So, I have FINALLY bit the bullet and gotten my California ID Number (card is on its way) so after signing a lease on my new place after the fire, I had an actual proof of residence, and spent a very reasonable hour and half in line to get my California ID. Please note that in all the states that I have lived in, California is the only one that requires you to have one of their ID's in order to do stuff in that state... like, say, get a business license, for example. I always figured that, though I am a supporter of state's rights, there was still the factor of National Supremacy (as established by the Supreme Court under John Marshall) and that as a Floridian, I am still a citizen of the United States of America, and therefore still guaranteed all the rights and liberties associated therein. This apparently does not apply to California. Don't get me wrong, I completely understand the idea that the state has a need and a right to tax company's and individuals doing business within their state, but considering the application for a DL or a standard ID for California was geared very much toward foreign nationals as well as American citizens, I kinda assumed I would have priority. (there is even a space to sign acknowledging if you have no SSN, and are not a US Citizen... but you CAN be a Californian)
Some may argue, and accurately so, that my primary experience with living in other states came through the military, and that being an employee of the federal government, and in such places as Louisiana and New York, more or less not by choice, I would not have been subject to each individual states citizenship regulations. very true, but also remember that I grew up on the border between Alabama and Florida, and watched people live in one state, doing business in the other as a part of daily life (my father still does, and pays no income tax to Alabama, as he is a Floridian) and being in New York, just north of NYC, it was a similar scenario for denizens of New Jersey and Connecticut who worked in the City and lived in the suburbs to simply go about their daily lives as Americans and nothing less because their ID had a different state's flag on it.
oh well, that is just my personal opinion on the matter, and counts for very little. I have a California address, and a California ID, and pay taxes to Arnold Schwarzenegger (damn, I need to hurry up and get into the National Guard so i can swear allegiance to that guy... how cool would that be? He killed the predator!) But having the new ID opens up new doors for me, like applying for a California CCW (not holding my breath for this one) a California Business License, Issuing California State Handgun certifications (yeah, I can do that), and maybe most importantly, voting Red in a Blue state! with these new responsibilities come new freedoms and opportunities, and I have every intention of taking advantage of them!
Here I Stand
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Sunday, December 19, 2010
Video of Afghanistan Ambush
Video clip that was forwarded to me from Lightfight.net - 101st Airborne in action. Good example of a Light Infantry firefight, and a great reaction from the whole team. Hazy point at 10 seconds in, where the TL nearly flags his own man right after the fight starts, but all in all, this guy is a stud, and that 40mm will swing a close fight any day of the week. Awesome video
101st Airborne Ambush - Afghanistan
101st Airborne Ambush - Afghanistan
Friday, December 17, 2010
Dow at a 2 year high
The Dow hit a two year high on Teusday - thats not saying much as we're still around two thousand points from the highs in late 2007, but it is something. the high didn't last long, when on Wednesday investors took their profits and ran, causing a slight slip, but things came back today. At just a point below 11500, may be looking better for the overall economy, but I would not get my hopes up just yet.
Things have been better this year than they were in 2008 and 2009, of course, and even significantly so, but that does not mean that the nation is on track for its full recovery. The GM IPO that I was following so closely for a while has come and gone, with brilliant results. I really wish I had been able to get in on that at the ground level, but it just wasn't in the cards. The company made exponentially more from the offering than they originally expected, and this will result in much needed jobs for the hard hit detroit area.
This one high point though, doesn't really hold it's luster when compared to the whole. Stocks may be up overall, but a lot of the change is seasonal, and increases, as a general rule, because of retail results over the Christmas shopping season. I am not blind, or unappreciative, to the trickle down effect of the increased spending over this season, and have directly benifited as a result of it, but I am concerned that this preceived prosperity may be premature, or unsubstantial - temporary even. The spendding this season may be overshadowing some technology and green energy companys that are not receiving the atttention or support that they deserve or need, and that may be detrimental to the development of the national job scene, and economy overall. Overall, the funds that I follow are at a wash since the Dow was at 11000. while some of the retail heavy funds have looked goods (and yes, will likely be paying dividends) others that I beleive are the real future for development in this country, have been waivering.
