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Attention to Orders: Penny Arcade's [Military Thread] is Open!!!

Waffles or whateverWaffles or whatever Previously known as, I shit you not, "Waffen"Registered User regular
edited January 2019 in Help / Advice Forum
NOTICE
Depression\Suicide\Deployment Stress\PTSD is\are very serious topics. If you're feeling as if you need help we will listen and try to help you out! However, keep in mind that nobody on Penny Arcade is equipped to help you in the same way a Behavioral Health Specialist is. See below for resources for obtaining help
  1. Your Local Chaplain - We all give Chaplain's crap in the Military because they're weird, quirky, and generally don't fit in amongst the merry band of Caveman/Neanderthals that make up the Military. However, the Chaplains are the best equipped and immediately accessible person to help you with any issues while being in the service. Anything you tell your Chaplain is strictly confidential, this means your CoC will not know what you tell that Chaplain (Unless you're thinking about harming yourself or others) Additionally, Chaplains have immediate resources and material readily available to give to you in order to begin the healing process.
  2. Military One Source - This one is my favorite. Everything here is absolutely free to military members. You can request to see a Specialist for 10 consultations absolutely free and your Chain of Command will never know about it.
  3. VA Website - The VA Website Offers a plethora of help for current and post military members.


A QUICK WORD ABOUT THE RULES
Couple of new rules

1. No bigoted language. witch-hunting, and keep rivalries to a minimum.
2. Keep discussions civil. We are all on the same side.
3. Do not violate OPSEC
4. Asking for or providing the answers to online or in-class military courses or tests is not allowed. This also applies to discussing exploits in course software.
5. Suggestions to do anything fraudulent, immoral or illegal are not tolerated.
6. Overtly political posts are not allowed. Do not come here asking for, "What does the military think about current societal political issues." Keep those questions to Debate and Discourse Please.

BRANCHES
Note: Under each branch I've listed a few member who have voluntered to answer personal questions though PM's. Any of these people will be more then happy to help you, but by all means don't be afraid to post your question in the thread. It's participation that keeps it alive. The only change I've made is that due to OPSEC and countless security briefs, I've removed what everyone's Rank/MOS/Jobs are. If you want to add what your rank/job is, just PM me and I will update the post.


ARMY
images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTK56H3Mq-00cBrOEKvPti3ZpBSYI7Tb7zewBCr49l_ZHMlbLlUKg
The United States Army is the branch of the United States armed forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven uniformed services.
The primary mission of the Army is to "provide necessary forces and capabilities ... in support of the National Security and Defense Strategies"..[3]

@Laemkral
@Sky
@h3ndu
@Jean Claude Van Calm
@Taranis
@Feels Good Man
@Jokerman
@Waffen

MARINE CORP.
(U.S.M.C.)
imgres-3.jpg
The United States Marine Corps (USMC) is a branch of the United States armed forces responsible for providing force projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to rapidly deliver combined-arms task forces. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States. In the civilian leadership structure of the United States military, the Marine Corps is a component of the Department of the Navy, often working closely with U.S. naval forces for training, transportation and logistic purposes; however, in the military leadership structure the Marine Corps is a separate branch. It is the smallest of the United States' armed forces in the Department of Defense. The Marine Corps is nonetheless larger than the entire armed forces of many significant military powers; for example, it is larger than the active duty Israel Defense Forces or the whole of the British Army.
@Gung-Ho
@Cls Corwin
@Godmode
@Turkson

NAVY
USNc.gif
The United States Navy (USN) is the sea branch of the U.S. Armed Forces. It is one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S. Navy also has the world's largest carrier fleet, with 11 in service and one under construction. The 21st century United States Navy maintains a sizable global presence, deploying in such areas as East Asia, the Mediterranean, and the Middle East. It is a blue water navy with the ability to project force onto the littoral regions of the world, engage in forward areas during peacetime, and rapidly respond to regional crises, making it an active player in American foreign and defense policy.
@Limp Moose
@Quid
@Diplominator
@novaspike

