Think back to when you were a child or in your early teenage years. What was your dream? Mine was when I saw a friend’s dad’s old beat up rusted 69 Chevy pickup. I dreamed of one day finding a truck like his and making it entirely custom. Some 8 years later I still haven’t completed this dream however it still is fresh in mind as though it happened yesterday. I have recently found a 69 Chevy truck of my own as soon as this deployment is over it will be mine. I cannot wait. I know it sounds crazy to most people but I have found that most owners of 1967-1972 Chevy trucks have for them borders insanity. All my life my uncle has owned a body shop/hot rod restoration shop. I remember being 8 years old and wet sanding car bodies with him to prep them for paint and watching the beautiful vehicles that came out when he was finished. Although I may never reach the status of which he is I still maintain my dream of custom restoring a pickup to pristine condition.
This love I speak of isn’t anything similar to the love for a child or wife or family member. I dare say it’s something deeper. For those that know the Frankenstein story it is something similar. Taking the bare essentials and a bunch of spare parts and piecing together your dream.
I know one person who has spent almost $20,000 in his truck and isn’t quite finished yet. Although that seems like a ludicrous amount of money to most in the big scheme of things it really isn’t. If you consider that for $20,000 now a days you can hardly get a base model sedan or SUV, the one with an AM radio, no CD player and all manual parts IE crank-down windows and manual locks. Where as with $20,000 dollars that is no way owed to anyone he has an entirely custom pickup set specifically to his particular specifications.
In my mind it isn’t a matter of money it’s a matter of satisfaction. Although you may not be driving a 2008 Fill-In-The-Blank cookie cutter model that every other yuppie insecure with their own craftsmanship is driving. It may take years and countless hours of assembly, disassembly and reassembly to get right and may take endless frustrated nights poring over the details of getting it perfect it is yours. A form of art if you will because to these men it is not a matter of money or time it’s a matter of the heart.
So for those of you that know me I am a perfectionist and although my truck may not be a 2008 Chevy HD Duramax 4x4 diesel with 35” tires and a Banks Six Gun programmer like I would have if money wasn’t an object it will be in the end an entirely custom work of art. Some may read this post and think it’s entirely irrelevant to the rest of my writing and that it is an insane idea with no end in sight you are correct. And in that respect I must say you do not understand and probably never will.
So in closing I’d like to say someday, maybe not this year and maybe not the year after but someday I will have my dream.
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Sunday, June 1, 2008
Downward Travels
Nearing the end of a deployment to Iraq is a beautiful thing. Coming to the end of a deployment is like a final climax to this interesting story that has been playing itself out for the past 5 years. Knowing that somehow hopefully you got a help close a paragraph of a chapter that is the epic that has become “The Long War” or Operation Iraqi Freedom. As these days wind down (now less than 60) and I can officially say “Next month I will be back in beautiful San Diego.”, small irritations that were once the object of your hate and discontent for the month (IE duty) have now become welcome. As you know that with each passing 24 hours you spending staring out the doors of our HQ building and greeting every senior member that comes in with a smile as though you actually have any interest in the way their day is going has become automatic and welcomed with open arms. All for the simple fact that in your head you understand, having been out here before that 2 more of these days and you’ll be in July which is the month you will get to go home.
As your time winds down so does your tolerance and patience for individuals you may have not cared for upon arrival. That’s the funny thing about the military; you learn more than just basic combat skills, close order drill and the “correct” way to conduct all aspects of your life. You learn how to bite your tongue to an extent that is almost entirely exclusive to military members. You see leaders, bad leaders and in between and from them you take a little piece of something you’ve learned. To be tactful and remain within “proper” manners I will just say I have taken a lot of knowledge from this deployment.
It is funny to look at the phrase “Perception is reality”. That honestly is an accurate depiction of being stuck out in the heat, away from your family, out of “your” element, with no cell phone, no personal vehicle to hop in and drive whenever you see fit, bit by bit losing a bit of your touch with reality and pop culture and then like a sack of wet potatoes you get hit in the face with the realization that you volunteered for this. What kind of sick sadist individual am I? is a common question you may ask yourself. Once this bit of acceptance is over it is funny to look back at how the first 4 to 5 months fly by but how these last 50 or so days really drag on. What once seemed to be a blur from Field Day to Field Day or pay day to pay day now has become glancing down at the clock every couple of “hours” to realize it’s been but 5 minutes. Now is when the sanity check kicks in and you really have to just bide your time, keep your nose clean and stick it out.
