Coffee Mug

Trying to find stuff that relates to your service or deployments are not as easy as one would think. So since I break coffee mugs every couple of weeks, I thought I'd make one that I like and maybe I won't drop it and break it like it's predecessors.

Here's the link for my new coffee mug.
https://www.zazzle.com/mals_29_oif_06_08_coffee_mug-168557813366935575?rf=238785052397265682

Or:

MALS-29 OIF 06-08 COFFEE MUG
by wyldth1ng

Invisible or Not

I have a lengthy history. Between this and wyldth1ng.com I have plenty out there for the novice researcher to know alot about me.  I have mentioned my real name several times but try to disassociate it with myself when that does happen.  Being invisible on the world wide web, is essentially impossible.

My military career is obviously the main theme here and there.  I mean after 20 and half years that takes up almost half my life. I can't complain too much.  I have some awesome pictures and experiences that definitely worth sharing.

My wife and I have been tinkering with the off-grid living idea for some time now.  It looks like within the year it will be completed, without any major obstacles.  Keep your fingers crossed.

Well, off grid means less internet, right?  If everything goes as planned maybe not.  And maybe not for a very high cost.  Currently we spend about 70 bucks and receive about 100 megabytes download and 15 megabytes upload with the occasional drop in the evening without any cords.  Awesome, right?    Once everything is in place and every aspect of the internet goes into effect I'll update you guys and blab about my methods.

Now as my main point, being invisible isn't the same as not being heard.  That's what I plan on doing.  I want to get back into writing* more often.  I want to get back to interacting within the community again.  It was fun, especially when I was in a not fun place.  My free time most likely will increase by default, maybe not in the first few months but shortly there after.  Plus, my memoir has been slow going.

*I use a system  under the Computer/Electronic Accommodations Program .  Use the first link to see simular devices that I use to see and use this link to see how I write.

Donate to UW Carbone Cancer Center in Memory of Bernard L Weidling

Bernard L Weidling passed away from cancer on June 25th, 2017. In memory of his and all of our loved ones who have perished from this terrible tragedy, the Weidling family invites you to donate to UW Carbone Cancer Center in Madison, Wisconsin. 

You can donate by any of the following weblinks:

https://give.classy.org/BernardLWeidlingCancerFund

Or

https://www.classy.org/fundraiser/1021835

Or

www.uwhealth.org/cancerdonation

You can also mail a check, made out to the

UW Carbone Cancer Center

to the following address:

UWCCC Development

600 Highland Ave K4/658

Madison, WI 53792

HELP US FIGHT CANCER

The UW Carbone Cancer Center is Wisconsin's only comprehensive cancer center as designated by the National Cancer Institute. Your support enables researchers to explore new ideas and develop better methods of diagnosing, treating and preventing cancer.

No Barriers Summit

https://www.crowdrise.com/no-barriers-summit-scholarships

Because of scholarships, my wife and I are going this June.  We hope this will continue not just for us but for more veterans.   I'll have a report when we're back.

Cry for Help, the Grown-Up Edition

We need your help,  if your an avid reader of the blog you are fully aware of the medical issues I have and how long I have been having them.  If not, then search "Fun with Navy Medicine" in this blog and you'll get an idea.

We are needing help fund a vehicle that support our needs, which are: transport me (disabled), my wife (driver), an electrical  (motorized) wheelchair (325 pounds (#)),  my PTSD (Post-Tramatic Stress Disorder) GSD (German Shepherd Dog) "Gunny", my Jack-Russell  Terrier dog "Major", and all the rest of my support equipment(for trips more than 2 hours) which is in 3 large duffel bags.

We kind of settled on the Transit Connect, it's fairly cheap, gas miles per gallon isn't horrible( plus can be converted to ethanol), and it can hold everything I mentioned above comfortably.  Sounds awesome right? (Update, we don't care really what kind of vehicle we get. Aug 2017)   

Well here's the snag, we're poor.  My retirement roughly figures out to 18 thousand a year.  I've been turned down by Social Security 3 times, and the VA keeps rearranging the numbers so I have no guarantee if I'll get anything from them.  Plus, since I can't do anything for myself, my wife does it all; which means she can't have a job and take care of me at the same time.  So our only income is my retirement from the Marine Corps.

