tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24969255984884322152024-03-18T23:48:03.757-04:00BUSHIDO 0369Grendelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14655008824062400475noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2496925598488432215.post-28827559730314675412011-07-16T18:00:00.000-04:002011-07-16T18:00:40.548-04:00The repeal of the “Don’t ask, don’t tell” policy (DADT)<span style="font-family: "Courier New";">I am not gay. I don’t care if you are gay.<o:p></o:p></span> <br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New";">I do not care if a Marine is gay. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">Don’t care. Couldn’t possibly care less. Literally impossible. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">I care if a Marine is WEAK. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New";">The only disruption a gay Marine brings to my life is the hours of briefs talking about the implementation of the new policy that are very clearly oriented to the homosexual service member afraid to ask questions. Which is fine. I get that. I know for fact that I have served with gay Marines who were just as bad ass as straight guys and could fight just as well.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;">This does not mean that Marines will suddenly have pink skivee shirts and cut off utility trousers so high the pockets hang out. It changes nothing to our conduct. What a Marine does with his own time effects me little so long as they eat clean, kill their bodies, study the trade and don’t get arrested. Having a boyfriend vice a girlfriend means nothing to me. Fixing bayonets and repelling the enemy’s assaults matter to me.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">The argument is that gay Marines will be incapable of keeping there urge for same sex lovin’ to his or her self. What about hetro Marines? How do they manage to act accordingly? And when they don’t what happens? HAMMERED! Lose money, rank and freedom! Why in the world, then, is this any damn different? It is certainly NOT social acceptance. Americans as a whole are acceptant to homosexuals. More acceptant to homosexuals, in fact, then the actions the military undertakes in the war. Americans like homosexuals more than fighting wars! <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u>How could anyone like something more than fighting a war?!?! <o:p></o:p></u></i></b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">The difference lies in a refusal to accept change unique to the military in general. This is compounded when the change is pushed from the outside in. Quadrupled when it involves the Marines. Old Corps blah, blah, blah, blah. We are not people. We are not like you. We take care of ourselves. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">The Corps, however, has much bigger problems to worry about than this. Protecting the world, slimming down, winning ANOTHER war for America, killing pirates, liberating the oppressed, re taking embassies, saving those in need, ya know. Stuff like that. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span> <span style="font-family: "Courier New";">Straight or gay a good Marine is a good Marine, and a weak, sub-standard, baby crap soft Marine is just as useless straight as he is gay.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">I will find the weak, separate them from the pack, and either assimilate or eliminate thier weak asses!</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Courier New";"> <o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">P.S. If you have some deep rooted religious based moral objection, citing that gays go to hell, that leaves heaven homosexual free, so quit your bitchin! Me and the queers will be bayonet training in HELL...<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
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</div>Grendelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14655008824062400475noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2496925598488432215.post-87467050457888429972011-06-18T08:36:00.000-04:002011-06-18T08:36:46.197-04:00Mindset II, Part Two<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Here is my philosophy. It is simple. I believe sound, and can be utilized by anyone for anything. Understand that it was originally written for young Marines, warriors who may not fully understand their situation. It was written for combatants. For men who will kill men. It is applicable as is to these types of people.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></span></div><div style="margin-left: -0.25in; tab-stops: list 39.75pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";">Men ready to do savagery against others. Also for those who may not be completely sure of the responsibility they have “signed on” for. It dissolves ambiguity and galvanizes responsibility. It is prioritized in order and needs to be refreshed often;<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><div style="tab-stops: list 39.75pt; text-align: left; text-indent: -21.75pt;"><u><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";">1. </span></u><u><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">Remember that you did this to yourself.<o:p></o:p></span></u></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="margin-left: -0.25in; tab-stops: list 39.75pt; text-align: left; text-indent: -3.75pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>This is applicable to everyone. In any instance. Everywhere. All the time. In our case WE signed the contract, WE decided to serve. There is no turning back. Sorry if you made the wrong choice. Sucks to be you. For everyone else it simply applies to EVERYTHING. The confrontation you get into, or walk away from. The parking spot you take. The speeding ticket. What ever. Simply put you made a decision, good or bad, now its time to work through it. No cop outs. Make it work!</span></div><div style="margin-left: -0.25in; tab-stops: list 39.75pt; text-align: left; text-indent: -3.75pt;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="tab-stops: list 39.75pt; text-align: left; text-indent: -21.75pt;"><u><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";">2. </span></u><u><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">Discipline leads to mastery.<o:p></o:p></span></u></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>This was shown to me early by welders. Men that were hardened by the trade. Two specific types; ones makin’ 15 bucks an hour, and the ones makin’ 30 bucks an hour. The men making the big money worked hard, measured twice and cut once. For the war fighter it’s the little things, straps tight, weapon clean, awake on post, clean uniform, good shave, squared away wall lockers, stay fit. These turn into very important ideals that translate into the battle field and literally become life and death. This is TRADE or JOB specific.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="tab-stops: list 39.75pt; text-align: left; text-indent: -21.75pt;"><u><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";">3. </span></u><u><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">In order to master your profession, you need to first master yourself (SELF DISCIPLINE).<o:p></o:p></span></u></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Those same great welders lived comfortably because of hard work. On the other hand they drank too much, did other questionable lifestyle actions, invested poorly with time and money away from work. They were not centered. They could not complete the package. For the Marines it relates to this stupid ass “Field Marine” concept. No such thing. If a Marine is a GREAT infantry man, but beats his wife, gets a DUI, and smokes dope, he’s just another punk getting paid by tax money.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>This principle is you. How far are you willing to go to work for improvement. MASTERY. Of self. Internal focus. Complete control and understanding of you. How you interact, react, and live with your family and community. For us it is directly related to the fire team (4 men), squad (12), and platoon (40-50). That’s our community. In the office or on the job site it needs to be applied, just like the battle field. Constantly challenge yourself.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="tab-stops: list 39.75pt; text-align: left; text-indent: -21.75pt;"><u><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";">4. </span></u><u><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">Increase your lethality every chance you get. EVERY DAY.<o:p></o:p></span></u></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I wrote this specifically thinking of perishable skills, most notably CQB style shooting, and bayonet work. It can be translated to SURVIVABILITY. Work out to make your self stronger and harder. The sexy body is a side effect to being hard. If you have a job where you need to stay on the “edge” of something, than work to stay ahead of the curve! Put in the extra hours here and there to make sure you perform at the highest levels. No need to be a “workaholic”, or neglect other aspects of life just the extra mile to be stay ahead of the herd.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="tab-stops: list 39.75pt; text-align: left; text-indent: -21.75pt;"><u><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";">5. </span></u><u><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">If you won’t work on lethality, at least work on some form of self development.<o:p></o:p></span></u></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I often thought of omitting this one, but chose to keep it in to reinforce the fact that there are many aspects to successful living, not just bayoneting bad guys (even though it’s not true!). For us it’s professional reading and taking care of education and preparing ourselves to be the best citizens we can when we leave the Corps.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">I would translate it for a civilian as this; even though your not getting paid for what your doing, or may not immediately get some reward for your actions, put forth the effort as if you are.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="tab-stops: list 39.75pt; text-align: left; text-indent: -21.75pt;"><u><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";">6. </span></u><u><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">Become proficient in the things you DO NOT enjoy.<o:p></o:p></span></u></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The military is full of wicked cool crap to do…<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>about 10% of the time. The other times it is full of rather menial work and laborious tasks or desperate boredom. The better we get at the crap that sucks the more time for the crap that rocks!! The big thing now is the attention Special Forces receive since OIF/OEF. Companies market gear, books, and clothing after these guys. But guess what…none of that makes them Special Forces. Not the beards, or the partially rolled sleeves, or the “high speed” crap they walk around with. This does; they pack gear smarter, they think about and fix logistical shortfalls, they are good at the small details. The boring un-fun crap that needs to be done. Every time.