What are /r/army's favorite Products & Services?

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I mean, he'll enjoy the letter, but to make a real splash, you need to:

buy a bunch of candy

Put it in a box with some decorations

When you address it to him, give him a promotion--- put SGT before his name.

Write that first line of your letter on the OUTSIDE of the package.

A horse dildo.

So no shit, there I was, in a weight room with a couple of bearded types. Dudes that could out lift me on just about everything but Oly.

I was struggling with 315 for a 5x5. Barely made the last reps. They were knocking out 10-12's.

One of them pauses after watching me almost fail a set, goes to his duffel, and pulls out this.

Sticks in in between the spotter arms. Says something to the effect of "Your set. Don't be gay."

Had the desired effect. Gentle graze on nethers gets you out of the hole really goddamn fast. He said I could keep it for future motivation when struggling.

I still have it in my gym bag. It's noticed on occasion at the gym. I don't acknowledge the looks.

What if, instead of NIPR, we use NordVPN?

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JetBoil gods gift to the light infantry.

He was the last great warrior president. At the time I think he was the Navy's youngest carrier pilot and was shot down and rescued by a submarine over Chichi Jima. If you haven't read "Flyboys" I'd highly recommend checking it out. https://tinyurl.com/y8se2rpj

He lived an amazing life, much respect to him.

There’s genuinely no way to turn a profit on this tbh. New cases are 150-170, plus 80-100 for a monitor, 50 for cables, materials blah blah blah. Everyone’s like “wow I want one. How much” then I say I minimum 300 and they’re like nope.

There’s actually a company KINDA doing the same thing. Little bit different. Here’s a link. They did my idea just better haha. Case Club Waterproof Xbox One X/S Portable Gaming Station with Built-in Monitor & Storage for Controllers & Games, Gen 2 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07SJXLR2Q/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_LoCoDbSH2QZ4R

There’s is definitely more refined, but I bet it doesn’t have good ventilation and it doesn’t run through a power hub so you have lots of power cables running out of the box instead of a single power cable.

Considering how highly classified the stuff MACVSOG did back in the day was, it's no wonder you don't know too much.

From left to right the awards on the machete are: South Vietnamese Jump wings (Signifying he jumped with the SV Paratroopers at least once), Special Forces Crest (Symbol for all Army Green Berets), Combat Infantryman Badge (An award given to any SF or Infantryman that saw combat), the SF Shoulder Patch, and Basic US Jump wings.

If you want to know more, contact the US National Archives and try to obtain his DD214. If you want a more general history of MACVSOG, I recommend SOG by John Plaster.

Show her these.

I spent years just dealing with my hair in a lopsided bun. I'd pull it in a ponytail at the base of my skull, braid it, then make a bun. Ugly, wore out 2 hair ties every 3-4 days but effective. Then I discovered those bad boys. All i had to do was twist my hair in a rope until a bun formed and screw them in. 1 pair lasted me 6 years until I lost 1. Then I had to buy a new set. Still good.

Definitely an event that is often overlooked, but i'm not sure what you mean by the "beginning." 1979 Iranian Revolution is a much better starting date for modern U.S. policy in the Middle East. Check out Andrew Bacevich's America's War for the Greater Middle East. It also contains excellent analysis of the Beirut bombing and associated events.

“Do you know the average lifespan for a Huey doorgunner in Vietnam?”

I always thought that line was bullshit until I met Tom Davis. His experiences in Vietnam as a door gunner are what led him to lead a pack string of horses and mules from the southern Arizona border all the way to Anchorage.

Be Tough or Be Gone: The Adventures of a Modern Day Cowboy https://www.amazon.com/dp/0914269097/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_NbSYFbKNBVV4S

Personal experience time: When I was living in the barracks, I drunkenly hitched a ride to the local Walmart to buy, what else, some bullshit. Wandering the aisles with my shooters of Jack, I came across the holy grail of annoying toys: The Seek and Destroy Justice Dealer. One poorly thought out $59 purchase later and I'm trolling the hallways with one hand on my flask and another sweatily gripped around the controller for my new self-propelled airsoft howitzer. Knocking on doors, waiting for the confused answer, then firing on the occupant; filling their common area with obnoxious red pellets of ethanol-fueled humor.

The weekend ended with a 1SG walkthrough in which he demanded to know "where da hel all deese liddle red bawls comin from". My comrades played it cool but the S&DJD went back to the wally world for fear of much more dire consequences in the future.

I'm sorry if I in any way inhibited your ownership of an otherwise fun object, but that's how it goes sometimes.