Happy Holidays America. Keep spending, enjoy your families and friends. Have fun over the holidays, but don't sugar coat the situation, and don't view the world with idealism. Peace on earth and goodwill toward man is what this is all about, but when thats over and done with, we will need to get back to work, because there is still a lot to be done.
Things have been better this year than they were in 2008 and 2009, of course, and even significantly so, but that does not mean that the nation is on track for its full recovery. The GM IPO that I was following so closely for a while has come and gone, with brilliant results. I really wish I had been able to get in on that at the ground level, but it just wasn't in the cards. The company made exponentially more from the offering than they originally expected, and this will result in much needed jobs for the hard hit detroit area.
This one high point though, doesn't really hold it's luster when compared to the whole. Stocks may be up overall, but a lot of the change is seasonal, and increases, as a general rule, because of retail results over the Christmas shopping season. I am not blind, or unappreciative, to the trickle down effect of the increased spending over this season, and have directly benifited as a result of it, but I am concerned that this preceived prosperity may be premature, or unsubstantial - temporary even. The spendding this season may be overshadowing some technology and green energy companys that are not receiving the atttention or support that they deserve or need, and that may be detrimental to the development of the national job scene, and economy overall. Overall, the funds that I follow are at a wash since the Dow was at 11000. while some of the retail heavy funds have looked goods (and yes, will likely be paying dividends) others that I beleive are the real future for development in this country, have been waivering.
Happy Holidays America. Keep spending, enjoy your families and friends. Have fun over the holidays, but don't sugar coat the situation, and don't view the world with idealism. Peace on earth and goodwill toward man is what this is all about, but when thats over and done with, we will need to get back to work, because there is still a lot to be done.
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Green Beret vs The Internet
Got this video from Roosterteeth.com - a really need site, especially if you're into shooting games. Just goes to show that all the hype out there, nothing beats training and experience. Hope yall enjoy the video as much as I did.
Monday, November 29, 2010
Job Searching for Veterans
I have not posted anything in a while, and for that I apologize. A lot has been going on recently, and I recently got a job, but that is no excuse. This update is about something very important to the veteran community out there, and something that I have a bit of first hand experience with: getting hired.
I have been out of the Army for just over a year now, and other than some temporary work with the Census Bureau, I have not been able to find any legitimate paid employment until now. That is over a year of active job hunting with a big fat goose egg as a result. I do not claim to be an expert. I am better positioned for a job search than many veterans out there, and I acknowledge that not everything I have to say is applicable. But nor was I an Engineer, or Mechanic, or Signals Analyst, or really anything that would provide for an almost immediate transfer of skills and experiences. In the Infantry, leading soldiers is what we do – but that doesn't always mean personnel management outside of uniform.
True, I have a Bachelor of Science (courtesy of the US Army) in International Relations, but that means exactly jack in the civilian world. Moreover, I have been a soldier since I was 17, and have worn a uniform ever since - leaving no time for even the most menial civilian work experience. On top of that, being an Infantryman doesn't easily translate to the suit and tie world. (It translates for us, of course... but it is the interviewer that we have to impress) In short, I am 27 years old, feeling like a kid straight out of high school looking for any work to pay the bills.
The biggest issue is actually getting to the interview. I sometimes think that I aim too high in some of the positions that I apply for, but if there is another way to aim, I never learned it. When every job out there is looking for someone with experience in that particular position, then there are no jobs available to get the necessary experience. Sometimes it works that way, and yeah, it sucks. It's not hard to parlay military experience into civilian terms when you are face to face with an interviewer. You have the opportunity to explain yourself a bit more, and really show your future boss that you can handle the situation. This becomes far more difficult on paper though, as with the bulleted comments on a resume, it is hard to compare civilian and military work experience without a blatant lie.
The best tip that I ever received on tweaking a military resume is to discuss tangible accomplishments in terms of general success and measurement. If you were a team leader, don't just put “team leader, US Army” mention that you were the first line supervisor of 4-5 personnel, directly responsible for their training and performance in high pressure situations. If you were the company armorer, a civilian employer may have no idea what that means. Instead, say that you were personally responsible for millions of dollars (depending on what kind of company you were with) worth of sensitive and restricted equipment. Give the employer values – something tangible and visual for your past experience, and all of a sudden, that guy who was a frat boy chugging beers while you were in the suck isn't going to look quite as appealing for the open position.