Here's the other thing, we're about a quarter of a million in debt. Our home is upside down, so we owe more than we could ever sell it for, like a hundred grand or more.  So if we sell, we still owe and the only thing that changed is we have no shelter but still pay as if we did.

I'm done ranting,  if you want to help, scroll down to the PayPal icon.  It's defaulted to one dollar. 

National Resource Directory is for everyone, not just us cheeseheads!

https://www.nrd.gov/

https://www.benefits.gov

I'm sorry it has been modified since I posted this. I hope this editted version will help in its stead.
(Edited August 2017)

Info I wish I had before Today

Stop Unsolicited Mail, Phone Calls, & Email

Tired of having your mailbox crammed with unsolicited mail, including preapproved credit card applications? Fed up with getting telemarketing calls ju5st as you're sitting down to dinner? Fuming that your email inbox is chock-full of unsolicited advertising? The good news is that you can cut down on the number of unsolicited mailings, calls, and emails you receive by learning where to go to "just say no."

Direct Marketers

Telemarketing

www.donotcall.gov

Mail & Email

www.dmachoice.org

 or mail your request with a $1 processing fee to:

DMAchoice

Direct Marketing Association

P.O. Box 643

Carmel, NY 10512

Cell Phones and The Do Not Call Registry

Despite viral email, there is no new cell phone database.

Consumers may place their cell phone number on the National Do Not Call Registry to notify marketers that they don't want to get unsolicited telemarketing calls.

The truth about cell phones and the Do Not Call Registry is:

• The government is not releasing cell phone numbers to telemarketers.
• There is no deadline for registering a cell phone number on the Do Not Call Registry.
• Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulations prohibit telemarketers from using automated dialers to call cell phone numbers without prior consent. Automated dialers are standard in the industry, so most telemarketers are barred from calling consumers' cell phones without their consent.
• There is only one Do Not Call Registry, operated by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), with information available at donotcall.gov. There is no separate registry for cell phones.
• The Do Not Call Registry accepts registrations from both cell phones and land lines. To register by telephone, call 1-888-382-1222 (TTY: 1-866-290-4236). You must call from the phone number that you want to register. To register online (donotcall.gov), you will have to respond to a confirmation email.
• If you have registered a mobile or other telephone number already, you don't need to re-register. Once registered, a telephone number stays on the Do Not Call Registry until the registration is canceled or service for the number is discontinued.

Computer Security

Computer

"Free" Security Scans

Alarming messages on your computer warning that a ‘free’ scan has found malware could be a rip-off.

Computer Security

Secure your computer and protect yourself from hackers, scammers, and identity thieves.

Cookies: Leaving a Trail on the Web

This Q&A can help answer questions you have about cookies and online tracking.

Disposing of Old Computers

Getting rid of a computer? Follow these instructions to protect your personal information.

Hacked Email

What to do if you think your email or social networking account has been hacked.

Laptop Security

Here’s how to prevent a thief from snatching your laptop — and all the valuable information it houses.

Malware

Steps you can take to avoid, detect, and get rid of viruses and spyware.

P2P File-Sharing Risks

Consider these computer security risks before you share files through a P2P network.

Phishing

What to do about messages that ask for your personal information.

Tech Support Scams

Who is calling out of the blue, claiming to be able to "fix" your computer? A scammer, that’s who.

Devices

Apps to Help You Shop in Stores

What to know about apps that help you make purchases and find deals in brick-and-mortar stores.

Disposing of Your Mobile Device

Dispose of your mobile phone safely.

Understanding Mobile Apps

Consider these questions before you download a mobile app.

Using IP Cameras Safely

When you shop for an internet camera, put security features at the top of your list. Here are tips to help.

Networks

Securing Your Wireless Network

Protect the wireless network in your home.

Tips for Using Public Wi-Fi Networks

Here’s how you can protect your personal information when you’re using public Wi-Fi hotspots.

All information in this article has been provided by 

FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION

Retirement of Things

The actual retirement, you know the part of not going to work anymore is awesome and hasn't worn off yet, but (and this is a big BUT) everything else seems to have hiccups or large stop signs.

