GEN Dempsey talking about the impact of New Media from You Served Radio & Blog on Vimeo.

This video is from a private session that a few media reps had with TRADOC Commander, GEN Dempsey. This one focuses on a question from Mark Seavey from American Legion to the General about a the the impact and use of New Media.

GEN Dempsey talking about the changes in Warrior Tasks Training from Nathan Long on Vimeo.

This video is from a private session that a few media reps had with TRADOC Commander, GEN Dempsey. This one focuses on a question from Troy at YouServed.com to the General about the recently announced change to Warrior Task Training.

GEN Dempsey talking about Force Design from Nathan Long on Vimeo.

About the video: This video is from a private session that a few media reps had with TRADOC Commander, GEN Dempsey. This one focuses on a question to the General about a white paper that is being drafted on future Army Force Design.

In this video from the TRADOC Sr. Leader Conference held in Williamsburg, VA March 8-11th, TRADOC Commander Gen Dempsey is talking about the BRAC move from Ft. Monroe to Ft. Eustis VA

GEN Dempsey talking about BRAC move to Ft. Eustis from Nathan Long on Vimeo.

I think I have found the one thing that Public Affairs Officers (PAO) fear more than anything else. It isn’t liberal leaning mainstream media, it isn’t the Huffington Post. It is bloggers who are ex-military, hard-headed and know their way around the military culture.

Don’t get me wrong, TRADOC is treating my great, especially the PAO but I sense a look of suspicion and worry sometimes when I see or talk to the actual PAO of TRADOC. Once he found out I was a retired 1SG, and that I have a “don’t ask for permission, ask for forgiveness” attitude I think he started hanging a little bit closer to me every where I go. I am not sure why, as I would do nothing to discredit or embarrass the military. In fact it is quite the contrary, I will defend the military as an institution, and go after anyone that is disrespectful to the military. I think my record speaks for itself to show that I have done this several times. I know the PAOs are just doing their job and there is no doubt that PAOs army-wide have been burned and embarrassed by slimy media more times than they can count. So I guess I have to earn their trust and as I progress through day two of this conference it appears I have started to earn the trust.

I won’t be an extension of a PAO, as I won’t always tell the “good news” story. I will call BS when it warrants it. I will hold people accountable for their actions. I will be fair and honest and hopefully interject as little of my emotion as possible.

But they can’t be with me everywhere so I slip and dip and talk to different people whenever I can. This morning I have a interview scheduled with a gentlemen who oversees the non-commissioned officer education system for TRADOC. That came about from me talking to him in the coffee line yesterday.

Last night I was introduced to LTG Freakley, who is the commander of Accessions Command (they sponsored the milblog booth at last year’s Blog World Expo in Last Vegas). I had a great 20 minute talk with the LTG and this morning I followed up with him and he has committed to come on the You Served Radio show.

Last night I also had a chance to talk to some of the TRADOC Commander (GEN Dempsey) inner staff about him coming on the You Served Show also. So far they seem very open to it and it looks like it will happen. Since he he is a four-star General of a huge command like TRADOC, he is a pretty busy guy so I know it is not easy to get his time. However hopefully my convincing personality, shiny head, and winning smile will convince his people to get him on the show.

A lot of my progress last night was not done in a panel or a conference, it was done at dinner and then at the bar. Because as my wife has always said, “more business is done in the bar-room then it is in the boardroom”.

8:07:19 PM: CJ, Marcus and Troy are all on the show tonight

6:32:23 AM: New blog entry: Tissue Alert: WWII vet and wife are finally at rest http://bit.ly/5Dn0fx

7:38:08 AM: New blog entry: Sea World Offering Free Tickets for Military Members http://www.vamortgagecenter.com/blog/?p=3901

7:52:22 AM: New blog entry: NMFA Offers Military Spouse Scholarships http://www.vamortgagecenter.com/blog/?p=3904

8:45:04 AM: New blog entry: Registration for 2010 Annual Miblog Conference is open http://bit.ly/7xhJbJ

12:36:42 PM: New blog entry: Watch Killer Subs on PBS website http://www.vamortgagecenter.com/blog/2010/01/08/watch-killer-subs-on-pbs-website/

12:45:04 PM: New blog entry: Registration for 2010 Annual Miblog Conference is open http://bit.ly/7xhJbJ

4:36:42 PM: New blog entry: Watch Killer Subs on PBS website http://www.vamortgagecenter.com/blog/2010/01/08/watch-killer-subs-on-pbs-website/

7:48:54 PM: You Served now has a new profile picture. We think it is pretty spiffy. What do you think? http://bit.ly/5ZrBJZ

11:48:54 PM: You Served now has a new profile picture. We think it is pretty spiffy. What do you think? http://bit.ly/5ZrBJZ

12:07:12 AM: New blog entry: Don’t Forget About Us On Facebook! http://www.vamortgagecenter.com/blog/?p=3918