There's occasionally some cool guys there too.

I got a chance to meet WW2 veteran Ollen Hunt at the JBER PX back around '09-'11. He had a little table where he was selling his autobiography, "Buffalo Soldier".

I bought a copy and ended up reading it while we were on a long-ish FTX. When we got back he was still there selling his book. I told him I thought it was an incredible read, asked him a few questions I don't remember, and thanked him for his service.

Looking back on it I imagine it must be kind of awkward to be sitting before somebody 70 years your junior telling you they just read your life story and they liked it.

Anyway, looks like he died in 2014. I'm glad I got a chance to meet him and read his story. If half of it's true WW2 cooks got into some shit.

https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/name/ollen-hunt-obituary?pid=170163721

Read this book: https://www.amazon.com/Subtle-Art-Not-Giving-Counterintuitive/dp/0062457713

Practice, you’ll get better with time. I approach every task I’m given the same way: I do my best at it, and if I fail then I learn what I’m not good at. That tells me what to work on for the next time I do it. You can get a lot of self development done that way.

Fake it till you make it man. Soldiers look at you and see an NCO. If you try to project what you think they should be seeing, then eventually you’ll get used to acting that way and it will become normal. Nobody has access to the inside of your head but you, it’s okay to be nervous or freak out to yourself, but what you project outwardly is what counts.

This is the most insane part about this story for him. I was trying to visualize just how much blood that actually is. That's literally this filled entirely with blood meant for a single person.

I've run this one over with a 5-ton truck and dropped it off 3-story buildings onto concrete.. Not airborne, but I work installation outdoors all year up north and never had a problem with this battery.

Standard issue in SFAB

> Any good schools, manuals, insight or resources to truly know how to big-picture Army for a reforming shammer

Since you're in S3.. I've heard this is a great manual to keep at the desk.. Teaches you how to shift blame for any wrong doing/mishandling/issue S3 encounters with soldiers' paperwork

https://www.amazon.com/AGM-11P14123453021-PVS-14-3NL2-Vision/dp/B07YCYMWTJ/ref=sr_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=PVS+14&qid=1626488640&s=sporting-goods&sr=1-3

Oh wow GEN 3. You missed this /u/Sellum.

This dude just doesn't wanna face real life.

Victory Dive Knife

Guy on another team was a commercial diver before he joined the Army and it's all he used. He got shit for it because it looks like a bread knife but they cut through everything. His whole team uses them. Our XO bought one and loves it, I have one too. Supposed to get them issued at some point.

The issued knives we use are more meant for scraping so if you have to cut anything they're pretty useless. They don't hold an edge for shit either.

I got one.

Got my canteen, could smell the bleach so I thought it was good. Still gave it a rinse for what I thought was good measure.

Filled it up and headed off to training. I guess between the initial rinse, and the water bouncing in the canteen while double time, it loosened up something inside.

I took my first sip, and damn near puked on the dude next to me.

From then on, I always used my own canteen, preferably my Nalgene canteen that I can actually see if it's clean inside.

Just buy peltors, single most handy purchase I ever made, I was a RTO though...

Peltor Sport Tactical 100 Electronic Hearing Protector, Ear Protection, NRR 22 dB, Ideal for Shooting and Hunting https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00NAG4WX2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_omHqCbQEX7GB5

Let's be real; it is possibly just a myth among the jihad joes. IS commanders will reinforce whatever beliefs are convenient for them.

“Appear weak when you are strong, and strong when you are weak.” ― Sun Tzu, The Art of War

>Also I'm going on a diet of just eggs.

...what the fuck? Just limit your calories. That's how it works. Figure your daily caloric requirements, then just don't eat quite that many and try to do things like take walks, or go for a jog. You'll lose weight.

You are allowed 24% bodyfat as a newb to the Army. At MEPS they will probably pull the tape a little snug for you around the waist. If your measurements are accurate you'll likely be okay. Then from tape to ship the next morning it's game on at the MEPS hotel restaurant, eat whatever you want... fatty.

This is probably up there... Mahmudiyah rape and killings

Black Hearts: One Platoon's Descent into Madness in Iraq's Triangle of Death

Army medic here. Sounds like a textbook case of Sciatica. This may resolve on it's own in a few weeks or you may get permanent nerve damage. You will need to see a Doc and get some imagery done to confirm extent of damage and reason for the nerve to be acting up. Don't be a turd and pretend that you're too tough to be injured and need to rest. I know plenty of permanently disabled highspeeds and even a guy who was too stubborn to go to the hospital to get his bone cancer diagnosis before it was too late for treatment.