AIRFORCE
150px-Seal_of_the_US_Air_Force.svg.png
The United States Air Force (USAF) is the aerial warfare, space warfare, and cyberwarfare branch of the U.S. armed forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on 18 September 1947 under the National Security Act of 1947. It is the most recent branch of the U.S. military to be formed. In its 2009 Posture Statement the USAF articulates its primary goals as "Global Vigilance, Global Reach, and Global Power".
@VeritasVR
@Iceman.USAF
@Spookymuffin
@Fuselage

COAST GUARD
150px-USCG_S_W.svg.png
The United States Coast Guard (USCG) is a branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of seven uniformed services. The Coast Guard is a maritime, military, multi-mission service unique among the military branches for having a maritime law enforcement mission (with jurisdiction both domestically and in international waters) and a federal regulatory agency mission as part of its mission set. It operates under the Department of Homeland Security during peacetime, and can be transferred to the Department of the Navy by the President or Congress during time of war.

@RUNN1NGMAN


PA Military Thread Book Club
Suggested Reading

Thunder Run: The Armored Strike to Capture
by David Zucchino

Black Hearts: One Platoon's Descent into Madness in Iraq's Triangle of Death
by Jim Frederick

Band of Brothers : E Company, 506th Regiment, 101st Airborne from Normandy to Hitler's Eagle's Nest
by Stephen E. Ambrose


One Bullet Away: The Making of a Marine Officer
by Nathaniel Fick, CPT (ret) (Known as the LT in Generation Kill).


Helmet for my Pillow
by Robert Leckie


With the Old Breed
by Eugene Sledge


The Long Gray Line
by Rick Atkinson


Generation Kill
by Evan Wright


This Kind of War : The Classic Korean War History
by T. R. Fehrenbach, Gordon Sullivan


America's First Battles, 1776-1965 (Modern War Studies)
by Charles E. Heller (Editor), William A. Stofft (Editor)


A concise History of the United States Army, 1775-2000: 225 Years of Service to the Nation
by David W. Hogan, Jr.


The Face of Battle
by John Keegan


We Were Soldiers Once...and Young : Ia Drang : The Battle That Changed the War in Vietnam
by Harold G. Moore, Joseph Galloway (Contributor)


Once an Eagle : A Novel
by Anton Myrer


Citizen Soldiers : The U.S. Army from the Normandy Beaches to the Bulge to the Surrender of Germany, June 7, 1944 to May 7, 1945
by Stephen E. Ambrose


The War to End All Wars : The American Military Experience in World War I
by Edward M. Coffman


Personal Memoirs of Ulysses S. Grant,
by Ulysses Simpson Grant


The Years of MacArthur 1941-1945
by Clayton James


The Quiet Warrior : A Biography of Admiral Raymond A. Spruance (Classics of Naval Literature)
by Thomas B. Buell

One Hundred Days : The Memoirs of the Falklands Battle Group Commander
by Woodard


Follow Me I : The Human Element in Leadership
by Aubrey S. Newman


Follow Me II : More on the Human Element in Leadership
by Aubrey S. Newman


Soldier and the State : The Theory and Politics of Civil-Military Relations.
by Samuel P. Huntington


The Passing of the Night: My Seven Years As a Prisoner of the North Vietnamese, by Robinson Risner


10 Propositions Regarding Air Power
by Philip Meilinger


Lincoln on Leadership
by Donald Phillips


They Also Flew
By Lee Arbon


Killer Angels
by Michael Shaara


This Kind of War
by T. R. Fehrenbach


Makers of the United States Air Force
by John L. Frisbee


Winged Victory
By Geoffrey Perret


Embattled Courage : The Experience of Combat in the American Civil War
by Gerald F. Linderman


The Caine Mutiny : A Novel of World War II
by Herman Wouk


Deming Management Method
by Mary Walton, W. Edwards Deming


At Dawn We Slept : The Untold Story of Pearl Harbor
by Gordon William Prange, Donald M. Goldstein , Katherine V. Dillon


