Rock and Roll Soldier

I thought long and hard about how to end this blog, and posted another pretty irate rant to it... but thought better of it a few hours later (thankfully, before anyone important saw it.)

The way I see it, I've done a good amount of bitching on this blog since day 1. And that's regrettable, given the many positive things I've seen. But you know how the old saying goes in business... If someone goes to a restaurant and likes it, they'll tell maybe 3 people. If they hate it, they'll tell 10. In my case, this restaurant sucks, and I've told thousands.

I get the impression that lots of people don't really understand me at all, due to this blog. The image that probably comes to peoples minds is a troublemaker, someone who will do whatever he can to subvert things around him.

And you know what, that perception is totally my fault. I was talking to the commander today, and tried to sum up the things I *** about in broad terms, but maybe I didn't do a decent job.

The bottom line is: big *** is going well, it's the small *** that irritates the hell out of me.

Let's talk about some good stuff for a minute, to give you an idea of what I'm talking about.

As a brigade, our convoy security teams find far more IEDs than other convoy teams. We've got damn good soldiers who have saved a lot of lives by virtue of simply paying attention and doing their jobs.

The iraq war in general has caused numerous advances in soldier safety. For example: how many infantry soldiers had even SEEN a set of Interceptor body armor before Iraq happened? We didn't train with it, and didn't use it. Previous wars were fought without it, and more soldiers died as a result.

Or how about battlefield trauma? QuikClot, enhanced prosthetics, and new surgical techniques are saving lives, shortening recovery time, and enhancing quality of life, not just for soldiers, but civilians as well. Here's an article about military medical technology filtering down to the civilian world.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/iraq/2006-03-26-war-clinics_x.htm

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/iraq/complete/la-na-woundedside3apr03,1,1204127.story?coll=la-iraq-complete

In the beginning of the war, soldiers rolled around in soft skinned vehicles with no ballistic protection. Now, we have fully armored HMMWVs which, while not perfect, are much better at keeping troops alive. And don't even get me started on the advancements in EOD as a job. Used to be, EOD troops went to ranges and blew up old munitions. Now, they disarm and destroy deadly IEDs with the latest in sophisticated equipment.

We have soldiers who have been battle hardened... in the army I was in, very few troops had actually seen real combat. Now, the force is comprised of experienced warriors who have actually proven they can fight. Gone are the days of "Miles warriors" who play high tech lasertag to earn their pay.

On the company level, we've got good vehicles, good crews, and good weapons. We have soldiers with a lot of road time, and they will be a benefit to their units when they return home to pass on their knowledge to new soldiers.

And, on my level, I'm out of debt. :-)

The things that piss me off are the little things. I can't use minnesota tuition assistance because I'm "not part of the unit." I can't wear my IRR patch because I'm "part of the unit." I'm pissed that they're giving infantry soldiers CABs. It's an insult, because CABs are given to a lot of fobbits who never leave the wire. We're infantry soldiers, in an infantry brigade. I turn in a vehicle to maintenance with serious problems, and the vehicle's faults are signed off without a single wrench being turned.

And i know i'll hear "But the regulations/policy/guidance say ..."

I don't care. That doesn't make it right. Policy and guidance can still be misguided and wrong.

Is any of that gonna change? No. But that doesnt mean i'm not mad about it. I'm also pissed that I can't reenlist into the guard while in country, if i chose to do so. IRR soldiers who want to stay in the national guard can't recieve a tax free bonus unless they get lucky enough to find a recruiter that can push all the paperwork through during the same month they get back. As a result, we also can't receive schools while our guard brethren can. I submitted awards for my soldiers for saving some lives by cordoning off an IED (which required driving past it) so a civilian convoy didn't drive past it. I was told they "were just doing their jobs."

Yet we have people getting bronze stars just for being here, and many of the folks who will receive it don't leave the wire.

So yeah, I'm a bit bitter, and a tad upset.