As your time winds down so does your tolerance and patience for individuals you may have not cared for upon arrival. That’s the funny thing about the military; you learn more than just basic combat skills, close order drill and the “correct” way to conduct all aspects of your life. You learn how to bite your tongue to an extent that is almost entirely exclusive to military members. You see leaders, bad leaders and in between and from them you take a little piece of something you’ve learned. To be tactful and remain within “proper” manners I will just say I have taken a lot of knowledge from this deployment.
It is funny to look at the phrase “Perception is reality”. That honestly is an accurate depiction of being stuck out in the heat, away from your family, out of “your” element, with no cell phone, no personal vehicle to hop in and drive whenever you see fit, bit by bit losing a bit of your touch with reality and pop culture and then like a sack of wet potatoes you get hit in the face with the realization that you volunteered for this. What kind of sick sadist individual am I? is a common question you may ask yourself. Once this bit of acceptance is over it is funny to look back at how the first 4 to 5 months fly by but how these last 50 or so days really drag on. What once seemed to be a blur from Field Day to Field Day or pay day to pay day now has become glancing down at the clock every couple of “hours” to realize it’s been but 5 minutes. Now is when the sanity check kicks in and you really have to just bide your time, keep your nose clean and stick it out.
Monday, May 26, 2008
MCSlap, Semper Kill, Semper Fu, McNinja and the New Bushido
MCMAP (Marine Corps Martial Arts Program) as Wikipedia defines it: "The Marine Corps Martial Arts Program (MCMAP) is a combat system developed by the United States Marine Corps to combine existing and new hand-to-hand and close quarters combat (CQC) techniques with morale and team-building functions and instruction in what the Marine Corps calls the Warrior Ethos".
MCMAP for the most part is either loved or hated. There are few in-betweens on this issue. To give a quick rundown on MCMAP it came about after LINE (Linear Infighting Neural Override Engagement) basically all killing blows with no less than lethal variations was found to be outdated. So MCMAP moves are non-lethal blows which can be escalated as force is needed.
Here is an overview of a 2 hour MCMAP session we have each day. To start the day we begin with "body hardening", the striking of nerves on the inside of the forearms, outside of the forearms, 1-2 punches to harden the abs, kicks to the nerve on the outside of your leg, finished up with kicks to the nerve running up the inside of the thigh. All together an excruciating experience wrapped up with instructors letting you know you aren't kicking hard enough or you're wincing. Yes, with intense pain comes an involuntary natural reaction. From this we roll directly into a quick overview of the previous day's lesson and then right into new techniques or sustainment of the old depending on what portion of the course you're in. This takes up the majority of the hour and by this point you have an hour left; rehearse these moves 15-20 times each to build muscle memory, the second nature to execute a move when it is called out.
Then we are told "Drink some water and you have 10 minutes to cover what you learned" we do as told and go over the techniques and riddle the instructor with questions. Once this time is up we move into what we lovingly refer to as Kill Sessions. Or Slayings.
About the word "kill" it's an interesting word. With quite a macabre meaning. Although this is the case Marines use this word a lot. As a fellow Marine, 1stLt Prifogle, had previously written it's everything. A greeting, a goodbye, acknowledgment of an order and a variety of other things.
Kill Sessions are a fast tempo, loud intense cardio workout. Designed to keep your heart rate so high you feel as though it's going to explode from your chest. A circuit course of sorts for example today was bag drills, first a pyramid of 10 lead and rear hand punches, followed by a pyramid of 8 hooks, followed by a pyramid uppercuts followed by grappling. When it's all said and done groans, moans and complaints fill the air. And as you stand there in your sweat soaked camouflage utility pants and green shirt breathing heavy you look around the room and realize that you are in a room filled with true warriors.
A word that is thrown around all too often and not used in a true sense often. These are men and women who volunteered to serve in the toughest branch of the military during a time of war, some of which are 20 something combat veterans, others are on their first go at it. They then subject themselves endlessly to this relentless and brutal training regime all to better themselves and truly become trained hand to hand combat warriors.
MCMAP for the most part is either loved or hated. There are few in-betweens on this issue. To give a quick rundown on MCMAP it came about after LINE (Linear Infighting Neural Override Engagement) basically all killing blows with no less than lethal variations was found to be outdated. So MCMAP moves are non-lethal blows which can be escalated as force is needed.