First to Fight: An Inside View of the U.S. Marine Corps
by Victor Krulak


Flight of the Intruder
by Stephen Coonts, Paul McCarthy


Miracle at Midway
by Gordon William Prange, Donald M. Goldstein, Katherine V. Dillon


The Price of Admiralty : The Evolution of Naval Warfare
by John Keegan


Company Commander
by Charles Brown MacDonald


Men Against Fire : The Problem of Battle Command in Future War
by S.L. Marshall


For the Common Defense : A Military History of the United States of America
by Peter Maslowski, Allan Reed Millett


Certain Victory : The U.S. Army in the Gulf War.
by Robert H. Scales


George C. Marshall: Soldier-Statesman of the American Century
by Mark A. Stoler

Archived Threads
Military Thread, MK-1
Military Thread, MK-2
Military Thread, MK-3

Waffles or whatever on
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Posts

  • Waffles or whateverWaffles or whatever Previously known as, I shit you not, "Waffen" Registered User regular
    edited September 2017
    @ceres - New Thread Established.

    Couple of Notes - I copied most of what Joker had before since it was a really good, comprehensive list. Everyone in the military also knows that we don't reinvent the wheel. We just take someone elses product and make it our own. Jokes aside, I'll post the changes list style below.
    1. Behavioral Health Post - To reflect the rules of PA. Nobody here is equipped to help anyone struggling with issues. While venting is completely A'Okay and I believe we can all universally agree that venting is highly encouraged here. Just keep in mind that nobody on PA is able to provide the help that an accredited Behavioral Health Official can provide. With that. I added three links/sources for Soldiers/Airmen/Marines/Sailors to utilize in case they want to seek help
    2. Rules - I've updated the rules because society and PA's rules have evolved. Overall, the rules are mostly the same and fall in line with most of Penny Arcade's Holy Edicts/Decrees that Tube has posted. Just brush up on it if you haven't gotten a chance. I can't metamod, but I highly encourage everyone reads up on them so that we can avoid infractions in this thread because I want to make my next Penny Arcade OER state that I made a thread with zero infractions or users getting banned
    3. Branch/Names - I removed the names of what people do for this variation because of OPSEC. I don't think its the smartest of ideas to tell the world what you do for a living in the military. That and most of those users don't post here/aren't around anymore. If you want your name, rank, and whatever added to your name, just PM Me. Otherwise, I'll leave it blank for now.
    4. Seals - Readded some seals since the URLs Broke
    5. Suggested Reading List - Added Black Hearts and Thunder Run to the suggested books list. Black Hearts is about the 101st Airborne during their 2004-2005 deployment to Iraq's Triangle of Death. It covers the platoon that was involved in the rape and murder of an Iraqi girl and the circumstances, leadership failures, and the various other causes that led to the incident. Thunder Run covers 3rd ID's 2nd Brigade as they quite literally drove tanks into Baghdad. Fan's of Black Hawk Down will like this book. Imagine Black Hawk Down without Rangers/Delta Force and replace them with a Tank Battalion and you've got Thunder Run. If anyone else wants to add a book, let me know.

    Other than that, uh. I was gonna do something really military here, but it's Saturday, I'm tired, and don't want to Army on my Saturday. So have fun guys. Let's see if we can fill this one up in less than 6.5 years!

    Waffles or whatever on
  • TurksonTurkson Near the mountains of ColoradoRegistered User regular
    I'm still alive! But I've been out of the military for 9 years. I'll keep an eye on this thread in case anyone needs advice, wants to bitch about general military stupidity, or drink beer and tell lieswar stories!

    oh h*ck
  • DiplominatorDiplominator Hardcore Porg Registered User regular
    I think I might be one of the most junior people here, and I still haven't decided if this is a career or not, but these threads have been very helpful to me. Perspectives from more experienced commissioned and enlisted people have been a good resource for general military knowledge, at least until I get some knowledge of my own.