Renters insurance, lock your door, get one of those cable locks and secure it

War of the Flea: The Classic Study of Guerrilla Warfare by Robert Taber.

Read this and you'll understand Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan.

Written during the 1960's - it's still relevant today.

Money quote:

>“The guerrilla fights the war of the flea, and his military enemy suffers the dog’s disadvantages: too much to defend; too small, ubiquitous, and agile an enemy to come to grips with.” With these words, Robert Taber began a revolution in conventional military thought that has dramatically impacted the way armed conflicts have been fought since the book’s initial publication in 1965. Whether ideological, nationalistic, or religious, all guerrilla insurgencies use similar tactics to advance their cause. War of the Flea's timeless analysis of the guerrilla fighter’s means and methods provides a fundamental resource for any reader seeking to understand this distinct form of warfare and the challenge it continues to present to today’s armed forces in the Philippines, Colombia, and elsewhere.

> Steam — a video game app frequently used by white supremacists to communicate with each other

Jesus fuckin christ, Huffungton Post.

https://www.amazon.com/Hamilton-Beach-70730-Processor-Vegetable/dp/B008J8MJIQ?ref_=Oct_CATRatedC_289920_0&pf_rd_r=E29XXBDR0F50ABDG24HK&pf_rd_p=1704ed40-8582-5dd5-a86c-978d12089dac&pf_rd_s=mobile-hybrid-8&pf_rd_t=30901&pf_rd_i=2...

Mattis is a man who brought and read Meditations by Marcus Aurelius on his deployments. The man has shown he is of deep thought. Even if a Democrat wins in 2020, they'll probably keep him on as DefSec like they did with Bob Gates. As a Democrat, I would at least.

I did experience adult treatment when I went to a civilian run equipment fielding course at Gordon. It was refreshing. You mean I can have a beer at dinner? Go wherever I want? And I won't get a DUI or abducted?

You still geocache? I've had to explain ingress to an MP once or twice. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.nianticproject.ingress

Fitness wise, check out Tactical Barbell. The author/coach K. Black was an infantryman and transitioned over to an elite law enforcement HRT unit after he got out. His training programs are some of the most sensible, no-nonsense plans I’ve seen that cater to a military audience. There’s even a subreddit for it at /r/tacticalbarbell where you can read other folks’ experiences and questions with answers. Read both Tactical Barbell I and Tactical Barbell II then do the Base Building plan in Tactical Barbell II.

Everyone is going to say you can't study for it. You absolutely can, but only so far.

There are two books I recommend linked below. Read them and do the tests. One claims to have the rules for the test but it's outdated, don't trust it.

In addition, study basic English grammar. Understand the basic parts of speech, understand that not all languages have the same syntax as English. Maybe study the grammar for a Semitic or Asian language to get an idea of this.

If you're intelligent you should do fine.

https://www.amazon.com/Complete-DLAB-Study-Guide-Practice-ebook/dp/B00KMHFXCQ

https://www.amazon.com/Official-DLAB-Training-Manual-Practice-ebook/dp/B00HUC6RT4

But PIA (Private Internet Access) is both an American company and refuses to build any potential logging system into their architecture.

When Russia said they needed to start logging, PIA just stopped providing service to Russia.

If you're worried about potentially being targetted and have purposely avoided anything Five Eye related, PIA is a good alternative if you're still patriotic.

When I was a kid, I was really into planes and GI Joes, so my mom bought me this really cool F-15 pilot GI Joe that had one of those "I am an American Pilot" documents. Never thought I'd see a real one from WWII. OP should frame it for sure.

>In a pinch, the landing cartwheel or landing somersault, may be used, though these maneuvers may cause you to take your eyes off the buccaneer enemy.

Source: https://www.amazon.com/U-S-Navy-Pirate-Combat-Skills/dp/0762770376

Edit for the slow: It's a /s book by the Department of the Navy because they have more fun than us. Sometimes, too much fun.

https://www.amazon.com/Applied-Ballistics-Long-Range-Shooting-Understanding-ebook/dp/B01A9IAUNO/ref=reads_cwrtbar_3/131-9310086-3448040?pd_rd_w=qP1SD&pf_rd_p=0285128d-50e0-4388-acba-48a4a1f64720&pf_rd_r=KRHA3Q7859WPZRBTTM0W&pd_rd_r=ad5...

It’s a little pricey and I’m not sure if you’d be able to download it in Ukraine, however, this is a damn good book that a lot of long range shooters start with.

