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I went ahead and asked to join here even though my music taste probably does not make me eligible. I do promise not to have any Buble music issue from my profile, does that make it a little better? I started doing something new for my journal and for my first Song of the Week, I chose a song I had hear over a year ago. It is by a Filipino artist (yes, it is in English) and is a song that is Pro-Soldier. The one minute-ish intro given on the video may be a little chessy, but I think the song makes up for it. Sorry, this a slow, sappy song rather than a punk rock one. Mods-if you prefer I delete this post, just tell me and I will do so. Please click here for the video, lyrics and journal entry. http://giwu.livejournal.com/5176.html#cutid1Giwu |
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Aug. 1st, 2006 @ 09:32 am
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big fucking kudos to  darkadaptedeye for his thread over on veterans. i completely agree with everything you said, how you said it, and it a prime example of the proper attitude to have as a veteran/soldier in the current political climate. i'd go into a tirade about my commie atheist beliefs, but i doubt anyone wants to hear it. i'm glad to see someone finally provoked some discussion in here, my lame attempts didn't work too well. |
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A few questions for the veterans of this community:
1) How do you feel when someone, a veteran or otherwise, claims or attempts to take credit for military experiences which they did not in fact have?
2) How do you feel when a veteran claims heritage and tradition from a branch other than the one within which they actually served?
3) When you entered the military, did you swear to uphold The Constitution "against all enemies foreign and domestic", or did you pledge allegiance to the flag?
4) In regards to the concepts of patriotism and duty, do you feel it is a higher value to uphold the foundational ideals within The Constitution, or to unwaveringly follow the flag?
5) Do you or would you condone violence against other citizens who hold political views or religious beliefs other than your own? (making fun of hippies and emo kids doesn't count, this is more about people who advocate beating up religious minorities.)
6) If you are having a debate in a public forum, would you censor or delete views contrary to your own? |
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Jun. 5th, 2006 @ 08:53 pm
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What's the most idiotic question someone has asked you related to your military/war experience?
How did you reply?
How did you WISH you replied?
What questions should prompt ball-smashing?
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Apr. 26th, 2006 @ 12:12 pm
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Bush is still standing behind Rumsfeld.
I think Rumsie needs to be dragged out in a field and handed over to the Louisiana National Guard. Anyone have any other fitting ideas? |
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In order to keep this place from dying, let's get back to the discussion of what this little group is supposed to be about.
One of the things I liked about being in the 82nd Airborne was that there was far less of a gap between "grunt" and "pogue". To some extent, distinctions like that started to fade when the task force for the average operation always included a full assortment of artillerymen, FOs, ADA guys, field MPs, medics, intel teams, commo teams, maintenance teams, combat engineers, naval gunfire liaisons, air force combat controllers, as well as the usual assortment of infantry.
I may have usually scored a low number to get out the door and onto the dropzone sooner, but somewhere not too far behind me was a full mix of combat MOS's, as well as cooks and mechanics. Everyone would get strapped into a full load of gear, and we'd all jump and slam into the ground together, hardcore style.
This created a degree of camaraderie. Even when we deployed and there was no jumping involved, we still knew by the color of our beret that at the very least we were all airborne together.
Yes, any of us could have taken easier jobs in easier units, but we all chose not to. We chose to take a more physically demanding job that would potentially deploy us anywhere in the world overnight, into a completely suck-ass and unpleasant country. Together.
There may have still been inter-MOS pissing matches, but they weren't nearly as bad as someplace like in Germany. In Germany, the posts could get so split up that you might barely even see other parts of your own brigade. And the bullshit would get out of control. "Blah blah you're just a dumb grunt, why should I care if you didn't get paid last month and your equipment is broken. Come back to my office next week and see if I feel like working. Whine whine the 'baby blue mafia' hurt my feelings by calling me a lazy-assed pogue."
I loved going to clubs in that country, but there was something in the people in some of the units that completely rubbed me the wrong way.
What is it in someone that makes them want to take the bigger risks and harder jobs while others opt for the easy way out?
Why do some people jump into messy situations with both feet while others pass the buck and try to ride someone else's coat tails?
Which brings us back to this community.
This is  hardcore_vets.
Let me say this again:
This is hardcore_vets.