Once you get the interview, the battle is halfway over – but by no means is it won. You definitely have to bring your A game to sit down with your would be boss. Dress according to the job, and then take it one note higher. If everyone in the office you want to work in wears jeans and t-shirts, wear slacks and a tie. If they are in Khakis and a button down, you should be in a suit. If the office attire is suit and tie, then you'd better know how to wear one the right way. You never get another chance to make a good first impression.
Know what you are going to say before you get there for the interview. Bring a copy of your resume (at least one) and know how to explain each of your bullet points. This is a guide to your work history, and you aught to know it. The interviewer will expect you to be able to make them believe you are the best person for the job, and if you don't, it will show. Be confident, but don't be cocky. Be professional, but humble. Don't tell war stories. You may think that it helps your case, but you also might be making the interviewer feel inferior or inadequate. Keep everything professional, but be funny as well. This makes you memorable, and when they remember your name, you are more likely to get a call back.
Be prepared for questions like: what is your greatest regret, can you work well under pressure (try not to laugh at this one) where do you see yourself in 5 years, and things like this. Have an answer for them, and give them some thought before hand. You don't want to hesitate at game time.
Overall, yes, the economy sucks, and as a veteran you'll get a lot of handshakes and a “thank you for your service, but you're not what we're looking for” but there is nothing to do for this but drive on and keep trying. Our resume may not stack up to others who chose an easier path these last few years, but the biggest advantage that we have is our resilience. You take whatever crap life throws at you in stride, and keep moving, because that is the only way through. Right after I got out a friend of mine told me to be careful – that I was coming from a society where me, and those around me, would rather die than fail, and entering one where many people would rather fail than be inconvenienced. Ain't it the truth. As a veteran, there is no job out there that is above you if you apply yourself. You just have to make sure that everyone else knows it too.
I have been out of the Army for just over a year now, and other than some temporary work with the Census Bureau, I have not been able to find any legitimate paid employment until now. That is over a year of active job hunting with a big fat goose egg as a result. I do not claim to be an expert. I am better positioned for a job search than many veterans out there, and I acknowledge that not everything I have to say is applicable. But nor was I an Engineer, or Mechanic, or Signals Analyst, or really anything that would provide for an almost immediate transfer of skills and experiences. In the Infantry, leading soldiers is what we do – but that doesn't always mean personnel management outside of uniform.
True, I have a Bachelor of Science (courtesy of the US Army) in International Relations, but that means exactly jack in the civilian world. Moreover, I have been a soldier since I was 17, and have worn a uniform ever since - leaving no time for even the most menial civilian work experience. On top of that, being an Infantryman doesn't easily translate to the suit and tie world. (It translates for us, of course... but it is the interviewer that we have to impress) In short, I am 27 years old, feeling like a kid straight out of high school looking for any work to pay the bills.
The biggest issue is actually getting to the interview. I sometimes think that I aim too high in some of the positions that I apply for, but if there is another way to aim, I never learned it. When every job out there is looking for someone with experience in that particular position, then there are no jobs available to get the necessary experience. Sometimes it works that way, and yeah, it sucks. It's not hard to parlay military experience into civilian terms when you are face to face with an interviewer. You have the opportunity to explain yourself a bit more, and really show your future boss that you can handle the situation. This becomes far more difficult on paper though, as with the bulleted comments on a resume, it is hard to compare civilian and military work experience without a blatant lie.
The best tip that I ever received on tweaking a military resume is to discuss tangible accomplishments in terms of general success and measurement. If you were a team leader, don't just put “team leader, US Army” mention that you were the first line supervisor of 4-5 personnel, directly responsible for their training and performance in high pressure situations. If you were the company armorer, a civilian employer may have no idea what that means. Instead, say that you were personally responsible for millions of dollars (depending on what kind of company you were with) worth of sensitive and restricted equipment. Give the employer values – something tangible and visual for your past experience, and all of a sudden, that guy who was a frat boy chugging beers while you were in the suck isn't going to look quite as appealing for the open position.
