New PT Standards?
The current Army PT (physical training) test has remained unchanged since 1992, and relatively the same since 1980.
2 minutes of push-ups
2 minutes of sit-ups
2 mile run
While the current test may seem a bit old, it is still a very good indication of overall physical ability. That being said, there are changes now being made to the PT test, and they make little sense. “There are no warrior tasks and battle drills that require us to run for considerable distances,” said Frank Palkoska, director of the U.S. Army Physical Fitness School. “We look at the ability to start, stop, change direction, get up, get down — those tasks that soldiers have to perform in full spectrum operations are exactly what we are training them to do.”
Problem? Well, since when is fitness required to mimic what a soldier is going to do on the battlefield? Physical fitness and combat readiness may be related to one another, but as far as preparatory tasks, they are distinctly different. Let's take a look at the annual "combat readiness test" that they are looking to institute:
A new annual "combat readiness" test includes running 400 meters — about a quarter of a mile — with a rifle, moving through an obstacle course in full combat gear, and crawling and vaulting over obstacles while aiming a rifle. Soldiers also will have to run on a balance beam while carrying 30-pound ammo boxes and do an agility sprint around a course field of cones. Soldiers also will have to drag sleds weighted with sandbags to test their ability to pull a fallen comrade from the battlefield. The combat test might be given before deployments as well as annually, but that has not been decided.
Now, I have no problem with them doing such a test, provided this particular test is not the overall graded test that measures physical fitness. Another issue? Just how the hell are individual units around the United States supposed to standardize the results for a test like this? It appears that this test will not be the standard for PT. The proposed replacement for the actual PT test, something called the "APRT", or Army Physical Readiness Program, consists of:
60-yard shuttle run measures lower body muscular strength and anaerobic power, assessing speed, agility and coordination
One-minute rower (variation of a sit-up) measures total body muscular endurance and assesses total body coordination
Standing long jump measures lower body muscular strength and assesses lower body power
One-minute push-up measures upper body muscular endurance and assesses trunk stability
1.5-mile run measures lower body muscular endurance and aerobic capacity and assesses speed stability
The article went on to state that the military is concerned about "...injuries resulting from distance running over long term periods." Uh, hello??? Did any of these people making these changes actually run organized track at any time in their lives? Distance running does not nearly have the injuries that you get from doing events such as... oh, let's see here, the standing long jump, and sprints, such as, oh yah, a 60 yard shuttle run. Shin splints are not nearly as debilitating as pulled groins, ACL tears, sprained ankles, and other injuries commonly associated with sprinting and leaping.
Then there is the opinion that the current PT test "does not work" because such a high percentage of soldiers are failing under the current standards. BULLSHIT! The problem is that leadership does not stick to training programs that force soldiers to maintain physical fitness, so regardless of what particular idiotic new PT standards you want to institute, as long as you continue to have lethargic leadership when it comes to fitness, soldiers will continue to fail the PT test. Unless of course, as happens in many cases, the leadership simply "pencil-whips" the PT score cards to make it look as though they have a much higher rate of soldiers actually maintaining the standard.
I have no doubt I can learn the new APRT test if they do indeed decide to implement it as the new standard for PT, it just annoys me that the Army believes that fitness MUST duplicate what the unit will do in combat, because there is little to no ability to maintain any sort of standard for such a thing, considering that there are so many different jobs that soldiers do in combat.
Listen Here You Dog Faced Pony Soldiers!
Saturday, May 21, 2011
Friday, May 20, 2011
On Comments And Worms
I'm working on updating this blog into having more military look, and as I was going through doing a little updating here and there, I noticed a few comments I had never read. Sometimes as I read the comments, I click on the names to see what that person has as a blog. More often than not it is a dead blog or link. Well, what I didn't realize is that the comments aren't set up in such a way to weed out malicious websites, as in, worms, viruses, trojans, the general crap that someone with nothing better to do with their time than create something that attempts to destroy your computer. So, as I clicked on one name... suddenly a strange website popped up, and the all familiar computer-lockup, and that tell-tale 4 color fake Microsoft shield in the lower right hand corner... CRAP!!!
Immediately shut down the computer and restarted but it was too late, the damage had been done. As the programs loaded I got an actual warning message that the Windows firewall was disabled, there was no way to turn it on, and MOST of my anti-virus software (I run 4 active at all times) had shut down.
