Back in Business

We're back, baby! I've cleared it with my command to keep posting as long as I don't post pictures from the PRT or any of our operations and that none of the subject matter discusses any of our operations, past, present and future. Aside from the occasionally picture of me giving toys to a refugee or the standard mug for the team photo, this has never been an issue anyway, and I never discuss operational issues anyway as a matter of course, so it shouldn't have much of an effect on content.

I'm freakin' ecstatic! I've been working on a couple of articles and applying at some graduate schools, so I've had to write a few Statements of Purpose lately which, I might as well share with you all. After all, content is content, plus its a nice restatement of why I'm out here doing this, away from my loved ones and friends...er...which you might expect given its called a "Statement of Purpose". Duh.

This Statement of Purpose (opens pdf) is the one I sent to American University. I'm looking at a couple of Peace and Conflict Resolution masters programs. AU's School of International Service and ICAR at George Mason University. Both in the Washington, D.C. area. If they go by my undergrad GPA for an intelligence indicator I'm screwed! I consider it more an indication of a 22-yr-old's lack of motivation and direction. But oh, well. We'll see what happens. Wish me luck!

Glad to be back!!

A Crying Shame

"We are here to protect democracy, not practice it."

A famous saying in the U.S. Military. Apparently there is another big "blog" crackdown and I've been asked by my chain of command to stop blogging for now. I will continue to journal and write on topics offline for future publication but unless I can get someone to "bless" it, it could be down until early May.

I have to take this seriously, sorry. I at least have to wait a little while until interest subsides. What usually happens in these scenarios is that someone puts a picture on the web without thinking it through and someone else interprets it as a violation of operational security. The military then establishes a sweeping new rule banning the practice, even for those who have done nothing wrong at all. I'm getting used to that one. I call it the "Rule of Lowest Common Denominator". A phenomenon in the military that requires everyone to be restricted to rules that are set with the least intelligent and worst soldier in mind.

In the meantime, read Thomas P. M. Barnett's sequel to "The Pentagon's New Map" called "Blueprint for Action: A Future Worth Creating" for a view of globalization's alternate ending. The ending I'm here fighting for I should add.

He has a weblog too.

Honoring A Fallen Comrade: 1SG Tobias Meister

On December 28th, 2005 the 321st experienced our first combat lost here in Afghanistan with the death of First Sergeant Tobias "Toby" Meister.

Services were held last Friday in his hometown of Jenks, Oklahoma.

1SG Meister, 30, was a loving husband and father of an 18 month old son. His death was an incredible loss to our organization and we will all miss him terribly. Our thoughts, prayers and love go to his family at this difficult time.

I had been on leave back in Austin and found out the night before I left to come back to Afghanistan. My wife and I met his wife and son at our going away picnic just before we deployed. Such a beautiful family. A very sobering reminder of the dramatic costs being paid here and in Iraq every day. Every nine hours to be exact.

1SG Meister was truly a soldier's soldier being named the "U.S. Army Reserve Drill Sergeant of the Year" in 2002, he was at one time head of the Drill Sergeant school at Ft. Jackson, SC. To have made the rank of First Sergeant before the age of thirty is truly a remarkable accomplishment that indicates just what a tremendous asset he was to our team and equally what a devastating loss his death has been to his family, his friends and to us.

He was traveling between our PRT here at Jalalabad and his PRT just a few hours north of us in Asadabad when his vehicle was hit with an IED. Indications were that his death was instantaneous and there was no suffering. An Afghan national, an interpreter was also killed. One Marine was seriously injured but is recovering back home.

Here is another post that has a photo and more detailed biography. What an amazing man. A true role model for us all to follow.

1SG Meister, you will be missed. Your life will be honored every day that Afghans are free to speak and go to school and improve their lives free of tyrany. And we will be here to continue to ensure that they have that chance. As long as is necessary.

Update
Someone from the Asadabad PRT put together a very nice memorial video for him.