And despite all that, I've gone out on every mission they've asked. I've moved to different outposts, lived in tents and metal conexes. I've travelled down shitty roads, put myself in danger time and again for this brigade, despite my ETS more than 4 years ago. I've sweated alongside my minnesota and kentucky compadres, and I've had some insurgent dipsticks try to blow me up. I've done everything they've asked, and you know what I want?

I want to be left alone, and I want to go home. I don't want to deal with any more retarded *** between now and then.

http://www.defensetech.org/archives/001633.html 

 and

https://peosoldier.army.mil/pmweapons/cswcurrentsystems.asp

 

Click on CROWS in the middle of the page

 

Anyways, this is the kinda stuff the army should be spending money on, instead of ice cream in the chow hall, and generator mechanics from KBR that make 80 grand a year (when we have an MOS in the army that does that as well.)

Point is: this system has a couple of great effects. Number one, it keeps gunners safer, as they're not in the turret, but sitting in the cab with the rest of the crew. Two, it's a friggin force multiplier because of it's superb scanning capabilities.

Kudos to the dudes at PEO Soldier for developing and fielding this, Kudos to my unit for getting ahold of some and distributing them.

 

The reply to an email sent to them about whether or not we're supposed to be able to wear the IRR patch. 

So apparently they found some chlorine gas in this country. Nasty stuff.

 So that no one accuses me of violating opsec again, here's a civilian news article about it: http://edition.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/meast/02/22/iraq.main/index.html

 What boggles my mind, first of all, is how the dems can still scream "NO WMDs IN IRAQ" when they're now being used against us. And, they havent just found traces this time, this is significant quantities.

 The other funny part is, they started getting retarded about making us bring atropine... Now, if anyone wants to know, atropine is for nerve agents. If you inhale chlorine and take atropine, you'll only breathe faster and kill yourself quicker.

Mine's expired anyways. Maybe i'll inject myself right before this bullshit PT test. HA!

Cheers,

Since I've been back down to Tallil, I've been watching people as I go about my day to day life. We haven't started our new mission yet, so I've had some time to just kick back and watch stuff.

I've seen soldiers berated for not wearing a reflective belt at night. I've seen soldiers corrected for things like a dirty hat or body armor, or having hands in their pockets or smoking while walking down the road. Violate a rule, and you might not get in to the PX or chow hall. MPs are giving tickets to people who don't wear seatbelts, and conducting mass searches for pornography.

I feel like I should be angry and yelling and making a fuss about it, but I can't. I just don't have the willpower. HAHA! It's just simply amazing to me that there are people in Iraq who have so little to do, that they have time to enforce all the inane rules that they make. And invevitably, the people making the corrections, bereating the soldiers, are non combat arms pukes who never leave the wire.

Honestly, what the hell does it matter if a soldier's ID card is expired. You're gonna turn him away from the CHOW HALL for that? I don't know if i can stand all this stupidity for another 5 months. If not for the extension, I'd be on my way home in 3 days.

 And for gods sakes... not allowing soldiers to have porn!!!?!??? That's just ridiculous. I can't have a playboy magazine, because it's "culturally unacceptable" in iraq.

 Well, last I checked, iraqi's didn't go in my room. It's just another rule to keep soldiers in a constant state of lockdown.

 

Until next time, Cheers from Cell Block Tallil.

Here's the link

 

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_iraq_troops

 

Snippet: The 1st Brigade, 34th Infantry Division, Minnesota Army National Guard, will stay longer than planned in Iraq;

 

Bummer... I wonder how long it will take these yokels to actually TELL us. Nice how we find stuff out via the internet first.

Things are still going pretty good. It's about time! HA! So, I go on leave pretty soon... barring any major screwups, I'll be home in perfect timing for a show with my band, and time with my family in texas for the holidays.

 

SO! If you're in the San Diego area... Mark yer calendars! December 16th at the Belly Up in Solana Beach. An all 80s mayhem night with Motley CrueD and the Atomic punks, a GREAT Van Halen tribute.

