Erik Turk

If you have to get on all fours (you know I would) just to make sure your colors are definitely off deck, your stand needs to be raised. I would not trust this at all. This is a usual Marine Corps colors set up with the crossed staffs. The other services will do this occasionally as well. What's interesting is that colors are mounted on the staff slightly differently between services. The Army and DoAF mount the color so that the fringe (top edge of the color) is facing forward on the flat side of the spade while the Marine Corps mounts it facing to the bearer's left on the blade side - because the color is supposed to hang fully at Present when the staff is twisted to blade-forward (cutting the cake). Navy and Coast Guard mount the color so that the fringe is facing forward so that the battle-ax and halberd are blade-forward. Which brings us back to this display. Both spade finials should be flat to the audience so that the fringe/top edges hang evenly. Lastly, state and territory flags can be in admittance to the union order or alphabetical. 🔆Education is 🔑! . 🔹Read your manuals! Download them free at the Resources page here: www.thedrillmaster.org . Prov 1:7b, Fools despise wisdom and instruction . 🔹https://lnkd.in/e6u7K8v2 . 🔹I educate, train, & certify cadets, military, judges, & 1st responders . 🔹Ask about a professional critique of your performance . 🔹If you choose to, you can learn more about D&C with my books on Ceremonial, Regulation, & Exhibition Drill: https://lnkd.in/ebVva2E . #honorguard #ceremonialguard #JROTC #AJROTC #MCJROTC #NJROTC #AFJROTC #SFJROTC #YoungMarines #CAP #CivilAirPatrol #SeaCadets

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Recently I was having a conversation with fellow NCO's that I found quite troubling. I am going to sum it up as best I can, while still hitting the main idea. We were talking about 'voluntold' events and the idea of camaraderie in the Air Force. I am on the side of voluntold. I believe that a lot of Airmen don't realize they may like something until they go. A lot of these events are there for the things that so many complain most about and that being the lack of morale at a base. This led to their thoughts that if leadership wanted their people to want to volunteer then they would have left it a spot for it on our annual reports or EPBs. This became a conversation for another time that I plan to address... This conversation on voluntold led our conversation to thoughts on camaraderie in the Air Force and being a major component of what sets the Air Force apart from being a job to a career and lifestyle. I was then told that camaraderie isn't something that Airman want anymore and that the only thing they want is their time. That the last thing anyone wants is to do military events with their co-workers when they could just be at home. By the end of the conversation, I was accused of being an "old dog mentality" and also having a lot of toxic leadership traits. The troubling part isn't their accusation of my views of camaraderie and voluntold activities as toxic leadership. I've been aware that I "bleed blue" for a long time now and I'm perfectly happy about that. What troubles me is that it seems so many people have forgotten, or don't realize, what makes the Air Force so great. The professional and personal development, the bonds you make with other people, the ability to do something that so can do or even want to do. It begs the question, so many people are accusing our young airmen of being the problem. That this generation isn't cut out for the military, they're weaker, they need more, etc, when it seems to me that the real problem is actually the front-line supervisors. When we are accusing other NCO's of being toxic because of their idea of the importance of the Whole Airman Concept and other Air Force ideals. Open to people's thoughts if you read this far.

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United States Marine Corps USMC Scout Sniper Association USMC Special Operations Marine Scout Sniper Heritage Foundation Recon & Sniper Foundation Rule 7- BECOME A TRAINED OBSERVER. Learn through observation. Take advantage of learning through other people’s mistakes. It’s a great way to learn without having to suffer through a lesson. When you are in learning mode speak only when you have something worth saying. Remember, you have 2 ears and 2 eyes, but only one mouth for a reason. Watch, Listen, Absorb, Analyze ...then contribute. When you do contribute provide honest, accurate, truthful feedback. Avoid embellishing or exaggerating to make your point more valid. A truly valid point will always stand on its own merits. See things for what they are, not for what you want them to be. This is especially true of people. Remember nothing is free, there is ALWAYS a catch. #recon #sniper #sarc #reconsniper #scoutsniper #specialamphibiousreconnaissancecorpsman #ReconSniperFoundation #headhunter #skills #life #liveright #diewell #lifelessons #recondo #forcerecon #soflete #dieliving #trainedobserver

