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It has just recently come to my attention that my soldiers and I are deploying to the big sandy beyond! Needless to say when we are not making life better for others we try to keep out moral high and our own quality of life in high spirits. During my last deployment I starting bonding with my soldiers that were playing Fantasy style board games, various RPG games, and the likes as often as we could find the time. This time around it would be my pleasure to be more prepared to support this kind of activity to help keep their's and my own spirits high. This is a simple plea to my community to help sponsor however you might be able! I thank you in advance for however and whatever you are able to do.



Sincerly,
SSG Van Allman, Kelly C.
804th ME BDT
Wherever the road leads...

Good luck! Stay safe!

Wait what?

I'm guessing here.

(Not altogether completely clear on the US ranking systems - although our AF pronounce Lieutenant with an F, so go figure!)

SSG Van Allman, Kelly C.
804th ME BDT

Staff Sgt Kelly C. Van Allman
804th Medical Brigade (am I close?).

Anyway. I believe the good Sgt is after donations of mandollies/games/etc to assist with the upkeep of morale with his fellow mudfeet and band-aids.

Echo Balance. Stay safe and frosty.

Would like to help, but i'm in entirely the wrong part of the world for it to get to you before you get back to the world.

The warstore.com delivers to APO so your good. Take some of that tax free $$$ and get some games. Thats what we did.

Medical BDT? That sounds like a rear echelon unit if I ever heard of one, and I should know. After 10 years of DIV service, Im now "lucky" to have a "broadening" assignment to "rest" from deployments. Im stuck in a REMF unit with a bunch of turd breakers and I hate it. I might think the community would be more motivated to support a unit in the middle of nowhere on a gakky FOB/COP who gets mail and hot food when* possible. You know the guys who need to decompress after a days worth of gakky missions and sleepless nights of out-going 105s and mortars. Not bored REMF units. Pics would get support.

After the first 3 years of war both campaigns, ie the last 7 years in Iraq-not so much in Afghanistan just Bagram and Kahandahar, REMF units have had amazing MWR facilities with Xbox Wii games and Movies for free, that combined with the 4x a day hot food, 10K fun runs, USO tours, and salsa night should get you through.

So while your elbows deep in MED Poon, MWR facilities, phones, PXs, Burger Kings, and all the Bull that warfighters only seen when they leave theater how will you find time to game? Oh you probably want to play games on duty. Well to that I say choke yourself...why dont you take on the role of NCO there SSG, and i dont know TRAIN YOUR TROOPS and not hang out with them. They are not your friends.

Its this mentality that makes deployments an exercise in time wasting for Soldiers. Piss Poor.

Task... calm down...

I'm sure plenty of us would be glad to help you out... if you can furnish proof that you are who you say you are.

You see, your location is listed as Oregon, and yet the 804th is located at Ft. Devens, Mass (I didn't even have to look that one up, I've been there before).

Also, last I checked it was 804th MED BDE (Medical Brigade), not ME BDT, unless I'm barking up the wrong tree here. And the motto (according to https://www.devens.army.mil/804thwebsite/index.htm ) is "To your Health" not "Wherever the Road Leads."

Don't take it personally, but there has been a recent epidemic of scammers posing as troops online to get free stuff/steal peoples cash.

I was reassigned to the 804th to augment and support them, it's common among the military.

Task. Um...if you got nothing nice to say don't say anything at all. As for being rear echelon. Since when were medics rear echelon, remind me of this next time i'm stuffing your buddy's guts back into his stomach because you decided to share your jaded opinion with some 14 year old kid with an AK and a pipe bomb.

If you want proof i'll show you my reassignment orders.

Wherever the Road Leads

wasn't me posting a motto. Was me not wanting to post where I am deploying to because Uncle Sam does not like that very much at all.

Don't take it personally, but there has been a recent epidemic of scammers posing as troops online to get free stuff/steal peoples cash.

Not surprised I suppose, depressing all the same.