  • QuidQuid Definitely not a banana Registered User regular
    I'm at 13 years in the Navy now with at least 7 more to go.

    And then I acquire chickens and goats.

  • ceresceres When the last moon is cast over the last star of morning And the future has past without even a last desperate warningRegistered User, Moderator mod
    For the record:

    "Break them damn eggs boy, you're not performing surgery!"

    And it seems like all is dying, and would leave the world to mourn
  • EnigmedicEnigmedic Registered User regular
    Lol sounds like when you find out someone has never done their own laundry before. Gotta love the completely puzzled look trying to figure out the washing machine and where the detergent goes.

  • ceresceres When the last moon is cast over the last star of morning And the future has past without even a last desperate warningRegistered User, Moderator mod
    It was his first breakfast on kitchen duty. He was meant to crack two eggs per bowl but hadn't done it before, and kept trying to pick shells out.

    And it seems like all is dying, and would leave the world to mourn
  • HandgimpHandgimp R+L=J Family PhotoRegistered User regular
    I have mixed feelings about the book Blind Man's Bluff. It's probably the most accurate external look at the project, but it exaggerates and the authors got many of the stories and details by deception.

    For prospective submariners, not every underway looks like that - even if you get on the project boat. We do a lot of cool shit, but it's always surrounded by many... less glamorous things.

    I can provide some detail on the fast attack sub force and the Navy Nuclear program - 11+ years subs and two tours as a prototype plant instructor. However my boat kinda got the worst of both worlds (fast boat optempo, boomer port calls) so Quid is a better source for deployment related things.

    PwH4Ipj.jpg
  • QuidQuid Definitely not a banana Registered User regular
    I've never officially "deployed" on a submarine.

    I do however have my sub qualification, a submarine related NEC, a good amount of sub pay, and leave for months at a time for deployments on unspecified vessels.

    Yup.

  • furbatfurbat Registered User regular
    edited September 2017
    So I had my first drill as an officer this weekend. I got to chase around E4s that passively resisted everything I wanted them to do. I remember being part of the E4 mafia lol. It's cool.

    I'm still waiting for a seat for flight school. I was told it could be 9 months to a year. There was one that opened up in Nov but I really can't dip out in the middle of the school year. I teach math in a rural school and they have a hard time finding teachers. I'm also teaching an AP CS course that I've built up over the last year. I worked damn hard on it and I went from 9 students (Over half of my students scored a 9 on the nationwide stanine score and all but 1 tested at 7 or higher and received college credit.) to 26 this year. Considering my school only has 100 students per grade level and this is a college level computer programming class, that's HUGE. I mean, most of the class revolves around learning python...

    Anyway, I had to explain that I don't want a date before late April at the earliest if I have a choice. I have an obligation to those students to finish out the year...

    The state AV Officer seemed pretty understanding. We had a heart to heart. I'm probably going to have to relocate after flight school as there is a strong possibility that my platform will be blackhawks at a unit 3 hours from where I live (4 from where I teach). And I will have to fly 2x a week after work to progress my career. There is no way I'll be able to make it for an evening flight. Chinooks are 90 minutes from my house and I thought I'd be on them. Although, they are 20 minutes from me in the state nearby. The chinooks deploy every 3 years though and have since 9/11. That seems a bit rough over the long term.

    It is what it is. It's a huge sacrifice but worth it. I was already planning to sell my house for BOLC. It's just as big of a sacrifice for my wife who is giving up a great career to join me at Rucker.

    furbat on
  • Waffles or whateverWaffles or whatever Previously known as, I shit you not, "Waffen" Registered User regular
    edited September 2017
    s

    Waffles or whatever on
  • EnigmedicEnigmedic Registered User regular
    Officers playing fuck fuck games?! Im shocked.

    Sounds like when someone gets strongarmed into doing the soldier of the month crap. then they spent all shift studying those stupid facts for the board instead of doing their job so everyone else has to do more.