Once you get the interview, the battle is halfway over – but by no means is it won. You definitely have to bring your A game to sit down with your would be boss. Dress according to the job, and then take it one note higher. If everyone in the office you want to work in wears jeans and t-shirts, wear slacks and a tie. If they are in Khakis and a button down, you should be in a suit. If the office attire is suit and tie, then you'd better know how to wear one the right way. You never get another chance to make a good first impression.
Know what you are going to say before you get there for the interview. Bring a copy of your resume (at least one) and know how to explain each of your bullet points. This is a guide to your work history, and you aught to know it. The interviewer will expect you to be able to make them believe you are the best person for the job, and if you don't, it will show. Be confident, but don't be cocky. Be professional, but humble. Don't tell war stories. You may think that it helps your case, but you also might be making the interviewer feel inferior or inadequate. Keep everything professional, but be funny as well. This makes you memorable, and when they remember your name, you are more likely to get a call back.
Be prepared for questions like: what is your greatest regret, can you work well under pressure (try not to laugh at this one) where do you see yourself in 5 years, and things like this. Have an answer for them, and give them some thought before hand. You don't want to hesitate at game time.
Overall, yes, the economy sucks, and as a veteran you'll get a lot of handshakes and a “thank you for your service, but you're not what we're looking for” but there is nothing to do for this but drive on and keep trying. Our resume may not stack up to others who chose an easier path these last few years, but the biggest advantage that we have is our resilience. You take whatever crap life throws at you in stride, and keep moving, because that is the only way through. Right after I got out a friend of mine told me to be careful – that I was coming from a society where me, and those around me, would rather die than fail, and entering one where many people would rather fail than be inconvenienced. Ain't it the truth. As a veteran, there is no job out there that is above you if you apply yourself. You just have to make sure that everyone else knows it too.
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Korea...
So if we go to war with North Korea, I'm going back into the Army. I am a child of the 1980's, and I spent my entire life waiting to fight communists. Now that I'm out of the military, the Koreans decide to start mixing it up? This is unacceptable! I'm not going to miss my chance to punch a communist in the face!
Thursday, November 25, 2010
Bug Out Bag AAR (After Action Review)
Last week there was a fire in my apartment building that burnt out (like Baghdad style burnt out) 1 room and did significant damage to my own (I was directly above where the fire started) This was my first time actually using my BOB in an emergency situation and I typed up a bit of an AAR for some buddies on this site, and my professional associates, both as a learning experience and to seek advice on tweaking it a bit.
As to the contents of the bag, I will not bore the professionals here with a detailed list of things like: 550 cord, 35ft, type OD green, 1 each. etc. I have been tweaking it around since I first started keeping a BOB a few years into the Army. Please assume that I had all the basics, unless mentioned in the Improves section. If you have something a bit unorthadox that has worked for you, and wouldn't be in a basic kit, then by all means let me know! Thats why I'm here. An issue that I did have though, was that my BOB was geared more toward an extended E&E scenario, or basically just getting the hell outta dodge, rather than an Urban Emergency Management or Natural Disaster situation, which is far more likely.
Sustains:
Camel Back Assault pack - I had it on my back for about a 12 hour period, moving all around the complex, and getting things taken care of during the aftermath. It may seem obvious to most of us that one would use a backpack style setup for a BOB, but many civilian style emergency kits, or those put together by response teams (and by this I mean, red cross, united way, NGO's etc. not EMTs or LE organizations) are in duffle bags or hand carried kit bags, and in my mind this is a no-go. In this situation, these would prove to be a pain in the ass. I was also glad for all the cargo room in the full assault pack. It allowed me to scoop up valuables (like my laptop) last minute and get out.
White Light Source - again, this is obvious to a lot of us, but I cannot stress this enough to the civilians that go through my Handgun courses and the other CERT and EM personnel that I have worked and train with, especially in an urban environment. once the power goes out inside a building, it is pitch black, and in the aftermath of the fire, my TacLight seemed to be the only white light source anyone had.
Digital Camera - this was something I lucked out on, as it was only in my bag due to my last road trip, but it was there, and I am glad for it. Important for taking pictures for insurance, evidence, etc. and again, this is something much more geared toward the ND/EM scenario than what I had originally put together my BOB for.