I did not post here to get flamed on this matter. Want to flame me on something view other posts of mine. Don't do it here. If this is just going to be a flame fest I'll delete the message and request it be locked.

I understand why that guy is angry, I see way too many soldiers walking around here without combat patches and it seems kind of unfair. This is comming from a guy who hasn't served yet, but has seen several of his buddies go down range, and seen some go multiple times.

I think your idea is befitting of an NCO, as your watching out for your troops and their welfair. Once you get final orders/permant shipping addresses, I'd love to see what I couldn't do.

Thanks brother_zach, no movement until first of the year. Just gathering support and I appreciate yours.

Silverkell wrote:I was reassigned to the 804th to augment and support them, it's common among the military.

Task. Um...if you got nothing nice to say don't say anything at all. As for being rear echelon. Since when were medics rear echelon, remind me of this next time i'm stuffing your buddy's guts back into his stomach because you decided to share your jaded opinion with some 14 year old kid with an AK and a pipe bomb.

I did not post here to get flamed on this matter. Want to flame me on something view other posts of mine. Don't do it here. If this is just going to be a flame fest I'll delete the message and request it be locked.

Pipe bomb? Really is that your scenario your not going to give me the IED blew up my truck story?

Dont worry Ive probably hosed more guts from vehicles, scene more death and injury, been shot at, blown up, pic one... more than you. Ever see an RPG impailed in a Lieutenant? Ever see a LTCs head in a helmet? Ever stood in memorial ceremonies for your Soldiers? Hmmm? I have. Jaded..? probably just more experienced than you...kids dont belong in my perimeter, and I dont feed the animals, 14 yr old with AK and pipe bomb is PID therefore dead...simple. Got it, there are Shuras and all the Nation Building where there are civilians present but please make your example believeable with at least a suicide vest or something a non-POG would be vulnerable too and cant be mitigated by technically competant Soldiers. I've got 10 years in...started before 9/11, the crap economy, etc. Not a banner waiver and attention whore...but Ill break radio silence to make my point.

Im sure your "fully trained" and all but please try not to impress upon me the fact your soft unit is HARD, by stressing that line medics "do work", you may have even been one at one time. You should have asked then. Dont ask for favors when your not even there yet. Try your units Family Readiness Group. REAL medics are in line units, on patrols, doing work. Its not your fault you were reassigned...got it, but augmenting a HQs or some random REMF medical unit does not mean you deserve support. You have a job, you earn damn near or more than a 2LT tax free, buy your own. Pictures of the suck>posting about an upcoming deployment there Jr.

Enjoy hanging around the aid station with your top off gamer man boobs bigger than the nurses, bitching about slow internet, drinking green beans coffee, not doing PT despite the GYM being across the street, and wondering why nobody cares to send you free games while you steal my air conditioned oxygen. I cant wait for one of your Soldiers to sell you out...but they would never do that right..? You play games together. Your a fool, bet you dont even have the NCO creed memorized.

Since when has DAKKA been a nice place..?

Task...

Guess I would be mad at the world if i were stuck at Ft. Lee too so...

Get help. Get well. Get out. Get laid. Get God. Get something!

I have 10 years in also <clap> started before 9/11 too, so what? I don't get your point.

The scenario was fictitious. I don't need to revisit past events maybe it's best you don't either.

I get it you don't want to support me/us and feel it's better sent elsewhere. GREAT lots of guys there.

As for everything else you have to say. I'm not going to debate with an angry, emotionally scared individual (respectfully). No one can argue with emotions. Anyone with a wife and kids knows this much.


MODs I just assume to have this post locked or deleted as this post has gone entirely the wrong direction. I'll seek support via cooperate sponsors and not the community.

Silver stay safe and you are doing the right thing by looking out for you troops.

Task, just stfu. You sound like every wannabe hardcore boot Marine that I encountered that wanted to talk crap about the admin poges to bluff their way into some chicks panties.

Grats on being in a war. Grats on having seen gak. However, your commitment to the country is no more or less then Silver, just different.