 

It's gonna be an amazing night of mayhem, and there WILL be an afterparty. But remember: use mass transit, because mass quantities of alcohol will be present.

 

On with the show! Our final show as a cover band, and it will be our biggest, most extravagant yet.

 

Cheers,

 

James 

Well folks, i'm going to depart from tradition here, and give some props where props are due.

 I'm happy as *** with the way a lot of stuff is going, so that's what i'm gonna talk about.

 

First: vehicles and equipment. I won't go into specifics, but the situation is much better. I have a nice truck, with working commo, and the neato headsets so i can talk to my gunner without screaming. We have plenty of supplies, weapons, etc. The trucks are well maintained, and getting in for service when they need to. Kudos, Red Bulls. Don't get used to it ;-)

Second, living conditions: Improvements there as well. There was one outpost where guys were living in a crappy tent, they now have a trailer. Other areas have been upgraded as well, kitchens and what not. And the food getting shipped to us has had a decent amount of variety, and we recieve gatorades and whatnot regularly. Again... very nice.

 Reorganization: Once again, no specifics, but I think so far the way everything's been restructured has been a good thing. There was a problem with certain groups making things difficult, and they've been broken up.

EDITED TO ADD: Geez guys, why does everyone assume I'm talking about them. There were cliques, and if you've emailed me so far, it wasn't you i was talking about.

 

Mission overall: what can i say... it's rough over here, and it's not a paradise.... but an american outpost i was at recently got turned over to iraqis. A sign that things are moving in the right direction.

 

My spirits have been high, and I havent had time to post about it because school is also going well. I hope to see this trend continue, it seems certain people finally are pulling their heads out of their asses.

 

Out

 

I sent a letter to some email contacts... I'll post it here.

 

Hey everyone.

Some of you may have heard that I'm coming home in february. The IRRs among us will be leaving in february unless they extend, as they've filled their 545 day obligation. The rest of the brigade isn't leaving until march or possibly april.

They've made some personnel changes, switched up a lot of the teams, and I have a new group of guys, some of whom aren't IRRs. So , i won't be coming home in february.

I promised myself I would get all my guys home. Now that I have some new guys, I don't feel comfortable leaving them 2 months early. So i will be signing papers extending me for the duration of the brigade's tour. The commander knows about it, and I assume he's gonna start the process. I told him I  "didn't see a point in leaving." That's a lie, I do see a point in leaving actually... but it wouldn't be right.

I don't like it here, and I don't like this brigade, but I'm not gonna abandon a new group of guys. I've made friends here outside of the IRR, and it would be messed up of me to leave them behind. I hope this doesn't cause anyone any undue stress, but I think it's for the best

Peace out,
James

 So that's the letter I sent to friends and family. Pretty self explanatory.

In addition, i want to post an update to the big change up i was bitching about yesterday. There's more to the plan than what I was privy to... and it's still a pain in the ass. But I'm thinking now it's for the best, given some pretty messy situations at some of the other outposts. Also, it'll mean some time off for the guys, which is NEEDED. These guys are goin crazy.

 

Have fun, all.

 

James 

So I got a challenge coin today from the 1/125 CSM.

 

It's a pretty cool coin... one thing caught my eye.

 

Many coins list subordinate units. Few coins list "IRR" alongside them. The recognition is appreciated.

 

My spirits are lifted today

I was reflecting as I was on duty last night; razor bumps burning me because our water supply was loaded with bleach by an overzealous (but well intentioned) officer.

If you'll go to www.redbullweb.com, you'll see that the brigade got a bunch of new vehicles. Great news, of course, and I will admit the vehicle situation has gotten better for my group of guys as well.

It's when I went to the "Rumors" page that I ran across something troubling

There has been a rumor spreading about IRR soldiers leaving "early" to go back home. I knew it was false, and have been attempting to squash it at my level. The article posted responding to that rumor did a great job of explaining things. Personally, i'll probably NOT choose to extend , but I'm not sure yet. More on this later...

