Working The Weight

This article brings back good memories. One of my regular workouts was to put on the body armor and walk around the base with a buddy of mine.

From http://www.strategypage.com

September 25, 2007: Some soldiers are using the 30 pound protective vest as a physical conditioning aid, both in the gym and outside. Today's combat soldiers and marines are, like professional athletes, very much into physical conditioning. A little extra speed and strength on the battlefield can save your life. This is especially true now that the protective vest, with all the attachments, weighs in at 30 pounds. Troops headed for the combat zone, wear the vest during all their training. But other have found that wearing the vest in the gym, or while running, helps as well. The more you move about with the vest on, the more you develop the muscles, and lung capacity, that support the weight.

After the first rotation of combat troops came back from Iraq and Afghanistan, some noticed that they were in pretty good physical shape. Those who were deep into physical conditioning quickly figured out that the heavy protective vest was having the same impact as training weights, that are worn to build up certain muscles. Even soldiers who don't particularly like running or doing calisthenics with the vest on, realize that this will make life easier for them when they get back to the combat zone.

PRT mission to improve Health Care in Khost, Afghanistan

Video clip
This was a good clip to watch, not the least because I know some of the people in it.

There was a New York Times article a couple days ago titled "Building a Dam in a Bid to End Afghan Stability." And the two say a lot about working in Afghanistan. As part of the new ways of doing things, American and ISAF forces in Afghanistan are focusing on building the country, as opposed to hunting down bad guys (not that anyone will walk away from a fight, just that for the most part, the troops are not looking for one.) Of course, as ISAF adds to the health care, builds infrastructure, educates children, builds local governance, it strengthens the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan (IRoA) as a country. It does this by building ties between the local population and the population as a whole, something that did not exist before. And as a generation of children are educated, given health care, and connected to the world beyond their own tribe, a country is created, where there has not been a real country forever. For all the civilizations that have gone into the Hindu Kush to conquer it (and left), none have ever tried to build up the human capital of the area, until now. And the local population is fully aware of what that means for the future.

And the Taliban is also aware of what this means for the future. And so they destroy roads, dams, kill doctors, destroy schools, and intimidate the population into not supporting the efforts and work that is needed to create all of these things. In the long run, this is destructive, and everyone knows it. But they can't get to the long run unless they survive the short term. And here lies the truth of insurgency/counterinsurgency (at least where the United States is involved). Even when everything is being done for the good of the population, in the end, the insurgents have one argument, "do not help the IRoA, or we will kill you." For all the good that our forces and resources could do, every individual Afghan has to ask the question "will I live to benefit?"

Has it always been this way? No, within the U.S. military there has been great debate on if this is part of war. The initial efforts in Afghanistan and Iraq were led by those who believed that this had no place in the work of the military. The current efforts are those who say if the U.S. does not succeed in this, they fail in the whole thing, and the "successes" that were achieved in combat amount to nothing (which is a story that the U.S. has seen before). There is a story of a retired U.S. Army officer, who when talking with one of the officers who has played a part in developing the counterinsurgency doctrine that many are now trying to implement said "it would be sad if twice in a lifetime we would fail to learn the same lessons."

I was asked by friends "what does it feel to be a part of history." Well, my work there ended up fitting squarely into this development of theory. And the realization that I was intimately involved in a new way of looking at war, had me in awe.

Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra 2007-2008 season gala quotes

"You two look real good. Is someone going to take your picture?"
Well, since she was asking, of course we asked if she could.

"I know you, do you work for ___? We met at the Korean picnic" (three years ago!)

"Welcome back. We're glad you are safe"

"I don't mind that you can't remember girls names"

The Afghan Campaign by Steven Pressfield

The Afghan Campaign
This is about a soldier in the time of Alexander the Great of Macedon, around 330 BC. Alexander the Great has conquered everywhere using standard tactics of drawing out his enemy and defeating it on the battlefield. And he has conquered the Persian empire, the greatest in the world. And, on the way to the riches of India, lay the Hindu Kush, present day Afghanistan.

