Manny in Albuquerque

Yet another reason to miss the Land of Enchantment--I so would be at Isotopes Stadium tonight to catch ManRam begin his rehab. Interestingly enough, he was struck out the first time by Manny Parra, who I saw pitch against the Marlins a few weeks back.

Looks like Sr. Parra and I both found changes in latitude since we last met.


Manny in my old stomping grounds

Isotopes Park is a sweet venue. I worked a high school All American baseball game there a few years back (and had some hacks in the amateur home run derby). I also had the pleasure of hosting the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds there when they visited the Duke City a few years back for the Kirtland Air Show.

I'll be back, one day...maybe as the Diplomat in Residence at UNM.

Wright-Patt Suicides Lead to Stand Down

I really don't have much to say on this other than it's important that folks are aware of the sad circumstances surrounding military suicides.

Suicides prompt Wright-Patterson stand-down
The Associated Press
Posted : Thursday Apr 30, 2009 17:54:17 EDT
DAYTON, Ohio — Officials at Ohio’s Wright-Patterson Air Force Base are taking the rare move of planning a day for airmen to talk about suicide prevention instead of performing normal duties.

Base spokesman Daryl Mayer says the one-day “stand-down” scheduled for Tuesday follows four deaths in six months.

Mayer says two deaths were apparent suicides, and two others under investigation occurred in similar circumstances. The most recent death was Monday, when the body of an active-duty airman was found in her dormitory room.

Commanders call the rarely used stand-downs to highlight important issues to airmen under their command. (link)

As a Wright-Patt alum, this story hits close to home. The command structure is to be commended for recognizing that something's amiss here and attempting to do something about it. If folks are determined to do it, they're going to do it. But if this stand down helps people recognize warning signs and--if they're suicidal--leads them to get help, then it's worth it.

America's Air Force, No One Comes Close....

...to this stupidity!

Congrats to my beloved service for stealing the front page of every New York paper this morning thanks to some nifty Lower Manhattan hijinx:

"Air Farce One" played out over lower Manhattan yesterday -- in a terrifyingly bizarre military photo op that sent office workers fleeing from their buildings fearing a new 9/11-type attack. (link)

And this raw video gets interesting around the 39 second mark:

The slams don't stop with the press. One of the blowhards on the train this morning recounted no less than three times the fact that the PA in his building announced:

Attention, this building is not under imminent threat of attack at this moment.

"I didn't even know they were evacuating the buildings at that point," he exclaimed in a volume highly inappropriate for a train running at 6:49 a.m.

One interesting point: I first learned of this via a friend's facebook update. I've got a tv on my desk and about 5 minutes later, FoxNews started reporting it and the story caught fire. Between the on-scene cell phone videos and status updates, this iReporting/citizen journalism deal really has something going.

In closing, I think today I'll play down my Air Force ties for once. Although I'd love to be the PA assigned to this bad boy.

Morgan O'Brien's WiGO 04.23.09

Tom Ricks at the Best Defense

Tom Ricks is hosting two very interesting discussions on his blog over at Foreign Policy:

- He's questioning the value of service academies vis a vis OTS/OCS/ROTC
- He has some interesting commentary on Ivy League military officers

Take a few minutes and check out the link here.

Drop the Air Force

While Ricks' blog deals more with the Army, Navy and Marines, the Air Force has received more than enough love in the pages of the New York Times.

On Monday, Paul Kane fired the opening salvo, calling for the end of the Air Force as an independent service:

Yes, air power is a critical component of America’s arsenal. But the Army, Navy and Marines already maintain air wings within their expeditionary units. The Air Force is increasingly a redundancy in structure and spending. (link)

Oh, and don't think he doesn't take a shot at the Air Force regarding recent reports that 12 percent of the Air Force was obese.

Today, there were some great letters regarding the topic. Air Force Chief of Staff, General Norton Schwartz (a morganobrien.com favorite) dutifully chimed in:

Today’s Air Force brings specific capabilities to the joint fight to defend the homeland, deter aggression, help those in need and defend the freedoms we all enjoy. This resonates with the American people because they recognize the vital importance of Air Force global vigilance, reach and power.

We proudly secure our nation’s skies and our sister services from attack, any time and any place. Airmen will be there when America needs them, and every serving member of the Army, the Navy and the Marines knows it. (more here)

As always, with my greatest respect,
xOxO
Morgan

Cut Defense Spending, Close USAFA

I will always appreciate the United States Air Force Academy for introducing me to my old lady, the inimitable Mrs. Morganobrien.com. We met at jump school, it was like a Mountain Dew commercial.


Extreme!

Anyway, other than that, I find the service academies worthless, especially USAFA considering it produced my archnemesis. I'd love to see how that piece of work would do in real college.

My main man Tom Ricks articulated this much better than I did over the weekend in the WashPo:

Why We Should Get Rid of West Point
By Thomas E. Ricks
Sunday, April 19, 2009

Want to trim the federal budget and improve the military at the same time? Shut down West Point, Annapolis and the Air Force Academy, and use some of the savings to expand ROTC scholarships.

After covering the U.S. military for nearly two decades, I've concluded that graduates of the service academies don't stand out compared to other officers. Yet producing them is more than twice as expensive as taking in graduates of civilian schools ($300,000 per West Point product vs. $130,000 for ROTC student). On top of the economic advantage, I've been told by some commanders that they prefer officers who come out of ROTC programs, because they tend to be better educated and less cynical about the military.

This is no knock on the academies' graduates. They are crackerjack smart and dedicated to national service. They remind me of the best of the Ivy League, but too often they're getting community-college educations. Although West Point's history and social science departments provided much intellectual firepower in rethinking the U.S. approach to Iraq, most of West Point's faculty lacks doctorates. Why not send young people to more rigorous institutions on full scholarships, and then, upon graduation, give them a military education at a short-term military school? Not only do ROTC graduates make fine officers -- three of the last six chairmen of the Joint Chiefs of Staff reached the military that way -- they also would be educated alongside future doctors, judges, teachers, executives, mayors and members of Congress. That would be good for both the military and the society it protects.

We should also consider closing the services' war colleges, where colonels supposedly learn strategic thinking. These institutions strike me as second-rate. If we want to open the minds of rising officers and prepare them for top command, we should send them to civilian schools where their assumptions will be challenged, and where they will interact with diplomats and executives, not to a service institution where they can reinforce their biases while getting in afternoon golf games. Just ask David Petraeus, a Princeton PhD. (link)

There you have it. Seems pretty cut and dry. Go ahead and close them.

HT: Tom Ricks on Foreign Policy

Minot

I've written extensively about the things I enjoyed and things (I mean people) I disliked while in uniform. On the whole, the positives vastly outweigh the negatives and I wouldn't trade my Air Force experience for anything.

Reflecting upon why I feel this way, I recognize that my enjoyment stemmed from a combination of three factors (in descending order according to the amount of control I personally controlled):

- Personal attitude
- Meaningful experiences/responsibilities
- The chance to see the US and the world

I didn't want Dayton as my first duty station, and put a telephone through a hotel wall in Atlantic City when I found out that's where I was going in 2001. Over the course of the subsequent 3 years, I mellowed a little and at the end of my time at Wright-Patt, I realized that I really loved my time in Ohio and was actually sad to go. That was an invaluable life lesson in that I realized that if I was pessimistic at first and still ended up loving Dayton, imagine how much fun I would have had if I brought a better attitude to the table.

That said, some locations are so far away that they can tax even the most balanced outlook. And when you're talking about the Air Force, the prime example of tough assignments is Minot:

Out of the cold
‘Getting it right’ drives Minot’s quest to reclaim reputation on nuclear security
By Michael Hoffman - Staff writer
Posted : Tuesday Mar 31, 2009 6:17:48 EDT
MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. — Even under the best conditions, there’s probably not a tougher assignment in the Air Force — outside of Iraq or Afghanistan — than coming to what one commander calls this “prairie outpost.”

The snow doesn’t start melting until May, the town of Minot is closer to Canada — 55 miles away — than it is to Montana, Minnesota or South Dakota, the states that border North Dakota, and frankly, there’s not much to do for entertainment. (link)

I've been to Iraq and it was tough. I was also there for only a finite period of time. At the same time, I've been to Minot (to visit), and I have to admit that it's a tough post for a number of reasons.

Along the lines of 'attitude is everything,' I have one friend that lives in ND and has been stationed in the state and loves it, because this individual always jumps into life head first and in doing so, they met their spouse in ND and together they have set up a life on the prairie. I like to think that's the approach I'd take (although I admit it wouldn't be easy).

That said, if you know the Air Force is only a way station and are a missileer with a sporadic work schedule, life's tough. Humans are creatures of habit and not being able to count on weekends and three-day weekends takes a psychological toll. After a year, this would be tough, After four years, I imagine this would grow unconscionable.

Beyond the quirks of serving on the base, the separation you must feel living their (when you're far from home) borders on unbearable. I couldn't imagine being that far from a major airport (and ready access to the outside world), a mall and yes, Red Lobster. All kidding aside, missing the comforts of home flat out stinks--and while it's ok to expand your horizons when you're overseas, this stinks especially when you're stateside.

Recently, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, Adm. Mike Mullen, visited Minot. One Defense official told me that Adm. Mullen was visiting the base not only because of the challenges the base recently faced in the field of nuclear surety, but the Admiral also wanted to visit the base in the dead of winter to get a feel for how tough it really is. Good for him for sending that message, he's leading from the front and it appears that the Air Force is starting to take heed of the difficulties of life and service on the prairie.

I really like the suggestions of awarding some sort of deployment credit or monetarily incentivizing taking a tour at the base. Even the most modest recognition would, in my opinion, go a long way towards easing the burdens of living far away and provide some gravity to the question, Why not Minot.

March Air Force Madness

I'm excited to fill out my brackets on my Facebook via CBS sports killer app. The tourney is probably the best sporting event going, and maintaining brackets only enhances the experience.

With that in mind, this story is simply too good/typical not to share:

JAG warns against March Madness office pools
Staff report
Posted : Sunday Mar 15, 2009 8:26:54 EDT
Airman, step away from the March Madness tournament pool bracket.

Air Combat Command is warning airmen that they will be breaking military regulations if they start filling out NCAA basketball tournament office pool brackets — even if they are off duty.

Capt. Jeremy Cameron, a judge advocate at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, cited Defense Department rules in his warning to airmen: “According to the Joint Ethics Regulation, DoD employees shall neither participate in gambling activities while on base nor while on duty; this includes both military and civilian personnel.”

Breaking that rule could lead to other crimes.

Officers need to remember that gambling with a subordinate may constitute a violation of the Uniform Code of Military Justice rules on conduct unbecoming an officer, Cameron warned.

“It is not worth risking your career,” the captain wrote.

And even if you’re willing to endanger your career, gambling doesn’t pay.

“For example, some Air National Guard members ran a fantasy football league on their government computers,” Cameron wrote. “Each member paid $10 to play, and the winner was obligated to buy pizza for the rest of the members. The winner actually spent more buying the pizzas than he even won.” (link)

Gambling on government time should obviously be a no-no, but I hate the scare tactics that the big blue brother likes to shove down airmen's throats. "Risking your career?" Come on now--fussing over a $10/head pool. Shouldn't the Air Force legal arm focus every bit of energy on stemming sexual assault and halting drunk driving? This reminds me of a little story I had a chance to cover a couple years back:

Kirtland Airman hits jackpot
by Capt. Morgan O’Brien
377th Air Base Wing Public Affairs

8/23/2005 - KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. (AFPN) -- A master sergeant here got a whole lot more than milk during a recent trip to the supermarket.

In fact, Master Sgt. John San Cartier, a special operations loadmaster instructor with the 58th Training Squadron, “got” a lottery ticket that ended up winning the $93.4 million jackpot.

Good thing he gambled--all you need is a dollar and a dream, right?

In reading this warning, I'm also hoping that this anti-gambling ban is not retroactive, otherwise a lot of people should be in trouble if that's case.

Air Force 60th Anniversary planning begins
4/16/2007 - KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, New Mexico -- On Sept. 14, three New Mexico bases will come together for an all-day celebration of the Air Force's 60th Anniversary.

The celebration, titled "Heritage to Horizons" and hosted by Kirtland AFB, will be held at the Sandia Resort and Casino (emphasis mine), in the foothills of Albuquerque's Sandia Mountains. (link)

A celebration filled with airmen in uniform held at the local casino. Yet another great moment in service hypocracy. I bet no military personnel placed a wager that night...

While we're at it, March is women's history month. Maybe the base planning committed can hold a celebration of females at TD's Showclub???

Remembering Lindsey

Last weekend, an important anniversary came and went, and I was remiss in not mentioning it in this space. Three years ago, my pal Lindsey Patterson passed away totally unexpectedly. In the military, where way too many young, healthy folks are called to their maker before their time, this was a total stomach punch in that she succumbed to a fast-acting freak illness. I only had the opportunity to know Lindsey for a short time while we were junior officers stationed together at Kirtland, but I still feel her impact in my life on a daily basis.

Besides being a lovely, kind and incredibly fit person, Lindsey never hesitated to tell me that she appreciated my sense of humor (which, I’ll admit, sometimes ventures into the odd if not absurd). After she went to a Def Leppard concert in Albuquerque, I always used to ask her, “What has nine arms and sucks?” At Lindsey’s memorial service, we closed with Pour Some Sugar on Me. I still kind of wince when I remember that, but I like to think that she was looking down and laughing when the song rocked the base chapel.


Lindsey Patterson, 11-08-78 to 03-08-06

At a time in my life when things were tough at work, Lindsey’s appreciation resonated then and continues to resonate. When I get people to laugh nowadays, I can’t help but think of her and hope that my joking around somehow, in some small way, pays tribute to her life. I miss my friend.

Another Kirtland Airman Makes (bad) News

If I recall correctly, there were about 25,000 people that showed up for work or lived on Kirtland Air Force base each day. That's a good-sized state college. However, recent actions make it a campus I'd be hesitant about allowing my kids attend. A location dedicated to protecting Americans has to do better.

In the past few years, there have been an alarming number of instances involving the dumbassery of our Airmen. And I'm not talking about the run-of-the-mill drunk driving that you'd find at any college.

No, Kirtland has posted a spotty track record of late, with death, drugs and Christian Bale. But leave it to an Airman from the vaunted and highly respected377th Medical Group to raise the bar.

In New Mexico, an Airman is Arrested in the Killing of a Man on Lower Greenville
By Robert Wilonsky in Crime and Punishment
Tuesday, Feb. 24 2009 @ 9:17AM

The Associated Press reports this morning that a man has been arrested in the death of Marlon Alfaro, the 23-year-old from Irving who was beaten and run over in a Lower Greenville Avenue club's parking lot on January 25. Dallas police and a certain Barking Dog had speculated in a KXAS-Channel 5 story that Alfaro's murder, which took place after an argument turned into an altercation, was gang-related.

Which makes 23-year-old Frank Farias an unlikely suspect: Since August 2006, he's been a member of the 377th Medical Support Squadron out of Kirtland Air Force Base in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where he's being held till he's extradited to Dallas to face first-degree murder charges following his arrest on Friday. (link)

This morning, Opie and Anthony discussed on their program how gang members are now serving in the armed forces to improve their skill at small arms tactics. If Farias is guilty and if this was gang-related (two huge 'ifs'), this is another huge black eye for both the military and the base.

I've written extensively about the elevated level of expectation for how men and women in uniform must carry themselves. With this in mind, regardless of the extent of Farias' alleged involvement, gang activity is on the military's radar. I know we screened for at the processing station (Our medical folks at the MEPS were looking for tattoos, criminal history).

After our young military members join up, this must an area we must continue to show vigilance in ensuring that this problem does not grow worse.

Morgan O'Brien's WiGO 02.20.09

Fort Lewis Update
An update to a story we posted earlier this week. Our thoughts are with the family of Leah King, who died on Fort Lewis earlier this week in what appears to be a drug-related incident.

Unfortunately, without even knowing the details, I would have bet that the events that lead to her death played out just like this. Young GIs plus High School Girls too often equals trouble.

Girl in Fort Lewis incident is being released from hospital
By Seattle Times staff
A 16-year-old girl was being released from Madigan Army Medical Center today, after she was admitted early Sunday when she was found unconscious in a Fort Lewis barracks, a hospital spokesperson said this afternoon.

Another 16-year-old with her, Leah King, died Sunday in the case authorities say is drug-related. (link)

Young kids make stupid mistakes (just ask A-Rod). And when military members make mistakes, they're going to be magnified because we're called to adhere to a higher standard. We're supposed to be protectors and if people are to feel safe anywhere, it should be when they're in the company of our armed forces.

Speaking of protectors failing to protect...

Ex-airman guilty in wrong-way crash
Deal limits jail sentence

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - A former airman from Kirtland Air Force Base admitted in court Thursday that she drove drunk two years ago and rammed head-on into another driver on Interstate 25.

Danielle Best, 23, pleaded guilty to one count of great bodily injury by DWI, a third-degree felony.

In February 2007 Best crashed her pickup truck into a small car near Gibson Boulevard critically injuring Michael Hauser.

Best will be sentenced on March 23. The district attorney and the defense agreed she would receive no more than 18 months in jail. (link)

18 months...wow. God bless New Mexico's stringent drunk driving laws!

I distinctly remember a couple of things about this case. First, I was so happy not to be working at Kirtland when this happened. Second, the event happened on Mardi Gras, and I'm told that Best was wearing her beads when she critically injured Hauser. Finally, I remember that this came in a bunch of other drunk-driving related incidents (2, IIRC) surrounding Kirtland airmen.

And finally, in other Kirtland related news.

Welcome to the Desert

How sad it must have been for BG Voldemort to be separated from his loved ones and serving overseas during the holidays. However, I have to point out that a week-long trip to desert garden spots on the arm of a 4-star does not a war veteran make.

