Woo Hoo ... packing, printing, last minute details ... very busy day here . Getting ready for the weekend. A reunion of sorts, a meeting and greeting of new and old friends. A chance to put a name with a face, to deepen the bonds that in some cases exist only through a facebook or other online connection. Yes folks, a group of Marine loved ones are descending upon Jacksonville, NC to laugh, to talk, to share our experience to date and yes, probably to cry a little, but most importantly, to connect.
I received this in an email this morning from a Marine Mom who I consider to be a good friend -
Well I was asked such a ridiculous question this week....."You are going off with strangers?"...my reply.."No, I am going to be with my buddies" :)
Perfect answer in it's simplicity!!!!!!! It's so hard to explain the bonds that are formed with others that have traveled the boot camp, combat training, MOS and then finally PDS road with you. Along the way I've virtually and personally developed relationships, who have become acquaintances or friends, all forged in the trenches of surviving the unknown together. In some cases I have revealed a more vulnerable 'me' with these buddies then with some life long friends. There is something about sharing the fear or terror... the sadness and the triumph... in an anonymous setting such as online that frees one up to be more honest about their feelings. Maybe it's in the comfort of realizing that there will be no ridicule, no judgement - you're preaching to the choir. At one point or another we've all felt it, we all understand it and we know .. we just know.
In the course of time these relationships have widened so that now they also include our non military life, birthdays, promotions, weddings - sharing the day to day of our lives. Our commonality began with our Marines but has now moved to friendships in every sense of the word. And I can't wait!!!
Some of the woman that I will see this weekend have been in my life now for over a year, we met during boot camp, we saw each other at our first meet and greet and then again at MCT graduation. Each of our Marines took a different path to get where we are today, some had long schools, some are infantry, some have deployed and some are gearing up... it's all different yet oddly, all the same. Luckily a lot of our Marines are stationed at Camp LeJeune, so now we get to meet again, a little over a year later to reinforce and deepen the bonds.. Some that will be there this weekend I have never met in person and am equally excited to see them. You can never have too many people to turn to in times of joy and distress and everything in between. So we'll break out the wine, dance to some music, tell stories that will make us laugh, share care package ideas and meet each others Marines. All the while knowing deep down that we are lucky to have found these buddies.
I can't help but wonder how difficult this was pre - internet, without the ability to search out and meet others walking the path. I am so glad that I have had this medium and the opportunity to meet some wonderful and interesting people through it.
This is a weekend to celebrate that ... and be oh so thankful for it as well.
It's hug a Marine Day May 1st - look out Jacksonville .. here we come !
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Loose Lips Sinks Ships
With all of us using social media, blogs, websites etc... I thought is might be useful to remind everyone about OpSec! I know we all get so excited, or upset, at some of the news our service members tell us. We just want to share it with everyone we know! Homecomings, deployments, training exercises all fall in this category.. it's natural to want to share. It's hard to pull back when we ask our service member a question and it's answered with " I don't know" .. how can you not know? - aren't you doing it right now?? This is just a reminder of what we as family members should or should not ask or tell.
The Department of Defense can shut down websites, message boards, and support forums for violations of Operational Security. Let's be sure we are helping keep our Military and their families safe by not violating Operational Security. If in doubt, don't post it. Thanks.
Here's the long and the short of it and a story first posted by the FRO of the 24 MEU-
The Ten OPSEC Points:
Don’t discuss future destinations or ports of call!
Don't post last names of active military!!
Don’t discuss future operations or missions!
Don’t discuss dates and times of when we will be in port or conducting exercises!
Don’t discuss readiness issues and numbers!
Don’t discuss specific training equipment!
Don’t discuss people’s names and billets in conjunction with operations!
Don’t speculate about future operations!
Don’t spread rumors about operations!
Don’t assume the enemy is not trying to collect information on you so he can kill you, he is!
Be smart, use your head, and always think OPSEC when using email or phone!
What is OPSEC?
The Department of Defense can shut down websites, message boards, and support forums for violations of Operational Security. Let's be sure we are helping keep our Military and their families safe by not violating Operational Security. If in doubt, don't post it. Thanks.
Here's the long and the short of it and a story first posted by the FRO of the 24 MEU-
The Ten OPSEC Points:
Don’t discuss future destinations or ports of call!
Don't post last names of active military!!
Don’t discuss future operations or missions!
Don’t discuss dates and times of when we will be in port or conducting exercises!
Don’t discuss readiness issues and numbers!
Don’t discuss specific training equipment!
Don’t discuss people’s names and billets in conjunction with operations!
Don’t speculate about future operations!
Don’t spread rumors about operations!
Don’t assume the enemy is not trying to collect information on you so he can kill you, he is!
Be smart, use your head, and always think OPSEC when using email or phone!