The Afghan Campaign is written from the point of view of a new soldier. During the war against the Persians Matthias joins the Macedonian army, following in the footsteps of his brothers. However, he is too late to join in the glorious wars against the Persians. But, he arrives in the Hindu Kush, after the main battle. But the war is not over. Over the course of the campaign, Matthias sees victory, loss. Friends are killed in barbaric ways and he takes part in atrocities that make him sick. His family gives his support, and his fiance leaves him. And at the end, he is frustrated with the war, has the spoils of war that his brother tells him to take home, and decides to continue with Alexander.

So, what is the point? Why this pseudo-history of the ancient world? The question for this is not to present a history, but to present an experience. So, do I think it is accurate, all things considered. And, well, it is. When you are in the middle of things, you don't have too much time to think about the big picture, unless you have that kind of position. Your general thoughts as far as war is concerned are about the day in question. But there are times to think about other things. You are very concerned about your comrade around you, their fortunes, successes, failures. Their hurts and their victories are shared and felt by you. And you think of loved ones behind. Of people back home who support and love you. Of those who have forgotten you. And those who have let you go and gone their own way.

Someone asked me if I missed anything about serving in Afghanistan, it was that. The sense that we shared in the struggles, successes and frustrations of each other. The guy who we all said had the worst job in the office, as he was having his direction of effort changed
almost hourly, and never could get what he was doing done well enough to be satisfying. The senior officer who did not have a well defined job, who spent his time making snide remarks and complaining about little mickey mouse issues. The guys who got regular packages and letters from home (I was one of them), especially the newlywed whose wife sent him a package including baked cookies weekly (the winner). We worried about the guy who was a bit of a loner and never got packages (and were real relieved when his mother sent something). I loved it when all the guys on the staff were pulling for me when I gave a big presentation that needed very senior officer support, giving me feedback, suggestions, and general "ask for whatever help you need" support. We talked to our families and shared in the fustrations, joys, stories (funny, sad, frustrating and proud). The ideas, dreams and hopes we had for the future. All the things that make us real human beings. And Pressfield presents that well, both the good and the bad.

Obviously, the book is for a certain type of person. The gore exists, as it is also a part of war. But it is not there for its own sake. It is there because it is part of the environment that shapes the people. And to that extent, it, like some of his other works (e.g. Gates of Fire), does the job wonderfully.

In memoriam: Joe

http://joekaren.blogspot.com

Some pictures

Some pictures from the past few months. I suppose a philosophical thought may come to me at some point.

Afghanistan pictures

Home

First thoughts.

Apartment feels big. Walls are far away. Lots of stuff in luggage and boxes that are looking for a home. Boxes of mail. Already paid bills.

Clean kitchen.
Good company.

Word of the Day: downrange

downrange: shooting. The part of a shooting range where bullets are going i.e. the target and backstop.

Military. A combat zone.

Usage: "How long have you been downrange?"

Update

The Pittsburgher has left Afghanistan and is on his way home :-)

Word of the Day: Popping Smoke

Smoke: Particulate that is carried in the air and is visible to the eye.
Popping smoke: Lighting pyrotechnic device to generate dense clouds of colored smoke. Used in signaling aircraft from the ground and to identify specific locations. Especially used in marking pickup spots for personnel extraction by aircraft.

Popping smoke: Leaving, especially very quickly.
Usage: "When are you popping smoke?"

Good hunting

We found a praying mantis nearby our living quarters this evening. The best thing we could think of: we wished her good hunting.

QOTD: It is pink. It may as well be contaminated

P1: "My wife had to get a new cell phone"
P1: "It is pink. It might as well be contaminated"
P2: "Does that mean you can't use it? How secure are you in your masculinity?"
Later
P1: "(young daughter), did mommy get a new phone? What color is it? Where you with her when she got it? Did you pick the pink phone?"

QTOD: Have you read those books?

I was giving a collegue some books I had in PDF

P1: Have you read all those books?
Me: I'm from ____. One thing we know how to do is read.

P1: Have you read ___ by ___ ___?
Me: I even cited him in my brief.

QOTD: You're not gone yet

Ok, this was someone who was hoping to use my computer :-)

Independence Day!

August 19th is celebrated as Afghanistan Independence Day, when Afghanistan achieved full independence from Britain. It is probably a testament to the attitude towards things that Britain tends to celebrate along side its former colonies during their independence day celebrations, even when the actual event was not exactly love and kisses.