Oh, and Valentine's Day shouldn't really count as a holiday:


There he is on the left...only 7 years late to the party!

Gee, I'd really love to hear his war stories upon his triumphant return. We'll keep an eye out for the inevitable editorial in Hanscom's paper.

As always, with my greatest respect,
xOxO
Morgan

The Military is Phat- Update

A follow up to something we brought to your attention earlier this week, my man Michael Hoffman reports on an interesting battle the military's fighting with weight in "The Battle of the Bulge II":

Air Force athletes aim for weight standards
By Michael Hoffman - Staff writer
Posted : Saturday Feb 14, 2009 10:28:30 EST
Until this semester, Cadet First Class Ryan Kemp ate three peanut butter and jelly sandwiches every night before going to sleep. The sandwiches polished off days the defensive lineman spent eating three squares and snacking between classes at the Air Force Academy.

After the Armed Forces Bowl on New Year’s Eve, Kemp and his fellow firsties (seniors) on the football team have to drop pounds to meet academy and Air Force weight and body composition standards, including the 32-inch waist measurement.

So far, Kemp has lost 20 of the 60 pounds he packed on in his four years in Colorado Springs, Colo. His weight jumped from 195 his first year to the 255 he played at this fall.

Like the rest of the Air Force, cadets must meet weight and body composition standards. Athletes are no exception; the rules are just stretched a bit for those who play positions on teams — football or wresting, for example — where extra weight provides a competitive edge. But after their last season before graduation, the athletes have to shed those extra pounds.

Recently, an Air Force audit found commanders aren’t disciplining airmen who don’t meet the standards; a crackdown is expected, though, with the release of changes to the fitness program this month. (more)

The Military is Phat

A Jelly Donut, Pvt. Pyle?

I wasn't surprised to read that obesity in the military has doubled since 2003. The ugly confluence of a stressful ops tempo plus a willingness to dig a little deeper into the talent pool plus the time-honored tradition of comfort eating certainly set up our uniformed servicemembers for failure. Also, let's not forget the general public (which is growing more obese by the day) comprises our all-volunteer force.

Obesity in US military doubled since 2003

WASHINGTON (AFP) — Since the start of the Iraq War in 2003 the number of overweight and obese US military has doubled, in keeping with the national trend but also due to the stress of deployment, a Pentagon study said.
"In the past decade among active military members in general, the percent of military members who experienced medical encounters for overweight/obesity has steadily increased; and since 2003, rates of increase have generally accelerated," said the report published in January.
In 1998, the number of military personnel diagnosed overweight or obese stood at 25,652, or 1.6 percent of the entire armed forces. In 2003, it increased to 34,333 (2.1 percent), and from then to 2008 the number doubled to 68,786 (4.4 percent of the total).
A 2005 poll of the US military established that "stress and return from deployment were the most frequently cited reasons for recent weight gain," the report said. (link)

As I mentioned above, the military's loosened the standards for troops they're allowing in uniform. And the sad reality is that recruiting shortfalls often come with some ugly strings attached. I recognize and accept that some folks are just big-boned (we'll get to that in a second), but I really can't get over the fact that we'll allow lazy fat slobs (or non-high school graduate or convicted felon) to serve over loyal, patriotic men and women who don't want to have to hide homosexuality. So in an effort to fill our ranks, you can be undisciplined about your weight (or morality), but you can't be gay:

Study: Percentage of overweight recruits up
By Haya El Nasser - USA Today
Posted : Friday Mar 30, 2007 8:17:11 EDT
The pool of recruits fit enough to enlist is shrinking and troops’ waistlines are expanding, a reflection of the nation’s battle against obesity.

The percentage of 18-year-olds who applied for service in all branches of the military but were overweight rose from 27 percent to 32 percent from 1996 through 2005, according to a recent report by the Army. The share of applicants who were obese doubled from 3 percent to 6 percent.

“We’ve been concerned about this for awhile,” said Col. Gaston Bathalon, deputy commander at the Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine in Natick, Mass. The issue is magnified now because the Army is struggling to meet its recruitment goals at a time when its ranks are strained by the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. (link)

You knew this was going to end up with an observation on the Air Force. Again, I'm bothered because my beloved service chooses to move with the tide of societal norms rather than enforcing a standard. I'm not a scientist/nutritionist/health and wellness specialist, but I can say with a good measure of certainty that having a 32-inch waist (male) or 29-inch waist (female) can only be a good thing, and worth striving for and serve as a terrific focal point for health and wellness goals. Here's an explanation of how the system currently works, and the complaints about the system by my man Michael Hoffman:

Scientists disagree on waist measure value
By Michael Hoffman - Staff writer
Posted : Wednesday Feb 11, 2009 3:57:47 EST
It doesn’t make sense at first glance. How can a 6-foot-5-inch, 49-year-old master sergeant be expected to have the same 32-inch waist as a 5-foot-5-inch, 18-year-old airman?

But that’s the one-size-fits-all standard for the abdominal circumference portion of the Air Force fitness test. Better known as the waist measurement, it determines up to 30 out of a possible 100 points on the physical training test. Airmen with more than a 32-inch waist — 29 for women — have to go through extra hoops if they hope to ace the PT Test. (link)

I fully recognize that some people have great genes (and bragged about acing the PT test, despite riding a bike and not running the 1.5 like a certain one-star we know and love, but I digress) and don't even need to diet to maintain a 32-inch waist. At the same time, I recognize that some folks were not blessed with a body that lends itself to getting to 32 inches. But sometimes life isn't fair (truth be told, military life rarely is fair). Sometimes, everyone doesn't get a trophy or win the spelling bee. Sometimes, you have to accept your limitations.

Our core value of Excellence in All We Do should govern that so long as you put forth an honest effort, not hitting 100 on the PT test is acceptable. It bakes my scrod that the whining element even has the opportunity to have their complaints heard in regard to the waist measurement debate. Too often, the Air Force allows the vocal minority has their day in court--you wonder why the Army and Marines like to bust our chops.

Update- A reader left a great comment (see below). I write "great" because someone actually took the time to read a post. That said, I agree with the reader to a point. I totally understand that in many ways, 32 inches is somewhat of random figure when the full spectrum of body types are considered.

Food for thought:I propose that beyond fitness, there should be some sort of metric to capture how well we wear the uniform. Ideally, I guess this would work were there a way to conduct an impartial eyeball test to gauge whether an Airman wears the uniform well in addition to the waist measurement.

Minot and the Economy: I Couldn't Resist

Why Not?

The other day, I saw this headline:

Minot Air Force Base adds nearly $383 million to local economy

and I couldn't help but think to myself, "Yeah, and they shove it up your a$$ one nickel at a time!"

(link)

Morgan O'Brien's WiGO 02.06.09

I read this and could almost hear the audible sigh coming from Hanscom AFB. Looks like someone still has a shot at a second star. God bless the service that fails to reward our warfighters--what's next, paying officers to leave during wartime?

Deployment history to be removed from promotion briefs

by Richard Salomon
Air Force Personnel Center Public Affairs

2/5/2009 - RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas (AFNS) -- Air Force officials here recently announced that deployment history data will be deleted from duty qualification briefs for officer selection and preselection and from senior noncommissioned officer evaluation briefs.

This total-force initiative will apply to all active-duty members, Reserve and Guard personnel. (link)

I mean, why would deployment experience mean anything nowadays?

Air Force One


The Commander in Chief

I was watching a documentary with Mrs. Morganobrien.com the other night on NatGeo, and it concluded with then President-elect Obama boarding Air Force One for his first flight (this was before the inauguration).

The best part of the doc came at the culmination, in an incredibly cool moment, when the film crew captured the moment Obama met Col. Steven Harrison, the pilot. Upon meeting Col. Harrison, our 44th president said, "You're the pilot of Air Force One? Where'd they find you, central casting? You look like Sam Shepard from the Right Stuff."

That is the 100% right way to ensure you get on the pilot of Air Force One's good side. I mean, is there a better thing to say to a pilot? This only cements the fact that President Obama just has 'it'.
(link)

Reserve Recruiting

I received a neat email this week from a reserve recruiter:

I ask you to think back to why you separated from the Air Force (not right, or wrong... just YOUR reasons) and see if those reason are still valid today. Do you miss being on our Air Force Team? Do you miss the camaraderie of being a part of something "bigger than yourself"? Do you have a substantial amount of service time going to waste and applying that time to an Air Force Reserve Retirement may look a bit appealing?

Once again, there is no right or wrong way to answer those questions; as those answers are both personal and individual to where you are...personally and professionally.

I haven't regretted the decision to leave the service, a point I've made numerous times on this very site. That said, there isn't a day--literally--that goes by, that I do not recognize the value of my time in uniform. This email also reminded me of this great post from 2dinar (link).

One sidenote: this email was tied to my personnelist AFSC, and not my PA experience. Interesting.

Morganobrien.com Remembers

In more somber news, I want to remember a couple of young men from a couple of my orbits that both passed away far too soon this week. There's not much worse than seeing a young, healthy, bright, talented peer pass away.

So here's to the memories of Capt. Jonathan Bayless and Diplomat Brian Adkins.

As always, with my greatest respect,

Morgan

Incredible Bald Eagle Birdstrike, C-130

Gregg "Opie" Hughes posted these seemingly incredible photos via his twitter feed (follow Opie's tweets here).

I don't know if these are real, I can only find them on forums and blogs (and we all know how reliable blogs can be hehe). More important, I can't tell if this a patriotic or seditious. That second picture is freaky. Decide for yourself:

In the company of heroes

Live Free or Die

I'm biased in that I think everyone that's volunteered to wear the uniform of our nation's armed services has shown a measure of nobility. More than having worn the uniform myself, during my last assignment I looked across the podium at hundreds of young men and women that were looking to use their military military to give back and get ahead. I also had the opportunity to go to high school and college with a number of guys and gals who proudly wore the uniform and served in the aftermath of 9/11.

The New York Times did a nice piece on a guy from my neighborhood, Marine Lance Cpl. Jordan Haerter, and a mural done in his honor beneath the 114 bridge in Sag Harbor (photos above, from the NYT, link here).

I've been thinking about Cpl. Haerter a bunch lately, especially after I read this piece on Tom Ricks' fantastic blog at FP:

Marine Maj. Gen. John Kelly on two Marines who were killed stopping a truck bomb heading for the front gate of their outpost in Ramadi: "No time to talk it over; no time to call the lieutenant; no time to think about their own lives or even the American and Iraqi lives they were protecting," Kelly said to Tony Perry of the Los Angeles Times. "More than enough time, however, to do their duty. They never hesitated or tried to escape." He said the two, Cpl. Jonathan Yale, 21, and Lance Cpl. Jordan Haerter, 19, will receive the Navy Cross posthumously next year. (Link to the LA Times story)

Before every oath I issued (more than 800), I always told the new soldier, sailor, airman, Marine or coastguardsman standing across the podium that they were making the best decision of their life--regardless of the outcome, a life of service takes things to the next level and makes America better. While it breaks my heart that Cpl. Haerter will never get to eat at Conca's or swim in the Bay again, these facts make it all the more important that we remember his sacrifice and example.

I know I like to write about so many things, but one of the goals of this blog is to act as a check (or maybe a release valve) that maximizes the democracy of the Internet for the benefit or our junior officers and enlisted. In the information age, knowlege is currency and I strive to add at least a miniscule amount of worthwhile information to the general body of knowledge.

That's why Maj. Gen. Kelly's quote above speaks to me on a number of levels. That is an example of a warrior honoring his fallen comrades. We need to see that. Too often, our military's institutional arms come into conflict with the military's warfighting arm and senior leaders are out of touch with realities on the ground. And because of the institutional framework--the politicization of promotions boards for starters-- here is little hope for those that want to see these things change.

Again, I refer to Ricks' blog, where he touts the bravery of Army Lt. Col. Paul Yingling, who as an active duty officer has worn his emotions on his sleeve while speaking truth to power about the failures of our general officer corps. Yingling once wrote "A private who loses a rifle suffers far greater consequences than a general who loses a war." Wow.

Among the hits from a recent Yingling talk to Marines at Quantico:

Our system of officer development remains essentially unchanged since the Cold War -- the same system that produced the officers who for the last generation refused to prepare for irregular warfare. Our organizational structures remain essentially unchanged since 9/11

Combat forces operate under a simple, brutal incentive system -- adapt or die. Forces in combat are not by virtue of their location intellectually or morally superior to their counterparts in the institutional military. Rather, their priorities are clearer -- when the failure to adapt carries a death sentence, every other consideration -- service and branch loyalties, core competencies, organizational cultures -- pales in comparison.

Our current system suppresses innovation, punishes moral courage and is a strategic liability to our country.

We've lost thousands of lives and spent hundreds of billions of dollars in the last seven years in efforts to bring stability to two medium sized countries; we can't afford to adapt this slowly in the future.

I'm sorry to admit that as an officer I didn't have this courage while I was in uniform, but at the same time I don't know what I would have done differently. For starters, I was blind to the realities of the system until it was too late and I made the decision to separate. Further, it's hard to buck the system for long, and there are far too few folks willing to test the waters (ed note- mixed metaphors).

Thank God there are men like Lt. Col. Yingling that are willing to step up because heroes like Cpl. Haerter deserve senior leadership like him. Anything less is below standard, and too often we find ourselves failing in this area of utmost importance.


American Hero, Jordan Haerter

Morgan O'Brien's WiGO 01.22.08

May or may not have been getting his haircut Wednesday

I was searching for something to write about today, and was going to write about the obnoxious guy that showed up at the barber shop when I was getting my post-military wig lopped off. The guy's material wasn't that good--he looked like Uncle Teddy from Rescue Me and kept saying stuff like, "If sheep could cook, I would marry one," in his really loud, NY accent. I don't even know what that means.

Anyway, I have a cure for writer's block: thank God for the Air Force:

First is the case of Micah Henry, a former Kirtland Airman that just pleaded guilty to killing two folks:

Ex-Kirtland airman pleads guilty in DWI case
The Associated Press

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — A former Kirtland Air Force Base airman accused of killing two people in what police say was a drunken driving crash has pleaded guilty to two charges of vehicular homicide.

Micah Henry, 24, entered his pleas Wednesday.

He will be sentenced in March. He faces up to 12 years in prison for the 2008 New Year’s crash. (link)

Only 12 years? All I can say is that it's a shame Henry didn't end up in Nassau County. Maybe we should ship Kathleen Rice to Albuquerque...


Send Her to Albuquerque!

An excerpt from an interview "60 Minutes" reporter Bob Simon conducted with Nassau District Attorney Kathleen Rice:

SIMON: Why did Heidgen fit as a murder case?

RICE: The statute under which he was charged required us to prove that, through his actions, he had a completely depraved indifference to human life. ... His actions made the deaths of Katie Flynn and Stanley Rabinowitz inevitable. It was as inevitable as taking a gun and firing it at an individual who's standing 5 feet away from you.

SIMON: You really believe that?

RICE: I do believe that. I do.

Source: "60 Minutes" transcript

And then there's this terrifying news:

Retirees, reservists to be tapped for empty jobs
By Bruce Rolfsen - Staff writer

The Air Force is turning to retirees and reservists to fill 1,600 empty flying and staff positions — a strategy that could eventually have 58-year-old lieutenant colonels flying alongside officers half their age.

If you are a retired rated officer or a rated officer on traditional reserve status, the Air Force wants you back on active-duty status to fly or serve in staff positions for up to four years.

For retired officers, the program is open to aviators who retired at the rank of lieutenant colonel or below and will not be older than 60 when their service starts.

(link)

As it looks, I'm safe for now but I'll continue to keep my antenna up. If they start looking for stud PAO's that are only a couple years removed from service, well then the race is on, Gen. Schwartz.

As always, With my greatest respect,
xOxO
Morgan

The Hero of Flight 1549

Sully! Real American Hero

As if I wasn't pumped that everyone survived today's harrowing adventures on the Hudson, now I really have a reason to brag on my Air Force roots, thanks of course, to the handy stick and rudder action displayed by America's latest hero, Sully Sullenberger III (no relation).

The Hero Of Flight 1549

Veteran pilot, 57, safely landed US Airways jet in Hudson River

JANUARY 15--Meet Chesley B. "Sully" Sullenberger, III, the US Airways pilot who today amazingly crash-landed a US Airways jet in New York's Hudson River without any apparent fatalities. The heroic Sullenberger, 57, has worked for US Airways since 1980, and before that spent more than six years as a U.S. Air Force F-4 fighter pilot.

(Link)

Check out my man Sully's resume here.

Thank God for dudes like this. Because for the amount of tools that have worn the AF Blue in our service's 60+ years, there are some pretty incredible folks that help balance things out.

Air Force Welcomes Blogging PAs

I was thrilled to see that regarding emerging technologies and Web 2.0, the Air Force is getting it right, and have some of its young PAs to thank for leading the way. (And as an amateur/aspiring military blogger, one day, I'd love to be quoted in a story like this):

Air Force makes about-face to embrace Web 2.0
Service keeps careful eye on shaping public perception
By Sam LaGrone - Staff writer
Posted : Friday Jan 9, 2009 16:36:25 EST

The Air Force’s new front in shaping its public reputation and fighting enemy propaganda is YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and the blogosphere. The move is an about-face from the service’s long reluctance to engage Web 2.0.

The Air Force Public Affairs Agency stood up its emerging technology office in October in part to counter online enemies increasingly savvy in information warfare. (link)

I'm incredibly proud of my military service, and have only a few peccadilloes outstanding from my time in uniform. For instance, towards the end, there were a number of occasions I felt the service stifled creativity--a tactic that admittedly does serve a purpose. Since I left, I found one of my former Wing/CCs responding to blog posts, which is great, because it's showing initiative in blazing the path towards the type of thinking currently promoted by these latest efforts.

