The Executive Officer is the right-hand man of the Commanding Officer. A position of big power, he is ultimately responsible for assisting the CO in his command of the ship. But, often the XO is made to make some of the more difficult decisions. While the Captain of the ship, is overall responsible for every […]
Apr 16 2018
Form Vs. Function: What It Means to Be Inducted as an NCO
The military is full of symbolic arches; in a short career of seven years, I’d walked through no less than five barriers that intangibly mark a new phase in a soldier’s career. The art of the rite of passage has been largely forgotten about in parts of the civilian world, relegated mostly to religious or […]
Apr 13 2018
Crossing the Line: A Shellback History
History has long forgotten the true beginning of the Shellback Ceremony. But, history has a way of making its way to the present. While the exact details of how the Crossing the Line Ceremony originated, historians estimate that it began over 400 years ago with the Vikings, as well as the Spanish, Italian and Portuguese […]
Mar 10 2018
Bro-Veterans: A Guide
We all know one (or ten). The loudest and most obnoxious veteran; so proud of his service. He makes sure every person he meets knows it, whether it’s relevant or not. The pride a bro-veteran feels for his time in the military is so great, they say that a gaggle of these bros creates a […]
Mar 9 2018
The Influence of a Duty Station
On St. Patrick’s Day, 2008, my best friend and I engaged in a drunken, slurry worded argument when he expressed a desire to enlist in the Marines. I, along with his parents, though it was a stupid idea that would ultimately get him killed. So naturally, eleven months later we enlisted together. And by the […]
Mar 6 2018
Coast Guard Drug Seizures off to Record Start – AGAIN
One of the main duties of the US Coast Guard is protecting our shores from smugglers and business has been good. Despite a lax attitude towards illegal substances by many corners of society the Coast Guard continued to perform this duty with vigor and seized a record number of drugs in 2017. Based on the […]
Mar 4 2018
Hiking: Good for the Mind, Good for the Body
It’s 2 AM, the lights are off, and your corner of the seeable world is dimly lit by the unwavering computer screen four inches from your half-shut eyes. There’s a discarded six-pack of Yuengling Lager’s to your left, and an hours old pizza box nearby, with nothing left to it except for some congealing cheese […]
Mar 3 2018
Failure Is Always a Matter of Leadership
Due to the recent events in Florida, many are asking “Who is at fault?” Whether you are talking about tips that were not followed up on, calls to the home that went nowhere or even officers who did not act the answer is always the same – the person at the top. There are two […]
Mar 3 2018
Vetreprenuer Showcase: US Patriot Vendor David Geig
If you have ever been browsing around on US Patriot Tactical’s website, you may have come across some field books with remarkable artwork on them! That work is done by none other than Sergeant First Class David Geig. A Light Wheeled Vehicle Mechanic turned MP; he is set to retire this year after being enlisted […]
Mar 2 2018
Punishments of the Forces: Special Warfare
These punishments are by a little less out of the box and extremely trying. They are designed to weed out the weak. Fewer eyes watching means NCOs can get away with a little more than usual. Everything about special forces units is special, even the punishments. If you’ve ever watched videos online, documentaries or even […]