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">This again equates to pulling ahead of the herd. If there is some horrible task/aspect of what you do just lie to yourself! Tell your self it’s the best thing you’ll do all day. I’ve done this with long heavy force marches for 10 damn years now. These suck. They make you feel like crap and plain hurt during and after! But I have lied to my self for sooo long about how much I LOVE them, that I do now. Sorta. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="tab-stops: list 39.75pt; text-align: left; text-indent: -21.75pt;"><u><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";">7. </span></u><u><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">Accept that the basics ARE brilliant. <o:p></o:p></span></u></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>This is a clique in the military now, but no truer words have been said. Hence why I attempted to insist on the acceptance of this idea. Remember the acronym K.I.S.S.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">I use this when teaching or talking through complex events. Particularly in any urban training. Remember that it can be applied everywhere. And should. This will be a life saver. Save time, money, aggravation. Think hard about this one and all the possible applications. It’s just a simple fact. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">Look at professional athletes, ESPN just shows the amazing crap they do, but they practice the crap you do in pee-wee and little leagues. They always return to fundamentals and basics. They have mastered the basics, which makes it seem like they are doing something more complex! That’s what makes them pro’s. Accept it! (2&3).<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="tab-stops: list 39.75pt; text-align: left; text-indent: -21.75pt;"><u><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";">8. </span></u><u><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">Remember that practice makes PERMANENT.<o:p></o:p></span></u></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="tab-stops: list 39.75pt; text-align: left; text-indent: -21.75pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>How many times have you heard that practice makes perfect? Nope. It just makes the crap your doing wrong happen all the time. By slowing down, and applying 6 and 7, you will ensure you are getting PERFECT practice, which will make your practice perfect. Making habits of action. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="tab-stops: list 39.75pt; text-align: left; text-indent: -21.75pt;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="tab-stops: list 39.75pt; text-align: left; text-indent: -21.75pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>It’s important to note however that function beats form in most cases. If I get in a gun fight I just need to shoot better than the bad guys, NOT PERFECT! But if I practice to be perfect, I will shoot better than John Q Criminal. It’s same with any conflict. I just want to be stronger, faster and harder than the adversary. This will work for gun fighters, not heart surgeons!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="tab-stops: list 39.75pt; text-align: left; text-indent: -21.75pt;"><u><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";">9. </span></u><u><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">Imagine that someone you respect is watching everything you do, ALL THE TIME.<o:p></o:p></span></u></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="tab-stops: list 39.75pt; text-align: left; text-indent: -21.75pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>I’ve been doing this as long as I can remember. For what ever reason when I was young I ALWAYS thought an adult was secretly watching me. I know it’s weird but it has served me well. In fact when I have NOT applied it, it seems I always do something more stupid than normal. Pick anyone. I tell my Marines “that if I were with you watching your stupid ass would you still do what you’re about to do or currently doing? If the answers no, DON’T DO IT!”.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="tab-stops: list 39.75pt; text-align: left; text-indent: -21.75pt;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="tab-stops: list 39.75pt; text-align: left; text-indent: -21.75pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I firmly believe that if you apply this all the time, and the person you are imagining is a good person, you will be fine. This is similar to the whole “God is watching you” crap. Instead of picking something that may or may not be there pick something real. Your dad, a teacher, or someone who you just believe to be a good, proficient, person or someone you strive to be like. A mentor or role model maybe. Someone something, doesn’t matter. Just do it. Of all of these, this and the first one get the most positive feed back. It works.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="tab-stops: list 39.75pt; text-align: left; text-indent: -21.75pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="tab-stops: list 39.75pt; text-align: left; text-indent: -21.75pt;"><u><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";">10. </span></u><u><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">Know your limits.<o:p></o:p></span></u></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Don’t hurt yourself. Don’t bite off more than you can chew. You’ve heard this before. Don’t swim beyond your means, don’t climb Everest first, don’t fist fight bears until you’ve had a few fights with people. Stuff like that.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">The problem for us is actually doing it. We tend to have a bit of a wolf pack mentality and get upset if someone can’t perform. Just don’t go too far because someone else can. Know yourself. With anything. Just do your best.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="tab-stops: list 39.75pt; text-align: left; text-indent: -21.75pt;"><u><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";">11. </span></u><u><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">Constantly work to exceed your limits, SAFELY.<o:p></o:p></span></u></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="tab-stops: list 39.75pt; text-align: left; text-indent: -21.75pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>All the time. This brings the whole list above it together. This is the completion of the ideas. The next few build off of the concepts above. Never be satisfied with your performance, but realize that you WILL get hurt if you don’t improve in intervals. It’s fitness based. If running 6 miles is your limit, than work to get 6.5. Slowly.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="tab-stops: list 39.75pt; text-align: left; text-indent: -21.75pt;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="tab-stops: list 39.75pt; text-align: left; text-indent: -21.75pt;"><u><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";">12. </span></u><u><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">Balance mental proficiency with physical proficiency.<o:p></o:p></span></u></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><u><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">Balance physical capacity with mental capacity. <o:p></o:p></span></u></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>In the Marines they say “you can be dumb and strong, or weak and smart” (neither of which is true). The idea here is to read as much as you run. To study as much as you apply. And not forget that all your strength doesn’t matter if you cannot complete an idea, and convey it to others. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">Be as good at the physical stuff as you are at the mental stuff. Id rather have a decent runner who can think through complex problems, than the worlds fastest idiot. Make this your mission. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="tab-stops: list 39.75pt; text-align: left; text-indent: -21.75pt;"><u><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">13. Make time to rest.<o:p></o:p></span></u></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">for some reason some Marines (like the idiot mentioned in part one) take pride in the fact that they don’t sleep, or more commonly, try to make it seem that they never sleep, cause they are soooo hard. This is stupid. Your mind and body repairs significantly faster when asleep. 4 hours minimum. As much as possible.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">I’ve HAD to stay awake for days, and sometimes you just need to do it. That’s a discipline. Not a physical attribute. Try your best to get 6 or 7 hours sleep every night. Especially after taxing days.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt -0.25in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">So there it is. The reason for the order is necessity really.</span> <span style="font-family: "Courier New";">If you get 1 and 2 done all the time it helps with 3. 4,5,6,7 help with 8, and 8 helps with 4,5,6,7. 9 helps with all of them all of the time. 10 and 11 will help condition your body and mind while 12 will make sure you don’t get lopsided. And 13 will keep you sane!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div></span><div style="text-align: left;"></div>Grendelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14655008824062400475noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2496925598488432215.post-68414439614969364492011-06-16T15:58:00.000-04:002011-06-16T15:58:44.023-04:00Mindset II, Part One<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">If you have seen any of my blog (such a strange name) before you may have seen the first entry (Mindset). It has a set of principles that outline a very specific end state in mindset that I attempt to get all of my Marines to. In the second part of this post I will re introduce this philosophy and civilianize it, as well as describe it in greater detail. I would say that it has been in development for nine or so years, but really fine tuned in the last three, and finally put to paper with in the last 11 or so months.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">The sources for this vary. Some are from myself, where as others are adages I’ve picked up from superiors and subordinates alike, or crap I’ve read over the years. Fundamentally though there are two direct inspirational type sources; “Principles of personal defense, by Col. Jeff Cooper”, and “The 7 habits of highly effective people, by Stephen R. Covey”.</span></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";"><o:p><span style="font-family: "Courier New";"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">First some disclaimers. <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Col.</st1:place></st1:country-region> Cooper is a BA. No question. He was however a bit conservative and hard lined on some things. He was educated, battle tested, and decent none the less. A good man. His family made a site for him, <a href="http://www.jeffcooperfoundation.org/news/">here</a>. Check it out. I have done a lot of research on him and “know” him well. Stephen Covey on the other hand, I have NOT researched. I THINK he’s big into God. I THINK he’s Mormon. I THINK he is anti-gun/violence. I THINK he and I would not like one another. But I KNOW he is very smart, very good, and wrote an amazing life altering book! Check! On with the post...