Among all the positive experiences I've taken with me to my post-military life one aspect of my service I continue to appreciate is the common-sense problem solving that years of trial and error bestowed upon the branches of the military. For example, this decision matrix:



This matrix dumbs things down, but empowers the end user to make decisions. Granted, the UCMJ and good order and discipline mandates might make one a little squemish about what they're willing to tag their name/online handle to, but in the "real world," a decision matrix like this is incredibly handy in providing guidelines from which you can improvise and build upon--like a good jazz musician. And things don't get much more creative than Miles Davis, my friend.

As an aside, I'll never forget the confidence and sense of accomplishment I felt after jumping out of airplanes on my own. It took a few years to dawn on me that the parachute training program had less to do with learning about jumping out of planes and more to do with instilling a trust in the Air Force's training methods, and inspiring self-confidence in applying this learned behavior.

And that's my essence of the military. Their are those dedicated (whether patriotically or selfishly) to making a career of things. Then there are those of us who gave a lot and were given even more. As a veteran's advocate, I strive to impress upon those I work with or encounter professionally a level of competence that then carries over to the next veteran they have a chance to work with or hire. With the skills and experiences I gained from the Air Force, this is my opportunity to pay things forward.

Nice work by Capt. Faggard (whom I've never met, but share mutual acquaintances) in pushing the envelope here. I hope he keeps up the good work, guys like him are the future of the Air Force, and as our generation rises in the ranks, we need to continue to maintain the cutting edge in technology, strategy and communicaitons.

Morgan O'Brien's WiGO 1.05.09

On AFLink today, the Air Force got it right. Kudos to Tech. Sgt. Michale Voss, who knocked it out of the park in reporting what I consider to be the perfect internal communications piece.

What follows is a truly awesome story from the junior enlisted personnel that went above and beyond in an attempt to become a better Airman, family man and human being. The story couldn't have better timing (we're in the middle of resolution season); couldn't be more inspiring (you'll see); shows that our subordinates can often provide some of the greatest examples of leadership; and best of all, there are some great pictures to highlight the accomplishment (see below).

Rather than ruin the story through my muddled retelling, I'll hand it over to Sgt. Voss:

Deployed servicemember returns home half the Airman he used to be

By Tech. Sgt. Michael Voss
376th Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

1/2/2009 - MANAS AIR BASE, Kyrgyz Republic (AFPN) -- "I knew I was unhealthy and had to make some changes, especially when I thought about my five-year-old looking up at me," said Senior Airman Jarvis Johnson. "Without changes, I wouldn't be around to see him and my daughters grow up."

When you ask someone what they can accomplish in six months -- just 24 short weeks -- they may say something like, "I plan to finish a couple college courses," or maybe, "I'm going to read a couple books," or "Tour a little."...

(Instead, Johnson) has lost 125 pounds, is down to 165 pounds and has taking 14 inches off his waist.(link)

Kudos to Airman Johnson--here's the big reveal:


Before


After

I have to admit, this story blindsided me. In all honesty, I intended to highlight this "no-duh" story by my man Michael Hoffman today (which I still take great pleasure in posting):

PT program needs fixing, audit finds
By Michael Hoffman - Staff writer
Posted : Friday Jan 2, 2009 18:12:05 EST
An Air Force-wide audit found the service’s fitness program is failing to keep airmen fit year-round.

The fitness program “did not effectively promote a healthy lifestyle,” and unit commanders did not give airmen enough time to work out while not cracking down on airmen who failed PT tests, according to a December report released by the Air Force Audit Agency. (link)

Rather than expecting a PT program to be a magic cure all (which I suspect the powers that be intended), the Air Force might look at the program more as a catalyst. If you want to be healthy, great--go for it, here are the tools. In fact, look at guys like Airman Johnson as examples.

If you don't care about how you look, how you feel or how you perform in the field have fun at the back of the pack where you belong. Just know that you made the conscious choice to position yourself there.

All in the name

What a Dick (literally)

Sometimes, everything comes together. The perfect crime, the perfect response, the perfect mugshot, the perfect name and the perfect double entendre:

Naked Home Invader Nabbed After Senior Citizen Grabs His 'Cahoochies'

An 80-year old woman grabbed a naked man named Michael Dick by the crotch and gave him a good squeeze; police nabbed him a few minutes later.

PORTLAND, Ore.) - It seems some criminals have a problem of underestimating their victims. Police say that today at 6:30 AM, an 88-year old woman in her bathrobe was confronted by a naked man who had entered her home in the 2500 block of SE 287th Avenue through an unlocked sliding door.

Deputy Paul H. (Mac) McRedmond with the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office, says the man, saying nothing, backed her into the living room of the house and pushed her face down onto a chair.

"Before whatever plans the suspect might have had, the woman reached behind her and grabbed the man by the crotch, 'giving him a good squeeze', McRedmond said. (story here)

Thankfully, the victim is alright, just a little shaken up.

The only thing that would make this story better is if I found out if this perp is related to the biggest Dick I know.

Finally, let it be known from this day forward, any article that includes the word 'cahoochies' in the headline will earn a featured mention on morganobrien.com.


Photo: Multnomah County Sheriff's Office

And the Cowboy State Makes 50 (plus Puerto Rico and DC)

With a scant few days remaining in 2008, Wyoming finally came through for me. After visiting my 50th state over Thanksgiving week, I've now returned the favor in a way, entertaining visitors from all 50 states.

Granted, I had to game the system a little bit to make it happen, when I admittedly highlighted FE Warren AFB's failing score in their most recent NSI (impressively broken before Warren leadership officially received their score by Michael Hoffman of the Air Force Times), but it wasn't that much of a stretch as I have covered the Air Force's nuclear foibles in recent months.

Anyway, God Bless America, and thanks for checking in!

Guilty Pleasures: Christian Sings The Blues, Part II

Recently, Morganobrien.com had the opportunity to pick the brain of Christian XXX--himself the brains behind the wonderful blog Christian Sings The Blues (Not safe for work) what follows is the second of the three-part story spawned by Christian's candid answers. Part 1 here


Christian eats out virtually every day (and has pics to prove it!)

I was most fascinated to learn that Christian grew up in the military, the son of an accomplished Air Force colonel, and had lived all over the US, moving from New Jersey to Massachusetts to Texas.

“The commissary let me work there as a bagboy for tips at 14,” said the former military brat, referring his time working at the military supermarket on Lackland Air Force Base (Note 5). “I loved that summer because I actually made money and then spent it on books to read. Good Lord, I am a nerd.”


Pride: An Air Force brat with San Antonio roots

This nerdiness served Christian well, as he graduated from the University of Texas-San Antonio with a degree in history. While at UTSA, the athletic actor walked on to the basketball squad, eventually turning this on-court experience into coaching gigs at University of the Incarnate Word, Northeastern Oklahoma A&M, and Brazoswood High School, where he was also a teacher (how freaking cool is that? Note 6).

The product of a Catholic upbringing in a conservative household, Christian has written about the concern he caused his parents with his life decision, most recently in a touching commemoration of his father’s 61st birthday in early December.

“I told my parents quickly, I wasn’t going to lie to them,” he said of his decision to join the industry. “I am an adult and I make my own decisions. I can’t control their reactions to me, so I wouldn’t attempt it.”

Regardless of people’s opinions (he calls us outsiders “civilians”) of the adult industry, it is readily apparent that Christian’s parents instilled within their son the core value of Excellence in All We Do. If form holds through this month, Christian will increase the number of annual scenes he’s performed for five years running. According to his Web site, in 2007 Christian performed 281 scenes, and was on pace to smash that for 2008, already surpassing last year's mark earlier this week. With an average of about $500 per scene, that’s a nifty six-figure annual salary (Note 7).

“If …anyone thinks that I was going to be miserable and have an honorable career while sinking into oppressive debt, as opposed to the ease of lifestyle I currently have and make four times the money, all of you are crazy,” he said. And with those numbers, it’s hard to argue with that kind of logic, especially in the current economic climate.

As for the future, Christian is focused on continuing to build upon his successful career. He currently has no plans to end up on the other side of the camera as a director, “unless it’s for a [point of view] series,” he joked, adding, “There is no retirement plan (Note 8). I don’t have a long-term plan except to save money and keep doing this for as long as I can. If for some reason I can no longer do this profession, I have enough of a nest egg to make the transition to another occupation without living on the street.”

This strong performance is a combination of Christian’s growing reputation in the industry (he has written that he considers himself among the top dozen or so male performers), the mainstreaming of adult entertainment (Note 9) and being comfortable in his own skin (and out of his clothes). And considering the massive popularity of his blog, what started earlier this year as “an experiment” certainly didn’t hurt Christian’s profile.

“It is going to be tough stopping on December 31,” said Christian. “I still am having second thoughts. I guess we will wait and see.”

In the interest of keeping Christian’s fingers typing, perhaps we can appeal to his weakness. Christian is a stat head: “What I am addicted to most of all is the affiliate program statistics. I love, love, love stats.”

So when you’re in the comfort of your own home (DEFINITELY NOT AT YOUR WORK COMPUTER), be sure to check out his site and contribute to his hits. Who knows—those hits might change his mind and inspire him to keep typing well into the New Year.

Be sure to check back tomorrow for Part 3: Christian on the Hot Seat

Note 5: I am now afraid to think of why Mrs. Morganobrien.com was always so eager to shop at the commissary.

Note 6: There will be no post-porn classroom redux for Christian who reports that adult entertainers would not be welcome working with high school students, to say nothing of the five-year hole in his resume.

Note 7: And this does not include the more than $1,000 Christian has earned from affiliates that advertise on his site.

Note 8: According to Christian, the average life span of a male performer is about 10 years.

Note 9: Interestingly, the mainstreaming of the industry has had the counterintuitive effect of drawing more female talent in front of the camera, a trend not lost on Christian. “As a male, it hasn’t affected me much, but if I were a girl, I would be pissed,” he said. “There is now a huge explosion of new porn girls.”

Morgan O'Brien's WiGO 12.17.08

My latest attempt to get Wyoming

As we approach the end of the year, Wyoming remains the lone holdout state to send a visitor to www.morganobrien.com. While the nuclear surety beat really doesn't generate hits, FE Warren's latest contribution to the Air Force's dismal nuclear 2008 gives me no choice but to hope that someone from the base finds this post and clicks on it. Here's hoping (not only that I get a visit from Wyoming, but that the Air Force figures out how to maintain our arsenal. I mean, who was in charge of this? Oh, right).

F.E. Warren missile wing fails nuke inspection
By Michael Hoffman - Staff writer
Posted : Wednesday Dec 17, 2008 15:33:36 EST
The 90th Missile Wing at F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyo., will fail its Nuclear Surety Inspection that is set to end Wednesday because its maintenance group did not properly document tests on its missiles, an Air Force official said.

The 90th will be the second nuclear missile wing and at least the fifth nuclear unit known to fail its NSI this year. (link)

PS- Kudos to Michael Hoffman of the Air Force Times whose work on this issue would be Pulitzer-worthy if only he was tackling important issues...like the decline of newspapers.


Baldwin!
I love reading a Drudge headline announcing, "PTA Vice President Busted With 13-Year-Old In Back Of Fogged Up Car...," clicking the link and finding that it happened in my own backyard.

God Bless the South Shore of Nassau County, from Buttafucco to this lady, you never let me down!

Nassau Cops: PTA Mom, Boy Found Half Naked In Car
Police Come Across Fogged Up SUV On Elementary School Grounds In Baldwin; Residents Shocked, Horrified

Reporting
Jennifer McLogan BALDWIN, N.Y. (CBS) ―

A prominent PTA official is facing some serious allegations involving a teenage boy.

Police arrested (Redacted) after allegedly finding her in the backseat of a parked car with a 13-year-old boy on Friday night. Both of them, police said, were partially unclothed. (link)

I mean, come on...


Bad name, cute kid

Obviously the news loves this story, but this is one of those times where they should drop all objectivity. I'm all for the First Amendment, but you can't expect ShopRite to make this cake, and frankly I'm shocked that WalMart did.

The kid is adorable, though.

Supermarket defends itself over Adolf Hitler cake
Supermarket Refuses To Personalize Cake For Child Named ‘Adolf Hitler’

EASTON, Pa. (AP) - A supermarket is defending itself for refusing to a write out 3-year-old Adolf Hitler Campbell's name on his birthday cake. Deborah Campbell, 25, of nearby Hunterdon County, N.J., said she phoned in her order last week to the Greenwich ShopRite. When she told the bakery department she wanted her son's name spelled out, she was told to talk to a supervisor, who denied the request.

Karen Meleta, a ShopRite spokeswoman, said the store denied similar requests from the Campbells the last two years, including a request for a swastika.

As always,
With my Greatest Respect,
xOxO
Morgan

North Dakota in the News (Update!)

With news out of the Land of Lincoln showing that Chicago politics are as crooked as the day is long, Illinois must be America's most corrupt state, right?

Wrong. Illinois only checks in at number 18 according to a USAToday investigation of Department of Justice statistics.

And guess who's the most corrupt--that's right, North Dakota:

North Dakota tops analysis of corruption
By John Fritze, USA TODAY
WASHINGTON — Its largest city is legendary for machine-style politics and its elected leaders have been under investigation for years, but by one measure, Illinois is not even close to the nation's most-corrupt state.

North Dakota, it turns out, may hold that distinction instead. (continued)

A statue of "Honest John" Burke, governor from 1907 to 1913, stands in front of the North Dakota's state capitol building in Bismarck. North Dakota had the highest rate of public corruption convictions won by federal prosecutors from 1998 through 2007. (From USAToday)

When you consider this along with all the recent craziness at Minot, maybe there is something in the water up on the Northern Frontier. Or maybe they're just on top of their game in the Peace Garden State.

Morgan O'Brien's WiGO 12.13.08

My new favorite military vegetarian



Apparently, PETA hosted a contest to honor the military's sexiest vegetarians and recently announced the winners. I'd like to take this opportunity to send my most sincere congratulations to the Air Force's representative:

* Air Force 2nd Lt. Gina Lewis, stationed at Hurlburt Field, Fla., has been a vegetarian since she was 6, when she said she realized that Bambi and his mother were no different from other animals killed for food. The former model has completed four marathons since entering the Air Force, proving wrong those who told her she wouldn’t be able to maintain her vegetarian lifestyle in the military. She has cared for rescue animals at every duty assignment, and hopes to convince the Air Force to switch to leather-free combat boots.

Commercial Contest
I must figure out a way to get in on this:

12/9/2008 - WASHINGTON (AFNS) -- Senior leaders are asking Airmen to get behind the camera and submit a video for the next Air Force advertising campaign. The contest has begun and runs until Jan. 9.

Airmen are encouraged to create a video depicting what their unit or they do to support the Air Force mission, as well as highlight why people should join the Air Force. The videos potentially will be used for the next recruiting and retention advertising campaign, according to Keith Lebling, the contest manager. (continued)

I'm going to mess around with my flip camera one of these days, and I promise to create something worthy of entrance into said contest.

Air Force Combatives


Mrs. Morganobrien.com takes no prisoners!

Great. Just after I get out of the service, the Air Force introduces combatives (link). Now I'm not saying there weren't a few guys that would have roughed me up pretty good, but I can think of at least one dude I would have loved to meet in the octagon. Unfortunately, I'm sure the wuss would fake a knee injury and then brag about getting a 100 on a modified PT test.

Oh, and Carson Smith (read this crap) deserves a beating, too. Although, as I write this, I realize that I have know idea how big Mr. Smith is. But for beating a defenseless rat terrier to death with a golf club, I think even he realizes that he deserves to be cut down to size by someone bigger than him.

PS-I bet Mrs. Morganobrien.com could hold her own in the octagon.

MMA = not for the faint of heart

...and speaking of combatives, after my sign off, check out these badass videos from the world of MMA (courtesy of Deadspin)


As always, With my greatest respect
xOxO
Morgan




Feets don't fail me now!



You don't know how long I've been waiting to do that!

First women at Air Force Academy honored

Gen. Gabreski is an incredibly impressive, accomplished officer. The article below shows that she began her career doing great things for women in uniform from the time she was a second lieutenant and hasn't stopped busting boundaries since.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — History shows that the first women to enter the Air Force Academy arrived in the summer of 1976.

And history is wrong.

Months earlier, in a little-known chapter of Air Force lore, a dozen pioneering women, already officers, endured the hardships the first female cadets would soon face and kicked open the doors for women at the service academy.

“It laid the groundwork for what women now do as a routine part of our Air Force mission,” said Lt. Gen. Terry Gabreski, one of the dozen second lieutenants recruited as “air training officers.”

LINK

Here's hoping her return to the Academy reminded her of her role as an example for women in uniform and the challenges they still face in a male-dominated culture. Thankfully, in spite of these challenges, she's well positioned to do so both system-wide and especially within her own command.

After all, 32 years wasn't that long ago; and present challenges show we still have a long way to go:

They were also the first to face the ingrained sexism at the Air Force Academy.

“We took a lot of heat,” said Gabreski, who now serves as vice commander of Air Force Material Command.

North Dakota in the News

For a variety of reasons we are not at liberty to discuss, events in the Peace Garden State catch the eye of Morganobrien.com from time to time. This weekend, two pieces caught our eye:

The first was written by a member of the extended Chaminade alumni family network and long-time Morganobrien.com favorite, Maj. Patricia Traynor. Minot Air Force Base has seen a number of military dignitaries visit it's hallowed grounds.

(In other Magic City-related news, pop star Fergie was also spotted working out in town on Thanksgiving. Apparently visiting beau Josh Duhamel's family. Seriously).

Deterrence is not a fading concept, CSAF says

by Maj. Patricia Traynor
5th Bomb Wing Public Affairs

12/6/2008 - MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. (AFNS) -- Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz reminded community members and North Dakota's senior elected representatives at a luncheon here Dec. 1 that "deterrence is not a fading concept."