When I went to click on CC-Cleaner, one of my programs for fixing problems... I received this:
This file does not have a program associated with it for performing this act
This was at about 8 a.m. this morning. I worked it for about a half hour, couldn't get much done because I had an appointment coming up at 0900, then I noticed that, oddly enough, Ad-Aware remained running, and that basically saved me. I ran Ad-Aware on a complete sweep while I went to my appointment, when I came back, it had found the W32.Sircam.Worm virus and quarantined it.
The problem? It had deleted out the portion of the Windows registry associated with running most .exe files. So I shut down the internet, borrowed belly's mini-laptop (keep forgetting what they call these, palmtops?) and used that to look up issues while I attempted to up a fix, as I opened my own laptop in safe mode, then in safe mode with prompt, then regular mode after I found (by some miracle) an actual windows registry fix after both belly and I worked on this for probably 3 more hours.
Anyways, I have deleted to offensive comment, and as part of my updating I plan on putting in some better defenses against that sort of shit. My apologies if anyone else got hit by this.
I'm working on updating this blog into having more military look, and as I was going through doing a little updating here and there, I noticed a few comments I had never read. Sometimes as I read the comments, I click on the names to see what that person has as a blog. More often than not it is a dead blog or link. Well, what I didn't realize is that the comments aren't set up in such a way to weed out malicious websites, as in, worms, viruses, trojans, the general crap that someone with nothing better to do with their time than create something that attempts to destroy your computer. So, as I clicked on one name... suddenly a strange website popped up, and the all familiar computer-lockup, and that tell-tale 4 color fake Microsoft shield in the lower right hand corner... CRAP!!!
Immediately shut down the computer and restarted but it was too late, the damage had been done. As the programs loaded I got an actual warning message that the Windows firewall was disabled, there was no way to turn it on, and MOST of my anti-virus software (I run 4 active at all times) had shut down.
When I went to click on CC-Cleaner, one of my programs for fixing problems... I received this:
This file does not have a program associated with it for performing this act
This was at about 8 a.m. this morning. I worked it for about a half hour, couldn't get much done because I had an appointment coming up at 0900, then I noticed that, oddly enough, Ad-Aware remained running, and that basically saved me. I ran Ad-Aware on a complete sweep while I went to my appointment, when I came back, it had found the W32.Sircam.Worm virus and quarantined it.
The problem? It had deleted out the portion of the Windows registry associated with running most .exe files. So I shut down the internet, borrowed belly's mini-laptop (keep forgetting what they call these, palmtops?) and used that to look up issues while I attempted to up a fix, as I opened my own laptop in safe mode, then in safe mode with prompt, then regular mode after I found (by some miracle) an actual windows registry fix after both belly and I worked on this for probably 3 more hours.
Anyways, I have deleted to offensive comment, and as part of my updating I plan on putting in some better defenses against that sort of shit. My apologies if anyone else got hit by this.
Thursday, May 19, 2011
DITCH THE FREAKING BERET ALREADY!!!
So, last year, June 2010, the Army Times ran an article about the beret, and how then Army Chief of Staff General George Casey stated “I can count on one hand the number of guys and gals that have stood up and said, ‘I hate this thing.’” I remember thinking to myself "Well Sir, with all due respect, you need to get your ass out of the Pentagon and actually TALK to some soldiers who actually do shit in the field if you honestly believe that idiotic assessment of that piece of crap headgear!!!". On cold days, when doing my job, it wasn't unusual that I had to have 4 total pieces of headgear to meet all the expectations of different places I might be. The kevlar helmet for training in tactical vehicles, the fleece cap for cold weather outdoor training, the patrol cap for in garrison training, and that stupid beret for formations and formal events.
Apparently, as General Casey has now retired, it has taken the new leadership a lot less time to begin some actual intelligent thought about the problems with the current uniform and how to make REAL soldiers happier with what they are wearing day to day. Hell 90% of soldiers can't even wear that stupid beret correctly.
Controversial Beret Could Be On The Way Out
New Sergeant Major of the Army Raymond Chandler is making one of his first actions an overall assessment of the uniform, including removing velcro, which was another completely IDIOTIC idea to begin with. "Ahoy mate, see me sneaking up on this enemy soldier, wait a moment, as I reach into my pocket and RIPPPPPPPPPP the velcro open... CRIKEY, he's spotted me!!!". The velcro doesn't hold up for shit, and the name tape and branch of service tapes end up grabbing at the shoulder velcro in an irritating repetitive action whenever you are doing work that causes your arms to cross your body, or basically just about any type of work you might do.