<o:p></o:p></span></o:p></span></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> <span style="font-family: "Courier New";">Ok the point to all of this, OTHER than my philosophy: To my knowledge these two men never met. They did however both develop two all encompassing, life changing, and uniquely functional principles. They both got it done in seven. 7 habits, 7 principles. Now its important to note that Mr. Covey has “the 8<sup>th</sup> habit” book, but this is an after thought of no real relevance if you understand the first book, boiled down he had 7. Like the late Col. Cooper.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">Gun nuts and professional war fighters alike both know Col. Coopers principles. They are universal and proven. Time tested. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 39.75pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 39.75pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -21.75pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> <span style="font-size: small;">A</span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">lertness<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 39.75pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 39.75pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -21.75pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> <span style="font-size: small;">D</span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">ecisiveness<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 39.75pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 39.75pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -21.75pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> <span style="font-size: small;">A</span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">ggressiveness<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 39.75pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 39.75pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -21.75pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> <span style="font-size: small;">S</span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">peed<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 39.75pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 39.75pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -21.75pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> <span style="font-size: small;">C</span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">oolness<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 39.75pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 39.75pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -21.75pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">6.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> <span style="font-size: small;">R</span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">uthlessness<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 39.75pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 39.75pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -21.75pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">7.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> <span style="font-size: small;">S</span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">urprise<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">Like I said pretty self explanatory. They deal with mindset, and conduct of habit vice actual techniques. The book is small, neat, illustrated, and took me about 20 minutes to read cover to cover. It is meant to be re-read periodically and always practically applied.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"> <span style="font-family: "Courier New";">The good <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Col.</st1:country-region></st1:place> took his time in the writing of stuff martial thinkers have been doing for thousands of years, and suit cased it all nicely. Perhaps coolness should supersede speed, but that’s the only thing I would change, if at all. I preach 2,3,and 6 early and often. As Marines on the battle field we have a certain type of luxury to be offensive as permitted, and typically execute with fine tuned violence. This book is for all of you. Defensive, as a Marine must be when at home. But alert none the less.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">Coolness to me is two fold; one I need to be responsible for the ways in which any aggressor will be dealt with while on the “home front”. Also it talks to being able to keep your head in intense moments. I have a friend (kinda), who is the gift from God when it comes to tactics and has seen more combat than anyone else on EARTH (not really), but during any and all evaluations/real world events he turns into a spazz from hell! He has looked at me, and waited for a decision, ran around “looking” for meaningless tasks, and blown tiny and ultimately insignificant things out of proportion. NOT cool. Not at all! This separates good leaders men will look to and depend on because of want, instead of obligation. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">1,2, and 5 are necessities in my line of work, and good bases for life for others. These can be applied immediately, and if your like me, you’ve been doing most of them for a long time. My father taught me several of them for that matter. Quite on accident. My father isn’t big on violence like me.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">The Seven Habits is faaaaar less martial, but can be applied in anyone’s life, under any circumstances. It is a management book. It talks of business, business owners, and CEO types and applies it to a normal person. It has made me more patient (for those of you who know me imagine me before this friggin book!), a better teacher/student, and a some what better father.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"> <span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">After reading this book I developed a family plan, and made a presentation for it. It spoke to me so clearly that what this man wants is to make you better at what you do. I hunt people. And walk around with a <st1:place w:st="on">LOT</st1:place> of crap on my back, and live in the woods and junk like that. Shoot weapons. Fight with bayonets…ect.ect. It made me more focused on those things!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">Mr. Covey has a much more detailed, taxing book to read. He has four parts, 7 habits, and several appendixes. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><st1:place w:st="on"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">I.</span></st1:place><span style="font-family: "Courier New";"> Paradigms and principles (overview essentially)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">II. Private victory</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>1. Be proactive<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2. Begin with the end in mind<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>3. Put first things first<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">III. Public victory<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>4. Think win/win<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>5. Seek first to understand, then be understood<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>6. Synergize<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">IV. Renewal<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span>7. Sharpen the saw<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">Part one was a real eye opener for me. It speaks to paradigm shifts, and how to significantly change your prospective on several things. It talks about the importance of controlling the things you CAN, and working WITH the things you cannot.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">I found the book (though difficult to read in parts) very enlightening. He hits integrity (just as Col Cooper does) regularly. This is the base for solid lifestyle and happiness. It re-instills honor and focuses your commitment. Coupled with some Marine Corps doctrine pubs, it helped me develop a new base to approach squad leaders and give them a clear and concise direction for themselves and their squads.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">No. 5 really hit home. The Corps is a “do as I say” type world at times, especially with the not so good leaders (like my “friend” I mentioned earlier). This leads to one way thinking that does not help with any sort of work environment, especially in combat. now there are times when the iron fist dictator needs to come out, but often someone else has a far better idea, or at least a part of your idea. I work to find the balance there. That’s what separates me from the people I see horizontally and vertically in my current position. I try at least.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">Part two will be my take on self development. My little philosophy has gotten rather popular as of late, but like most principles, or principle based ideas, it will be the stuff your already doing. Ideally. I just put it in a word document...<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"> </div></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"></div></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"> </div></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"> </div></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></div>Grendelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14655008824062400475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2496925598488432215.post-28081912607651720752011-05-25T07:04:00.001-04:002011-05-25T14:31:43.383-04:00The problem with "On Combat/Killing"<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">Lt. Col Grossman is a smart guy. I like him and his books. They are informative. He has made a lot of solid points about what we do. He is however, wrong about two things in my mind/opinion.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">1. We are mentally geared to identify 70 people or so by sight at a distance (posture, gait, and mannerisms), our natural smell, and voice recognition. I have a great example of this; I grew up in MA with a very distinct dialect. The rest of my family lives in KY, with a very different dialect. I did not meet one of my uncles until I was 7 or so. I immediately recognized his voice and the voices of my cousins as the same “tribe”.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">Thus we as a species are pre disposed to be suspicious of folks outside the tribe and hence will kill them for coming into our valley! Extreme yes, but this was how war started. Food, water, land, all causes for fighting. All animals go to war in one shape or form or another. Lions with gazelle for instance. You might say “That’s not a war! It’s nature! Survival!”, go ahead and tell that to the gazelle that have been stalked and hunted by lions for 10,000 years! They are born with the instinct to immediately run the crap away from lions. That’s a war.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">2. He classifies society with the animal kingdom incorrectly. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>a. bad guys = wolves</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>b. people = sheep</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>c. we = sheep dogs.