Taking the Lid Off

01/11/2021

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20/10/2021

The podcast is back with a valuable episode on personal security. If you’re wondering about advice on how to secure your personal data using things like VPNs, secure messaging and email then have a listen. Apple and YouTube links in the comments.

https://takingthelidoff.libsyn.com/personal-data-security

In this episode I talk with my friend and security expert Justin about protecting your personal data. We talk about using secure email and messaging as well as using VPNs and browsers. Find more from Justin at https://swiftsilentdeadly.com

13/10/2021

05/10/2021

Any vets run into this as they got out of the military? It’s about the same as credit. I’ll be running into this as a new helicopter pilot when I’m done getting all my certifications.

22/09/2021

🤷‍♂️

19/09/2021

Sunday Scripture from
Self explanatory. 🙏

11/09/2021

This post is mainly to capture my story of where I was when 9/11 happened. Feel free to share yours as well.

I was a young sergeant serving as a sniper in the battalion scout platoon for 2nd Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 82nd Airborne Division. We were “on the rocks” in our formation area with our gear waiting to go to a live fire range. We were going to do some react to contact drills and “Aussie peels” as I remember.

Someone from our platoon hollered out the window for us to come upstairs and see what was happening. As we got up there we were just in time to see the second plane hit on the one large screen tv that was in (either specialist or sergeant at the time) McBride’s room. It was the kind of large screen TV that weighed 500 pounds back then, not flat screens like today. We just stood and watched wondering what our futures held.

We ended up going to the range anyway knowing we’d likely be shut down. We sat there listening to range control on the radio as they eventually started shutting down all the ranges and airspace and telling everyone to return to their units.

After that our battalion was put on lockdown one company at a time to respond in case anything happened at Fort Bragg. We had no idea if/when there would be more targets hit and Fort Bragg seemed like a likely place to hit.

I didn’t get to go home for three days due to being a sniper team for the quick reaction force. Guys that did get to go home either didn’t make it to work or it took them hours to get into work thanks to all the searches being done at the gates. Funny enough, when I finally got to go home I left super early the next day to make it into work and because they had stopped searching every single vehicle I ended up getting to work at like 0300 in the morning. I pulled a spare mattress out in an extra room and slept till time for formation.

From there, things changed….

11/09/2021

There are tons of posts today saying “Never Forget” when clearly much of our country has forgotten. Maybe don’t post that if you’ve every called for things like defunding the police or taking a knee during the anthem.

The media is busy this morning talking about the unity we had following the attacks when they’re the exact ones that have worked the hardest along with the politicians to divide us.

Ironically, on the 20th anniversary the taliban just got what they wanted days ago. It’s a tough day to try and remember with the emotions of the failure still lingering.

10/09/2021

Let’s have this same energy against the terrorists that killed 13 service members in Kabul.

Let’s have this same energy against China for causing this debacle and many other reasons to retaliate against them.

Let’s have this same energy about heart disease, cancer and obesity.

Let’s have this same energy about veteran su***de and mental health in America period.

Why don’t we have this same energy at the many other things that are issues in our country? Makes you wonder…..

08/09/2021

This agency to help these refugees adjust is a really good thing. Most people won’t understand the culture shock these people are about to have. Children in America have more possessions in their own room that entire Afghani families have.

Could you imagine living off the land and in a mud hut with no bathroom your entire life and then you come to America? What would going to a grocery store be like? These people are about to get overwhelmed with abundance.

Now if we could just send the people who think America is so terrible to Afghanistan for some culture shock.

Bridge Refugee Services is preparing to receive more Afghan refugees.

01/09/2021

This is what we mean when we say “mil-spec”……

Never be afraid to test out new techniques, that's what training is for.

01/09/2021

On a lighter note, I’m considering new flying shoes….. Floafers

31/08/2021

We need to take a moment to recognize the “Order from Chaos” that the 82nd Airborne took care of during a very crazy time. They were handed what would be a near impossible mission if not for their preparation and professionalism.