Spare Cell Phone charger - it has been over a week and I still have not been allowed back into my apartment (Asbestos from where the FD knocked down some walls) if i did not have a spare charger in my bag, my phone would have died well before I could have bought a new one, and you're on your phone quite a bit in this type of situation.
Improves(and as in any good learning experience, there are a lot of them. more than I can comfortably list here):
Gear not centrally located in BOB. - some things in my standard BOB get regular use (like my leatherman being on my desk, and my pistol being in my range bag) and were not packed up when I needed them. Yeah, my bad, and this basically negates the purpose of even having a BOB, and beleive me, I kicked myself for this at the time, but overall, having a plan, knowing what you need in your bag, and knowing exactly where those items are, worked out for me, and just goes to show that prior planning yes, really does work. (This is geared more toward families rather than Lightfighters themselves - have the "In case of emergency" family meeting, run rehersals, and make sure everyone is on the same page)
esential paperwork not in bag - Also, I need to get a fireproof box, for things like my DD214, medical records, etc. but I had no basic paperwork like my insurance information, hospital phone numbers (my girlfriend is a nurse, and was at work during the incident) etc. on me, or in my BOB. All this information was eventually found, but having the basics on me would have made things easier. This is a tip that I CAN take from the Red Cross or United Way - in all their emergency kits they provide laminated contact cards with all this crap on there. I need to pick one up.
Expanded medical kit - quickclot and an IV kit are all well and good when you're planning on treating GSW's, but a mother didn't appreciate it when I offered medical tape to her son in lieu of a bandaid with neosporin. plan for what you're reacting to. This brings me back to revamping my kit.
There are a slew of other improves I could bring up, but they are far too mundane (as if these were not) to discuss at length.
General Comments: You have time. I woke up at 0400 to the smell of smoke, well before my fire alarm went off. if you don't panic, then you can grab your gear and throw on your boots with plenty of time to spare. I grabbed my kit, the items that weren't in my kit (again, prior planning) and a few essential belongings and was still the first one out and about. everyone around you is going to be a big ball of chaos, and there is very little you can do about it. there is no use trying to calm people down and stop hystaria. These are not soldiers, or people with any type of uselful life experience, and American civilians don't typically respond well to being given orders. worry about you and yours, and keep people from killing themselves, but if there are more than about 15-20 people around, don't try to control the situation, groupthink will supercede common sense or charisma.
afterwards the Fire Captain shook my hand. I was banging on doors and telling people to get the fuck out when the FD arrived, and assisted with breaching two doors (they use heavy ass crow bars, BTW, which just destroy flimsy apartment doors) before they had enough guys on the floor to cover it and told me to get out of there. Getting a pat on the back from a professional like that was a great feeling. Yeah, I know, I should have gotten out ASAP, and let the pros handle the first responder stuff, but it's not in me to sit idly by, and i doubt anyone on here would have done any different in the situation.
I'm still living out of a hotel a week later, but I look on this as a learning experience, and plan on incorporating a lot of the lessons learned into my next few PPiH (Personal Protection in The Home) courses, which, to the NRA's credit, focus quite a bit on preparedness. What are some other practical BOB experiences? What do you have in your bag that I might not have thought of? any questions or info that I might have overlooked?
As to the contents of the bag, I will not bore the professionals here with a detailed list of things like: 550 cord, 35ft, type OD green, 1 each. etc. I have been tweaking it around since I first started keeping a BOB a few years into the Army. Please assume that I had all the basics, unless mentioned in the Improves section. If you have something a bit unorthadox that has worked for you, and wouldn't be in a basic kit, then by all means let me know! Thats why I'm here. An issue that I did have though, was that my BOB was geared more toward an extended E&E scenario, or basically just getting the hell outta dodge, rather than an Urban Emergency Management or Natural Disaster situation, which is far more likely.
