we got asia!

Real NCO's

Can cuss for a full ten minutes without ever repeating a word.

Can remember when there were real NCOs.

Know why there is a bayonet lug on the end of their weapon.

Can chew tobacco, take a drink, call in a SITREP and a air strike, and

Keep their weapon at the ready all at the same time.

Have eyes in the backs of their heads.

Can see in the dark.

Would rather be a squad leader than a general.

Have dreams about leading a parachute assault on Baghdad.

Still don't trust the Russians.

Still hate the French.

Will take vacation time just to make a pilgrimage to Ft. Benning for Ranger Rendezvous.

Know who Iron Mike is.

Don't give a damn about being politically correct.

Don't know how to be politically correct.

Love deploying to combat because there's less paperwork.

Know that "Cav" is an abnormal condition that can be cured with testosterone shots.

Can remember the "daily dozen".

Can remember running PT in boots.

Have enough "fruit salad" on their greens to be Mexican field marshals.

Think it's cool to teach their kids how to do "SPORTS".

Do not fear women in the military.

Would actually like to date GI Jane.

Know what a short-arm inspection is.

Think that Bradley crewmen are emasculated infantrymen.

Call Strykers "Hot Wheels."

Know that tankers exist in order to allow the enemy to deplete its basic load of sabot ammunition.

Know where the "Green Ramp" is.

Can remember who their "Ranger Buddy" was.

Know that there's a difference between "giving orders" and "going through the orders process".

Think that "slides" involve ropes and snap links.

Don't like taking orders from a guy who couldn't get a DD214.

Still know how to PMCS a buffer.

Believe that they do have a rendezvous with destiny.

Know that most of life's problems can be solved by applying the eight steady hold factors.

Believe that "Nuts" wasn't exactly all that BG McAuliffe said to the Krauts at Bastogne.

Know the true meaning of the word Hooah.

Want both "Cross of Iron" and "Saving Private Ryan" to be training films.

Don't know how to use a "stress card".

Idolize John Wayne.

Know why you should carry two field dressings on your LBE.

Would rather have a "mad minute" than a "VTC".

Shudder when they hear "Garry Owen".

Know that the vertical buttstroke is not a sexual position.

Don't believe that "AAFES" needs a "commander".

Don't need "leadership tabs" to know when they're in charge.

Don't have to "do a Lewinski" to get a "one block".

Don't give a damn if they get a "one block".

Won't brief it if it's too complicated to fit on a few 3x5 cards.

Believe troops don't really want the "Single Soldier Initiative".

Really don't like taking crap from those who haven't "been there".

Believe that "RHIP" was invented by individuals who couldn't lead their way out of a field latrine.

Know how to properly construct a field latrine.

Can set the headspace and timing on a "fifty" by touch alone.

Know how to do a "daisy chain".

Might admire the Germans, but still realize they got their asses kicked, twice.

Aren't afraid of the Chinese, who probably still don't have enough rowboats to invade Taiwan.

Would rather be OPFOR than MOPP 4.

Know that the new OER system is as screwed up as the old one.

Think that the neutron bomb would be appropriate for the GWoT scenario.

Realize that Reagan won the Gulf War.

Don't believe a damn thing the Iraqis say.

Want to be like Teddy Roosevelt.

Love the smell of napalm in the morning.

Know that "napalm" is really called "incendi-gel".

Don't need a GPS to find themselves.

Think of Army aviators as guys who wear pajamas to work.

Know that it really is possible to crawl inside a Kevlar when someone's shooting at you.

Have enough extra TA-50 in their closets to start a surplus store.

Would love to own their own HMMWV.

Think that MREs taste good.

Would like to see what kind of creature "ham and chicken loaf" comes from.

Realize that there were no starving people in Somalia.

Can remember open bay barracks.

Believe that "combat power on the objective" is a bunch of crap.

Believe that killing the enemy isn't.

Know that "accuracy counts", especially in combat.

Know the Ranger Creed by heart.

Still have jungle fatigues in their closets.

Never count on the artillery in a clutch.

Believe that terrorists can be taken care of for 32 cents each (the cost of a 9mm round).

Can be found eating and bunking with the troops.

Are convinced that "wall-to-wall counseling" really works.

Would love to go to sniper school.

Have more time on a static line than most other soldiers have in the chow line.

Know what a "link count" is.

Realize that volleyball is the most important subject taught at Bell Hall.

Know that it's not real coffee if you can't stand a track jack up in it.

Don't need a "MCOO" to know where the enemy will come from.

Don't blame poor marksmanship on their M4.

Know that shitty leaders will always say they have shitty soldiers.

RULES FOR GUNFIGHTING

(Some of you have probably seen this before)

· Bring a gun. Preferably, bring at least two guns. Bring all of your friends who have guns.

· Anything worth shooting is worth shooting twice. Ammo is cheap. Life is expensive.

· Only hits count. The only thing worse than a miss is a slow miss.

· If your shooting stance is good, you're probably not moving fast enough nor using cover correctly.

· Move away from your attacker. Distance is your friend. (Lateral and diagonal movement are preferred.)

· If you can choose what to bring to a gunfight, bring a long gun and a friend with a long gun.

· In ten years nobody will remember the details of caliber, stance, or tactics. They will only remember who lived.

· If you are not shooting, you should be communicating, reloading, and running.

