Ya know...when you see these types of events taking place inside a so-called war zone...then you have something other than a war going on. Full blown nation building? A relaxed view of the threat? But when you have Infantrymen running a half marathon instead of being out on patrol its worrying.
Maybe I'm making assumptions that I shouldn't...I know I took heat for the Officer that sponsored a men's water polo team for the ANA but this just doesn't feel right.
 | ||
| CAMP BASTION, Afghanistan-Lance Cpl. Richard J. Powell, an infantryman
with 1st Battalion, 23rd Marine Regiment, Marine Corps Reserve, took
first place in a half marathon on Camp Bastion, Afghanistan, with a time
of 1 hour, 22 minutes, March 13. Powell finished first out of more than
400 coalition troops and civilians who took part in the run. , Lance Cpl. Samantha H. Arrington, 3/13/2011 5:54 AM |
And here's the story....
UPDATE:Coalition forces double-time through Camp Bastion, Afghanistan
CAMP BASTION, Afghanistan — Lance Cpl. Richard J. Powell, an infantryman with 1st Battalion, 23rd Marine Regiment, Marine Corps Reserve, took first place in a half marathon on Camp Bastion, Afghanistan, with a time of 1 hour, 22 minutes, March 13. Powell finished first out of more than 400 coalition troops and civilians who took part in the run.
Is this why we see the nonsense of controversies like 'only grunts' should have crossed rifles in their rank insignia? Do we have two wars going on? One where frontline personnel are actually carrying the burden while those in the rear have almost a stateside existence?
Yes I know this has been going on since warfare began but its NOT RIGHT, ITS UNSEEMLY and someone should find better stuff for a deployed USMC Rifleman to be doing...he can run half marathons in the states...NOT IN THE FUCKING WAR ZONE!
You are aware that even during World War Two soldiers participated in sports?
ReplyDeleteI recall that some regiments of the 101st were organizing a football game shortly before the Battle of the Bulge.
yeah but guess what. there weapons were close by and they played in boots and utes....
ReplyDeletedo you want a better analogy? how about the difference between Gulf War 1....the war in Iraq and now what we're seeing in Afghanistan.
Gulf War 1 it was balls to the wall...yeah we played football but it was with flak jacket and helmets. oh and we had a gear guard...our weapons and our masks were close by....
Gulf War 2 outside of the Green Zone...soldiers tell me that it was rough...further out it was too....only inside the 'HQ' did you see the Burger King and the relaxed standards.
this just burns me up cause i know that about 20 miles away someone is sleeping with flea collars on there legs and around there necks...burning up and worried about stepping on an IED.
Sol, best sit down before reading this
ReplyDeletehttp://ukforcesafghanistan.wordpress.com/2011/03/13/day-of-sport-at-camp-bastion/
Check out the second picture
wow TD. to be honest, i'm still irritated but its nice to know that US forces are the only ones suffering from a syphilis of the brain....how stupid is the west!
ReplyDeletei wonder if any commander sitting in the soon to be remodeled NATO headquarters can honestly say that we're going all out to win this war?
http://ukforcesafghanistan.wordpress.com/2011/03/13/day-of-sport-at-camp-bastion/
ReplyDeleteWith the draw down coming, I wonder if they will still have the manpower to do charity events.
sully....
ReplyDeletewhat's your problem?
I went to SOI with Powell, that guy could run like the wind. It was always a little disconcerting when you would be halfway through the CFT or PFT run and he was already finished. That being said, he was a stellar Marine when I knew him.
ReplyDeleteThanks, I still do that on PFT/CFTs, except now I do it to my junior Marines. I've fostered a fitness movement within my company and there's bets on who can beat me in the run. Nobody has won yet.
Deletegot to disagree here with you on this one, why get upset with marathon or water polo or whatever they are going to do next, they are there and fighting that's what matters, most people in the states dont give a flying rats' ass what goes on there anyways. Besides events like these means that there's stability in the area. You ain't gona see this shit in the hot zones...
ReplyDelete