I'm just sayin

Way back in the rear of our already small local newspaper, I read an AP story today about how the Vietnamese people are quite satisfied with the way things are going in their country. This is thirty–five years after the end of the Vietnam War, in which I was a participant.

Since the war ended, I've often reflected back on how we got into the conflict in the first place, what happened along the way, and the dismal situation we left as we pulled out. At that time, I was attending a military school at Maxwell Air Force Base, and although I was one of only a few Army students in the course (all of us being war vets) the remainder of my class were largely Air Force officers, most of whom had been involved personally in the war. For example, my seminar leader was an Air Force major who had been a POW for six years. I remember many discussions with some of my classmates about the war, and especially what the eventual outcome would be after we left for good. I don't believe any of us could have predicted what has actually transpired.

Long after the war ended, I began to wonder if the Vietnamese people might in fact be better off in some sort of governmental system different from what we were trying to instill there, and it looks like I was correct. The free market system that has evolved there over the past ten years or so has apparently lifted millions out of poverty, and the country is well on its way to becoming a major economic force in the region—compared to what it once was. I'm just sayin.

I didn't believe what I saw

When I first snapped a photo of these new facilities at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, I said to myself, "Now there are some nice new family quarters." But, I was wrong. They are instead single Soldier housing for those permanently assigned to the installation. What happened to BARRACKS?

My first question to those I spoke with familiar with the situation, focused on how leaders might "inspect" these quarters, such as we've done forever in the Army. Short answer was they really don't do that like in the past. To top that off, I was told that leaders have to ask permission of the individuals housed in these sets of quarters, in order to enter.

Anyone who says the Army is not taking better care of Soldiers today than they once did, might do well to go check out what's happening at Fort Leonard Wood.

Center of Excellence

I spent most of last week at Fort Leonard Wood, where I took hundreds of photos which will eventually help me prepare a photo essay about the evolution of the installation from 1941 until today. I literally walked miles from here to there with camera in hand, and throughout was amazed at how much the training post has changed over the years. There remains evidence from the early days, and when you combine that with all the new and exceptionally nice facilities built recently, you can't help but feel proud to have been a part of it. It's truly a "center of excellence".

You'll have to wait until the May-June issue of Army Engineer is published to see first hand what I'm talking about. I'm sure you will be as impressed as I was last week.

Regimental Awards

Today during the ENFORCE 2010 conference at Fort Leonard Wood, MO, the Commandant of the Army Engineer School and the Army Chief of Engineers jointly announced recipients of various annually presented Engineer Regimental Awards for excellence, many sponsored by the Army Engineer Association. AEA sponsored awards (only) are listed below.

Flowers Best Sapper Competition. The winning team was from C Company, 554th Engineer Battalion and was composed of CPT Byrnes and CPT Castro.

Outstanding Engineer Platoon Leaders. Regular Component: 1LT Brent Johnson, 500th Engineer Company, 15th Engineer Battalion. ARNG: 1LT Jason Davis, 200th Engineer Company MOARNG. USAR: 1LT Jennifer Barker, 77th Engineer Company, 479th Engineer Battalion.

Outstanding Warrant Officer. Regular Component: CWO David Reeves, 37th Engineer Battalion. ARNG: No nominee. USAR: CW2 Timothy Conley, USAR Installation Support Management Agency.

Van Autreve Award for Outstanding Junior Soldier. Regular Component: SP Michael Tellez, 194th Engineer Company, 62nd Engineer Battalion. ARNG: SP Ethan Coulson, 220th Engineer Battalion MOARNG. USAR: SP Zachary Stenzel, 401st Engineer Company (Multi-Role Bridge)

Morris Outstanding Civilian Award. Mr Curtis A. Heckelman, Korean Relocation Program, USACE Far East District.

Interacting with those who provide support

Engineer Soldiers of all ranks interacted with representatives from both governmental agencies and private industry during ENFORCE 2010. In the process, each side learned much, and that will ultimately lead to better Soldier support.

The Breacher

Here are the details about the Army's new Breacher vehicle, on display at ENFORCE 2010 at Fort Leonard Wood. Exhibits ended today. The conference ends Friday of this week.

Engineers and New Equipment

Give a bunch of Engineer Soldiers an opportunity to check out some new item of equipment, and they are all over it. In this case, they are looking inside the "Breacher" vehicle new production model, on display during the annual ENFORCE week at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri—home of the Army Engineers. Representatives from industry have set up numerous outdoor and indoor displays and exhibits to show the sorts of products and services they provide to support Soldiers.

Rifle Assignment Day

As I was walking past a portion of the troop barracks area for new combat engineers in training here at Fort Leonard Wood today (Sunday), I saw a process underway that has been a time worn tradition in the U.S. Army—the day when assigned individual weapons are issued for the first time. Troops ran into the company supply room under the scrutiny of their Drill Sergeants, and then exited another door with their assigned and tagged rifle, to join others standing in formation. They will keep that weapon with them 24/7 while in training—giving them ample opportunity to develop confidence in carrying and securing their rifle all the time, just as they will have to do when deployed to combat.

