Comments for Blogs Over Baghdad http://blogsoverbaghdad.com/soldiers How it is over there Sat, 20 Mar 2010 06:00:35 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 Comment on Iraq in the rear view mirror by SGM Troy Falardeau http://blogsoverbaghdad.com/soldiers/2009/11/iraq-in-the-rear-view-mirror/comment-page-1/#comment-1207 SGM Troy Falardeau Sun, 24 Jan 2010 16:13:19 +0000 http://blogsoverbaghdad.com/soldiers/?p=1773#comment-1207 Hello sir -- 19 out of 20 enlisted promotions is indeed impressive, but you are comparing apples to oranges. I said 70 percent of the ENTIRE unit (officers AND enlisted) were promoted. Do you know how many officers in the 318th were promoted during that same period you mentioned? We had 21 out of 30 TOTAL promoted for 70 percent. Looking forward to your updated information. Hello sir — 19 out of 20 enlisted promotions is indeed impressive, but you are comparing apples to oranges. I said 70 percent of the ENTIRE unit (officers AND enlisted) were promoted. Do you know how many officers in the 318th were promoted during that same period you mentioned? We had 21 out of 30 TOTAL promoted for 70 percent.

Looking forward to your updated information.

]]> Comment on Iraq in the rear view mirror by Mike Walton http://blogsoverbaghdad.com/soldiers/2009/11/iraq-in-the-rear-view-mirror/comment-page-1/#comment-1206 Mike Walton Thu, 21 Jan 2010 16:08:39 +0000 http://blogsoverbaghdad.com/soldiers/?p=1773#comment-1206 Hey SGM Troy!!! While I know that you're proud of your 70 percent of the Soldiers assigned to the 314th PAOC got promoted during their time in Iraq, may I remind you of a small factorid with regard to promotion: During the first rotation of the 318th PAOC in Baghdad, 94 percent (all but one!) of the enlisted Soldiers assigned to the 318th were promoted -- 19 during a promotion ceremony in the "Freedom Palace" and SGM Beth DePoint was promoted a month later to her present rank. The only two enlisted Soldiers who did not get promoted (we could not get them promoted) were the two AGR Soldiers -- MSG Dave Zerbe (who was SFC Zerbe during that time) and SGT Tracy Christmas (who is now SSG Tracy Christmas and my understanding is that he's no longer in the AGR program). Of the nine officers assigned to the 318th PAOC, three were promoted in rank during the time or within three months of our "recovery period". As you know, promotions reflect on the leadership of the unit -- and their ability to motivate, encourage and inspire their Soldiers toward meeting the demands for that next grade. As I place your unit's excellence at the foot of you and your senior NCOs...I place my unit's outstanding acheiveement not as anything I did other than signing the order -- but rather at the foot of Dave Zerbe and Beth DePoint. The two of them did much to make me and our unit look good. I know where you are now... *smiling* and I hope to be trading stories with you over some great German beer in the coming months before I have to take off to get back to the States!! LTC Mike Walton (settummanque, the blackeagle) former Commander, 318th PAOC "Blackhawk Communicators" Hey SGM Troy!!!

While I know that you’re proud of your 70 percent of the Soldiers assigned to the 314th PAOC got promoted during their time in Iraq, may I remind you of a small factorid with regard to promotion:

During the first rotation of the 318th PAOC in Baghdad, 94 percent (all but one!) of the enlisted Soldiers assigned to the 318th were promoted — 19 during a promotion ceremony in the “Freedom Palace” and SGM Beth DePoint was promoted a month later to her present rank.

The only two enlisted Soldiers who did not get promoted (we could not get them promoted) were the two AGR Soldiers — MSG Dave Zerbe (who was SFC Zerbe during that time) and SGT Tracy Christmas (who is now SSG Tracy Christmas and my understanding is that he’s no longer in the AGR program).

Of the nine officers assigned to the 318th PAOC, three were promoted in rank during the time or within three months of our “recovery period”.

As you know, promotions reflect on the leadership of the unit — and their ability to motivate, encourage and inspire their Soldiers toward meeting the demands for that next grade. As I place your unit’s excellence at the foot of you and your senior NCOs…I place my unit’s outstanding acheiveement not as anything I did other than signing the order — but rather at the foot of Dave Zerbe and Beth DePoint. The two of them did much to make me and our unit look good.

I know where you are now… *smiling* and I hope to be trading stories with you over some great German beer in the coming months before I have to take off to get back to the States!!