(link)

And while North Dakota is often the butt of numerous jokes, look who's getting the last laugh:

A Placid North Dakota Asks, Recession? What Recession?
By MONICA DAVEY
Published: December 6, 2008
Surging oil production, a good year for farmers and a conservative culture have shielded the state.
FARGO, N.D. — As the rest of the nation sinks into a 12th grim month of recession, this state, at least up until now, has been quietly reveling in a picture so different that it might well be on another planet.

A slow afternoon at the Fargo branch of Job Service North Dakota, where the state employees outnumbered the job seekers.

The number of new cars sold statewide was 27 percent higher this year than last, state records through November showed. North Dakota’s foreclosure rate was minuscule, among the lowest in the country. Many homes have still been gaining modestly in value, and, here in Fargo, construction workers can be found on any given day hammering away on a new downtown condominium complex, complete with a $540,000 penthouse (still unsold, but with a steady stream of lookers).
(link)

Oh, and the best part of the article...

Katie Hasbargen, a spokeswoman for Microsoft’s Fargo campus, which is in the middle of a $70 million or so building expansion and is, even now, looking for a few additions to its work force (of more than 1,500), said false perceptions of the state are the problem when it comes to recruiting workers. “The movie,” Ms. Hasbargen said, referring to the 1996 Coen brothers’ film that bears this city’s name, “didn’t do us a lot of favors.”

Army-Navy Game Uniforms by Nike (football)

While a tough Navy team shellacked the Black Knights of the Hudson 34-0 in Philadelphia today, the highlight of the game were the Nike-designed uniforms sported by both squads.


Some folks are banging on them, but I think they're fun and pretty sharp (here's the release):

Nike Launches New Army and Navy Football “Enforcer” Uniforms

Next Evolution of Lightweight Football Uniforms to Make Its Debut on Field During Classic Football Matchup

BEAVERTON, Ore.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nike (NYSE:NKE) will debut its new “Enforcer” football uniforms this weekend as one of college football’s most storied rivalries enters into its 109th meeting. The new uniforms, which will be seen for the first time during the Army vs. Navy football game, were developed as the next evolution of Nike’s shrink wrap uniform with high performance materials that will help the athletes perform at their highest standard.



The Nike “Enforcer” uniforms designed for the Army and Navy squads are lightweight, breathable and more form-fitting, enabling superior field performance. The uniforms provide greater moisture management and reduction of grab points while also incorporating inspiration from two of the nation’s military units in its design.

I had a tough time finding many good pictures tonight, but here are the baddest of the bunch:




I always thought it would have been great to have Nike design our PT gear, instead of the sub-par stuff they foist upon us (by the Air Force especially, great job Moseley):



Beyond actually fitting, Nike-designed workout gear--instead of Lighthouse for the Blind or whoever had the contract--would have a shelf-life that extended outside the base and act as a promotional tool. Getting non-military folks to wear Air Force-inspired clothing is a coup, it promotes the service and get this--people would pay for the right to do so!

It should be noted that there's a precedence here, Brooks Brothers designs some of Navy's dress uniforms and Teddy Roosevelt wore Brooks Brothers military uniforms. Oh, and I should also mention that when you let the government design uniforms, this can happen:



Action shots from AP: (link)

All too real AF photoshop from this awesome collection: (link)

Morgan O'Brien's WIGO 12.04.08

Doug Larsen with a photo of himself and Ronnie Winchester, left. Winchester, a Marine, was killed in Iraq in 2004.

Neat article in today's NY Times about two of my classmates.

For those who don't know me, I'm proud as hell of my alma mater, and think that being a Chaminade man means a whole hell of a lot--a point underscored when you recoginze how we answer our nation's call to service, and the unmatched commitment to our country. The Marianists mean so much to so many, and the values they consistently instill upon generations of young men is commendable.

When I caught the ND-Navy game a few weeks ago, it was hard to root against Navy, because you respect each and every one of the Middies, and the same would be true of West Point. I probably would root against USAFA.

I'll be watching Saturday:

In Army-Navy Game, Friends, Competitors and a Band of Brothers
Marc Steiner for The New York Times
In Army-Navy Game, Friends, Competitors and a Band of Brothers
OLD BRIDGE, N.J. — As Army renews its college football rivalry with Navy for the 109th time Saturday in Philadelphia, Doug Larsen’s mind will surely drift back to the game in 2000.

That was when he looked across the line of scrimmage and saw his friend Ronnie Winchester. They were like brothers, having met as freshmen at Chaminade High School, an all-boys Catholic school in Mineola, N.Y., on Long Island. But for a few hours on that day eight years ago in Baltimore, they were rivals, and loving every minute of it.

continued...

Great call on Bob Gates
Morganobrien.com supports president-elect Obama's choice of Bob Gates to stay on as SecDef. We're huge fans of Gates, and think it's a great move for our troops in the field.

During a busy week, Gates also found time to visit the megalopolis of Minot, N.D. Morganobrien.com's spies were not available to gather intel, but Time did a nice write-up:

Former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld had his famous rules, a written roster of commands about how to deal with Washington, including such pearls as "It is easier to get into something than to get out of it." Robert Gates — his successor in the Bush Administration and, as of this week, the Obama Administration — doesn't have a list of rules. Those who only see his serious pronouncements about the nation's wars might even get the impression that Gates doesn't have a personality.

But confidants say Gates can be a funny guy who specializes in punch line humor inspired by Bill Cosby, Sam Kinison and W.C. Fields. After leaving the CIA following a 26-year career, Gates spent more than a decade giving speeches and honing his delivery. On Monday, after being tapped by Barack Obama to continue managing the nation's two wars, Gates jetted to Minot, N.D., to become the first Defense Secretary ever to visit the airmen at the missile base there. "It's always great to be out of Washington, D.C. — the only city in the world where you can see a prominent person walking down lovers' lane holding his own hand," he quipped.

And while we're at it, we're huge fans of Gov. Richardson and appointing Gen. Jones as the NSA was a killer move, too. (As a matter of policy, morganobrien.com does not comment on our chains of command, unless they're in a good video with Jay-Z).


Farewell to Heroes
We lost two Doolittle Raiders this week (story here).

If I were more enterprising, I'd work on a piece about these American Heroes. Here's the Wikipedia entry for more information: (link)

Backhanded Compliment/Unfortunate Quote of the Week


Hey, Big Spender!
Former Air Force Secretary Verne Orr left us this week. I don't know much about Sec. Orr, nor could I say that I even knew who he was until I read the article.

I did find Sec. Donley's quote very interesting--let me know if I'm being hypersensitive:

"Former Secretary of the Air Force Verne Orr was a leader and a professional committed to the United States Air Force and our nation during a crucial period of change," said current Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley. "Although he served during a time of increased defense spending and modernization, (emphaisis mine) he will be remembered most for his deep commitment to our Airmen and their families. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends as they mourn the loss of their loved one."

OK, I get it, we're trying to be responsible nowadays about defense spending, but why even mention that? I thought rule #1 in Air Force obituaries was to never use the word, 'Although' to begin a sentence.

You know, we did win the Cold War on the heels of his tenure, so one could argue that the spending was worthwhile...just sayin'

As always,
With my greatest respect,
xOxO
Morgan

Sec. Wynne Finds a Ring

While we've been critical of Air Force leadership here at morganobrien.com, there is no denying that this is a special story:

Brother’s ring returned 40 years after crash

By Michael Hoffman - Staff writer
Posted : Monday Nov 17, 2008 17:33:09 EST

Four decades after his brother died in a plane crash 25 miles from the Chinese border in North Vietnam, former Air Force Secretary Michael Wynne was handed his brother’s 1963 Air Force Academy class ring by a complete stranger at a Cincinnati airport.

Maj. Patrick Wynne’s F-4 slammed into the North Vietnamese hillside on Aug. 8, 1966. His ring went through the hands of a Chinese family that tried to rescue Patrick, and finally an American businessman before his younger brother got it back. What gets Michael Wynne is that his brother was never supposed to be on that mission in the first place. Patrick Wynne stepped up after another pilot got sick. LINK

What a story: it's got the Air Force, it's got brothers and it's got redemption. It's funny how things work sometimes.

While his early termination may have left a bitter taste in his mouth, it was actually refreshing to see that this borderline miracle enabled Sec. Wynne to put things in perspective and gain some closure:

“The day I signed into my first duty station was the day he was shot down. It was like the baton pass of duty from him to me.

“Now, I retire from the highest position in the Air Force, and out of the blue comes this ring,” Michael Wynne said. “Life is so circular sometimes.”

Well duh...

Found this nugget to be incredibly interesting, and yet another example of the Air Force's firm positioning behind the power curve in understanding strategic communications, public affairs and personnel strategy:

Public affairs, strategic communications merge
By Erik Holmes - Staff writer
Posted : Monday Nov 17, 2008 11:47:05 EST

The Air Force is consolidating its public affairs and strategic communications functions.

The reason, said the service’s public affairs chief Nov. 13, is to get its message out more proactively to airmen and to the public, and better coordinate its communications.

“The bottom line is communication,” said Brig. Gen. Darren McDew. “Sometimes people think in order to do strategic communication, it needs to be a separate organization from public affairs, and it doesn’t. (link)

What I found most interesting about this article wasn't the rationale for combining the communications functions (although, I have to admit that Gen. McDew's reasoning seems to show that they finally "get it") but the fact that the Air Force finally realized how demoralizing it was that the careerfield was lead by a pilot rather than a trained PA--meaning that even the most skilled PA's basically had zero chance of earning a star, regardless of their officership.

McDew said the long-standing tradition of public affairs being led by an officer from another career field eventually will be a thing of the past. Both McDew and his predecessor, Brig. Gen. Michelle Johnson, are career mobility pilots and commanders.

“I think it’s important to completely professionalize this career field and have a career field that is sustainable and that will produce someone who … understands the full spectrum,” he said.

“The folks around me that have been doing this for 20-some-odd years are better at it than me. So we have got to get to the point where we can produce someone who does this for a career … and will eventually grow up to be the director of public affairs.”

I wouldn't characterize this as a long-standing tradition--morganobrien.com favorite Ron Rand ran Air Force Public Affairs until 2004. Nonetheless, you can understand how demoralizing this was for junior officers looking to excel, especially when the careerfield was being pillaged without prejudice:

The number of public affairs officers fell from 470 in 2005 to 246 today, a 48 percent reduction. He said it is too early to talk numbers, but some of those positions could be restored.

While this news would not have impacted my decision to leave, I can't help but smile to myself as the institution finally figured out what every junior officer facing force shaping knew to be true a couple years ago. It is a shame, though, that the service lost some solid PAO's due to lack of foresight.

4-star General, Ann Dunwoody

Congratulations to New Yorker (and fellow ROTC Grad!) Ann E. Dunwoody (Wikipedia bio, because the Army hasn't quite figured out how to organize flag officer bios), who smashed the "brass" ceiling to become the first female to earn the rank of full general (four stars) in the history of the greatest fighting forces that have graced this planet:

Dunwoody becomes first female four-star general

Nov 14 01:48 PM US/Eastern
By ROBERT BURNS
AP Military Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) - Call it breaking the brass ceiling. Ann E. Dunwoody, after 33 years in the Army, ascended Friday to a peak never before reached by a woman in the U.S. military: four-star general.

At an emotional promotion ceremony, Dunwoody looked back on her years in uniform, said it was a credit to the Army—and a great surprise to her—that she would make history in a male-dominated military.

"Thirty-three years after I took the oath as a second lieutenant, I have to tell you this is not exactly how I envisioned my life unfolding," she told a standing-room-only auditorium. "Even as a young kid, all I ever wanted to do was teach physical education and raise a family. (link)

In a male-dominated military that still makes things incredibly tough on women (and where I was often shocked to see that women are often the biggest hurdles faced by other women), today's a banner day. We all must accept that the armed forces will always be as imperfect as the people that comprise them. That said, for all the flaws of the military, it is great to see the military lead the way in yet another barrier shattered.

This week on Imus, CBS News anchor Bob Schieffer spoke of race relations in America and mentioned that having grown up in the segregated South, he hadn't so much as shaken hands with a black person (for lack of opportunity, not for lack of character) until he was in the Air Force. While this was a secondary point as he was trying to explain how far we've come as a nation, I couldn't help but take great pride in the fact that it was the egalitarian world of Air Force that exposed generations of Americans like Schieffer to the fact that we're all equal.

On this note, kudos to the Air Force on this recent Roll Call piece regarding the importance of diversity in uniform: (Link).

Putting the 'I' in UCI

It's been a while, but rest assurred, Morganobrien.com stands vigilant. After all the guff this guy gave me after my team owned our ORI in '06, I can't let this guy get his picture in the Hanscom paper reviewing an Inspection and allow it to go unchecked (I mean, I guess I could, but that wouldn't be very fun).

Plus, I'm sure he broke some sort of record by injecting himself and his experiences into the briefing--just look at the jacket he's rocking indoors; I know Mass. is chilly in Nov (I was up there this weekend), but spare us--so I'm compelled to recognize the effort:

UCI Outbrief
Brig. Gen. Voldemort, Electronic Systems Center vice commander, presents the results of the recent Unit Compliance Inspection and Targeted Readiness Inspection at the Hanscom Base Theater Nov. 10.

Morgan O'Brien's WIGO 11.13.08

In recent weeks, the Air Force has announced some exciting programs available for line officers/senior captains. Not enough to make me wish I was back, but very cool opportunities nonetheless.

First is the opportunity to work as a defense attache:

Apply now to work in U.S. embassies overseas

Want to trade your CONUS base assignment for something a little more exotic? The Air Force has the job for you.

The Air Force Personnel Center announced Wednesday that the Air Force is accepting applications until Dec. 5 from senior captains, majors and lieutenant colonels to fill various defense attaché positions. Officers selected for attaché duty will begin training for advertised positions in January 2010.

Air Force Times

And I love that they're allowing non-rated officers (and potentially enlisted personnel) fly UAVs:

Air Force creates new pilot programs for drones
By LOLITA C. BALDOR – Oct 23, 2008
WASHINGTON (AP) — Scrambling to meet commanders' insatiable demands for unmanned aircraft, the Air Force is launching two new training programs, including an experimental one that would churn out up to 1,100 desperately needed pilots to fly the drones over Iraq and Afghanistan.

As many as 700 Air Force personnel have expressed some interest in the test program, which will create a new brand of pilot for the drones, which are flown by remote control from a base in Nevada. That new drone operator will learn the basics of flying a small manned plane, but will not go through the longer, more rigorous training that their fighter jet brethren receive.
AP

In some bothersome news, guess who gets hurt by the latest shenanigans at Kirtland...leadership? No.

The folks at the Shandiin Child Development Center? Well, there bottom line will be hurt.

But the true victims are the hardworking men and women trying to make ends meet who'll no longer be able to conveniently drop their kids off in the morning en route to work or PT. No, now it looks like now they'll have to spend time searching out alternate, and most likely less convenient, daycare options. Talk about life being unfair. Thanks to an irresponsible few, the hardworking men and women of Kirtland and Sandia will now have to pay (that's Chaminade alum Dick Knipfing at the anchor chair):

Childcare center on base may close
Center must find new government sponsor by Nov. 20
Last Edited: Wednesday, 12 Nov 2008, 10:58 AM MST
Reporter: Maria Medina
Web Producer: Todd Dukart
KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. (KRQE) - A childcare center on Kirtland Air Force Base in Albuquerque may close at the beginning of the year unless a government sponsor steps in soon.

The Shandiin Development Center's previous sponsor pulled out after base security said marijuana and drug paraphernalia were found in the cars of three workers last month. KRQE

Finally, while I typically avoid nuke news for a variety of reasons, one line I read from an Albuquerque Journal article caught my eye as this week's unfortunate metaphor.

“I’m going to be the Wal-Mart for all nuclear weapons for the United States Air Force,” (Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center Commander Brig. Gen Everett)Thomas said.

Unfortunately, I'd say he isn't far off the mark, considering some recent headlines...

5th Bomb Wing flunks nuclear inspection
Malmstrom missile wing fails nuke inspection
Malmstrom AFB officer charged with sexual assault

Hopefully Gen. Thomas is something of a turnaround specialist, because he's got his work cut out for him:



With my greatest respect,
Morgan

Happy Veterans Day!

Me and Homer

Had the terrific honor of seeing our commander-in-chief rechristen the Intrepid today in New York Harbor. It was a fitting tribute to our nation's heroes.



Happy Veterans Day to all those who served. And in honor of the day, here's one of my favorite reflections:

It is the VETERAN, not the preacher,

who has given us freedom of religion.
It is the VETERAN, not the reporter,

who has given us freedom of the press.
It is the VETERAN, not the poet,

who has given us freedom of speech.
It is the VETERAN, not the campus organizer,

who has given us freedom to assemble.
It is the VETERAN, not the lawyer,

who has given us the right to a fair trial.
It is the VETERAN, not the politician,

who has given us the right to vote.

It is the VETERAN,
who salutes the Flag,
who serves under the Flag.

God Bless our Veterans.

New Rules for Veterans and Saluting

Over the next week, I'll pepper these pages with important information about veterans. Don't forget that next Tuesday is the 11th day of the 11th month.

(Ed's Note:This Veterans Day, I'm registered at Amazon.com and Neiman Marcus, for those of you keeping score at home.)

Here's some interesting news on new rules for saluting, which you might find handy at Yankee games...

10/31/2008 - WASHINGTON (AFNS) -- Veterans and servicemembers not in uniform can now render the military-style hand salute during the playing of the national anthem, thanks to changes in federal law that took effect in October.

