That's SERGEANT Snuggle Bunny to you, asshole.

[DumbAss Tanker]

I doubt we have. Some might say I am unforgettable.... or was that unforgivable....?..... it matters not at this point. 

They aren't mutually exclusive, 'Schade.

 

[soleil]

Well this has been an interesting read, that's for sure. Anyway, a big fat CONGRATS to you Sgt. Snuggles!!!! 

[TVDOC]

Well this has been an interesting read, that's for sure. Anyway, a big fat CONGRATS to you Sgt. Snuggles!!!! 

Err.....regardless of how far this thread got derailed, congrats Sarge!!

doc

[Thor]

Err.....regardless of how far this thread got derailed, congrats Sarge!!

doc

It was Eupher......   

[Eupher]

It was Eupher......   

Wha...? Who?   Me?

 :clueless:





 

Oh, I'd already congratulated Snugs in the other thread, so I figured this one was, uh...sorta jackable?

 

[Thor]

Wha...? Who?   Me?

 :clueless:





 

Oh, I'd already congratulated Snugs in the other thread, so I figured this one was, uh...sorta jackable?

 

   There are NO threads that you don't consider "jackable"...... Isn't it past your bedtime?? 

[Eupher]

   There are NO threads that you don't consider "jackable"...... Isn't it past your bedtime?? 

Yeah - Mrs E and I went to see the remake of "True Grit" with Jeff Bridges, Barry Pepper, and Josh Brolin. Good flick. You just don't see that many westerns anymore and it seems that when you do, they're infested with some sort of ghey bullshit like Brokedick Mountain.

So I was still ridin' that western high. 

[Thor]

Yeah - Mrs E and I went to see the remake of "True Grit" with Jeff Bridges, Barry Pepper, and Josh Brolin. Good flick. You just don't see that many westerns anymore and it seems that when you do, they're infested with some sort of ghey bullshit like Brokedick Mountain.

So I was still ridin' that western high. 

Was it as GOOD as the original??

[Revolution]

I'm not gonna see it. At all...ever. I don't ca4re for Bridges, and I really don't want to ruin my very high opinion of The Duke. I don't think JB can touch Wayne as a western actor. Just my own personal.

[Chris_]

I'm not gonna see it. At all...ever. I don't ca4re for Bridges, and I really don't want to ruin my very high opinion of The Duke. I don't think JB can touch Wayne as a western actor. Just my own personal.

There's always Redbox.

[Revolution]

I don't want to purchase it period. In theatres, rental, or perhaps see it free even. I was that upset about hearing there would be a remake months ago.

[BlueStateSaint]

Snugs, I'm finally jumpin' into this thread.  Congrats!

[Eupher]

Was it as GOOD as the original??

I enjoyed the film, although Kim Darby was a helluva lot cuter than the girl who plays Mattie does in this remake.

Duke won an Oscar in this film in 1969, but let's be real - he won it only because he'd been diagnosed with lung cancer and everybody pretty much knew that he'd be checking out before too long.

As far as I'm concerned, John Wayne was not a stellar actor. Bridges does well with the character, though most purists would probably not appreciate what he did with it. I thought Bridges was more real - dirty, unkempt, greasy hair - just like you'd think a badass like Cogburn would've been.

I looked at Matt Damon doing his Texas Ranger bit in the role of LeBoeuf and I thought, buddy, you look and play the part of a Texas Ranger about as well as I play the part of of Spec Ops snake eater. Of all the actors in the remake, Damon was a putz.

Here's a link from some scenes done in the 1969 movie and what those same areas look like today. Fascinating!

[youtube=425,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0EUP9rOLf30[/youtube]

[NHSparky]

Not even 2 hours from where I went to high school.  Thanks for the views, Eupher.  And thanks for reminding me why I want to get back out west one of these days...(but NOT California...)

[Revolution]

Awww...why ever not, Sparky?

 

[Wineslob]

Gratz MSB!

I won't mention what I've seen a young Japanese lady do with an octopus and assorted vegtables.......

[SSG Snuggle Bunny]

As some of you may know I cross paths with the Public Affairs Office from time-to-time. The MSG there noticed my new rank and as we were discussing it I mentioned, as I did here in this thread, that the stripes seem heavier than any rucksack. She said that would be a good editorial. I resisted but she persisted practically to the pont of waterboarding it out of me.

Yes, I have dispensation for the use of coarse language although I obviously don't wish to abuse it.

I'm not sure if this is too syrupy or what but here's the rough draft:

Heavier than any Rucksack

I recently joined the ranks of the NCO corps. It feels strange. Folks keep telling me, “you earned it” or “it’s about time” and at the expense of sounding immodest I suppose they’re right. I certainly wanted to see my military career progress and with that progression I also wanted to make sure I earned it; I didn’t want it to just be handed to me.

On balance I would say that I have been fortunate enough to serve under some of the best NCOs and officers a soldier could hope to know. On the flip side of that I’ve seen 10 pounds of crap stuffed into a 5 pound bag with a set stripes pinned to it. I remember as a young soldier looking at my superiors and trying to sort out what it was that separated them on matters of quality. One incident stands out prominently.

We were preparing for an inspection when we, the junior enlisted, took off for morning chow. Our platoon sergeant intercepted us and told us to skip chow and head straight to the motor pool to square-away our M113’s (yeah, it was  a while ago, shut-up!). Well, we were shuffling our feet and grumbling as young soldiers do when we were met by our battalion Command Sergeant-Major. If you’ve ever seen Clint Eastwood’s character the movie Heartbreak Ridge, you met my old CSM because I’m convinced Eastwood stole his portrayal from him.

