And the Booms Just Keep Coming

The last few weeks here have been the loudest, earth and house shaking I've ever heard at Fort Bragg.  I have grown accustomed to the usual kabooms but lately man oh man it's been nuts!  Like loud enough that I can't believe the kids are sleeping through it.  And loud enough that it's making me jump off the couch and think we're being attacked.  Well that explains it!

As it turns out, some friendly Marines have been using the area to practice blowing stuff up.  Here's the official info:

Marine training on Fort Bragg

Through Monday, the 10th Marine Regiment will conduct their annual spring artillery training on Fort Bragg.

These units fire significant amounts of 155mm ammunition, which can be associated with loud explosions and reverberations upon detonation. While engaged in simulated combat conditions, the Marines will comply with existing requirements that prohibit them from massing fires larger than battalion size between the hours of 11 p.m. to 5 a.m., daily, or from firing during the hours of 10 a.m. to noon, on Sundays.

Well that explains it!

 

A Good Read

I admit I thoroughly enjoyed reading this article about what not to say to a military wife.  I hope you enjoy it too!

Intolerance, Injustice, Infantry!

The soldiers receive safety briefings what seems like every other day around here.  Certainly on Friday afternoons, and before they can be released to go do just about anything.  They are lame usually, and generally include the guys in charge telling the guys that aren't in charge not to drink and drive, don't beat their wives, and don't smoke spice, and wear your seat belt.  Blahblahblah.  I appreciate the intention but I'm genuinely skeptical that just telling people not to do these things would effectively prevent them from happening.

On a recent weekend, there was a more in depth safety briefing given, especially to soldiers going out of town for the weekend (we went to Myrtle Beach for a retreat).  Gunnar and the other soldiers received an actual form describing what behaviors they are not permitted to engage in. 

Some prohibited acts included:

• Drinking and driving
• speeding
• proper and consistent use of seatbelts
• drug use
• underage drinking, providing alcohol to minors

*here's where it gets really interesting

• Adultery, statutory rape and ... homosexuality (including watching homosexual pornography) are illegal  

Whoa there, hold on a second!  Somehow they just grouped watching homosexual pornography in with raping minors and cheating on your spouse.  After that part it goes on to say that being a Paratrooper means you are expected to do the right thing, morally and legally etc.  It stresses that misconduct will be severely punished.

What happened to repealing DADT?  And all of the equality?  Apparently it hasn't trickled down quite far enough if it is still considered as bad, morally and legally, as raping a teenager.

Where do they come up with this stuff?!?!

By the way, this info was taken straight from DA FORM 4856.