Here is an overview of a 2 hour MCMAP session we have each day. To start the day we begin with "body hardening", the striking of nerves on the inside of the forearms, outside of the forearms, 1-2 punches to harden the abs, kicks to the nerve on the outside of your leg, finished up with kicks to the nerve running up the inside of the thigh. All together an excruciating experience wrapped up with instructors letting you know you aren't kicking hard enough or you're wincing. Yes, with intense pain comes an involuntary natural reaction. From this we roll directly into a quick overview of the previous day's lesson and then right into new techniques or sustainment of the old depending on what portion of the course you're in. This takes up the majority of the hour and by this point you have an hour left; rehearse these moves 15-20 times each to build muscle memory, the second nature to execute a move when it is called out.
Then we are told "Drink some water and you have 10 minutes to cover what you learned" we do as told and go over the techniques and riddle the instructor with questions. Once this time is up we move into what we lovingly refer to as Kill Sessions. Or Slayings.
About the word "kill" it's an interesting word. With quite a macabre meaning. Although this is the case Marines use this word a lot. As a fellow Marine, 1stLt Prifogle, had previously written it's everything. A greeting, a goodbye, acknowledgment of an order and a variety of other things.
Kill Sessions are a fast tempo, loud intense cardio workout. Designed to keep your heart rate so high you feel as though it's going to explode from your chest. A circuit course of sorts for example today was bag drills, first a pyramid of 10 lead and rear hand punches, followed by a pyramid of 8 hooks, followed by a pyramid uppercuts followed by grappling. When it's all said and done groans, moans and complaints fill the air. And as you stand there in your sweat soaked camouflage utility pants and green shirt breathing heavy you look around the room and realize that you are in a room filled with true warriors.
A word that is thrown around all too often and not used in a true sense often. These are men and women who volunteered to serve in the toughest branch of the military during a time of war, some of which are 20 something combat veterans, others are on their first go at it. They then subject themselves endlessly to this relentless and brutal training regime all to better themselves and truly become trained hand to hand combat warriors.
Sunday, May 25, 2008
Sundays
Ahh..the glory of Sundays, even in a combat zone. In the real world it means sleeping off a fun night before, going to church, sleeping in, having a homemade breakfast or just spending time with your family depending on who you are. In Iraq it means much of the same with the exception of the intense hangover (alchol's not allowed) and the homemade breakfast as KBR supplies us with all the imitation "you name it" for breakfast, lunch and dinner we'll ever need.
The Sunday's on Camp Al Asad really do amaze me. My last time out here in 2006 Sunday's meant church or sleeping. Now they mean a little extra sleep and internet. Yes, we in fact do have internet in our rooms available for $60 a month. The accomodations currently are amazing and makes me wonder if in fact we will ever leave Iraq.
Sundays will do that to you. Giving you time to reflect and ponder on all the rights and wrongs of the world. This is not to say I'm pro war or anti war just to say I am a Marine in Iraq for the second time and having seen the vast changes in little over 2 years and how built up this place has become is astounding.
From previously what was little more than a dilapitated old Iraqi Army base to what now resembles a small town in the dusty Southwest. Desolate and isolated, one general store kind of town, seeing familiar faces at the PX, our little general store, a couple barber shops, a Taco Bell, a Burger King, a tailor, and various local vendors selling their "authentic Iraqi" goods.
At the current time I have spent a total of 335 days or about 11 or 11 1/2 months out here. Granted that's not as long as plenty of others I know but it's long enough for me. As the days go on I can assure you my bitterness will as well however during moments of clarity I will continue to attempt to provide at least some insight into this interesting fraternity we call the Marine Corps during the time I have left in it.
The Sunday's on Camp Al Asad really do amaze me. My last time out here in 2006 Sunday's meant church or sleeping. Now they mean a little extra sleep and internet. Yes, we in fact do have internet in our rooms available for $60 a month. The accomodations currently are amazing and makes me wonder if in fact we will ever leave Iraq.
Sundays will do that to you. Giving you time to reflect and ponder on all the rights and wrongs of the world. This is not to say I'm pro war or anti war just to say I am a Marine in Iraq for the second time and having seen the vast changes in little over 2 years and how built up this place has become is astounding.