As far as the ACU pattern, which has never worked (unless you were perhaps trying to hide in a field of white rock), the Army is looking to field 3 variants of camouflage: woodland, desert, and a transitional pattern for everything in between (whatever the hell that means?). I don't get why they don't admit "Okay, we f'ed up, hey Marines, can we just use your uniforms, minus the eagle, globe, and anchor???".
But, one thing at a time, and right now there are very few things as annoying as the beret. I don't mind it for the class A uniform (the new dress blues are hideous though, I must say) but for day to day use with your combat uniform, the beret is freaking useless, an irritating two handed device designed to impress only the most idiotic of officers.
So, last year, June 2010, the Army Times ran an article about the beret, and how then Army Chief of Staff General George Casey stated “I can count on one hand the number of guys and gals that have stood up and said, ‘I hate this thing.’” I remember thinking to myself "Well Sir, with all due respect, you need to get your ass out of the Pentagon and actually TALK to some soldiers who actually do shit in the field if you honestly believe that idiotic assessment of that piece of crap headgear!!!". On cold days, when doing my job, it wasn't unusual that I had to have 4 total pieces of headgear to meet all the expectations of different places I might be. The kevlar helmet for training in tactical vehicles, the fleece cap for cold weather outdoor training, the patrol cap for in garrison training, and that stupid beret for formations and formal events.
Apparently, as General Casey has now retired, it has taken the new leadership a lot less time to begin some actual intelligent thought about the problems with the current uniform and how to make REAL soldiers happier with what they are wearing day to day. Hell 90% of soldiers can't even wear that stupid beret correctly.
Controversial Beret Could Be On The Way Out
New Sergeant Major of the Army Raymond Chandler is making one of his first actions an overall assessment of the uniform, including removing velcro, which was another completely IDIOTIC idea to begin with. "Ahoy mate, see me sneaking up on this enemy soldier, wait a moment, as I reach into my pocket and RIPPPPPPPPPP the velcro open... CRIKEY, he's spotted me!!!". The velcro doesn't hold up for shit, and the name tape and branch of service tapes end up grabbing at the shoulder velcro in an irritating repetitive action whenever you are doing work that causes your arms to cross your body, or basically just about any type of work you might do.
As far as the ACU pattern, which has never worked (unless you were perhaps trying to hide in a field of white rock), the Army is looking to field 3 variants of camouflage: woodland, desert, and a transitional pattern for everything in between (whatever the hell that means?). I don't get why they don't admit "Okay, we f'ed up, hey Marines, can we just use your uniforms, minus the eagle, globe, and anchor???".
But, one thing at a time, and right now there are very few things as annoying as the beret. I don't mind it for the class A uniform (the new dress blues are hideous though, I must say) but for day to day use with your combat uniform, the beret is freaking useless, an irritating two handed device designed to impress only the most idiotic of officers.
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
My Marathon Partner, RIP
Many of you remember that I ran a marathon in May of 2006, right about 5 years ago. It was the second year that, on the same day the Boston Marathon is ran, they ran the Boston Marathon in Iraq at Ali Air Base (Camp Adder). I was looking to run the relay version of the marathon, where we get 4 people to run a little over 6 miles each, adding up to 26.2 miles total. Well, 2 of the people who were going to run with us ended up going out on a mission a day before the marathon and were unable to come back.
So, being the eternal optimists we are, Bob and I decided, hey, what the hell, we will attempt the entire 26.2 miles and see just how far we get. Both of us figured that we'd make it maybe 17 to 19 miles before we'd end up quitting. I ran one 12 mile practice run to get ready, and I don't think Bob even did anything close to that, he basically ran it without any long distance training. We both ran quite a bit on a regular basis, but nothing more than 3 to 4 miles every other day or so.
The first 14 miles or so we ran together. The duct tape that I had over one of my nipples shortly thereafter fell off. I began to feel the inevitable chafing across that portion of my chest. After 14 miles Bob fell back slowly and I continued on. At 22 miles I actually fell down, cramped up horribly. The Italians soldiers were running the medical portion in that area of the race, and attempted to make me stop, but hell no I wasn't going to stop with only a few short miles to go. I got up, and with a determined grit of my teeth, began jogging again.