"The military salute is a unique gesture of respect that marks those who have served in our nation's armed forces," said Dr. James B. Peake, secretary of Veterans Affairs. "This provision allows the application of that honor in all events involving our nation's flag." (link here)

Warning: Do not confuse these new regulations with how you're supposed to act during God Bless America at Yankee games:

Kirtland + Weed = Fun with kids

No commentary necessary:

Employees cited for pot at Kirtland daycare

The Associated Press
Posted : Thursday Oct 30, 2008 15:57:22 EDT

KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. — The Shandiin Child Development Center at Kirtland Air Force Base has been temporarily closed after three employees were cited for possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia.

Col. Michael Duvall, 377th Air Base Wing commander, and representatives from the National Nuclear Security Administration Service Center decided to temporarily suspended operations at the child-care center after the workers were cited Tuesday.
(more here)

The Sack Lunches

Got this story in an email today. I have to admit that I wanted to hate this, and still doubt the authenticity of this story. That said, I found myself getting choked up reading it.

There are many of us in uniform that have been the beneficiary of a free lunch or free drink. As vets, there's little more rewarding than paying that back. Being the both the donor and beneficiary of these random acts of kindness are terrific feelings.

Veterans Day is fast approaching. Remember those who served.

-----
I put my carry-on in the luggage compartment and sat down in my assigned seat. It was going to be a long flight. 'I'm glad I have a good book to read Perhaps I will get a short nap,' I thought.

Just before take-off, a line of soldiers came down the aisle and filled all the vacant seats, totally surrounding me. I decided to start a conversation. 'Where are you headed?' I asked the soldier seated nearest to me.

' Chicago - to Great Lakes Base. We'll be there for two weeks for special training, and then we're being deployed to Iraq '

After flying for about an hour, an announcement was made that sack lunches were available for five dollars. It would be several hours before we reached Chicago, and I quickly decided a lunch would help pass the time.

As I reached for my wallet, I overheard soldier ask his buddy if he planned to buy lunch. 'No, that seems like a lot of money for just a sack lunch. Probably wouldn't be worth five bucks. I'll wait till we get to Chicago '

His friend agreed.

I looked around at the other soldiers. None were buying lunch. I walked to the back of the plane and handed the flight attendant a fifty dollar bill. 'Take a lunch to all those soldiers.' She grabbed my arms and squeezed tightly. Her eyes wet with tears, she thanked me. 'My son was a soldier in Iraq ; it's almost like you are doing it for him.'

Picking up ten sacks, she headed up the aisle to where the soldiers were seated. She stopped at my seat and asked, 'Which do you like best - beef or chicken?'

'Chicken,' I replied, wondering why she asked. She turned and went to the front of plane, returning a minute later with a dinner plate from first class. 'This is your thanks.'

After we finished eating, I went again to the back of the plane, heading for the rest room. A man stopped me. 'I saw what you did. I want to be part of it. Here, take this.' He handed me twenty-five dollars.

Soon after I returned to my seat, I saw the Flight Captain coming down the aisle, looking at the aisle numbers as he walked, I hoped he was not looking for me, but noticed he was looking at the numbers only on my side of the plane. When he got to my row he stopped, smiled, held out his hand, an
said, 'I want to shake your hand.'

Quickly unfastening my seatbelt I stood and took the Captain's hand. With a booming voice he said, 'I was a soldier and I was a military pilot. Once, someone bought me a lunch. It was an act of kindness I never forgot.'

I was embarrassed when applause was heard from all of the passengers.

Later I walked to the front of the plane so I could stretch my legs. A man who was seated about six rows in front of me reached out his hand, wanting to shake mine. He left another twenty-five dollars in my palm.

When we landed in Chicago I gathered my belongings and started to deplane. Waiting just inside the airplane door was a man who stopped me, put something in my shirt pocket, turned, and walked away without saying a word. Another twenty-five dollars!

Upon entering the terminal, I saw the soldiers gathering for their trip to the base. I walked over to them and handed them seventy-five dollars. 'It will take you some time to reach the base. It will be about
time for a sandwich. God Bless You.'

Ten young men left that flight feeling the love and respect of their fellow travelers. As I walked briskly to my car, I whispered a prayer for their safe return. These soldiers were giving their all for our country. I could only give them a couple of meals.

It seemed so little...
----

And with that, here's a freaking awesome commercial:

Update: Perrys Trial Moved

An update to yesterday's story regarding the early leader in the search forWorld's Biggest (alleged) Creep/Scumbag 2008, former Air Force captain and bomber pilot John C. Perrys.


It was a pain in the ass finding a picture of this guy

(Gratuitous Ed.'s note: Perrys was a big search item driving traffic to morganobrien.com today, so I'm pandering for pageviews)

It seems that the Florida Panhandle's gossip mill couldn't keep quiet enough to merit keeping the case in Gulf County:

Judge to move Perrys trial out of Gulf County

PORT ST. JOE — Circuit Judge Keith Brace said Wednesday that Air Force Capt. John C. Perrys could not receive a fair trial in Gulf County.

"There's no way that I can, in good conscience, proceed further in an effort to seat a jury in this county," Brace said. He said he had a duty to the state and Perrys to ensure a fair trial. "That can't be accomplished here."

In this guy's defense, it appears that he's been waiting FOR-ever for a trial, which is kind of guaranteed under the constitution.

Perrys is accused of forcing his way into Gulf County Judge Fred Witten's home the morning of April 12, 2005, and attacking Witten's stepdaughter, Caroline Lister, with a metal baton.

That's three and a half years! And this should only add time to the guy's wait for a trial. Rest assured, dear readers, morganobrien.com will stay on the case.

One other aspect related to this case, but not the fault of Mr. Perrys is the media's inaccuracy in reporting the facts.

For instance, according to the media:

Mr. Perrys is either 32 or 33 (hint, he's 33).

But wait, there's more!

Mr. Perrys is either an Air Force captain and bomber pilot or former Air Force captain and bomber pilot (hint, he's a former AF captain).

While this is an incredibly serious issue, in an effort to bring some levity, I'll close this with a funny post I grabbed from the Military Times message board. I think it explains it all:

Shrike
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,928

Re: Capt. accused of attacking Ex-girlfriend

Let's get some of the moronic statements out of the way:

This happened under the fighter-pilot mafia; General Moseley was probably covering for this guy.

Did he ask for permission from a SNCO before assaulting the girl, because officers don't have any authority, they have to ask SNCOs before doing anything.

He must have been mentored by an NCO/SNCO, becuase an officer mentored by an officer would never do anything like this.

Sure, this guy gets thrown to the wolves while fancy-pants JILL METZGER is walking around FREE AS A BIRD!!!

Morgan O'Brien's WiGO 10.22.08

Sam Bradford: He's no Sonny Sixkiller

Native American Athlete Update

Had the chance to read another great article on a Native American athlete starring on the national level, this time Oklahoma stud soph QB Sam Bradford is in the spotlight, and is proving to be a huge hit within the Cherokee community:

Sooners’ Bradford Is Accidental Cherokee Hero
By THAYER EVANS
Published: October 11, 2008
Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford, who is one-sixteenth Cherokee, is at the forefront of the Heisman Trophy conversation, but he finds his role as the tribe’s hero somewhat awkward.

It looks like Nassau may have to halt the Wall of Shame:

Nassau removes Wall of Shame, Suozzi vows to appeal
BY ANN GIVENS | ann.givens@newsday.com
9:49 PM EDT, October 21, 2008
Nassau County took down its online "Wall of Shame" Tuesday, and from now on will post only the names and photos of those who are convicted of drunken driving, said County Executive Thomas Suozzi.

That's probably fair, considering the whole innocent until proven guitly thing the nation's built upon. I had a feeling that this was coming because 'Wall of Shame' + the name of the lady taking up the case was gettin a ton of hits on morganobrien.com. I figure council was doing research to see how her name was being used in light of her posting on the Wall.


I Hate Your Guts, Jim Norton

I'm excited about Jimmy Norton's new book, I Hate Your Guts, due out Election Day, Nov. Jimmy is an incredible comedian and was very gracious when he met me and Officer O'Brien after we caught a set at the Comedy Cellar. If I can find it, I'll post the photo he took with us.


In closing, a couple of notes for the dogs:

'Walter Reed' for combat dogs opens at Texas base
By MICHELLE ROBERTS – 10 hours ago

SAN ANTONIO (AP) — A new $15 million veterinary hospital for four-legged military personnel opened Tuesday at Lackland Air Force Base, offering a long overdue facility that gives advanced medical treatment for combat-wounded dogs.

And then there's this: further proof that when the chain of command fails, there's always the power of the press:

Sunday: Minnesota soldier's dog headed here from Iraq
Ratchet is finally headed to Spring Lake Park after three attempts to spring him from Iraq. Army Specialist Gwen Beberg found the mutt in a trash heap there in May.

We should give them Homer as a fair trade

And of course this, my favorite Web video of all time. Apparently, this is the welcome home received by a Tech. Sgt. who just spent the last fourteen months deployed:



As always,
With my greatest respect,
Morgan

I think this guy was my bunk mate at field training

But seriously, you have to love the headline of the story below--this dude's in the Air Force just as much as I am (they don't mention that until the last graf, of course).

However, violence against women maintains horrific levels for the military--a profession that provides itself on protecting people. So I don't mind stories like this falling under alarmist headlines, because it brings much needed attention to an unacceptable series of circumstances:

(Ed's Note: Typically, I won't name the accused, but this guy takes things to the next level in being a scumbag, so I'm making an exception)

Capt. accused of attacking ex-girlfriend

By Sam LaGrone - Staff writer
Posted : Tuesday Oct 21, 2008 12:02:36 EDT

An Air Force officer accused of hitting his ex with a collapsible baton and trying to shock her with a stun gun is awaiting jury selection for his trial in North Florida.

Capt. John C. Perrys, now 33, was arrested in 2005 for allegedly breaking into the home of Gulf County Judge Fred Witten and assaulting his step-daughter, Caroline Lister, when she stepped out of an afternoon shower.

According to police reports, Perrys was armed with a collapsible baton and a stun gun when he broke into the Port St. Joe house after cutting the brake lines to Lister’s car.

(Ed's note: Cutting the brake lines? How hack a scumbag is this guy?)

According to the affidavit from the police officer who responded to the call:

* Lister told police she had once dated Perrys, but they had broken up and he had been stalking her.

* A mask-clad Perrys burst into the bathroom wielding a baton and began hitting Lister.

* She screamed and ran from the house before Perrys could hit her with the stun gun.

(Ed Note: Come on dude, you need a freaking stun gun to take down a chick? You already beat her with a baton--this is not a guy I'd want next to me in a foxhole...Oh, wait, he was a pilot.)

* Lister’s cries alerted a neighbor who scared Perrys off with a shotgun blast in the air.

(Ed's Note: Checking dateline...North Florida...that explains the neighbor with the shotgun.)

* Perrys ran and chucked the baton in a garbage can before driving away.

Witnesses described the car to the police and Perrys was arrested at the gate of nearby Tyndall Air Force Base.

Perrys was wearing the same clothes he had during the alleged assault, blue jogging pants with white stripes, a camouflage shirt and white tennis shoes, according to authorities.

He was charged with one count of burglary, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and criminal mischief.

Perrys is currently in the inactive reserve (emphasis mine), according to records at the Air Force Personnel Center. At the time of the alleged attack, Perrys was assigned to Barksdale AFB in Louisiana.

Hook 'em Horns!

As a Notre Dame fan, I haven't had much to care about in recent years upon the announcement of BCS rankings. However, this year, I'm excited to see Texas at the top of the list (released today):

Poll Positions

The top five of the BCS standings released Sunday:
1.

2.

3.

4.

5.



For complete BCS standings, and AP and USA Today polls, click here.


In related news, I caught a little of the Texas-Missou butt whoopin' last night and was reminded of my favorite Longhorn, Defensive End Aaron Lewis. I had the pleasure of serving with Aaron's dad, Chaplain (Col.) Jerry Lewis, at Kirtland and wrote one of my favorite pieces on Aaron and his unique challenges faced as an elite athlete/military brat.

Ed's note: I have it on good authority that I'm not the only Catholic who held Chaplain Lewis in high regard...in fact, a certain priest I know still gushes over him to this day!



One of the neatest things I got to do in researching the article was interview former fighter pilot and Dallas Cowboy's defensive lineman Chad Hennings, who served as a mentor for Aaron. I just finished reading Jeff Pearlman's Boys Will be Boys, a startling account of the Dallas Cowboys of the early '90s. Pearlman singles out Hennings as one of the God-fearing good guys on a number of teams marked by debauchery.

From what I recall, he was incredibly gracious with me and happy to talk about Aaron. He lived up to the hype, and besides, I'll always be a fan of athletes who served.

I'll keep pulling for Aaron, who's a starter on Mack Brown's squad, and hope that they can pull it out over the coming months.

Anyway, here's my award-winning* piece:

Gridiron Glory and Praise
Faith, Family Drive Football Star

Decked out in his navy blue number 66 jersey, in hot pursuit of the quarterback, the defensive end busts through a futile attempt at a double team by the opposing offensive line.

The defensive end is Aaron Lewis, a senior at Albuquerque's La Cueva High School, a young man used to overcoming obstacles to not only reach opposing quarterbacks but to accomplish a host of lofty goals.

On Wednesday, the prestigious 2005 U.S. Army All American Bowl announced Aaron selection to the team.

As if punching his ticket to San Antonio for the U.S. Army All-American Bowl isn't challenging enough on its own- the game is considered the pinnacle of honors for high school football players- Aaron has overcome many obstacles as a "military brat."

Thanks to the career of Aaron's father, Chaplain, Lt. Col. Jerry Lewis, Aaron covers both the field and the map. Aaron has lived in 7 different places starting in Homestead, Fla.; with stops in Bentwaters, England; Colorado Springs, Colo.; Montgomery, Ala.; San Antonio, Texas before settling in his current home in Albuquerque.

When legs that squat 475 pounds and arms that dead lift 525 are coupled with the 4.6-second forty-yard dash closing speed of a sprinter and the sheer power of a 6'4", 260-pound frame, the defensive end has the God-given talents designed for catching quarterbacks-as he's done 46.5 times during his career.

The younger Lewis' physique isn't the only thing he considers God-given. Known for his pew-rattling sermons that drum up a chorus of "amens," Chaplain Lewis, a military brat himself, and understood the challenges his son faced. "Compared to Alabama and Texas, New Mexico is not exactly known for its football," said Chaplain Lewis. "Thankfully, God took care of all my concerns."

Chaplain Lewis is no stranger to athletic success, having played college soccer, basketball and track at Methodist College in Fayetteville, N.C. Methodist is where Chaplain Lewis met his wife and Aaron's mom, Debby-also a military brat.

Aaron credits his Christian faith as the key to his good fortunes on the gridiron. "When I found out that we were moving from Texas to NM, I relied upon faith," said Aaron. "My dad sat down with me and said, 'The lord has a plan for you, just go with it and everything will work out."

"That's the special thing about faith," said Aaron, "You believe in faith, you don't see it."

In an era where high school athletics are the end result of years of youth football and growing up in a system, Aaron moved to Albuquerque before his sophomore season, and was forced to play catch up.

Not only did he catch up, he quickly moved to the head of the pack, and has a strong support group at home that helped him make it happen.

While New Mexico may not be a high school football powerhouse, Aaron's La Cueva Bears team won the 2003 state championship with a 13-0 campaign, and looks likely to do the same in 2004 (the team is 12-0 heading into the state championship against Clovis tomorrow).

Running back to the sideline, number 66 doffs his silver helmet with interlocking "LC" on the sides, and turns to the crowd, searching for his mother. He finds her, and extends his pinky, index finger and thumb, sign language for "I love you," then he bends his thumb in, and flashes the "Hook 'em Horns" sign.

In addition to his faith, Aaron cites his family as the key to his success.

"Aaron has always set goals for himself," said Debby Lewis. "A division one scholarship was one of those goals."

While Aaron's size is currently a huge blessing, it hasn't always been-especially when he was a fourth grader forced to play with kids three to five years older than him in a weight-based Pop Warner football league.

One of Aaron's more recent goals has been selection to the Army All American Game, in which he wanted to play after seeing it on television (this year's game will be played on January 15 and will be aired on NBC).

"I'm so honored to be selected to the game," said Aaron. "There are lots of guys who bust their butts as hard as I do, when you realize that there are 1200 schools in Texas, that's at least 2,400 defensive ends in one state!"
"Some of (the moving) has been challenging, it's tough to enter a group of players who have spent years together. For the most part, I've enjoyed seeing new places and making new friends."

Sans helmet, his head covered by a navy blue 'do rag and his breath visible in the cool autumn air, the defensive end watches the fourth quarter from the sideline-his team pitching the ninth shutout of the season-shouting encouragement to his teammates and enjoying the fruits of his hard work.
Thanks to their travels, the Lewis family has surrounded Aaron with many strong role models.

"Aaron's a leader, and a great role model for a lot of young kids to look up to," said Chad Hennings, a former Air Force fighter pilot and Dallas Cowboy. "I talked with him about the importance of education, to go to a school where you're going to get the best education possible.

Hennings spent time with Aaron after meeting Chaplain Lewis "(U.S. Air Force Academy head football coach) Fisher DeBerry was also a tremendous influence on my football career," said Aaron. "He would let me hang around the team when I was younger and would always take the time to talk to me about my football career."
The elder Lewis became friends with DeBerry when he was the team Chaplain for the Air Force Academy Falcons.

"I also told him to trust the coaching staff-because that coach and that coaching staff is going to be your surrogate parents when your away from home, they're going to have to be of the same moral fiber of your parents."

When the defensive end returns home from the field, he does what every other red-blooded teenage boy does, turns on X-Box and plays the standards: Halo and Halo 2.

For now, Aaron looks forward to playing the game, "I'm excited to go and prove why I'm there. I feel like I have a lot to prove to the fans and people of Texas, and show that I'm ready to be a Longhorn"

-----
*2004 AFMC Best Sports Article

Morgan O'Brien's WiGO 10.14.08

Nassau is going to keep the Wall of Shame!