  • Waffles or whateverWaffles or whatever Previously known as, I shit you not, "Waffen" Registered User regular
    edited September 2017
    s

    Waffles or whatever on
  • Iceman.USAFIceman.USAF Major East CoastRegistered User regular
    I'm still alive as well, though I don't pop in nearly as much. ~9ish years in at this point. I'm a 32E Civil Engineer. Happy to talk all things Air Force.

  • GonmunGonmun He keeps kickin' me in the dickRegistered User regular
    So, a part of me has been pondering the idea of maybe looking into the Canadian military.

    I was looking over positions that they are currently looking to hire for and I saw one for a weather technician that has me interested as for a long time I had pondered meteorology and have always had a strong fascination with weather.

    My wife has said that if it's something I want to look into she isn't opposed to it (she was a military child growing up). Are there any Canadian PA'ers who might be able to offer some insight?

    desc wrote: »
    ~ * swole patrol flying roundhouse kick top performer recognition: April 2014 * ~
    If you have a sec, check out my podcast: War and Beast Twitter Facebook
  • RadiationRadiation Registered User regular
    I have a buddy who is in the Canadian AF I can send some questions to if you'd like.

    PSN: jfrofl
  • GonmunGonmun He keeps kickin' me in the dickRegistered User regular
    Radiation wrote: »
    I have a buddy who is in the Canadian AF I can send some questions to if you'd like.

    Thanks!

    I guess right now I'm just trying to get a sense of initial expectations and experience starting out. Really just trying to get a feel for it to see whether it might be a fit at all.

    desc wrote: »
    ~ * swole patrol flying roundhouse kick top performer recognition: April 2014 * ~
    If you have a sec, check out my podcast: War and Beast Twitter Facebook
  • RadiationRadiation Registered User regular
    Well I think his perspective will mostly cover the Air Force side of things. I think he did do boot camp instructor or something a few years back? Not too sure. Send me your questions and I'll forward them on.
    Might want to talk to a recruiter, but take what they saw with a grain of salt. They might get a good sense of describing culture, though it's likely more oriented to their experience in whatever field they were in previously.

    As for whether or not you might be a fit, I wouldn't overly worry about that. It takes all types in the military, and different perspectives are super helpful.

    PSN: jfrofl
  • QuidQuid Definitely not a banana Registered User regular
    Yeah I've had a wide, wide mix of experiences. The shop I'm currently in has a primary interest in craft beer and quality food, with several of us adding D&D and video games to the mix. The one before had a bunch of introverted readers. The one before was a bunch of frat kids. The biggest influence on one's experience, like most jobs, is the people you're working with IMO.

  • mosssnackmosssnack Yeah right, man, Bishop should go! Good idea!Registered User regular
    I do subs, too. 11 years in, one tour on a fast boat out of pearl and now I'm currently on a ssbn out of Bangor, WA. I'd be happy to talk about the pros and cons of each community. I'm also a Radio Chief about to transfer to a different ssbn to take over a comms division for my lcpo tour.

    If any of you dudes get selected for Chief, please pm me so that I can help save you some stress out of what I thought was the most fucking stressful 6 weeks of my life.

    XBL: mosssnack12
    bnet: moss*1454
  • SmrtnikSmrtnik job boli zub Registered User regular
    Please remember OPSEC when taking to people in PMs or otherwise.

    steam_sig.png
  • furbatfurbat Registered User regular
    edited October 2017
    We had our APFT this month. I had never seen people stop doing push ups/sit ups after they hit the minimum before. On the plus side, I had the 2nd highest PT score in the company and I was a good minute away from maxing my run smh... It's all the 19-20 year olds that fail too.

    furbat on
  • spookymuffinspookymuffin ( ° ʖ ° ) Puyallup WA Registered User regular
    Just got back from a fun deployment that really opened up my eyes to the bigger picture stuff we’re doing in SWA. 6 months of no uniforms & calling everyone by first names. I really kinda needed it, with 4 years until retirement I was losing motivation.

