Memorial Day 2010

So, I've just gotten home after leaving work early to start the long weekend, cracked open that first cold beer of the four-day holiday, and I've caught myself thinking about Memorial Day, what it means to me, and what it should mean to everyone else. I don't intend to go off on what many believe (myself included) as the commercialization of a once solemn day of remembrance, but rather to reflect on nearly nine years of service to our nation and the many young men and women that have gone too early making the ultimate sacrifice for freedom. In the midst of trips to the beach or lake, backyard barbecues, massive shopping excursions, and relaxation, I hope that everyone will pause, even if for a moment, to remember why this day comes around every May. Our nation has suffered many years of conflict to maintain the level of freedom she enjoys this day, and we are still in the clutches of combat operations on multiple fronts to ensure that remains. This comes at a cost, a cost of time away from loved ones, of days, weeks, years in austere environments where every turn comes in peril and a warm meal and hot shower are more valuable than gold. The cost is going away wide-eyed and innocent, and coming home darkened and aged beyond your years. The cost many times is leaving a marriage and coming home to an empty house and a letter on the door. The cost is losing friends, brothers, sisters to a bomb buried under a roadway. The cost is leading a group of America's sons and daughters on a trip that you can't guarantee they'll return from, and having to live with knowing that fact. The cost is the blood, sweat, tears, and lives that less than one percent of the population will stand up, raise their right hand, and say they'll solemnly swear to pay.

When friends, family, former co-workers ask me why I volunteered and fought so hard to return to military service, it's hard to verbalize an answer. For so long I spent time hot, cold, tired, sleepless, scared, hungry, or confused for a job while others I knew went to white-collar jobs with six-figure salaries in plush office buildings. I thought that was the life I wanted, but it didn't seem to be for me. I'd rather spend a month in the field training, living on coffee and MREs than spend one more day in the back-biting rat race of corporate America. And if, God forbid, that the day comes I have to once more kiss my wife, and now my daughter too, farewell to fly around the world to fight for this great nation again, I will again do it with pride and in honor of so many that have made that trip only to not get the chance to return to those they love. Remember them, honor them, salute them, this Memorial Day. God bless us, and God bless America.

Captain's Blog: Stardate May 15rd, 2010.

I am so excited about returning to the days where getting to work means showing your ID, food is purchased at the commissary, you shop for everything else at the PX, there are no 7-11s but there are shoppettes, lunch decisions are Robin Hood, Charley's, Burger King, Popeye's or the DFAC, every Monday is spent in the Motor Pool, every Thursday is Family Day and Sergeant's Time, and you can guarantee that on the 1st and 15th it's time for Payday Activities.

There's a certain peace one feels within when you pull onto a military installation, seeing the multitude of buildings all the same size and color, each with their requisite flagpole in front. The delay of traffic because a convoy of HMMWVs and LMTVs or M1A2s and M2A3's (tanks and Bradleys) does not warrant the same frustration that one would encounter in a major city traffic jam. The "pop pop pop" of the rifle range in the distance brings a warmth inside and a slight jealousy that you're not out there firing with them. You can feel good about the day you've put in when you're on post for both reveille in the morning, and retreat in the afternoon, and also that you're getting to render courtesy to the colors you've sworn to defend.

Now that I've gotten word that I've been approved to return to Regular Army status, I reflect on the time I've put in, and look forward to remaining in uniform until I ultimately retire one day. I do not truly regret leaving when I did, as one makes decisions based on the information they have at the time, but I do wonder where I'd be and what I'd be doing had I remained in. There are many WONDERFUL people I've met in my civilian careers that I wouldn't have had the joy of knowing had I stayed in. However I will not dwell on past decisions but rather look forward to new opportunities and hope, nay pray, for successful future endeavors. Many of the dearest friends (rather, family) I've ever made came while I've been in uniform and that was only reinforced by a recent visit with many of them for a wedding in Pennsylvania. Meeting up with them is so easy because it's like no time has past since our last meeting. All the same stories come up, all the same quotes and impressions. I cherish every chance I get to see those guys and look forward to future meetings and the chance to work with them again.

So, when you wonder why I serve, there are many reasons. Patriotism and duty to our nation are the obvious. Every Soldier serves for that. But, there are many other reasons as well. There is a culture and familial atmosphere that service in the military creates that I long to be a part of once more and the chance to work, train, fight, and serve alongside the finest group of people America has ever known brings me back and will keep me in until I retire...

HOOAH!

Captain's Blog: Stardate May 3th, 2010.