I am medically retired and made it to about 246 months, give or take a day or two.  That should mean something in the veteran world, at least,!  don't you think?
I can't complain too much about Tricare that was a big winner for all that time in service, but they haven't lived up to there part of the deal either.
The DAV actually has helped me more while I was active duty than retired thus far and I'm a paid in full life member. There are 2 organizations that helped us out big time that first month, the Semper Fi Fund and  SALUTE, Inc.
Then there is the VA, if you've just got a glimpse of my handicap issues then you'd know I need the healthcare part.  Just a quick side note, where did all that money go that Congress gave them a few years ago?
We thought that at least the dental part would be helped, since I have TMD, grinding and  clenching, and tooth and gum problems.  The last time I had dental work I had to have it in the Operating Room at a hospital, just to make sure I didn't die during the dental work, and I still went info the ICU and was kept overnight.  So in short, I need massive dental "insurance".
I have slew of other issues that I haven't even been seen by an initial doctor.  Big one is orthopedics, if I could get a hip replacement, then maybe just maybe I could walk with a "walker".  But the longer VA waits the more my legs aprotree(sp.) and walking may never happen.
Really I could go on and on, but using this software I have to type for me is fucking difficult,  and the punctuation is a bitch.  Plus I slur my words alot after seizures and right after I get up in the morning.
I'll say this if care doesn't improve real soon my caregivers' and I will probably have depression as our or your main worry.

VA Help

Text, Call, Chat

When did I Grow?

When I joined the Marine Corps I was pretty skinny.  I didn't feel skinny, but people (especially older women) kept telling me to eat more.  And that my friends was the problem,  I did eat and I ate everything.   I never needed to eat healthy,  not that I wanted to eat healthy mind you.  Healthy for some reason seems to mean "not taste good."   I'm sure some of must taste good and there is probably some it the maybe will fill up, but for me it's never been on the table.

As life progressed for me it seemed that the only part of me that grew consistently was my shoulders and my ego.  It seemed that every few months I had to keep getting my dress and service jackets re tailored for my shoulders. I went 17 years in the Marine Corps until I had to get my waist tailored.  SEVENTEEN YEARS! 

So basically I was 35ish went my waist went passed the 29 inch mark.  That really pisses people off.  I mean like it's the end of the fucking world, pisses people off like state.   I would hear crap like I don't know how to appreciate such a thing or life is not fair.  I never did figure out why it's my fault my parents had sex and "poof" I get these genetics.  [ Not part of this story:  I also got this odd internal body health gene where stuff like blood pressure and heart rate is always "good/great no matter what.] 

Well the good part is now, this part of my life (after the Corps)  it doesn't matter anymore.   I'm still below my max weight, which is also a sore subject with people, but doesn't really matter anymore. Yea!

If you haven't guessed my health is now a priority,  my maybe I sinned against the healthy fairy or killed the angel of good health, but my health like weight, physical ability, mental, and spiritual health has gone to fucking shit.

Back to the thesis, I've grown and I don't remember how it happened.  I am no longer that skinny kid from nowhere-ville.  Now I'm the skinny kid with a small "ladies" basketball inside my stomach who has been to 37 countries (2 that don't exist anymore).  I guess I'm cultured.

Does anyone remember how they got here?  No one started off "here"  but somehow we all got here.

Break out the champagne!

One score ago and an over confident young boy, entered the United States Marine Corps.  I entered the Marine Corps for a change.  That was not one of the tablets presented to me by my recruiter.  In fact, he made me pick 3 and after much debate I picked three.  I have no idea what picked, I just remember it was stupid.  I mean why pick reasons to join, I drove myself to the recruiters station.  I was in Milwaukee going to University Wisconsin - Milwaukee and was enrolled in the school of architecture. I partied alot, not like what is glamored in stupid movies you see, I had "call the cops and the fire department" parties.  I actually got kicked out of the dorms twice for my behavior and the behavior I inctied.  Just after my 19th birthday and some time spent in the drunk tank in the Milwaukee County jail, I realized that if I didn't do something different I was going to be dead before I reach 30.  I also knew I needed help.

