Well, I have finally had the opportunity to talk to you all. Sarah, Charlotte and I just spent Easter together and it was just what the doctor ordered. Speaking of doctor's, I have had to see some recently. Unfortunately, I have incurred an injury involving 4 stress fractures to my left leg and two to my right. Tomorrow will be a big day for me as I will be getting the results of what is going on with those fractures. Keep your fingers crossed.
OCS is no joke as far as the mental is concerned. The physical aspect comes with the territory. I have found many new friends and suprisingly so, many new Marines that are "jumping ship" and coming over to the "right" side. The title "Doc" has returned and is welcome motivation for the hurdles I am encountering. With that, hopefully I will be writing soon with further news about the program.
Standards, No Compromise!
Follow Me!
Officer Candidate Cline
Monday, April 13, 2009
Monday, December 15, 2008
Holidays
Well, It has definitely been an interesting couple of weeks. I have been to Illinois and going to Miami for Christmas....rough life I know! Charlotte is growing up so fast and we are on the verge of talking. With so many good things going on, it has been difficult to see the changes going on.
I watched Bush get a shoe thrown at him last night and the governor of Illinois refuse to step down. I watched Congress deny the big 3 their loan....well done I must say!....and then their release about laying off people if they do not get their money. I know they are cutting cost, but why weren't those realeases done before the meeting with Congress? It appears to me, the 3 said, if we do not get money, we will lay off people and they will cry to their government and pressure them into giving us money to get there jobs back. Am I the only one that thinks that???? Maybe I am too cynical but that is what I get from all of this.
Anyway, Just a little hello and dinner conversation material..haha.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all.
I watched Bush get a shoe thrown at him last night and the governor of Illinois refuse to step down. I watched Congress deny the big 3 their loan....well done I must say!....and then their release about laying off people if they do not get their money. I know they are cutting cost, but why weren't those realeases done before the meeting with Congress? It appears to me, the 3 said, if we do not get money, we will lay off people and they will cry to their government and pressure them into giving us money to get there jobs back. Am I the only one that thinks that???? Maybe I am too cynical but that is what I get from all of this.
Anyway, Just a little hello and dinner conversation material..haha.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all.
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Their War
Today's a pretty significant day! For some reason, I feel like their are others that need to be recognized, not me. Yes I wore the uniform, but there are others that have done much more while wearing it than I. This is their day, and their war.
What is a Vet?
Vets are the unsung heroes. The ones that are recognized do not want to be, and the ones that aren't would never want to be. Many say they are the lucky ones, most Vets will say the lucky ones are the ones that did not come home to carry the weight. They may be the mechanic. the waitress, the person working at the DMV or unemployed, but they all having something in common. They have seen things or done things that 99.99% of the world will never see or have to do. And then, there is the work that we do everyday. The grease monkeys in Motor T, the air jockeys, your diver's, PJ's, Doc's, Bubble heads, Surface warfare warriors and such. We nickname them, ground pounders, bullet sponges and cannon fodder to make it easier to do our jobs. Can you imagine volunteering yourself for a job that can and will potentially cost you your life??????? A vet can and has......not will....but has!!!!!!
A Vet is the member in the swamp during JWT ( Jungle Warfare Training) that tells themselves the heat, water and mosquitoes are worth it if it allows them save a life in Colombia. Who during CWT ( Cold Weather Training) tells themselves that frostbite on two fingers and an ear is worth it if it can save a life in The Albanian Alps specifically Djaravica while moving to Kosovo. The one who during SERE school ( Survival Evasion Resistance and Escape) tolerates sleep deprivation, starvation, hypothermia and stress not otherwise known accept in combat and tells themselves, I can do this, not for me but for my brothers and sisters standing along side me.
They are extraordinary and yet ordinary. They are usually quiet and may from time to time wear a small ribbon, medal or patch displaying what we call our colors. But in a true sense, we Vets look at all of you that have not or yet to serve and realize that you are our colors. You are our legacy and for that, this Vet will continue to put his life on the line to defend and protect those colors.