The Hunger Games series is all on PDF's online, if you want to indulge in your inner 15-year-old girl.

https://www.slideshare.net/mobile/ktblais/book-1-the-hunger-games-15803895

Cheers, and best of luck

Commentary: Some meatbag is out ₹24 credits, which isn't bad at all.

While I get where the sentiment comes from (I once had a buddy poke fun at me for reading this book while waiting for a flight... to Afghanistan... where we were gonna be operating in the Haqqani AO) and while I obviously disagree... I always found that the best way to deal with it was to kinda lean into it with some self-deprecating humor/embracing the nerd label. Helps to have some street cred.... I was prior combat arms and had my CAB and all that. Not everyone is gonna have that experience but, at a minimum, not making a fool of yourself in briefings/MDMP and understanding maneuver warfare combined with other stuff like being able to PT goes a llllllooonnnnngggg way in bridging the gap.

would be pretty interesting to find a funding vehicle for that though LOL

although I guess if you told Platform One or some other DoD wide initiative to set up a Mattermost or Discourse that required CAC login but allowed you to change your username that could work....

The Mission, The Men, and Me. Lessons From a Former Delta Force Commander

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003XQEVWQ/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1

I love this book. And while I have never seen eye to eye with MPs they do actually serve important roles in the military. The big picture problem is the Army as a whole has seemingly forgotten how to use its special troops. "Oh you're Recon/MPs/Engineers? Thats like infantry with less guys/better optics/handcuffs/bangalores, so go do this infantry mission."

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/raynauds-disease/symptoms-causes/syc-20363571

Already mentioned, but my wife has it, and one of my soldiers had it as well. Can't really do much about it other than bundle up and stay warm.

Just checked audible and it's on there as well. For those that hate reading.

https://www.audible.com/pd/Hope-and-Honor-Audiobook/B002UZKLKM?qid=1538553750&sr=sr_1_2&ref=a_search_c3_lProduct_1_2&pf_rd_p=e81b7c27-6880-467a-b5a7-13cef5d729fe&pf_rd_r=HGQETRD9GXYCXJHGKW0X&

It’s not confidence. It’s called homoeroticism

At least during my divorce I was not allowed, by court order, to change any beneficiaries of insurance after notified of the divorce. So this might be something to look into sooner rather than later.

OP: I was in the same place just about 2 years ago. It's a shitty place to be and I don't wish it on anyone. Keep your head up it's a long road ahead, but I know I'm coming out the other side now. You can too. try your best not to dwell on it. It's not your fault. Even if you were the crappiest spouse in the world it came down to a choice they made and has nothing to do with you. Them blaming you, or you blaming yourself isn't right.

Honestly, this was the one time in my life I bought a "self-help book" it actually helped out a lot. I bookmarked pages and underlined stuff my ex said it all made a lot more sense when you realize pretty much all cheaters say/act the same way. Your situation is not unique. I gave the book to another people that this happened to and it helped them out as well. Here's a link if you're interested.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0762458968/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Also, check out /r/survivinginfidelity helped me out.

> You send a hula hoop as is?

Ohhh

But what if you wrap it in duck tape printed with the old camo pattern

Amazon.

Multiple colors, styles (even DD Form 214), and delivered to your door.

https://www.amazon.com/Medals-America-Woobie-Poncho-Blanket/dp/B07MQTN75K/ref=sr_1_13?keywords=poncho+liner&qid=1566127902&s=gateway&sr=8-13

Glocalme is a good hot spot with dual SIM card slots. You just throw in a local SIM, which are pretty cheap, and then you're good to go. They're available on Amazon. Buy the one without the screen.

Bring an unlocked smartphone and you can throw in a local card as well. Just buy a nice data package and use WhatsApp or Signal to message and make calls. Signal is the best in terms of security (not owned by FB, end to end encryption, etc.).

Service quality will depend on where you are specifically. Airtel, Orange, and Tigo are the big reliable ones with competitive rates. Plan on spending somewhere between 30-100 USD for a monthly plan depending on how much you use. I wouldn't stream anything if I were you, just do the classic deployment thing and bring a 2tb hard drive and get movies from people.

Get a VPN set up, especially if you are going to be checking any sites with PII and financial information. NordVPN is running a special right now. You can get VPN access for like 2.50 a month if you sign up for a 3 year plan. Well worth it.

Lastly, depending on how long you are going to be there, bring US cash and exchange it locally rather than running your debit at an ATM.

who leads the way?