Task and Purpose wrote:

Silverkell wrote:I was reassigned to the 804th to augment and support them, it's common among the military.

Task. Um...if you got nothing nice to say don't say anything at all. As for being rear echelon. Since when were medics rear echelon, remind me of this next time i'm stuffing your buddy's guts back into his stomach because you decided to share your jaded opinion with some 14 year old kid with an AK and a pipe bomb.

I did not post here to get flamed on this matter. Want to flame me on something view other posts of mine. Don't do it here. If this is just going to be a flame fest I'll delete the message and request it be locked.

Pipe bomb? Really is that your scenario your not going to give me the IED blew up my truck story?

Dont worry Ive probably hosed more guts from vehicles, scene more death and injury, been shot at, blown up, pic one... more than you. Ever see an RPG impailed in a Lieutenant? Ever see a LTCs head in a helmet? Ever stood in memorial ceremonies for your Soldiers? Hmmm? I have. Jaded..? probably just more experienced than you...kids dont belong in my perimeter, and I dont feed the animals, 14 yr old with AK and pipe bomb is PID therefore dead...simple. Got it, there are Shuras and all the Nation Building where there are civilians present but please make your example believeable with at least a suicide vest or something a non-POG would be vulnerable too and cant be mitigated by technically competant Soldiers. I've got 10 years in...started before 9/11, the crap economy, etc. Not a banner waiver and attention whore...but Ill break radio silence to make my point.

Im sure your "fully trained" and all but please try not to impress upon me the fact your soft unit is HARD, by stressing that line medics "do work", you may have even been one at one time. You should have asked then. Dont ask for favors when your not even there yet. Try your units Family Readiness Group. REAL medics are in line units, on patrols, doing work. Its not your fault you were reassigned...got it, but augmenting a HQs or some random REMF medical unit does not mean you deserve support. You have a job, you earn damn near or more than a 2LT tax free, buy your own. Pictures of the suck>posting about an upcoming deployment there Jr.

Enjoy hanging around the aid station with your top off gamer man boobs bigger than the nurses, bitching about slow internet, drinking green beans coffee, not doing PT despite the GYM being across the street, and wondering why nobody cares to send you free games while you steal my air conditioned oxygen. I cant wait for one of your Soldiers to sell you out...but they would never do that right..? You play games together. Your a fool, bet you dont even have the NCO creed memorized.

Since when has DAKKA been a nice place..?

Oh jesus. This is a wargaming forum, not a complaining-about-my-job one. This thread belongs in Off-Topic.

And, please. If you're a soldier, you CHOSE TO BE A SOLDIER. Just like any other job. That's the point of a professional military - it's a profession. Don't come on here and complain about how hard it is, and how everyone else doesn't understand.

Task and Purpose wrote:The warstore.com delivers to APO so your good. Take some of that tax free $$$ and get some games. Thats what we did.

Medical BDT? That sounds like a rear echelon unit if I ever heard of one, and I should know. After 10 years of DIV service, Im now "lucky" to have a "broadening" assignment to "rest" from deployments. Im stuck in a REMF unit with a bunch of turd breakers and I hate it. I might think the community would be more motivated to support a unit in the middle of nowhere on a gakky FOB/COP who gets mail and hot food when* possible. You know the guys who need to decompress after a days worth of gakky missions and sleepless nights of out-going 105s and mortars. Not bored REMF units. Pics would get support.

After the first 3 years of war both campaigns, ie the last 7 years in Iraq-not so much in Afghanistan just Bagram and Kahandahar, REMF units have had amazing MWR facilities with Xbox Wii games and Movies for free, that combined with the 4x a day hot food, 10K fun runs, USO tours, and salsa night should get you through.

So while your elbows deep in MED Poon, MWR facilities, phones, PXs, Burger Kings, and all the Bull that warfighters only seen when they leave theater how will you find time to game? Oh you probably want to play games on duty. Well to that I say choke yourself...why dont you take on the role of NCO there SSG, and i dont know TRAIN YOUR TROOPS and not hang out with them. They are not your friends.