7:07:33 AM: #MILITARYMON @USNAVYSEALS @guardwife @PatriotAirborne @jolo219 @Shotgun15e @armylovelife @BostonMaggie @TammyMunson @a12iggymom @Lermont
10:15:15 PM: New blog entry: Transitioning to Civilian Life http://www.vamortgagecenter.com/blog/?p=3940

1:30:28 AM: New blog entry: Switchfoot Supports the Troops http://www.vamortgagecenter.com/blog/?p=3943

7:34:34 AM: New blog entry: As a Followup to Transitioning to Civilian Life http://www.vamortgagecenter.com/blog/?p=3947

12:49:27 PM: New blog entry: Post-deployment: 37 things to keep in mind http://www.vamortgagecenter.com/blog/?p=3954

7:59:11 PM: New blog entry: No Apologies, Please http://www.vamortgagecenter.com/blog/?p=3957

7:42:27 AM: New blog entry: Battlefields and Blessings, Stories of Faith and Courage from the war in Iraq and Afghanistan http://bit.ly/8nW4aH

9:03:26 AM: New blog entry: You Served’s “MilBlog Map” Launches http://www.vamortgagecenter.com/blog/?p=3966

3:47:22 PM: You Served starts in 15 minutes. Tonight Bridge of Sighs (http://bit.ly/6ILVaT) and @PinUpsForVets Gina Elise is on

3:55:01 PM: Listen live in 5 minutes to Episode #71 – Bridge of Sighs, Gina Elise on You Served. http://tobtr.com/s/823652. #BlogTalkRadio

4:00:14 PM: Come listen to Episode #71 – Bridge of Sighs, Gina Elise on You Served on air now! http://tobtr.com/s/823652 #BlogTalkRadio

So do you think you know what an ETT (embedded training team) member does? ETTs have been the true tip of the spear in Afghanistan since Task Force Phoenix was first stood up in 2002. Task Force Phoenix and the ETT teams were initially charged with standing up, training, mentoring and assisting the Afghanistan National Army. The first mentoring was done by the active duty 10th Mountain Division. After Iraq kicked off in 2003, it was realized that the mission would need to be transitioned to the National Guard as there were not enough active duty forces to do the Phoenix mission in addition to the other ones they were being tasked.

The mission of training and empowering a country’s indigenous Army has always been a mission of the Special Forces and what they have mastered over the last 40 years. However there was not enough of them either, so National Guard was tapped. However if there were a 2nd best option to Special Forces doing the mission, then it was the National Guard. The soldiers in a National Guard unit have just left being a civilian and will soon return to it. They know and understand the basics of COIN, long before it became a buzz-word and well before it became a standard part of our doctrine. The National Guard soldiers bring with them a mixture of civilian skills which are vital to the mission as many of the ETTs are very far downrange and must provide for their own life-support. There is little to no support from higher headquarters at all. So the skills of carpenter, plumber, HVAC, mechanic, school teacher, etc., etc. all are transferable to the mission of being forward deployed on a small FOB or COP with no support and almost no other Americans with you. In 2007, Task Force Phoenix took over the mentoring and advising of the Afghanistan National Police with PMTs (Police Mentoring Teams).

Famed WWII history author, James F. Christ who is known for his novels about the small but important Marine Paratroopers during the battles in the Pacific has now taken up a new focus for his writing. James is in the process of writing a 10-book series on ETTs in Afghanistan and very important, but unknown battles that have happened there since 2003. His first two books are available and can be downloaded for the Kindle or purchased from Amazon.com HERE or HERE. You can also learn more about the books at the publisher’s website at http://www.mountainlandpublishing.com/catalog.html.

I have read both of these books cover to cover, along with the next one in the series that is not yet published. They are all easy-reads and will suck you right into reading them non-stop until you are finished. There is no building up of characters, there is no plot development, all becuase there is no need. James takes you right into the ETT team, and before long you get to know the individual soldiers, how they act in combat, etc. If they have dialects or accents, James writes in a way so you can hear the accent as you read. I relate these books to the famed book Blackhawk Down (which the movie was based on). I say this becuase just like Blackhawk Down, James’s books start right before the battle, take you through the battle and then wrap up soon after the battle is over. The entire book is about the battle itself.

The battles are huge and the odds are stacked up against the American forces (most of which are National Guard ETTs). As you read either Morghab Canyon or The Boneyard, you will be amazed at how out-numbered and how brave the American soldier are and you will even be more amazed that more US and ANA forces were not slaughtered. The ingineuity, initiative and drive to survive by these soldiers is amazing. 

I have interviewed James twice on You Served Radio (you can hear the latest interview on You Served Radio here, http://www.blogtalkradio.com/youserved/2009/12/11/episode-67) and after talking to him then and on multiple one-on-one phone conversations, I am convinced he is one of the most knowledgeable civilians about Afghanistan that has never actually been to the country. He has spent so many hours interviewing ETTs for these books that he has truly become immersed into what it is like to be an ETT and in my opinion earned an honorary ETT title if there were such a thing.