So after sobering up a little(the Wisconsin version) I opened up the Greater Milwaukee phone book, found the closest recruiting station and drove down to it.  I was forced to take a 10 question test and Aced it, then they wanted me to take a longer 50 question test and Aced it as well. I guess they thought I was either lying about my educational background or just thought I was cheating some how.  I was asked when I took my ASVAB and like everyone else I knew it was my junior year in high school.  They looked up my results and said I could pick any job I wanted but had join before my 2 year anniversary of the test.  I told them I could do better, I just was happy to not be in class and didn't take it seriously, but they we adamant that I didnt.  They must have thought I was going to do worse, now looking back, I wish I did take it over.  So thinking about future job placement I picked Aviation Electrician which I was told I couldn't be that exact so it was going to be a 59 hundred or 64 hundred field or MOS (military occupational specialty) and I got it in writing.

I know many people that told me that their recruiter fucked them over or didn't tell them how it was going to be.  I didnt have that problem and chock that up to people not listening and not reading their contract and then asking for it to be fixed.  My recruiter told me exactly how it was going to be.  A good example, a friend of mine was going to join the reserves and wanted to join after his birthday on the 25th. Supposedly he was to ship out on the 31st, but since he didn't read it or ask it to be fixed he shipped out on the 13th.  I laughed my ass off then and still do everytime I think about it. 

I had many contracts by that time in my life, rental, university related, gas, electric, phone, well you get the idea.  Now when I entered the Marine Corps there were computers but not like the ones have today.  Most were used for accounting or some other number based idea.  Before you yell at your screen with Comadore or Atari, that was not what someone today was a computer.   We had typewriters (tap, tap, tap, ding!) and if you wanted copies you used carbon paper or you typed alot more.  The more expensive ones had a write out feature but that didn't work every time and contacts had to be white out free.  There was a gunny (Gunnery Sergeant or GySgt) that did the typing and every time I asked for a correction he got a darker shade of red.  I thought it was funny and I giggled a little which did not help things.  I had three complete rewrites.  Then I was satisfied.   My ship out date was supposed to be February 5th, I picked that time period because I wanted to finish out my semester in college and I had NIN  (Nine Inch Nails) tickets in January and wasn't going to miss that.

February 4th rolls around and I get picked up from my recruiter and had to have some more processing. Paperwork, drug tests stuff like that.  I got a couple of tickets since then and that had to be cleared first.  That took a couple of days, then my first day became February 7th, 1995.

My story from there turned into a wild ride. Many ups and many downs, but I wouldn't have changed a thing.  The Marine Corps helped me understand national pride, how the system really works, and teamwork.  I get choked up when I here the National Anthem or Marine Corps Hymn.  And I get it and want you to get it too.

Cry for help!

The world for me has changed dramaticly from when I started writing this blog.  After many injuries and many times I toughed it out (for some macho idea) without seeing a doctor when getting injured at the time.  Some advice to the younger alpha males, there is no shame seeing help when injured. Even if someone insists you are only "hurt" not injured. Putting mud on it or using duct tape never works.

I do not cry wolf, in fact, I was literally dragged in to see a doctor.  I have many injuries ranging from loss of dexterity to seeing things that no one else sees.  At the VA's count 40 plus injuries, 14 for the Marine Corps.  What I have cried for is help.  The hope was my brothers would take care of me if it gets bad, that is not the truth.  But that is another story, I'll tell it some other day.

I need AACs, Augmented and Alternative Communication devices.  I'm using a voice to text currently, but it sucks.  It takes me 5 to 10 minutes to "write" a sentence they way I just said it, and don't get me started on punctuation. My wife types most of my things for me nowadays.

I need work done to my home and I don't need to tell you that the money fairy doesn't visit me and my wife.  I can't work, she can't leave me for long periods to work.  She does my ADLs, activities of daily living.  For those layman's out there, eating, bathing, peeing, number 2s, brushing my teeth, shaving my face, I think you get the idea( I hope.).  

We live in a home built in the 40s, so we have old home problems.  I can only using my motorized wheelchair in half the house, in the rest my wife transfers me to a small stool with wheels and hope for the best.  Doesn't always work as planned.  We have roof that should have been replaced 8 or so years ago, we have electrical problems in two rooms, we have plumbing issues, and many others.  I listed the big ones for your reading pleasure.