Somewhere between 21 and 23 miles, Bob passed me up. I did not notice him, likely due to the delirium of fatigue that I was going through. At 25.5 miles, or a mere half mile or so from the end, I nearly fell down again, caught myself, and forced myself to continue. I swore to God that I would NEVER ever try such a thing again, that "Please God just let me finish this one, and I promise you, I will not be so foolish as to attempt another". My friend Yvonne met me shortly thereafter, and jogged along with me to the finish line.
It was there that I saw Bob, and knew that he had defeated me. I was not bothered, despite the pain and exhaustion I had to laugh at the fact that I had never even seen him pass me up. We both entered the clamshell tent nearby, designated for race finishers, and I remember saying "Holy hell why is it so cold in here???" and Bob and I laughing when we realized that, it wasn't cold in the tent, it was actually above 100 degrees outside. We hadn't noticed the temperature being so high because of the gradual acclimation that occurs when you run, from 67 degrees when we started the race at 6 that morning to the crispy high midday southern Iraq temps that are common that time of year.
Over the rest of the deployment I shared that special bond with Bob, a smile in passing, it wasn't that I was a best friend of his, but that we had both attempted something utterly foolish in all respects, considering the difficulty of running a marathon even WITH training. After the deployment I saw him a few times, always reminiscing about that day, even if a word was not spoken, a knowing nod and a smile in passing, maybe half a dozen times.
It was with utter disbelief and a profound sadness that I received word of his passing away, at a mere 26 years old, while home on leave from his fourth deployment. He had lost some 30 lbs mysteriously in the last few months, and was home on leave to see the birth of his first child, a daughter named Blair. Tests at an Omaha hospital proved inconclusive, and he was set to go to Ft. Bragg for another battery of testing. He never made it. It was by his 1 month old daughter side that Bob took his last breath.
Guardsman Dies On Leave
At times like these I look at my own life, and reflect on where I have been, and develop a new appreciation for those I love and cherish, and for my friends, even co-workers. Life can be harsh and unpredictable at times, but it can also be short, too short. I've run another marathon since then, and will likely try more, but nothing will endure like the memory of that first 26.2 miles, the uncertainty of trying such a thing, and the sheer foolish audacity of two young men attempting such a feat without training. I never knew you as well as I likely should have, Bob, but I will always cherish that 4+ hours of self induced hell that we spent together that day in Iraq, where we both discovered inner strength we never knew we had. Godspeed to you, my friend, you went too soon :(
Many of you remember that I ran a marathon in May of 2006, right about 5 years ago. It was the second year that, on the same day the Boston Marathon is ran, they ran the Boston Marathon in Iraq at Ali Air Base (Camp Adder). I was looking to run the relay version of the marathon, where we get 4 people to run a little over 6 miles each, adding up to 26.2 miles total. Well, 2 of the people who were going to run with us ended up going out on a mission a day before the marathon and were unable to come back.
So, being the eternal optimists we are, Bob and I decided, hey, what the hell, we will attempt the entire 26.2 miles and see just how far we get. Both of us figured that we'd make it maybe 17 to 19 miles before we'd end up quitting. I ran one 12 mile practice run to get ready, and I don't think Bob even did anything close to that, he basically ran it without any long distance training. We both ran quite a bit on a regular basis, but nothing more than 3 to 4 miles every other day or so.
The first 14 miles or so we ran together. The duct tape that I had over one of my nipples shortly thereafter fell off. I began to feel the inevitable chafing across that portion of my chest. After 14 miles Bob fell back slowly and I continued on. At 22 miles I actually fell down, cramped up horribly. The Italians soldiers were running the medical portion in that area of the race, and attempted to make me stop, but hell no I wasn't going to stop with only a few short miles to go. I got up, and with a determined grit of my teeth, began jogging again.
Somewhere between 21 and 23 miles, Bob passed me up. I did not notice him, likely due to the delirium of fatigue that I was going through. At 25.5 miles, or a mere half mile or so from the end, I nearly fell down again, caught myself, and forced myself to continue. I swore to God that I would NEVER ever try such a thing again, that "Please God just let me finish this one, and I promise you, I will not be so foolish as to attempt another". My friend Yvonne met me shortly thereafter, and jogged along with me to the finish line.