Sustains:
Camel Back Assault pack - I had it on my back for about a 12 hour period, moving all around the complex, and getting things taken care of during the aftermath. It may seem obvious to most of us that one would use a backpack style setup for a BOB, but many civilian style emergency kits, or those put together by response teams (and by this I mean, red cross, united way, NGO's etc. not EMTs or LE organizations) are in duffle bags or hand carried kit bags, and in my mind this is a no-go. In this situation, these would prove to be a pain in the ass. I was also glad for all the cargo room in the full assault pack. It allowed me to scoop up valuables (like my laptop) last minute and get out.
White Light Source - again, this is obvious to a lot of us, but I cannot stress this enough to the civilians that go through my Handgun courses and the other CERT and EM personnel that I have worked and train with, especially in an urban environment. once the power goes out inside a building, it is pitch black, and in the aftermath of the fire, my TacLight seemed to be the only white light source anyone had.
Digital Camera - this was something I lucked out on, as it was only in my bag due to my last road trip, but it was there, and I am glad for it. Important for taking pictures for insurance, evidence, etc. and again, this is something much more geared toward the ND/EM scenario than what I had originally put together my BOB for.
Spare Cell Phone charger - it has been over a week and I still have not been allowed back into my apartment (Asbestos from where the FD knocked down some walls) if i did not have a spare charger in my bag, my phone would have died well before I could have bought a new one, and you're on your phone quite a bit in this type of situation.
Improves(and as in any good learning experience, there are a lot of them. more than I can comfortably list here):
Gear not centrally located in BOB. - some things in my standard BOB get regular use (like my leatherman being on my desk, and my pistol being in my range bag) and were not packed up when I needed them. Yeah, my bad, and this basically negates the purpose of even having a BOB, and beleive me, I kicked myself for this at the time, but overall, having a plan, knowing what you need in your bag, and knowing exactly where those items are, worked out for me, and just goes to show that prior planning yes, really does work. (This is geared more toward families rather than Lightfighters themselves - have the "In case of emergency" family meeting, run rehersals, and make sure everyone is on the same page)
esential paperwork not in bag - Also, I need to get a fireproof box, for things like my DD214, medical records, etc. but I had no basic paperwork like my insurance information, hospital phone numbers (my girlfriend is a nurse, and was at work during the incident) etc. on me, or in my BOB. All this information was eventually found, but having the basics on me would have made things easier. This is a tip that I CAN take from the Red Cross or United Way - in all their emergency kits they provide laminated contact cards with all this crap on there. I need to pick one up.
Expanded medical kit - quickclot and an IV kit are all well and good when you're planning on treating GSW's, but a mother didn't appreciate it when I offered medical tape to her son in lieu of a bandaid with neosporin. plan for what you're reacting to. This brings me back to revamping my kit.
There are a slew of other improves I could bring up, but they are far too mundane (as if these were not) to discuss at length.
General Comments: You have time. I woke up at 0400 to the smell of smoke, well before my fire alarm went off. if you don't panic, then you can grab your gear and throw on your boots with plenty of time to spare. I grabbed my kit, the items that weren't in my kit (again, prior planning) and a few essential belongings and was still the first one out and about. everyone around you is going to be a big ball of chaos, and there is very little you can do about it. there is no use trying to calm people down and stop hystaria. These are not soldiers, or people with any type of uselful life experience, and American civilians don't typically respond well to being given orders. worry about you and yours, and keep people from killing themselves, but if there are more than about 15-20 people around, don't try to control the situation, groupthink will supercede common sense or charisma.
afterwards the Fire Captain shook my hand. I was banging on doors and telling people to get the fuck out when the FD arrived, and assisted with breaching two doors (they use heavy ass crow bars, BTW, which just destroy flimsy apartment doors) before they had enough guys on the floor to cover it and told me to get out of there. Getting a pat on the back from a professional like that was a great feeling. Yeah, I know, I should have gotten out ASAP, and let the pros handle the first responder stuff, but it's not in me to sit idly by, and i doubt anyone on here would have done any different in the situation.
I'm still living out of a hotel a week later, but I look on this as a learning experience, and plan on incorporating a lot of the lessons learned into my next few PPiH (Personal Protection in The Home) courses, which, to the NRA's credit, focus quite a bit on preparedness. What are some other practical BOB experiences? What do you have in your bag that I might not have thought of? any questions or info that I might have overlooked?
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