Now, getting help.  It would easier if (these are all and/or situations, I listed this way for ease)  we made less than 20 grand,  not white, civilian, lived on a farm, bought the house after 2009 but before 2011, lived in a crappy neighborhood, blind, deaf, missing (visible) limbs,  have parents that are dead, came from a broken home or couldn't pay the mortgage.  Again, those are the big ones.

Now let's say my long lost uncle died and gave me 10 large ones.  Do we spend it on a new roof or get a new wheelchair (which we need also)? Or save it because hoping for the best has not worked out for us either.  Getting someone else to do a job, that could have done prior to injury, is horribly expensive.   And my wife could probably do most of it, if she didn't have care for me. On to itself is a double edged sword, if she is injured then we're both screwed twice as hard.

Now here is the kicker, everytime we have asked for help it backfired on us.  I have been threatened several times, my wife has been threatened and I have been warned if I keep asking for help I may lose my rank or worse administratively separated.  Everytime I think I we should go to the IG (inspector general) we are reminded of the incident in my last unit, nothing happened to the bad guys and we were sent away to this unit with no result. 

The only good part of my unit is the Wounded Warriors.  Not the staff or the officers or the civilian horde.  Only the injured Marines.  We have recieved more help and heart via my injured brothers.  Got to think that's funny, if you weren't injured.
 
As far as Organizations go,  the Semper Fi Fund has been awesome!  The DAV has helped!  That's it. 

The Wounded Warrior Project is a Ponzi scheme.  As much money that is funneled to them, you would think they would help, NOPE, got a T-shirt and once a year we get stickers.  Not that we haven't asked.  And if they do return our call it'll be an email 6 months later, but no help just lip service.  If you look at their Financials you can see the top 6 get millions a year, and the top 20 get hundreds of thousands.  Not a one of them are in a wheelchair or missing an arm or missing a lung.  It pisses me off!  

So long story short, don't give in to the peer pressure and give to an organization that doesn't really help.  You don't have to take my word, do your own research.  That's what Google is for.  My advice is to go to Charity Navigator. Lots of information, lots of reviews and lots of insight.

Pride

Pride can be deadly.  We (my wife and I) have a Eagle Globe and Anchor door knocker on my steel reinforced door to our home on a hill that has clear envelopes of fire on both laterals.  We have yellow footprints entering our home and we still have our magnetic "Parent's Pride" Emblem on our truck with Marine Corps personalized plates.  We wear red on Fridays and we donate the time we can to those you need it.   The pride we have, if you could contain it in a jar, would be enough to shine bright until everyone came home.

A Version of Genesis

In the beginning was the word, and the word was God.

In the beginning was God, and all else was darkness and void, and without form. So God created the heavens and the Earth. He created the sun, and the moon, and the stars, so that light might pierce the darkness. The Earth, God divided between the land and the sea, and these he filled with many assorted creatures.
And the dark, salty, slimy creatures that inhabited the murky depths of the oceans, God called sailors. And He dressed them accordingly. They had little trousers that looked like bells at the bottom. And their shirts had cute little flaps on them to hide the hickeys on their necks. He also gave them long sideburns and shabby looking beards. God nicknamed them "squids" and banished them to a lifetime at sea, so that normal folks would not have to associate with them. To further identify these unloved creatures, He called them "petty" and "commodore" instead of titles worthy of red-blooded men.

And the flaky creatures of the land, God called soldiers. And with a twinkle in His eye, and a sense of humor that only He could have, God made their trousers too short and their covers too large. He also made their pockets oversized, so that they may warm their hands. And to adorn their uniforms, God gave them badges in quantities that only a dime store owner could appreciate. And He gave them emblems and crests... and all sorts of shiny things that glittered... and devices that dangled. (When you are God you tend to get carried away.)

On the 6th day, He thought about creating some air creatures for which he designed a Greyhound bus driver's uniform, especially for Air Force flyboys. But He discarded the idea during the first week, and it was not until years later that some apostles resurrected this theme and established what we now know as the "Wild-Blue-Yonder Wonders."

And on the 7th day, as you know, God rested.

