I just wanted to once again thank everyone for their generosity by writing and sending care packages.

Birthday cards, books, food, letters from kids, stationary supplies, hygiene gear, the list goes on.

And of course socks, socks, and more socks. Because of the socks my little piggies are now good enough to start running again. I only ran for 30 minutes today as I want to ease into it but plan on being up to 45 within a couple weeks and an hour in a couple weeks.  Of course another reason why I am easing into it is because of the crazy heat.  Despite running at 530AM the mid to high 80s still isnt ideal but oh well.

Speaking of running, my friend Cheryl and I usually run a half and full marathon every year. Last year we helped raised money for Autism and would welcome your help again. The money we raise is for the Organization for Autism Research (OAR) and Mission for Educating Children with Autism (MECA). OAR is probably the leading nationally recognized group for advancing research and proving information on this infliction and MECA is a phenomenal organization located in my backyard (Chester County, PA) that provides life skills to young adults with Autism.

Please click http://www.firstgiving.com/runningwithscissors and donate whatever you can to this great cause.

Semper Fi,
GySgt Jonathan Jenkins

Popularity: 67% [?]

Here on TQ, with 1st MLG, we conduct what is known as a Corporals Course about once a month.  It is a voluntary two-week course completely ran by Marines and mainly composed of Marines yet we do have a few junior enlisted (E-4s) from the Navy and Army too.  Unfortunately, we don’t have the number of females in the course as many of us would like.

The mission at the Corporals Course is to provide the Marine Corporal with the education and leadership skills necessary to lead Marines. The Program of Instruction places emphasis on leadership foundations and a working knowledge of general military subjects.

The Marines are the most dedicated branch to learning and knowing history and that is why we are so much more successful then the other branches.  Built for constant change and adaptation, we don’t train to exact scenarios like the others.

Because of our greater flexibility we roger up to take missions that others won’t obligate to, cant, or fail.  And I won’t go into specifics but in just two months I have seen this more then a few times.

The course covers everything from drill (ceremonies, sword usage, etc…) to physical fitness to warrior skills to being more intelligent on personal matters like pay, leave, finance, medical, etc….

From corporal all the way up to Sergeant Major the Marines offer these voluntary schools every year.  In fact I am looking forward to attending the Gunnery Sergeants course next year (unless I get my way to go to Afghanistan).

I don’t have much time so could only volunteer to give a few classes but I am very much looking forward to it.  We started the course on Monday but today is my first day instructing.  I have the last class today which goes from 1600-1800 and will be teaching them about Personal Finance.

If you are wondering why Personal Finance is important well just look at our own situation.  When you are in control of your debts and income life gets easier and so much less stress.  If we can have Marines deploy with less stress it helps the entire family and the Marine Corps.

As much as Personal Finance is important I really look forward to my next class which will be on the Physical Dimensions of War.  It’s also a class I teach in the civilian world to organizations that wish to better understand themselves as well as their competition.  If you have never heard of it please email me (Jonathan@ConservativeBOG.org) so I can send you some information.

Anyway… I will let you know what the younger generation knows of finances later tonight or tomorrow.

Semper Fi

GySgt Jonathan Jenkins

Popularity: 44% [?]

Bottom Line Up Front: I don’t like the Beretta M9 pistol compared to the Glock 19 I carry at back in Pennsylvania.

When I got into theater I wasn’t that comfortable with the M9 because I probably only threw 200 rounds down range vice my Glock where I have no idea how many thousands I shot.

However, yesterday morning I went to shoot what I guess you can call a modified Quick Fire course and from the 25 yard line all the way down to the 7 yard line felt much more comfortable with it.  Normally, most Marines just need to shoot once a quarter out here but think I am going to be able to hook up with a unit that shoots every month.  At least until I feel almost as comfortable as the Glock.

Speaking of being comfortable, when I came out here I was hoping to get the M4 Carbine Rifle along with the M9 because of going outside the wire.  Just in case I need it, I would much rather be able to reach out and say hello to a knucklehead from a few hundred yards vice 25 yards with the M9 pistol.

While I don’t have my own M4 out here there are a few spares in the armory and I have a few officers that have offered to lend me theirs when I get off TQ so that’s cool.

Marines and their weapons.  Boys with their toys.

About the M4: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M4_carbine.

About the M9: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M9_pistol.

Semper Fi,

GySgt Jonathan Jenkins

Popularity: 61% [?]

Today I had meetings with Marines at various levels in a number of commands.  It was great to see that all of those I met were very much into their job and motivated to help their fellow Marines now and as well the ones that will start to relieve them months from now.

Of particular note was the executive officer (XO) of one of the battalions.  She assumed responsibility for over 100 Marines that were recalled and proved herself not only someone to complete the mission but COMPLETELY understood troop welfare.

Successful Marines live life by an unwritten ethos: Mission, Men, and Me.  Meaning complete the mission first, care about those in your trust second, and eventually take care of your own needs.  A good officer and staff non-commissioned officer knows that there are a few times when your Marines welfare must come before the mission. 

