ATS EXCLUSIVE~ ADVISOR inside Iraq, teaser

Heh! I can understand civilians' confusion over the military's excessive use of TLA's (Three Letter Acronyms)...I couldn't even keep 'em all straight when I was in the Navy & that was long ago so far as to hav degraded in memory somewhat. Even with more extensive government research I've been doing over the last few years, I still encounter some confusion with all of the alphabet-agencies too.

Stay safe, stay in one piece & keep up the esprit de corp. As you indicated, that one pic of you was after being awakened just to have it taken, I hope you keep your eyes wide open on patrols...I think I can speak for pretty much the whole ATS community when I pray for the end of the war & have you back home.

SALUTE!

Amazing pictures, keep safe in Iraq.
I happen to be heading to MEPS this Friday afternoon, Central time zone.
So since I'm going in should I start calling you Sir from now on Advisor?
And yes, I am going active-duty Army.

You are at the same place that my cousin was when he was there. He was hit five times by IED's, the last time almost got him. Be careful.

19DCW71

Just relaxing for the weekend, have a four day since
returning from a month at NTC, thanks for asking.

The 240 doesn’t really kick much, it is a 7.62 which
is small in my opinion. Now a .50 has kick, that is a mean
Puppy so to say.

Being shot at is better than getting blown up, and mortared.
Small arms fire, or SAF, never bother me or most of the other guys.
We were trained to find and fix on the source, so we would be the
only ones looking around and reporting the activity, lol.
As for the spiders, I have heard of them called many things, but
Never seen them chase shadows. As for the image of the guys
Holding the huge ones, I suspect that it was photo chopped.

Spec_ops_wannabe

No, don’t call me sir because I work for a living.
I’m an enlisted soldier, and only officers are called sir.

MBF

Correction, I was there, we are back stateside now, getting
Ready to redeploy in December. Yeah, the area is a very bad
Location for IEDs tier one hotspot, my first time getting blown
up was while dismounted. Rung my bell good, couldn’t hear
Well for a week after.

The last time my cousin was hit by an IED, he was in a Bradley. When he came to, he heard them coming up the side to finish them off. When he opened the hatch, he was eyeball to eyeball with one of them. He shot him with a 9mm and chased him down and emptied his clip and the other guy got on the 50 and mowed the other one down. The driver was hurt bad. The Bradley had to be junked.

Boy do I get sick and tired of second-hand hero stories. Most of the stuff you guys make up just doesn't make any sense.

And, yes, I'm a combat Veteran so let's not mince words, shall we?

Originally posted by Loadmaster
Boy do I get sick and tired of second-hand hero stories. Most of the stuff you guys make up just doesn't make any sense.

And, yes, I'm a combat Veteran so let's not mince words, shall we?

Is that combat veteran as in got shot at and blown up or combat veteran as in WAY behind the lines?

reply to post by ADVISOR


Interesting. When I was over there (Saudi Arabia, Iraq) in 1991 Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm, we were not allowed cameras. I would have thought that would be a serious breach of security as well as other violations.

I'm not here to bust your B...s though are you sure cameras and/or camcorders are not a violation to OPSEC or any other UCMJ guidelines?

I know these images are easy to find 'these' days though I always wondered if soldiers were assuming risk carrying one let alone using it. I know alot of Arabs don't like to have their picture taken whereas some believe it affects their soul in some way.

Did they give you guys any other instructions in how to socialize with locals if it became 'necessary'? I remember the A OK sign was considered a sign of the devil. Never sit with the soles of your feet facing an Arab for its considered a serious insult. Absolutely no pornos or any advances made at the females. Never shake hands with your left hand for thats the 'one' they 'clean' themselves with while doing there business.

How about those DUNG beatles. A soldier makes a 'deposit' in the cat hole and then the dung beatles come out in hordes at night and dig it up, roll it around and give as a gift to their dung princess to hibernate and feed the baby beetle. LMAO these are the kinds of things one does with no 'distractions' around. The desert is quite peaceful and the wind makes it bearable.

Once had a large lizard as a pet on a leash. He didn't care for MRE's either. Do they still heat 'lunch buckets' in oil barrels with heaters attached? Anything 'warm' to eat was but once a week. Hope you didn't feed any unruly hostages PORK MRE's? Just curious. I didn't though I can't speak for another.

I remember wishing I had a camera at times merely as a personal journal to record what happened of which is not necessary to get into here. At least your not posting the horrors of war.

Personally, I remember we treated the hostages very well and was 'shocked' when I saw the Abu Graib photos. That had to have been an exception. Hope so.

Has anyone asked you how many wives you had? A soldier felt sorry for me when I responded I just had a girlfriend at the time. Apparently your wealth or status is less if you only have one wife.

Turned 21 in the desert with not one ounce of alcohol anywhere in sight.

I was on a mission in Jordan two years before the Persian Gulf War training with the Jordanian Special Forces and was shocked by their parachuting tactics. If one felt they needed to pray for whatever reason they would kneel down in the aircraft holding up the rest of us in line to jump from the C130 or C141 I believe. Instead of making one pass with the aircraft, sometimes we made as many as 4! I'll never forget that one...blew me away.