LOL

Edit... fixed.. thanks /u/wampastompa

Edit 2.. I clearly shouldnt type shit when I am tired. And I lowered the price. Just go buy it. I will make $1.

I think most "leadership" books are a waste of time if you are a regular human being that exercises empathy, pragmatism, and critical thinking.

What people ought to be reading are books of leadership failures like Black Hearts. You can learn far more from failure than success and I'm open to anyone changing my mind on that.

I'm not a serviceman but I've used basically all VPNs. Express, privateinternetaccess, NordVPN, IPVanish... out of all of these, Nord is my favorite.

Whatever you choose, don't use a free VPN. They're dangerous.

My reddit is fucking up and I can't format the links. But here:

https://lifehacker.com/silence-annoying-gas-pump-tv-ads-and-news-updates-with-1819451575

TLDR: Upper right button on screen, but could be another button. If nothing, press all.

Despite both me and the spouse having been in some way involved with the Army for a very long, very hot minute, the MIL is a goldmine for not having a clue on how the Army works.

Like bless her heart, she means well. But holy shit does it make me want another one of these.

amazon. Get ready for your world to change.

Stanley https://www.walmart.com/ip/Stanley-Pro-Mobile-Tool-Chest/14146167?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=1122&adid=22222222228010204956&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=m&wl3=43563929072&wl4=pla-66011950865&wl5=9014042&wl6=&wl7=90...

Or Contico http://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/contico-pro-tuff-bin

Yes, the DoD's lack of hardware management is bizarre. If I could I would re-image them all with TENS - which is so lightweight I can run it on an ancient Atom netbook - and put them on NIPR somewhere the Joeys could access them.

I was not able to find you branch information from OCS. It is highly variable from class to class because the branch slots available at OCS are a product of the shortages from West Point and ROTC commission. This is always a minimum amount of slots for each branch available for each OCS class. They won't say "sorry, no infantry today" but it is possible there are 5 slots for a class of 100.

Here is branching information from last year's ROTC class. It will give you a general idea of how selective a branch is. The upshot is that infantry and armor are very, very selective. https://www.docdroid.net/a92M1jz/fy17-branching-data.pptx

I'm not exactly sure what your plan is. If you plan to transfer to the Regular Army as a Marine infantry 1LT, I don't see how it would work. You would be MOS-unqualed. Your next chance to qualify in a branch would be Captain's Career Course, but those slots typically go to 1LT(P) and CPTs.

The Army National Guard and Army Reserve is a little more realistic as they are always hurting for officers and therefore hand CCC slots to anyone that's willing to take off work to go.

I will tell you that the Call to Active Duty program is a pipeline dream for officers. It will not happen, especially if you are combat arms. I don't know numbers but I'm an ARNG officer who was once interested in switching to active duty and it was not something in the realm of possibility.

I would advise you to just own the contract that you signed. USMC > USMCR > USA is not a realistic path. It's very possible to transfer to the ARNG or USAR but active duty will almost certainly not happen for you.

Probably a way quicker read than anything else on here, but I'd highly recommend Fury: My War Gone By, a graphic novel by Garth Ennis at his best and beautiful art from Goran Parlov. I've read it four times at four very distinct points in my life, both before, during, and after serving, and took away very different things each time.

You can get them pretty cheap on amazon. Like these corded ones.

Back in my day they made us all walk around with an earplug case with a set of silicon earplugs in them hanging off the top button of our BDUs for a while.

I just searched for MRE on Amazon and found something that made me cream my panties!

MRE Cheddar Cheese Spread Combo - 24 Pack https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MT9U41U/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_NkE1BbQ8GD2XB

Here's the unofficial guide to the care and feeding of new Army Os (which is also an awesome name for a shitty breakfast cereal):

https://www.amazon.com/dp/0811714543/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_gJxgFb22HDTK9

Don't believe every word, but it has some useful information, especially on culture and customs. Good luck, don't be not good.

Well, almost not possible if you're using a reliable VPN. Security is often the main thing why people even use VPNs in the first place, so it would be strange if folks would pay that amount of money and wouldn't even get the service they want. Either way, it's very important to read more reviews before purchasing as sometimes expectations can be too high. For example, I heard that PIA most of the time is actually not working with Netflix and that's why many users are choosing other VPNs, like NordVPN or Vypr. It's just more stable, I guess.

https://meduza.io/en/feature/2019/08/06/how-and-why-the-russian-military-puts-soldiers-in-jail-for-using-smartphones-and-social-media

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/feb/19/russia-moves-to-mask-soldiers-digital-trail-with-smartphone-ban

Damn.