Nassau to Keep Posting D.W.I. Suspects’ Photos
By DERRICK HENRY
Published: October 12, 2008
Critics say it may be better to use a Web page intended to identify drunken drivers upon conviction, not arrest, suggesting the way it’s done now strips suspects of the presumption of innocence.

I think that this is a great tool, and any move designed to deter this behavior is fine with me. Anyone that gets on the road under the influence puts me in danger and that's not cool. That said, I feel for anyone that was wrongly arrested, and see the value in waiting until a conviction gained before posting.

Great to see that Bengal fans are not of the fair-weather variety

CINCINNATI -- Disappointed fans of the winless Cincinnati Bengals are trying to unload thousands of tickets for remaining home games, many of them well below face value.

The online ticket agency StubHub.com has 3,000 tickets for Sunday's game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. At least 4,000 tickets are available for each of the remaining games.

Some sellers don't care about making a profit. There are $64 tickets priced as low as $24.

Bootsy!

Personnel Shortfall Slows State Department

As if morganobrien.com didn't admire and respect the work of Defense Secretary Bob Gates enough, he goes and gets quoted in an article saying stuff like this:

Perhaps contrary to conventional wisdom, this is not a turf war the current defense secretary wants to win. Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates favors stronger State Department funding.

State Department "programs are not well understood or appreciated by the wider American public, and do not have a ready-made political constituency that major weapons systems or public works projects enjoy," he said. "As a result, the slashing of the president's international affairs budget request has too often become an annual Washington ritual -- right up there with the blooming of the cherry blossoms and the Redskin's opening game."

Basically, he's saying that compared with the Pentagon, State is the Rodney Dangerfield in international matters -- it gets no, or certainly too little, respect.

The article goes on to hilight an impressive stat: "If just one war per generation is avoided because of effective diplomacy, think of the savings it brings to the nation."

It's a diplomatic victory -- and not a military victory that could only be gained by the spilling of much blood.

Yet, at the same time, the Department of Defense has played an ever-increasing role in diplomacy, much to the dismay of diplomats.

"The 'militarization of diplomacy' is noticeably expanding as DOD personnel assume public diplomacy and assistance responsibilities that the civilian agencies do not have the trained staff to fill," the report says.

Now, if only we could ensure that guys who never deployed never wore stars...

Cowboys now have two Roy Williamses

Now, all they need is Carolina's head baseketball coach to complete the set!

And here's a neat article about the two from their college days on the warring sides of the Red River Rivalry (link).

And finally, please tell me you dig Nike's new LT/Polamalu Ecstasy of Gold commercial:

As always,

With my Greatest Respect,
Morgan

Return to Chapel Hill

Had the opportunity to return to Blue Heaven over the weekend to see the Notre Dame Fighting Irish square off against the Tar Heels of my alma mater, the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill.

In an exciting matchup, the Heels ended up edging the Irish by a 29-24 margin that came down to the final whistle.

As great as the game was, it was secondary to the sights and sounds of the game in making this a fulfilling experience.

The Kenan Stadium PA announcer, "The Voice of the Tar Heels" needs to buy professional strength afrin. His nasal intonations grated on my nerves. I wanted to stab my eardrums with a pen when he would say "First DOOOOOOWOWOWOWOWOWOWO
WOWNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN
CaroLIIIIIIIIIIIIIIINAAAAAAAAAAA"

There is nothing freakier than seeing fans decked out in Notre Dame gear and striking up a conversation with them only to get an answer in an accent straight out of Deliverance. "I'm from Albermarle...Some call it a sling blade, um huh. I like Jimmy Claussen."

Carolina football fans are a bigger wine and cheese crowd than our basketball fans. Seriously, we're the JV SEC when it comes to Southern football. Throughout the game, their ignorance of college football was readily apparent. Like when they demanded a roughing the kicker call when a Tar Heel player ran into their own kicker. Nice job.

Some gems from the obnoxious Carolina fan behind me:

1. "Go back to Raleigh!" To the ACC refs working the game, apparently they weren't partisan enough.
2. "And the Oscar goes to..." To the ND punter on a roughing the kicker call.
3. "Back to the North!" Anytime the 'Let's go Irish' chant started (get it? Let's go Irish... back to the North.)
4. "1861-1865; North 1, South 0" That was what Officer O'Brien said about the Carolina fan behind us.

Putting the exclamation point on Tar Heel Nation's poor performance was when fans threw lemons on the field as the last play of the game was being reviewed. Real classy.

GAME NOTES: Notre Dame integrated Kenan Stadium in 1953, it took the South a few years to catch up...I saw Hansbrough at Players Dance Club, but for some reason he wouldn't take a picture of me and the Victor brothers...Some girl on the line at Players thought Dash Victor (aka Mr. Jane Slater) was Spencer Pratt and asked for a photo with him:

Spencer!

In what happens to be the shock of the century, they closed BW-3 on Franklin Street...Blue Cups at He's Not Here are freaking big...The game started with a B-2 Flyover (probably piloted by an ND alum):

Neat Idea: Navyformoms.com

Visit Navy For Moms


In the last week, after walking off the 7 into Grand Central, I've seen a series of terriffic billboards touting www.NavyForMoms.com (I'll see if I can get some pictures). Later in the week, there were volunteers handing out postcards highlighting the site. While I don't think that this initiative is going to drive Navy recruiting through the roof, I realy like the concept and think it can only help.

As a former Ops Officer at the Albuquerque MEPS, I saw firsthand how hard recruiters work and the challenges the military faces in pitching the service to civilians (and by extension, parents of civilians). To help bridge this knowledge gap, the site has message boards to share information--there are common challenges that all military parents face--and room for blogs and online groups.

I enjoy the Navyformoms.com feature that provides some neat widgets (see above and below) you can download for Facebook or even your blog (like www.morganobrien.com !) and in that vein, I love how the Armed Forces are venturing into Web 2.0 and taking some chances with the Web.

(Although the Air Force's half-hearted, dip-the-toe-in-the-water ventures with their youtube.com/Airforcebluetube and official blog fall unfortunately fall way short of 'excellence in all we do'. The AF let's 22-year-olds fly F-15s, they shouldn't worry about Airmen use the Web.)

I know my parents didn't have any military experience before we joined and I've met my fair share of parents that are hesitant about sending their kids into a war-time military without fully understanding the warrior culture. Kudos to the Navy for scratching this itch. I'll be interested to see if it takes off--they're at 5,000 and counting--it was certainly worth trying.


Find more photos like this on Navy For Moms

Resisting the Temptation...

The picture, complete with half the rocket bearing "U.S. Air Force" markings, makes this story so much more enjoyable.

(Editor's note: I'm trying so hard not to make the obvious jokes here...I can only say that this reminded me of a certain commander that spoke of his certain "male" surgery in front of a wing officers call. I couldn't eat for the subsequent three days.)

Man's 'Viva Viagra' missile misfires in NYC court
NEW YORK (AP) — A court says a man's escapade in New York with a decommissioned missile emblazoned with "Viva Viagra" is a dud.

A federal judge ruled Wednesday that Arye Sachs' antics infringe on a trademark held by Pfizer Inc.

Sachs was ordered to stop displaying anything with Viagra logos.

He towed the 25-foot rocket last month to various spots in Manhattan, including Pfizer's headquarters.

His plan was to invoke Viagra while distributing politically themed condoms. The judge worried people would mistake the missile for a Pfizer-approved ad.

Sachs' phone rang unanswered Wednesday, and lawyers for Pfizer didn't return phone calls.

And here I am thinking Roger Clemens had the corner on being New York's Viagra Rocket.

Oh, and another great aspect of the story: the dude wears a flight suit:



Only in New York, kiddies. Only in New York.

No Way

Air Force launches 'BlueTube' site for online videos

0/2/2008 - WASHINGTON (AFPN) -- When you get an interesting or funny Air Force video in your e-mail, do you ever send it out to family, friends and co-workers?

Now the Air Force has its own channel, called AirForceBlueTube, for those videos on the popular video-sharing site YouTube.com.

"We wanted to have a one-stop shop to host those interesting or compelling clips people were making and sharing about the Air Force," said Paul Bove, the site administrator for AirForceBlueTube. "The site is a great way to share them with relatives, friends and co-workers. It also provides a new way to tell the Air Force story to the public."

Because videos are often large they can eat up a lot of valuable bandwidth, especially when they get forwarded to others, Mr. Bove said.

I love the idea, but would have recommended a different name. When I saw that they're calling the channel "BlueTube," I couldn't help but think that legendary gay porn director Blue Blake is pissed he didn't claim the name for his own use.

I was also upset by this:

"If anyone has a video they'd like to share with other people, all they have to do is send it to our office. If it's compelling, informative or funny without being unprofessional, we'll post it," Mr. Bove said.

If any of my dear leaders find their videos rejected (or deemed "unprofessional"), send them my way, and I'll post them on my own youtube channel, which heretofore has only hosted videos of Kid Rock and a possum I found on Rockaway Ave. (note: I'll also exercise some censorship here, I'm not going to post anything that's morally offensive, and reserve the right to define that however I wish.)

Air Force Heroes: James Meredith

Tonight's debate in Oxford, Mississippi, on the campus of Ole Miss will bring national attention to a place that has a notorious position in our nation's history of race relations.

On October 1, 1962, Ole Miss was integrated thanks to the courage of a black Air Force veteran named James Meredith, who faced some hellacious opposition to his presence on campus.

[Meredith's] enrollment, virulently opposed by segregationist Governor Ross Barnett, sparked riots on the Oxford campus, which required federal troops and U.S. Marshals, who were sent by President John F. Kennedy. The riots led to a violent clash which left two people dead, including French journalist Paul Guihard, 48 soldiers injured and 30 U.S. Marshals with gun wounds.

In spite of the obstacles, Meredith graduated on August 18, 1963, with a degree in political science and later earned a law degree from Columbia University.

Prior to attending Ole Miss, Meredith was an Airman. Between 1951 and 1960, he served, in Peru, Indiana at Grissom Air Force Base and in Japan.

James Meredith had joined the Air Force after high school. To him, this was the only way he would be able to receive the type of education he desired. After leaving the military, he realized that the only way he would be able to fulfill his craving for a good education was to go to college. He also realized that the same quality of education offered to white students was not available to him. There were black colleges available to him. He did not believe that black students were offered an education as good as white students were offered. He decided that the only place he could receive the education he wanted was to enroll in the University of Mississippi. (link)

Meredith's example is a terriffic display of the social mobility and countless opportunities the military can offer. When the right person puts on the uniform, the example of men like James Meredith shows that it isn't hyperbole (and one of the rare opportunities in life where this is true) to say that their potential is limitless. And institutionally, the opportunities and openness of the Air Force provided an unparalleled launching pad for Meredith's potential.

The Air Force had been recently established after World War II, and did not have the same legacy of racism as the other branches did. Meredith was sent to Japan shortly after joining the Air Force. In Japan, Meredith stated, he was never conscious of his racial identity as he was in the US. Meredith was amazed by the attitude of racial tolerance in Japan in the mid-1950s. Meredith spent lots of time following the news of racial strife within the US during the 1950s. He also began to study race relations while serving his military duty (link)

At the same time, the fact that Meredith was a veteran played an important role supporting his argument for admission into Ole Miss. Institutionally, the cache provided by the military--the simple fact that this American willingly served his nation for nearly a decade--transcended race.

Today, Meredith lives in Jackson, MS, with his wife. As Americans, we all take a moment to appreciate that the first black candidate for president will engage in a debate at Ole Miss-- which owes a debt of gratitude to the courage of one of the finest Americans to wear the Air Force Blue.

Morgan O'Brien's WiGO 09.26.08

Kudos again are due to Gen. Norton Schwartz, the Air Force Chief of Staff for some adroit handling of a tenuous situation.

Not only has Schwartz--along with new AF Secretary Donley--called out a number of flag officers for their recent failures in properly handling our nuclear enterprise, but he named names.

From working to reinstill pride in the service to actually holding people accountable Schwartz deserves credit for his clear understanding of his mandate for change. Regarding the nuclear enterprise, Schwartz' actions were impressive on a number of levels:

• Blame went where it belonged--to the top of the pyramid. Too often stories like this end up with blame laying with 18-year-old Airmen. That is ridiculous--THESE ARE NUCLEAR FREAKING WEAPONS! Blame belongs at the top. This is a zero-fail careerfield.

• AF.mil covered the story as a top story, ensuring that the service would not try to hide the warts (well, most of the warts) behind this less than flattering story.

• The Air Force Times had names and pictures. Nothing's better than seeing the mug shots of this lineup--it sends a clear message that accountability runs from top to bottom, and reinforces accountability throughout the chain of command.

For the record, here are the names and punishments of those officers (Gosh, I hope these megalomaniacs Google themselves and have to read this page. That would make my weekend):

The Air Force generals receiving administrative actions include:
* Lt. Gen. Kevin J. Sullivan, deputy chief of staff for logistics, installations and mission support, Air Force Headquarters;
* Lt. Gen. Michael A. Hamel, commander of the Space and Missile Systems Center;
* Maj. Gen. Roger W. Burg, commander, 20th Air Force, F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyo;
* Maj. Gen. Kathleen D. Close, commander, Ogden Logistics Center, Utah;
* Brig. Gen. Francis M. Bruno, director of logistics, Air Force Material Command, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio; and
* Brig. Gen. Arthur B. Cameron III, director of Resource Integration, Air Force Headquarters.

LTG Sullivan = PWND
On a related note, I really hope that FE Warren checks this page--Wyoming remains the lone state to not have visited www.morganobrien.com since we began tracking these things.

Again, this is a great direction, and this adept handling of a terrible situation is straight out of 12 O'Clock High.

Unfortunately, it looks like this vigilance must spread towards the area of protecting our women in uniform.

Two stories this week showed that there's a clear divide between where we're going and where we need to be:

Woman gets nearly $1 million in suit against Tyndall

A former civilian employee at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla., won nearly $1 million in federal court, as a jury was convinced that her on-base superiors passed her over for promotions in retaliation for testifying about gender discrimination.

Here's hoping that this case sets a clear precedent. Whistle blowers and squeaky wheels are too often tamped down for fear of retribution. It's great to see the Air Force get its comeuppance here.

Lt. describes alleged assault in nuke bunker

Now I think that the ballistic nuclear missile mission is incredibly important to our national defense and international relations efforts. At the same time, the job freaking sucks.

It is bad enough when you have to worry about sexual predators not only in the O'Club, but while you're behind an 8-ton blast door, the Air Force really does have some issues that need serious attention.

A lieutenant stationed at Malmstrom Air Force Base, Mont., testified Wednesday that a higher-ranking officer sexually assaulted her as the two operated a nuclear launch facility bunkered 30 feet deep in Teton County.

The hearing, held at Malmstrom, was to determine whether there is enough evidence against [redacted] to justify a general court-martial. Pitman is charged with aggravated sexual contact and conduct unbecoming of an officer.

In the wake of the Duke lacrosse case, I'll be careful about naming names in this instance. I do believe in innocent until proven guilty. However, if true, it sounds like this (alleged) creep was really a creep:

During the 72-hour period the two were stationed at the launch facility, the woman had another 12-hour shift alone in the bunker with [the alleged assailant]. She testified that during that time, [the alleged assailant] asked her to “pinky-swear” she wouldn’t tell anybody what happened.

Finally, on a lighter note, the Air Force now has an official blog. Yet, the service is so terrified of the truth and individual thinking (lagging behind the Army it so cheerily derides) that it BLOCKS ITS OWN BLOG FROM .MIL SERVERS!!!


No Trust!

Talk about wanting your cake and eat it too! The service wants to be hip and promote it's venture into Web 2.0, yet it doesn't trust our Airmen enough to take off the training wheels.

That's all for this week.

As always,
With my Greatest Respect,

Morgan

Meeting the Commander in Chief

This morning, President Bush spoke to the personnel of the U.S. Mission at a cozy reception held at the Waldorf. With Secretary Rice by his side, the president spoke briefly, thanking us all for our work and teasing his final address to the UN General Assembly, which he was to give later this morning.

The President then took a photo with children of Mission personnel (telling them to blame him for being late to school) and shook hands with mission staffers.

Despite repeated warnings to not ask for autographs, Mrs. Morganobrien.com took the bull by the horns and had the leader of the free world sign an official Rawlings baseball commemorating the last season of Yankee Stadium. Kudos to my better half for having the guts in the family.

(It should be noted that one of my all time favorite events at the Stadium was the 2001 World Series, when the president fired a strike to kick off Game 1.)

The President happily obliged, signing the ball and striking up a conversation about the Yanks with my Mrs. Just a terriffic moment, one we will never forget. Man, I'm a lucky guy.



ENDNOTE: I never had the opportunity to meet the President at Kirtland, despite serving as the base lead for a half dozen visits (I would say 'thanklessly' serving as base lead, but Junior Suminsby awarded me with the Air Force Achievement Medal for my efforts, which was pretty sharp and much appreciated). Nonetheless, I got his autograph: how you like them apples, Kirtland!!!

Gen. Schwartz is GANGSTER

I typically rush to judgment and I know it's still early in the game, but early reports are showing that Sec. Gates has the Midas touch. After sackign Moseley and Wynne, it looks like putting Gen. Norton Schwartz at the helm of the world's greatest Air and Space Force has been a stroke of genius.

You have to love how Norty decided to use the AFA to go Suge Knight on some punk ass retired generals:

What I think we need to avoid is to have Americans believe that their military leadership can be bought

I also think that sending pilots straight to UAV training before UPT is the right call, but I'm pissed that their bringing officers in off the line to fly UAVs. I missed that boat. It would be like playing video games all day for work--I was already a pro at doing that while I was in the Air Force.

