Tiki Tiki!!!

[Debbie]

Actually, having seen Bluesman's pictures scattered all over the Bluesmansion, I've always thought that the squared-away version looked a bit like a younger R. Lee Ermey.

Hmmmmmm- Bluesman is a handsome fellow then:)

[THL]

Hmmmmmm- Bluesman is a handsome fellow then:)

Here are some pictures TopHatter posted of Bluesman, himself and Confed from April 2006 when we all got together down there in Tampa.

[Debbie]

Yep - my assumption was correct.

[dave lukins]

Yep - my assumption was correct.

Eyes front Debbie;)

[Bluesman]

HAH!

Thanks, I appreciate the compliment.

I've been thinking some more about my style, and I remember when I was stationed in Germany, and I was the Senior Intelligence Analyst for one of the four flights (or 'sections' to the Army; 'divisions' to the Navy; 'tricks' to the NSA civilians). My wife was shopping in the commissary, and one of my guys was talking to her, and I came up in the conversation.

She came home and asked just what the hell I'd been doing to those poor kids?!? HUH?!? I had no idea what she meant, but apparently from what she'd gathered from one of my guys - she never told me who it was, as she was afraid I'd 'tune him up' - I was coming off as some rough, heavy-handed, martinet of a blood-drinking cossack SOB.

Okay. I guess I better examine what I'd been doing, and how I'd been doing it, because I CERTAINLY didn't perceive myself that way.

The problem was very simple: I HAVE STANDARDS, and I rigorously enforce them. After all, once you get past training, the majority of an NCO's job is enforcing standards and executing policy. Well, I took the responsibility seriously, and I insisted that my people not be found wanting in the simple things that make the hard things possible: customs and courtesies, wear of the uniform, punctuality, and the NCO Creed:

No one is more professional than I. I am a Noncommissioned Officer: a leader of people. I am proud of the Noncommissioned Office corps and will, at all times, conduct myself so as to bring credit upon it. I will not use my grade or position to attain profit or safety.

Competence is my watchword. I will strive to remain tactically and technically proficient. I will always be aware of my role as a Noncommissioned Officer. I will
fulfill my responsibilities and display professionalism at all times. I will strive to know my people and use their skills to the maximum degree possible. I will always place their needs above my own and will communicate with my supervisor and my people and never leave them uniformed.

I will exert every effort and risk any ridicule to successfully accomplish my assigned duties. I will not look at a person and see any race, creed, color, religion, sex,
age, or national origin, for I will only see the person; nor will I ever show prejudice or bias. I will lead by example and will resort to disciplinary action only when necessary.

I will carry out the orders of my superiors to the best of ability and will always obey the decisions of my superiors. I will give all officers my maximum support to ensure
mission accomplishments. I will earn their respect, obey their orders, and establish a high degree of integrity with them. I will exercise initiative in the absence of orders
and will make decisive and accurate decisions. I will never compromise my integrity, nor my moral courage. I will not forget that I am a Professional, a Leader, but above all a

Noncommissioned Officer

Sorry; this thread is now WAY off the 'tiki tiki' path. But hey...I wanted to kinda 'splain what I'm all about. I don't think the WABbers who haven't met me 'get' me.

[sappersgt]

Sorry; this thread is now WAY off the 'tiki tiki' path. But hey...I wanted to kinda 'splain what I'm all about. I don't think the WABbers who haven't met me 'get' me.

No apologies asked for or required. Carry on Master Sargent.

[dave lukins]

Blue What happened to the Beard?:) ....Did you ever have the inclination to become an Officer yourself?

[Bluesman]

Blue What happened to the Beard?:) ....Did you ever have the inclination to become an Officer yourself?

I thought about it; I even applied for and was qualified to go to Warrant Officer Skool. But I made Tech Sergeant that year, and I really wanted to keep being an NCO. And by that time, I was too old to get my degree and apply for a commission, so THAT was out.

I don't think I would've been a good officer. The life of a junior officer is AWFUL. I had no wish to go backwards in status and the regard of my comrades (it's taken as a matter of faith that, no matter if you're prior enlisted or not, as a cherry lieutenant, you don't know NOTHIN'!) If I'd been in certain situations as a looie that I'd been in as a sergeant, I could not have been as free to guide events. I'll give you an example:

When I was the lead DPRK analyst in Misawa, Japan, we had a total dumbass Navy lieutenant as our flight commander. His assistant was a prior service Army 2nd lieutenant that was purty dam' sharp. Well, we had an 'event' that brought all three of us together in a critical time-sensitive decision-making council. El Tee Navee was CLUELESS and thank Gawd he knew it, too, so he was open to suggestion. I was the guy that had to guide him through to the right call, because his assistant, El Tee Armee, could've only gotten involved IF I'd been about to advise that Navee do the Wrong Thing (and if lives hadn't been on the line, maybe not even then, either). Armee was two grades lower than his boss, and in an inferior position to boot, so if Armee had 'taken over' the decision-making, it would've brought criticism to BOTH of 'em, whereas I, as a technically-competent NCO that was working in my capacity as an area expert ADVISED him on the correct move, well, that's exactly what I'm supposed to do, and no discredit attaches to Navee for taking my advice. It's what we're BOTH supposed to do, and brings credit to us both.

And that one thing convinced me I'd rather be an NCO.

Luckily, Lt. Bluesman is about to become CAPTAIN Bluesman; she will sport a LOT more credibility after she pins it on in July.

[Bluesman]

GOT THE PICTURES!!!

Only a few of dalem, and DAMMIT!!!...NONE of my bud TopHatter.

Still...purty good representation of the rip.

[Confed999]

Sux I missed it. :( I did get to bake a cake, paint Easter eggs and see the Easter Bunny at Navy Pier with my future stepdaughter. :)


(Blues, do your turns! hehe ;) )

[texasjohn]

GOT THE PICTURES!!!

Only a few of dalem, and DAMMIT!!!...NONE of my bud TopHatter.

Still...purty good representation of the rip.

How do you login Blues?

[Ray]

Here are some pictures TopHatter posted of Bluesman, himself and Confed from April 2006 when we all got together down there in Tampa.

Bluesman looks a bit like a trimmed down George C Scott in 'Patton'!

A tough cookie he sure looks! ;)

[THL]

How do you login Blues?

He tricked us!!;)

[667medic]

Luckily, Lt. Bluesman is about to become CAPTAIN Bluesman; she will sport a LOT more credibility after she pins it on in July.

Please convey our regards to Lt. Bluesman.....

[Bluesman]

Made it. Three thousand miles across the greatest country the world has ever seen with two daughters, two cats, a dog, and a rabbit. Hotter than the hinges of hell in the desert, amazing vistas, a terrific Independence Day at my Mom's, and GREAT luck all the way to Travis.

More later; I'm droppin' with fatigue.