Friday, March 21, 2008

OK, calling all Spotters

I'm tired and lazy right now, but this is your warning order if you need a weeks notice to get time off of work. But I sent this to a list of people I had who are bloggers. Any of you that can help, you know how much I'll appreciate it. Most of us have been to these schools, so, lets put out for ole Uncle Sugar's future SSG's, ok?

I'm doing this in OPORD format, since most of us know that format the best.

SITUATION: I was contacted today through work by SFC Barry Nelson, US Army, at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. He is the Senior Group Leader of the Basic Non-Commission Officers Course (BNCOC) on the grounds at Walter Reed. Any of you who have been to PLDC, BNCOC, ANCOC or Sergeant Majors Academy no doubt remember these courses. They're not exactly R&R. Now imagine doing it as a wounded troop. Here was his first missive to me:

I am currently an active duty Army NCO conducting first of it's kind training at Walter Reed. Six NCOs have stepped up to complete BNCOC (ongoing now, with graduation set for March 28th) and I'd like to get some publicitiy to recognize their efforts and inspire others.


I'd never heard of a BNCOC at a location like Walter Reed, so I contacted him. I informed him I was a blogger of a very small milblog, but that I wanted to help. I asked permission to publicize. This was his response.

Re: the blog part... "yes; please fire for effect" and you can use my email as POC for it, but please no phone number. I'll pass along an better update next week, but I'll tell you it was simply awesome to see a wheel chair bound NCO marching troops in the rain. Yes I said she was in an a wheel chair and the element was marching. Of course keeping them in step was a challenge, but it brought new emphasis on the old adage "if it ain't raining we ain't training".

Again, please do spread this story as much as you can and we'll keep you posted


We need to go big. Real big if we can. This isn't a simple thing of honoring troops who were injured (though they were) this is about soldiers wanting to further themselves, despite any injuries they sustained. These are troops who want to take the next step in their development.

Now, clearly I don't have all the info in yet, so consider this simply a warning order.

MISSION: We need bodies. As many as we can get. Consider this a testing of the waters. But if you think you can get some folks there, do me a favor and send me an email to my private email (using my work because I have all the addresses here.) My email is below, at the bottom of this email.

EXECUTION: You tell me. How big do you think we can go?

ADMIN & LOGISTICS: Like I said, I have a small blog, and lots of time on my hands. SFC Nelson is busy training these troops so they can better serve us. So, if you want to go through him, I'll understand, but I'd prefer y'all get back to me so I can look at what we need, and try to match those needs with the people who have the resources.

COMMAND & SIGNAL: Send it to me if you would. thusspakeortner@yahoo.com

I'm pretty optimistic having seen what we've managed in the past. Let's go big. I have some volunteers who are going to handle contacting the MSM, but (frankly) who needs them. We can do it through the blogs, and get everything we need. So, let's just CHARLIE MIKE and make this happen. Hooah?

If anyone needs to reach me, my cell is [you putzs don't need my #]. Call me anytime over the weekend.

I'm going to put something up at my blog tomorrow, and you can leave messages in the post there if you would like.

http://3-116thsniper.blogspot.com/

If y'all have any other emailing lists, that would be great too, but for now, we need more rough numbers/ideas than anything else.

19 comments:

Anonymous said...

And the mission is? Tell me, and I (and probably my son) will be there.

509th Bob

Jonn Lilyea said...

I emailed Blackfive about it. Even though I'm not on this email list of yours, apparently.

Thus Spake Ortner said...

How are you not on the list? (Honestly) Half the time you are the topic of discussion.

Very odd, will have to recheck my list I guess.

brown neck gaitor said...

TSO, I thought you just rolled over and whispered it directly into Jonn's ear?

Wireless said...

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Jenn Sierra said...

We don't have anyone close to D.C., but we'd love to help online. Please keep us in the loop.

JennSierra@gmail.com
Ft. Hard Knox

Danny Carlton said...

For us non-military types, who still support and want to encourage the military, but don't understand all the military jargon, can you explain this in words non-military people would understand? All I can gather is that some wounded military people are participating in a course of some kind, which is extremely hard for them to do considering their injuries. More details would really help.

David M said...

The Thunder Run has linked to this post in the - Web Reconnaissance for 03/21/2008 A short recon of what’s out there that might draw your attention, updated throughout the day...so check back often.

Thus Spake Ortner said...

OK, 2 quick notes.

1) Will write up a civilian friendly brief tonight or tomorrow morning
2) That Web Recon page is outstanding, sorry I hadn't seen it before.

Pam said...

I've emailed you for info - I blog at iraqwarnews.net and am a Soldiers' Angel - I am sure that SA would be willing to help you however we can. Let me know what we can do.

Donald Douglas said...

My e-mail's in my profile. I do international relations and pro-victory blogging, and on some days my entries get picked up by the major media.

Send me blog posts and I'll be glad to give you some shout outs.

I've added you to my blogroll right now. I'm travelling today, but will be back online tomorrow night.

Keep up your work.

Americans support the troops!

Anonymous said...

So you're telling me that while their units are deployed these guys get to earn promotion points?? Kinda bullsh+t if you ask me...

brown neck gaitor said...

Yeah Anon,

On TOP of the 30 promotion points from the Purple Heart...

/sarcasm

Nicki said...

God, could we please shove a live, writhing ferret up anon's urethra! PLEASE! What a festering douchebag this idiot is!

CSMVanguard said...

Has the Sergeant Major of the Army been notified ? Do I need to kick him in the Shins ? This is awesome !! I would kill to have NCO's like this work for me.

CSM Gary Coker
USA (Sadly Retired) WIA

ConcreteBob said...

Ya'll just ignore the assclown posse who don't have the guts to identify themselves who posted on 22 March at 0914. It's just some smoked up wannabe sitting in it's Momma's basement, sucking up oxygen and jerking it's tiny little...well, you know.
Hey, TSO, I've got people in VA who need a time for this.
DCFreeRepublic is doing the 3rd Anniversary of continuous Troop Suport Rallies at Walter Reed, and I'm thinking we could roll that into this, and have a party.
dcpw07@verizon.net is me.
Missed you on Cao's blogtalk last night. I think we did good.

ConcreteBob said...

Nicki, why would you want to punish a harmless ferret like that? I have ferrets, and I love my little guys. No, lets find a nice fat plump waterfront rat, say about three pounds, and send him on that noble mission. He'd actually enjoy it.

FbL said...

Heads up: hopefully you've received the email I sent about possibly interviewing soemone.

Anonymous said...

Hey to all...I'm an original sniper reader from 3/116th. People know me as the giraffe element. Charlie Victor you catch my drift? Lets runa boston sometime. I'm in Kuwait serving my great country, this blog operation sounds awesome, can't wait to get more into it....SuperBowl 6 Tango