The usual parades of armed power. And speeches. The week has been one marked by honesty in public. President Karzai talking about the importance of education. Rather strange for a President of a country that is covered in war and conflict. But

Karzai said the Afghan people must be ready to make sacrifices for the country's freedom, but also need to focus on education.

"Without education, technology and science we will be under the attack of the foreigners," Karzai said. "For an independent Afghanistan, our youths have to get an education."

There is a realization that the end of this is when the Afghan are educated enough to govern themselves. Or my way of putting it, when the children we are putting through school now become the elders and leaders of Afghanistan.

NYTimes: You Win This War By Drinking Tea

New York Times


This is a fun sounding book. In 1943 American and allied soldiers were in Iraq, because Nazi Germany was threatening to conquer it via Syria. The article is an interview with LTC John Nagl, an American officer known for his book "Learning to Eat Soup With a Knife." Me makes the comment that it sure seemed like we knew alot about Iraq back in 1943. A "charming" book, with illustrations, written in a more hopeful, less irony-filled time. Back when we were sure we were fighting evil.

The article title came out of one of the points that Nagl talks about. I remember being dragged by a shopkeeper who wanted to get me to buy a rug. Brought me into his shop, and immediately offered chai. Very recognizable story.

There is a lot to be said about referencing the past. When I wrote my dissertation, one of my goals was to have at least one citation older then I was. I was successful. I also was able to do the same in a presentation I gave for work. One of the most compelling slides that I have. This is a difficult business, marked by what is unknown as much as is known. Using the advantages of other people's hindsight sems like a good thing.

Word of the Day: Chief's Initiation

Chief: Chief Petty Officer - Senior non-commissioned officer in the U.S. Navy. Position of responsibility and leadership. Expected to be a leader of men (and women), a master of his area of knowledge, and a teacher of skills and traditions. Also noted by the wearing of khaki's instead of dungerees, a sign that you are now a leader who directs other.

Chief's Initiation: Ceremony commemorating new Chief's. A time of solemn recognition. Also a time of incredulity of how some sailor was able to con his superiors into regarding him a person of maturity. Where old salts look at these new guys and wonder if they have what it takes, and put them through many tests of their, umm, endurance, resiliance, intelligence (wisdom? these new guys?) because they want to see just how much these new guys can take. Definitely not something to tell mom all the details.

Usually remembered as one of the happiest days in the guy's life.

Congratulations Smokey!

Word of the Day: Hail & Farewell

Ceremony where new arrivals are welcomed and people departing are recognized. Usually paired, as the goal is to have a bit of overlap. Hails are generally simple. Farewells can include roasts, many praises, sometimes a gift of appreciation.

Word of the Day: Short

Short
usage:
1. Are you getting short?
2. How short are you? He's so short he can look up at a dime.

The state of being when your assignment is close to an end. Long form: short timer. Symptoms: the number of days left in the assignment is recalled instantly by the person in question, as well as anyone who spends more then 10 seconds with the person in a day. Viewing the pages in the calendar below the current month as worthless. Boxes being used to get stuff out instead of bringing stuff in. Office mates looking around and thinking about rearranging all the furniture as the desk and shelves will be cleaned out. Everything done is associated with the question "How are we going to do this when ___ is not here?"

Fallen comrade ceremony

A message over email. Fallen comrade ceremony.

Check the details. There is the time.

Here the announcement over the Giant Voice "There will be a fallen comrade ceremony at . . ." One hour. Enough time to eat.

Finish dinner. Walk out to the road. People are starting to line the road. Spot a buddy and walk over next to him.

People chatting about anything and everything.

"There will be a fallen comrade ceremony in 15 minutes"

Still chatting, but finding our spots along the line.

No words spoken, but then the chatter dies. Lines of men and women. Looking across at each other. Legs spread, hands behind back. Silent and serious.

A car comes by. Snap to attention. A second car. With the coffin and flag in the back. Salutes from the men and women in uniform. Hold it. A third car comes. A camera films the lines of men and women at attention. Soon, someone will see this video. And they will know that their son/daughter/husband/wife/brother/sister was remembered with honor.

Salutes are dropped. And we disperse. Back to do our duty.