I have told James and his publisher that if these books are not finished and published that it would be a dis-service to all ETTs, past and present. I have circulated several of his books to other past ETTs to get their opinions and the response has been 100% that “he gets it” and “this is the best book ever written about ETTs”.

I recently heard back from Vampire 6 from www.afghanistanshrugged.com and his response to James’s writings were

“This book is awesome! It definitely needs to be out there for people to read. I think every ETT has a story like this, …. While reading this I could identify with these guys and felt like they were just like guys on my team.  Truly awesome book!”

So if you have been an ETT/PMT, are an ETT/PMT, will be an ETT/PMT or you are a family member or friend of a past, present, future ETT/PMT then you need to go to Amazon.com and get these books. I cannot stress enough how accurate these books are and how well they will educate you as to what it is like to be on the “Tip of the Spear, but at the end of the line”

7:56:32 PM: New blog entry: You Served Radio Dec10th Live Blog http://www.vamortgagecenter.com/blog/?p=3763

8:05:01 PM: Just finished the pledge and disclaimer

8:20:54 PM: Talking to Derek Scholl

8:21:54 PM: Derek’s site is http://bit.ly/2H4CIo

8:24:34 PM: Derek’s grandfather served and had a friend of his son’s killed in Iraq

8:29:23 PM: @DerekSholl is working with @warriororg

8:35:46 PM: @DerekSholl has 3 albums out

8:37:50 PM: @DerekSholl is going to be at a @warriororg fund-raiser in Houston

8:41:17 PM: @DerekSholl has worked with US Chamber of Commerce on Hiring out Heroes

8:54:27 PM: now talking to author James Christ

8:57:50 PM: James is writing the book now about the korengal

9:02:17 PM: Search for James F. Christ on Amazon and you will find the books that James has written

9:31:03 PM: Talk to Paul Zuzzio who was an ETT from 06-07 and was interviewed by james

9:49:59 PM: Now talking to @tobynunn from @soldiersangels about the latest happenings

9:53:47 PM: @soldiersangels raised over 6 figures in donations for wounded warriors #valourit

10:02:00 PM: Troy and Marcus rocked the show tonight

10:02:17 PM: Thanks to Derek, James, Paul and Toby for being on You Served Radio.

10:02:23 PM: Goodnight all

8:10:22 PM: We are talking with LTG Ben Freakley

8:12:19 PM: LTG Freakley’s bio is at http://bit.ly/3pWQre

8:13:29 PM: New blog entry: Nov 19th You Served Radio Live Blog http://www.vamortgagecenter.com/blog/?p=3637

8:14:59 PM: LTG Feakley is the CG of the US Army Accessions Command

8:19:04 PM: LTG Freakley says every year of his 34 years is the Year of the NCO

8:22:05 PM: the LTG just said TIVO was one of the best inventions ever

8:22:39 PM: LTG Freakley is talking about twitter, facebook, yahoo, myspace and ArmyStrongStories.com

8:29:14 PM: LTG Freakley is talking about impressive young troops he has led

8:32:38 PM: LTG Freakley is talking about the lack of MoH live award recipients

8:36:55 PM: LTG Freakley is talking about the current situation in Afghanistsan

8:42:07 PM: Now listening to James Hooker’s song

8:48:22 PM: Talking to James Hooker

8:50:12 PM: Here is the link to James Hooker’s website, http://bit.ly/zdwqO

8:51:49 PM: James met Pres. GW Bush in March 2011

8:51:56 PM: I mean March 2001

8:54:13 PM: For 20 years James was the music director for Nancy Griffin

8:59:19 PM: James’s new album is free for download on his site. He only asks for donations

9:02:50 PM: James considers the new media outlets help him get his music out.

9:16:58 PM: We are talking with Larry Pratt from Gun Owners of America, http://bit.ly/2vRF11

9:28:31 PM: Larry is talking about the Veteran’s Disarmament Act which Pres. Bush signed into law that keeps soldiers with PTSD from having guns

9:30:43 PM: We are now talking about Ft. Hood with Larry

9:37:34 PM: We are talking about how the Act to take guns from soldiers contradicts the Army’s no-stigma message

9:47:11 PM: Larry is the Exec Director of Gun Owners of America

9:52:43 PM: Just wrapped up with Larry and now Marcus is talking to Emily about the school board issue

10:46:00 PM: Listen to Episode #65 – LTG Freakley, James Hooker and L… on You Served anytime on BlogTalkRadio. http://tobtr.com/s/745809 #BlogTalkRadio

This interview is with another expo booth floor member. She was at a booth behind the milblog lounge. I wanted to see what her knowledge was of milblogs in general.