(no subject)
Well, it has officially happened. Kosovo is a nation; or at least they say so. Here's some of the latest news about it.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7249034.stm
My entire platoon has been on "stand by" today, meaning we can go about as far as the chow hall, and I am BORED!!!!! Bored, though, is a good thing. It means that I am not out in the cold having to try and keep the peace between the Albanians and Serbians in our sector. Anyway, the word on the street last night from the locals that I spoke with (at length) is that today will be a moderate amount of spontaneous celebrating through town (some were starting a little early last night, and if I wanted to sample some of the local spirits, Rakia, my entire squad plenty of opportunities. We were good little soldier's, though, despite the temptation... *grin*) but the bulk of it will start sometime on Monday, after the rest of the world makes their announcements as to whether they regocnise Kosovo as an independent nation or not. Needless to say, tomorrow night's mission is going to be interesting. I hope I'm either called out early enough to get some pictures or in a place with enough light to take a few. After all, it's not every day you get to actually witness the birth of a new nation.
With each passing day I am really looking forward to leave. Not that it isn't interesting here, but I need a break. It's amazing what the soldiers I serve with today are like. When I was on Active Duty, we were expected to have and take initiative and to be responsible for our actions. Yeah, we bitched and complained (it's a soldier's God-given right to do so!) but we always did so either while we were getting our assigned task done, or after we had finished it - because the mission came first. Some of these kids - they have absolutely no idea what self-discipline is and the concept of having and taking the initiative for something is utterly foreign. Half the time, it's maiking more work for me to just keep these guys moving. I feel like a freaking cheerleader most of the time. And the negativity! All I hear is about how much this place/mission/these people, etc suck. They have no idea just how good they have it!!! Anyway, I had to rant about that a little. It's really starting tio wear me down emotionally. It's getting harder to keep up a good face and set the example, and I need my leave to hit the proverbial "reset button." Anyway, keep up on the international news, and check put the next web site. Read the PDF of the most recent issue and you'll even get to hear from yours truly...
http://www.tffalcon.hqusareur.army.mil/ (Go to Guardian Magazine and click on the picture with the guys with the riot shields. It's a big PDF and takes a while to load. I'm quited extensively (if I may toot my own horn) in the article on page 9.)
So, who's busy around 1800 on the 27th in the Cedar Rapids area?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7249034.stm
My entire platoon has been on "stand by" today, meaning we can go about as far as the chow hall, and I am BORED!!!!! Bored, though, is a good thing. It means that I am not out in the cold having to try and keep the peace between the Albanians and Serbians in our sector. Anyway, the word on the street last night from the locals that I spoke with (at length) is that today will be a moderate amount of spontaneous celebrating through town (some were starting a little early last night, and if I wanted to sample some of the local spirits, Rakia, my entire squad plenty of opportunities. We were good little soldier's, though, despite the temptation... *grin*) but the bulk of it will start sometime on Monday, after the rest of the world makes their announcements as to whether they regocnise Kosovo as an independent nation or not. Needless to say, tomorrow night's mission is going to be interesting. I hope I'm either called out early enough to get some pictures or in a place with enough light to take a few. After all, it's not every day you get to actually witness the birth of a new nation.
With each passing day I am really looking forward to leave. Not that it isn't interesting here, but I need a break. It's amazing what the soldiers I serve with today are like. When I was on Active Duty, we were expected to have and take initiative and to be responsible for our actions. Yeah, we bitched and complained (it's a soldier's God-given right to do so!) but we always did so either while we were getting our assigned task done, or after we had finished it - because the mission came first. Some of these kids - they have absolutely no idea what self-discipline is and the concept of having and taking the initiative for something is utterly foreign. Half the time, it's maiking more work for me to just keep these guys moving. I feel like a freaking cheerleader most of the time. And the negativity! All I hear is about how much this place/mission/these people, etc suck. They have no idea just how good they have it!!! Anyway, I had to rant about that a little. It's really starting tio wear me down emotionally. It's getting harder to keep up a good face and set the example, and I need my leave to hit the proverbial "reset button." Anyway, keep up on the international news, and check put the next web site. Read the PDF of the most recent issue and you'll even get to hear from yours truly...
http://www.tffalcon.hqusareur.army.mil/ (Go to Guardian Magazine and click on the picture with the guys with the riot shields. It's a big PDF and takes a while to load. I'm quited extensively (if I may toot my own horn) in the article on page 9.)
So, who's busy around 1800 on the 27th in the Cedar Rapids area?