ANNNYYYWWHOOO. In lighter news. If you don't have a life or like to leave your computer on for an insane amount of time.

Play 'Cookie Clicker' an addicting little game I've been running for a few hours/days now.

http://orteil.dashnet.org/cookieclicker/

That's all. I have 25 billion cookies and I make about 11 million cookies per second.

Rosetta Stone isn't for free anymore but you can get it with a miltiary discount.

The KATUSA's will be happy to help.

You can also try the Education Center On Post.

Stay motivated man. I know she seemed like she was the best thing in your life, but trust me. You are young and there is an OCEAN full of fish out there for you.

Let me tell you what I told every one of my guys who went through a rough break up or young divorce. You are now single in the age of Tinder. On top of that you are doing something that less than 1% of the Army does (11x), that less than 1% of the nation does (military service). Your options on companionship are limited only by the girls you choose to settle for. Go forth and have fun.

She cheated on you. She wasnt worth you. In time, both you and her will realize that she wasted a fantastic opportunity. Frankly, its much better that you discovered this now instead of 6 months into a deployment.

Dont settle down or get into something committed for a while. Your wallet and your mental health will thank you in your late 20s, early 30s. You have all the time in the world when it comes to women. Get over her and enjoy the single life for a while. When the right one comes along, you will know, because she will still be there, and faithful after a few deployments. Now go out and enjoy all the amazing bounties that the modern dating scene has to offer.

I use NordVPN. Got a deal for 3 years at a discounted price while in AIT last June.

Pro tip, if you can set a country, UK Netflix will have the office and It's Always Sunny among a few others not available on U.S. Netflix.

Not sure what your budget is but I use this Canon Powershot D30 as my point and shoot camera. I personally love Canons; I have had no complaints with this. It's sturdy, water proof, and shockproof (I've dropped it MANY times); and it has one of the nicest lenses I've seen on a point and shoot. It's about $300 from Amazon, but honestly you could still probably get a good reliable camera for around $200.

Buy a smart card reader. They're like $20 at the PX and $10 on amazon

This works just as well. There's another one that is a bit shorter on Amazon too.

Peltors/Liberators are absolutely top notch if you can snag an issued pair, but they are prohibitively expensive if you're to buy your own. Unless you need to interface with a radio just get a pair of Howard Leights off amazon (you can still use with a hand mic though), they are about $50 and fit under an ACH just fine. https://www.amazon.com/Howard-Leight-Amplification-Electronic-R-01526/dp/B001T7QJ9O/

Otherwise just run some cheapo foam earplugs, buy a 40 pack or whatever and change them out as needed.

I just got to Korea a couple months ago. Be prepared for spending a week in limbo as you in process into the country. Then you’ll go to your actual unit. Depending on the unit, you may be allowed to go off post as long as it’s within certain times or you have someone who’s been here for a bit. My unit is pretty lenient. Went out t Seoul by myself for the day.

Curfew isn’t a joke. Neither is underage drinking . That being said, if you are going to drink and you are underage, make sure you don’t have blue falcons among you. If you don’t think you’ll make curfew, get the fuck away from any military installation and try to get a hotel. Courtesy patrols tend to stick in areas around post and areas where Americans tend to cause more trouble. CID and MPs will occasionally wander in civilian clothes, or so I’m told. Take that as you will.

Korea is great. There’s so much to do here, besides drinking. The clubs can be fun. If you like baseball, they have a professional league, but don’t expect MLB level, expect minor league level. There’s plenty of hikes if that’s your thing. Mass transit is everywhere, from buses and taxis to trains and subways. You can get from Pyeongtaek to Seoul in around 2 hours on the subway, and from a little north of pyeongtaek to just outside gangnam on the bullet train in around a half hour (however you’ll have to pay for tickets like a train and you’ll have to know what times are available). Subways arrive and depart every 15 minutes or so and lines are active from around 0600 to 2400.

If you watch Hulu or any hbo shows, you’ll need a VPN. Personally, I pay for ExpressVPN and use their hollywood server, since that one bypasses Hulu’s VPN detector. Also, porn is illegal here, so if that’s your thing... hint hint

I use ExpressVPN here with no issues. Find them on the promotion list at the link below for a little money off. A little less than $7 a month for a 15 month subscription.

As someone else mentioned. This is good to have aside from Netflix for your own security and privacy.

>If fighting is sure to result in victory, then you must fight, even though the ruler forbid it; if fighting will not result in victory, then you must not fight even at the ruler's bidding.