I don't talk very often about these things though I know how it is to be in the desert with a desire to 'link' to the world we knew. Care packages? What happened to those?

What's different with you guys over there now is it's hard to know who the enemy is. Our 'enemy' wore Iraqi uniforms whereas with 'terrorists' you don't know if you can trust the Iraqi police at times since they have been infiltrated with 'terrorists'. What a nightmare.


They US military could have saved alot of lives, time and money if they would have immediately sealed the borders of Iran and Syria so as not to allow terrorists to supply their troops within Iraq. The strategy was very poor from the onset though thank God General Petraeus stepped up and took the reigns.

Stay safe, we are grateful for your service and I don't believe you should have to be there much longer in my assessment.

I'd be interested to hear anything you have to say about the above.




[edit on 3-10-2008 by Perseus Apex]

Things have changed a lot as far as being able to have cameras and video recorders. Our Squadron Commander up in headquarters put out a request for photos and video for a troop ball we had once back in Ft Hood. It was so the families could see what we had seen while over there, and what the enviornment was like.

Mentioning OPSEC, so long as we don't record any thing sensitive, there is no issues, and even CID reviewed many of the photos and videos for violations, none of which they could find. There is nothing in any of the images or videos that would reviel classified material or info. The insurgents know what a Brad is because they can hear the thing about a mile away, not like it is quiet.

Of course, I'm not about to post images or other media of the war horrors, even though some of those types of images did get recorded. A camera of one form or another is essential gear now days, one to record detainees and the stuff they had on them. Also it allows us to create visual records of events for use later on, to be reviewed by S2 and such.

Some times it is even encouraged that we have cameras for all actions, just so a form of evidence and proof can be presented. A picture speaks a thousand words, and many times can be invaluable. Like when an insurgent is caught red handed and we take his photo with the IEd material on his person. Too bad it wasn't seen as a tool in previous conflicts, as it has become one of the best we have available.

[edit on 3-10-2008 by ADVISOR]

Great pix. Glad you are home and safe. Now go get drunk and get a steak! Thats a order.

reply to post by ADVISOR


I understand using a camera for evidence or possible CSI purposes in within closed doors but I'm shocked the military allows photos/videos of where a soldier is located/stationed/patrolling/living etc. The enemy could either intercept the video, the pictures via ambush or in an 'ambush' in cyberspace. I know I wouldn't want someone taking pictures of where my 'domain' is.

This has always shocked me seeing those photos and thinking about all the possibilities of how an enemy could compromise ones position or intercept valuable data of 'any' kind.

Once again I believe that cameras and videocams should only be allowed within closed doors or for CSI or other record keeping/archiving purposes. I'll have to assume the troops have been given a good security briefing on it anyhow.

Wow, thanks man. I always wondered how Iraq looks from a soldiers view. I'm thinking about joining the military soon, this just makes me want to experience something like that. Once again thanks!

reply to post by Trams


Only sign up if you are serious and passionate about defending your country. We have too many people these days joining up for the wrong reasons. We need serious soldiers to guard this country from here forward, not tourists or benefit babies.

Well, if you must 'enlist' for whatever reason you have, try to sign up for an area your interested in cause if you don't speak up, they'll speak for you. Try to acquire a skill in an area you may want to pursue after your ETS (expiration term of service). The more they need someone to fill a certain MOS (military occupational specialty) the more benefits they'll offer you though if you don't ask, you don't get .......what you could have otherwise.

My GI bill, more than several years ago, was only $10,000 though that is because I went into an MOS that alot of people were applying for. This is important to understand because if you sign up for a highly popular MOS.....they won't offer you many benefits. If you don't pass all the schools they put you through in order to achieve your desired specialty or get injured, they DX you meaning you get recycled into the system...kind of like being flushed down the toilet not knowing where you're going to end up.

I've seen some guys heartbroken who didn't get to achieve some 'title' or tab they had in mind for themselves. To this day, my cousin is still jealous of me for getting where he wanted to go when he was the one who made a career out of the military. He couldn't get accepted to a certain school or two because he had a plate in his leg from a high school football injury. Otherwise, I'm sure he would have achieved his dreams. He thought of nothing other than being a soldier growing up. Destiny I suppose. He has a good solid well paying civilian job when he retires from the military,(20 years of service) though I'm not sure how he's going to deal with non-military types who don't acknowledge his idea of the 'system'.

Also, you have to really examine who you are and whether the military life is for you. Ask to tour a base and question people on the job in an area you're interested in. If you like a 'structured' kind of life...great...if not....don't even think about it.

Everyone has their own 'unique' experience in the military.

For me, I'll be honest as to what I liked and didn't like about the military.

Likes:
The outdoors, Training, working with powerful and sophisticated weaponry, benefits, leadership skills, confidence, increasing physical and mental strength, duty to country, 3 free meals daily, free room and board, college credit courses, always being on the move, time to figure out what you want to do next, meeting people from all walks of life.

Dislikes:
Living with people from 'all walks of life', too much pottymouth and uneducated small talk, Structure, too many inspections to kill dead time, abuses of power/rank, low pay, being seen and treated like a number in a system, being told what to do and how to do it, holding your opinion unless asked, dealing with 'authority' figures.