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">He talks about the uselessness of the sheep (true), and the nobility of the sheep dog (stupid) and the menace on the fringes of society being the wolf. Incorrect. Wolves are highly disciplined, socially structured pack animals that liken to Marines more than any other K-9 animal. They protect one another from the same tribe only, will care for pups and move to eat. They are neither deviant nor ill willed. They are dedicated, driven, and very good at what they do. Coyotes are a better animal to reference as bad guys. They are typically dirty nomadic, unloyal types who are mischievious and won’t mind their business. Wolves hunt and then tend to themselves. Just don’t provoke them. Sheep dogs stay with the flock.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">As a result sheep dogs are not expeditionary in nature. They stay close to the sheep and protect them from threats. Like the police. This is very noble! The police are here to help, in your town. They will protect you from criminals and evil doers, in your town. They are armed and willing to throw down their lives, in your town. Wolves on the other hand are expeditionary and will go great distances and stay there as necessary. Like Marines. We will help all those in need. We will eliminate threats before they become too big, and destroy all those who oppose us. Everywhere. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">Here is my classification;</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 57.75pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 57.75pt; text-indent: -21.75pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">a.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">bad guys = ________________</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 57.75pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 57.75pt; text-indent: -21.75pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">b.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">people = sheep</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 57.75pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 57.75pt; text-indent: -21.75pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">c.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">police = sheep dogs</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 57.75pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 57.75pt; text-indent: -21.75pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">d.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">Marines = wolves.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">Fill in the blank. Its whatever you want, but not a wolf.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div>Grendelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14655008824062400475noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2496925598488432215.post-55741485784284931302011-05-19T09:45:00.000-04:002011-05-19T09:45:04.776-04:00ENDEX<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">My recent time in our home away from home, CENTCOM, is coming to a close. This was a unique and some what challenging deployment in comparison to my last trips to the AO. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">I switched platoons and watched one of the worst turn into the best, and then watched the best turn average. I stopped working for the most disagreeable human on the face of the planet to working with one of the best officers I have met. I realized that some “friends” aren’t, and being humble always pays the bills. I have made close friends, and evaluated future enemies.</span></div> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1egf_GWSaupIjL1MvhV6pSqxRysePTrQbCTUvxRgVmyYfPkfBWQrJYzpSRRRAcU3Ie_XQnFbnqDl8jf65bzvHSJruzSPHjWd5KI15wBF7vAbdFl6dONP_AIEwv31Lg9u75p-il95DmSM/s1600/mapMidEast.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1egf_GWSaupIjL1MvhV6pSqxRysePTrQbCTUvxRgVmyYfPkfBWQrJYzpSRRRAcU3Ie_XQnFbnqDl8jf65bzvHSJruzSPHjWd5KI15wBF7vAbdFl6dONP_AIEwv31Lg9u75p-il95DmSM/s320/mapMidEast.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Middle Evil!<br />
<br />
<div align="left"></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: "Courier New";"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">I can say that the challenge was not the enemy or the terrain this time, but the movements, the planning and the control of the Marines. My platoon found itself in several locations through out the AO on numerous occasions doing different missions at the same time. My warrior elite NCOs cracked skulls, towed the line and enforced the rules. Non stop. Every day. All day. </span></div> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyKXoun5Fe5C6pOKW_6Zpy0Ys08173EZlfQdojLtdevMuuscCmGRjt0nWDuzQ0mY8xObTqZo93ARb4htZCcZl8wKI60Tpk1F2QzodwUh7rm-m29rBYbo6d1ctZaLI2gc02oNHgkL3QlV8/s1600/293.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyKXoun5Fe5C6pOKW_6Zpy0Ys08173EZlfQdojLtdevMuuscCmGRjt0nWDuzQ0mY8xObTqZo93ARb4htZCcZl8wKI60Tpk1F2QzodwUh7rm-m29rBYbo6d1ctZaLI2gc02oNHgkL3QlV8/s320/293.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From L to R, Cpl Williams, Cpl Carney, Sgt. Wright,<br />
Cpl. Vlasak, Cpl. Thurmond, and sgt. Fritchman</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: "Courier New";"> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">I met some famous people, hazed the crap out of some athletes, and trained soldiers from end to end of the AO.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;">The Boondock Saints dropped in, and we ground fought a bit.</span></div> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtpn4MLRpwHX9DJOVk_mT6c6-x2b568KIFOE6m4ZfoCoQ27uIfEIpAXROzABPkQLoduqPNGkOjDOPbd_HpmIY4g18o0HPwDY3erhljg19Ds6VDXu2EiA4NhWx8HLI6rrG98B-mi4T8R5U/s1600/P9240009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtpn4MLRpwHX9DJOVk_mT6c6-x2b568KIFOE6m4ZfoCoQ27uIfEIpAXROzABPkQLoduqPNGkOjDOPbd_HpmIY4g18o0HPwDY3erhljg19Ds6VDXu2EiA4NhWx8HLI6rrG98B-mi4T8R5U/s320/P9240009.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">from L to R Troy Duffy, Sean Patrick Flannery, Norman Reedus, and SSgt. Visnick<br />
<br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">The Florida Marlins came by and got thrashed by me in an LZ Drill.</span> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-hpj6DEX_pXAUuHe3RDIOx3X6X8OUWP29WVZECVxJg00UH9-UQ4MMH0toEfGbxQzzvNE9hsE2i4z-AYvUSsy1xCkgaHOHvcgWfqTGrkDL8CygjGvoH0IkLdlekoaIILWZ2iNZK5ijImE/s1600/DSC_0038.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-hpj6DEX_pXAUuHe3RDIOx3X6X8OUWP29WVZECVxJg00UH9-UQ4MMH0toEfGbxQzzvNE9hsE2i4z-AYvUSsy1xCkgaHOHvcgWfqTGrkDL8CygjGvoH0IkLdlekoaIILWZ2iNZK5ijImE/s320/DSC_0038.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From L to R Jeff Conine, Grendel, some dude, John Buck, Logan Morrison, and Don Simpson. </td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXc4W1CBanSMw1wsbqLweAU7LHOKBOhy70EAeWDcAh-c5MUm7YJ96i2p4cYUmHX3De0b7fS6Ryy4bWogk_02XbGI6wHXjlEW3S2q5Xh5z_lyIl9UNClnSLs9sJDUXH-mPVVlMRyiEDuX8/s1600/DSC_0034.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXc4W1CBanSMw1wsbqLweAU7LHOKBOhy70EAeWDcAh-c5MUm7YJ96i2p4cYUmHX3De0b7fS6Ryy4bWogk_02XbGI6wHXjlEW3S2q5Xh5z_lyIl9UNClnSLs9sJDUXH-mPVVlMRyiEDuX8/s320/DSC_0034.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"FOLLOW ME HIPPIES!!!!"</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: "Courier New";"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">Tobey Keith spent some time with us, but wouldn’t buy me an iPad. And I can't find my pic with him.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;">I trained Jordanians in Machine gun gunnery, and fire and maneuver.</span></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrg2_qdoeO3cgp6jajH9obU6X8msrQoWzP2IJQ2zhH6l3HWv0zp9VGafRP7iJgpgR9b9HPCpmOE_GcxmbO1HXB4h98tWUR5jPhOUcb6h9yiM8yIHLcvFJs6cR_wIR_e5bMyb7Vq84q2dk/s1600/LCPL+CLARK+AND+PRIVATE+MOHAMMAD+222A+B+CO.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrg2_qdoeO3cgp6jajH9obU6X8msrQoWzP2IJQ2zhH6l3HWv0zp9VGafRP7iJgpgR9b9HPCpmOE_GcxmbO1HXB4h98tWUR5jPhOUcb6h9yiM8yIHLcvFJs6cR_wIR_e5bMyb7Vq84q2dk/s320/LCPL+CLARK+AND+PRIVATE+MOHAMMAD+222A+B+CO.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Clark with a Z, and a Jordanian Machine Gunner</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">And got all the boys to Grey Belt.</span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZJn7jpzRUElAPjemnOp6cABaVOz_LZD3QW_8DewfCfXIBSjpS1Qr3osTQQIgYqzCmhKzaIyH9p0HfZOtGAyvx8vZBBvcZ5VFCZeTdEHyLFTc_fpopPdMJQER3nn6_F3aTjW1C_lT07ME/s1600/099.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZJn7jpzRUElAPjemnOp6cABaVOz_LZD3QW_8DewfCfXIBSjpS1Qr3osTQQIgYqzCmhKzaIyH9p0HfZOtGAyvx8vZBBvcZ5VFCZeTdEHyLFTc_fpopPdMJQER3nn6_F3aTjW1C_lT07ME/s320/099.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">LCpl Cole buttstrokes Lcpl Mott</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: "Courier New";"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">Talked to the Pakistanis about MCMAP, and modern base defense along with infiltration.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">Worked with the Lebanese and taught them how to shoot fast and clear structures.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"></div> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY7WUid6J55YqcvjvtvO7mt_CQVO5gt5bXWSCxGdSZpQF8-6XSH4g7FyXv-o70MHVP6qA-DEDgbvw3WHybffoJe3BLLiF-BxTHiy3UFNHwkvO3CzXOm_AZ8V6tCbrp0SbT6gYs0zZzN5k/s1600/209.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY7WUid6J55YqcvjvtvO7mt_CQVO5gt5bXWSCxGdSZpQF8-6XSH4g7FyXv-o70MHVP6qA-DEDgbvw3WHybffoJe3BLLiF-BxTHiy3UFNHwkvO3CzXOm_AZ8V6tCbrp0SbT6gYs0zZzN5k/s320/209.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">PNS Qasim in Karachi, the smelliest place on earth</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi01lJw7TD0Owe9MpZAZBXZJl7KOjnAZTQHhm8FR_CmrD49yD1PWYOOH69mx7Umq9pLeF3WujjESTemgiCFsLTzR5Sa5lgqUwgqWdEWu0kw3V9mpGiyzO9nxWdCB6PinYbN6uPNY417eGo/s1600/DSCF0296+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi01lJw7TD0Owe9MpZAZBXZJl7KOjnAZTQHhm8FR_CmrD49yD1PWYOOH69mx7Umq9pLeF3WujjESTemgiCFsLTzR5Sa5lgqUwgqWdEWu0kw3V9mpGiyzO9nxWdCB6PinYbN6uPNY417eGo/s320/DSCF0296+-+Copy.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grendel and Lt. Cluade Mattar talk tactics to the Lebanese Forces</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">It wasn’t all work and no play, however.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">I went to the baptismal site of God’s kid, Jesus.</span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvmrbTAXVvld313-Yby-lRhBZ6A4BMxNK-DvtnPGevszVLcDGS5UEHXydL0xApTHayumCRmU-5Nh_S-5iB_ubz3LMJvZvRaCbUvzMWWywkqL-HV0BujVPyIBJQeZEnSST0e0AKLMI6F7M/s1600/DSC_0818.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvmrbTAXVvld313-Yby-lRhBZ6A4BMxNK-DvtnPGevszVLcDGS5UEHXydL0xApTHayumCRmU-5Nh_S-5iB_ubz3LMJvZvRaCbUvzMWWywkqL-HV0BujVPyIBJQeZEnSST0e0AKLMI6F7M/s320/DSC_0818.JPG" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grendel on the site.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;">And looked at the holy land from <place w:st="on"><placetype w:st="on">Mt.</placetype> <placename w:st="on">Nebo</placename></place>.</span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigvY6IA_2NB6InH2OPidu7nr5zLiDfDg5Xv2K23G36G3t-eI5RVAu-UchhI8gF6ud0sLncwrdFGPYI5FiBd0aaTXJKTwPQUrZ7pUSnNe4ccqOrpSj61pCqxb8CfnQQcHEu-VHYSLgrOj0/s1600/DSC_0811.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigvY6IA_2NB6InH2OPidu7nr5zLiDfDg5Xv2K23G36G3t-eI5RVAu-UchhI8gF6ud0sLncwrdFGPYI5FiBd0aaTXJKTwPQUrZ7pUSnNe4ccqOrpSj61pCqxb8CfnQQcHEu-VHYSLgrOj0/s320/DSC_0811.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A wolf in the Holy Land</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">Visited the memorial site for the bombing sites in <city w:st="on"><place w:st="on">Beirut</place></city>.</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw7J43lrnZ3eLmayyNZJbqMFipBaJ2Y3Bq1h63RU9_J1YJl1a12-82mF-PzPLMkFGld___TLBvwQk5PbRar47u18cpFOgJ-qIfHidNSYrDLm0erG63GDi2Y2o6AN0SqBv_B6Wj1ymlGuY/s1600/065.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw7J43lrnZ3eLmayyNZJbqMFipBaJ2Y3Bq1h63RU9_J1YJl1a12-82mF-PzPLMkFGld___TLBvwQk5PbRar47u18cpFOgJ-qIfHidNSYrDLm0erG63GDi2Y2o6AN0SqBv_B6Wj1ymlGuY/s320/065.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBlr7jbDAZ1RfWXqQNb6GAa0xo5hUJ7m38zI-IzQO98NMqJULodd7eZq_e6AVFS0xvpTlxD96fiNMuXlM0zuQDSzqF8DWJEe1au4bjgFTkBgKGMiZhdlc4l-uP1BRMcL6a1ATEyth620A/s1600/063.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBlr7jbDAZ1RfWXqQNb6GAa0xo5hUJ7m38zI-IzQO98NMqJULodd7eZq_e6AVFS0xvpTlxD96fiNMuXlM0zuQDSzqF8DWJEe1au4bjgFTkBgKGMiZhdlc4l-uP1BRMcL6a1ATEyth620A/s320/063.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Marine Corps Holy ground....</td></tr>