* An Example of OPSEC Failure. In early October 2000, “Tom” sent an email to his wife, telling her that he would be in Aden, Yemen for a port call on Tuesday. Tom’s wife then posted this to the web page she’d been maintaining for other family and friends to stay up to date on Tom’s latest deployment. Armed only with Google and some background information he’d collected from Tom’s neighborhood, a terrorist agent figures out that “Tom” is Petty Officer Tom Smith aboard the USS Cole. The terrorist group that the agent works for has been planning an attack using a small boat and explosives. The only problem is that they have limited resources, and are unable to keep a boat laden with explosives on the water for days or weeks at a time. They can only keep it afloat for a day. But now that their agent has provided the date of Tom’s upcoming liberty, they know what day that will be. On Tuesday, the boat is loaded and the terrorists sail around the harbor until the US warship comes in. On 12 October 2000, Al Qaida did just that. The terrorists on the small boat actually waved and smiled at the crew of the USS Cole as they floated in close enough to the ship to detonate their cargo. As a result, 17 sailors were killed and many more injured.
What is OPSEC?
Operations Security, or OPSEC, is keeping potential adversaries from discovering our critical information. As the name suggests, it protects our operations planned, in progress, and those completed. Success depends on secrecy and surprise, so the military can accomplish the mission faster and with less risk. Our adversaries want our information, and they don't concentrate on only sailors to get it. They want you, the family member.
Protecting Critical Information
Even though information may not be secret, it can be what we call critical information. Critical information deals with specific facts about military intentions, capabilities, operations or activities. If an adversary knew this detailed information, our mission accomplishment and personnel safety could be jeopardized. It must be protected to ensure an adversary doesn't gain a significant advantage. By being a member of the military family, you! u will often know some bits of critical information. Do not discuss them outside of your immediate family and especially not over the telephone.
Examples Of Critical Information
Detailed information about the mission of assigned units.
Details on locations and times of unit deployments.
Personnel transactions that occur in large numbers (Example: pay information, powers of attorney, wills, deployment information).
References to trends in unit morale or personnel problems.
Details concerning security procedures.
Puzzle Pieces
These bits of information may seem insignificant. However, to a trained adversary, they are small pieces of a puzzle that highlight what were doing and planning. Remember, the elements of security and surprise are vital to the accomplishment of our goals and our collective personnel protection.
Where and how you discuss this information is just as important as with whom you discuss it. Adverse agents tasked with collecting information frequently visit some of the same stores, clubs, recreational areas, or places of worship as you do.
Determined individuals can easily collect data from cordless and cellular phones, and even baby monitors, using inexpensive receivers available from local electronics stores.
If anyone, especially a foreign national, persistently seeks information, notify your military sponsor immediately. He or she will notify the unit OPSEC program manager.
What Can You Do?
There are many countries and organizations that would like to harm Americans and degrade our influence in the world. It's possible, and not unprecedented, for spouses and family members of U.S. military personnel to be targeted for intelligence collection. This is true in the United States and especially true overseas! What can you do?
Be Alert
Foreign governments and organizations collect significant amounts of useful information by using spies. A foreign agent may use a variety of approaches to befriend someone and get sensitive information. This sensitive information can be critical to the success of a terrorist or spy, and consequently deadly to Americans.
Be Careful
There may be times when your spouse cannot talk about the specifics of his or her job. It's very important to conceal and protect certain information such as flight schedules, ship movements, temporary duty (TDY) locations, and installation activities, for example. Something as simple as a phone discussion about where your spouse is deploying, or going TDY, can be very useful to our enemies.
OPSEC IS A FAMILY AFFAIR - DISCUSS OPSEC WITH YOUR FAMILY
All Family Members Are Part Of The Military OPSEC Team. They Need To Protect Information To Ensure The Safety Of All Our Soldiers, Sailors, Airman, Coast Guards, Civilians, And their Families.
You Are A Vital Player In Our Success!
As a family member of our military community, you are a vital player in our success, and we couldn't do our job without your support. You may not know it, but you also play a crucial role in ensuring your loved one safety. You can protect your family and friends by protecting what you know of the military day-to-day operations. That's OPSEC
Monday, April 26, 2010
Rainy Day's and Monday's
a less then stellar day - oh .. don't get me wrong, life is good.. me not so much. It's never a good sign when the day starts off by crying in the shower. What set me off you might ask ? It's nothing tangible, it's nothing concrete, it just is the weight, the knowledge, the truth of loving someone in the military. Most days I can wind my way through, seemingly without a care in the world, then there are THOSE days.. you all know, we all have them.
Was it a dream.. a careless remark by a friend in passing... or something as simple as too many people inquiring about my Marine nephew? Is it my empathy for a fellow military loved one who's having a tough time? Maybe it's just Monday.
More then likely it's just that today I don't want to be strong, today I don't want to make believe he's just on a camping trip, today I can't push the knowledge of an impending deployment away. No .. today I just want to give in. So I do... just for today. I look at it as a chance to recharge the core that I depend on for my strength the rest of the days. So I cry, I watch all those youtube videos that I know I shouldn't, I allow myself the luxury of emotion.
Tomorrow will be better, tomorrow I will be strong.. tomorrow I'll help out someone else having a "day".. but today.. hmm today I'll just let happen.
Was it a dream.. a careless remark by a friend in passing... or something as simple as too many people inquiring about my Marine nephew? Is it my empathy for a fellow military loved one who's having a tough time? Maybe it's just Monday.
More then likely it's just that today I don't want to be strong, today I don't want to make believe he's just on a camping trip, today I can't push the knowledge of an impending deployment away. No .. today I just want to give in. So I do... just for today. I look at it as a chance to recharge the core that I depend on for my strength the rest of the days. So I cry, I watch all those youtube videos that I know I shouldn't, I allow myself the luxury of emotion.
