Comments for The Spartzine

Comment on Second Lieutenant, second to all by Tom Starnes

Tom Starnes — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 14:07:54 +0000

This was all too true. But it sounds like you weren’t afforded excellent cadre like our ROTC had. Our PMI, MSG Hamil, has combined the ROTC (Oh, you’ll be a leader of men, a soldier, a hero) and the real Army (You know nothing, you’re new, here’s a good paycheck, now shut up and let me, your NCO, do my job) while molding our senior cadets into true officers. A combination of, “You’re a badass hard-charger, your PSG is a badass HARDER-charger, and together, your platoon will excel.” He warns me that I will be blasted from all angles by my platoon, my NCO’s, my commander, and it is a test. How I react, how I take it in, and how I dish it back is all a test. I guess he put it best this way:

It is the difference between dangerous and deadly. It is the difference between honor and money. It is the fine line between will and fine.

As 2LT’s, we (I recently commissioned) are dangerous due to the training we have gone through. Only with the combined help of our PSG’s and our motivation to be the soldier officer will we become deadly.

Those who do it for the money earn no respect. It is an honor to be part of the U.S. Army, even if I get blasted from all angles. It’s nothing personal, it’s nothing against me, and it certainly isn’t in an attempt to break me down. It is a test of my motivation; my honor.

Where we walk along the fine line of “OK, I will” and “fine” dictate what our experience in the military will be. “I will” is motivation, obviously. “Fine” has resentment. Many butterbars (“Fine”) have no motivation, but I’ve seen many second Lieutenants (“I will”) who were motivated and ready to face any challenge. Second Lieutenants earn respect, Butterbars earn beatings.

I agree completely, the recruiting world of ROTC (“Let’s give Airborne and Air Assault slots to freshmen, sophomores, and some juniors to recruit and leave the seniors to fend for themselves”) and the real world active duty are completely different. In college, it’s all about making mission and white gloving the cadets (Holding their hands and giving them hugs) in order to keep them around. Then, they are s***-bags in the army as Lieutenants.

I’m going into this Army world with the mentality of, “I may not be the best, most squared away Lieutenant, but I’ll be damned if I’m not the most motivated hard-charger my first platoon has ever seen.” It may be hard, it may be tough, but, IT WOULDN’T BE FUN IF IT WERE EASY!

Comment on COP Honaker Miracle by Marissa Mossinger

Marissa Mossinger — Sat, 03 Sep 2011 11:50:31 +0000

Thank you for this article, mi son is there and God help you all. I hope the best for all of you, the best you can have in this situation.
Continue taking care of eachother, and you all are in my prayers allways.

Comment on ABU video by Kate

Kate — Sun, 17 Jul 2011 14:49:01 +0000

Awesome video!

Comment on ABU video by oldfatslow

oldfatslow — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 21:28:48 +0000

Great video.

If you ever want to drop in
and visit, we’ve got a FB
group for COP Honaker-Miracle.
It’s mostly family, friends,
and soldiers of the 25th ID
that are posted there now.
I know a lot of us parents
would value your insights
about that COP and the area.

ofs

Comment on COP Honaker Miracle by rob

rob — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 11:54:47 +0000

Hey Lt,

Now that Michigan and Able Main are closed life at Honaker has become a whole lot more interesting. Look forward to seeing you back at the tip of the spear next year. Oh yea, the farmers are still asking if you can supply them with hescos because the river will be rising soon. ha ha. You and the Captain should post a video to mimic their expressions. You guys were pretty funny.

Comment on COP Honaker Miracle by Eva Honaker

Eva Honaker — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 12:06:29 +0000

Mrs. Clawson, I’ll keep your son in my prayers.

Comment on January Daze by Rick

Rick — Thu, 12 May 2011 00:36:25 +0000

Home sweet home…oh how I miss it.

Comment on COP Honaker Miracle by Teresa Clawson

Teresa Clawson — Mon, 09 May 2011 19:48:08 +0000

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS ARITICLE AND PHOTO’S. MY SON HAS JUST GOT
TO HONAKER-MIRACLE LAST MONTH AND I WAS SO EXCITED TO SEE YOUR ARTICLE AS THERE IS NOT MUCH ON HONAKER-MIRACLE.

I ALWAYS ADD ALL OF MY SPECIAL SOLDIERS IN MY PRAYERS AND YOU ALL ARE VERY SPECIAL IN MY EYES.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR SACRIFICE’S …..GOD BLESS YOU ALL.

MUM

Comment on Lombard soldier asks: What if soldiers shut down like government? by Matt

Matt — Sat, 23 Apr 2011 09:37:14 +0000

The Armchair General, who is obviously just that, has made a common mistake like many readers: I claim that our volunteer military is obviously subject to the same cuts and hardships as any other volunteer federal jobs, but that the military DOESN’T complain. Our military leaders have willfully offered many ways to cut our budgets, and we continue to fight harder and harder. Unlike many other types of federal employees.

Thanks to Kate and oldfatslow for the smarter reading!

Comment on Lombard soldier asks: What if soldiers shut down like government? by Kate

Kate — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 13:13:37 +0000

Excellent Post!! I have kept an eye on your blog since your arrival at Honaker Miracle. I have a friend there now and your posts always seem to help ease the mind some. Don’t listen to this armchair general person. He’s a fool. Why read a blog from Afghanistan if you don’t support the soldiers? Anyway, I am very proud of what all of you do. I hope you come home soon, not sure when you get to leave, but stay safe the last bit of time you are there and thank you for all of these posts, they truly have helped.