    PSN: MegaSpooky // 3DS: 3797-6276-7138
    Wii U NNID: MegaSpooky
  • Waffles or whateverWaffles or whatever Previously known as, I shit you not, "Waffen" Registered User regular
    edited February 2018
    s

    Waffles or whatever on
  • BloodycowBloodycow Registered User regular
    Made it on the news in St. Louis! I'm famous bitches!

    http://kmov.videodownload.worldnow.com/KMOV_2510201717253800000AB.mp4

    " I am a warrior, so that my son may be a merchant, so that his son may be a poet.”
    ― John Quincy Adams
  • NSDFRandNSDFRand FloridaRegistered User regular
    Waffen wrote: »
    Showed up to the new Brigade today. So the S6 and the S3 are fighting over who gets me. Really hope the Siggo wins. I already told one of the AS6 Captains that if I go to the 3 Shop I'll be dropping my Refrad Packet by Friday. I can't stomach to will to work in a Brigade 3 Shop again. Especially going back to NTC on such a short notice doing the exact same job I did last time. Though I'd probably half way exit the military and go the Reserve Route while attending college for my graduate degree. I'll be 10 years in in 20 days or so. Might as well finish out another 10 Reserve side for that pension, even if the Reserve Pension kicks in at retirement age.

    Overall, it'll be a quick turnaround on this Refrad. I'd probably stay in till March/April, begin terminal, and be out by June since I'll have 75 days of leave saved up. The Captains and Majors here already tried to scare me with getting out, but seeing how a few friends used things like the Lucas Group and walked into jobs making the same amount they made Active Side with half the hours and dupont working schedules. Yeah. I'll be okay.

    Edit: Hard part is to figure out if I wanna go to Grad School now or just keep making money. I guess I'll figure that part out at ACAP.

    What do you want to do long term?

  • Waffles or whateverWaffles or whatever Previously known as, I shit you not, "Waffen" Registered User regular
    edited February 2018
    s

    Waffles or whatever on
  • RadiationRadiation Registered User regular
    Waffen wrote: »
    I wanted to stay in, but I can't motivate myself to work in a 3 Shop again so soon. Especially one that's going to NTC again. I'm literally going to do the same thing I did at NTC the last time (IE, 20 hours a day of staring at a monitor doing MDMP) The wife is kinda in agreeance with me too. She wants me to do what makes me happy, but has mentioned she's tired of me being in the field almost constantly and not really being around too much. In regards to career, my career glide path looks like the following;
    1. PL - 12 Months
    2. AS3 - 16 Months
    3. S6 - 7 Months (Short because I covered down for someone)
    4. BDE AS3 - ~10 Months

    With a profile like that, I'm not really competitive for anything. It tells future bosses that even though I was a Branch Detail guy, I never really shined in Maneuver Land. I don't have the experience needed to be a Company Commander and not to take risk with me past Staff

    I think I'll end up going Reserves to finish out my last 10 years. Do that, and I get a pension at 65.

    No one will really know anything about what any of that stuff means. And your resume gets to be a picture of your career/performance that you want to shape it as.
    To get most recent job I had to highlight skills that were very minor in previous gigs. I still did the things I said on my resume, but usually it was for a one off project.

    Also it may be worthwhile to check into civil service as well for the pension. Which you'd get veterans preference for, which certainly helps. Not saying any thing to dissuade you from Reserves, but it may be something to check into.

    PSN: jfrofl
  • Waffles or whateverWaffles or whatever Previously known as, I shit you not, "Waffen" Registered User regular
    That's the plan during SFL-TAP. Figure out what's available to me and where to go from there with it.

    Resume actually won't look too bad. ARmy side, my ORB is a nightmare. Civilian side? Helloooo Professional, Managerial and Customer Service Experience!

  • ComahawkComahawk Registered User regular
    Gonmun wrote: »
    So, a part of me has been pondering the idea of maybe looking into the Canadian military.