In this case, the XO recognized so many cases of Marines not being paid correctly, family back home not receiving the correct benefits, etc… that she actually stopped all the necessary grunt training they were mandated to complete and sent them all to the admin shop to get their personal lives in order.

Her ability to recognize the unnecessary stress and hardships her Marines and their families were having and to take immediate corrective action not only eased the minds of her warriors but positively effected morale, strengthened unit cohesion, and increased performance.  Now, almost every leadership position in her command is led by Marines who were recalled from their civilian life and doing an exemplary job.

She is certainly a Marine I would follow.

Semper Fi,

GySgt Jonathan Jenkins

Popularity: 42% [?]

Ahhh time again for the infamous gas chamber requalification.

Our gas chamber cannot kill you but it can certainly make you miserable for about half an hour or in my case today a few hours.

In typical Marine Corps fashion we were told to show up at 0 Dark 30 so we can start getting everyone their gas masks and get in the chamber by 0700.  Finally, after sitting around in the cold and rain until 0900 we start to kick off today’s training evolution.

168 Marines ready to breath in some riot control gas and possibly toss their cookies.  As much as I loathe the chamber I do like to go in quickly just to get it over with.

It was awesome to watch the first group go through as a few had to leave early and puke their guts up.   Luckily for me I am more of a spitter then a puker when it comes to these 10 minutes of fun-time.

Now here is where the fun begins.  There must be about 50 of us right next to a few of the vents waiting.  Brain-children that we are we don’t even think about the gas coming out.  Well let’s just say it only takes about a minute for us to know our mistake.  We are not even in the chamber and already its burning us and we are coughing.  No need to wait for someone to give us the order to get our masks on we just do it.

Well, finally it’s my turn with 25 other jarheads.  Still with gas masks on, we walk in and stand around to ensure we can breathe properly with the mask.  We then shake our heads from side to side to see if our masks securely in place.  After a few calisthenics and the gas mask still securely fastened to my brain-housing-unit it appears like another easy chamber experience until I remember the final stage.  We each must break the seal on our masks and raise them high enough for the instructors to see our eyes.  After the instructors see every Marines eyes we can put the mask on.

Having faith in my fellow Marines to lift our mask as soon as the order is given I do so as quickly as possible.  Grrr let down again!  There was at least one knucklehead taking his good old time as I was their long enough to not be able to hold my breath any longer.  Awesome, now I am sucking in gas and losing faith in my fellow warriors.

Finally we get the order to put our masks on, tighten them up, and try to breathe again.  Sucked in too much this particular time so now I am just trying to hold my breath again until we are allowed to run like sissies out of the chamber.

Finally, we get the order to get out and I proceed to take off my mask so I can spit and cough for 15 minutes.  What a great way to start your day eh?  But seriously, it’s not all that bad.  I had a bad chest cold the week prior and any remnants I had left were now gone.  Later in the day I certainly felt my chest cold was completely gone.  Maybe this should be a part of a healthcare bill!?

Now, in case you are wondering why it affected me for hours here you go.  The gas stays on your clothes until you wash them in cold water or a few hours out in the wind.  Well lucky me got to drive two other Marines to and from the chamber so the three of us contaminated the car.  On the seats, steering wheel, seat belts, clothes, etc… it seemed like it was all over the place.  It was nice to suck it again driving back to my room.  Let’s just say the drive from Quantico to Washington DC seemed more like 60 miles then 30 miles.  Maybe this is why some call me a brilliant idiot.

Semper Fi,

GySgt Jonathan Jenkins

Popularity: 40% [?]

This week I wrapped up my training to be a liaison for the Marine Corps Center for Lessons Learned (MCCLL) in Iraq.  We spent the week reviewing software/database systems, processes, procedures, and tools then ended the week having to give a mock brief about MCCLL to the Commanding Officer to ensure we knew what to do when in theater.

Interestingly enough, a few squids (Navy) and fly boys (Air Force) sat in on the training to try to gain an understanding on how the Marine Corps does business.

Briefly, my job in Iraq will be to continually communicate and provide training and information to every Marine Corps command in the Al Anbar province.  You can think of MCCLL as trying to ensure Marines utilize best practices.  We collect information and conduct interviews to understand what works, what doesn’t work, and how to improve upon virtually anything. 

Marines have been successful because of knowledge gained from Marines that came before us.  Now, MCCLL is leading the way with the other service branches hence why the other branches sat through our training too.

Now again, I am going to the Al Anbar province.  Al Anbar is the largest province in Iraq and encompasses much of the country’s western territory.  It shares borders with Syria, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia and is predominately Sunni.  Before 1976 the province was known as Ramadi; before 1962, it was known as Dulaim.

Not only was the training top notch, the Marines and civilians working for MCCLL had great personalities, drive, and commitment to improve how the Marine Corps operates.

MCCLL sets the bar high for the liaisons and expects much.  Just the sort of environment I like and need to be engaged with.  I look forward to helping my Marine Corps to the best of my abilities.

Semper Fi,

GySgt Jonathan Jenkins

Popularity: 41% [?]