This is not veterans. If you want to talk about waving flags or get all touchy-feely and want to share your favorite prayer, or some sappy little cut-and-paste feel good story, go over there. You want to post pictures of your teddy bear dressed in a uniform cheesy "yellow ribbon" affrimational pictures, post it there.
Instead, show us your fucking scars. Share your hardcore stories and attitude. Put up or shut up. Stand tall or go home.
So, let's get a headcount. Who here is hardcore and how do you define it?
Apr. 13th, 2006 @ 05:05 pm
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| » i wish i knew about this before... |
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i know people still utter the words "veteran's benefits", but if anyone's tried to deal with the VA in the past 6 years you also realize most of them have been gutted or killed off by the current regime of chicken-hawks on Capitol Hill. these days, it all seems to be mostly a myth.
but, if you should ever find yourself in NYC, there's an old-school (since 1919) non-profit hotel/hostel type place for service members and veterans. i'd never heard of it before, but i stumbled on it today while wandering up Lexington Ave.
$25-$37 a night for active duty. $52 for veterans. (fyi- the average price for an "affordable" hotel room in this city is $300-$500.)
it's on Lexington and 37th Street, so there's nothing immediately nearby. but, it's not that far of a walk to either go drinking downtown in the east village or head uptown to the museums.
Soldiers', Sailors', Marines' and Airmen's Club
...they lose money every year and rely on donations, so i'm going to try to see if i can get my company to donate.
and please, since this is hardcore_vets, at least promise to stir up some hardcore shit or get hardcore drunk if you decide to come. this is, afterall, america's most hardcore city.
Apr. 12th, 2006 @ 05:05 pm
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| » WHAT THE FUCK, OVER!!!! Our Govtment at work? |
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I imagine that you combat Vets have a stronger opinion but I think this just is so wrong. Inferior materials indeed. What a lot of crap. The brass are just trying to cover their asses. Just another shiny example of our government at work.
Army Bans Use of Privately Bought Armor
By LOLITA C. BALDOR
WASHINGTON (AP) - Soldiers will no longer be allowed to wear body armor other than the protective gear issued by the military, Army officials said Thursday, the latest twist in a running battle over the equipment the Pentagon gives its troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Army officials told The Associated Press that the order was prompted by concerns that soldiers or their families were buying inadequate or untested commercial armor from private companies - including the popular Dragon Skin gear made by California-based Pinnacle Armor.
``We're very concerned that people are spending their hard-earned money on something that doesn't provide the level of protection that the Army requires people to wear. So they're, frankly, wasting their money on substandard stuff,'' said Col. Thomas Spoehr, director of materiel for the Army.
Murray Neal, chief executive officer of Pinnacle, said he hadn't seen the directive and wants to review it.
``We know of no reason the Army may have to justify this action,'' Neal said. ``On the surface this looks to be another of many attempts by the Army to cover up the billions of dollars spent on ineffective body armor systems which they continue to try quick fixes on to no avail.''
The move was a rare one by the Army. Spoehr said he doesn't recall any similar bans on personal armor or devices. The directives are most often issued when there are problems with aircraft or other large equipment.
Veterans groups immediately denounced the decision.
Nathaniel R. Helms, editor of the Soldiers for the Truth online magazine Defense Watch, said he has already received a number of e-mails from soldiers complaining about the policy.
``Outrageously we've seen that (soldiers) haven't been getting what they need in terms of equipment and body armor,'' said Sen. Christopher Dodd, D-Conn., who wrote legislation to have troops reimbursed for equipment purchases. ``That's totally unacceptable, and why this directive by the Pentagon needs to be scrutinized in much greater detail.''
But another veterans group backed the move.
``I don't think the Army is wrong by doing this, because the Army has to ensure some level of quality,'' said Paul Rieckhoff, executive director of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America. ``They don't want soldiers relying on equipment that is weak or substandard.''
But, Rieckhoff said, the military is partially to blame for the problem because it took too long to get soldiers the armor they needed. ``This is the monster they made,'' he said.
Early in the Iraq war, soldiers and their families were spending hundreds or even thousands of dollars on protective gear that they said the military was not providing.
Then, last October, after months of pressure from families and members of Congress, the military began a reimbursement program for soldiers who purchased their own protective equipment.