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">PT was extensive, constant, varied and always terrible!!!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">I worked hard to get as far as possible in MCMAP, and ended up with 11 brown belts, 25 green belts and the rest grey belts!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYGePAKVgPCE58GiGjDE6th6hsw5Bqm1wpvMqlQvqw6aNCQFBHeUSxTd60NfIwtiDGwtcAr0EAT2v3yj8lm5W8Fv9M5pn4KKt9lavmM61ssnRp54sMIb3PilSUSwGcy5fMVVybN6BHJlI/s1600/DSC_0084.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYGePAKVgPCE58GiGjDE6th6hsw5Bqm1wpvMqlQvqw6aNCQFBHeUSxTd60NfIwtiDGwtcAr0EAT2v3yj8lm5W8Fv9M5pn4KKt9lavmM61ssnRp54sMIb3PilSUSwGcy5fMVVybN6BHJlI/s320/DSC_0084.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYjmBdIeIdGjk_9LvMesu7z__Rl7y764A3kT2i_xTyKwMw6wgWpkOPlDzsQ6XpYXMSGtKR-b9c4xznYfX6MT0P05PdLaNHOdWsoj5TcGFH315tXK5CSe7o1oi7ZuJjhVhUs3hdR69Elvw/s1600/DSC_0169.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYjmBdIeIdGjk_9LvMesu7z__Rl7y764A3kT2i_xTyKwMw6wgWpkOPlDzsQ6XpYXMSGtKR-b9c4xznYfX6MT0P05PdLaNHOdWsoj5TcGFH315tXK5CSe7o1oi7ZuJjhVhUs3hdR69Elvw/s200/DSC_0169.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">America's First Sergeant and I.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcC-MlEW2sguvtywKECNiP0IEJxFuMbcVo4Ck7FLOWicFenSmd61LOQuco1s7mqh1puyyo0HIuOG-dCcD9JBV8bCwrgEXQykxywFKc7WaWJ_SaaRWeFDJgoPwixQl7zhtvHeIu9l5LW4Q/s1600/april+6+042.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcC-MlEW2sguvtywKECNiP0IEJxFuMbcVo4Ck7FLOWicFenSmd61LOQuco1s7mqh1puyyo0HIuOG-dCcD9JBV8bCwrgEXQykxywFKc7WaWJ_SaaRWeFDJgoPwixQl7zhtvHeIu9l5LW4Q/s320/april+6+042.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Suck fests!!!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><img height="72" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY7WUid6J55YqcvjvtvO7mt_CQVO5gt5bXWSCxGdSZpQF8-6XSH4g7FyXv-o70MHVP6qA-DEDgbvw3WHybffoJe3BLLiF-BxTHiy3UFNHwkvO3CzXOm_AZ8V6tCbrp0SbT6gYs0zZzN5k/s320/209.JPG" style="filter: alpha(opacity=30); left: 119px; mozopacity: 0.3; opacity: 0.3; position: absolute; top: 2841px; visibility: hidden;" width="96" /> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">All in all. It was an enjoyable experience and can’t wait for the next go around..........</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI79e4q7vSLkXpdcVVb4rl6SV5odJPBxPlq8dXgyF_jAdggY4NMHFRyqaHgAxhkzbH91kr7uweA-NRnwnH7ncokU3Zd-Z-OyuFQjJYrrFs-eNOKhUR_sUrUHUNU8NbXEa-YFdDWB6OKGM/s1600/PA090013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI79e4q7vSLkXpdcVVb4rl6SV5odJPBxPlq8dXgyF_jAdggY4NMHFRyqaHgAxhkzbH91kr7uweA-NRnwnH7ncokU3Zd-Z-OyuFQjJYrrFs-eNOKhUR_sUrUHUNU8NbXEa-YFdDWB6OKGM/s320/PA090013.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Grendelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14655008824062400475noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2496925598488432215.post-5645411836889559262011-05-14T06:52:00.000-04:002011-05-14T06:52:43.413-04:00The Other CultureThese inspiring words are from the most wonderful mother, wife, and partner in the world, my wife. <br />
<br />
She IS Bushido.<br />
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<span lang="EN"> We are not born Marines wives. We volunteer for it. We marry Marines because we love the men that they are. We are NOT regular women! We are stronger, harder and more independent. We stand by our Marines FOREVER!<br />
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This is the flip side, and her take on the opening paragraph of my <a href="http://bushido0369.blogspot.com/2011/04/culture.html">Culture</a> post.</span>Grendelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14655008824062400475noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2496925598488432215.post-88221067771325947462011-05-10T07:18:00.001-04:002011-05-10T09:25:48.008-04:00Self Defense Course for Sexual Assualt Prevention Month<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">Last Month was “Sexual Assault Awareness Month.” FYI. During that period a group of service members called CSADD (Coalition of Service members Against Destructive Decisions) asked me to put together a self defense course. It was a great opportunity to spread the love of controlled violence to other people, so I of course said <em><u>YES</u></em>.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">The course I put together was more based on mindset, and rapid devastating violence to quickly end an attackers actions, vice how to “fight” an opponent. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFvjfB9TM6pSEplKfKQZyHeMkFyGRK7Bils8iG53l3NT04y_HZcscz-6wghfFZtImgu9JBclPCxOT_pGUQigxI4J_Pk3KRWmWKDvkPwgKxbZDt4FEwSOptisFSnruaR5BEIzTHBYqR5ak/s1600/DSC_0183.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFvjfB9TM6pSEplKfKQZyHeMkFyGRK7Bils8iG53l3NT04y_HZcscz-6wghfFZtImgu9JBclPCxOT_pGUQigxI4J_Pk3KRWmWKDvkPwgKxbZDt4FEwSOptisFSnruaR5BEIzTHBYqR5ak/s320/DSC_0183.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My Favorite the eye gouge!</td></tr>
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">With me I had two of my brown belts, Corporals Dustin Thurmond and Wesley Burnett. They both have a pretty solid Martial art background and are very intelligent young men.</span></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaog3DmMWn22qM2rwMjiHUqwxekkQQLmLmgd4TqtTmcdfx95puq6oSh5Ja_bTMkthxnSyYZ_8Z0BQc3E2PBxJ1qnaVELg9kc8apUYuW7OwsrXhLKUoMLsqvyZOhlrqBCMV3L4WMR9wkcI/s1600/DSC_0009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaog3DmMWn22qM2rwMjiHUqwxekkQQLmLmgd4TqtTmcdfx95puq6oSh5Ja_bTMkthxnSyYZ_8Z0BQc3E2PBxJ1qnaVELg9kc8apUYuW7OwsrXhLKUoMLsqvyZOhlrqBCMV3L4WMR9wkcI/s320/DSC_0009.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cpl. Thurmond (L) and Cpl. Burnett (R)</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;">We started off talking about instilling the mindset that these techniques were to be used when you were in imminent and unavoidable danger of serious bodily harm or death. I was teaching open hand strikes, eye gouges, heel stomps, and the ever effective “grab, twist, pull”. Sweeps and reaps were used in real world type attack postures, but only in a limited capacity.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDrzAoCHqTSoCH5D0HcnZrI5mEiR_0HHAiMkcSGp4B_kH5RlU9oQD4isteMoaCVzxXiqhmADm9vVCksKfo7mM5dWLSRFBTITUr8f8AkTIGqluWT-puO0nwZfVjWPuPhthb7poM9yCkOF0/s1600/DSC_0095.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDrzAoCHqTSoCH5D0HcnZrI5mEiR_0HHAiMkcSGp4B_kH5RlU9oQD4isteMoaCVzxXiqhmADm9vVCksKfo7mM5dWLSRFBTITUr8f8AkTIGqluWT-puO0nwZfVjWPuPhthb7poM9yCkOF0/s320/DSC_0095.jpg" width="214" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Got violence?</td></tr>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">All of the participants were female, and several had done similar training before, however they were not martial artists or fighter types at all. Most impressive to me was a MCPO brought his teenaged daughters to participate. Smart move. They were young and a little uncomfortable but got a lot out of it.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPuAccu8HCPa5LC5L-yeQVkTl_UB7i3_NUzkboq0oydbuts8GMLKIkTLTBGJcVJgBDAB73sN9rha35C34jKPWzSvHIVpVCRfSAcLyPgaP9FTlkVcN5Myn2oUdgNb0m6HrHmstWYDbx5ts/s1600/DSC_0306.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPuAccu8HCPa5LC5L-yeQVkTl_UB7i3_NUzkboq0oydbuts8GMLKIkTLTBGJcVJgBDAB73sN9rha35C34jKPWzSvHIVpVCRfSAcLyPgaP9FTlkVcN5Myn2oUdgNb0m6HrHmstWYDbx5ts/s320/DSC_0306.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">We developed a group of techniques that would avoid the ground, only have open hand strikes, and also immediately give the defender the upper hand, and rapidly switch to the attacker. All of the techniques ended with stomps to the groin, head or both. We taught ear rips, and eye gouges as preferred methods of engagement, as well as throat strikes.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDSLm_-K1zMswWGSczvQSwMhDz7XdWV09N5hqCmqAVuH-1isn3UrasSzB3YiSx5VY3lmv-pX4z2i2-6vJV78zw2cnzZxlAsISl4FhgeNi8T9jTTY6CgUto6RjDfsrToscecx2USOVR-NM/s1600/DSC_0026.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDSLm_-K1zMswWGSczvQSwMhDz7XdWV09N5hqCmqAVuH-1isn3UrasSzB3YiSx5VY3lmv-pX4z2i2-6vJV78zw2cnzZxlAsISl4FhgeNi8T9jTTY6CgUto6RjDfsrToscecx2USOVR-NM/s320/DSC_0026.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7iZ1crLvdWnDAZ79NJ9Q_gZaKqbegMHRxUwfHcby0WC5o9vCfSjamUxBG1HXz56IUmWWnjYSPyXluLZ7N38Q5JZLub4Pj0rBuGH6eLtOKBgEgV2XsqGAQZVEr8RKEJFwwZVSEtWuZlRo/s1600/DSC_0090.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7iZ1crLvdWnDAZ79NJ9Q_gZaKqbegMHRxUwfHcby0WC5o9vCfSjamUxBG1HXz56IUmWWnjYSPyXluLZ7N38Q5JZLub4Pj0rBuGH6eLtOKBgEgV2XsqGAQZVEr8RKEJFwwZVSEtWuZlRo/s320/DSC_0090.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Strikes were open hand only.</td></tr>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">The only ground “fighting” we demonstrated, and trained involved the women in the guard assuming that a rape was being attempted, moving to the mount ASAP and resulting in a blind, earless, head crushed rapist!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiahrj9p0JlE6OtTwkJkNoWfT_-K2WMgIaLsNUYy35tVfEunnhJwHGftLlfUL0wM0kGk6xvo1rxRQU2KJiLqkn8jnTJJOXgcSIsf1zvQXUmuIaIvOpQlRdk5PWz5EKSGfp8axUaVAsQ_M0/s1600/DSC_0428.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiahrj9p0JlE6OtTwkJkNoWfT_-K2WMgIaLsNUYy35tVfEunnhJwHGftLlfUL0wM0kGk6xvo1rxRQU2KJiLqkn8jnTJJOXgcSIsf1zvQXUmuIaIvOpQlRdk5PWz5EKSGfp8axUaVAsQ_M0/s320/DSC_0428.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">KILL!!!!!!!</td></tr>
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">The event culminated with a complete attack drill, where the students beat the dog crap out of Cpl. Burnett while he wore a full body padded suit. He was happy about the groin protection. Very happy. We preached attacking the gibblies as much as possible.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">When you check out the photos those shirts are the “got violence?” shirts of my design in black and red (badass!).</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">All in all it was a very rewarding experience. It drove me to develop a complete package, and I hope to train more folks in the future.</span></div><br />