• Sun Tzu - The Art of War

What it is like to go to War, by Karl Marlantes. Princeton and Oxford educated Marine PL in Vietnam who analyzes the effects of PTSD in a deep way.

Kaboom, by Matt Gallagher. Well written memoir of a Cav PL at the height of OIF-2. Both cerebral and fun to read.

The History of the Peloponnesian War, by Thucydides. Understanding the context of Western war, balance of power, alliances, democratic ideals in warfare, etc--they're all explained so beautifully in this ancient text.

Muqaddimah, by Ibn Khaldun. A primer to the foundations of Arabic history told by one of the academic greats of the Levant. Important in understanding foreign roles in the Middle East.

The Art of War, by Sun Tzu. Toss the linear models of Army doctrine out the door. This will change your perspective of warfare, deepen your grasp of Eastern strategic thought, and provide insight on more than just combat.

The Outpost, by Jake Tapper. About COP Keating, the post nearly overrun by the Taliban during the height of OEF. Very, very good. The abstract of the book sells itself.

Anyway these are just some. I have a list of around 30 books on war and strategy I've read that have helped me over the years. PM me for the list.

Its like a fancy cabinet made out of metal. https://jet.com/product/detail/0bc9eab25db24d35b02adbec376d03a9?jcmp=pla:ggl:NJ_dur_Gen_Tools_Home_Improvement_a1:Tools_Home_Improvement_Tool_Storage_Organization_Tool_Boxes_a1:na:PLA_784744695_42602141953_pla-306362323091:na:na:na:2&code=PLA1...

you can get it free on slideshare, my friends and I use it all the time

Edit: Here friend, may you always roll Nat 20's

Holy shit, I'm relevant. I'm wearing that right now!

~~www.apprimeapparel.com should have it... Maybe~~ okay, well that link is dead for me... I got my in basic, from the stupid clothing people...

Edit: I wasn't kidding

Edit²: I found the hoodie itself. Probably need a custom job for the print. Btw, this is the most comfy hoodie I've ever owned, even after washing several times

There's a great story related to this subject in this book: https://www.amazon.ca/Where-Hell-Are-Guns-Soldiers/dp/0771015062

It's a bit long to type out here, but the the TL;DR is a Canadian Artillery Regiment in 1944 probably burned down their own store room right before a major inspection that would have revealed a number of discrepancies.

Highlights from the story include:

• Equipment being thrown out of the burning building through one window, only to be tossed right back in through another

• Vehicle fire extinguishers actually making things worse. The chemical used in them was also good for dry-cleaning uniforms. Once empty, the drivers refilled them with gasoline so it wouldn't be obvious they had been emptied

• At least 3 vehicles getting stuck in deep mud during the firefighting efforts

You don't have to use a direct belt mount. You can get a low ride mount which gives you an extra 4 inches of clearances from your waist.

https://www.amazon.com/Safariland-Low-Ride-Universal-Width-Black/dp/B000MF48D8/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=safariland+low+ride&qid=1624783738&sr=8-2

Also, the GLS holster uses your middle finger to deactivate the retention, with adjustable tension.

There's still a ton on amazon for closer to $2k.

https://www.amazon.com/Skytech-Chronos-Gaming-Desktop-Motherboard/dp/B08WVWPW14/ref=sr_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=gaming+pc+3070&qid=1622239594&sr=8-3

Skip the local pharmacy. Just order a 50ml ear cleaning syringe off amazon. Get a bowl of warm water and flush your ears with it until all that shit comes out.

This is the one my old Cav Lt recommended

amazon

The place that did the surgery won't lend you one of these ?

These are the best for the money unless you go into the Sordins or higher-end peltors, which retail for over $300 a pop.

https://www.amazon.com/Peltor-Soundtrap-Tactical-Electronic-Headset/dp/B0000X6I5I/ref=sr_1_5?dchild=1&keywords=behind+neck+peltor&qid=1606791156&sr=8-5

I have a bunch of those old Ranger Rick books still.

You can still get them on Amazon.

https://www.amazon.com/Complete-RANGER-DIGEST-Volumes-I-V-ebook/dp/B008550EK8/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1527098990&sr=1-1

It's an app for IOS and Android. Shows where you need to inprocess, with a checklist for yourself and even has GPS integration. The inprocessing options are even broken down by unit. Last I looked at it, there were only 6 posts on the app. However, that was also a little over a year and half ago.

Android link: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.followmeonedot.followmelocator&hl=en_US

Apple link: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/guideon-military/id904516921

ETSing or thinking about it?

Tribe by Sebastian Junger

Having coping issues?

