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Rules on Sending Care Packages (New and Improved!)

Thursday, July 5, 2007, 07:30 PM

I recently revised the Golden Rules of Care Packages because I know my readers always enjoy a good laugh. Either at my expense, or theirs. The only real point to this list, is to have a laugh. So, keep that in mind if you choose to read on. Me, personally, I love each and every care package I receive...

1. Do not send party invitations for weddings or Independence Day or any other festivities while we are deployed. Probably, because we can't attend. Anybody who sends a party invitation to a deployed soldier is clearly retarded.

2. Do not continue to write a soldier, when the soldier never writes you back. If you really want attention that bad, jump off a building.

3. The meanest thing you can do to a soldier is to send generic, not name brand goods. Hey, I like to save money too, but you should at least have the decency "to not" send care packages. Sending generic brand goods is worse than taking a dump in a cardboard box and shipping it over.

4. No more magazines dated back to 1980. It's not like anybody is actually going to read them. I know vacuum cleaners with better Care Package sense than you.

5. Don't ever send school supplies unless we ask. Most soldiers don't like to criticize care packages, but you could send over a box of deadly scorpions or feces, and that would be the best package you've ever sent. Yes, seriously.

6. Do not send a typed written letter about your personal life to a soldier. It doesn't matter if you're Elvis Presley back from the dead or the first person to ride a unicorn. Receiving a typed letter about your personal life is the lowest form of support known to a soldier.

7. Don't shop at the Dollar Store for your soldier. I'm sure it sounds great when you tell your family and friends that you support the troops by sending care packages, but if you're shopping at the Dollar store, you're probably worse off than we are. Please, send us the mailing address to the bridge you live under, and we'll try and help.

8. If it's not electronic, it's not worth sending. I'm convinced 99% of what people send us is garbage. I haven't seen a soldier yet, complain about receiving an iPod in the mail. I'm just saying.

9. Do not send crossword puzzles. Or word finds. It's a sure way to disappoint a soldier when they open the Care Package. I've seen people who were punched in the face repeatedly; look much happier than soldiers who opened care packages with Crossword Puzzles.

10. Don't tell a soldier that you understand what he or she is going through because your neighbor's cousin, who has a sister, who has a brother, knows somebody who was deployed. It's a sure way of having your care package transformed into a kicking ball. Or, a smoking pile of ash.

Uh, Author Uknown

Have a rule you'd like to add? Send it to milblogging@gmail.com

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Happy Fourth of July from Bad Voodoo Platoon!

Wednesday, July 4, 2007, 10:01 AM

(pictured above from left to right in back: Thomson, Toby Nunn of Northern Disclosure, Molina, Ranger Nievera of Brotherhood of Courage, from left to right in front: JP of Milblogging.com, Baker of Hard Soldier) Thanks to VAJoe.com for the t-shirts. And don't forget to check out VAJoe's Milblogger Interviews!

Bad Voodoo Bloggers not shown in picture: Jones of West Coast Notorious, and Sid of RangerSid.com

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Milblogger in the News: Milblogs

Tuesday, July 3, 2007, 04:17 PM

(Inside Northside) What does a military wife who doesn’t live near a military installation do when she needs to create a sense of community?

In the United States, only one percent of the population has family members in the Armed Forces. A lot of people don’t support the military at all; among those who do, there is often some confusion. Some suggest that they don’t approve of the war, but do back the soldiers. They may be sincere, but their pronouncements sound like tap-dancing sometimes. And then there are those who are outright hostile to anything related to military culture. In this situation, I found only one way to find support for my family, and to offer the same to others: I turned to the Internet, and created virtual support. I became a blogger, an online diarist—a publisher of a personal magazine. In search of something ordinary—a sense of community—I stumbled into something extraordinary: the New Media, blogs.

Read the entire story here.

Thanks to Greta for the tip.