As I ponder the past few days, I continue to appreciate the power of one person over the lives of so many. This holds especially true in the line of work I am in. One corrupt or toxic leader can completely destroy the climate and cohesion of an entire unit within a matter of weeks. I have now witnessed it first-hand and realized the lengths one must go go separate from such an organization. But, thank God, it's possible. I'm now on the way to a new assignment with a vacation prior, and my vigor, resolve, and motivation are coming back!

Catching Up

Wow, it's been a month since I've been on here. The past 28 days have been quite crazy, and don't for a minute believe that 28 days means I went to rehab. They tried to make me go but I said "No, no, no." But, I digress. This finance class I'm taking has been whipping my tail, and I really haven't had any motivation or inspiration to write for a while. My job is sapping every bit of life I had left in me out, and I am finally seeing a light in this proverbial tunnel I've been in for so long. I'm finally leaving the hell-hole cubical city I've been contained to for the past 8 months, and moving on to conduct a real mission for a while. It may pay off big time for me, and I'm hoping, nay praying, that it does. More to follow...

What unfolds today...

It appears today that America is on the verge of the passage of the most sweeping piece of healthcare reform legislation ever. Not since FDR’s administration and the passage of Social Security or LBJ’s administration and the passage of Medicare has America seen such a historical piece of legislation go to the Hill. Whether you support this bill or oppose it, you can’t deny that the vote going on today is huge…as is the price tag of it.

Now, I have not read the bill. I don’t know it inside and out, and cannot speak to the minute details contained therein. The sad part that I’ve seen in recent weeks, though, is that the staunchest opposition and support of it have not and cannot either. The loudest voices hawking this bill and even more so in protest of it are unable to speak intelligently as to why, and subsequently of what they support and/or oppose with this legislation. The loudest liberals and even more loud “Tea Party” conservative protestors take their cues and become puppets of Fox News Channel and Glenn Beck and Bret Baier, MSNBC and Rachel Maddow and Keith Olbermann. They spew their vitriol and two or three talking points, yet know nothing of the intricacies of the plan. They scream “government takeover,” yet don’t know that the freedom to choose is still there. They cry it “will reduce the deficit,” but ignore the fact that is unlikely to happen.

Now, I again don’t know this plan to the letter. I do know that I am the child of two very good people that worked hard for decades but seldom could afford their own healthcare coverage living in fear of getting sick not from what the cost to their physical health, but rather to their financial health. They, along with 30 million others, would benefit greatly for the passage of this plan. For this reason alone, I see the most good from the healthcare reform plan. I know the fiscal cost is great, and I hate government spending that raises my taxes and lowers my paycheck more than the next. But, to know that our family members that may not be able to afford private health coverage will now be able to go to the doctor when they need it, without fear of being bankrupted makes me think the most powerful nation in the world may finally be catching up to its neighbors…

Stirring the "Melting Pot"

In the past year, more children were born in the United States to people of color than to whites. Evidence has shown that by the middle of the 21st century, other races will outnumber whites. It seems, based on these facts that we are on the verge of a new minority in the United States. Now, I’m not for a minute complaining of the increasing amount of people of color in our country, or offering to champion increased immigration restrictions. I for one embrace the diversity that our country is so rich with. However, I wonder if come 2050 the paradigm will shift once our Anglo brethren are outnumbered across the nation. Will scholarships and job opportunities become easier to secure for those of Caucasian background because of new affirmative action legislation? Will advocacy groups march in force to ensure the rights of the ginger are protected? Are we going to recommend that our schools offer English classes so our kids have foreign language exposure? These may sound like foolish questions posed by an ignorant soul, but look deep at where things are going in the US today, and ask yourself, are they really that absurd?

One round-trip around a radio dial in Texas will show you the influence of our shrinking English-speaking population. Go to any new retail establishment and look at the department signage hanging from the ceiling to see that it is now required to be in two languages. Search the help wanted ads, and see that most positions now encourage bilingual skills. My last job position virtually required me to speak another language. I sit at my cubical, and hear full conversations in Spanish. I say all this with a bit of a laugh though, because if you were to visit our neighbors to the north, you’d see that most, nay nearly all, people speak two languages. My point is that America is behind the power curve as it is when it comes to open-mindedness regarding language. In our arrogance we expect everyone in our country to automatically speak English, and at the same time when we travel to other countries we expect them to speak our language as well.

America is heading a new direction with a growing population of blacks, Hispanics, and other races, and in our lifetimes we will see that whites are not going to be the majority any longer. The diversity and flavor that has defined America’s culture and language however comes from our roots as the new home and land of opportunity for those seeking a new life, and should always remain that way. I just hope that when we’re the new minority we’re not subject to the oppression and difficulty we gave their predecessors…

My job in a nutshell