on my article, you make assumptions such as that I don't know how a battalion runs. I've been a PL for a year, XO for a year, and on battalion staff for many months now with three deployments under my belt. I can assure you that I do not have "only an opinion on the matter," SPCA, I have my own experiences in combat in all three of my duty positions to back it up. Oh, and I have several friends that are enlisted. Bring that attitude to our bar when we're out and see whose head ends up in the urinal. Almost as bad as snobby officers are the enlisted who assume we're all prep-school rich kids. You can shove that "stay at the O'Club" stuff up your ass. And ArmyWaterCraft, if you think that I'm wrong just because you're old and crusty and your Kiwi's got more time in service than I do, go research a real argument and get back to me.

Two points here; one, no one gives a crap. Most of us have some sort of similar track record as far as our rank is concerned and don't need to have a wang measuring contest with you, myself included. Second, for someone so gifted in the art of the Army, I find it interesting to note that you have enlisted friends as an officer. I suppose you will tell me that of course they are not in your unit or anyone that you work with, but I will have my suspicions either way (unfounded or not, that will be my vise).

quote:

Originally posted by PKoucheravy:
In short: do your job well, be proud of what you do, but don't make yourself out to be Rambo if you're not. "Voices from the Frontline" was the epitome of pogue self-promotion and self-pity and THAT is what I have a problem with.

And who are you making yourself out to be? Better than most of the Army. You are an infantryman? Congratulations! You have a college degree and can add 2+2, so you can be an infantry officer. Oh, and you're male, another stellar job requirement.

I'd bet that most of your infantry comrades who are more professional would be ashamed that you would act the way you do.


PS - Hopefully I remember that key phrase in Dari for you when you are on patrol in a hostile village in Afghanistan so your men don't get killed. Unless you speak Dari or Persian-Farsi, of course.