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Somewhere in Iraq on my First Mission

Tuesday, July 3, 2007, 08:53 AM

Here’s a picture of me on my first mission in Iraq. Since nobody understands what I do here, I figured I’d post a picture of me to help explain my job in the military. If you’re sitting at your computer shouting, “A-ha! Professional Male Super Model!” Well, you’d actually be wrong. I mean, “professional super modeling” isn’t even an occupational specialty in the military. Honest to god.

And for those of you who emailed in, “Brad Pitt body double”. Well, c’mon, let’s not get carried away.

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What other bloggers are saying: Milbloggin'

Sunday, July 1, 2007, 09:20 AM

(Conservative Thoughts) To those who milblog I offer my sincere appreciation. Not only do they provide a real life, real time glimpse into their lives but additionally they show their dedication, commitment, strength and courage to not only serve their country but address the world and echo these qualities. All done in the face of some public opposition or in spite of it. Their character and impressive attention to duty is remarkable. We are all able to enjoy the freedom we often take for granted because of them. And they still take the time to inform the public, help each other out and offer whatever they can in
further service to country.

Read the entire story here.

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A story by one of my Supporters

Saturday, June 30, 2007, 02:30 PM

One of my long-time supporters and readers, who goes by Linda on her blog, wrote an awesome story which talks about me and my original blogging from

Afghanistan

in 2005. Things, I didn’t even remember about that time. The military blog was called “The National Guard Experience”. The blog is now defunct, but my supporters are still here. Linda and all my supporters amaze me.

Here’s an excerpt from the story:

The sweetest story was about his 3 yr old son who had a Goofy doll to represent his Dad and carried it everywhere. One night he woke up crying and told his mom he wanted his dad. His mom tried to give him Goofy and he said no, I want my real dad! Mom said she did, too, and they both cried for a bit. These kind of stories were what made us love JP. I’m speaking for quite a few people he affectionately calls his “crackheads”. (It better be affectionately, dude!)

Read the entire story here.

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New Milblogs Added: June 17th - 28th, 2007

Saturday, June 30, 2007, 02:19 PM

West Coast Notorious, Jones, Iraq, Military blog written by a Team Leader in the Cali..., 28 Jun 2007

Jim Spiri in Iraq, Jim Spiri, Iraq, Jim Spiri is embedded with Golf Company, 2nd Batta..., 26 Jun 2007

Training to be a Soldier's Wife, Bshel07, United States, I am just trying to learn how to release and deal ..., 25 Jun 2007

Charlie Foxtrot, Charlie Foxtrot, United States, Thoughts and comments on the incoherant entangleme..., 23 Jun 2007

The Unlikely Soldier, The Usual Suspect, Iraq, I'm an infantryman currently serving in Iraq. I'm ..., 23 Jun 2007

Connected - Surviving Life as Army Wives, Amie and Jennifer, United States, Connected is an open forum for you the Army wife. ..., 23 Jun 2007

Fightin' 6th Marines!, Fightin6thmarines, Iraq, fightin6thmarines, 21 Jun 2007

WTF Over, Sgt. Gibby, United States, I am the father of a couple of outgoing little men..., 20 Jun 2007

Bouhammer's Military Blog, Troy Steward, United States, This is my anything-military related blog. The top..., 20 Jun 2007

Rookie Army National Guard Wife, Kimberly Wiechec, United States, My thoughts and attempts to work through my emotio..., 18 Jun 2007

Army Blogger Wife, ABW, United States, Preparing for my husband's third deployment to Ira..., 17 Jun 2007

Non-Essential Equipment, Non-Essential Equipment, United States, The true tales of a misanthropic military wife, FR..., 17 Jun 2007

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Bad Voodoo Military Bloggers

Thursday, June 28, 2007, 04:13 PM

I'm proud to say, my Platoon Bad Voodoo probably has the most milbloggers ever in a single Platoon. You need to be patient though, many of the Bad Voodoo soldiers are new to blogging, and because of the nature of our job, internet access is limited. Here's a short list of Bad Voodoo soldiers who have blogs (more are under construction):

Northern Disclosure
West Coast Notorious
Milblogging.com
Hard Soldier
Ranger Sid
Brotherhood of Courage

I'm seriously thinking we belong in the Guinness Book of World Records for having the most bloggers in a single Platoon. Unfortunately, it's kinda difficult to get listed in the book. I tried submitting my name a couple times, but surprisingly I got rejected. Apparently, being as handsome as me isn't considered "Guinness worthy". Neither is wrestling tigers. With your bare hands. While blindfolded. I know, I couldn’t believe it either.