· Accuracy is relative: most combat shooting standards will be more dependent on "pucker factor" than the inherent accuracy of the gun.

o Use a gun that works EVERY TIME. "All skill is in vain when an Angel pisses in the flintlock of your musket."

· Someday someone may kill you with your own gun, but they should have to beat you to death with it because it is empty.

· Always cheat; always win. The only unfair fight is the one you lose.

· Have a plan.

· Have a back-up plan, because the first one won't work.

· Use cover or concealment as much as possible. The visible target should be in FRONT of your gun.

· Flank your adversary when possible. Protect yours.

· Don't drop your guard.

· Always tactical load and threat scan 360 degrees.

· Watch their hands. Hands kill. (In God we trust. Everyone else, keep your hands where I can see them).

· Decide to be aggressive ENOUGH, quickly ENOUGH.

· The faster you finish the fight, the less shot you will get.

· Be polite. Be professional. But have a plan to kill everyone you meet.

· Be courteous to everyone, friendly to no one.

· Your number one Option for Personal Security is a lifelong commitment to avoidance, deterrence, and de-escalation.

· Do not attend a gunfight with a handgun, the caliber of which does not start with a "4."

· Do not shoot until you think the enemy is dead. Stop shooting when HE thinks he’s dead.

· Shoot first, shoot fast, shoot last.

· A handgun is used to fight your way to your rifle.

Wow! this is an awesome article

Who is winning in Iraq?

and part two

New episode Drill Sergeant Man part 1

It's Back, Part Two

WASHINGTON - Osama bin Laden criticizes Democrats for failing to stop the Iraq conflict in a video, obtained Friday by the U.S. government, NBC News and other news organizations, marking the sixth anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks.

And another continent goes down!

All bow to the International popularity of Marks Spot

WELCOME TO DAY FOUR

Alright now, day four of MANCOC. Started the day with a ridiculously slow 2.2 mile run, and of course at the end we get chewed out because not everyone was singing along with the cadence caller. You know what, fuck cadence. Hard to believe a Drill Sergeant saying this, but I have always hated it. My theory is, if you have enough lung power to sing, you ain't running fast enough. Being able to sing a song has never ever saved my life, but being quiet has. Then on to class. What the hell was it today......Composite Risk Management in the AM, with a test immediately following. Too easy. Then all the Infantry students had to have lunch with The Command Sergeant Major of the Infantry Center, who offered me a job as an Airborne Instructor. Have to think about that. Been away from the real Army for to long, though. Then later in the afternoon, One of the senior instructors wanted me to think about a job instructing at the Non-Commissioned Officer's Academy after I graduate MANCOC. Two job offers in one day. Can honestly say that's never happened. I wouldn't want anyone to think I was hiding from the wars in Iraq or Afghanistan though, and I have already been in an instructor slot for the last two years anyway. Haven't completely dismissed the idea though.

One Actual Goal For This Blog

I see that I already have hits from two continents (of this planet). I would like to see hits from all seven within the next month! Impossible? Probably! Bonuses are Greenland and Madagascar. And I think the International Space Station has web access (at least I know they can get and receive email). So let's go for that too. Let's see what we can do in a month. Wake the kids, call the neighbors! As I get new hits from new continents, I will post new screen grabs from site meter. Stay tuned.

Marks spot goes GLOBAL

Link map courtesy of sitemeter.
First International hit, just two damn days after I really started posting. Man, imagine what would happen if I was actually interesting....................

Bin Laden set to address US on anniversary of September 11

It's baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaack..................

http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/meast/09/06/binladen.video/index.html

Alright, people, only one click on my survey, and I am pretty sure it was a pity vote by my wife. I am actually interested to see what people think. If you do nothing else, check it out and vote. It's not a recruiting effort or anything sneaky like that. In fact, the less people join the Army, the easier my job becomes.

And if you look out the right wing, you will see, OH Crap! who put those there?!
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,22371635-5012748,00.html

M-ANCOC just rocking along now. Spent damn near the entire day in cultural awareness and prevention of sexual assault training. Which is the same training every soldier gets at least annually (by regulation) so I pretty much have the classes memorized by now. And in fact, have taught them at times. Nice to be getting home before dark and not having to work seven days a week, as is the norm with Drill Sergeant duties. Tomorrow should be a light day as well, with some pretty much fluff classes and some not-to challenging PT in the morning.

Army Physical Fitness Test

PT test this morning for ANCOC. Ran those fat-ass tankers into the ground. Which is not too difficult.

JARGON

Check my links on the right side. I added a site with military terms. Just like I promised!

Jargon

OK, quite obviously I am in the Military and I have already caught myself using some pretty confusing Jargon (if you have never been in the Army). So in the near future I promise I will post a "dictionary" similar to the ones you often find at the end of military memoirs, military histories, etc.

ANCOC

First day of M-ANCOC (Maneuver Advanced Non-commisioned Officers Course). Of course it's probounced MAN-COCK, which lends itself to I don't know how many wonderful jokes. The first day pretty much consisted of filling out forms and getting our laptop computers issued for the course. As a Mac and Linux user I loved the fact that the computers we got issued are using Windows XP. Which in the words of the IT geek who issued them, because it's very secure! By the way you need to update anti-virus software roughly every three minutes or the whole Fort Knox network will crash and the Earth will stop rotating.

OK, yeah I realize the picture in my title is reversed. One day I may fix it, but we'll see if anyone actually ever views this blog. I suppose I will have to post something interesting and then they will.