One thing in that article troubled me though: this line:

"Many of the IRR soldiers currently with us volunteered to deploy once they were called. They have done a great job and saved other National Guard or Reserve soldiers from deploying"

First of all, all of us were recalled with orders for "operation iraqi freedom..." there was NO choice in the matter, so let's not kid ourselves, eh?

Saved other national guard or reserve soldiers from deploying, eh? Doesn't anyone else see a problem with this?

"Boy, we sure are glad you IRR guys got called up after you did your time.... now you can do ours too! Thanks a lot! Now I can sit here in minnesota where there aren't bombs on the road! Thanks a lot!"

Those "other" national guard and reserve soldiers didnt friggin ETS... they didn't attempt to get out of the army. They should have deployed before us.

Thank you, soldiers who joined for college and weaseled your way out of deployment. You really make america proud.

There's no excuse for any IRR soldier to be deployed if some jerkoff from this brigade is sitting lazily at home enjoying the benefits of living in America.

That attitude is the wrong one to have. The IRR was designed to be mobilized when all of our other forces were committed, not to "save other national guard or reserve soldiers from deploying"

NOW: That said: I truly appreciate the fact that the author of that article praised the accomplishments of the IRR soldiers. These guys are a hardworking bunch, and considering the fact that they were forcibly recalled, I think most of them have really risen to the occasion. I will point out in particular that both LTC Leider and LTC Kolb have praised the IRR publicly. It's nice to hear words of praise from battalion commanders: it means that they at least understand our situation. In fact, both men have made conscious efforts to integrate the IRRs, and both have given us IRRs praise for having the cojones to show up, especially when the ones who didn't werent punished. I'd like to point out before anyone accuses me of badmouthing our battalion commanders that the problems are in the SYSTEM, not the men.

Moving right along...

The place I'm at (which will remain unidentified) recently recieved a load of new people to boost its strength (once again, can't tell ya why.)

The increase in people required more power obviously. Lights and air conditioners, in particular draw lots of power. The generators have been overheating

One possible solution, known to work in the past, was putting a large tarp (as opposed to camo netting) about 3-6 feet above the generator, allowing airflow to still go by, but keeping the sunlight off the generators When suggested... I was told we've been 'trying' to get tarps. The proposed solution is to turn off everyone's power except for our office, during the hot part of the day.

Given that it's quite hot over here, that is not only uncomfortable, but unsafe. Without AC, the temperature of a tent or storage conex SOARS. We don't need soldiers sleeping in saunas.

I have an idea: Since the powers that be decided to boost the strength of this place, why not boost the generators as well. Maybe put larger ones out here? Or bring one more out, and rig it up so that two can be on at a time? Nope.... let's just cut off everyone's power during the hottest part of the day. That's a friggin great idea

We're in a war zone... we're spending money on stupid *** like ice cream in the chow hall... I'm sure we can find a goddamned tarp, or maybe even some more generators.

We need to start, as an army, being more insistent about our soldiers' needs. A couple of my guys are living in a tent right now with numerous holes in it, rendering the AC ineffective. In addition, the floor is rotted and infested with bugs, including scorpions and a large camel spider. Said scorpions have crawled across people while they were sleeping.

When we asked for a trailer for these soldiers (which by the way, nearly EVERY soldier at the larger bases has) we were told "A tent is fine, I lived in a tent."

Which is true... this individual did live in a tent for a time... but it was NOT this tent. It was not fulla holes with a crappy AC. I'm sure if he came out and stayed in THIS tent for a night, he'd see that it's not good for those three guys to live in there.

Me? I'm living in an old storage conex that was a kitchen for a time. I had a roommate, but he went back to the tent  because the A/C in THAT room was shooting dead bugs out of it due to an improper seal. These bugs were small enough to go through mosquito netting, and many landed in his open mouth while he was sleeping.

I fixed the dead bug problem, but am currently trying to get some insulation for that building. It's a metal storage conex... when the heat is on it, the A/C doesn't help at all, because there's no insulation.