Armor by John Steakley

Forever War by Joe Haldeman

General goodness

Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert Pirsig

All are sitting on my bookshelf and they're fan fucking tastic.

Edit: formatting

Without enormous amounts of luck or discovering something literally no one has done or thought of before there is no get rich quick (or even kinda fast) scheme. Learn about slow wealth accumulation. Someone suggested reading Boglehead's guide to investing. You should also read "The Millionaire Next Door".

What are the odds? A basic game where you both agree upon the odds, can be as low as 1-2 or as high as 1-20 then both of you count down from 3 and shout a number in that specific range. I got one of my guys to eat a bowl of mustard once. The best story I have was I got a guy to get as many bananas as he could carry as possible from the chow hall on Camp Wilson in 29 Palms he comes back to our hut and dumps 18 nanners on my cot, he proceeds to what are the odds me to eat bananas until I throw up or finish them of course I lost on low odds and got to 13 bananas deep before throwing up.

Mustard Bowl video https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipOx8vMbTEIXWJZnZBV4A5Fo6xStai48vhRUctwdl62oQC4w9rz27R-SMvpWWnlv_g?key=QmFUZkRtQ2Y2VmY0ZEJRcDRYX051aHFhY21vOTR3

Seriously don't treat the symptoms, it could be something more serious.

Excessive sweating, or hyperhidrosis, can be a warning sign of thyroid problems, diabetes or infection.

https://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/features/is-your-excessive-sweating-caused-by-a-medical-problem#1

1. Go SF
2. reclass to 35P or 35M
3. be in a soon to deploying unit and get offered the chance to learn Pashtu or Dari or whatever
4. Use your TA to take local community college courses in whatever language they offer.
5. https://www.duolingo.com
6. Get a copy of Rosetta Stone.

Yea I’ll try a different one in the future. This is the Safety Razor I have for reference. My hair is really tough, even with feather blades I can only get like 2 uses out of them for a comfortable shave before I discard and put a new blade in.

These are the best damn socks around. I have rucked in these, ran in them, waded through swamps with them, and I've always had good healthy feet. They're breathable, don't get that nasty cotton socks feeling at the end of the day, and I love them.

https://www.amazon.com/Women-Antibacterial-Bamboo-Casual-6Black10-13/dp/B071JRM6R4/ref=sr_1_6?dchild=1&keywords=md%2B+socks&qid=1596046744&sr=8-6

I've only tried NordVPN on my android phone and it's pretty alright, have tried others as well but only on pc. You could try getting free trials for each episode, but sometimes those are a bit limited and might not work with hbo so I'd suggest just picking one and stick with it

Not in the military but I use NordVPN and have recommended to military personnel, due to it being cheap, secure, which is in part due to them not being based in the US. I paid $80 for 2 years. They’re better performing ones but you won’t pay that much for them them. You’d be lucky to get a year for that price. You Can connect up to 5 devices at once I use it primarily on my Windows and iPhone and it works great if it gets a little slow just changing which server you’re connected to fixes it 99% of the time, usually the 1% is due to my internet connection being shit.

NordVPN and Express VPN should work great for you. They are both really good at bypassing geo-restrictions. NordVPN is a little bit cheaper, so it depends how much money you want to spend on VPN and what features you need. Also you can find deals for many VPNs on /r/vpncoupons

The PROmote app they sell for Android and iPhones is actually pretty good and updated regularly. I used the flashcard function to prepare for my SSG board. It costs a few dollars but honestly most study guides worth their salt will. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.forcereadiness.armypromote&hl=en

Aside from that, talk to other people who have been through your battalion board and figure out what's important to this particular CSM and panel. Some boards are all about presentation and confidence, some really want those book answers to be rock solid. I always tell my soldiers to cater to the NCO audience - don't say you want to be an officer or to get out as a goal, say you want to make staff sergeant so you can fill a duty like SHARP or EO rep, or be a Master Fitness Trainer, something like that. Sell yourself on why getting promoted would be a good thing for your unit, what you being a SSG can help bring to the table.

If you are really having trouble memorizing book answers, make sure you memorize the reg number for each topic, if you can't manage anything out. About 50% of the time, one of the first questions per MOI topic is "What reg covers [x]?". If you can rattle that off, you've shown that you've put in at least the bare minimum of effort.

Finally, be honest about any hiccups you've had in your career. You've been an E5 for five years. They will want to know why. Be straightforward, honest, and say what you've learned from the experience. Things like being flagged aren't deal-breakers as long as you can be open, honest, and show you've learned something from it.