    I was looking over positions that they are currently looking to hire for and I saw one for a weather technician that has me interested as for a long time I had pondered meteorology and have always had a strong fascination with weather.

    My wife has said that if it's something I want to look into she isn't opposed to it (she was a military child growing up). Are there any Canadian PA'ers who might be able to offer some insight?

    I am an NWO (new name for MARS) in the RCN. I can give you an idea of what it is like in the forces.

    Weather tech is an interesting trade as it is what we call a purple trade. It isn't bound to any particular element. We employ them in the navy a lot (each frigate has two, on junior and one senior) and if you are at all interested in oceanography it is the way to go. Otherwise their day to day varies depending on if they are at sea or not and I would have to make a massive post to cover off everything they do.

    If you have any questions feel free to ask and I will try to give you the best answer I can. My knowledge is pretty Navy centric though.

  • Waffles or whateverWaffles or whatever Previously known as, I shit you not, "Waffen" Registered User regular
    Really good not me news. When I was the Battalion 6 I had an E5 NCOIC. I put said NCO in for an MSM because every other shop's NCOIC that left got a MSM so I figured, "If they got it for doing a lot less, why shouldn't my Soldier not get one?" My biggest strength in life is I can write. No. I can fucking write and I say that with no arrogance and 100% confidence in my writing ability. I submitted the award and within a day, I got push back from the Command Sergeant Major. He looked at me and said, "You know the rank disparity is a thing, right?" Told him that there are some hills we need to choose to fight and possibly die on and this was one of them. He pulled in the XO and the BC in. I reiterated my point and they both agreed that she definitely deserved that MSM. Award went to Brigade and disappeared. I hadn't heard anything other than, "it was processing".

    Today I got the phone call back. Time for me to sign it. It was approved and my old NCOIC will be getting her first MSM. So fucking happy right now!

  • DiplominatorDiplominator Hardcore Porg Registered User regular
    Damn, she's certainly gonna be able to brag about that one for a while!

  • BloodycowBloodycow Registered User regular
    Shit I know NCO's that have retired and never gotten one...

    " I am a warrior, so that my son may be a merchant, so that his son may be a poet.”
    ― John Quincy Adams
  • John MatrixJohn Matrix Registered User regular
    So what's going on with your promotion to O3, Waffen? You picking up or getting out?

  • EnigmedicEnigmedic Registered User regular
    Good on you man, i feel like all the good ncos just get shit on, so props for fighting for an award. I certainly appreciated it when an air force lieutenant fought to get me a JCOM so im sure your ncoic did too.

  • Waffles or whateverWaffles or whatever Previously known as, I shit you not, "Waffen" Registered User regular
    edited November 2017
    So what's going on with your promotion to O3, Waffen? You picking up or getting out?

    I didn't make my first look (even though it was a 99% year) because of bad luck. The TLDR Version was that my Commander made me sign for a bulk MILES Gear draw, stuff went missing, he blamed me, investigation took five months and I was ruled not at fault, but my OER that got sent up to HRC that said, "Waffen can do the job, when properly supervised" was accepted by HRC. Basically career died right there.

    A few guys this year with bad report cards in my position made it this year, but I'm just tired. I don't have the stomach, heart, or patience to do my third NTC Rotation as an Assistant S3. So I guess it's time to get out.

    Waffles or whatever on
  • John MatrixJohn Matrix Registered User regular
    Ah, so you did get picked up by the S3 - I saw it was a fight between S6 and S3 above. Oh well, do your 20 in the reserves for that sweet double-dip pension. Best of luck!

  • Waffles or whateverWaffles or whatever Previously known as, I shit you not, "Waffen" Registered User regular
    Ah, so you did get picked up by the S3 - I saw it was a fight between S6 and S3 above. Oh well, do your 20 in the reserves for that sweet double-dip pension. Best of luck!