Anyway, the CSM asks why we were so disgruntled and we explained what had happened. He immediately ordered us to the chow hall and made it known to the platoon sergeant, in his inimitable style, that depriving soldiers of food was a violation of trust and detrimental to career development.

I suppose the merits of disharmony among the leadership or the countermanding orders could be argued ad nauseam but one thing did ring through: I—we—never trusted our platoon sergeant. Ever.  On anything. We never felt as if he wanted us to prosper, learn or grow; we felt as if he was just checking off a series of boxes to obtain his next promotion. Our sense of trust had been violated many times before this episode and plenty of times following but that morning seemed to solidify our perceptions of him.

The skipping of chow didn’t contribute one iota to the combat readiness of our unit. It was about him securing the best possible inspection rating and even that extra half-hour would have had negligible gains. The only thing it bought him was lingering questions from his subordinates about his sense of priorities.

By contrast the CSM had stood-up for us. It was his battalion getting ready to stand in the inspection but care and feeding of his troops mattered more than knocking off that extra fleck of dirt from the bracket on the underside the seat in the driver’s compartment.

Soldiers first, right?

That’s not to imply the CSM was a candy-ass. You crossed him at your peril. And yet somewhere between fear and admiration grows the insurmountable feeling of respect. And we did respect him. We would have followed him through minefields because of that respect. I believe he respected us. I say that because I feel that respect.

I returned to uniform after 16 years as a civilian. I was the “old man” and for that I got a lot more slack than others of my rank. Yet, as I went drill each month and went on AT I would see these young kids endure far much more than their peers. While their friends were laying around the house playing video games these kids were out in the middle of nowhere amid the heat and bugs and MREs with only what they could carry in a rucksack  to supply their needs. How could I not respect that?

So now I’m an NCO. An NCO for these kids that I—the old man—respect. Supposedly, somewhere along the line, I’ve learned the pitfalls and gleaned the lessons of life in general and military life in particular. I’ve gotten into trouble and I’ve also earned a few proud moments. I’ve seen soldiers through family losses and hard times. We all know what that is like, so I don’t have to say much, but we know when anything good or bad happens to any one of us it ripples through the entire unit/community/family.

Did I mention we’re also in the military? That means these young soldiers can be taken away from their homes and families, carted half-way around the world and deposited in someplace that has yet to invent indoor plumbing but everyone in the neighborhood wants to do them violent harm. They have to get home again as safely as possible with their missions accomplished and with honor.

Now I’m part of the corps that keeps these young soldiers out of trouble, helps them prosper, grow and become warriors that win with honor. It’s about them because it’s about the young soldiers they will have under them when it is their turn to become NCOs. I want them to see the crusty old CSM because soldiers like him should never be forgotten. I would be cheating my soldiers if I didn't introduce them to him by trying to be the kind of soldiers-first NCO he was.

And not just the CSM; I think about the squad leaders, the good platoon sergeants, first sergeants and the rest I’ve known and have tried to emulate. Heck, even some of the officers were OK too!

They never commanded. They led.

So now I have a set of stripes and somehow I am suppose to carry the legacy of my leaders and the hopes of my soldiers. Damn, it’s heavy; heavier than any rucksack. I guess the question of whether or not I have earned these stripes will be settled by whether or not I stand up and bear that weight.

I think I’ll do OK. I had some pretty good mentors.

Thoughts? Comments? Complaints?

[Eupher]

Outstanding, Snugs. Wouldn't change a word. You captured it perfectly.

I went to E-5 (they called it SP5 in those days, but make no mistake - I was pushing troops) in 1977. Your account brought back all those memories of being called to lead and knowing what to do and, more importantly, what not to do.

Troops gotta eat. And get paid. And get their mail. And have the right gear to do the job, whatever the job is.

My job was to see that they got those things.

Anyway, nice goin' Snugs. 

[IassaFTots]

Snugs, I read this originally not too long after you posted it.  I was running out of time, and wanted to write you a nice post.  Well, it has been 5 hours now, and my eloquence is hiding from me tonight, so I will just say simply this:  I loved it.  I loved every sentence.  I am not a military person, but I come from a military family, and your devotion to do the right thing with those stripes shines through.  The men who you lead will be privileged to work with you.  I have no doubt you will leave an indelible impression on them, that they will always remember.   

[debk]

Snugs...you willbear the weight, you will be standing straight, you will be leading with honor.

Because that's the man you are.

You will teach those younger than you, to be the best that they can be. You've started with your editorial.

[Airwolf]

As long as you remember that most important lesson of being an NCO you will be able to lead. The most important lesson is your troops come first. Without those troops your mission fails due to lack of equipment ,proper training and taking care of their need. I only got to lead for a short time on active duty. as an E-4(P). I had a whole Platoon of PVTS and PFC for a short time. It was a huge pain in the ass but it taught me lessons and one of them was what you had learned . That some NCO'S are only looking out for themselves and they will do anything ,to include letting you go to jail to cover their ass.

[NHSparky]

Well written and well said, SERGEANT.  If only some senior (i.e., flag officers) would read that from time to time.  They might learn something.

[vesta111]

Well written and well said, SERGEANT.  If only some senior (i.e., flag officers) would read that from time to time.  They might learn something.

A good lesson for any manager in or out of the military.