But on the 8th day, at 0730, God looked down upon the earth and was not happy. No, God was not happy! So He thought about His labors, and in His divine wisdom God created a divine creature. And this He called Marine. And these Marines, who God had created in His own image, were to be of the air, and of the land, and of the sea. And these He gave many wonderful uniforms. Some were green; some were blue with red trim. And in the early days, some were even a beautiful tan. He gave them practical fighting uniforms, so that they could wage war against the forces of Satan and evil. He gave them service uniforms for their daily work and training. And He gave them evening and dress uniforms...sharp and stylish, handsome things…so that they might promenade with their ladies on Saturday night and impress the hell out of everybody! He even gave them swords, so that people who were not impressed could be dealt with accordingly.

And at the end of the 8th day, God looked down upon the Earth and saw that it was good. But was God happy? No! God was still not happy! Because in the course of His labors, He had forgotten one thing: He did not have a Marine uniform for Himself. He thought about it, and thought about it, and finally God satisfied Himself in knowing that, well....

Not everybody can be a Marine!

A Fan of WSJ's Mackubin Thomas Owens

The Wall Street Journal's Mackubin Thomas Owens has been inpressing me for quite some time now.  He is  a professor of national security affairs at the Naval War College, editor of Orbis, the quarterly journal of the Foreign Policy Research Institute, and author of "US Civil-Military Relations After 9/11: Renegotiating the Civil-Military Bargain" (Continuum, 2011).

He writes quite fluently with his military topics and is "top on" with his audience.  Here is a copy of what he worte on May 2, 2011:

Why We Still Need the Marines

Their unique combination of sea, land and air capabilities makes them an indispensable rapid response force.

In Washington these days, the Defense Department is looking to cut its budget and the Marine Corps especially is reviewing its future role. Defense Secretary Robert Gates has spoken of "anxiety" that the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have turned the Corps into a "second land army," and he has cancelled major Marine weapons systems, such as the Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle. No institution is sacrosanct, so it's worth asking: Why should we maintain the Marine Corps in the future?

The utility of any institution must be balanced against the opportunity cost of maintaining it. In arguing against maintaining a Marine Corps in the future, one must prove either that what the Marines do isn't necessary, or that it is necessary but that another organization can do it more efficiently and effectively.

In 1954, the political scientist Samuel Huntington argued that each service was built around a "strategic concept"-"the fundamental element of [a] service . . . its role or purpose in implementing national policy." A service's strategic concept answers the "ultimate question: What function do you perform which obligates society to assume responsibility for your maintenance?"

The current Marine Corps strategic concept envisions an expeditionary force in readiness capable of responding rapidly to the full range of crises and contingencies, primarily but not exclusively from the sea, with integrated and balanced air, ground and logistics teams. To this end, the Marines provide a responsive and scalable "middleweight" force that is light enough to get to where it is needed quickly but heavy enough-and with sufficient logistics support-to prevail against an adversary upon arrival.

Due to the proliferation of high-tech defensive weapons, the most controversial element of the Marines' strategic concept are amphibious assaults against defended littorals. What most people envision when they think of an amphibious assault is a World War II scenario with landing craft churning toward a defended beach. But today's amphibious assaults seek to avoid the strength of the enemy's defenses, exploiting seams and gaps in those defenses in order to achieve surprise.

For example, in October 2001, Naval Task Force 58-commanded by then-Brig. Gen. James Mattis, who is now commander of U.S. Central Command-conducted an amphibious assault to seize the airfield at Kandahar, Afghanistan. Gen. Mattis's force of two infantry battalions, along with fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters and logistics support, thrust 450 nautical miles from ships off the coast of Pakistan to Kandahar in only 48 hours.

In addition to conducting amphibious operations and providing forces for two wars, over the past decade the Marines have also been engaged in the Caucasus, Africa, the Pacific and Latin America. They have provided training and support for friends and allies and have responded to numerous crises: noncombatant evacuation operations in Liberia (2005) and Lebanon (2006), as well as humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations in Indonesia, the U.S. Gulf region (2005), Haiti (2008 and 2009), Pakistan (2010) and Japan (2011).

Marines routinely split amphibious ready groups into smaller packages to provide a variety of capabilities over a wider geographic area, reassembling to conduct larger operations. Marine assets are currently involved in aircraft-recovery operations in support of NATO forces in Libya.