Cyber Command?

I sure missed this one, when the U.S. Cyber Command was established in June 2009. Reason I mention this now is that I read today where DoD asserts it will/might retaliate in kind against any cyber attacker whose objective is to disrupt or disable computer networks, etc.

Anyone without a CAC card (like me) and who has to go through a major drill just to LOGIN into army.mil to get into AKO (password changes all the time, questions asked, etc) understands what the threat is really all about. Our military computer networks are constantly under observation and probably attacks, so they HAVE to be as tight and secure as possible.

So, for guys like me who remember a major command called CONARC, a futuristic sounding Cyber Command is taking a bit getting used to.

Where are we in Afghanistan?

When it comes to the strain being placed on our military families as a result of multiple deployments (no less that on the service member themselves) I think I'm on solid ground when it comes to saying that my prior posts here on this blog speak for themselves. In sum, the Army has yet to be able to consistently meet it's dwell time objectives, and while the CSA is working admirably to make it better, in my view we have a long way to go.

And then, we are seemingly being confronted by the Afghan civilian leadership's often ill advised comments pertaining to the role allied forces are playing in that country today, coupled with the well known difficulty of maintaining any sort of consistent strong willed support from the diverse population in the country. Then, last night on the evening news I watch the negative reaction to the bus shooting incident, where innocent civilians were killed. Unfortunate, but part of the nature of that war, it seems to me. I had a flash back to Vietnam last night after the news in one respect.

That illusive "light at the end of the tunnel" we Vietnam vets kept searching for, seems to be creeping back into the lexicon being used to describe where we are in Afghanistan today. I sure hope for far different results.

Our Cats Rule the Kitchen Table

What can i say other than the title of this post. This photo says it all. Boots, cat on the right, loves sitting in my usual chair. As soon as I get up, she jumps into my place. Our other cat, Lucy, loves the top of the table, especially during lunch. As an aside, as I type this post on my Macbook Pro sitting at this table, Boots is resting on my left arm, making typing difficult. She told me she likes the photo by the way.

Making Coffee

For ALL of my almost 30–year Army career, I NEVER drank coffee. Hard to believe but true. I experimented with tea on and off when not in the field, and ALWAYS drank hot chocolate made from the packet from my C–Rations, or MREs when I was. Many said I was not a "real" Army person because of my distaste for what was probably THE favorite on–duty drink in the Army—coffee.

Then, I left active service. I experimented with numerous varieties of hot tea and liked it for a time, but always felt I was missing something. So, one day my grandson had me try an ice cold coffee–flavored drink while we were on  summertime road trip together. I loved it. Next, he had me try a Starbucks cup of flavored hot coffee, and that too I liked. Gradually, I became a REAL coffee drinker like I should have been while in the Army.

Now, each day my first AM duty assignment is to make a pot of coffee for me and my wife. I usually have two cups every day. Cream, no sugar please. My brother–in–law makes excellent coffee, as do many restaurants and fast–food establishments and filling stations we visit from time to time. And, my wife is no amateur coffee maker either. But, I am. An amateur that is. When it comes to making coffee.

Had I been a REAL Soldier, I would have learned from day one how to drink, and better still, make coffee. If that had been the case, imagine how good I'd be today!

Changing Basic Rifle Marksmanship

I read an interesting article in Army Times online that discusses the manner in which the Army is changing its decades old training practice of teaching new Soldiers to fire their assigned weapons. In short, more rounds will be fired, more realistic scenarios will be used, and the sort of problems that may crop up in combat (rapidly changing magazines, clearing jams, etc) will be practiced. 

The old days of shooting a limited number of practice rounds at fixed targets, then shooting 40 qualification rounds at standard pop up targets from a prone and kneeling position will be augmented with Advanced Rifle Marksman (ARM) training to give them greater hands–on firing experience to get them better prepared for immediate assignment to a combat zone. 

The article noted that all trainees will also go through a Combat Familiarization Course at the end of ARM. That will include a tactical "line" designed to look like a setting they might encounter in Afghanistan or Iraq. As participants move through the course they will use partially destroyed cars, rubble, and makeshift walls as cover while engaging random targets by live fire.

This is all good news as far as I'm concerned. And, better news for those who will benefit from this new type training.

Are you getting one?

I'm talking about Apple's new iPad. If you are not aware already of this device, then you must not be reading much of any news, or watching TV lately. The initial hands–on reviews I've read (and there are many) are largely very positive. People who don't like it generally are looking for something more akin to a small netbook computer. As for me, I definitely will buy one after all the initial excitement wears off, plus after more people start actually using it, so I can learn more about how it "really" works. My projection is that the device is going to eventually be as popular as the iPhone and iPod Touch (which I own). If you want to learn more, check out this review. Walt Mossberg is one of the most objective tech reviewers out there.