Howdy,
I’m writing this little ditty from Augusta, Georgia, home to Fort Eisenhower. A little over 6 months ago, I moved to Kanas after retiring from active duty at Fort Eisenhower. While still technically on active duty, I didn’t officially retire until last week.
Nevertheless, on Saturday, I made the trek down to to one of the most mediocre cities in modern America. Augusta has the Masters. . . And that’s really it.
I do not miss this place. No, sir, I do not. Nice people. But, ya know, not my home.
Regardless, I came down to see my former commander’s change of command ceremony. He also honored me by having me be his element commander during the ceremony. Unfortunately, that means I had to put on the USAF service dress—-or the worst uniform in modern military history.
I hate the AF service dress. It’s not as bad as our mess dress, which makes us look like waiters.
Now, the ceremony started at 9:45. Guess what time we had to show up for rehearsals?
7:30.
LOL.
What in the actual fuck? Now, to be fair, you need some time to go over certain things. Lord knows as a retired occifer, I needed some help remembering how to salute—was it the left or the right hand?
Nevertheless, 2 hours?!?!?!
At 7:40 I get my first phone call from my former boss.
Of course, I was stuck outside the gate because we still treat military bases like top secret compounds instead of public installations paid for by taxpayers. Before 9-11, most bases were completely open to the public. Now, you need an escort and a body cavity search before making the pilgrimage to the base bowling alley (that’s where the real drunks hang out).
We finally got onto base around 7:50.
Cue second phone call. Now, this time, I just didn’t answer. Just texted my update.
Finally, I walk into the auditorium wearing shorts, t-shirt, and flip flops! Everyone looks at me, and I smiled saying, “Don’t worry I have my uniform!”
Most changes of command are fairly routine. The commander’s boss says some nice words about the outgoing and incoming commander. The outgoing commander gets a medal, says a 5 minute speech, and then literally passes the baton (guidon) to his replacement. The replacement then stands up and says a short speech. All total one hour.
Not bad.
I had a great time, even though I hate wearing the service dress. However, I don’t belong on post anymore. It’s just not my jam.
The last twenty years have been a blessing. I’m grateful for all the military did for me. I’ll always be fan of the military and most of the people in it.
However, we’re officially divorced. I have my alimony and child support payments lined up, and if they need me, they can talk to my lawyers.
There’s something deeply troubling about the DoD’s inability to win hold anyone accountable for losing wars. Not only that, they’re incapable of really trying to learn anything from their mistakes. And that’s really the biggest tragedy.
Because in about 20 years, we will be in another unconventional conflict, and there will be more dead bodies strewn across the battlefield all because the Department of Defense is incapable of admitting one thing: The Taliban, Al Qaeda, and Pakistan defeated the United States, NATO, and our Afghan allies.
Until a single senior military officer utters those words, please, stay the hell away from me. You’ve done enough already.
Helai Returns
Our favorite renegade writer, Helai, wrote a wonderful essay about teaching girls in Afghanistan.
Luckily, I will have been teaching for seven months by next week. Teaching is not this easy for me; I have many harmful and bitter memories. As I mentioned before, I am teaching in an educational center that is working secretly and hidden from the Taliban, so more than three times, I was teaching that the Taliban came, shouted, insulted us, and dislodged us.
Read the whole thing.
In case you’re curious as to what life is like in Afghanistan for women, perhaps you should read this too.
GCV+F works hard to elevate war’s forgotten voices. We stand with our Afghan sisters because they are fighting for their lives. Help us support them.
They Made Him Take Off His Uniform
Beth Bailey and I had a great conversation with LTC Massoud Mosamem about his career and the fall of Afghanistan. However, there was one part of his story that really stood out for me. After Afghanistan fell, LTC Mosamem, who was a student at the Army’s Command and General Staff College (CGSC), was made to remove his uniform to attend school.
I cannot imagine doing that to a man. Let alone, someone whose country fell due to American duplicity. I’m sure they had some bureaucratic reason to do so, but that don’t make it right.
As a reminder, I’ll be in Israel over the next few weeks, so please have patience with us as we tidy the place up a bit and try out some new blinds, curtains, and other accessories.
Until Next Time.
Epic.
GCV, with that sneaky grin you're showing in that picture I can see why the AF knew they had to deaccession you.