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</div>Grendelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14655008824062400475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2496925598488432215.post-85330085005252537942011-05-09T09:26:00.001-04:002011-05-10T22:30:57.671-04:00Ideals<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">I get asked a lot if I’m a liberal, or a conservative. Right off the bat I have to say it does not matter, because I am a patriot in love with <country-region w:st="on"><place w:st="on">America</place></country-region>. And as a Marine I don't get to really voice my opinions TOO loudly.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">But, I don’t really know.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">First my take on politicians is this, they are ALL rich people trying to do one of two things, stay rich, or get richer. When it comes to the presidency I remember seeing Reagan and like him for nostalgia reasons. I grew up with <city w:st="on"><place w:st="on">Clinton</place></city> and like him because he was there when I was formulating my ideas and ideals. I hate Bush because he got rich off the blood of my friends. I don’t care about Obama because were too far gone. And bottom line is I’m a Marine and we will do as the president directs.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">I am typically moved deeply by stories of Truman. His life, his presidency. And Eisenhower. Eisenhower’s dad was a mechanic. My father talks about him. He is like Reagan is to me. Universally the best presidents come from the humblest of lives. Bad presidents (or less than popular) come from privileged lives (Bush,and Nixon for example).</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">Now for the issue. Liberal or conservative. I believe in a mixed up mash of ideals. I believe very strongly in highly disciplined homes. My mother was very strict and I am also very strict. I believe that family is the center of life. And a mans measure comes from the family he raises, with the materials at hand. I believe in the right to bear arms. But no one needs a machine gun. I believe in the “melting pot”, but at the same time I believe that illegal aliens are the greatest single threat to our longevity.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">I believe God has no business in school, but we should still pledge our allegiance even if not “one nation under God”. I believe it is the responsibility of the individual to work as hard as they need to be as comfortable as they desire, but the government needs to give us health care. I believe that most “hot” political issues are based on religious ideals, and that is NOT a public thing.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">I don’t care about gay marriage. I don’t care about abortions. These are all private matters that don’t affect me, and shouldn’t bother you. I think we need to take responsibility for the environment, and the nature we dominate around us. We need to revamp our federal, local and state laws to actually protect us. I think it’s stupid to kill an assailant trying to cause serious harm to my family in my house, only to get sued by the family that made him a deviant. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">I firmly feel that the old world is the old worlds’ problem, and we need to focus our time and energy on our hemisphere. Our ancestors left <place w:st="on">Europe</place> for a reason. I believe that drugs are very bad, but fast food is far more lethal. McDonalds, Marlboros, and Bud Light is kill more of us than anything. Marijuana from <country-region w:st="on">Mexico</country-region> is not worth fighting a war over when there are meth labs in suburban <country-region w:st="on"><place w:st="on">America</place></country-region>. We can go to war with them.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">I believe groups who are overtly anti American or former enemies of our nation should be eliminated. When <place w:st="on"><country-region w:st="on">Germany</country-region></place> was full of Nazis we blew them off the continent, but its o.k. for white kids from the burbs? We fought a war ending slavery and then crawled through decades of violence for equality, but it’s not a crime to be in the KKK? Foolish.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">I also think that we NEED to censure television. News should be unbiased, and very plain. Information and raw data only. Teens should not be seeing idiots from <state w:st="on"><place w:st="on">New Jersey</place></state> spread herpes and disrespecting there mothers. The grip of popular culture should not be around our throats. Famous people should not have any say in the politics or day to day of Americans who are poor. Except <place w:st="on"><city w:st="on">Arnold</city></place>. He’s the man.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">The list goes on and on. Very long, complex story short I am neither. I am both. I am middle of the road. If you are a decent person, you are good in my book. Work hard, contribute to those who need it, and take care of your family. </span></div>Grendelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14655008824062400475noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2496925598488432215.post-73963537058591952672011-04-28T09:55:00.000-04:002011-04-28T09:55:22.081-04:00Culture<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">The Marine Corps is, in essence, a martial <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">sub </i>culture<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">. </i>I do not buy us as a martial culture for the reason that we are not <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">born</i> Marines. We are born people. We volunteer for this. We do this to ourselves. We come from the regular world and just assimilate into this one. We BECOME Marines. FOREVER.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">The modern world forgets how much it owes to martial cultures. Laws, rules of conduct, what ever church they belong to, supermarkets. Most notably Americans forget to realize that we are a super power because we bullied, intimidated and fought to be one. All the people who bitch about the military seem to over look the fact that they are not starving. Or oppressed to the point that a family member from every family has been killed by the government, or unable to travel from state to state on a whim, or are imprisioned for talking bad about the state. The poor don’t complain about the military. Only the most comfortable Americans complain and judge.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">I wish we could leave sometimes, all of us who fight. Fight for the idiots on M TV, and the war dead protesters, and the people who think the military is bad. How long before foreign boats with troops show up off shore, eager to take possessions like the European powers did in the 1600s?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">We fight for <country-region w:st="on"><place w:st="on">Americans</place></country-region>. Our prosperity. Safety. We fight just as much for the student of the month as the death row inmate. For the 3 job family struggling to make it, as the deviant using the welfare system to not work on purpose. We fight for all of you. Because we LIKE to fight. We LIVE to fight. We ARE martial.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">The sheep think <u>THEY</u> did this, with there good nature and happy thoughts. <place w:st="on"><country-region w:st="on">America</country-region></place> is the cats me-wow ‘cause we recycle and talk nice and treat everyone fairly. What would the sheep do when we left? Bake cookies and talk it out? We, as a responsible(?) society need to realize that we make the world go round with our raw, overt aggression. </span><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">With our Martial sub-culture. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">I found that there is a REAL universal language in my 20 country travels, and it is a Marine pointing a service rifle at a dude who thinks he is gonna do something that Marine doesn’t want him doing. Universally understood as “stop, before this day becomes your last.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">We were born in a war. The Marines have fought in EVERY one of our nations wars <strong><em><u>but we have stopped more than can be counted</u></em></strong>. Just by showing up to the party. People like us are a deterent to people trying to pray on the weak. We are here to help. And we will help all those in need.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">You need not thanks us. You should just think before you open your mouth. I don’t care how old you are. I don’t care where you went to school. I don’t care what the rest of the world does. I don’t care how you feel about war. Just think about running water, working sewers, clean clothes, average income, public school, and your cell phone, and then remember you only have that because of ME.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">We are here to help.</span></div>Grendelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14655008824062400475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2496925598488432215.post-87604854727630123932011-04-26T14:15:00.001-04:002011-04-26T14:22:34.178-04:00Random thoughts<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">VOTE <a href="http://castrapraetoria1.blogspot.com/">CASTRA PRAETORIA</a>! VOTE <country-region w:st="on"><place w:st="on">AMERICA</place></country-region>!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">It will be incredibly difficult to “TAP OUT” with my bayonet in your neck.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">If it’s stupid and it works, it’s not stupid....unless an idiot came up with it.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">I do not like the term “grunt”. I prefer “infantryman”. Grunt sounds like an idiot. Calling for fires requires a large brain. D-bag.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">I refuse to argue with people. Your all wrong. Unless your right, in which case I can probably beat the crap out of you. Soooooo your wrong. Just listen to me.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">I love reading these silly rules for a gun fight. They may be correct, but I think the first rule should be “don’t get in one.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">The news rarely talks about anything good happening in <country-region w:st="on"><place w:st="on">America</place></country-region>, or the world. Either that or the apocalypse has already happened, and we were to busy to notice……</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">Peralta should have gotten that damn medal! Allen, Jones, and Turner are living proof.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">Remember that "pain is weakness leaving the body".... via all that horrible pain. Which sucks!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">I typically feel compelled to yell “<country-region w:st="on">AMERICA</country-region>!” at the most inappropriate times, but only when NOT in <country-region w:st="on"><place w:st="on">America</place></country-region>.