Its this mentality that makes deployments an exercise in time wasting for Soldiers. Piss Poor.

Heh.

I was in Iraq and I happen you think that you, Task, should really STFU.

Your comments make me think that you aren't actually a service member, and if you are, you're a really bad one. Part of wearing a uniform is putting forth a certain image of the American military, and whining on a wargaming forum makes you look like a bitch. Which, incidentally, is not the image you should be projecting.



On topic:

Why don't you try talking to the USO? I'd think that if they knew how many of you were interested in this sort of thing they could make something happen.

Task and Purpose wrote:Since when has DAKKA been a nice place..?

Since Rule #1 was put into effect. Specifically:

The Dakka Credo wrote:Try to avoid name-calling or even implying insults wherever possible. These tactics generally only inflame a situation and lead to what are known as "Flame Wars." Whenever a flame war starts it usually ruins a perfectly good discussion. Others will lose interest in the thread and the site in general if this kind of interchange becomes a common occurrence.

Anything specific that you're looking for, Silverkell? Any games or just wargames?

Going to have to agree with monster on that one. I was an 11C with the 25th ID stryker back from 01-06 and now I am guard(major grumpbles.. I needed the cash at the time), and I have seen it all and don't even talk like you.. Heck I got 50%from the VA and don't type the junk you did.

I am going to be straight. Silver if you are going over then just post the APO address as that will solve all of the validity to the arguement. Granted I was in the Oregon guard and they got backform deployment less then a year ago and with the new laws they can't redeploy for 5 years. Now maybe you are in an independant company so all I say is post the APO box and if people want to send stuff they can, if not well like a previous poster said.... thewarstore.com baby.

I am part of the Reserve not guard, i live in Oregon and drill or BA at Fort Lewis. I have recently been reassigned to the 804th.

I do not leave until the first of the year. When I have an APO/Orders etc i'll validate my claim as it seems there is some dbags out there scamming.

Thanks for the support.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Another soldier asked me to email them via AKO. While doing that. I noticed I revived my permanent orders. It's going to be a while before I know exactly what the APO is. I'll likely be in country before they disclose that information or just before I leave in order to ship my own goodies over there.

Silver, ignore task, I'm sure he means well... somehow.

Anyway, once you can validate, etc. I'll gladly support you however I can. Money is kinda tight, and I can't afford to risk sending stuff off without knowing who its going to for sure.

Silverkell wrote:I am part of the Reserve not guard, i live in Oregon and drill or BA at Fort Lewis.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Another soldier asked me to email them via AKO. While doing that. I noticed I revived my permanent orders. It's going to be a while before I know exactly what the APO is. I'll likely be in country before they disclose that information or just before I leave in order to ship my own goodies over there.

I was stationed at lewis... I miss that place. Anyways the APO is already set up youjust have to ask. They don't withhold that until you hit country because the sorting facility is in New York.

You'll likely get your forwarding address within a few weeks of deployment. That's about the easiest (only?) way to verify you're actually over there. As others have said, too many scumbags lying about their service and asking for handouts.

Silver, I had the idea of painting some stuff up for you and your soldiers to play with over there. I just like painting, and love getting new experience, and i figured it would save yall tons of time. This way, you can just hit the board instead of fiddling around with bare plastics.


I can't pledge much, I'm a broke college student but I'd love to help out our boys whenever possible. It's the least i can do until MEPS doesen't think I'm a liar.

MEPS...that brings back memories (twice).

Only stuff to paint would be my own. (looks to the right).

I have loads to paint but rather enjoy and find it calming.

I'll pass the offer on to my brothers and keep in touch.

Thanks.

"Seen" hardly? Lived is more accurate.

10 years and still a SSG? Maybe you wold be SFC by now if you didnt play games with your Soldiers...I wont say anything more.

Been in Iraq... Have a cookie fobbit.