Imagine being one of those young soldiers standing guard keeping back all those people literally dying to get on a plane to freedom. They’re humans too and I’m sure most wanted to let everyone through they could, but they’re also following orders.

Imagine being that Company, Battalion or Brigade Commander and First Sergeant getting handed this mission which was not only tough on it’s own, but multiply that 100x with all the pressure from the eyes on them. Every General and Congressional official’s eyes and weights of their office bearing down on them. It’s the kind of thing that can make or break your career.

Imagine sitting there as a young warrior wanting nothing more than to go out and do your job and rescue Americans along with other allies to get them to safety. And then imagine being told “we’re not authorized”.

They knew the cost and they did their job like not many could. They had the weight of the Afghan people pressing on one side with the weight of both rank and elected officials bearing down on the other side.

These soldiers are heroes. They are the best of us. They deserve all the honor, praise and 10% discount at Lowe’s they can get. The news will go back to covering whatever athlete is kneeling during the anthem or protests about how terrible our country is, meanwhile the soldiers of the 82nd will return to that proverbial wall standing guard quietly. (They’ll also need a few beers, get ready Fayetteville)

All the way

31/08/2021

Biden checking his watch was worse than it appeared. Listen to these new Gold Star fathers and what they had to say. Imagine watching your child’s casket come off a plane and the president who put them there is checking his watch during the transfer ceremony.

President Joe Biden needs to issue a public apology.

30/08/2021

For those that have taken part in either ramp-side or other memorial ceremonies for the fallen, could you imagine checking your watch during the ceremony?

29/08/2021

If we trust the Taliban so much that we are willing to negotiate with them, give them names of American citizens trying to get out and believe when they say they will allow Americans to travel freely beyond our withdrawal….

Why are we closing the embassy and not keeping it open? We trust them right?

Pic just because.

26/08/2021

The United States Government is negotiating with terrorists despite what the White House spin machine says. They’re own .gov website states them as such. Even worse, we were relying on them(the Taliban) for a perimeter around the airport in Kabul so we can evacuate our citizens and allies.

There are now multiple service members dead and this is just the start. We need to unleash hell, stack some bodies and get our people to safety. President Biden and his national security staff have proven themselves incompetent on multiple levels. They need to execute or get out of the way.

25/08/2021

It’s always the service members on the ground that succeed where politicians fail. For the record, I include high level Generals in the politicians group. The human to human compassion is always there when conducting humanitarian operations. In New Orleans during Katrina recovery they hung signs and loved us down there for our kindness to them. It’s been true throughout time.

One thing I was always proud of was seeing soldiers be able to flip the switch between humanitarians representing one of the greatest nations in the world to being able to attack and put bad guys in the dirt when need be.

24/08/2021

In the military when a leader’s integrity is compromised they are removed from their leadership position. It’s often called a relief for “loss of confidence and trust”. People make mistakes, that’s part of life but when you’re in a position of leadership in the military there’s not a lot of room for that when your troops lose their confidence in your ability to keep them alive.

I would say “leading” the COVID-19 pandemic is a pretty big deal. Fauci is the person who was appointed to lead the effort. It’s known that he lied about masks in the beginning and there are some legitimate questions about his role in funding gain of function research which likely caused the virus.

The mask lie alone is enough to know that most of the American people have lost confidence in him. I’m not sure if it’s been polled nor do I care because we know how well polls work. I would say it’s enough that he should be removed.

This is one of the big failures between the last administration and this one. He should have been removed and someone else put in his place. You can’t tell me there’s not someone else out there that could do better than him leading this cause.

📸: See photo for credit

24/08/2021

With regard to all that equipment the Taliban took over….don’t worry. Most of it will be broken shortly and they won’t be able to fix it. 😆

20/08/2021

The hunt for Bin Laden in the Tora Bora Mountains (2007 version):

This story has a comical part and a sad part, which is how combat goes for soldiers.