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What other Milbloggers are Saying: Downrange

Thursday, June 28, 2007, 11:09 AM

(Charlie Foxtrot) Over the last few years, there have been many good blogs written 'downrange' in both Iraq and Afghanistan. However, as time passes, people rotate and come back home. So perhaps it would be isntructive to look at a few of the good blogs who are currently in the field.

Most of the good bloggers tend to be Army or Marine. Maybe because they have the most interesting things to pass along. But also perhaps because the USAF IT folks won't let you come within spitting distance of blogging (Blogger, etc) or webmail websites. They are all locked out because they pose and 'inherent threat'. And here I thought we were the most technologically advanced service....oh never mind.

Below are some of the downrange bloggers that I currently find most interesting.

ACUTE POLITICS (Army, Fallujah)

BADGERS FORWARD (Army, Ramadi)

FIGHTIN' 6TH MARINES (USMC, Fallujah)

THE GUNNER'S WORLD (USMC, Fallujah)

JACK ARMY (Army, Iraq)

JAKE'S LIFE (USMC, Fallujah)

LICARI OF ARABIA (USMC, Fallujah)

MILBLOGGING.COM (Army, Iraq)

NORTHERN DISCLOSURE (Army Iraq)

PRO DEA ET PATRIA (Army Chaplain, Iraq)

Read the entire story here.

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The Biggest Military Supporters Around

Wednesday, June 27, 2007, 03:28 PM

The Cathedral School in Jacksonville, Florida has been putting together care packages for us while we're deployed. The students, teachers and parents have been working together to learn more about each soldier and to find out what we need. I'm in awe. Keep in mind, these kids are like 5-years-old. When I was 5, I was too occupied with making milk come out of my nose. God forbid I sent care packages to anyone at that age. The boxes probably would've contained drool, broken twigs, and some dead bugs.

Yeah yeah, I was easily entertained when I was 5. But then again, it's easy to stay amused when you're raised in the wild by wolves. Like me. Raaaaaawwwwwwwwrrr!

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Bad Voodoo Platoon Logo Almost Complete

Wednesday, June 27, 2007, 03:06 PM

Alot of readers have been asking about Bad Voodoo t-shirts. Well, I have good news. One of our soldiers made a design, and then the graphics people at GX: The Guard Experience magazine illustrated the drawing. So, in the next week or so we'll be making t-shirts available to our Bad Voodoo supporters.

The folks at GX magazine work non-stop. I have to hand it to them, any time we need something, they get it done. They must work like 76 hours a day. They're like robots. If I showed up at their offices I'm pretty sure all I'd find is little robot droids scurrying around the office on wheels, bumping into one another, referring to each other by numbers. And also in the office: a huge wall portrait of me. I'm picturing the size of Mount Rushmore.

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Milblogs in the News: Guatemala: An Open Internet - Anyone Can Blog

Wednesday, June 27, 2007, 07:18 AM

(Global Voices Online) Ten years before, no word about the Guatemalan Army was heard - not in the news, not even in colloquial chats. That´s why it is really interesting to find a military blogger, in Perspectiva Militar [ES], you can learn more about the training and adventures of a kaibil, a member of a quite controversial unit of the soldiers. There you can learn more about a view not often shared by media.

Read the entire story here.

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Introducing me and my Milblog

Tuesday, June 26, 2007, 04:39 PM

For those of you not in the know (pretty much anyone who lives in outer space), my name is “JP”, and I’m the webmaster of Milblogging.com. I’m also currently deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Although I’m based somewhere in Kuwait, I will be spending most of my time in

Iraq

doing Convoy Security. Now, it’s not the most glamorous job for an Infantryman, but it’s probably the toughest mission for any Soldier in theater. I mean, yeah, I’m sure it was pretty tough when Rambo single-handedly defeated the Russians in Afghanistan, but compared to spending 365 days doing Convoy Security, he might as well have been visiting Disneyland or riding unicorns.