Guy in a Stryker thinks Im not a service member? Light units are another world buddy, not so safe without all that armour. Sounds like coddling NCO LEG speak to me.

Bad Soldier? Hardly. No Slack attitude makes me a "meany" so you dont think Ive dont what I said, fine Im not going to post my records to back it up.



Train your Soldiers and be smart in Iraq, safty is the by product of competence.

I forgot that there are people like this.

Sure buddy, grunts are the end all be all. I'd set you straight on a few things but I find ignorance to be highly amusing.

Task and Purpose wrote:

10 years and still a SSG? Maybe you wold be SFC by now if you didnt play games with your Soldiers...I wont say anything more.

That was really uncalled for in my book. There are more than enough MOS's in the army that have low promotion rates.

Combine this with the uncertainty of what the promotion board is looking for (deployments, college, what have you), your making an assumption that Silver is instantly a bad NCO are unfair. I've seen my fair share of guys get screwed over on promotion boards while idiots who have ran from deployments (either through alternative assignments or something even more rediclious) make rank like its nothing. What's even worse is alot of these guys walk around with their mishapen berets, gold teeth, and long hair and have the pull of a senior NCO.

Silver (if he is indeed what he sais he is, I only say this because its the internet and everyone remains mysterious), in my opinion, is being a concerned NCO for his guys. Many of them may have not have the privlege of going downrange before, and he obviously has something to be concerned about. Everyone over there has some kind of thing (hobby, activity, ideal) that helps them cope over there. For some, it's the gym, for others, its photogrophahy, and for the select few, its war games.

I get that you're a grunt whose seen alot of action, God bless you for it. God Bless the Infantry. This doesen't mean that others who aren't grunts are incapable of doing their own part.

Grunts experience and create the horrors of war, medical personel have to try and fix both. With things heating up in Afganistan, everybody's going to see their fair share of the suck.

As off colored as this sounds, if there's something you want your guys to have, mabe you should let people know. It doesen't have to be a handout ordeal, all you have to do is figure out.

Ground pounders promote faster than any other units. It's because their turn over rate is faster, larger soldier body, more deployments etc. For every 1 medic in the field there is a squad of grunts in front of him.

I made E6 in 9 years in a medical unit. That's actually pretty darn good. After this deployment I think I'll be ready to put in for my E7. Right now I'm not comfortable being at a HQ level.

You can only put in for promotion so many times. Get passed over to many times and you get separated. Besides there are other underlying factors. In the reserve in my original unit there is no available E7 slots. If I got promoted I would have to go to a different unit. Nearest E7 slot for me is in CO (i live in OR). I love my country and am 3rd generation Army but I do not wish to fly to CO every 3rd month.

Task I'm sure knows this stuff he's just not emotionally sound.

1 year of straight 24/7 training and sleeping and nothing else is a contributing factor to why soldiers have PTSD and other emotional trauma (proven fact, read a report). Everyone needs a break (why do you think it's a law soldiers have to take a year or more break between deploymnets?).

I am a leader of soldiers and also a friend. Bonding and brotherhood pushes a soldier to endure more stressful hardships.

Am I going to tolerate BS. No.

But if playing some D&D or the likes with a bunch of friends and fellow soldiers, sneaking them a beer, and forgetting even for a moment about the days events helps them and me cope I'll be doing myself and my soldiers justice.

STFU and let me do my job how I feel best brings them home with out retiring to FT. Lee VA and flaming message boards all day like a self pitying broken soldier...

Task and Purpose wrote:10 years and still a SSG? Maybe you wold be SFC by now if you didnt play games with your Soldiers...I wont say anything more

So what the hell are you doing on Dakka, I understand playing with toy soldiers is what we specialise in here.

*edited for stupidity

Ordo Dakka wrote:So what the hell are you doing on Dakka, I understand playing with toy soldiers is what we specialise in here.

Personally, wondering what a "turd breaker" is.

Ouze

Not sure where this question comes from, probably best left to the imagination.

flame me or keep it on topic, thanks.