In 2007 U.S. intelligence believed there was an opportunity to take down UBL in the Tora Bora Mountains of Afghanistan. At the time I was supporting a Joint Task Force that was stationed in Jalalabad. Extra forces were deployed from stateside to assist in the operation that would take place a few weeks later. The majority of those forces were from the Ranger battalion that was on alert at the time. After much preparation and planning the mission was launched. My team’s mission was to go into the foothills of the Tora Bora and see what we can find out. There were so many bombers deployed I would think the maps of Tora Bora would have had to been redrawn afterwards. Long story short, UBL was not there and we all pulled back to Jalalabad.

USA Today wrote one of the articles I found immediately after the op. I’ve searched and searched and can’t find the article, but basically it said because we were operating in mountainous terrain that the 10th Mountain Division should have been sent instead of the Rangers and Seals. Of course, I found that to be hilarious and proceeded to print the article a few times and hang it on message boards around our operations area. Everyone laughed it off because we were used to journalists getting things wrong and speculating.

The sad part is that during part of our operation we were at a small combat outpost when we saw an ODA traveling by. Their convoy disappeared behind a small hill and we heard an explosion and saw smoke. It wasn’t until we had the ODA back at the FOB and were talking that I learned one of the three casualties evacuated was a prior coworker/friend, Jeff Kettle. You will see the deaths mentioned in the screenshot article below. Jeff was a great human and a great soldier. When you hear me say I owe it to others to live life to the fullest, he’s one of the people I owe.

Links posted below to some of the articles I could find on the operation.

20/08/2021

Afghanistan and O***m: If you ask most Americans about that link they’re unaware. It’s not something often talked about in the media, but it’s something that will boom again with the Taliban in control. When you dive into the link it could fuel all kinds of conspiracies based off past operations we know about where the CIA was involved in illegal drugs for profit. I have no clue about that in Afghanistan.

What I do know is that according to data the o***m production grew last year with the Taliban knowing we were going to leave soon. I know that in 2007 there was a huge spike in o***m production in the southern areas of Afghanistan which coincided with increased operations by U.S. forces in the south. I was there in 2007 and part of it when the joint task force I was with switched operations from Jalalabad down to Kandahar doing lots of raids into the Helmand Province.

I’m not an expert on Afghanistan and o***m, but some quick DuckDuckGo searches will give you some answers. This study is a start if you’re interested.

19/08/2021

This video has been passed around and laughed at as it should be, but I’d like to point out a different perspective.

These are Taliban “soldiers”. Except for the ones we trained (and even some of those) they have little to no training. They don’t get out and run 5 miles every morning. They don’t have to roach march 12 miles in 3 hours with a 50 pound pack. They don’t have to maintain specific training measures.

They also don’t have to worry about equal opportunity and all the sensitivity training our military endures.

Regardless of all of this, fighters just like this have killed some of our best and bravest. The same as untrained kids in gangs kill people. It doesn’t take much skill, just the will to fight and a cause.

My point is, for all the people that think they can just roll into Afghanistan and “stack bodies” because they have a grunt style shirt and a gun show kitted out AR-15, just don’t.

Besides, it’s not just the Taliban. They have support from our enemies, but that’s another story/post.

19/08/2021

Gotta protect those optics from harmful UV rays….. 🤦‍♂️

19/08/2021

It wasn’t home, but I always thought Afghanistan had a beautiful countryside. I owe a lot of the perspective I have today to being in Afghanistan. They didn’t have much, but for the most part seemed generally happy. One village may have a truck, a couple compounds may have electricity, the children may have some sort of doll at most to play with.

Spending a lot of time in this kind of environment is why veterans have a great perspective on what real problems are, but is also why we find people who complain endlessly about America insufferable. I was blessed to get to serve with great people and to have great experiences. Don’t get me wrong though, coming home was always the best part.