It was there that I saw Bob, and knew that he had defeated me. I was not bothered, despite the pain and exhaustion I had to laugh at the fact that I had never even seen him pass me up. We both entered the clamshell tent nearby, designated for race finishers, and I remember saying "Holy hell why is it so cold in here???" and Bob and I laughing when we realized that, it wasn't cold in the tent, it was actually above 100 degrees outside. We hadn't noticed the temperature being so high because of the gradual acclimation that occurs when you run, from 67 degrees when we started the race at 6 that morning to the crispy high midday southern Iraq temps that are common that time of year.
Over the rest of the deployment I shared that special bond with Bob, a smile in passing, it wasn't that I was a best friend of his, but that we had both attempted something utterly foolish in all respects, considering the difficulty of running a marathon even WITH training. After the deployment I saw him a few times, always reminiscing about that day, even if a word was not spoken, a knowing nod and a smile in passing, maybe half a dozen times.
It was with utter disbelief and a profound sadness that I received word of his passing away, at a mere 26 years old, while home on leave from his fourth deployment. He had lost some 30 lbs mysteriously in the last few months, and was home on leave to see the birth of his first child, a daughter named Blair. Tests at an Omaha hospital proved inconclusive, and he was set to go to Ft. Bragg for another battery of testing. He never made it. It was by his 1 month old daughter side that Bob took his last breath.
Guardsman Dies On Leave
At times like these I look at my own life, and reflect on where I have been, and develop a new appreciation for those I love and cherish, and for my friends, even co-workers. Life can be harsh and unpredictable at times, but it can also be short, too short. I've run another marathon since then, and will likely try more, but nothing will endure like the memory of that first 26.2 miles, the uncertainty of trying such a thing, and the sheer foolish audacity of two young men attempting such a feat without training. I never knew you as well as I likely should have, Bob, but I will always cherish that 4+ hours of self induced hell that we spent together that day in Iraq, where we both discovered inner strength we never knew we had. Godspeed to you, my friend, you went too soon :(
Irresponsible Rude Obnoxious Loud People
I'm sure everyone has been to a movie theater, a quiet restaurant, even libraries, and dealt with this before: the asinine self centered prick (or female prick I guess) who talks loudly on the cellphone without regard for anyone around him/her and then acts insulted and offended when someone actually "calls" them on it (sorry, couldn't resist the pun).
Well, Amtrak users dealt with this for 16 hours on a trip that left San Fransisco on its way to Oregon, before someone finally said something, to which the offensive cell phone user became belligerent, and the train ended up stopping just so police could remove her. Now, mind you she had been talking on a designated quiet car the ENTIRE 16 hours of the trip before someone finally said ENOUGH and confronted her:
Loud Cell Phone Talker Removed From Train
Quiet cars on Amtrak trains are designated as CELL PHONE FREE areas by obvious written signs, I'm not sure I would have been able to deal with it for 16 minutes, much less 16 freaking hours. I, like many others, are cheering on her removal from the train, because so often these people label themselves as "victims" despite their complete and total disregard for anything remotely resembling respect in dealing with their fellow man.
I think she should have sat in jail for 16 hours myself.
I'm sure everyone has been to a movie theater, a quiet restaurant, even libraries, and dealt with this before: the asinine self centered prick (or female prick I guess) who talks loudly on the cellphone without regard for anyone around him/her and then acts insulted and offended when someone actually "calls" them on it (sorry, couldn't resist the pun).
Well, Amtrak users dealt with this for 16 hours on a trip that left San Fransisco on its way to Oregon, before someone finally said something, to which the offensive cell phone user became belligerent, and the train ended up stopping just so police could remove her. Now, mind you she had been talking on a designated quiet car the ENTIRE 16 hours of the trip before someone finally said ENOUGH and confronted her:
Loud Cell Phone Talker Removed From Train
Quiet cars on Amtrak trains are designated as CELL PHONE FREE areas by obvious written signs, I'm not sure I would have been able to deal with it for 16 minutes, much less 16 freaking hours. I, like many others, are cheering on her removal from the train, because so often these people label themselves as "victims" despite their complete and total disregard for anything remotely resembling respect in dealing with their fellow man.
I think she should have sat in jail for 16 hours myself.
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