WE have lived our lives by the following codes
" Semper Fidelis" Always Faithful
"Semper Paratus" Always Ready
" Semper Vigilans" Always on Watch
" Semper Gratus" Always Grateful
And will continue to live our lives by the codes in uniform or not.
For that we give our Vets a day, 24 hours of our time to be dedicated to them. I would love for more people to give more, do more and say more. I challenge all of you to find a Vet today, say thank you and think for one minute what his or her story could be and what he or she has sacrificed for each of us.
What is a Vet?
Vets are the unsung heroes. The ones that are recognized do not want to be, and the ones that aren't would never want to be. Many say they are the lucky ones, most Vets will say the lucky ones are the ones that did not come home to carry the weight. They may be the mechanic. the waitress, the person working at the DMV or unemployed, but they all having something in common. They have seen things or done things that 99.99% of the world will never see or have to do. And then, there is the work that we do everyday. The grease monkeys in Motor T, the air jockeys, your diver's, PJ's, Doc's, Bubble heads, Surface warfare warriors and such. We nickname them, ground pounders, bullet sponges and cannon fodder to make it easier to do our jobs. Can you imagine volunteering yourself for a job that can and will potentially cost you your life??????? A vet can and has......not will....but has!!!!!!
A Vet is the member in the swamp during JWT ( Jungle Warfare Training) that tells themselves the heat, water and mosquitoes are worth it if it allows them save a life in Colombia. Who during CWT ( Cold Weather Training) tells themselves that frostbite on two fingers and an ear is worth it if it can save a life in The Albanian Alps specifically Djaravica while moving to Kosovo. The one who during SERE school ( Survival Evasion Resistance and Escape) tolerates sleep deprivation, starvation, hypothermia and stress not otherwise known accept in combat and tells themselves, I can do this, not for me but for my brothers and sisters standing along side me.
They are extraordinary and yet ordinary. They are usually quiet and may from time to time wear a small ribbon, medal or patch displaying what we call our colors. But in a true sense, we Vets look at all of you that have not or yet to serve and realize that you are our colors. You are our legacy and for that, this Vet will continue to put his life on the line to defend and protect those colors.
WE have lived our lives by the following codes
" Semper Fidelis" Always Faithful
"Semper Paratus" Always Ready
" Semper Vigilans" Always on Watch
" Semper Gratus" Always Grateful
And will continue to live our lives by the codes in uniform or not.
For that we give our Vets a day, 24 hours of our time to be dedicated to them. I would love for more people to give more, do more and say more. I challenge all of you to find a Vet today, say thank you and think for one minute what his or her story could be and what he or she has sacrificed for each of us.
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Revelation
History was made yesterday at about 1020PM CST. I was watching it live and although the candidate I voted for did not win, I saw a couple of things that caused me to have a revelation.
1. My candidates concession speech not only stunned me, but apparently got a lot of stunned silence from the Obama fans as well.
2. I watched am African American become the 44th president of the United States
3. I was stunned by his acceptance speech, as were many McCain fans.
The revelation was this:
I have been privileged to see some amazing things, the birth of my daughter, the marriage to my wife, seeing 34, traveling the world, serving my country, starting a new millenium, watching man made machines land on Mars.
I have been horrified but other things I have seen, Genocide in Kosovo/Bosnia, death of children, the trade centers falling, a president's (Reagan) attempted assassination, President Sadat's assassination, the challenger explosion, Dahmer.
Through out Man's(and Women's) History, it has always been pock marked with violence. I have no doubt this will continue. And even though I have witnessed and even been a part of that violence, I have been hoping that a day would come where the violence I so adamantly think is necessary today, would somehow lead to a peaceful resolution in the future.
Although I had initial doubts about Obama, the fact that he was elected tells me that through our history of violence, whether in combat or civil, we have somehow become a country, after years or segregation, that is not only changing, but willing to change.
