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	<title>The Spartzine</title>
	<link>http://www.mattspartz.com</link>
	<description>Doing something with my Journalism degree since 2008</description>
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		<title>A Spartan existence at combat outpost</title>
		<description><![CDATA[By Lt. Matt Spartz &#124; Guest Columnist
Published: 8/25/2010 12:02 AM
Editor&#8217;s Note: Army Lt. Matt Spartz, a lifelong  Lombard resident, was deployed to Afghanistan in May with the 101st  Airborne Division. A 2008 journalism graduate of University of Illinois,  he is submitting occasional reports for the Daily Herald.
Life on a combat outpost is a modern day Sparta. Far  from the &#8220;flagpole,&#8221; or larger bases with high ranking officers, daily  life revolves around one maxim &#8211; training for battle.
Without delving too deep into the existential, the  ...]]></description>
		<link>http://www.mattspartz.com/2010/08/25/a-spartan-existence-at-combat-outpost/</link>
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		<title>Holding fire a tough but necessary pill to swallow</title>
		<description><![CDATA[By 1st Lt. Matt Spartz &#124; Special to the Daily Herald
Published: 8/10/2010 12:00 AM
Editor&#8217;s Note: Army Lt. Matt Spartz, a lifelong Lombard  resident, was deployed to Afghanistan in May with the 101st Airborne  Division. A 2008 journalism graduate of University of Illinois, he is  submitting occasional reports for the Daily Herald.
On a recent &#8220;Meet the Press,&#8221; host David Gregory seemed  to try and pigeonhole Adm. Mike Mullen on the real objectives of the war  in Afghanistan. Sparked by the recent striking picture on the cover ...]]></description>
		<link>http://www.mattspartz.com/2010/08/12/holding-fire-a-tough-but-necessary-pill-to-swallow/</link>
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		<title>Combat Action Badge</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Here are a few pictures from our Combat Action Badge presentation (and if you click the picture it will link to the rest of the album.)
We started out by also reenlisting and promoting my Gunnery Sergeant, SFC Houston. Thanks goes out to SSG Martinez for taking these pictures with my camera. Now I can actually be in a few! Then I simply worked my post processing magic.

This was my first time reenlisting a Soldier. It was definitely an honorable day, and I&#8217;m glad I didn&#8217;t screw up the oath.

Below our ...]]></description>
		<link>http://www.mattspartz.com/2010/07/24/combat-action-badge/</link>
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		<title>Views of Afghanistan</title>
		<description><![CDATA[
Lately there has not been much to write home about, so to speak. The soldiers have worn into a comfortable groove with their force protection duties. More and more of them are getting cross trained in different positions to create depth in our battle rosters. But they remain as frosty as ever.


The hardest thing to do right now is find new things to take pictures of.

Here is our COP &#8220;pet&#8221;. He is both the mangiest, and heartbreakingly sad dog I think I&#8217;ve ever seen. There&#8217;s a group of birds that ...]]></description>
		<link>http://www.mattspartz.com/2010/07/06/views-of-afghanistan/</link>
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		<title>U.S. must decide the cause is worth finishing the war</title>
		<description><![CDATA[By 1st Lt. Matthew Spartz &#124; Special to the Daily Herald
Editor&#8217;s Note: Army Lt. Matt Spartz, a lifelong Lombard resident, is a 2008 journalism graduate of University of Illinois. He recently was deployed to Afghanistan with the 101st Airborne Division. From there, he will be submitting occasional reports for the Daily Herald.
The real problem with the war in Afghanistan has nothing to do with rogue generals or defunct, grandiose policy. The real problem has nothing to do with finding the Magic Solution and extolling COIN (counter insurgency) to the far ...]]></description>
		<link>http://www.mattspartz.com/2010/07/06/u-s-must-decide-the-cause-is-worth-finishing-the-war/</link>
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		<title>Combat patch: Soldier&#8217;s true measure of validation</title>
		<description><![CDATA[By 1st Lt. Matt Spartz &#124; Speical to the Daily Herald
Editor&#8217;s Note: Army Lt. Matt Spartz, a lifelong Lombard resident, is a 2008 journalism graduate of University of Illinois. He recently was deployed to Afghanistan with the 101st Airborne Division. From there, he will be submitting occasional reports for the Daily Herald.
The Army is a culture of validation. We walk around with our resumes on our chest: rank, airborne and marksmanship badges, even the perception of prestigious versus bland unit patches. But possibly the No. 1 validation of a modern ...]]></description>
		<link>http://www.mattspartz.com/2010/06/25/combat-patch-soldiers-true-measure-of-validation/</link>
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		<title>Calibrated</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Recently 1st Platoon did what is called a &#8220;calibration,&#8221; which is a fancy way to say we measured the speed that our new ammo travels at. This helps us fire as accurate as possible and maintain our first round steel-on-target reputation.

The best part about calibrating is that we get to shoot what&#8217;s called &#8220;direct fire.&#8221; Usually we fire &#8220;non-line-of-sight,&#8221; which means an observer tells us where to shoot, and once we fire we never see the rounds impact. With direct fire, we aim at the mountain side next to the ...]]></description>
		<link>http://www.mattspartz.com/2010/06/12/calibrated/</link>
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		<title>Lombard Soldier&#8217;s Introduction to War</title>
		<description><![CDATA[ Lombard soldier&#8217;s intro to war: 10% violence, 90% excruciating boredom
 
Editor&#8217;s Note: Army Lt. Matt Spartz, a lifelong Lombard resident, is a 2008 journalism graduate at University of Illinois. He recently was deployed to Afghanistan with the 101st Airborne Division. From there, he will be submitting occasional reports for the Daily Herald.
When the suicide bomber and squad of reported Taliban dressed in U.S. Army uniforms used grenades to breach the gate at Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan, the morning of May 19, my eyes shot open. I pulled one ear out behind ...]]></description>
		<link>http://www.mattspartz.com/2010/05/30/lombard-soldiers-introduction-to-war/</link>
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		<title>New Daily Herald Column</title>
		<description><![CDATA[I have worked a deal with the Chicago Daily Herald to be a contributing guest columnist while serving my tour in Afghanistan. I am extremely thrilled to be working with a professional publication, and also to share my stories with friends and family.
Here is my inaugural piece!
Lombard soldier &#8216;excited to get off the bench&#8217;
Editor&#8217;s Note: Army Lt. Matt Spartz, a lifelong Lombard resident, is a 2008 journalism graduate at University of Illinois. He recently was deployed to Afghanistan with the 101st Airborne Division. The is the first of occasional reports ...]]></description>
		<link>http://www.mattspartz.com/2010/05/30/new-daily-herald-column/</link>
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		<title>Dunbar Cave: The Final Adventure</title>
		<description><![CDATA[On the final day before deploying to the Land of the Afghans, Britt and I went on one of our characteristic adventures. In the heart of Clarksville hides Dunbar Cave recreation area. Never missing a moment to snap a few pics, and needing an excuse to break in my new boots, I grabbed the Nikon and we hit the trail.
The flood line from last week&#8217;s disaster was visible throughout the park. Giant trees found their way up 25-foot hills and the stone walls were striped with dirt.
I can&#8217;t wait to ...]]></description>
		<link>http://www.mattspartz.com/2010/05/12/dunbar-cave-the-final-adventure/</link>
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