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It’s all about me….

A Challenge….

Nov 9th, 2010
by OH Hell.
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Imagine for a moment that you only have one hand. Or more than a moment. Choose a hand, right or left, doesn’t matter. Then try and go about your every day activities without using that hand.

Tough, isn’t it? Hard to zip your pants, button your jacket, tie your boot. Try driving a stick shift truck. Open a door while holding a bag of groceries or a baby. Typing on a computer.

Now imagine that it’s forever.

Imagine that it’s not just one hand. It’s both.

It’s not imaginary for a lot of young men and women coming home from the war in A’stan. It’s real.  It’s forever. It sucks.

Make it suck less. Donate to Valour-IT and help supply a voice activated laptop to an injured service person. Help them re-connect to the world.

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What’s That????

Nov 9th, 2010
by OH Hell.
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US Marine Corps Enlisted Ranks, Enlisted Rank Insignia
Click here to find a complete list of all available
US Marine Corps Ranks, Insignias, Name Tapes, Badges and Patches
Service members in pay grades E-1 through E-3 are usually either in
some kind of training status or on their initial assignment.
The training includes the basic training phase where recruits are immersed in military culture
and values and are taught the core skills required by their service component.
Basic training is followed by a specialized or advanced training phase that provides recruits with a specific area of expertise or concentration.
In the Marines, this area is called a military occupational specialty (MOS)
Pay Grade: E2

Private First Class
(PFC)		 Pay Grade: E3

Lance Corporal
(LCpl)		 Pay Grade: E4

Corporal
(CPL)
Leadership responsibility significantly increases in the mid-level enlisted ranks. This responsibility is given formal recognition by use of the term noncommissioned officer (NCO).
A Marine corporal is considered a NCO rank.
Pay Grade: E5

Sergeant
(Sgt)		 Pay Grade: E6

Staff Sergeant
(SSgt)		 Pay Grade: E7

Gunnery Sergeant
(GySgt)
At the E-8 level, the Marine Corps have two positions at the same pay grade. Whether one is, for example, a master sergeant or a first sergeant in the Marines depends on the person’s job. The same is true for the positions at the E-9 level. Marine Corps master gunnery sergeants and sergeants major receive the same pay but have different responsibilities. All told, E-8s and E-9s have 15 to 30 years on the job, and are commanders’ senior advisers for enlisted matters.
A third E-9 element is the senior enlisted person of the Marine Corps.
The sergeant major of the Marine Corps is the spokespersons of the enlisted force at the highest levels of their services
Pay Grade: E8

Master Sgt,  First Sgt
(Msgt)   (1SG)		 Pay Grade: E9

Sergeant Major
(SgtMaj)		 Pay Grade: E9

Master Gunnery Sergeant
(MGySgt)
Pay Grade: E9

Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps
(SgtMajMC)

Next time I see a Marine in uniform, I can whip out my handy dandy chart and identify Genus and Species, not…….I don’t classify them, I just hug them…

Happy Birthday, Marine Corps!!!!!

Final Push!!!

Nov 9th, 2010
by OH Hell.
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Thursday is Veterans Day and the final day of the Valour-IT fund raiser for 2010.  Once again, YOU, the generous donors, have blown past our original goals – Here are the totals as of 11/08

TEAM ARMY $19,478

TEAM NAVY $7,877

TEAM AIR FORCE $4,565

TEAM MARINE $31,220

No Branch Specified $7,096  Total $70,236

Today’s change:

No Branch Specified $425

TEAM ARMY $595

TEAM NAVY $1,735

TEAM AIR FORCE $145

TEAM MARINE $3,615

We still have three days left – let’s set our goals higher – the need has never been greater. Why not make a donation to Valour-IT in a loved one’s honor for a Christmas gift? That’s what I do every year and everyone really likes it. Especially since the alternative might be FRUITCAKE!!!!!

Marines – America’s 911

Nov 8th, 2010
by OH Hell.
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From Mike the Marine

10 Things That Make Me Happy

Nov 8th, 2010
by OH Hell.
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  1. Giving and receiving a bear hug from one of “my” Marines. (Thank You Justine – I really needed that hug!!)
  2. Seeing a smile on a formerly grumpy face when I say “Thank You for Your Service”.
  3. Getting a letter back from someone I don’t even know in response to a note I wrote them.  I know military personnel that are deployed are BUSY, and it means a lot to hear from them.
  4. Having a whole houseful of people I don’t know show up to pack boxes to send overseas.
  5. Getting offers of help from people I meet while standing in line at the Post Office.
  6. People that, when I ask for one small thing for the troops, go over and above, not only giving what I ask, but more.
  7. The community of bloggers that work so hard to promote the Valour-IT fundraiser and let me participate, even though I am nowhere near the caliber of writer that they are.
  8. The great support from our whole community for our troops.
  9. Knowing that the little things we do will have a positive affect on the morale and well-being of our deployed troops and their families.
  10. Seeing the fund raising thermometer go UPPPPP!!!! Go Marine Team!!!!

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Unconditional Love

Nov 4th, 2010
by OH Hell.
2 comments

The bond that forms between men whose lives depend on one another, is something that is mostly alien to us civilians. Would you give your life for your co-workers? Now, right now, without thinking about it, just doing it. No second thoughts, no maybe, just act without thinking of yourself… Could you do it? Would you do it?

Well, many of our Military Men and Women are  called upon each day to do just that. And they do. And some of them pay the price – some are killed, some are maimed for life.  For those who die protecting their buddies, the most and best we can do is to remember them, their sacrifices and the reasons we enjoy the freedoms we do.

For the ones who survive, we must do more. We must not only remember their sacrifice but we must do all in our power to see that they get the help they need to recover as much as possible of their lives. And that is why Valour-IT exists.

Through the magic of technology, we have the power to give back a little bit of what has been taken. To do that requires money. So, I am asking you – can you make a donation of a few dollars to help out? If you can’t give a lot, so what? Times are hard all around. Every dollar counts. If that is all you can give, then do it. It’s our chance to give back to those who have given so much.

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