Throughout this deployment, I plan on keeping a journal online (here on the Home page of Milblogging.com) and offline in a notebook (which I totally plan turn into a book). Of course, no one has expressed any interest in a book by me, but according to my family (Hi Mom) and about a dozen imaginary friends I have, they’d all like to see my adventures in

Iraq

turn into a book. So, I’ll be sharing what I can about my experiences here on Milblogging.com, but the real excitement will be left for my book.

As far as my Unit, I belong to Bad Voodoo Platoon. We’re a kickass Infantry Platoon from the California National Guard. You can learn more about us on our Platoon Website here. Keep in mind, it’s just a temporary website while the great folks at GX: The Guard Experience Magazine finish up the logo and official website. And by the way, our Platoon has received outstanding support from readers, family, friends, Soldiers Angels, GX, Marlo and the school, and many more individuals and organizations. We plan on recognizing all of you once our official website is up and running. I, personally, am happy to see all my loyal fans who kept up with me during my deployment to

Afghanistan

from 2004-2005, right back here supporting me once again. Thanks to everyone. You really make a difference.

For new readers and supporters, every little bit of support helps. Honestly, you could mail me a bag of garbage and I’d find something useful for it. And by garbage, I mean care packages with Word Finds, beef jerky, and magazines dated back to 1980 in them. Sorry, but it's true. Beef jerky is garbage.

I also want to say Hi to my beautiful wife, Angelica, and my two boys, Joseph and Julian. My wife is so beautiful, I’m totally convinced I married Penelope Cruz. I could post three photos of Penelope Cruz and one photo of my wife and ask you to find Penelope, and all of you would just point to my wife’s photo and then say to yourself, “Who is that mutant in the other three photos?” Kinda like the contest I had to find the Brad Pitt look-alike: there were photos of a rock, a nail clipper, a unicorn, and me. It was too easy though, because I soooo look like Brad Pitt.

One last thought, there will be times when I’m on mission and I won’t be able to blog. So there might be days at a time, maybe even a week or so, when I don’t post anything. Nada. Zip. You could sit around staring at your computer screen until it catches fire, or you could just log off and check back later.

Anyway, I hope all of you stick around and join me and Bad Voodoo Platoon on this year long journey throughout

Iraq

Milblogger in the News: Undercover in Afghanistan

Tuesday, June 26, 2007, 10:04 AM

My good pal and milblogger Troy Steward who recently returned home from Afghanistan, was in The Buffalo News. I still haven’t met Troy in person, but like many of the friends I’ve made online blogging (Hi Chuck Norris), I hope someday I get a chance to meet them in person.

Man, because for all you know, I could be some Super Computer called JP that runs entirely on good looks.

(The Buffalo News) When they left last spring to go undercover training soldiers in the Afghan National Army, three local men knew they would be dealing with some pretty raw material. They had no idea how raw.

Read the entire story here.

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Military Supporter Blogger in the News: Canadian issue-a remarkable endeavour

Monday, June 25, 2007, 06:00 PM

(The Maple Leaf ) Anyone with an eye for art will certainly appreciate the tremendous talent and flair for detail expressed through the work of Melissa Ryan. Ms. Ryan is an emerging visual artist who is currently working on a series of paintings called "Canadian Issue". She began this unique project in January 2007 and has completed over 30 paintings to date. Her aim is to document the equipment that is presently issued to the Canadian Military by researching and creating still-life paintings of the objects (weapons, vehicles and equipment) of the CF.

Read the entire story here about military supporter and blogger Melissa ryans art.

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How the Op Sec Guidelines have affected my Milblogging

Sunday, June 24, 2007, 01:48 PM

Despite all the hoopla with the new op sec guidelines these past few months, I haven’t had any problems blogging on the internet from over here in the desert. Kind of makes you wonder where the pundits who said the new guidelines were the “last nail in the coffin”, got their information. Then again, even if my blog were shutdown as a result of the updated guidelines, I’m guessing not too many people would be upset because most visitors never read the homepage of Milblogging.com.