Tomorrow will be better, tomorrow I will be strong.. tomorrow I'll help out someone else having a "day".. but today.. hmm today I'll just let happen.
Sunday, April 25, 2010
You've Got a Friend
"They also serve who only stand and wait". John Milton
I've become a little self conscious, long time friends were not taking my calls, I would join a group of people and those in the group would drift away one by one. Maybe it's my perfume or shampoo? No and no... it's my new obsession. I can't seem to get through a conversation without mentioning the armed forces in general, the USMC in particular.
If you've experienced the above, not to worry it's not terminal, it's not your perfume.. it's called having a loved one in the armed services. And yes! there is a support group for it, we don't have 12 steps to over come it but have faith .. usually 4 or 5 years will do the trick.
When my nephew uttered those words, "I've enlisted" I needed to talk .. and question and talk. Not to him but to someone, anyone who had also heard those same words at some point. Where to turn? It became very clear, very quickly that no one I knew had any experience with this. Not a friend or relative who could relate with the exception of my sister and well .. she was as brand new to this as I was.
I am one of those people that need information to be calm, I need to talk an issue to death, if need be, to be satisfied. I also am very social, with a large circle of friends with a vast and varied amount of interests and experience - yet I was alone! I was flying solo and feeling a bit isolated. No one understood. Oh they could try but you know it's bad when you're standing in the mall and a song comes over the music system, tears just start to stream and everyone you're with looks anywhere but at you. Friends would offer an ear but it became obvious fairly quickly that they couldn't fully comprehend the fear, the questions and the overwhelming need to be around those who 'got it'.
I was lucky and found an outlet online. I had my questions answered, I was able say, "I got a letter today and cried at the sight of his name on the return address," and have people understand immediately what that meant. I was no longer navigating this sea of confusion alone! No need for long explanations - just say a few words and someone online had a similar experience, a shoulder to lean on or a sympathetic ear. I had found another circle of friends.
All of these friendships began online, some have moved to off line, real life friendships. It's facebook, usmc or parrisisland.yuku.com, it's a Marine Moms and Others monthly luncheon. Are all of these people who's lives are now intersected with mine friends? No, some I have nothing in common with outside of this shared experience of having a family member in the military. Others would be my friend even outside of the military bond. But all are there for me and for you - we offer each other the simplest form of friendship - understanding forged in shared experience. No questions, no evaluations, no judgement, just support. We get the boot camp terror, we celebrate graduation, we cry for each word of deployment news, we CHEER homecomings.. WE GET IT!!!!! I've found another family and it's not unlike my real family because at the very foundation it's based on understanding and love. What can be better than that?
For me I've found one of the best, and easiest, ways to enlarge this circle is to get involved with a local charity - I've volunteered with The Wounded Warrior Foundation, Hope for the Warriors and the USO. I send care packages, I participate in SFS events, I chat on facebook. It works for me, it eases the feeling of being alone. The more I get involved, the less my other friends run away, its a win win! I have somewhere to talk about the military world and can now just deal with life's ups and downs with my old friends. No one glazes over when I wander into a conversation.. I'm no longer going to obsess out loud.. I have an outlet!
There are so many groups out there that can use our help. Search on google, if there are none.. start up a monthly group yourself, I bet there is one person living within a reasonable distance of you that can use the friendship. There is probably a group close by that does a care package project - go join in the pack!!
Volunteer your time, there are organizations that can use the help... our family member volunteered, so honor their commitment by giving some of your time. It ends up being a gift you give yourself, you help out and find that you've gained something in return - a new friend and that warm fuzzy feeling we all can use now and again.
Organize a lunch or a weekend. I'm meeting some facebook friends and reuniting with my boot camp family next week in Jacksonville, NC. Can't wait for the fun .. and a chance to either renew those bonds or make new ones. If you're in the area, leave a note below, come out and join us!
join the family - we're waiting! But know.. we might be the "Silent Ranks" but we are far from quiet. For MY Marine Corps family of friends... I don't know what I would do without you!
My group of online friends are doing a retreat of sorts which encompasses all branches of the military... We laugh, we cry, we learn... we revel in friendship and understanding. Heck it's not really that serious - we laugh a LOT. We're our own 12 step group. come on down in October and join in the fun -
SFS.BeachBlast@gmail.com for details. You're not alone and don't ever feel that you are.
So here are some suggestions to search - leave a comment if there is a group in your area that you would like added or just to share your experience -
Semper Fi Sisters - semperfisisters.com or visit on Facebook Semper Fi Sisters
Blue Star Mothers
The USO
Hope for the Warriors
Support Our Marines, Inc.
Soldiers Angels
I've become a little self conscious, long time friends were not taking my calls, I would join a group of people and those in the group would drift away one by one. Maybe it's my perfume or shampoo? No and no... it's my new obsession. I can't seem to get through a conversation without mentioning the armed forces in general, the USMC in particular.
If you've experienced the above, not to worry it's not terminal, it's not your perfume.. it's called having a loved one in the armed services. And yes! there is a support group for it, we don't have 12 steps to over come it but have faith .. usually 4 or 5 years will do the trick.
