BMT (RIP)
10-26-2008, 06:09
http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=51658
:munchin
BMT
Dozer523
10-26-2008, 23:27
I just think the world and all of Secretary Gates. There are lots of reasons for this opinion but the one that is dearest to my heart is in this quote:
Quote >>"He told reporters he was particularly struck by the level of questioning he received when he had lunch with about 10 Special Forces noncommissioned officers. “They talked about problems,” he said. “They asked me about my view of the challenges they were going to face down the road in different countries. The meeting was very geopolitical.” <<
Back in January 06 I was assigned to Camp Eggers in Kabul, Afghanistan. You get into a routine when you're deployed . . . get up go to breakfast, eat the same thing, sit at the same table, blah blah blah. I fell into this routine. So "there I was" walking to my favorite table in the Goat DFac with my two over easy, browns and links. But there is this civilian guy sitting all alone at "my table". He was wearing a tie and a wind-breaker. (It's MY ROUTINE --- this could mess up my whole day!) "Mind if I sit here?" I ask. "No, have a seat." says the civilian guy. I'm watching the news on CNN and chowin' down. "So, what do you do around here?" My tablemate asks. (I was with Force Protection -- someone has to do it -- and Anti-terrorism). He's really interested. Asks about me, the folks in my squad, the Guard, my CA unit. He is really interested to learn that to fill the levy my company tapped over 80 CANG units to get up to strength. Mr Civilain, wanted to know about the train up (Most of it sucked but he door kicking was fun). He asked a lot of interesting questions and listened, patiently, to some (probably) long answers and explainations.
Finally, I ask him "So, what do you do around here?" "I'm the secretary of Defense Designee." I was sort of. . . "Oh my, well I'll bet that's an intersting job . . ." The next day (in the coffee shop) he introduced me to his Under-Secretary. In front of lots of COLs who DID recognize him. His predesessor was in Eggers alot, but we never saw him. Apparantly he ALWAYS eats and talks with soldiers everywhere he goes. It was an amazing 30 or 40 minute experience!