From previously what was little more than a dilapitated old Iraqi Army base to what now resembles a small town in the dusty Southwest. Desolate and isolated, one general store kind of town, seeing familiar faces at the PX, our little general store, a couple barber shops, a Taco Bell, a Burger King, a tailor, and various local vendors selling their "authentic Iraqi" goods.
At the current time I have spent a total of 335 days or about 11 or 11 1/2 months out here. Granted that's not as long as plenty of others I know but it's long enough for me. As the days go on I can assure you my bitterness will as well however during moments of clarity I will continue to attempt to provide at least some insight into this interesting fraternity we call the Marine Corps during the time I have left in it.
Late Bloomer
Where to even begin...that's always the question. My blogging adventure if you will has come about a bit late. I will start by introducing myself and telling you a little about who I am.
I'm Tony Colon, born March 30, 1987 in Anchorage, Alaska. During my childhood I moved around quite a bit which I am very thankful for as it gave me the skill set needed to adapt to changing environments and new people. I graduated from Soldotna High School on May 23, 2005 at 7pm and left 4 hours later for Marine Corps boot camp. Wow that was a drastic 180 from my previous life. Since then I've been working as an intelligence analyst or 0231 as our job field is known in the Marine Corps. I love my job however I do not love what is expected of us in our job field. But that diatribe will go on later. I spent 3 months in boot camp graduating August 19, 2005. From there I had my 10 days leave and went back home to visit with family and see old friends off to college. I had a different career path in mind. After my 10 days was up I reported into Marine Combat Training or MCT. Spent 22 days in MCT and graduated there on September 22, 2005. From there I was put on a plane a few hours later and flown to Virginia Beach, Virginia. Where we began the 3 month fire-hose style training of intelligence. After a very eventful and unfortunate 4 months, due to sitting on hold for a month I graduated. From VA I was sent to California spending some time in Chattanooga, Tennessee with a very good friend and falling in love with that beautiful state. From there we came to MCAS Miramar the premier base in the Marine Corps. It's beautiful nothing at all what you'd expect from a Marine Corps installation. Not that I got to experience that very long as I reported in February 8, 2006 and was sent to Iraq a few short weeks later in the end of March. After turning 19 in Iraq, a on the spot promotion and 7 long months in the sandbox as we refer to it. I came back to sunny San Diego, CA on October 19, 2006. The year and some change I was back passed as though it were only a few weeks and before I knew it I was going back to Iraq in January of 2008. Since arriving here I have experienced a good bit of what you could call "life experience". Although this deployment is nearing it's end I've decided to do what I should have done all along...start a blog. Hope this brief overview gave some readers an insight into what to expect from me.
I'm Tony Colon, born March 30, 1987 in Anchorage, Alaska. During my childhood I moved around quite a bit which I am very thankful for as it gave me the skill set needed to adapt to changing environments and new people. I graduated from Soldotna High School on May 23, 2005 at 7pm and left 4 hours later for Marine Corps boot camp. Wow that was a drastic 180 from my previous life. Since then I've been working as an intelligence analyst or 0231 as our job field is known in the Marine Corps. I love my job however I do not love what is expected of us in our job field. But that diatribe will go on later. I spent 3 months in boot camp graduating August 19, 2005. From there I had my 10 days leave and went back home to visit with family and see old friends off to college. I had a different career path in mind. After my 10 days was up I reported into Marine Combat Training or MCT. Spent 22 days in MCT and graduated there on September 22, 2005. From there I was put on a plane a few hours later and flown to Virginia Beach, Virginia. Where we began the 3 month fire-hose style training of intelligence. After a very eventful and unfortunate 4 months, due to sitting on hold for a month I graduated. From VA I was sent to California spending some time in Chattanooga, Tennessee with a very good friend and falling in love with that beautiful state. From there we came to MCAS Miramar the premier base in the Marine Corps. It's beautiful nothing at all what you'd expect from a Marine Corps installation. Not that I got to experience that very long as I reported in February 8, 2006 and was sent to Iraq a few short weeks later in the end of March. After turning 19 in Iraq, a on the spot promotion and 7 long months in the sandbox as we refer to it. I came back to sunny San Diego, CA on October 19, 2006. The year and some change I was back passed as though it were only a few weeks and before I knew it I was going back to Iraq in January of 2008. Since arriving here I have experienced a good bit of what you could call "life experience". Although this deployment is nearing it's end I've decided to do what I should have done all along...start a blog. Hope this brief overview gave some readers an insight into what to expect from me.
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