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">If you can read, thank a teacher. If you can read in english, thank an english teacher. If you can do ANYTHING else you want, thank a Marine.</span></div>Grendelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14655008824062400475noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2496925598488432215.post-62646697824435969942011-04-22T06:57:00.000-04:002011-04-22T06:57:00.366-04:00Responsibility<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">Why are these wars against such weak humans so hard? People in the region don’t eat well, have poor hygene facilities, do not exercise, rarely exceed 160 lbs, and have very limited medical systems, yet they fight on. Well.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">Every culture has a code, local and national level laws, or ideals to follow when implementing violence. When mindset, ethical and physical training combine properly, the result is a balanced warrior that can unleash controlled violence with a solid understanding of right and wrong. This is us on the moral high ground. Its also ethics as war fighters.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">We use rules of engagement to take the thinking out of it. Simple. We have had these in every major conflict in the modern era, in some form. Now they are as complex a group of thoughts strung together, as a Chiltons manual to re build an F 350. This puts the public (sheep) at ease with the fact that, the military they depend on isn’t fighting a war to the utmost of its capabilities. It is seen blindingly here in our current wars.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">I am certainly not arguing that our current conflicts would be over or “won” by now if we had the total war ideal of the greatest generation in WW II, but the Taliban are no less resilient than the Imperial Japanese of the 1930’s. They believe in the cause just as deeply as the WW II era Japanese soldier. The Taliban are un-uniformed by necessity vice design. They both attacked <country-region w:st="on"><place w:st="on">America</place></country-region>, and I am acutely aware that neither a Taliban loyalist, NOR an Afghani was involved in the attack; they did take money, AND house our Al Qaeda adversaries. (I believe that it should be a law enforcement issue hunting Al Qaeda vice fighting with Afghanis, but that’s another story.)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">I cannot answer whether or not total war would win in <country-region w:st="on"><place w:st="on">Afghanistan</place></country-region> or not. I do know that Americans are not willing to try. Why not? What’s the difference? Americans. The generation of Americans. Read political papers from the first half of the 1900s. Find blind hatred for the president. Find corporate <country-region w:st="on"><place w:st="on">America</place></country-region> controlling the media. Look at pictures in the 30’s and 40’s. Find 3 fat people. Find kids acting foolishly in public, find young people being rude to old people. Tell me how many school shootings there were. How many teen suicides? Pregnancy rates among teens, and then the TV (radio) show about them. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">Think of this. Anti war hippies from the 60’s who were in college during the <country-region w:st="on"><place w:st="on">Vietnam</place></country-region> conflict are now our politicians. Not really a HUGE deal because they are ALL greedy pigs and want to be re elected and take what ever stand money takes. Think about this now, the politicians of WW II era <country-region w:st="on"><place w:st="on">America</place></country-region> were isolationists one generation (or less) away from our civil war. Hippies? No. Fans of war? Hell no! Than why the immediate total response to <place w:st="on">Pearl Harbor</place>? Its not patriotism. Its not even national pride. Its responsibility.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">Our culture is so weak because parents stopped taking responsibility, journalists stopped being responsible, we stopped holding politicians responsible, and we follow the path of least resistance. We got attacked. We then started a war, and then another completely unrelated war. We have a responsibility to end them. Not through total war or even less rules. We need to realize why they hate us so much.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">They think of <country-region w:st="on"><place w:st="on">America</place></country-region> and they see greedy, morally unsound, hateful people. They see our news. Violence, crime, corruption. They see our TV. <place w:st="on"><placename w:st="on">Jersey</placename> <placetype w:st="on">Shore</placetype></place>. They are <country-region w:st="on"><place w:st="on">America</place></country-region>.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">The concept of poor Americans to Afghanis and Iraqis is obscure. Hard working? Impossible. Morally up right. No way. That’s not on M TV. WE DOMINATE popular culture. This is what our enemy sees. This is where they base there opinion. Perhaps if we were more responsible about it they would hate us less.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">Remember too that I am an American Fighting man. A War Machine. I believe. But sometimes I wonder if we are still the better of evils? I will be responsible. With my children, with my body, with my violence, and with focus. If every one else would, we could turn the corner, right our course, and prevent the next ideological war. Maybe. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: "Courier New";"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">No crazy, radical change in our lives. Just a method of finding a balance. Finding LESS. Less fast food, less media, less indifference, less acceptance of weakness. Weakness of mind, body, spirit, and community. </span></div></span>Grendelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14655008824062400475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2496925598488432215.post-37824395775911278202011-04-21T11:59:00.000-04:002011-04-21T11:59:14.781-04:00the unforgiving trade<div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">Welding. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJegy-UOIfGCnMlJWGsCAlrk4wc1q0uM-uethvXF4MCLABp27Rh1fMvJJUujxIBjGXmq-QJ-xh_x6aNQcfWwTzuvulNoRv-tc96Jl_usIGPzeNqMWiv-p-dF7-XTEUthR9W1t7aJBB4ZY/s1600/200px-SMAW_welding_af_ncs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJegy-UOIfGCnMlJWGsCAlrk4wc1q0uM-uethvXF4MCLABp27Rh1fMvJJUujxIBjGXmq-QJ-xh_x6aNQcfWwTzuvulNoRv-tc96Jl_usIGPzeNqMWiv-p-dF7-XTEUthR9W1t7aJBB4ZY/s200/200px-SMAW_welding_af_ncs.jpg" width="176" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">I was a welder when I was a person. I was a good welder. I was school trained in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gas_metal_arc_welding">MiG</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gas_tungsten_arc_welding">TiG</a>, and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arc_welding">Arc</a>. A man named Russ taught me how to make <a href="http://www.hostarmarine.com/">trailers</a>. I loved it.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: "Courier New";"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armed_conflict">Armed Conflict</a>. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpfbAgC-3EOplG9KHWG3RYV9G2Avv9YrGptA6cBwUb0rH2X7QISpwbBV4l_Xu8PgVHZlsBi-VSSzDuq_yYz147rxVn-VZDj75hRwuKxYUmySq988X_uTjqMsyU5SBTx5juDchQH94sAV4/s1600/220px-Marines_rest_in_the_field_on_Guadalcanal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpfbAgC-3EOplG9KHWG3RYV9G2Avv9YrGptA6cBwUb0rH2X7QISpwbBV4l_Xu8PgVHZlsBi-VSSzDuq_yYz147rxVn-VZDj75hRwuKxYUmySq988X_uTjqMsyU5SBTx5juDchQH94sAV4/s1600/220px-Marines_rest_in_the_field_on_Guadalcanal.jpg" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">This is now my trade. Weapons are my tools. I am school trained to locate, close with and destroy enemies. I am a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warrior">warrior</a>. Many men have taught me how to fight. I LOVE IT.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;"><strong><em>There is no “measure twice, cut once” for me.</em></strong></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"></div></span>Grendelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14655008824062400475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2496925598488432215.post-71806656766434137492011-04-20T12:34:00.000-04:002011-04-20T12:34:36.259-04:00USMC (we are here to help)<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">We are here to help, but should someone get in our way... this is why we train. We train to shoot, stab, slash, and beat men to death. We train with rifles, pistols, bayonets, knives and weapons of the body. We train to advance from land, sea, and air. We train to locate and close with them, to attack until they are eliminated. We teach men to hunt men. We will stop only when they are all dead. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">And we will help all those in need.</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjydeWtdUjKv6pbPF1dUdc-IQ2nzSQBTQYYZv-5PPNGWPydzlQMOmBxf69roES9PVrWzYXtlqf9NBgn46rrJQaTZFtIipkXVrcDPo-0vJoqcHGyEJpNuW3u48M9pZlFbT5AbPJEOX8qsG0/s1600/Patrolling.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjydeWtdUjKv6pbPF1dUdc-IQ2nzSQBTQYYZv-5PPNGWPydzlQMOmBxf69roES9PVrWzYXtlqf9NBgn46rrJQaTZFtIipkXVrcDPo-0vJoqcHGyEJpNuW3u48M9pZlFbT5AbPJEOX8qsG0/s320/Patrolling.jpg" width="209" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div>Grendelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14655008824062400475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2496925598488432215.post-12518620823094717192011-04-20T08:30:00.003-04:002011-04-20T09:51:14.590-04:00The world according to me. Part 1<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">I will start these installments with gear. Crap we buy. Americans buy a lot of crap. I buy as much crap as some, but less than most. I look for economy for the most part, yet functional and reliable products that fit the bill. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">I will now talk about stuff I buy that is <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">not</i> crap:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">KNIVES</span></u></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">There are two basic types of knifes; Folder, and fixed blade. I have three categories in my little universe for knives; fighter, survival, and carry. It is important to understand that I advocate knives that can be all three.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">First things first. Fixed blade knives need only be carried in the “scout carry” across the small of your back horizontally. Folders in the hip hinge of your belt line or front pocket of your dominate hand.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">1. Fighter. I have the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strider_Knives">Strider</a> Ranger w/ bone saw.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5s3vA2JSG_nQGX0wyPNUTotW_FvsI6LxNVNUUY72bYULSrRZj3P7s4uBHCsgkK8YWYwCcND_HwzTpaRDTs6fYUD0cVh6p3ulgWSWUUaMyJpVPD5fF_54FQ_3sYnGHQgl3qFcZlHWF7Cg/s1600/strider.