Throughout the course of my life, I've had a small handful of real friends. People who are there when I need help, a willing shoulder when I need support no matter what. No matter how long it's been since we last spoke, we will always be friends.
And then there are the other friends. People who claim to be like "a sister!" to me. These are the people who weren't there for me when my brother had his accident. These are the people who, when I undertook the creation of a charity organization, have turned up their noses at supporting it. And by supporting it, I mean doing something as simple as clicking the mouse. I am willing to support them in their endeavors, but they can't be bothered to support mine.
For all the times you've claimed to be kin.
For all the times you've claimed to be there to help when I need it.
For all the times you said you cared.
Thanks. No really, thanks.
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Ah the bridge.
"So, is that chow hall still named after Lieutenant Bobo? Yeah he was a great Marine...he killed A LOT of people."
The bridge to Bobo Hall, as seen through a candidate's eyes:
The bridge to Bobo Hall, as seen through a candidate's eyes:
Thursday, February 21, 2008
CodeGREEN
This is perhaps a product of too much free time spent on the internet contemplating stuff, or it's brilliant.
I agree with some of the pretty ideas that CodePINK has come up with, specifically about better care for our veterans. I don't agree with their method. Organizing sit-ins outside of Walter Reed and telling Marines they're war criminals just doesn't do a lot in terms of veteran support. Instead of sitting here and being mad, I thought perhaps I could lead by example.
About two times a year I donate to some sort of Marine charity, whether it be Toys for Tots, anymarine.com, or the Semper Fi Fund. Last year I encouraged my sorority to adopt a group of Marines in Iraq, and we put together specialized care packages and sent letters and pictures and the like.
CodePINK claims they support our troops, but they don't DO anything to support our troops.
If you're on CodeGREEN, you support the troops and DO IT. This isn't about words, it's about action.
www.myspace.com/compassionincombat
This is one of several small organizations dedicated to sending care packages to Marines serving overseas.
The Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund
This is a personal favorite charity. They are dedicated to providing financial and quality of life assistance to Marines and Sailors and their families in their time of need.
Fisher House
Fisher House helps military families live near the hospital where their loved one is, suffering from illness or injury.
anymarine.com
AnyMarine is a source of addresses for Marines and Sailors serving overseas who need more mail and support from home.
All of these charities are easy. A simple monetary donation can make the difference between whether a Marine gets a phone card to call home or not. A short letter can boost a spirit after a rough day in Iraq.
These men and women deserve better than CodePINK's two-faced support. They deserve real support.
Want to improve life for our military men and women? This is where you start.
I'm a firm believer in ductus exemplo, lead by example. If you want to stand head and shoulders above CodePINK, go CodeGREEN and check out these charities. Then tell your friends and family about these charities.
It's not hard, it's not a huge commitment. It's as simple as passing the link to one of these organizations on to a friend, or penning a brief message of support, slapping a stamp on an envelope and dropping that envelope in the mail.
Be better than them.
I agree with some of the pretty ideas that CodePINK has come up with, specifically about better care for our veterans. I don't agree with their method. Organizing sit-ins outside of Walter Reed and telling Marines they're war criminals just doesn't do a lot in terms of veteran support. Instead of sitting here and being mad, I thought perhaps I could lead by example.
About two times a year I donate to some sort of Marine charity, whether it be Toys for Tots, anymarine.com, or the Semper Fi Fund. Last year I encouraged my sorority to adopt a group of Marines in Iraq, and we put together specialized care packages and sent letters and pictures and the like.
CodePINK claims they support our troops, but they don't DO anything to support our troops.
If you're on CodeGREEN, you support the troops and DO IT. This isn't about words, it's about action.
www.myspace.com/compassionincombat
This is one of several small organizations dedicated to sending care packages to Marines serving overseas.
The Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund
This is a personal favorite charity. They are dedicated to providing financial and quality of life assistance to Marines and Sailors and their families in their time of need.
Fisher House
Fisher House helps military families live near the hospital where their loved one is, suffering from illness or injury.
anymarine.com
AnyMarine is a source of addresses for Marines and Sailors serving overseas who need more mail and support from home.
All of these charities are easy. A simple monetary donation can make the difference between whether a Marine gets a phone card to call home or not. A short letter can boost a spirit after a rough day in Iraq.
These men and women deserve better than CodePINK's two-faced support. They deserve real support.
Want to improve life for our military men and women? This is where you start.
I'm a firm believer in ductus exemplo, lead by example. If you want to stand head and shoulders above CodePINK, go CodeGREEN and check out these charities. Then tell your friends and family about these charities.
It's not hard, it's not a huge commitment. It's as simple as passing the link to one of these organizations on to a friend, or penning a brief message of support, slapping a stamp on an envelope and dropping that envelope in the mail.