I personally am too independent, outspoken and free thinking to have been a career soldier. I have always had 'issues' with those who claim absolute authority of which is necessary in combat though not so necessary on the base.

I basically don't like being told what to do by anyone or just how to do it. I'd rather find a better way to do something if possible or look for flaws in the plans of my leaders but then again, lives are at stake.

They always told me I thought too much and that "your not paid to think", "your paid to do". As you gain rank, knowledge and experience, they begin to listen more though it can be a very humbling experience regardless of 'who' you think or thought you are/were.

I preferred University life while it lasted, the rest is history.

Good luck.

Excellent Thread ADVISOR, it really does give one a different perception of what life is for you and your Troops. Let us know if there are any people that may need something under the tree for Christmas. You will have to give the address and how much time we have to get stuff sent.
Blessings and light my friend, thankyou all for keeping us safe.
Julie

amazing pictures, thx for posting this!

Wow.Thank you for the interesting photos.Even though I do not agree with our boys being over there,I thank you for your service.Be safe,and thanks again for the opportunity to see what you see.

Awesome pics, man! I really like the one against the wall, too.

Be careful, though---the military is pretty strict about what soldiers post on the internet regarding OPSEC. Stay safe, man.

Advisor,

Thank you for your service. Us Americans owe all military personnel a debt of gratitude for keeping us safe and free, as do the Iraqi people and several other countries. Thank you for standing up for people who are unable to stand up for themselves. I did 3 years in the army from 83 - 86 and fortunately for me I had a relatively relaxed MOS. We were sometimes jokingly referred to as "chairborne rangers" and it wasn't too far from the truth. Anyway, from July 1984 to July 1985 I was stationed at Camp Casey in Korea which is roughly 11 miles from the border with the North (the DMZ). Although I was stationed on a 2nd ID base, I was not part of 2nd ID. I was part of a detachment from 552nd Signal Company out of Camp Red Cloud. Anyway (begin rant), the point being is that even though I was not involved in any conflict or ever in any real danger, I was actually there in a country that we were helping to keep safe and free. When you are there and see that your help is needed and appreciated by the majority of the citizens, it is a lot easier to understand and support the need for our presence. When all you have is what the MSM spoon feeds you on your comfy couch and you are only shown the negative, then it is easier to protest what you see as the U.S. sticking her nose in another country's business, when we are actually helping. (Sorry, end of rant.)
Thank you for sharing this part of your life with us and again, thank you for the personal sacrifices you have made to protect not only Americans, but to protect humanity. And although you are enlisted and work for a living, I still salute you.

Originally posted by fooffstarr
I, like many others, don't agree with the war, but we are proud to support our troops wherever they may be.

I have to question that point. Not all of us are supportive of the military. Any conspiracy nut worth their salt should realise that the entire worldwide war machine is funded and instigated by the Rothschilds. They funded the Nazis, they funded the allies, they funded Zionism (the root of all problems in the Middle East), they funded Karl Marx - every warring ideology / faction over the course of history has been totally manipulated by the Elite for their own geopolitical means.

Have you watched the Aaron Russo interview with Alex Jones on Google Video? Do it. Russo reveals that during his time of friendship with Nick Rockefeller, he was told that the ENTIRE war on terror would be a jackup. A whole year before 9/11, Rockefeller told Russo that you will see a 'big event', followed by a PHONY war on terror. An unwinnable war on terror, because the enemy doesn't exist! Let's not deny there is a war going on in Iraq, but it's only because the Elite instigated it. Rockefeller told Russo that he will see soldiers on the tv news wandering into caves looking for Osama - it's all a jackup... it's all phony.

I don't know how any informed conspiracy theorist worth their salt would not realise by supporting a phony 'war on terror' (or any war for that matter) they are supporting the corrupt and crooked goals of the Illuminati and their NWO master plan. I mean no offence to Advisor.. but we need to be reminded of the overall picture here. There are unseen puppeteers and we the puppets are conditioned into thinking that war is the correct and patriotic thing to do. We need to put a stop to our own manipulation, and stop supporting these crooks.

I figure you could use some sites for news info that might relate to you, Advisor.

Here's an article from the Hometown Annapolis news that shows how "effective" DHS really is when it comes to "protecting" us here at home from the "horrors of terrorism." (When reading this statement, please uses heavy does of sarcasm)

Just Foreign Policy may help with providing non-MSM news on what D.C. is doing in respect with the war going on over there.
Veterans for Common Sense deals mainly with VA issues, but also shows how D.C. policy is affecting the US as a whole & other nations also being affected.
Downsize DC brings up a whole variety of issues being cooked up in the Halls of Power, as well as some analysis/viewpoints about it.

Unwind, celebrate your time off & grab a beer, Advisor! Enjoy doing the things that you want to do here & don't lose sight that these are the things you're fighting for in the first place. We here at home are fighting to make sure that you can still do these things (legally) here, while you're fighting over there. Not all Patriots wear helmets, ya' know!

[edit on 3-10-2008 by MidnightDStroyer]