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="244" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5s3vA2JSG_nQGX0wyPNUTotW_FvsI6LxNVNUUY72bYULSrRZj3P7s4uBHCsgkK8YWYwCcND_HwzTpaRDTs6fYUD0cVh6p3ulgWSWUUaMyJpVPD5fF_54FQ_3sYnGHQgl3qFcZlHWF7Cg/s320/strider.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">I advise these for a few simple reasons, grip, maneuverable size as it pertains to yielding, and weight.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">The grip is damn near long enough to hold with two hands. It is narrow enough that the entire hand can completely wrap around it for maximum control while yielding, and is made of a durable material with a good non slip pattern.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">Though it is a large fixed blade it is not all that wide. This makes for quick transitions of hold easy, and gives you the ability to strike multiple target areas in tight spaces rapidly.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">The knife, as a tool, is light. But this badlarry is dense enough to crack open someone’s head. It is thick enough to puncture through battle field debris as necessary.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">2. Survival. I like the <a href="http://www.trackerschool.com/">Tom Brown Jr.</a> Tracker. </span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Cjm8aNzMC78CbT5yg8za7qkVaWOB3D2rXsaxpooxmiVJZZICrC3haql_o5UW4XEBFWlXPUC0R-pQDrw5-obftZtuXpVZ3EF9blfpROKcww_t0t1zEprcGyskwZeLcsV8ZCy2oPJcQEA/s1600/tmb+trkr.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Cjm8aNzMC78CbT5yg8za7qkVaWOB3D2rXsaxpooxmiVJZZICrC3haql_o5UW4XEBFWlXPUC0R-pQDrw5-obftZtuXpVZ3EF9blfpROKcww_t0t1zEprcGyskwZeLcsV8ZCy2oPJcQEA/s1600/tmb+trkr.jpg" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">This is NOT just a knife. It is a hatchet, saw, knife, and hammer. It can be used as a fighter as necessary for the above reasons, but it is extremely wide, so maneuverability is lost a bit. Tom Brown is a hippy, but this knife is solid! Unfortunately you have to buy a leather sheath separately. It’s worth it.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">The saw is completely functional, and behind it there is an arch for striking it with another object to hack at stuff.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">3. Carry. <a href="http://www.ztknives.us/">Zero Tolerance</a> z350 folder.</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYWcTRJupeoJHH7gsM6XBf9EWtKsWpUvo5MPWZic-Y9pAVy2vUdIyrNHmZAcqm2iWwT4w3CVXMRIK5dHGQGpqfrM5tEaQtaCL8yE-QguGW2irYE1Fx29d6_pGJHmNeSeXCG9ZKz9Ja_EM/s1600/0350_ZT.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYWcTRJupeoJHH7gsM6XBf9EWtKsWpUvo5MPWZic-Y9pAVy2vUdIyrNHmZAcqm2iWwT4w3CVXMRIK5dHGQGpqfrM5tEaQtaCL8yE-QguGW2irYE1Fx29d6_pGJHmNeSeXCG9ZKz9Ja_EM/s1600/0350_ZT.gif" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">It has all the qualities of the Strider in a folder. It fits in your hand, can be employed from multiple carries, is designed with fighting in mind, and has maneuverability unlike any other folder I have come across. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">With these three knives all bases are covered and you have standardized your equipment there by adding efficiency to your arsenal, and focus to your training.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">Tune in next time for firearms!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div>Grendelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14655008824062400475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2496925598488432215.post-79898624886365179772011-04-19T02:20:00.000-04:002011-04-19T02:20:10.565-04:00got violence?<span style="font-family: "Courier New";">In our current westernized society there is a common misconception that we, as a species, are NOT predisposed to violence against, well, anything. The past decade has fostered an entire industry based around our “inability” to process acts of violence (i.e. killing in combat). </span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">Remarkable then, that the extinction of mega fauna coincided exactly with the propagation of humanity as it left sub Sahara Africa and spread across the Asian and European steppes. The complexity of man arguably only compounded as he realized how to fashion and manipulate basic and simple tools. The weaponizing of tools then generated an expanse of design, trial and error, and led us to the modern world. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">At what point was that tool used to end another human life? </span></u></i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">The very moment two groups met. By chance or by design. Two groups of early man met, they did not recognize one another, and conflict occurred. Fatalities may not have been immediate, but judging by modern habits, it escalated rapidly. The meeting was more than likely based on food and water procurement. Humanity is programmed to conduct savage acts of violence on one another. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Period</b>. Empires and great societies have been based entirely on there abilities to conduct large scale, intense combat. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">So after all this, if we were really not designed to kill, why would so many do it?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">The sheep (non martial thinkers), need to realize they are suppressing their nature. The wolves (Martial thinkers), need to realize they are in tune with nature, accept it, embrace it and continue to train. And the bad guys need to remember the wolves are out there.......</span></div>Grendelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14655008824062400475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2496925598488432215.post-14151571309225651582011-04-18T05:29:00.001-04:002011-04-19T12:33:55.101-04:00A Dangerous Person<span style="font-family: "Courier New";">A dangerous person is dedicated. Patient. Vigilant. Typically quiet. And armed at all times. </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">We are dedicated to cause or family. To training and focus.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">We are eager to learn, but patient enough to realize learning will NEVER stop. We are eternal students.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">We are aware of our surroundings and alert to threats at all times. Everywhere.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">We need no attention. Our stature speaks for our lethality.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">We need no weapons fool. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";"><strong><em>We are weapons</em></strong>.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div>Grendelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14655008824062400475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2496925598488432215.post-6073669938334940092011-04-17T13:58:00.002-04:002011-04-19T12:37:38.594-04:00Mindset<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">I have been an armed professional for EXACTLY ten years now, and in that time I have developed a philosophy that, I believe when properly applied, will guide the individual martial thinker to a fine point focus. It is applicable always and has been either developed by myself or taken from a proven leader and warrior. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">It is numbered in the order of precedence, and I believe the priority of work;</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 39.75pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 39.75pt; text-indent: -21.75pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">Remember that you did this to yourself.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 39.75pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 39.75pt; text-indent: -21.75pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">Discipline leads to mastery.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 39.75pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 39.75pt; text-indent: -21.75pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">In order to master your profession, you need to first master yourself (SELF DISCIPLINE).</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 39.75pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 39.75pt; text-indent: -21.75pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">Increase your lethality every chance you get. EVERY DAY.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 39.75pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 39.75pt; text-indent: -21.75pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">If you won’t work on lethality, at least work on some form of self development.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 39.75pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 39.75pt; text-indent: -21.75pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">6.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">Become proficient in the things you DO NOT enjoy.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 39.75pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 39.75pt; text-indent: -21.75pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">7.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">Accept that the basics ARE brilliant. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 39.75pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 39.75pt; text-indent: -21.75pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">8.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">Remember that practice makes PERMANENT.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 39.75pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 39.75pt; text-indent: -21.75pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">9.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">Imagine that someone you respect is watching<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>everything you do, ALL THE TIME.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 39.75pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 39.75pt; text-indent: -21.75pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">10.<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">Know your limits.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 39.75pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 39.75pt; text-indent: -21.75pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">11. </span></span><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">Constantly work to exceed your limits, SAFELY.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in;"><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">12. </span></span><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">Balance mental proficiency with physical proficiency.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 39.75pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">Balance physical capacity with mental capacity.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 39.75pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>13. Make time to rest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">This is a guide to better one’s self, stand by for the group philosophy at a later date!</span><br />
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</div>Grendelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14655008824062400475noreply@blogger.com0