Be better than them.
Monday, February 4, 2008
Code Pink
Code Pink describes itself as a grassroots women's peace organization. That's all well and good, I guess. Who doesn't want peace? The main web page for Code Pink claims that they want to not pull military funding, but reallocate funds to veterans aid. Again, who doesn't want this?
It's the Bay Area Code Pink that we really need to worry about. http://www.bayareacodepink.org
They have made it their personal mission to "SHUT DOWN recruiting in our town."
"CodePINK found out last September '07 that Marine Recruiters had invaded our peace-loving, anti-war town of Berkeley and set up an officer recruiting station targeting youth from U.C. Berkeley, Berkeley City College, and other colleges in the Bay Area. We have been holding "How Berkeley Can U BE" (see the Calendar) daily and weekly events and actions in front of the M.R.S.* (Marine Recruiting Station) to halt business as usual at the station."
That is directly from their website. The wording of it tells you just how little they know about the people they are protesting. It's called a Selection Office, ladies. As is: applicants work very hard to apply for the Marine's officer programs and if they are fortunate they are selected to begin training. This is not an enlisted recruiting station, and if it was, so what? The wording throughout the site is eyebrow raising, to say the least. They act like the Corps is out snatching children off the street and giving them rifles. Not so much. On the enlisted side, a person must be 18 (the age of legal consent) or 17 with parental consent. They may be young, but they are still adults. They are old enough to vote, own a car or house, have children, get married, buy tobacco, and do just about anything short of get drunk. But they aren't old enough to decide to join the military?
That's just the enlisted side, and OSO (Officer Selection Office) is another ball game. These are older applicants (nope, not recruits!) who cannot complete the program until they have graduated college. These are college educated individuals who, according to Code Pink, are too weak minded and young to sanely decide to join the military. I personally find that insulting. I had to hunt my original OSO down, he did not find me. Candidates pursuing the officer routes are usually self-motivated individuals who have decided to pursue this life path without the influence of a "recruiter."
So Code Pink, you're missing your own point.
The main page for the organization professes many good goals, one of them is anti-discrimination. However, the Bay Area Code Pink seems to think (with the support of the majority of city council) that the military is one life choice people shouldn't be allowed to make in Berkeley. From the people who claim a desire of equality, they say military service is not a viable option for Berkeley residents and all military recruiters need to leave the city. So city residents who want to join the military either out of a sense of civic duty, family tradition, a need for college funds, economic hardship, or a need for discipline are out of luck. This is one lifestyle choice the city of Berkeley simply cannot abide. If the hypocrisy of this is still lost on you, then, well...perhaps you should join them.
Code Pink advocates civil disobedience (thank you Gandhi for teaching them big words) but makes a point of instigating arguments with candidates attempting to enter the OSO. They are disrupting local businesses and trying to prevent American citizens from exercising their right to join the military. To make matters worse, the city council is corrupt enough to back them.
This is the link for the city council, http://www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/council8/ if you would like to give them a big hello. Councilman Wozniak is one of the few who stood against the mob. Two others did as well, but their names haven't yet been released.
Contact your local Congressman and let him know of your displeasure. Code Pink isn't quite bright enough to take that step, let's show them we have above average intelligence.
It's the Bay Area Code Pink that we really need to worry about. http://www.bayareacodepink.org
They have made it their personal mission to "SHUT DOWN recruiting in our town."
"CodePINK found out last September '07 that Marine Recruiters had invaded our peace-loving, anti-war town of Berkeley and set up an officer recruiting station targeting youth from U.C. Berkeley, Berkeley City College, and other colleges in the Bay Area. We have been holding "How Berkeley Can U BE" (see the Calendar) daily and weekly events and actions in front of the M.R.S.* (Marine Recruiting Station) to halt business as usual at the station."
That is directly from their website. The wording of it tells you just how little they know about the people they are protesting. It's called a Selection Office, ladies. As is: applicants work very hard to apply for the Marine's officer programs and if they are fortunate they are selected to begin training. This is not an enlisted recruiting station, and if it was, so what? The wording throughout the site is eyebrow raising, to say the least. They act like the Corps is out snatching children off the street and giving them rifles. Not so much. On the enlisted side, a person must be 18 (the age of legal consent) or 17 with parental consent. They may be young, but they are still adults. They are old enough to vote, own a car or house, have children, get married, buy tobacco, and do just about anything short of get drunk. But they aren't old enough to decide to join the military?