So it would seem that what the Marines do is of value to the United States. But could another service do what the Marines do? The answer, of course, is yes. But the opportunity cost would be very high.

All of the U.S. military services are carrying out missions in support of their own strategic concepts. Asking another service to do what the Marines do risks crowding out what they already do. Each of the other services operates primarily in one "domain": the Army on land, the Navy on water, and the Air Force in air and space. The Marines operate in a "lane" that intersects all three domains. In that lane, the Marines possess what economists would call comparative advantage.

What about the charge that the Marines have become a second land army in Iraq and Afghanistan? As the assistant commandant of the Marine Corps, Gen. Joseph Dunford, recently remarked, the Marines have no reason to apologize for sustained operations ashore.

Such operations, he observed, are part of the basic "sticker price" of the Marines: the requirement to carry out missions as directed by the president, an obligation Marines have met in Korea and Vietnam as well as in Iraq and Afghanistan. In addition, an important part of Marine Corps tradition has been to prepare to fight the kind of small-unit wars we have confronted over the past decade.

The Marines are an expeditionary force with a maritime soul. Of course, the current security environment requires all services to become more expeditionary than was the case during the Cold War. But as former Marine Commandant Gen. Carl Mundy was fond of saying, "'Expeditionary' is not a mission. It's a mindset." The Marines have developed this expeditionary mindset over decades, and it is something that will serve the nation well in the future.

 

Comments

I had used Haloscan for years for my commenting on this blog.  As the times have changed, Haloscan is no more.  And with that, I have lost all of those years worth of comments.  I never downloaded them to keep them and my attempts to get them back from the company (Echo) seems futile.

So I am starting a leaf by using the blogger's version and I hope that this will still be an enjoyable website with comments.

Things I am Going to Miss

This is some of the cadences that I will miss saying and hearing in return 20 fold.
(The authors are unknown, these have been passed by word of mouth for many generations.)

1775

BACK IN 1775,

MY MARINE CORPS CAME ALIVE.

1^ST THERE CAME THE COLOR GOLD,

SHOWED THE WORLD THAT WE ARE BOLD.

NEXT THERE CAME THE COLOR BLUE,

SHOWED THE WORLD THAT WE ARE TRUE.

THEN THERE CAME THE COLOR GREEN,

SHOWED THE WORLD THAT WE ARE MEAN.

THEN THERE CAME THE COLOR RED,

SHOWED THE WORLD THE BLOOD WE’VE SHED.

(CAN BE SUNG AS A ROUND OR BY THE LEADER WITH THE PLATOON SINGING “MARINE CORPS” IN BETWEEN LINES.)

HORSE MARINE

MY GRAND DADDY WAS A HORSE MARINE

EVERYTHING HE WORE WAS MARINE CORPS GREEN

HE ATE STEAKS 8 INCHES THICK

HE PICKED HIS TEETH WITH A GUIDON STICK

HE LIVED EVERYDAY OF HIS LIFE IN THE CORPS

TILL THEY SENT HIM OFF TO WAR

THEY SENT HIM TO A PLACE CALLED VIETNAM

TO FIGHT PEOPLE CALLED THE VIETCONG

TILL ONE DAY IN A FIRE FIGHT

HE COME HOME ON A MEDIVAC FLIGHT

NOW HE SITS ON THE PORCH AND STARES

MARKING TIME IN HIS ROCKING CHAIR

EVERYWHERE WE GO

EVERYWHERE WE GO

PEOPLE WANT TO KNOW

WHO WE ARE

SO WE TELL THEM

WE’RE THE BOY’S FROM * (INSERT YOUR PLATOON #) YOU’VE HEARD SO MUCH ABOUT

THE MOTHERS TAKE THEIR DAUGHTERS IN WHEN EVER WE GO OUT!

PEOPLE SAY WE’RE CRAZY FOR THE CRAZY THINGS WE DO

WE’RE THE BOYS FROM *, WHO THE HECK ARE YOU!

MOMMA MOMMA

MOMMA MOMMA CAN’T YOU SEE

WHAT THE MARINE CORPS HAS DONE TO ME?