18/08/2021

I’ll never forget being briefed on how Afghanistan was one of the most mined countries in the world thanks to the Russians when they were there and when they left. When we first got into country I was the alpha team leader in first squad of our platoon which for us meant I was on point when we patrolled. (This pic is from Bagram air base in 2003, not that particular mission) We’d had very little training on mines so I was pretty nervous taking those first steps in out “in the wild”.

I’ll try to share memories all week. Drop your Afghanistan pics and/or memories here.

17/08/2021

Please share if you know someone that might need this. Veterans from all eras are reacting to the events in Afghanistan, such as the U.S withdrawal and the takeover by the Taliban.

You are not alone.
Veterans may question the meaning of their service or whether it was worth the sacrifices they made. They may feel more moral distress about experiences they had during their service. It’s normal to feel this way. Talk with your friends and families, reach out to battle buddies, connect with a peer-to-peer network, or sign up for mental health services. Scroll down for a list common reactions and coping advice.

Resources available right now
Veterans Crisis Line - If you are having thoughts of su***de, call 1-800-273-8255, then PRESS 1 or visit http://www.veteranscrisisline.net/
For emergency mental health care, you can also go directly to your local VA medical center 24/7 regardless of your discharge status or enrollment in other VA health care.
Vet Centers - Discuss how you feel with other Veterans in these community-based counseling centers. 70% of Vet Center staff are Veterans. Call 1-877-927-8387 or find one near you.
VA Mental Health Services Guide - This guide will help you sign up and access mental health services.
MakeTheConnection.net - information, resources, and Veteran to Veteran videos for challenging life events and experiences with mental health issues.
RallyPoint - Talk to other Veterans online. Discuss: What are your feelings as the Taliban reclaim Afghanistan after 20 years of US involvement?
Download VA's self-help apps - Tools to help deal with common reactions like, stress, sadness, and anxiety. You can also track your symptoms over time.
Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) - Request a Peer Mentor
VA Women Veterans Call Center - Call or text 1-855-829-6636 (M-F 8AM - 10PM & SAT 8AM - 6:30PM ET)
VA Caregiver Support Line - Call 1-855-260-3274 (M-F 8AM - 10PM & SAT 8AM - 5PM ET)
Together We Served -Find your battle buddies through unit pages
George W. Bush Institute - Need help or want to talk? Check In or call:1-630-522-4904 or email: [email protected]
Elizabeth Dole Foundation Hidden Heroes - Join the Community

American Red Cross Military Veteran Caregiver Network - Peer Support and Mentoring
Team Red, White & Blue - Hundreds of events weekly. Find a chapter in your area.
Student Veterans of America - Find a campus chapter to connect with.
Team Rubicon - Find a local support squad.
Common Reactions
In reaction to current events in Afghanistan, Veterans may:

Feel frustrated, sad, helpless, grief or distressed
Feel angry or betrayed
Experience an increase in mental health symptoms like symptoms of PTSD or depression
Sleep poorly, drink more or use more drugs
Try to avoid all reminders or media or shy away from social situations
Have more military and homecoming memories
Veterans may question the meaning of their service or whether it was worth the sacrifices they made. They may feel more moral distress about experiences they had during their service.

Veterans may feel like they need to expect and/or prepare for the worst. For example, they may:

Become overly protective, vigilant, and guarded
Become preoccupied by danger
Feel a need to avoid being shocked by, or unprepared for, what may happen in the future
Feeling distress is a normal reaction to negative events, especially ones that feel personal. It can be helpful to let yourself feel those feelings rather than try to avoid them. Often, these feelings will naturally run their course. If they continue without easing up or if you feel overwhelmed by them, the suggestions below can be helpful.

Strategies for Managing Ongoing Distress
At this moment, it may seem like all is lost, like your service or your sacrifices were for nothing. Consider the ways that your service made a difference, the impact it had on others’ lives or on your own life. Remember that now is just one moment in time and that things will continue to change.