Finally, I think his move to blues on Mondays was just the economic stimulus package needed by AAFES...more on uniforms later.

Schwartz was given the mandate for change and he's chosen to take the ball and run with it. Asa an organization clearly in need of an identity alteration, things are looking up in the early going.

Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday, United States Air Force. We've had a love-hate relationship over the last decade, but I can't help but always come to the conclusion that I'm a better person for having served. Even if you do stuff like this (link--biting my tongue).

PS- Happy birthday to the CIA and Joint Chiefs, as well. God Bless the National Security Act of 1947.

I think I just threw up in my mouth

I knew this day would come, I just never believed it:
Most Disappointing News EVER!!!

News Flash!

Oh, dear Lord

You gotta love the Air Force! I'm going to have nightmares about this happening...especially with you-know-who lurking. Interestingly, I didn't know Capt. Kibiloski, even within the small PA world. I'd love to know the whole story...

A welcome separation payment that wasn’t
A year later, DFAS tells captain to return $103K
By Bruce Rolfsen - Staff writer

An Air Force mistake cost Sharon Kibiloski $103,000.

When Kibiloski left the active-duty Air Force as a captain in spring 2007, she walked out with a $103,000 voluntary separation payment approved by the Air Force Personnel Center.

More than a year later, the Defense Department demanded the money back, claiming Kibiloski did not qualify for VSP.

Morgan O'Brien's WiGO 09.04.08

Military Blogging article from The Nation
Yet another reason to love Gen. Petraeus (and All-American fave, Bill Caldwell):

Lt. Gen. William Caldwell, who commanded the 82nd Airborne in Iraq, is calling for more soldier blogging. He argues that instead of blaming the media for negative war coverage, the military should "empower" soldiers to blog and interact directly with the public and the press--even if it leads to some critical stories. In a recent blog entry for Small Wars Journal, Caldwell noted that the military takes many risks on the battlefield but becomes risk averse in "the informational domain." Meanwhile, one of the most prominent military leaders, Gen. David Petraeus, has plunged into the blogosphere from Baghdad to the Beltway. Last year, he e-mailed the popular conservative blog Blackfive to publicly thank "milbloggers" for "accurate" reporting on "the situation on the ground" in Iraq, while crediting them for following "legitimate operational security guidelines."

I'm a huge proponent of the power of information. As I look to learn more about the Foreign Service, I've often searched blogs written by junior FSOs looking for information on the exam process and A-100. I think that the military would do well to promote this type of information exchange among troops looking to enlist and those preparing to deploy. Likewise, as I wrote a few months ago, part of this blog's mission is to hold our military leadership accountable during this period of tremendous importance.

It seems like those self-assurred leaders with the least to fear--heroes like Caldwell and Petraeus-- are the biggest proponents of this openness. Meanwhile, those that earned their rank through less-than-heroic circumstances hit this site, well, we'll continue to keep an eye on you.

This headline needs a play on X-Files or something hacky like that
Thoughts and prayers are going out to Fox Mulder himself, David Duchovny, as he battles addiction. I thought this fantastic Newsweek article explained the fascinating concept and realities of sex addiction rather well.

New 2008 NFL Rules
As the NFL season kicks off tonight, I am using this as a shameless opportunity to nab some hits. New rules for the 2008 NFL season include:

A communication device is now allowed in the helmet of one defensive player.

Teams that win the coin toss can now defer until the second half.

Unless literally carried out by a defensive player, receivers must land with two feet inbounds for a completion.

The five-yard face mask penalty for incidental contact with the facemask was eliminated. Any twisting, grabbing or illegal use of a facemask will result in a 15-yard penalty.

and finally...

Jack Link's Beef Jerky has some funny f'ing commercials





With my greatest respect,
Morgan

Morgan O'Brien's WiGO 08.27.08

Great article from Rolling Stone on a decade of Lebowski
(Link)
Like a lemming, I came to Lebowski much too late. However, thanks to the miracle of Digital Video Disc (DVD) technology, I've been able to enjoy the film time and again. Likewise, Lebowski introduced me to the White Russian, my favorite winter drink.

Biden's Son to Deploy
(Link)
When elected officials like Ike Skelton, Duncan Hunter and Jim Webb talk about the Iraq war, I listen. These men have a little more investment in the issue because they have children who are in uniform who have deployed.

Adding a little spice to the 2008 presidential race comes the news that Senator Biden's son Beau (their names rhyme), will deploy as a JAG with the the 261st Signal Brigade. This comes at a time when Senator John McCain's son, Jimmy, is a U.S. Marine who has served in Iraq.

While the distinct lack of veterans in Congress is problematic, having outspoken elected officials fully invested in the process thanks to family service is a good thing. I'm a believer that Harry Wales service for Britain was a great thing, for this exact reason: amongst all uniformity and standardization, a single soldier can be a symbol for their nation.

Passing the Foreign Service Oral Assessment
Monday, I was fortunate enough to complete the run of the gambit that is the Foreign Service Officer selection process. It was a long process, but I'm thrilled with the results. More on this as Mrs. Morganobrien.com and I continue through the decision making process.

In the meantime, I found the following on-line information rather helpful in keeping me informed throughout the process:

The State Department's Web site has great information outlining the process.

The Foreign Service Journal ran this article (link), which in my opinion was the most comprehensive piece on the subject.

And both the New York Times and Washington Post recently ran interesting pieces on the subject.

Working at the US Mission gave me tremendous access to a number of FSOs, whom I could hound on a daily basis for info and insights. For those of you that don't have a daily interaction with our nation's diplomatic corps, Yahoo! has some great, semi-sanctioned user groups that provide a terriffic virtual world for knowledge sharing regarding both the written and oral exams

Some other blogs have some great info on the process, like:

Biesnicker.com

Life After Jerusalem

Satire Report

More on this surely to come...

With my greatest respect,
Morgan

Minot: Incredible

Does anything go right at this base?

Pit bull bites child at Minot
The Associated PressPosted : Wednesday Aug
20, 2008 18:37:31 EDT

MINOT, N.D. — Officials at Minot Air Force Base say they’re reviewing the pet policy for military housing after a pit bull bit a toddler. Maj. Elizabeth Ortiz, a base spokeswoman, says the 16-month-old boy wandered near the pit bull’s newborn puppies on Aug. 13, and the dog responded by biting the child (more).

Dog bites man, not a story. Pit bull mauls toddler, now there's your headline!

Morgan O'Brien's WiGO

I think it's important to highlight the glaring flaws of the Air Force, but at the same time I think I'd sacrifice credibility if I didn't point out some successes. For instance, the Air Force is leading the way in finding renewable and alternative energy to power the mission, and should be commended.

Government Exec did a nice piece on this. On the flip side, it's important to note that the man spearheading much of this effort, former Air Force Logistics Chief Bill Anderson, retired in the wake of the Moseley and Wynne resignations/firings.

I also thought that Air Force internal public affairs functions could learn from an awesome interview conducted with Brig. Gen. Cecil Richardson, the Air Force chief of chaplains.

The whole "prostheletyzing" thing has hung over the service for a few years, and I can understand the uncomfortability that non-Christians [to include Catholics :)] might feel because of the religious undertones that pervade the service. At the same time, the chaplains I worked with were incredibly valuable and important to the mission, and the service would be at a humungous loss without them.

That said, there's certainly some concern, and no shortage of outspoken critics. I think the interview conducted by Richardson (who's a helluva talker) with Air Force Times really knocked the issue out of the park. If there was a way to empower NCOs/jr. enlisted/jr. officers to ask these direct questions in a public affairs setting, maybe AF Link would be worth reading. Maybe the key is to outsource this function to out-of-chain civilians who wouldn't feel stifled or outranked in this situation, a la Stars and Stripes.


And for the fun stuff:


Air Force Botched Officer Separations: This feels like going to a casino where you always lose, hitting it big at a slot machine, finding out that the slot machine was broken and ultimately getting to keep the money because there's nothing the casino can do about it.


At the same time, Slates Fred Kaplan shares with us, how the Air Force also Botched Officer Promotions. I bet you-know-who is happy he's in the Air Force and not the Army. Sounds like careerist ass-kissers that haven't rolled around in the sandbox aren't having an easy time in our sister service.

More on this topic--one that deserves further analysis-- later.

For now, and as always....With my Greatest Respect,

Morgan

Finally Jealous of Kirtland

Shortly after I escaped Kirtland Air Force Base and the clutches of the evil Col. Voldemort (almost two years ago, if you can believe it) to work at the Albuquerque Military Entrance and Processing Station, Gen. Peter Pace, then the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, visited the troops at KAFB. I couldn't bring myself to go back to the base for the event (see photo above), yet was ticked off that I missed it.

Thankfully, my prestigious status as a distinguished Chaminade alumnus rectified that 11 months later:

Suck on that, 377th ABW!!!

I got mines, and was thrilled that the old place didn't have anything to hold over my head. That all changed when I read this; dang it, I think there's actually something about the old place that has me at least a little bit envious:

Rankin, however, did confirm that “Terminator Salvation” was shooting at Hangar 333 on Friday. It’s near the Albuquerque Sunport runway, but it’s on Kirtland’s flight line. The hangar is part of the 58th Special Operations wing, which flies the high-tech V-22 Osprey helicopters.

Bale has been in Albuquerque for months working on “Terminator Salvation,” the fourth film in the Terminator franchise. He plays John Connor. The film is being shot mostly at Albuquerque Studios at Mesa del Sol.

I was tipped to this from an US Magazine piece.  Man, that would have scored some points with the old lady.  Getting to comment (and possibly work with) the Patrick Bateman while making the new Terminator flick at my old stomping grounds? That's freaking ridiculous. I would kill (no pun intended) to hang out with that guy.

Hey, you can't win 'em all, maybe he'll visit the UN or something some time. One can always hope...

With my greatest respect,

Morgan

Top photo: Tech Sgt. Cecilio M. Ricardo Jr.

Nothing Says "True Love"...

I get the point of this story, and I think there's a time and a place for love stories--especially regarding the military-- it just struck me as odd at a few points, entering the TMI zone:

Ed’s plane was shot down over Vietnam in 1968. He spent five years enduring torture and eating bread smattered with rat feces in North Vietnam. Suzanne, sure he was dead, mourned and reluctantly moved on.

Nothing says "True Love," like bread smattered with rat feces.

And the story again ventured into the weird zone here:

He was kept largely alone. He would prick his wrist with small pieces of bamboo and scrawl messages to his fellow POWs on rough toilet paper with his own blood: “Don’t let the bastards get you down.” “Hang tough.”

On Friday, he pointed to the white specks beneath his wrist watch. “That was my inkwell,” he said.

That kind of reminded me of the famed comic book of Kiss lore.

A final oddity of the piece surrounded bad timing, in a divinely antagonistic set of circumstances, both missed marriage by a week:

As it turned out, Ed came home from Vietnam just six days after Suzanne had married another man. “Boy, were we all surprised,” Suzanne said. “It wasn’t pleasant. I was married for 10 years. I knew right after the marriage occurred that it was a big mistake. I committed, so I stayed in it.”

Ed went to law school and worked as an insurance fraud prosecutor in Austin, Texas.

Suzanne and her first husband had two children. But the marriage ended in the early 1980s. Suzanne sent a letter to Ed’s sister, saying she’d made a terrible mistake, that she still wanted Ed in her life. It’s now known as the “letter from hell.”

Ed was to be married six days later. When he learned that Suzanne had reached out, he stopped the wedding plans and rushed to see her. But he couldn’t believe this was happening and dismissed it all as a fairy tale.

A unique, newsworthy story. It certainly shows how love sometimes works in the wackiest ways.

The Air Force Academy Explained in a < 1 Min YouTube Clip

Enjoy:

Support a Great Cause

Our friends at AFBlues.com are honoring the memory of our fallen comrade, SSgt. Chris Frost, with a phenomenal commemorative coin, the proceeds from which will go to support Frost's young  children,  Mitchell and Mackenzie.  More from AFBlues:

The whole thing is antique silver, and has a shiny coat of epoxy that only covers the inner circles, which is unique. The front side features, in all his comic glory, Chris, smiling like he often did and wearing the exact same uniform he does in the strip. At the top, contained within a black ring, his rank and name are represened, with staff stripes on either side. At about the 8, 6 and 4 o’clock positions, respectively, it says “Father,” “Son” and “Friend.”

Flip it over, and the black ring has been replaced by a blue one filled with stars. Inside, each branch of military service currently serving in Iraq and Afghanistan is represented, and an American flag at half-staff pays neverending tribute beneath the following inscription:

“Forged in the memory of United States Air Force Staff Sergeant Christopher Frost and all others who are called home before they leave the war.”

You can put this coin in your collection and be proud of the fact that you helped two young children know how much their father meant to his brothers and sisters in arms, or those he fought to keep free

Buy the coin/make the donation here.

I had the honor of serving with Chris at Kirtland, and had a lot of fun with his dry sense of humor.  Frost was a Hell of a guy, a fantastic NCO and a good friend and it was heart-wrenching to learn of his way-too-soon demise.  More on his story here.

The Military: Patron of Athletes when Convenient

Olympian Lt. Col. Dominic Grazioli is all business

Adm. Mike Mullen came out this week to honor our military Olympians, who'll double down on their American service at the Beijing Olympics, representing the stars and stripes in sports from track and field to Greco-Roman wrestling to marksmanship.

This is great, we should all take tremendous pride in our servicemembers; and these military Olympians cast a terrific spotlight on the armed forces.

However, the hypocrisy of our senior leaders again rears its ugly head. Mullen clearly recognizes the value added to public outreach by these elite athletes (including United States Military Academy cadet Stephen Scherer), but the DoD is still out of touch with maximizing its potential on this front.

According to current Army 2nd Lt. Caleb Campbell, a former NFL hopeful with the Detroit Lions after he was drafted in the seventh round out of the USMA, West Point wanted him to play for the Lions. That was before the DoD ripped those dreams from him in a last-minute policy change.

In my opinion, the case of Campbell probably hinged on some well-placed bureaucrat in the Pentagon that had some personal vendetta/motivation and just enough juice to quash Campbell's NFL dreams. Them's the breaks in the military, where one person can hold just enough power to turn the screws. Campbell has since been reassigned as an assistant coach for the gridiron squad of the Black Knights of the Hudson.

While the odds are slim (what am I saying, it will never happen) there's still time to do the right thing. If the DoD can change it's mind on Campbell once, then perhaps in the spirit of the Olympic Games, cooler heads can prevail. Let him play.

That said, the Olympics should be a terrific show, and the perfect opportunity to highlight everything that's great about our nation. Americans should also take pride in our freedoms, particularly as the crackdowns by the Chinese government on the press continue to gain steam(Free FireJoeMorgan.com!) over the coming weeks. We'll be watching.

Represent us well in Beijing, Team USA!

-- Air Force Capt. Eli Bremer, modern pentathlon;
-- Air Force Capt. Seth Kelsey, epee fencing;
-- Air Force Capt. Kevin Eastler, 20-kilometer race walk;
-- Air Force Lt. Col. Dominic Grazioli, trap shooting;
-- Army Staff Sgt. Dremiel Byers, Greco-Roman wrestling;
-- Army Maj. Michael Anti, air rifle;
-- Army Staff Sgt. Keith Sanderson, rapid-fire pistol;
-- Army Pfc. Vincent Hancock, skeet;
-- Army Sgt. 1st Class Jason Parker, air rifle;
-- Army Staff Sgt. Daryl Szarenski, free pistol;
-- Army Spc. Walton Glenn Eller III, double trap shooting;
-- Army Spc. Jeffrey Holguin, double trap shooting;
-- Army Staff Sgt. Libby Callahan, pistol shooting;
-- Retired Army Sgt. 1st Class Bret E. Erickson, trap shooting; and
-- U.S. Military Academy Cadet Stephen Scherer, air rifle.

Campbell Photo courtesy Bleacher Report.com

What a difference a year makes

It's been a year since I last reported for duty as an active-duty Airman, and what an eventful year it's been! New York's been a great time so far, I've worked with some incredible people, supported a phenomenal mission, caught up with some old friends and watched a Hell of a lot of the Yankees.


So here's to a year of freedom! I've never regretted my decision to leave, but I'll forever take the utmost pride in the fact that I was fortunate enough to wear the uniform of the world's greatest air and space force.


At the same time, there isn't a day that passes where I fail to remember those in uniform, still fighting the good fight:

• No excuse: Military women should never be in such a position and the solution must come top down. We need stronger leaders that are not misogynists, that can control themselves around young women (and you know who you are) and actually create safe environments. When our female warriors need to worry more about their fellow servicemembers than the enemy, there's a real problem that requires immediate attention. Of course, it's easy for me to take this stance on such an obvious issue, but in the military culture, I wasn't brave enough to stand up to this injustice. I regret not speaking out more when, in my opinion, I saw the roots of this in action at Kirtland. While I never saw a woman assaulted, there was clearly an old boys network that sowed the seeds of this culture. That black mark stays with me.
• Well, at least the Pentagon's putting it's best foot forward to rectify this. Or maybe not. (incredible)
• And keep the families of Lt. Col. Thomas Bouley, the crew of the B-52 that crashed off the coast of Guam, the 10 servicemembers killed in Iraq and Afghanistan this month.
• Take a moment to read this piece on fallen warrior Dustin Canham, the brother of Oregon State catcher Mitch Canham.
• This is beginning to get ridiculous.

And Rome Continues to Burn

And the week begins with a bang:

An apparent general officer suicide

A top civilian loudly resigns

Another top civilian resigns (a little more quiet)

Four Hill Airmen allegedly tied to attempted homicide

For those of you interested in the sugar-coated half truths: http://www.blogger.com/www.af.mil(Do yourself a favor and read the AF-sanctioned version of those stories, the differences are borderline insulting).

