To Whom It May Concern

More Armor? ALRIGHT!! THANK YOU SO LITTLE!

Upon being mobilized last fall, we were given an IBA (Individual Ballistic Armor) and we pretty much universally hated it in the unit. It was heavy and seemed so incredibly restrictive but it was mandatory to wear it over in Iraq so we had to get used to it.

Then they gave us these plates that had to be inserted in the front and back, and throat protectors, and a back of the neck guard, along with a crotch protector. Now it was even heavier and sucked even more.

Upon arriving in Iraq, after wearing the damn thing for awhile, you got used to it, it didn’t seem so heavy. Of course then they gave us these ‘wings’ that wrap around your shoulders, and made it hard as hell to move your arms. IBA = Heavy.

Then they gave us flank protectors that you have to put underneath your arms, they hang up over your shoulders with a strap and you put them on before you put on the rest of the armor. IBA = Heavier.

Now we have plates that go with the flank protectors, and the damn thing weighs even more!!! IBA = HEAVIEST!!

Of course we have a moron for a battalion commander, she gets so excited about all the new armor. She also has everyone wearing eye protection, inside the truck, and the elbow and knee pads on every convoy, and making sure that the gas mask is there (even though there hasn’t been one chemical attack during this entire f’ing conflict). I am guessing next that there will be a neck brace device like they use in nascar, maybe a face shield right? How about a butt plate? There actually is word of a plate to put in the crotch protector which would fucking suck, because that stupid thing already gets in the way all the damn time.

Of course their reasoning is that they have all this ‘proof’ of people who have been killed because a bullet ‘slipped into the side’ of a soldier because they didn’t have protective armor and plates on the sides of the IBA. But then, they have no data on how many soldiers were killed because they were COMPLETELY fucking immobilized and unable to run due to carrying 60 freaking lbs of armor on their body and unable to turn their head or move their arms more than 30 degrees vertically and none to the rear!!! BLAH, I get mad just talking about it. God help us if there is ever a fire fight that requires us to dismount, because it will take 10 fucking minutes to even squeeze out of the door.

More from the stupidity police: word has been handed down that anyone caught flying a confederate flag even in their rooms is going to be reported up the chain of command for violating EO regulations. This after some black soldiers complained after seeing a flag inside of another soldiers room. Get fucking bent, that’s what I have to say about that, if you have a problem with the confederate flag, so freaking what. It’s not a symbol of hatred, it was a symbol of individuality and freedom for those in the south for many years before the civil war and it continues to mean the same thing now. I would be the first to call out someone for racist behavior but that is not being racist at all. Myself, I wouldn’t fly one, but then I’m not from the south either, so it wouldn’t really pertain to me. I get so freaking sick and tired of people being over sensitive to things that no one has any right to control. Political correctiveness run completely awry.

Current Lyrical Ramblings

Which one of us is right
If we always fight?
Why can't we just let love decide?
Am I the weaker man
Because I understand
That love must be the master plan?

Diamonds And Pearls – Prince