Can't please everyone

[Swagger]

Had a really crap day today. It was supposed to be a day of rest before we go over the wire again. I got supposedly hand picked to escort some journos, three women and a guy, and make sure that they were looked after. They demanded that we take them to really dangerous areas where everyone one was at significant risk. They stopped to have lunch with 'the locals' left us outside with nothing apart from our inedible freakin day packs and some old MRE's that we had buried away in the truck. They gave everyone they saw candy and soda told us to find our own. Later in the afternoon I was overheard saying that I resented being put in harms way for no good reason and being treated like an idiot .... got spat at and told I was low life scum by one of the women and reported with a comment that we'd ruined everyones day and that we'd scared the locals with our surly and aggressive behaviour. We're not here on holiday and we're not babysitters ... what do these people really think they're doing. I might be wrong about these peoples motives, I don't know, I'm obviously not that bright .... all I do know is that I'm now on report and will lose hard earned privileges as a result. Anyway, enough of my whining just needed to have a wee rant. I'm off to brush up my attitude ... the bad one of course >

 

[Mike Sisson]

Ef 'em.

You're the ONLY reason they could be in the area and they were obviously too stupid to figure that out.

Next time let 'em go in on their own....and get taken captive, possibly beheaded or the very least, ransomed. >

 

[Dallara]

~


I, for one, and I'm sure a huge number of others, want to personally *THANK YOU* for your service to me and our country. Politicians and journalist didn't win us our Freedom, nor are they the ones who put themselves in harm's way to maintain it, as well as try to help others achieve it.

Guys like you did, and do!

And I cannot begin to adequately express how much I appreciate it. Too bad we don't have a Gratitude emoticon...

And next time just leave the those stupid, moronic, obviously ill-educated journalists out there on their own a night or two. If anybody ever finds 'em again they will be screaming for your help!

Again, my sincerest thanks.

Dallara



~

 

[bloke]

NEVER get hand picked for anything it NEVER leads to anything good!

 

[jajpko]

Sorry to hear about the report crap... Is fragging still frowned on? >

 

[SisuTen]

NEVER get hand picked for anything it NEVER leads to anything good!

The only worse decision is to"Volunteer" for anything. Learned that quickly in the military.

Hope the day picks up for you.

 

[Checkswrecks]

First, thanks for being there. I've been with State Security and Marine Security details and it's usually pretty tedious and thankless for you guys.


Biting your tongue for ingrates in any line of existence sucks. The journos can't understand you, since they've not had a single shot AT them. What's worse, is that they'll go home and all anybody will hear is how they were in the war zone.



If there is a next time, when the friction first starts make it clear that you are all professionals and out there for a reason, then that THEIR professionalism (or lack of) will be reported to the PAO. As for this time, I would absolutely file to the PAO and copy your command about the ones involved in this spitting incident. There's no call for that, EVER.


Again - thanks for being there and hurry home. We gots some riding to do.

 

[RMac]

Tough day at the job. Minor frustrations in the overall context. Keep above it.

 

[ptfjjj]

That is such crap! you put your neck out for this crew and that's the thanks you get?! I was once tasked to stop in and pick up a news crew in Qatar and bring them back to Bahrain with me in my C-130. I had to agree to go beyond my legal crew day to make it happen, and if questioned, I would have been in big trouble. Not one word of thanks from the news crew. In fact, they had been rejected by two other military aircraft earlier in the day and if I hadn't stuck my neck out to pick them up, they would have been stranded. In the end, they threw all of their anger at me for having been left all day and acted as if they were entitled to priority status over all else. Well, you can guess what answer they got the next day when they asked me for a ride to Kuwait......

 

[Swagger]

Re: Can't please everyone - Honour restored

Honour restored. After a tense 4 hours the video, comms and overwatch data proved us to have been and I quote 'thoroughly objective in our decisions and judgements .... a demonstration in the best of professional soldiering .... a credit to the integrity of the US military mission ... absolutely no case to answer' this followed by 'an unreasonable and disgraceful display of contempt for our overstretched resources' and a full on assault as to how sensationalist journalism can do more harm than good. The boys are much happier now as am I. The apologies have been received and accepted. We will not be asked to undertake similar activities in the future. Our reward for a job well done ... Get back out there and do what you do .... Happy with that.

 

[Koinz]

Good to hear that they didn't get away with slandering your good name and your service Swagger,

 

[Checkswrecks]

Cool beans and a righteous ending!


Thumbs up!

 

[ptfjjj]

Glad to hear it! That's how it should be. You guys do not need to be distracted by journalists or humanitarians. Thanks for the hard work that you guys are putting in over there and come back in one piece.

 

[jly51]

Swagger I know exactly where your coming from,I was in Viet Nam -1969-.We didnt have much press to worry about ,but treated like shit by our own officers and Viet Nam people.Worse of all was the way we were treated by the american people here,being spit on and called baby killers was not a good way to come home after a year of pure hell. In my opnion Viet Nam and all the bull shit wars we are involved in now are pure political and a wast of lives and money.All the people we are supose to be helping hate us ,all they want is our money that we have to borrow to give away.Keep you spirit high and you head low Swagger,dont worry about what any off those assholes think.

 

[k woo]

Re: Can't please everyone - Honour restored

Honour restored. After a tense 4 hours the video, comms and overwatch data proved us to have been and I quote 'thoroughly objective in our decisions and judgements .... a demonstration in the best of professional soldiering .... a credit to the integrity of the US military mission ... absolutely no case to answer' this followed by 'an unreasonable and disgraceful display of contempt for our overstretched resources' and a full on assault as to how sensationalist journalism can do more harm than good. The boys are much happier now as am I. The apologies have been received and accepted. We will not be asked to undertake similar activities in the future. Our reward for a job well done ... Get back out there and do what you do .... Happy with that.

+1

 

[Venture]

NEVER get hand picked for anything it NEVER leads to anything good!

I hear that goes for volunteering as well, or so my dad said about his days in the Army.

 

[Swagger]

All,
Thank you for your thoughts I do appreciate it. I'll not labour the subject here any longer as I realise that I should never have brought it up .... I did feel bad though. I was guilty of running off at the mouth, rightly or wrongly, and got a bad reaction. I know better than to do that. We do exactley what is asked of us ... it's what we do ... without question ... to be a part of a hand picked team is something to be appreciated and proud of ... it means that we're trusted above all others. Life here is very competitive and we refuse nothing. If we didn't do it some other poor sole will be ordered to do so. Anyway, thanks again. I'll get on with the job now ... the next few days is going to be full on. Soon be back and the bikes are waiting

 

[Mike Sisson]

Be careful amigo!

 

[tomatocity]

Sorry for the lateness.

Good days and bad days, they all count. All you can do is be your best every hour of everyday. What others do is up to them. One thing you can count on is that we care for you and offer an open heart any time you want.

Something I learned when training others voicemail. Smile when creating your message. You can hear the positive difference in your voice when you smile, whether you mean it or not. Same happens in everyday conversations or thoughts.