In January, an unreleased Pentagon study found that side armor could have saved dozens of U.S. lives in Iraq, prompting the Army and Marine Corps to order thousands of ceramic body armor plates to be shipped to troops there this year.
The Army ban covers all commercial armor. It refers specifically to Pinnacle's armor, saying that while the company advertising implies that Dragon Skin ``is superior in performance'' to the Interceptor Body Armor the military issues to soldiers, ``the Army has been unable to determine the veracity of these claims.''
``In its current state of development, Dragon Skin's capabilities do not meet Army requirements,'' the Army order says, and it ``has not been certified to protect against several small arms threats that the military is encountering in Iraq and Afghanistan.''
The Marine Corps has not issued a similar directive, but Marines are ``encouraged to wear Marine Corps-issued body armor since this armor has been tested to meet fleet standards,'' spokesman Bruce Scott said.
Military officials have acknowledged that some troops - often National Guard or Reservists - went to war with lesser-quality protective gear than other soldiers were issued.
``We'll be upfront and recognize that at the start of the conflict there were some soldiers that didn't have the levels of protection that we wanted,'' Spoehr said. Now, he added, ``we can categorically say that whatever you're going to buy isn't as good as what you're going to get'' from the military.
In interviews Thursday, Army officials said aggressive marketing by body armor manufacturers was fueling public concerns that troops are not getting the protection they need.
Army Lt. Col. Scott Campbell said the Army has asked Pinnacle to provide 30 sets of the full Dragon Skin armor so it can be independently tested. He said Pinnacle has indicated it won't be able to provide that armor until May, and the company said that is still the plan.
Campbell said initial military tests on small sections of the Dragon Skin armor had disappointing results. He said Pinnacle has received $840,000 in research funding to develop improved armor.
Spoehr said he believes the directive will have little impact on soldiers in Iraq or Afghanistan because it's likely that nearly all are wearing the military-issued body armor.
There have been repeated reports of soldiers or families of soldiers buying commercial equipment or trying to raise thousands of dollars to buy it for troops who are preparing to deploy overseas.
On the Net:
Defense Department: http://www.defenselink.mil
Pinnacle Armor: http://www.pinnaclearmor.com
03/30/06 18:16 © Copyright The Associated Press. All rights reserved. The information contained In this news report may not be published, broadcast or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.
Mar. 31st, 2006 @ 08:16 am
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| » A pack out for the Troops |
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Information on this troop support can be found at http://www.operation-support-our-troops.org/.
Today was Operation Sgt. G.I. Rabbit. I spent much of the day packing health and comfort packages for the troops. We had so many people of all ages. I think the oldest person was a 70-year-old, and the youngest were elementary school kids. I know we had members of a Boy Scout troop there. Just some of the many items were batteries, footballs, candy and snack food, Easter candy, games and other items listed on the web page. Everyone there signed Easter cards that say “Thank you”. These are sent to the units.
We packed about 50 packages that will be sent out.
There was a special table for the elementary school kids. We packed individual bags containing colored pencils, crayons, #2 pencils, pencil sharpener, notebook paper, a composition book (those old marble top ones were a favorite), pocket folders, 12 “ ruler with metric, a large eraser, safety scissors and pencil pouches. We also included some toys and games. I think the count was 20 packages of school supplies.
I think I heard that 1300 individual soldier packages were finished and about 150 school boxes but it was very noisy when the announcement was made.
The next pack out will probably be on June 3. I can’t make that one because of a SCA commitment, (June Fair). Hopefully I can make the Christmas one that will be held in November, probably the second weekend.
I packed the packages, did restocking, made up the kid’s packages, taped the mailing boxes and cleaned up.
I am tired but happy that I helped people who I have never met.
On a final note, this was told to us before we started packing. This is Kleenex time, people. One young lady told her friends that she did not want any birthday presents for her birthday. Spend the money on items for the school kids of Iraq. She said: “I have enough presents. I want to share some things with Iraq children”.
Every time I think the younger generation is going to hell in a hand basket, something like this comes along and restores my faith in these young people.
Mar. 25th, 2006 @ 05:57 pm
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this community officially fucking blows.
i initially was hoping that it would end up with liberal punk and hardcore veterans, cuz that's what i am. that's how it was advertised.
anyone else want to moderate it? any suggestions at this point?
Feb. 21st, 2006 @ 12:23 pm
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