I may have to buy it myself. Not a problem, I suppose, cus that *** is cheap, but I shouldn't have to... it should be provided. I'm gonna try to get some when we go into "town"

Anyways, we're working on building some kind of plywood canopy for the generators, hopefully that will help. I'm trying to keep an open mind and an optimistic heart, but it gets hard sometimes, especially when you see people brushing off your concerns like they do. I think the Battalion Commander is planning on coming out here in the next few days. That might help if he sees it. I felt like a fool last time we spoke because I thought many of my concerns were his fault. Not only was this not true, but he wasnt even aware of some of my concerns.

When we go into "town" early next week, i'm gonna try to get some insulation. Anyone who has any suggestions on keeping a metal shipping container cool, please let me know.


In other news: just found out that the power outages (and some bad wiring i bet) blew out the A/C in my room...

frickin HOOAH



P.S. I'm aware that other soldiers had it harder than we do, way harder. But we've been here 3 years now. There's no excuse for this stuff any more, especially when we can somehow find the funds to put ice cream and lobster in the dining facilities. Priorities, people!

Alright....

Got some mail. If anyone wants to send me anything, don't insure it, OK?

If you insure it, then there's a buncha extra stuff that happens over here... which is why i couldn't find my stuff. All worked out now, and the stuff is on its way.

But don't insure anything, K? That makes it much simpler :-)

Everything's still great. I am still waiting on my books for college, and i will start in the first week of august. Online courses, of course.

My guitar's wiring is messed up, but i am gonna fix that up as soon as i get a soldering iron.

:-D Take care

There's a big problem with the mail system to our little outposts... as it stands right now, 2 packages of mine have not made it here yet. One of which is expensive, important, and from my mother. headquarters says they sent it out to another station, that other station says they don't have it, and in the meantime a USPS insured package is missing.

So, until i figure out why the mail out here is so screwy, hold on to your care packages. i love em, but I don't want em to get lost.

Hey all...

finally got some internet that i can use from MY computer. So I have pics for ya.

http://www.motleycrued.com/photos/thumbnails.php?album=36

living at the remote ass relay points is AWESOME, and if they let us, we're gonna try to stay out here the whole time. Boring yes, but I can finish my degree, and best of all I don't have to worry about getting blown to hell.

*HEAR THAT SIR: EVERYONE HATES THIS DUTY, SO WE'LL KEEP IT!!! hahhaa WE LOVE IT***

Guitar players: I got Fretboard logic (books 1-3 and both DVDs) and it's awesome. Get it and you may fill some holes in your playing.

Getting a little bit of a break from the roads of iraq... I'll be filling a spot at an outpost in the middle of nowhere for a month or so. Let me tell ya... it's a welcome change of pace.

Here's an idea of the conditions

http://www.agd.state.tx.us/36id/56BCT/images/galleries/RP%20-%20Relay%20Points.asp

sparse, but not bad. Internet, weekly PX and laundry runs, and (the BEST part) a nice, relatively safe environment for a while. Not too much worrying about getting attacked. Hopefully though, it won't last too long... i can see the lack of activity getting real boring, real quick.

If you haven't been living under a rock lately, you've heard about the alleged killings of innocent civilians. Let me say that, should these allegations be true, nothing less than execution would be appropriate. of course, in REALITY, the lower enlisted will serve jail time, while the officers involved get reprimanded.

I may be critical of things happening in my unit, but I see daily the positive things that U.S. Troops do over here... and it saddens me to see behavior like this out of folks with a US uniform on. May the victims and their families find peace somehow, and may those responsible burn in hell.

Iraq is fragile enough without idiots like these angering the iraqi people further. While some good stuff might take us a few steps towards a peaceful iraq, *** like this takes us 100 steps back.

Marines: your comrade got killed. It's understandable you are upset. But let me remind you that the vast majority of iraqis are simple people who only want to etch out some kind of decent existence for their families. Not every iraqi is an insurgent.