PUT ME IN A BARBER’S CHAIR,

I TURNED AROUND AND HAD NO HAIR

THEY PUT ME IN SOME CAMMIE GREEN

 THEY TRAINED ME HARD THEY MADE ME MEAN

THEN THEY SHIPPED ME OFF TO WAR

PUT ME ON A FOREIGN SHORE

THEY PUT A RIFLE IN MY HAND

 TOLD ME TO DEFEND OUR LAND

BUT IF I DIE IN A COMBAT ZONE

BOX ME UP AND SHIP ME HOME

PUT ME IN A SET OF DRESS BLUES

COMB MY HAIR AND SHINE MY SHOES

PIN THE MEDALS UPON MY CHEST

AND TELL MOMMA I DID MY BEST

BUT MOMMA MOMMA DON’T YOU CRY

MARINE CORPS MOTTO IS TO DO OR DIE

SAYING, “LEFT RIGHT A LOW RIGHT LEFT”

“LEFT RIGHT A LEFTY RIGHT LEFT”

IF I DIE, BURY ME DEEP

2 M16’S, BENEATH MY FEET

AND BY MY SIDE, PLACE MY 9MM THERE

BUT DON’T FORGET TO PACK MY PT GEAR,

BECAUSE EARLY ONE MORNING, AROUND ZERO-FIVE

THE EARTH’S GONNA SHAKE, THERE WILL BE LIGHTNING IN THE SKY

BUT DON’T YOU WORRY, DON’T COME UNDONE

IT’S JUST ME AND CHESTY PULLER ON A PT RUN.

Physical Evaluation Board

Time has come that my Fun with Navy Medicine will come to a close. I have been on a PEB since January and according to the Magic timeline that was given to me by December I could be on the way out of the Marine Corps. I wrote briefly about the Worst Case Scenarios once before but now that it seems to be reality I have been pinching myself on a regular basis.

The following is what I have learned so far:

During the VA appointment process each member will be assigned a code that is part of the VASRD and the reference for that is 38 CFR part 4. The codes will later translate into the VA's disability rating and has nothing to do with the military's rating. The military rating comes from the unfit condition that is preventing the member from doing his/her job. There can be multiple issues but after the initial is submitted, an addendum for each other unfit condition must be submitted otherwise it doesn't count. Of course the magic number for permanently disability retirement listing (PDRL) is 30 percent or higher. Anything less than that and the member is under 20 years will get a severance package. The math for that is 2 x base pay x # years, if combat related the number of years is 6. Obviously that doesn't help the more senior Marines.
(The unfit condition is anything that stops the Marine from performing ITSS/MOS/PFT/CFT.)

Before a package is sent to MEB the Marine is going to sign it and receive a copy. It was reiterated that the Marine must pay attention for any discrepancies since this will delay the process or give an undesired result from the board.

Right now, I am about halfway through the VA appointment process and have not seen my doctor for my unfitting condition as of yet.

I am going to have to find another theme to right about. Maybe I will write about the squirrels that make my clothes for me and the birds that make my bed.

Blogs and the Tools That They Are

My original idea was to use this blog as a communication tool with my family. At one time, it grew into a stress reliever. After the many rants and raves, time came when I thought I didn't need this outside opinion anymore. Since my absence, I have mulled over the point of posting more regularly again.

Whether or not anyone being outside my opinion headquarters, my wife and I, gives me an opinion I really do not care.

After saying that and you are still here reading. Then to me you are either very thick in the head or you know me better than you know yourself.

My wife is trying this thing we call a blog. It would do me well if you have poor opinions to either leave it in your head or write them here on my blog. ( Yes, the armor is still shiny.) Her blog address is: http://inconceivably40.wordpress.com/.
(Those that know me know that it took me 5 times to figure out how it was spelled.)

Happy toolbox hunting.

Absence with Navy Medicine

I have been home for about a month recovering from another surgery. My right shoulder has been decreasing in strength and agility for about a year or so. The surgeon discovered it as worse than predicted and had to sever and reattach my bicep tendon and fix some tears in two other muscles.

My left arm has increasingly been the strong arm. And life couldn't go on without my wife.

It will be back to work in a few days.