To me, it means that when I think to myself at night, have I done the right things or would I do them again, after last night's history making election I can now say yes....the sacrifice of me having to worry about my actions in uniform is far outweighed by my belief that what we do in uniform has provided the environment for us to not only to have an African American president, but one where I personally would give my life to defend him. Not because of his race but because he is an American. A president that WE as a people put in office, not because of his race, but because he was the right man for the job.
For those who know me, they now I am not racist. Brought up in Southern Louisiana, it surprises me that my parents were able to curb the influence to be racist that surrounded me daily in the boonies. Therefore, if you are to read this and think for a second that somehow this is biased, do not hesitate to post. However, I would like to make something clear....regardless of how you read this, it is not racist, I am not racist and I would got to my death to prove that I am not. So, if you read this and get to thinking that there is some underlined tone, then I apologize for somehow not wording it properly and would gladly accept any editorial remarks on how to correct it.
With that out of the way, I look forward to the "changes" that we are going to see. I look forward to hearing from all of you about Obama, and I look forward to the future that he will bring us.
As they say in the Navy when you shove off to a new port.
"Haze grey and underway!"
1. My candidates concession speech not only stunned me, but apparently got a lot of stunned silence from the Obama fans as well.
2. I watched am African American become the 44th president of the United States
3. I was stunned by his acceptance speech, as were many McCain fans.
The revelation was this:
I have been privileged to see some amazing things, the birth of my daughter, the marriage to my wife, seeing 34, traveling the world, serving my country, starting a new millenium, watching man made machines land on Mars.
I have been horrified but other things I have seen, Genocide in Kosovo/Bosnia, death of children, the trade centers falling, a president's (Reagan) attempted assassination, President Sadat's assassination, the challenger explosion, Dahmer.
Through out Man's(and Women's) History, it has always been pock marked with violence. I have no doubt this will continue. And even though I have witnessed and even been a part of that violence, I have been hoping that a day would come where the violence I so adamantly think is necessary today, would somehow lead to a peaceful resolution in the future.
Although I had initial doubts about Obama, the fact that he was elected tells me that through our history of violence, whether in combat or civil, we have somehow become a country, after years or segregation, that is not only changing, but willing to change.
To me, it means that when I think to myself at night, have I done the right things or would I do them again, after last night's history making election I can now say yes....the sacrifice of me having to worry about my actions in uniform is far outweighed by my belief that what we do in uniform has provided the environment for us to not only to have an African American president, but one where I personally would give my life to defend him. Not because of his race but because he is an American. A president that WE as a people put in office, not because of his race, but because he was the right man for the job.
For those who know me, they now I am not racist. Brought up in Southern Louisiana, it surprises me that my parents were able to curb the influence to be racist that surrounded me daily in the boonies. Therefore, if you are to read this and think for a second that somehow this is biased, do not hesitate to post. However, I would like to make something clear....regardless of how you read this, it is not racist, I am not racist and I would got to my death to prove that I am not. So, if you read this and get to thinking that there is some underlined tone, then I apologize for somehow not wording it properly and would gladly accept any editorial remarks on how to correct it.
With that out of the way, I look forward to the "changes" that we are going to see. I look forward to hearing from all of you about Obama, and I look forward to the future that he will bring us.
As they say in the Navy when you shove off to a new port.
"Haze grey and underway!"
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
The wife
I can not express to you all how impressed and in awe of my wife I am. I do not want to be cliche and state that everyone should have one....but they should if they are like mine. I could not and would not be here today without her. Through all of the "hurdles" she has always been there. Giving me the proper jabs and the caressing when necessary. Somehow, she knows which to give and when. You think that means we are right for one another? I am not questioning it, just wondering.....I know we are right for each other.