This is a sinking ship--we're a wartime Air Force and the leaders that stick around can't bail water fast enough. Gen. Schwartz and Sec. Donley certainly have their work cut out for them. On the bright side, there's only one way for this to go, so they have that going for them.

Is it Tuesday yet?

This is Crap

It doesn't take a former military Public Affairs Officer to recognize that the story of Caleb Campbell was a coup for the Army. He was followed by ESPN on draft day, supported by servicemembers at home and abroad and was the picture-perfect recruiting poster soldier for a wartime military that's always seeking good stories.

Leave it to the military to ruin a good thing:

Army orders Lions draft pick Campbell to withdraw
By LARRY LAGE, AP Sports Writer

ALLEN PARK, Mich. (AP)—Caleb Campbell was a day away from practicing with the Detroit Lions and taking a step toward his dream of playing in the NFL.

“He was issued a helmet, ready to go,” coach Rod Marinelli said Wednesday.

Now, Campbell is closer to joining his fellow West Point graduates in Iraq or
Afghanistan.

The hypocrisy here is incredible. The military clearly recognizes the value added to recruiting from news-gathering soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines. How else would you explain the World Class Athlete programs or the Thunderbirds, Golden Knights or Blue Angels (or even the Tops in Blue).

The fact is that soldiers like Campbell are much more valuable to the Army in Detroit, playing for the Lions, than they are serving as another Joe in the field.

A couple observations:

• The Olympics will showcase soldiers on the marksmanship teams that do not have to deploy. The New York Times did a nice job covering these elite shooters.


• The Olympics will showcase an Air Force officer, Capt. Kevin Eastler, who's a racewalker.


• The Olympics will showcase at least one soldier, Sgt. Dremiel Byers, who's a Greco-Roman wrestler.


• The Air Force couldn't do enough stories about Bryce Fisher, a reserve captain who moonlighted as a Seattle Seahawk defensive end in the 2002 Super Bowl.


• An Annapolis Midshipman turned St. Louis Cardinals draft pick, Mitch Harris, didn't get the same treatment as Campbell initially did (or David Robinson or Napoleon McCallum did), and must serve his full, five-year commitment.


• Why hasn't anyone interviewed the McCain campaign about this policy? He and potential Obama running mate Sen. Jim Webb dealt with this same issue regarding the status of Robinson and McCallum. It'd be an interesting story to break from the campaign monotony.

Anyone in uniform can and should respect this special treatment. I bet most would be proud of guys like Campbell and Harris as they pursue stardom. I am and would be if I were still in uniform. Whenever their names show up in ink, they'll always be preceded by the words "West Point gridiron standout," or "Former Annapolis star pitcher." You cannot buy that kind of publicity.

At the same time, show me the warfighter that won't root for his comrades in Beijing. You can't, because there's nothing more patriotic than hearing the Star Spangled Banner on the medal stand; and when the gold goes to a military man or woman, it means that much more. Again, first-rate PR on a global stage when we need it most.

I recognize the armed forces are an egalitarian world, blind to race, class, culture or creed. That's a huge part of why we're so successful. At the same time, the military should do a better job as a meritocracy, and embrace the special talents of its individuals. Sometimes everyone can share in the success of a few.

I'll never view Maverick Quite the Same

What TOP GUN is really about by Quentin Tarantino

I'd never seen this movie, Roger Avery's Sleep With Me, although I've heard this argument before. Never quite as well as Quentin presents it, though. It's hard to argue with his logic.

In related (and not quite as entertaining) news:

Hearing to tackle gay policy

By Andrea Stone - USA Today
Posted : Tuesday Jul 22, 2008 16:43:55 EDT

Democrats in Congress hope to ignite debate about the military’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy Wednesday with the first hearing on the subject since 1993, when President Clinton said gays could serve in uniform if they kept quiet about their sexual orientation (continued).

It's a sin the military fails to live up to a proud heritage of tearing down barriers. We led the way in integration--Jackie Robinson was an Army lieutenant before he stepped on a Major League diamond--and should lead the way here. Wherever you stand on the issue--whether it's biological (as science seems to believe) or by choice (as Tarantino seems to believe)-- turning away patriotic, capable, able-bodied men and women because of who they are or what they believe is a shame, an oversight only magnified during wartime.

Air Force Continues to Steal Headlines

Thursday afternoon, the official Web site of the Air Force trumpeted the arrival of "offices in the air," placing this story as the lead on the 7-million-visitors-per-week page.

Air Force officials buy 'offices in the air'

WASHINGTON (AFPN) -- Air Force officials recently approved the purchase of pallets that will provide work and rest areas for senior leaders traveling aboard mobility aircraft. The service is purchasing two types of removable mobile command workspaces for use by military and senior civilian leaders who are required to use military aircraft for travel. One is the Senior Leaders In-transit Conference Capsule, or SLICC, and the other is the SLIP, or Senior Leaders In-transit Pallet.

"Typical Air Force," I thought to myself. Only my service would celebrate this airborne luxury while our fighting men and women (to include numerous brave Airmen, both enlisted and junior officer) are in the sh!t, fighting.

Thankfully, the Washington Post thought the same thing, and covered the story on A01:

Terrorism Funds May Let Brass Fly in Style
The Air Force's top leadership sought for three years to spend
counterterrorism funds on "comfort capsules" to be installed on military planes that ferry senior officers and civilian leaders around the world, with at least four top generals involved in design details such as the color of the capsules' carpet and leather chairs, according to internal e-mails and budget documents.

In a true, Profiles in Courage moment, the Air Force ripped down the story from http://www.af.mil/. Go ahead, I dare you to find it on the site or via the site search function. Fortunately, this is the same service that kept pictures of everyone's favorite colonel up well into his headline-stealing court martial. And don't worry, I saved a copy of the page.

This is incredible. Let's put this in perspective: someone in SAF/PA actually thought that this was noteworthy enough to lead the official Air Force Web page, and spawned an A01 Post story that causes the AF to pull the piece. That's a HUGE swing and miss. The last thing the AF needs is this kind of press.

More from today's Post:

A military officer familiar with the program, speaking on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak about it, likewise said that its extravagance has provoked widespread contempt among lower-ranking Air Force personnel. "This whole program is an embarrassment," the officer said, particularly because transport seating for troops en route to the battlefield is in his view generally shoddy.

It' s no secret what I think about certain Air Force leadership, so this is only par for the course. You grow to expect this after a while.

As one of my former fellow Airmen recently wrote,

"I have to admit, when I heard about those to jack-asses getting the boot,
I had to chuckle a little. They f-d everything up when they started
cutting good people to buy a couple more jets. Now we're knee deep in a
war that requires leaders, not planes, and they are undermanned."

I also think that this is the tip of the iceberg. While I was on active duty, rumor had it that while at Scott AFB, Gen. McNabb gutted his C-21 (executive transport/military Lear Jet) and retrofitted it with various outlandish upgrades (leather interior, there was word of an in-flight bar). If true, there's much more here. Hopefully, the Post has only scratched the surface and continues to pursue reporting on unnecessary excesses.

Good Things DO Happen!

You know how some times in life the worst people always seem to get over? (Sec. Gates, you're doing so well, why this???)  You know what I'm talking about?  For some reason, the Air Force really hammered this possibility home.  Multiple times.  Over and over again.  To the point it was almost insulting (Not as insulting as how fabricated that story is, UGH-Ed.)

Thankfully, my faith in humanity is restored as the first female Thunderbird pilot, Maj. Nicole "FiFi" Malachowski (Hell of a story behind that call sign), earned a White House fellowship!

As an aside, the White House Fellowship is as big as it gets.  My Air Force idol, Lt. Gen. Frank Klotz, was a fellow after he was a Rhodes Scholar.  My State Department idol, Colin Powell, was also a Fellow.  The program is truly a murder's row of leaders.

I had the pleasure of taking Nicole and her fellow Thunderbirds to an Albuquerque Isotopes ball game when they came out to Kirtland for the 2006 Air Show.  She was first class, a beauty outside and in, as she gracefully answered all my questions asinine ("Would you get fired if you flew your F-16 through the Gateway Arch?")  



She had a touching story about an old friend from Long Island that passed away too young, and was incredibly down to Earth for such a groundbreaking woman and officer.

Way to go, FiFi!  You keep making your nation proud.

Breaking the Century Mark

Dear Readers,

Yesterday we reached a major milestone, surpassing 100 posts on this, my passion project. I want to thank the dozens of you that take the time to read this and hope that we grow together as we strive for 1,000 posts! If you keep reading, I'll continue my unabashed commitment to celebrating the First Amendment.

Now as I continue to develop and refine www.morganobrien.com, I do harbor one gripe. I wish that folks would quit ducking interview requests. Like this person (who will remain unnamed), from Kirtland Air Force Base that received an email from me on June 30 and proceeded to check out the site without ever so much as acknowledging my request. I'm beginning to take this personally.



Undaunted, I remain steadfast. God bless you, dear readers and God Bless the U.S. of A (and the Yankees).

Yours,
Morgan

Captain Morgan Was Real, Damnit

I read on AOL today that "Captain Morgan was real"

Tell me something I didn't know. In addition to this:
-----
Captain Morgan
The real Captain Morgan never made a drop of rum--the brand was launched in the U.S. in 1983--but he did drink himself to death after a depraved life of piracy. Captain Henry Morgan razed cities, tortured locals into giving up their gold, and sexually assaulted women during the 1671 sacking of Panama City. Today, the rum named in his honor is the world's third-best seller, behind Bacardi and Tanduay.
------
There's also Captain Morgan 2.0:

Now if you told me that there was a pirate named "Colonel Dickhead," then I'd be impressed...

In Memoriam, 7 RDF Troops Killed In Darfur

I read a sad bit of news today about the deaths of 7 troops of the Rwandan Defence Forces supporting a UN mission in Darfur.

7 peacekeepers killed in ambush in Darfur
By MOHAMED OSMAN and MAGGIE MICHAEL – 2 hours ago
KHARTOUM, Sudan (AP) — In a brazen attack on horseback and from SUVs mounted with anti-aircraft weapons, some 200 gumen ambushed peacekeepers from a joint U.N.-African Union force in Sudan's Darfur region, killing seven in fierce battles that lasted more than two hours, U.N. officials said Wednesday. (continued)

Typically, this news would be another blip on the radar screen, but I had the honor and pleasure of serving on a team responsible for transporting a number of RDF troops back almost exactly 2 years ago (story here). We didn't have much interaction with them, but language and culture barriers aside, their troops were no different than ours, proud and playful and anxious about deploying into the unknown. It was remarkable to see how far Rwanda had come in the 11 years since the genocide.



I hope these seven men are remembered as heroes in their native land. They were standing up to the crime that destroyed their own country, nobly attempting to prevent these heinous acts from occurring again on African soil.



Photo Credit to Brad Church, a Hell of a photographer and even better Airman.

Yanks making me flip my lid!

Despite the fact that the Yanks made a bunch of bums like Kevin Millwood and Oliver Perez look like Drysdale and Koufax over the past few days, even the bumbling New York Americans will look sharp over July Fourth Weekend because of these:

According to ESPN's UniWatch, all MLB squads will sport these hats over the weekend and again on September 11.  This is part of an MLB initiative honoring troops returning home from Iraq and Afghanistan.  

And since I love our troops and now look like this:

(I now find myself having my first bad hair days in 11 years, and actually enjoy wearing a cap from time to time); I have ordered mine (size 7 1/2, backordered until Friday).

For additional details and some fair and pointed questions, visit the UniWatch blog here.

Go Yanks, beat the Sawx!  And happy birthday, proud Long Islander Ronnie Kovic!  

Interesting Blog Post

Take a look at this:

THANKS FOR THE CALL COLONEL - WELL MAYBE NOT

If true, this is very thought provoking. (I'm talking about Col. Robert "Junior" Suminsby calling a blogger on a Sunday morning to discuss a post. ) As a disclaimer, I served under Col. Suminsby at Kirtland, and found him to be a first-class man and excellent leader although I never got a read on how he thought of me (I imagine the waters were muddied by he whose name shall not be mentioned, Col. Voldemort) .

I've certainly thought about this, and like Bruce, I'm an Air Force vet who truly values freedom. However, career officers that have made it to the top echelons have a taste of unchecked power--at least within their commands. Enter the Internet, which represents a whole new ballgame.

Some leaders have had the opportunity to get away with things in the past that now might not fly in the egalitarian world of the blogosphere. The connectivity, anonymity and equanimity of the Internet now opens up these men and women to criticism never before seen.

Clever E-3's that have access to Web site and a DD-214 in hand can turn around and find an audience while critiquing their former leadership without fear of NJP or retribution. While I haven't done much searching, I think I'll take a look at AF blogs in the coming days to see what's been said about Moseley and Wynne. And I bet that one Colonel at Sheppard is probably being ripped to shreds...you know the one I'm writing about.

I don't think that this is necessarily a bad thing--although folks tend to turn the Internet into a giant smear fest, and I hope things don't devolve too quickly. As long as some attention is paid to journalistic standards and a strict adherance to applicable libel laws is maintained, this just might work.

I'm beginning to think that my blog will continue to cross into the blue, covering Air Force issues. In doing so, I'll be interested in seeing how this new world progresses. With this in mind, I recognize that it's always easier to tear things down than to build them up. One pledge I'd like to make here is that I'll always sign my name to my posts, and will always seek opportunities for praise and avoid negativity at all costs (well, unless I'm writing about Col. Voldemort).

That said, my purpose in posting this is more about the thought-provoking nature of this alleged incident, and not to critique anyone's actions.

And Bruce, thanks for serving. You fought for the First Amendment and certainly have earned the right to enjoy it. Keep writing.

Farewell to a Fallen Airman

As a former Air Force officer, I was always interested in my service's heritage. The Marines had men like Chesty Puller and Jason Dunham. The Army had MacArthur, Eisenhower and Patton. The Navy has Mike Murphy, Chester Nimitz, John McCain.

The Air Force, well we get Teed Moseley and this guy (please do yourself a favor and click that link. You'll thank me. Seriously, I'll wait).

Now, I served with some outstanding officers, and men and women with whom I was honored to go to war. And the Air Force will forever be the service of Bud Day and Lance Sijan (whose epynonymous hall is where I met Mrs. Morgan O'Brien). At the same time, I guess I had too high expectations, because there were also a lot of folks that let me down.

So when I revamped www.morganobrien.com, I wanted to make sure I pointed out some of the men and women that I admire who wore the Air Force Blue. I want to highlight some of the great Americans, newsmaking Americans and people who made an impact while in uniform, and in many cases after they wore the uniform.

In the coming months, these are the AF vets I intend to cover here :
- Buzz Aldrin (I'll also cover the Mercury 1 guys here as well)
- Johnny Cash
- James Meredith

- Lindsay Graham
- Chuck Norris
- William Pittsenbarger
- Greg Popovich
- Bob Ross
- Hunter S. Thompson
- Heather Wilson

As an aside, when compiling the list, I found that a disproportionate number were misfits who saw their fair share of trouble while in uniform, those will be the most fun to highlight.

Air Force Vets I will not highlight include:

- Harry Chapin (even though he's a Long Island guy)
- Tom Daschle (he's dead to me)
- Col. Voldemort
- Kelly Flinn
- Jerry Mathers (television's the Beaver)
- Sinbad

Unfortunately, I took my sweet time and missed a golden opportunity to honor one of my fellow Air Force veterans while he was still with us. So today, I begin my first in a series of profiles of Airmen I admire by writing about the inimitable and dearly departed George Carlin.

Carlin grew up in Morningside Heights and attended Cardinal Hayes for a brief while, before attending Bishop DuBois in Harlem. After high school didn't work out, he enlisted in the Air Force and was stationed at Barksdale, where he was a radar technician and served with the 376th Bomb Wing and the 376th Armament and Electronics Maintenance Squadron.

During his brief stint in uniform, he earned three court martials and was labeled an "unproductive airman" by his superiors and received a general discharge (not quite a dishonorable dishcharge, but definitely not an honorable discharge either) in 1957

On XM radio's Stand Up Sit Down, Carlin characterized his young self like this:

All my life as a young kid, I'd been a rulesbreaker, a lawbreaker, I was out of step with everyone.

I got kicked out of three schools, I quit high school in ninth grade. I got kicked out of the Air Force, essentially. I got kicked out of the Boy Scouts, summer camp, the choir and the altar boys.

All of those things I got kicked out of. And that's because I didn't fit and didn't want to fit. And didn't want to take rules and regulations and conventional ways of doing things. I was at heart an outlaw.

As an oath officer at the Albuquerque MEPS, I swore a number of young men and women into the armed forces. Some were obviously bright, others were trying to figure things out. Uniformly, these kids (I say kids although some were older than me) were trying to find themselves. Some were at different stages, granted, but across the board I'd say that in virtually every person that received the oath would find the military a great place to test your mettle and find out who you really are.

So while I would have been mortified to have earned three court martials, maybe joining the military was the best thing that could have happened to Carlin. At least indirectly, it helped him find his calling, and after he was uncermoniously dumped, it got him out of New York and forced him to sink or swim while he followed his dream.



While he was an Airman, Carlin found a nightime gig on the local Shreveport radio station, KJOE, where he was a contemporary of Wolfman Jack. And thus began an entertainment career that boasts nearly two dozen comedy albums, three books, 14 HBO specials, memorable turns as Rufus in Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure and Cardinal Glick in the underrated Dogma, and a routine that inspired a generation of comics; Carlin certainly made his mark.



So here's to you, fellow Airman. Hopefully, the conventions of the Air Force helped foment your unconventional genius.

For more information:

I found this link that links to some good stuff on Carlin and Barksdale here:
http://link222.blogspot.com/2008/06/ode-to-george-carlin-former-barksdale.html

Kevin Smith had a great remembrance of his friend, George Carlin here: http://www.newsweek.com/id/142975

And Jerry Seinfeld memorialized Carlin here: