Battery chargers and typhoon winds

I’m sorry everybody (all 4 of you) has been dissapointed with this blog of late. I’d promise to do better in the future but then I’d just feel bad about not living up to it. I have actually been out and about and doing things that might interest you. But, my camera has been dead since the middle of June and I’m still waiting on a replacement battery charger to arrive.

In other news, we had a typhoon here on Okinawa. It’s name was Man-Yi. I was very unimpressed. We had Friday off from work and had to stay in the barracks from Thursday afternoon through Saturday afternoon. For part of the time people were allowed to go outside to the chow hall or to smoke, but they had to wear a flak jacket and kevlar so they looked pretty goofy. The Okinawans all took it in stride and I saw cars driving down the street and people walking around outside the fence throughout most of the storm. I don’t think there was much property damange (although I did have to help pick up branches around the nearby buildings this morning) and I don’t think anybody was hurt, but I’ll know more when I go to work on Monday. I’ll be going to Korea in a couple of weeks for a month and I’m planning on going snorkeling next weekend so hopefully I can get some pictures up for everybody then.

Bad Scott, no cookie!

I’m not very good at updating, am I?

This, is my boomstick!

Well faithful readers, whomever you may be, I just finished up two weeks of rifle range goodness. Because ever Marine is first and foremost a Rifleman, we’re required to qualify every year on the M-16 to prove we’re able to step up and defend ourselves and our missions in the event that we’re called upon. Most of the Marines who fought their way out of Chosin Resevoir in Korea weren’t infantry, they were cooks and administrative weenies and motor transport bubbas. But they fought, and they made it out of there and the legacy of the Corps is filled with examples where the combat skills of non-combat Marines have gotten the job done and them home safely.

 As such, marksmanship is highly prized in the Marines today. It, and the assortated basic combat skills that go with it are given a lot of time and energy in both Recruit Training and in the follow-on Marine Combat Training that every Pogue or P.O.G. (Personnel Other than Grunt) goes thorough before their MOS school and the Fleet. It takes a tremendous amount of work to train thousands of green recruits who may have never touched a rifle to meet the standards required by the Corps, and they’re fairly stringant standards. I won’t get into the point system but to give you an idea I’ll just list some of distances and positions tested: 200 yards sitting, kneeling, and standing- slow fire (15 rounds, 20 minutes), 200 yards sitting from standing (changing your position) rapid fire (10 rounds, 60 seconds), 300 yards sitting (slow fire), 300 yards prone from standing (rapid fire), 500 yards prone (10 rounds, slow fire). All of these positions are at man-sized targets, for the most part, and have to take into account the wind and weather conditions as well as breathing and trigger control. It can all get a bit tricky for a beginning shooter such as myself.

 While in Recruit Training I had the misfortune to break my leg as we started the rifle range. Not wanting to be dropped from training I pushed through it with the help of my Senior Drill Instructor and I eventually qualified with the M-16, although as a Marksman, the lowest of the three classes of rifle ability. A week later I was dropped from training anyways (having a cast put on automatically means you’ve got to go to the Medical Rehibilitation Platoon) but I always thought I’d do better the next time around.

This year, I got my chance to see if I was correct in blaming my previous performance on my leg or if I was just a lousy shot. Luckilly for my ego, I qualified as an Expert (just barely) the highest of the three classifications and I can plausibly say that it was my leg that messed me up the first time around. Now all that remains is buying some new badges for my uniforms and hoping I can do as well or better the next time around. My new higher score will help with promotions so hopefully I’ll earn one in the next few months.

 In other, unrelated news, I lost my power adapter for my laptop so I may not be online as often for the next week or so. Much like the last two, I suppose. You can reach me at scottdavidsanders AT gmail DOT com or at my work account at scott DOT sanders @ usmc DOT mil

Keep on rockin’

Injection site blues

I started my manditory anthrax vaccination today and now my arm kind of burns. And let’s not forget the myriad possible health issues related to my new 6 shot best friend. All in all though, my odds of being harmed by this vaccine are pretty small. If not smaller than my odds of actually being attacked with weaponized anthrax…

In other news I’ve been dizzy for about 4 days now. I, and a couple of corpsman whom I’ve consulted with, think something may be wrong with one of tubes deep in my ear(s). A valve is open, or shut, or something. My ear plumbing’s broken, essentially. I’ve started taking some cold medication on the off chance that I’ve got some sinus issues that the drying and pressure relieving effects of the drugs would help. My fingers are crossed and I hope eveything is better by next week when I start training to re-qualify on the M16. We’ll have a week of practice and dry fire, and then another week at the range. I’ll write a detailed post on all of that if any of you (hypothetical) readers are interested in that sort of thing. I’m going to bed now even though it’s just after 10PM here. I may or may not be turning into an old man.

One last number before I hit the rack

As usual I’ve putzed around all night and having nothing to show before I go to bed. So I thought I’d be at least a tad productive and show you all a few pictures from a rock show I went to over Easter weekend. It was at Gate 2 Garage, a tiny little club on Gate 2 street near Kadena AB that caters to military personnel. It’s owned by Harry, an American. That seems to be a fairly common trend in bars in the area. I ‘m aware of a few places owned and or run by expats. I don’t know if they’re ex-service members who just stayed or what, but they seem to be making a lot of cash off of drunken Marines (and Soliders, Sailors, and Airmen too, I guess).

My friend Goldstein and I just chilled and drank for an hour or so until Gunny Walker’s band showed up and started to play.

I have no idea what they’re called but they put on a fun, loud cover-fest and I was able to sing along to every song.

I had been worried about seeing concerts while stationed in Okinawa but I’m told the music scene is pretty good here, there’s even something called Okinawan Rock, the island’s musical export.

I’m off to bed now, I’ve got a uniform inspection in the morning so I’m sure it’s going to be a lovely day. Be good, but not too good.

Race For The Cure

For the past 6 or 7 years my family has participated in the Susan G Komen Race for the Cure in honor of and later, in memory of my mother Jeanne, who passed away from breast cancer in 2003. Each year we raise some money and donate it to the cause and family comes from all over to walk or run the course in downtown Columbus.

For the past couple of years my favorite Aunt Patty has been running point on the fund raising efforts and she’s done a great job supporting the Race. Now, I hate asking for money but if you’re so inclined it’d be great if you could donate some to our contribution. You can find all of the information at http://www.active.com/donate/columbusrftc07/PattyCramer and I hope you’ll help us out. This has been a record year for our little “team” so far and my aunt actually surpassed her original goal and has set a new one. Let’s make her set another new one, shall we?

Note: This appeal was also posted on MySpace and I apologize if you feel spammed. Have a great day!

I should have brought a cowboy hat

Greetings all, I hope your weekend was excellent.

I’m still in the process of checking into my unit… there are a bunch of boxes to be checked and lines to be signed but I should be able to finish it up this week. This afternoon I’ve got to get some more immunizations, including one for Smallpox. Yikes! I may or may not require a dental cleaning too, I just don’t know at this point.

Assuming that I actually get to start work sometime soon, it looks like I may be briefing the staff about something on Wednesday. Now, I don’t know what I’ll be briefing on yet and my SSgt. is going to check with everybody else to see if they mind a “new guy” doing the presentation, so we’ll just have to wait and see. I’ll let you all know how it goes, of course.

I finally made it out into town this weekend! Although, I’m positive what I saw was in no way representative of Okinawa or Japan. On Saturday afternoon I ran into somebody I had gone to boot camp with and he invited me out to the bars that evening. Before starting the drinking we went Coco’s, a curry joint. It was somewhat surreal to be eating curry in a building that was laid out exactly like a Waffle House while in Japan. They have strange ideas about what’s acceptable curry too. Fish? Check. Chicken fried beef? Check. Squid? Check.

After the incredibly filling meal we went to a place called Nashville’s and it’s everything the name would have you expect. Electronic bull, Marines in cowboy getup, wooden dance floor complete with line dancing, and overpriced drinks. I actually had to pay five bucks to get in, five bucks for a Budweiser, and three for a shot of Wild Turkey. However, my buddy ended up buying a number of double shots for the both of us so by the time we stumbled out of there, I was rolling more than I had in a while. After a brief stop at a nearby bar, also populated by Marines we went back to the Enlisted Club on base, the Globe and Anchor. It was pretty dead there and after beating one of my new friends at pool, I called it a night and went back to my room.

All in all, I had a good time and I’m really itching to get out and see something besides the local bar scene. I’m still doing well and I hope that all of you are too.

Weekend until the working

Well, I’ve settled into the transient barracks at Camp Foster where I’ll be spending the next week getting processed, poked, prodded, and doing who knows what else. My internet access is being ganked from an unsecure router right now so I don’t know how frequently I’ll be online. There’s an internet cafe somewhere but I haven’t found it yet.

Overall the base is pretty American for being in the middle of Japan. Cars drive on the right side of the road and Japanese teenagers man the counter and grill at Taco Bell but other than that it’s not too much of a culture shock yet. I’m sure it’ll be a lot to grasp once I’m allowed out into town.

I tried out Skype for the first time a couple of minutes ago and it worked shockingly well when I called my Dad. He said he was able to hear me loud and clear and I could say the same. If you want to try it out with me, my Skype name is scottdavidsanders, just like my gmail address. In case you’re wondering, I’m 14 hours later than Eastern time so while it’s Saturday evening here, it’s early morning back home so keep that in mind.