Anyway, I am watching this news show and someone is talking about recession proofing your marriage. Are you kidding???? I think about some of the people I have served with wives, and then some of the women I knew in the military, the wife of my best man and my wife and I ask....how the hell after what we, the Navy and the country has put them through, could a recession end a marriage. Is marriage so fragile now that a lack of money can end it. If this is the case then all of those wives of guys like me need a big round of applause and pretty much whatever else they want. If recession is a stress on a marriage, can anyone really imagine the added weight of military service on a marriage.
Why isn't there a news article on War proofing your marriage. Has the American population gotten so focused on the recession and failing marriages that we have forgotten about our war and our men and women?????
To all those marriages that have survived, surviving or will survive this and any other war that will inevitably come, Hoo Yah, Hoorah, Oorah, Bravo Zulu, good job, congratulations and most of all, Thank you.
Anyway, I am watching this news show and someone is talking about recession proofing your marriage. Are you kidding???? I think about some of the people I have served with wives, and then some of the women I knew in the military, the wife of my best man and my wife and I ask....how the hell after what we, the Navy and the country has put them through, could a recession end a marriage. Is marriage so fragile now that a lack of money can end it. If this is the case then all of those wives of guys like me need a big round of applause and pretty much whatever else they want. If recession is a stress on a marriage, can anyone really imagine the added weight of military service on a marriage.
Why isn't there a news article on War proofing your marriage. Has the American population gotten so focused on the recession and failing marriages that we have forgotten about our war and our men and women?????
To all those marriages that have survived, surviving or will survive this and any other war that will inevitably come, Hoo Yah, Hoorah, Oorah, Bravo Zulu, good job, congratulations and most of all, Thank you.
No Contact
Woke up this morning, realized we do not have the money for the month. Daycare, nope, food, nope...have to ask for help from the in-laws. How is this possible? There are two master's degree between my wife and I. How is it that I am a VET, do not have health insurance, ....my wife and daughter do.....do not have a job and no benefits. I was told that I was not eligible for unemployment either. Is this how we treat our VETS now?????? What about the ones with physical or mental injury? Some want to label the administration, however, does the political administration effect unemployment, job interviews, healthcare?????
I have dealt with a lot in the military, but this is far greater a hurdle.
I have dealt with a lot in the military, but this is far greater a hurdle.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
DIsclaimer
To all,
This blog was designed to allow people to vent their frustrations and share their stories. I would appreciate positive comments regarding the veterans and active duty members of this country, However, I realize that part of what we fight for is your right to voice opposition without repercussion. Therefore I would appreciate all comments to be respectful and tasteful regardless of your feeling.
With that said, I do not put this same limitation on stories that anyone would like to share. It is a violent world out there and I am a true believer that reality, although it can hurt, needs to be put forth. So please do not feel the need to sugar coat your experiences.
War stories is not designed to be solely about war either. A lot of war stories are after the act of war. I myself have had issues concerning my military service and I assure you that is was no cake walk. It has taken me years to overcome some of the things that happened during my time in the military and I feel that talking about them is one of the ways by which I have dealt with it.
Also, Some may want to remain anonymous, I completely understand. As a favor, if possible, leave rank and MOS to provide some insight into your field.
Philip Cline HM3 ( FMF )
This blog was designed to allow people to vent their frustrations and share their stories. I would appreciate positive comments regarding the veterans and active duty members of this country, However, I realize that part of what we fight for is your right to voice opposition without repercussion. Therefore I would appreciate all comments to be respectful and tasteful regardless of your feeling.
With that said, I do not put this same limitation on stories that anyone would like to share. It is a violent world out there and I am a true believer that reality, although it can hurt, needs to be put forth. So please do not feel the need to sugar coat your experiences.
War stories is not designed to be solely about war either. A lot of war stories are after the act of war. I myself have had issues concerning my military service and I assure you that is was no cake walk. It has taken me years to overcome some of the things that happened during my time in the military and I feel that talking about them is one of the ways by which I have dealt with it.
Also, Some may want to remain anonymous, I completely understand. As a favor, if possible, leave rank and MOS to provide some insight into your field.
Philip Cline HM3 ( FMF )
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