When my nephew uttered those words, "I've enlisted" I needed to talk .. and question and talk. Not to him but to someone, anyone who had also heard those same words at some point. Where to turn? It became very clear, very quickly that no one I knew had any experience with this. Not a friend or relative who could relate with the exception of my sister and well .. she was as brand new to this as I was.
I am one of those people that need information to be calm, I need to talk an issue to death, if need be, to be satisfied. I also am very social, with a large circle of friends with a vast and varied amount of interests and experience - yet I was alone! I was flying solo and feeling a bit isolated. No one understood. Oh they could try but you know it's bad when you're standing in the mall and a song comes over the music system, tears just start to stream and everyone you're with looks anywhere but at you. Friends would offer an ear but it became obvious fairly quickly that they couldn't fully comprehend the fear, the questions and the overwhelming need to be around those who 'got it'.
I was lucky and found an outlet online. I had my questions answered, I was able say, "I got a letter today and cried at the sight of his name on the return address," and have people understand immediately what that meant. I was no longer navigating this sea of confusion alone! No need for long explanations - just say a few words and someone online had a similar experience, a shoulder to lean on or a sympathetic ear. I had found another circle of friends.
All of these friendships began online, some have moved to off line, real life friendships. It's facebook, usmc or parrisisland.yuku.com, it's a Marine Moms and Others monthly luncheon. Are all of these people who's lives are now intersected with mine friends? No, some I have nothing in common with outside of this shared experience of having a family member in the military. Others would be my friend even outside of the military bond. But all are there for me and for you - we offer each other the simplest form of friendship - understanding forged in shared experience. No questions, no evaluations, no judgement, just support. We get the boot camp terror, we celebrate graduation, we cry for each word of deployment news, we CHEER homecomings.. WE GET IT!!!!! I've found another family and it's not unlike my real family because at the very foundation it's based on understanding and love. What can be better than that?
For me I've found one of the best, and easiest, ways to enlarge this circle is to get involved with a local charity - I've volunteered with The Wounded Warrior Foundation, Hope for the Warriors and the USO. I send care packages, I participate in SFS events, I chat on facebook. It works for me, it eases the feeling of being alone. The more I get involved, the less my other friends run away, its a win win! I have somewhere to talk about the military world and can now just deal with life's ups and downs with my old friends. No one glazes over when I wander into a conversation.. I'm no longer going to obsess out loud.. I have an outlet!
There are so many groups out there that can use our help. Search on google, if there are none.. start up a monthly group yourself, I bet there is one person living within a reasonable distance of you that can use the friendship. There is probably a group close by that does a care package project - go join in the pack!!
Volunteer your time, there are organizations that can use the help... our family member volunteered, so honor their commitment by giving some of your time. It ends up being a gift you give yourself, you help out and find that you've gained something in return - a new friend and that warm fuzzy feeling we all can use now and again.
Organize a lunch or a weekend. I'm meeting some facebook friends and reuniting with my boot camp family next week in Jacksonville, NC. Can't wait for the fun .. and a chance to either renew those bonds or make new ones. If you're in the area, leave a note below, come out and join us!
join the family - we're waiting! But know.. we might be the "Silent Ranks" but we are far from quiet. For MY Marine Corps family of friends... I don't know what I would do without you!
My group of online friends are doing a retreat of sorts which encompasses all branches of the military... We laugh, we cry, we learn... we revel in friendship and understanding. Heck it's not really that serious - we laugh a LOT. We're our own 12 step group. come on down in October and join in the fun -
SFS.BeachBlast@gmail.com for details. You're not alone and don't ever feel that you are.
So here are some suggestions to search - leave a comment if there is a group in your area that you would like added or just to share your experience -
Semper Fi Sisters - semperfisisters.com or visit on Facebook Semper Fi Sisters
Blue Star Mothers
The USO
Hope for the Warriors
Support Our Marines, Inc.
Soldiers Angels
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Alphabet Soup aka the wonderful world of military acronyms
PI, AWF, PFT, IT, PT, MOS, IST, MCT, PDS, FRO, PUMP, SITFU, FEX, FOB, FLEET, CI, DI, OPSEC, POG, GRUNT, FLOAT, HOP, OORAH, YUT, SEMPER GUMBY
O M G how did poor Gumby get dragged into this?
WHAAAAAAAAATTTTTTTT!!!!!!!!!
This all came to mind recently when I was having a conversation with a parent of a fairly new recruit at Parris Island. She asked me to help her interpret a letter she had received.
Upon arrival we were issued go fasters, moon beams, and deserts. We also went to the 7 day and I bought my hygiene items, writing gear and ink sticks. Chow to chow is the only way I can figure out what time of day it is. We received Knowledge from our Knowledge Hat, were given pit time from our Kill Hat and then in the afternoon had Big Daddy time. By the time I hit the rack I'm exhausted - it feels like LIGHTS LIGHTS LIGHTS comes in 5 minutes.
How many of us have been there? Received a letter and wondered what is wrong with my recruit? What is a moonbeam and why would a USMC recruit be in need of one? Oh good ... go fasters... maybe they roller skate to get from point A to point B quickly!!