That's just the enlisted side, and OSO (Officer Selection Office) is another ball game. These are older applicants (nope, not recruits!) who cannot complete the program until they have graduated college. These are college educated individuals who, according to Code Pink, are too weak minded and young to sanely decide to join the military. I personally find that insulting. I had to hunt my original OSO down, he did not find me. Candidates pursuing the officer routes are usually self-motivated individuals who have decided to pursue this life path without the influence of a "recruiter."
So Code Pink, you're missing your own point.
The main page for the organization professes many good goals, one of them is anti-discrimination. However, the Bay Area Code Pink seems to think (with the support of the majority of city council) that the military is one life choice people shouldn't be allowed to make in Berkeley. From the people who claim a desire of equality, they say military service is not a viable option for Berkeley residents and all military recruiters need to leave the city. So city residents who want to join the military either out of a sense of civic duty, family tradition, a need for college funds, economic hardship, or a need for discipline are out of luck. This is one lifestyle choice the city of Berkeley simply cannot abide. If the hypocrisy of this is still lost on you, then, well...perhaps you should join them.
Code Pink advocates civil disobedience (thank you Gandhi for teaching them big words) but makes a point of instigating arguments with candidates attempting to enter the OSO. They are disrupting local businesses and trying to prevent American citizens from exercising their right to join the military. To make matters worse, the city council is corrupt enough to back them.
This is the link for the city council, http://www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/council8/ if you would like to give them a big hello. Councilman Wozniak is one of the few who stood against the mob. Two others did as well, but their names haven't yet been released.
Contact your local Congressman and let him know of your displeasure. Code Pink isn't quite bright enough to take that step, let's show them we have above average intelligence.
Friday, February 1, 2008
Quantico
I officially began talks with the Florida OSO today, to begin the process of building a strong relationship and seriously get myself back into the program. Naturally the eager Lieutenant immediately pushed for having me sign a PLC contract next week for this coming summer.
When I returned home in defeat in June, I felt like an idiot. Really, I knew when I signed that contract that I would not be physically ready to complete OCS in time. And I know it now. Beyond the shadow of a doubt I know I could have a first class PFT by the end of this month, but that isn't the point. Having a first class PFT does not a ready candidate make. It doesn't make me better able to hump 40 pounds of gear, it doesn't make me better able to be on my feet all day every day bearing weight, and it doesn't make me better able to run at a pace faster than a 9 minute mile. It just means I can complete a first class PFT.
The Lieutenant's desperation increased when he realized that OCC slots are 20 deep in a wait list for the summer of 2009 and PLC slots haven't been opened yet. Basically, if I don't go this summer I may not end up going until 2010. Frankly, I can wait. To me, this is almost like trying to be sane about getting a tattoo. If you are really serious about the tattoo, then does it matter if you get it tomorrow or five years from now? No, because in your heart of hearts you know it's the one for you.
If I go this summer, I will see a repeat of last May. I don't know if I will recover from that kind of failure again. However, if I wait, for years if necessary, and go when I am athletic enough to compete, I won't fail again. As Tristin said, I need to do this on my terms now. I went on their terms before, and it backfired. This time I'm going to go when my body is ready to handle that kind of punishment. I can put off my degree and go next summer as a PLC candidate, or if those slots fill up too fast (no reason they should) I can simply wait. OCS isn't going anywhere. It's what I keep saying, it's the advice I keep giving. It's time I listen to my own advice.
When I returned home in defeat in June, I felt like an idiot. Really, I knew when I signed that contract that I would not be physically ready to complete OCS in time. And I know it now. Beyond the shadow of a doubt I know I could have a first class PFT by the end of this month, but that isn't the point. Having a first class PFT does not a ready candidate make. It doesn't make me better able to hump 40 pounds of gear, it doesn't make me better able to be on my feet all day every day bearing weight, and it doesn't make me better able to run at a pace faster than a 9 minute mile. It just means I can complete a first class PFT.
The Lieutenant's desperation increased when he realized that OCC slots are 20 deep in a wait list for the summer of 2009 and PLC slots haven't been opened yet. Basically, if I don't go this summer I may not end up going until 2010. Frankly, I can wait. To me, this is almost like trying to be sane about getting a tattoo. If you are really serious about the tattoo, then does it matter if you get it tomorrow or five years from now? No, because in your heart of hearts you know it's the one for you.
If I go this summer, I will see a repeat of last May. I don't know if I will recover from that kind of failure again. However, if I wait, for years if necessary, and go when I am athletic enough to compete, I won't fail again. As Tristin said, I need to do this on my terms now. I went on their terms before, and it backfired. This time I'm going to go when my body is ready to handle that kind of punishment. I can put off my degree and go next summer as a PLC candidate, or if those slots fill up too fast (no reason they should) I can simply wait. OCS isn't going anywhere. It's what I keep saying, it's the advice I keep giving. It's time I listen to my own advice.
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