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Mr Monkhouse, From my earlier post: Remember, one of the standard lines in every joining instruction that I have seen, and every deployment order is that troops will not self-medicate. I am not referring to everyday life in garrison WRT standard OTC medications. I do trust soldiers to look...

I see your point (to a certain extent). However, I still stand by my point of the fact that we are not allowed to self-medicate. I imagine that you had to go to the MIR to get the card, and I also imagine that you are not allowed to load up a barrack box with whatever you wish to take with you...

I think that we might be getting a little away from the point by getting into the weeds with conjectures about ephedrine and other substances sold at CANEX. Remember, one of the standard lines in every joining instruction that I have seen, and every deployment order is that troops will not...

A couple of points if I may, First, WRT assaulters accepting civilian employment - no problem. If they have requested release, and have been granted release, they are free to do whatever they want as long as it falls within the legal restrictions of Canada (assuming that they retain...

Agreed. The US Special Forces has it right - "Quiet Professionalism". We will never change the minds of those who have their minds closed. We are better off with the knowledge that we are the ones who permit them to have these opinions. I, for one, would rather be counted amongst those who do...

As one of the people who have supposedly been "cheated" out of a gong (Op APOLLO, ARCHER R0, both under the auspices of Op ENDURING FREEDOM - thus 1x SWASM), I have to say that it is not that big of a deal. While it is always nice to get another gong for your rack, what is more important is that...

While this is a major disappointment that people actually thought that this was a good idea, I don't think that there is much that we can do about it. It has been my experience that the people who characterize themselves as "peacemakers/peacelovers/peaceniks (insert your own suffix) are...

Well, if the persons wishing to wear white poppies can do it on Remembrance Day, I would like to bring back another tradition involving white. Do you think that they would take it wrong if I handed out white feathers on every day but November 11th?

Gentlemen, At the risk of being attacked by persons more articulate than I am, I am going to jump in here simply because the word "peackeeping" in all its variations (noun, verb, adjective etc) drives me insane. There is no such thing as a "peacekeeper", and selling this idea of of kinder...

Gentlemen, We are going in the proper direction, at least in my experience. There was one 411 tech (name withheld as I don't have his permission to broadcast) whom I worked with who was OUTSTANDING in terms of his tactical skills. Not only was he a fine soldier in terms of his specialty, he was...

Thanks gentlemen, I am trying that whole "kinder and gentler" thing. Not liking it so much yet. In truth, the reason that I don't curse in the posts is that if I actually wrote in the same manner that I spoke, I would be dismissed as a raving lunatic. This way, at least, when I get dismissed...

Gentlemen, Good points, all. In my opinion, we have no choice but to retain convoys for resupply in theater, and that is mainly due to the dearth of road options. When we were running resupply to the PRT (Camp Nathan Smith) from KAF, one of the first things we did was try to open up additional...

Totally agree with Teddy Ruxpin and Paracowboy. I think that TF 1-07 is far better off knowing now who they obviously cannot trust. There will be other incidents (not necessarily drug-related) once they are in theater that will cause problems for the TF, and may require admin or disciplinary...

I have been fortunate enough to have been able to speak with a number of Marines who have served in Iraq. In each case, they have stated that the tanks that were used there were a godsend. While we may not be facing Operation Citadel again any time in the near future, there is a lot to be said...

Tully, Can't say if it stayed the same during R1, but I spent 7 months there during R0 as we were building it. It is far better than KAF, mainly due to being smaller and having less people on it. It was by far the best camp that I have lived in in four different op deployments. Kitchen - no...

Gentlemen, Thanks for all the well thought out posts. Sorry about the long time between posts - was out of country for a while. I recently had the chance to speak with another country that was doing PRT ops in another province in Afghanistan. They appeared to be approaching the problem in much...

Maniac, Don't worry about it. You'll get your chance. Just support those you know (or don't know) while they are there. When I was but a wee slip of a lad joining my first Bn, it looked like Cyprus was the only thing that we could look forward to for deployments (and Germany for posting)...

Gentlemen, The PRT R0 completed this survey while we were in theater. It is an excellent document for capturing lessons that immediately interest everyone, and the short, anecdotal format makes it simple for everyone to complete. We submitted our completed surveys to the ALLC; they should be...

Eeyore, Here is the more detailed reply that I promised... Yes, the PRT is continuing on with reconstruction ops, and yes, they are ensuring that the "Afghan face" is maintained (thus gaining face for the Gov't of Afghanistan). As far as media coverage goes, I am sure that the local media is...

Eeyore, Just a quick one, as my family is calling me away - I will go into more detail later. I can't speak to the effect of the PRT R1, as I was not there for it. I can, however, speak to the PRT R0 and the other agencies that were operating there at the time (USAID, DynaCorps etc). MTF when...