A year or so ago, when I found myself in a situation not unlike the one above, I panicked. In my boot camp insanity I became convinced this was some diabolical plot to further cement that our recruits have indeed entered another world. Now I can no longer communicate with my Marine! Of course this state of affairs was simply not acceptable. Unwilling to accept defeat I went into my trusty boot camp message board. There I began to read anything and everything posted which caused even further confusion. Realizing the situation was more dire then I had originally thought I took a huge step... clicked on the chat room and entered for the first time. Shy, and a bit out of my element, for days I would visit and watch the sentences fly by as if in another language... well wait ... it is another language! It even has name - MarineSpeak!!!!!!!
Finally I couldn't take it any longer, hesitantly I asked, "Can someone please tell me - what's a KILL HAT? Where in the world is 29 Stumps... ???" and so my education began.
With the help of my beloved and revered mentors I slowly learned MarineSpeak. Despite feeling quite unsure of myself, and I admit a wee bit silly, I never the less started to test my new language skills in the chat room. To my surprise I was understood, no one laughed, I wasn't treated as an impostor! Success was mine I had conquered the basics! Now time for the real test, I began to use my new skills in my letters to boot camp. I was excited !! I could talk to him in his language, oh how proud he would be that I 'got it'.
While I speak to my Marine family friends in this abbreviated language with ease I've learned something very important. I've found that the habit of shortening words does not translate well when speaking with non Military friends. So beware when you feel the need to tell them you are LOL while SMH... seriously... trust me on this ... it is not a good way to go. Take the time, slow it down! Saying I was laughing out loud while shaking my head will earn you an understanding nod instead of the blank stare which says that you've finally gone over the edge.
For all you newbies out there, relax, check out a link below, you'll learn.
O M G how did poor Gumby get dragged into this?
WHAAAAAAAAATTTTTTTT!!!!!!!!!
This all came to mind recently when I was having a conversation with a parent of a fairly new recruit at Parris Island. She asked me to help her interpret a letter she had received.
Upon arrival we were issued go fasters, moon beams, and deserts. We also went to the 7 day and I bought my hygiene items, writing gear and ink sticks. Chow to chow is the only way I can figure out what time of day it is. We received Knowledge from our Knowledge Hat, were given pit time from our Kill Hat and then in the afternoon had Big Daddy time. By the time I hit the rack I'm exhausted - it feels like LIGHTS LIGHTS LIGHTS comes in 5 minutes.
How many of us have been there? Received a letter and wondered what is wrong with my recruit? What is a moonbeam and why would a USMC recruit be in need of one? Oh good ... go fasters... maybe they roller skate to get from point A to point B quickly!!
A year or so ago, when I found myself in a situation not unlike the one above, I panicked. In my boot camp insanity I became convinced this was some diabolical plot to further cement that our recruits have indeed entered another world. Now I can no longer communicate with my Marine! Of course this state of affairs was simply not acceptable. Unwilling to accept defeat I went into my trusty boot camp message board. There I began to read anything and everything posted which caused even further confusion. Realizing the situation was more dire then I had originally thought I took a huge step... clicked on the chat room and entered for the first time. Shy, and a bit out of my element, for days I would visit and watch the sentences fly by as if in another language... well wait ... it is another language! It even has name - MarineSpeak!!!!!!!
Finally I couldn't take it any longer, hesitantly I asked, "Can someone please tell me - what's a KILL HAT? Where in the world is 29 Stumps... ???" and so my education began.
With the help of my beloved and revered mentors I slowly learned MarineSpeak. Despite feeling quite unsure of myself, and I admit a wee bit silly, I never the less started to test my new language skills in the chat room. To my surprise I was understood, no one laughed, I wasn't treated as an impostor! Success was mine I had conquered the basics! Now time for the real test, I began to use my new skills in my letters to boot camp. I was excited !! I could talk to him in his language, oh how proud he would be that I 'got it'.
note - no they do not always like when we speak MarineSpeak. It's like learning the secret handshake or password to their childhood fort . What muddies the waters though is they appreciate we take the time to understand it
This had both a good and bad result. Have you ever said to someone Hola and then they proceeded to chatter at you in Spanish? Well that's pretty much what happened during boot leave after I asked, innocently, "What's your MOS?" Yes friends, I received a full out answer to my question, which also included numbers, and very little of which I understood. Deflation and confusion threatened but NO I will not quit!! Okay, so now why use words when we have #'s. Deep calming breath, where's my laptop? Apparently all I had mastered was MarineSpeak101 and it was time for the next level. While I speak to my Marine family friends in this abbreviated language with ease I've learned something very important. I've found that the habit of shortening words does not translate well when speaking with non Military friends. So beware when you feel the need to tell them you are LOL while SMH... seriously... trust me on this ... it is not a good way to go. Take the time, slow it down! Saying I was laughing out loud while shaking my head will earn you an understanding nod instead of the blank stare which says that you've finally gone over the edge.
For all you newbies out there, relax, check out a link below, you'll learn.
What I have found is that the education is never ending, with each new phase comes another layer of words/slang/acronyms that I need to master. I truly believe though that our Marines invent new words to keep us guessing - it's their language, it's a secret and just when we think we catch on we're thrown a curve ball.
Which brings me to my real question - FOBBIT !?!? maybe I'm living in a Tolkien fantasy? Fobbit ?!?! really?