    I ended up getting kicked down to an Infantry Battalion after I was tired of being jobless for two months and decided to just walk on over to said Infantry Battalion to find out what I'd be doing. Their XO looked at my ORB, stole the job title I did at my last Battalion (Air Operations Officer) and told me that would be my job.

  • BloodycowBloodycow Registered User regular
    Happy veteran's day you glorious bastards. Hope you all can get out and do something for yourselves today! I'll be home watching my old High school play in their state football playoffs with family.

    " I am a warrior, so that my son may be a merchant, so that his son may be a poet.”
    ― John Quincy Adams
  • DedwrekkaDedwrekka Metal Hell adjacentRegistered User regular
    Alert to Vets in college, the Wells Fargo Veterans Scholarship opened for applications today. This is one of the largest single veterans scholarships I've found, reported up to $7,000 per student for a single year.
    Eligibility
    Applicants to the Wells Fargo Veterans Scholarship Program must:
    • Be honorably-discharged (no longer drilling) veterans or spouses of disabled veterans who have served in the United States military, including the Reserves and National Guard, and have received a Certificate of Eligibility from the Department of Veterans Affairs or another document of service.
    • Be high school or GED graduates who plan to enroll or students who are already enrolled in full-time undergraduate (first Bachelor's) or graduate (first Master’s degree) study at an accredited two-year or four-year college, university, or vocational-technical school* for the entire upcoming academic year.
    • *College must not be on warning or probationary status with the federal government, or must not be in litigation with the federal government or a state.
    • Be Pell-eligible and have applied for Title IV and completed FAFSA to ensure full discovery of actual unmet need.
    • Use any military education benefits for which they are eligible in the upcoming academic year.
    • Have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale, or its equivalent.

    Awards
    Award amounts will be determined after military education benefits and federal, state, institutional grants and other scholarships are calculated. Awards may be renewed for up to three additional years or until a bachelor’s or master's degree is earned, whichever occurs first. Renewal is contingent upon satisfactory academic performance in a full-time course of study. Award amounts will increase by $1,000 each year.

    Awards are for educational expenses including tuition, fees, books, supplies, room and board, and transportation.

    Awards may be deferred for an interruption in study due to medical, health and other extenuating circumstances. Requests for deferral will be handled on a case by case basis.

    Your application must be submitted by February 28, 2018 by 11:59 p.m. CST.


    There is also a non-recurring emergency grant
    Eligibility
    Applicants to the Wells Fargo Veterans Emergency Grant Program must:
    • Be honorably-discharged (no longer drilling) veterans or spouses of disabled veterans who have served in the United States military, including the Reserves and National Guard, and have received a Certificate of Eligibility from the Department of Veterans Affairs or another document of service. (Limit one emergency grant per family)
    • Be students who are already enrolled in full-time undergraduate (first Bachelor's) or graduate (first Master’s degree) study at an accredited two-year or four-year college, university, or vocational-technical school*.
    • *College must not be on warning or probationary status with the federal government, or must not be in litigation with the federal government or a state.
    • Be Pell-eligible and have applied for Title IV and completed FAFSA to ensure full discovery of actual unmet need.
    • Use any military education benefits for which they are eligible in the current academic year.
    • Have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale, or its equivalent.

    Emergency Grants
    Emergency grants are available to eligible veterans who are enrolled fulltime in postsecondary education and experience unexpected financial difficulties that might cause them to drop out from school. Grants are available for a one-time distribution with a suggested maximum of up to $750, but not to exceed $1,000 each based on the cost of the emergency need.

    Identify one emergency need for consideration. Grants can be used for expenses such as:
    • Housing/Rent
    • Utilities
    • Medical/Dental expenses
    • Personal automobile repair expenses
    • Public transportation/Bus pass
    • Childcare
    There is no application deadline, but grants will be awarded on an ongoing basis until funds are exhausted.

    https://wellsfargovets.scholarsapply.org/


    FYI This program comes and goes very quickly, so get your FAFSA and other information in order right away if you plan to apply.

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