I could post the cure for baldness or pictures of me riding unicorns, and most visitors would never even bother glancing at this section of the website.

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Training in the desert

Thursday, June 21, 2007, 09:40 PM

Getting back into Military Blogging

Wednesday, June 20, 2007, 07:39 PM

I guess it's time I got back into military blogging now that I'm over here. It's been a few years since I've milblogged, but it will definitely help me communicate with people back home, especially my family (Hi Mom). And it might even make for more interesting reading. I mean, I guess writing about my enormous muscles and good looks can get boring after awhile? I know I know, that's crazy talk. But seriously, I can't even remember how to milblog. Or, for that matter type a non-fiction story. I'm pretty sure if I wrote about my adventures here today, it would involve a handsome superhuman riding a unicorn while chewing beef jerky and rescuing baby orphans. And of course, talk of my muscles.

Because that sooo happened today.

Let the Milblogging begin...

Tuesday, June 19, 2007, 07:30 PM

I’m here in Kuwait right now. I’m actually doing more training so I’m not sure how often I’ll be able to get to a computer. It’s like 130 degrees right now and it’s only 10 am in the morning. Seriously. As long as I can make it to the Computer Center without catching fire, expect to here from me again.

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New Milblogs Added: May 31st - June 14th, 2007

Saturday, June 16, 2007, 06:39 PM

Here's another list of military blogs submitted to the Milblogging.com database. Sorry I haven't written in a few days, but my family was visiting me down here at Camp Shelby for our departure ceremony. SOooooo, this mobilization-training saga is almost over and now I’m getting ready to fly overseas. I didn't expect to see my wife and kids again before I left but it was amazing...especially to see my 1-year old son Joseph, motoring around and saying "Ma-ma" and "Dank-u" and drooling and all those cute things babies do.

He’s so cute I’m beginning to wonder if he’s even human. Seriously. It’s like my wife gave birth to a Care Bear.

The Hoorah Post , Hoorrah, United States, The (somewhat anonymous) other side of the US mili... , 14 Jun 2007

When the Smoke Clears , RSM, United States, pedantic journal of an IT exec who's putting it al... , 12 Jun 2007

Former Wisconsin football player now serving in Iraq , Jake Wood, Iraq, Jake Wood's days of being on the Wisconsin offensi... , 12 Jun 2007

Melissa ryans art , Melissa ryan, Canada, I am a painter, I am currently living in Oromocto ... , 12 Jun 2007

Fifteen Months - Deployment Journal , Stella Post, United States, An army wife's continuous search for the positives... , 11 Jun 2007

Captain KJ , Kjirstin Bentson, United States, Inspired to join the Air Force after 9/11, Captain... , 11 Jun 2007

A Pittance of Time , Katana, United States, I am a Psychology student and a part-time soldier ... , 10 Jun 2007

Jinx's Mental Notes , Johannah, United States, I have recently enlisted in The Navy, here is wher... , 04 Jun 2007

Me Over There , THE DEYOUNGS, Iraq, A Navy Nurse in Iraq. Amazing photos. , 02 Jun 2007

Loving A Soldier , Laura Roberts, United States, Day to life with a deployed Soldier , 02 Jun 2007

Jeremy M Burke , Jeremy M Burke, Iraq, I believe we have been extremely successful in our... , 01 Jun 2007

BlueJacket's Manual , Ann M., United States, I have a degree in English and worked for a big pu... , 01 Jun 2007

Fitz's Blog , Fitz, Iraq, military blog, which will be coming down. , 01 Jun 2007

USAF Guy's Milblog , USAF Guy, Iraq, I'm an Air Force officer currently deployed to Bas... , 01 Jun 2007

TroopTalk: Voice Of The Troops , Capt. Trip Bellard, United States, Troop Talk: Voice of the Troops brings the soldier... , 31 May 2007

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