Which brings me to my real question - FOBBIT !?!? maybe I'm living in a Tolkien fantasy? Fobbit ?!?! really?
Sigh... and the education continues.
Hotel Alpha Victor Echo Alpha Golf Oscar Oscar Delta Delta Alpha Yankee
Marines
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_States_Marine_Corps_acronyms_and_expressions
http://4mermarine.com/USMC/dictionary/a.htmlHotel Alpha Victor Echo Alpha Golf Oscar Oscar Delta Delta Alpha Yankee
Marines
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_States_Marine_Corps_acronyms_and_expressions
Army
http://www.acronymslist.com/cat/us-army-acronyms-%28official%29.html
http://www.acronymslist.com/cat/us-army-acronyms-%28slang%29.html
http://www.all-acronyms.com/tag/army
Military
http://www.fas.org/news/reference/lexicon/acronym.htm
http://www.globemaster.de/html/dictionary.html
http://usmilitary.about.com/od/theorderlyroom/a/alphabet.htm
Navy
https://portal.navfac.navy.mil/portal/page/portal/navfac/acronyms/abc_tb
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_U.S._Navy_acronyms
Air Force
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_U.S._Air_Force_acronyms_and_expressions
http://www.fas.org/irp/doddir/usaf/afdd1-2.pdf
Coast Guard
http://a091.uscgaux.info/docs/AcronymsList.pdf
http://www.coastguardfamily.org/acronyms.htm
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Information is Key
Today is all about information. For me the most unsettling and upsetting part of enlistment was my complete and total lack of knowledge. Thankfully, we live in the information age and a plethora of just that was a key stroke away - or so I thought. Connecting with others and finding real information is not as easy as I had first imagined it would be. After poring through pages and searches, which led to other searches and other pages, I stumbled upon a link that saved my sanity. www.parrisisland.yuku.com All things Marine boot camp, answers, chat rooms and a connection with others who were either going through this along side me or had been there before. I wouldn't say that this completely eased the stress but it did lower my levels to a manageable point.
For parents it's sending your baby who you've been watching as closely as a hawk, into the great unknown. For wives, husbands, girl friends/boy friends - you are having someone leave that should be, according to most in society, staying by your side. For us extended family members it's a little different but no less upsetting. For all but the spouse/partners it's the child/nephew/niece that you've been carefully sheltering from danger going off, willingly, into harms way. In this day and age we can talk to them, text them, GPS their phones to find them and contact them at any given moment and now they are going off into what feels like a big black hole.
What will they be doing? How will they be feeling? What... Why... How.... Where....
I found my answers - hopefully some of the links below will help you find yours !
All Branches
http://www.allmilitary.com/board/
http://www.sparkpeople.com/myspark/groups_individual.asp?gid=273
http://www.armybasic.org/portal/index.php
http://forums.military.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/2681962206/m/1241902096/p/44
http://www.marriedtothearmy.com
Air Force
http://www.militarymoms.net/airforcebasic.html
http://www.navy4moms.com
http://www.uscg.org/?uscg-forum=*http://www.uscg.org/forum/
http://www.coastguardfamily.org
If anyone has other sites or message boards that they find useful, please, leave it for me in the comments and I will add to the list above.
Suggested Reading -
Hey Mom! I Joined the Marines!: They May Have Enlisted, but We Were Drafted by Teri A. Laughery (Paperback - Oct. 26, 2009)
Into The Crucible: Making Marines for the 21st Century
Keeping Faith: A Father-Son Story About Love and the U.S. Marine Corps
An Army ABC Book
Separated By Duty, United In Love (revised): Guide to Long Distance Relationships for Military Couples (Updated)
For parents it's sending your baby who you've been watching as closely as a hawk, into the great unknown. For wives, husbands, girl friends/boy friends - you are having someone leave that should be, according to most in society, staying by your side. For us extended family members it's a little different but no less upsetting. For all but the spouse/partners it's the child/nephew/niece that you've been carefully sheltering from danger going off, willingly, into harms way. In this day and age we can talk to them, text them, GPS their phones to find them and contact them at any given moment and now they are going off into what feels like a big black hole.
What will they be doing? How will they be feeling? What... Why... How.... Where....
I found my answers - hopefully some of the links below will help you find yours !
All Branches
http://www.allmilitary.com/board/
http://www.sparkpeople.com/myspark/groups_individual.asp?gid=273
Marine Corps
www.parrisisland.yuku.com all things boot camp related
www.usmc.yuku.com combat school and beyond
Army
http://www.armybasic.org/portal/index.php
http://forums.military.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/2681962206/m/1241902096/p/44
http://www.marriedtothearmy.com
Air Force
http://www.militarymoms.net/airforcebasic.html
Navy
http://www.navy.com/messageboard/index.jspahttp://www.navy4moms.com
Coast Guard
http://www.uscg.org/?uscg-forum=*http://www.uscg.org/forum/
http://www.coastguardfamily.org
If anyone has other sites or message boards that they find useful, please, leave it for me in the comments and I will add to the list above.
Suggested Reading -
Hey Mom! I Joined the Marines!: They May Have Enlisted, but We Were Drafted by Teri A. Laughery (Paperback - Oct. 26, 2009)
Into The Crucible: Making Marines for the 21st Century
Keeping Faith: A Father-Son Story About Love and the U.S. Marine Corps
An Army ABC Book
Separated By Duty, United In Love (revised): Guide to Long Distance Relationships for Military Couples (Updated)
Monday, April 19, 2010
Tick Tock goes the Clock
Time .. minutes, days, weeks, months, years - they take on a new meaning when you have someone in the military.
Oh don' t get me wrong, in our regular everyday, ( read pre-military ), lives there are plenty of times when time and the calendar play a large role. We mark meetings, birthdays, vacations, special events and go on about our business. What I have found, post enlistment, for me, time has become a living breathing entity that has a constant presence. Time is both my friend and my enemy, sometimes at the same time!
It's as if there were suddenly all these tickers clicking simultaneously in my head. First, the countdown to his shipping off to boot camp... 3 months .. everything seems to be focused on that 3 months left.
Ship day comes and another clock starts - 13 weeks of boot camp, and the realization that there is another much larger ticker -the one that marks the end of his first active duty enlistment.. that's the big ticker that is on all the time running in the background. It's silent, but it's there.
Of course when the boot camp ticker starts, we move onto the marking off on the calendar of the weeks .. then days left in boot camp (another topic that will be written about in depth by the way). During boot there was the weekly letter ticker - Thursdays were a favorite day around here ! While this is happening we follow the training matrix as if it holds the answer to eternal youth. A week to rifle qualification, the gas chamber, the final written test, final PFT and the biggie .. gulp.. the Crucible.. a long 54 hour wait for anyone with a recruit in Marine Corp boot camp. Then the longest and shortest week - the one leading to graduation... a week, then day countdown. We get to see him.. and hug him.. and take him home .. hooray!
While we celebrate the day we've been waiting for, graduation from boot camp, we can't help but start thinking about .. only 10 days.. he leaves again in 10 days.. so there is a whisper in the background - Tick Tock.
The 10 days end and as if by magic.. here's comes that clock again - 29 days .. we have 29 days until we see and speak to him again. 30, 20, 10 single digits YAY.
now it's days to spend with him before the next ticker starts - how to enjoy the hours without the clock intruding? it's a balancing act.
On to school... again... tick tock ... how long until graduation this time? 9 months .. another big hooray.. time is now my friend. 9 months he's still safe, 9 months we can breath, 9 more months we can sleep. Though slowly the dark clock is starting to buzz.. the deployment clock.. 9 months until he heads to the operating forces.. 9 months until the reality of his being a Marine hits.. 9 months. During the 9 months were the little tickers.. how many days until the 1st class begins - ends? You can come home for a month?? Yippee !! then the 30 day clock starts again.. how much love, how much fun can you pack into 30 days? Answer is a lot.
Back to the school clock now it's 6 months ... oh wait ... the holidays are coming, he can come home?? how long ? tick tock - he's here- tick tock.. he's gone . tick tock a month to MOS graduation.. can we tell time to stand still? Can I at least try before reality crushes us? Tick Tock is my answer.
Wait ... you get leave before checking in to your unit? 18 days ... He's HOME ... he's gone.. tick tock
Check in day, time to settle into the life of a Marine "in the fleet". The EAS clock is ticking but mercifully all else is quiet. Then the call or text .. we were given our deployment window .. don't worry it's not for a while... like a steam train coming down the tracks... ticking is threatening to drown out all else, drive all thought from my head. The D word? please not the dreaded D word. But it's inevitable and it's out there now.. so the clock starts again. But wait, look at the calendar - don't allow all this good time to be wasted worrying about what's coming. So the smaller clocks start again, visits, leave.... a chance for dinner. But those damn large clocks are clouding up the horizon.
Along the way, somehow the awakening begins, it starts quietly but then becomes a roar. Life can't revolve around the ends, it will steal from the now. Live in the what you know, not the what ifs. Nothing can put off the day that your Marine, Airmen, Soldier or Sailor has to leave for their next training, next mission or end of leave.
So I try to quiet the ticker that is counting toward the biggie, deployments, and celebrate the present. It's a work in progress - but at least for the most part I'm somewhat back to the banality of time. I have gone back to the birthdays and meetings .. the lunch dates and holidays. The chance for a dinner with my Marine, visits with his parents and girlfriend... all the happy moments that we'd miss if we allowed the dark side of time to intrude.
Those tickers are always there in the background, quieter now, but never the less -Tick Tock goes the military loved ones clock
Oh don' t get me wrong, in our regular everyday, ( read pre-military ), lives there are plenty of times when time and the calendar play a large role. We mark meetings, birthdays, vacations, special events and go on about our business. What I have found, post enlistment, for me, time has become a living breathing entity that has a constant presence. Time is both my friend and my enemy, sometimes at the same time!
It's as if there were suddenly all these tickers clicking simultaneously in my head. First, the countdown to his shipping off to boot camp... 3 months .. everything seems to be focused on that 3 months left.
Ship day comes and another clock starts - 13 weeks of boot camp, and the realization that there is another much larger ticker -the one that marks the end of his first active duty enlistment.. that's the big ticker that is on all the time running in the background. It's silent, but it's there.
