MCAS Miramar Airshow and the people I worked with

Part of being attached to Third Marine Air Wing for a corpsman is the annual airshow work drive, last year, we ran a food booth. This year, we actually did medical coverage and I was the LPO (leading petty officer) for the Mini-ambulances on the east side of the flight line. Each year, months before October, we let everyone know that they can’t take leave during that this time period. Other units get to volunteer but we’re hosting it, so in the end, it falls back on us and the clinic. Three days of getting to work at 5:30 and getting home after dark. Saturday is even worse with the night show, I didn’t get home till 11 last night. Even with the crazy hours, I’d take working medical any day over roasting hot dogs.

We’re also supported by medical commands hundreds of miles around, without them, things could have got ugly. I took some great pictures and below are the pictures of the people I had the pleasure of working with (I told them I would post some pictures so they could get copies of them). And hopefully over the next few days, I be posting the flying pictures of the show itself.

Books for Soldiers might close

Out of all of the military support sites out there, there is one that I hold near and dear to my heart (well two if you consider Soldiers Angels, but they’re more family because I know many of the key players), Books for Soldiers. My first trip out to Iraq in 2004, one of my buddies on a message board told me about this website that you put your info down on and they would send you free books and DVD’s just for being deployed. Being a book nerd, I had to check this out and so I did. Several weeks later, I had a couple of boxes of books, magazines and DVD’s including the exact books that I requested and some recommendation books that they thought I might like. Can't beat that.

Two days ago, I got an email from Ellen helps run the site, I guess with the election going on this year and the financial trouble many businesses are in, corporate donations have been drying up and they are short this year. So short in fact that they might have to close shop if they don't get over the hurdle this month. These guys do a great job in supporting the troops forward and I would bet every library in Iraq and Afghanistan gets a large percentage of their inventory from BFS totally free of charge. Monetary Donations go directly towards postage, care package items, rent and bandwidth. If you want to help, go to their donation page, I for one, do appreciate everything that they do.

Vegas isn't a place to send bloggers

because we write about everything.
The USO Girls tell a good tale but they left a few parts out. Lt Nixon was as cool in person as he was onlin, Blackfive threw a bash and here's his words, next time, I'll bring my blackhawk bag. Not only did he hook us up with an open bar at the Penthouse Club but he also talked his way into staying at the penthouse at the Mirage, thanks Penthouse Magizine for the support. The rest of us wished we were as cool they were, no wonder they are blogging Rock Stars. There were some things that shouldn't have seen the light of day, CJ also blogged about the closing ceremony where there wasn't a dry eye in the house. Marcus live blogged throughout the day. Concrete Bob was a new face but not a new name for me. Hooah Wife was great to hang with and she blogs about the people on the floor of Blogworld and here's her take on our Milblog Geeks Bash. LTG William Caldwell addressed Military Bloggers, video here. Terri does an excellent wrap up and thanks the Penthouse Club for letting us invade. AWTM's brother is a luddite and thought the free thumbdrive we got from Penthouse was something else, heh heh. Go check her out, she did a great job covering the entire show and I agree, having a blogging conference in a place with 5 plugs isn't going to work that well. Wendy say's I'm the best "EVAH!" and SK says I'm her hero, these two are some of the nicest sweetest girls I know (hah!), you ladies had a wild time and she writes about me patching her up. San Diego Union Tribune even did a story about how a husband can be replace but not a child. I met Bouhamner early and these are all of his posts on the conference. Toby Nunn was driving down The Road to Hell and did some Recapping and talks about eating lunch with the Army PR guys. CJ tells of Friday night and says he can't wait to show my interview and he has lots of pictures, CJ is really a good man, he's put up a donation fund for my buddy Bane who's family might be in some dire needs for money from medical bills from his passing. Holly from Soldiers Angels was there and Matt Bernard from the VA has a great breakdown post up. Froggy hasn't said anything but he was in the shadows. Who could miss Chuck and Carren of TC Override? FbL does a couple posts and is Homefront 6 getting into the blackmailing racket? She might have the best coverage out there, hah, I finally figured out how to use tags:) Ack, I'll need to continue this tomorrow after I've found some food.

Debrief on the Milblog Conference

If there was an overall theme at the conference, it was that we do make a difference. When I looked around the room, I could see how much we had all grown over the last 4 years. It’s strange to think I’ve done the blogging thing longer then a regular enlistment. In that room, I could count off the people who have been involved in feature documentaries, appearances on radio and TV, here alone, we have raised hundreds of thousands of dollars towards causes like Valour-IT (voice activated laptops for troops) and Soldiers Angels. At the same time, we’re not the fresh face, CNN, FOX and the Washington Post weren’t out in the lobby waiting to interview us like last year. But there were representatives from the Pentagon and Navy and Army PAO’s who thought what we had to say was important and this time, they seemed as well versed as us about blogging. New media is taking a larger slice of the information pie every year and milbloggers offer a viewpoint that neither regular media nor the official channels can match.

LTG Caldwell was invited to give the opening speech and here it the video.

I was awarded the Navy Milbloggie for the second year in a row and believe me, I’m far from a rock star, stick a mic in front of me and my brain goes blank, seriously, I'm a total dork. I didn’t start writing to become famous; I just wanted to tell a story. I was about to go to war and having a blog would keep people from forgetting me if I didn't make it back. When I started, it was only for a few friends, I couldn’t have cared less at the time whether or not anyone read what I wrote but over the years, this little project has taken a life of its own and I have met life long friends. It was nice to know there were people out there who cared and to be voted the top Navy blogger (twice), it’s humbling because I know there are many writers who are worlds better than me, two top my list Lt Nixon Rants and Lex come to mind. I hate to admit it, I probably won because I've became a household name, in these circles people say Sean and silently add from Doc in the Box. My win probably had more to do with name recognition, networking and everyone and their dog knowing me then the quality of my written word (maybe a little bit to do with me being super friendly too). Thanks for the votes guys! I owe you and your dog a beer.

The rest of the winners are below

U.S. Military Parent Some Soldier's Mom Carla lives in my home town and she's shown me worlds of support, thanks

U.S. Military Supporter Chromed Curses LL is one of favorite blog people

U.S. Air Force OPFOR I don't actually hang out with these guys but they have a large readership.

U.S. Army Toby Nunn's Briefing Room Was a cool cat at the pre-conference party, there's pictures someplace out there, there are so many good Army Milblogs, it's hard to make a choice.

U.S. Navy Doc in the Box Of course me

U.S. Marine Corps One Marine's View it was a toss up between him and Taco Bell, both are great bloggers

U.S. Military Veteran Blackfive - The Paratrooper of Love What can I say about Matt, Jimbo, Laughing Wolf and Mr. Wolf that hasn't been said? They're rock stars of the blogging world and I'm proud to have them as friends plus, they know how to throw a mean party.

U.S. Military Spouse ArmyWifeToddlerMom She's going to have to change her blog name pretty soon, her kids are almost in school. R is a social butterfly like me, everyone knows and loves her.

My friend has passed

Last year, he was one of my greatest supporters, we talked back and forth and while he might have been the most non-politically correct foul mouthed rude blogger I have ever linked, he was also my friend and a good man. This morning Bane passed (if you click, he was definitely NSFW), fair winds and following seas brother, you will be missed.