LTC Mike Walton (settummanque, the blackeagle)
former Commander, 318th PAOC
“Blackhawk Communicators”

]]> Comment on Inshallah إن شاء الله by Dave http://blogsoverbaghdad.com/soldiers/2009/10/%d8%a5%d9%86-%d8%b4%d8%a7%d8%a1-%d8%a7%d9%84%d9%84%d9%87/comment-page-1/#comment-1202 Dave Thu, 24 Dec 2009 09:45:16 +0000 http://blogsoverbaghdad.com/soldiers/?p=1712#comment-1202 I can appreciate the Inshallah frustration. I'm in country and happened upon this blog, very good; although, I don't quite have the same IT support outside of the Baghdad region. The American attidude of commitment and planning is lost with the Arabic culture. Inshallah is roughly translated as "maybe" by many in country, (per the locals) but does mean "God willing". One thing that needs to be added- like catholics making the symbolic cross or protestants saing "amen", certain muslims are obligated to say "inshallah" when answering or talking about future events. As we are always planning, this phrase is heard often. Of course it also means "maybe"; depends on the relationship and person. I can appreciate the Inshallah frustration. I’m in country and happened upon this blog, very good; although, I don’t quite have the same IT support outside of the Baghdad region. The American attidude of commitment and planning is lost with the Arabic culture. Inshallah is roughly translated as “maybe” by many in country, (per the locals) but does mean “God willing”. One thing that needs to be added- like catholics making the symbolic cross or protestants saing “amen”, certain muslims are obligated to say “inshallah” when answering or talking about future events. As we are always planning, this phrase is heard often. Of course it also means “maybe”; depends on the relationship and person.

]]> Comment on Iraq in the rear view mirror by del Tull http://blogsoverbaghdad.com/soldiers/2009/11/iraq-in-the-rear-view-mirror/comment-page-1/#comment-1183 del Tull Mon, 16 Nov 2009 16:50:41 +0000 http://blogsoverbaghdad.com/soldiers/?p=1773#comment-1183 This blog site was wonderful! Thank you SGM and the soldiers who wrote the articles. It really help all our families cope with the seperations. This blog site was wonderful! Thank you SGM and the soldiers who wrote the articles. It really help all our families cope with the seperations.

]]> Comment on Iraq in the rear view mirror by MikeM http://blogsoverbaghdad.com/soldiers/2009/11/iraq-in-the-rear-view-mirror/comment-page-1/#comment-1175 MikeM Sat, 14 Nov 2009 05:00:26 +0000 http://blogsoverbaghdad.com/soldiers/?p=1773#comment-1175 YYYeeeEEEE HHHaaaWWWWW !!!!!!!! .... stay frosty... :) YYYeeeEEEE HHHaaaWWWWW !!!!!!!! …. stay frosty… :)

]]> Comment on Iraq in the rear view mirror by Lisa-in-DC http://blogsoverbaghdad.com/soldiers/2009/11/iraq-in-the-rear-view-mirror/comment-page-1/#comment-1174 Lisa-in-DC Sat, 14 Nov 2009 04:36:16 +0000 http://blogsoverbaghdad.com/soldiers/?p=1773#comment-1174 Found my way here via Mudville Gazette... Congratulations on a very successful deployment, and thank you all so much for your service. We're so very proud to call you all "ours". Godspeed and best wishes! Found my way here via Mudville Gazette… Congratulations on a very successful deployment, and thank you all so much for your service. We’re so very proud to call you all “ours”.

Godspeed and best wishes!

]]> Comment on Iraq in the rear view mirror by Laurie Clifton http://blogsoverbaghdad.com/soldiers/2009/11/iraq-in-the-rear-view-mirror/comment-page-1/#comment-1173 Laurie Clifton Fri, 13 Nov 2009 22:09:20 +0000 http://blogsoverbaghdad.com/soldiers/?p=1773#comment-1173 Yea! We are so ready to see everyone! Thanks for keeping us updated and for staying and getting the group settled in for the Warrior Leader Course! We appreciate all you do! Laurie Yea! We are so ready to see everyone! Thanks for keeping us updated and for staying and getting the group settled in for the Warrior Leader Course! We appreciate all you do!
Laurie

]]> Comment on Iraq in the rear view mirror by David M http://blogsoverbaghdad.com/soldiers/2009/11/iraq-in-the-rear-view-mirror/comment-page-1/#comment-1171 David M Fri, 13 Nov 2009 16:13:24 +0000 http://blogsoverbaghdad.com/soldiers/?p=1773#comment-1171 The Thunder Run has linked to this post in the blog post <a href="http://www.thunderrun.us/2009/11/from-front-11132009.html" rel="nofollow">From the Front: 11/13/2009 </a> News and Personal dispatches from the front and the home front. The Thunder Run has linked to this post in the blog post From the Front: 11/13/2009 News and Personal dispatches from the front and the home front.

]]> Comment on Iraq in the rear view mirror by del tull http://blogsoverbaghdad.com/soldiers/2009/11/iraq-in-the-rear-view-mirror/comment-page-1/#comment-1170 del tull Fri, 13 Nov 2009 12:13:54 +0000 http://blogsoverbaghdad.com/soldiers/?p=1773#comment-1170 We can't wait to see you all! We can’t wait to see you all!

]]> Comment on All those colors on your chest by Laverne G. Leech http://blogsoverbaghdad.com/soldiers/2009/11/all-those-colors-on-your-chest/comment-page-1/#comment-1168 Laverne G. Leech Thu, 12 Nov 2009 16:39:49 +0000 http://blogsoverbaghdad.com/soldiers/?p=1754#comment-1168 Thank you all for all you have done, are doing and will do. We shall be forever greatful. We love you. Thank you all for all you have done, are doing and will do. We shall be forever greatful. We love you.

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