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There's a saying in the Marine Corps: "You can't fix stupid." I beg to differ. Maybe you can't fix "intentionally stupid," that pesky "homeostatic loop". But why do we let our auto-reactions run the show? We have the power to take control, right here, right now. So, why do we blurt out "word vomit" as our initial reaction, while parading around with mindfulness, kindness, thoughtfulness, and love? It's like we're starring in a sitcom where our brain's instincts are the main act, and the thoughtful characters barely get any screen time. Imagine this: to be heard and understood, you must first *be* what you want others to hear. Being present with yourself first, in the moment—Meta-Aware—is the secret to self-awareness. This isn’t some fairy tale; it's a habit that’s easy to form and gets instant results. It’s like finding a hidden cheat code for life. Picture it: you’re more present, paying attention with intent. This creates an intentional change that you orchestrated. It’s almost too easy, like discovering a shortcut you didn’t know existed. And guess what? You should try it. Seriously, give it a whirl. To be truly heard and understood means becoming what you want others to hear. And how do we do that? By starting with ourselves. By being present, Meta-Aware, in each moment. Imagine the journey as the most entertaining self-help guide you've ever stumbled upon. A vivid, imaginative adventure that keeps you hooked, craving more. It’s not just a change; it’s an experience. So, what's next? Dive in, embrace it, and watch how being Meta-Aware transforms your life. It’s not just a change; it’s a thrill. And trust me, once you start, you'll want more. ToNow!

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⭐⭐⭐⭐Look at this Marine Corps League team! The youngest member of the team is 60. Let's take a look at technique ℹ️Color bearers. Right hands and elbows are perfect. Left hands should be at the sides. For strong winds, lef hand on staff under and touching the right. However, this split hand technique can offer more support for the upper body and staff. ℹ️Guards. Free arms should be suspended, but arm swing can help with movement and balance for those with underdeveloped musculature. The same for the outboard elbows (should be pinned) and grips on the rifles*. *Multiple responsibilities (everything noted above and more that happens simultaneously) takes time to learn and perfect. I don't expect vets and retirees to rise to the expected level of excellence as your Active Duty, Reserve, and Guard counterparts. Equipment is different. Certain requirements must be met. In the message I received, the team lamented on the struggle to obtain the proper equipment. Here are my suggestions. ℹ️Flagstaffs. Light ash wood guidon staffs with flat, silver spades are the standard. ℹ️Colors. www.colonialflag.com is hands down the best educated staff on colors requirements. I suggest for veteran groups to obtain 3'x5' or 4'x6' civilian size colors and save money. Military sizes are 3'x4' and 4'4"x5'6", more expensive, and not usually in stock. ℹ️Rifles. Glendale.com. The DrillAmerica replica rifles are perfect. ℹ️Colors harnesses. All I can find and recommend are the white leather or black clarino double harnesses with the rectangular socket frame. Active Duty and Reserve can order the upside down heart frame in the supply system. ℹ️Belts and slings. Glendale.com. 💲It's going to take about $1200 to properly equip a color guard. Whatever you do, DON'T get a pre-made set of staffs and colors. They will be wrong. Don't opt for less expensive! You'll just have to purchase the item(s) again later and it will be even more expensive then.

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United States Marine Corps USMC Special Operations USMC Scout Sniper Association (official) Recon & Sniper Foundation We seem to find quite a few former Recondos and HOGs in this line of work. Very interesting but of GWOT history. OP: @socom_archive A CIA SAD officer taking point during a joint patrol between an Afghan Counter Terrorism Pursuit Team (CTPT) and 10th Mountain Division soldiers in Nuristan, Afghanistan. Between 2002 and 2004, the Central Intelligence Agency began to develop a clandestine program designed to harass and chase al-Qaeda fighters around the Afghan-Pakistan border. These teams came to be known as CTPTs, and at its height, the program recruited and regularly paid over 3,000 Afghan militiamen to carry out these operations so that the CIA could maintain deniability. These militias were favored over most government forces due to their reliability (I say this very loosely) and their vehement hatred for al-Qaeda. While the initial CTPT program was somewhat shortlived, it evolved into the Omega Program some years later. Omega was split into several teams, stationed at several outstations across Afghanistan. Teams of US SOF operators would partner with CIA officers (who’d lead these teams) to provide specialist support, like medical care, close air support, and EOD support to their Afghan counterparts. They’d then lead their Afghan teams onto target, where they’d clash with al-Qaeda terrorists to collect intel for follow-on operations. Omega would later face scrutiny after reports surfaced that its Afghan soldiers were carelessly shooting and recklessly torturing civilians, suspected to be insurgents, during missions. Ultimately, the program came to be dissolved when the United States and NATO left Afghanistan in August 2021. Despite this controversy, the Omega Program became a template for the CIA and Department of Defense on using surrogate partner forces to conduct clandestine strikes in denied areas all over the world. Tertia Optio. 🇺🇸 🇦🇫

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