Of course when the boot camp ticker starts, we move onto the marking off on the calendar of the weeks .. then days left in boot camp (another topic that will be written about in depth by the way). During boot there was the weekly letter ticker - Thursdays were a favorite day around here ! While this is happening we follow the training matrix as if it holds the answer to eternal youth. A week to rifle qualification, the gas chamber, the final written test, final PFT and the biggie .. gulp.. the Crucible.. a long 54 hour wait for anyone with a recruit in Marine Corp boot camp. Then the longest and shortest week - the one leading to graduation... a week, then day countdown. We get to see him.. and hug him.. and take him home .. hooray!
While we celebrate the day we've been waiting for, graduation from boot camp, we can't help but start thinking about .. only 10 days.. he leaves again in 10 days.. so there is a whisper in the background - Tick Tock.
The 10 days end and as if by magic.. here's comes that clock again - 29 days .. we have 29 days until we see and speak to him again. 30, 20, 10 single digits YAY.
now it's days to spend with him before the next ticker starts - how to enjoy the hours without the clock intruding? it's a balancing act.
On to school... again... tick tock ... how long until graduation this time? 9 months .. another big hooray.. time is now my friend. 9 months he's still safe, 9 months we can breath, 9 more months we can sleep. Though slowly the dark clock is starting to buzz.. the deployment clock.. 9 months until he heads to the operating forces.. 9 months until the reality of his being a Marine hits.. 9 months. During the 9 months were the little tickers.. how many days until the 1st class begins - ends? You can come home for a month?? Yippee !! then the 30 day clock starts again.. how much love, how much fun can you pack into 30 days? Answer is a lot.
Back to the school clock now it's 6 months ... oh wait ... the holidays are coming, he can come home?? how long ? tick tock - he's here- tick tock.. he's gone . tick tock a month to MOS graduation.. can we tell time to stand still? Can I at least try before reality crushes us? Tick Tock is my answer.
Wait ... you get leave before checking in to your unit? 18 days ... He's HOME ... he's gone.. tick tock
Check in day, time to settle into the life of a Marine "in the fleet". The EAS clock is ticking but mercifully all else is quiet. Then the call or text .. we were given our deployment window .. don't worry it's not for a while... like a steam train coming down the tracks... ticking is threatening to drown out all else, drive all thought from my head. The D word? please not the dreaded D word. But it's inevitable and it's out there now.. so the clock starts again. But wait, look at the calendar - don't allow all this good time to be wasted worrying about what's coming. So the smaller clocks start again, visits, leave.... a chance for dinner. But those damn large clocks are clouding up the horizon.
Along the way, somehow the awakening begins, it starts quietly but then becomes a roar. Life can't revolve around the ends, it will steal from the now. Live in the what you know, not the what ifs. Nothing can put off the day that your Marine, Airmen, Soldier or Sailor has to leave for their next training, next mission or end of leave.
So I try to quiet the ticker that is counting toward the biggie, deployments, and celebrate the present. It's a work in progress - but at least for the most part I'm somewhat back to the banality of time. I have gone back to the birthdays and meetings .. the lunch dates and holidays. The chance for a dinner with my Marine, visits with his parents and girlfriend... all the happy moments that we'd miss if we allowed the dark side of time to intrude.
Those tickers are always there in the background, quieter now, but never the less -Tick Tock goes the military loved ones clock
They enlisted... We were drafted
Welcome to my humble blogging beginning... I am a family member of a United States Marine. I am going to chronicle the journey that any one who has a loved one in the Military embarks on from the moment we hear the words .. "I've enlisted!!"
In the last year the USMC especially has shown record #'s of newly enlisted recruits. This translates to lot of us out there all trying to walk this path with our service member, some of us have found support groups - some are walking the path alone. I have been involved with my Marine's journey from the moment he called me, excited as all get out, with those exact words. There is a spotlight on Mom's of Military members, but, not a lot of places to go for other military loved ones, so hopefully, this will provide an outlet for all of you out there.
As I am a family member of a Marine the info I provide may be skewed toward the USMC, but, the feelings are not - no matter which branch of service your loved one is in.. the feelings are the same for all of us.
What this will not be is a place to post derogatory comments about the US Military. What is will be is a place to share your experiences, read about mine and hold each other close as we navigate the sometimes rocky, sometimes joy filled but always proud path our servicemen and women have put us on.
Please leave me a comment, let me know what you think! Give me an idea on topics .. let's discuss I know you all have something to say or add !
Thanks !
In the last year the USMC especially has shown record #'s of newly enlisted recruits. This translates to lot of us out there all trying to walk this path with our service member, some of us have found support groups - some are walking the path alone. I have been involved with my Marine's journey from the moment he called me, excited as all get out, with those exact words. There is a spotlight on Mom's of Military members, but, not a lot of places to go for other military loved ones, so hopefully, this will provide an outlet for all of you out there.
As I am a family member of a Marine the info I provide may be skewed toward the USMC, but, the feelings are not - no matter which branch of service your loved one is in.. the feelings are the same for all of us.
What this will not be is a place to post derogatory comments about the US Military. What is will be is a place to share your experiences, read about mine and hold each other close as we navigate the sometimes rocky, sometimes joy filled but always proud path our servicemen and women have put us on.
Please leave me a comment, let me know what you think! Give me an idea on topics .. let's discuss I know you all have something to say or add !
Thanks !
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