It can be helpful to focus on the present and to engage in the activities that are most meaningful and valuable to you. Is there something you can do today that is important to you? This can be as an individual, a family member, a parent, or a community member. Something that is meaningful to you in regard to your work or your spirituality? Such activities won’t change the past or the things you can’t control, but they can help life feel meaningful and reduce distress, despite the things you cannot change.

It can also help to consider your thinking. Ask yourself if your thoughts are helpful to you right now. Are there ways you can change your thinking to be more accurate and less distressing? For example, are you using extreme thinking where you see the situation as all bad or all good? If so, try and think in less extreme terms. For example, rather than thinking “my service in Afghanistan was useless” consider instead “I helped keep Afghanistan safe.”

Finally, consider more general coping strategies that you may want to try including:

Engage in Positive Activities. Try to engage in positive, healthy, or meaningful activities, even if they are small, simple actions. Doing things that are rewarding, meaningful, or enjoyable, even if you don’t feel like it, can make you feel better.
Stay Connected. Spend time with people who give you a sense of security, calm, or happiness, or those who best understand what you are going through.
Practice Good Self Care. Look for positive coping strategies that help you manage your emotions. Listening to music, exercising, practicing breathing routines, spending time in nature or with animals, journaling, or reading inspirational text are some simple ways to help manage overwhelming or distressing emotions.
Stick to Your Routines. It can be helpful to stick to a schedule for when you sleep, eat, work, and do other day-to-day activities.
Limit Media Exposure. Limit how much news you take in if media coverage is increasing your distress.
Use a mobile app. Consider one of VA’s self-help apps (see https://www.ptsd.va.gov/appvid/mobile/) such as PTSD Coach which has tools that can help you deal with common reactions like, stress, sadness, and anxiety. You can also track your symptoms over time.
PTSD Coach Online. A series of online video coaches will guide you through 17 tools to help you manage stress. PTSD Coach Online is used on a computer, rather than a mobile device, and therefore can offer tools that involve writing.
If you develop your own ways of adapting to ongoing events and situations, you may gain a stronger sense of being able to deal with challenges, a greater sense of meaning or purpose, and an ability to mentor and support others in

Need to contact VA?
Veterans Crisis Line: 1-800-273-8255 and press 1, Chat, or Text 838255
Homeless Veteran Resources: 1-877-424-3838 or Chat
White House VA Hotline: 1-855-948-2311

Don't know what number to call?
1-800-MyVA411 (800-698-2411) is never the wrong number

Apply for and manage the VA benefits and services you’ve earned as a Veteran, Servicemember, or family member—like health care, disability, education, and more.

17/08/2021

We were never going to “win”.

There were villages we landed in in 2003 that thought we were still the Russians. There were villages 50 miles apart that didn’t know the other existed. We saw places with propaganda fliers of the planes hitting the towers plastered up like wallpaper simply because of the color, while they had no clue what it was or what it meant.

The Afghanis have known war all of their existence but they’re not all fighters. We often had to take elements of the ANA or ANP with us on patrols and all I’ll say is that I didn’t observe a lot of heroism when the bullets started flying. Of course, there were some people and some units that were great fighters. This doesn’t mean they’re not a good people, they are.

How did this happen so fast and why didn’t they fight? They survive. The Taliban came through and you will either fight for them or they will kill you and r**e your women. They have no rules. Join or die.

Look at the images coming out of Afghanistan currently, look at the age and stature of the males. These are men that should be fighting. Most of us that have been there knew what the outcome would be. It’s been long past time for them to either take ownership and fight for their own country or let it go, but we didn’t need to stick around this long to babysit.

Afghanistan wasn’t a place we should have ever gone with the goal of occupying and creating a democracy. We should have gotten out long ago. Leaving Afghanistan was the right move, but it was executed horribly. While the President is CinC and deserves the blame, there should be officials from the Joint Chiefs down to the Pentagon that are given their walking orders.

16/08/2021

Think about the things you see Americans complain about like their pronouns, slow WiFi, etc. Now watch this video and imagine being this desperate to save your own life.