tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22831392916371786992024-03-13T08:22:16.011-04:00"I am your eyes" Telling the U.S. Navy storyI'm Petty Officer 1st Class Glenn Slaughter, and I am a U.S. Navy Mass Communication Specialist. I've got solid info about MC 'A' and 'C' school, as well as entering the fleet for the first time.<br><br>
If you like what you see, follow me on Facebook!
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My views don't necessarily represent the Navy, and given the ever-changing landscape of the military, individual experiences may vary from mine.<br><br><br><br><br><br>Glennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13493183049080739575noreply@blogger.comBlogger322125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2283139291637178699.post-5774948607440671802021-05-12T02:56:00.000-04:002021-05-12T02:56:21.266-04:00<p> Hey everyone I'm still here! I'm in Okinawa, stop by my Facebook page and see what the MCs have been up to!</p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/USNAVYMC">www.facebook.com/USNAVYMC</a></span></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yIvSfWPpU-0/YJt7yv3WuWI/AAAAAAAAJ6k/VrDI0ynZl4MyvOPoAvtzeFPQA6VmEdUhwCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/Me%2BFire.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="922" data-original-width="960" height="384" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yIvSfWPpU-0/YJt7yv3WuWI/AAAAAAAAJ6k/VrDI0ynZl4MyvOPoAvtzeFPQA6VmEdUhwCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h384/Me%2BFire.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p><br /></p>Glennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13493183049080739575noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2283139291637178699.post-42156005639653783632019-05-04T10:39:00.000-04:002019-05-04T10:40:59.192-04:00MC 'A' school: New and improved!The Defense Information School just rolled out its updated training program. Watch this video for a great overview of what to expect as an MC student.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwNUwkYpeVX46oJ-feMTNwZkHeoV20XNgNo79x5pjRlpuAR_iyCXUEdYn5maW5tUUx-FbXLfIX1aDVmv1E8EA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />Glennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13493183049080739575noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2283139291637178699.post-18236001001544205952017-07-08T00:26:00.003-04:002017-07-08T00:33:38.823-04:00PCS Move to Japan<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SVW4ho_mR9Q/WV_GWGC-4qI/AAAAAAAAHNg/a79b3tHFHI4-lWSrJM166t1VNJDMP89WQCLcBGAs/s1600/34951043146_45cbc84e7d_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="427" data-original-width="640" height="266" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SVW4ho_mR9Q/WV_GWGC-4qI/AAAAAAAAHNg/a79b3tHFHI4-lWSrJM166t1VNJDMP89WQCLcBGAs/s400/34951043146_45cbc84e7d_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Somewhere south of Japan. (May 2017) - Photo by MC2 Nathan Burke</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">G</span>oodbye everyone, it's been fun! I leave the United States in a few days, headed for USS Ronald Reagan, ported in <a href="http://www.militaryinstallations.dod.mil/MOS/f?p=132:CONTENT:0::NO::P4_INST_ID%2CP4_INST_TYPE:2635%2CINSTALLATION" target="_blank">Yokosuka</a>, Japan. It's a lot of work to get ready to PCS (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Permanent_change_of_station" target="_blank">Permanent Change of Station</a>) move to a new country and I wanted to share some tips for anyone who comes after me.</div>
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* Things change all the time, so don't take this guide for gospel!</div>
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* I post way more often to I Am Your Eyes on Facebook, so get there.</div>
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If you don't feel like reading, I did a quick video showing what packing for this was like.</div>
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/122199361139641/videos/2102478163111741/">https://www.facebook.com/122199361139641/videos/2102478163111741/</a></div>
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Permanent Change of Station is a fancy phrase for moving to a new command. </div>
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So far I've PCSed from the Nimitz to Syracuse University to Defense Media Activity, which are all commands in this country. Going to Japan ups the game just a little bit.</div>
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Here's some quick tips:</div>
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<b>Start early. </b>I'm a single Sailor with no kids or pets and it took almost two weeks to get prepared to leave. Those with families will want to start a month or two early. </div>
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<b>Read all the paperwork. </b>The Navy will send you lots of good gouge to read, as should your next command. It will have important things like flight info and cultural details of the host country. </div>
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<li>I posted detailed info about flying to Japan at the bottom of the page. Thanks to Reddit user TheBeneGesseritWitch!</li>
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<li>BE ANNOYING. If there's anything you don't understand, call people and ask! My itinerary had detailed info on my flight from Baltimore to Seattle, but very little about the plane from Seattle to Japan. I called four people before I found someone who could tell me what the check in process was like, the plane seating details, etc.</li>
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<b>Understand the packing process. </b>If you have large items, like furniture, you'll be assigned a Household Goods move. If you have small stuff, like me, you'll get an Unaccompanied Goods move. You could have both types! </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LgjfMPcmP2I/WV-88GZ6lxI/AAAAAAAAHNE/VZxL2Au3JrMKUJYoZxj5vABxnzT55oPsACLcBGAs/s1600/20170628_170827.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LgjfMPcmP2I/WV-88GZ6lxI/AAAAAAAAHNE/VZxL2Au3JrMKUJYoZxj5vABxnzT55oPsACLcBGAs/s400/20170628_170827.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Breaking down the stationary bike and weight bench, hoping UG movers would take it.</td></tr>
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My place came pre furnished so I only needed a UG move. I had a couple of larger items I wanted them to fit, but had to wait until the movers arrived to find out if they'd take them. No one on the phone would say for sure. (They ended up taking everything)<br />
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<a href="http://www.wetooktheroadlesstraveled.com/2014/08/tips-for-moving-with-the-military.html">http://www.wetooktheroadlesstraveled.com/2014/08/tips-for-moving-with-the-military.html</a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EpHjRTDJUsg/WWBJ4uh-SlI/AAAAAAAAHNs/avDJfo-WsxYAwxQxGCYJs-KZKf3u5-70gCLcBGAs/s1600/20170628_170803.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EpHjRTDJUsg/WWBJ4uh-SlI/AAAAAAAAHNs/avDJfo-WsxYAwxQxGCYJs-KZKf3u5-70gCLcBGAs/s400/20170628_170803.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was the UG move items. I've been told three weeks to two months for this to arrive.</td></tr>
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<b>Sell Sell Sell. </b> Not everything should make the trip overseas. Many things are just easier to buy over there. For me, it was my Jeep, my water cooler, mountain bike, and a bunch of smaller stuff. Figure this out at the beginning so you can start selling or giving away. (I mostly gave away)</div>
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Why would I sell my bike? Because I don't want to wait for it to arrive in the UG shipment, so I'll just buy a new one.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qCJKKS6ow90/WV-87KfkvUI/AAAAAAAAHMw/yATpKFhb_LcytzzhbmUhTh-mX3CR5iGrwCLcBGAs/s1600/20170626_180807.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qCJKKS6ow90/WV-87KfkvUI/AAAAAAAAHMw/yATpKFhb_LcytzzhbmUhTh-mX3CR5iGrwCLcBGAs/s400/20170626_180807.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Navy has too many damn uniforms. Look at those sexy PO1 chevrons though.</td></tr>
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<b><br />Double check your uniforms (especially the blues or whites). </b>Depending on the time of year, you'll be expected to arrive to your new command in dress blues or whites. Make sure they look good, have the proper rank (did you get promoted) and still fit (did you get fat).<br />
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Take off all pinned rank and ribbon items and store them in a plastic bag, to lessen the chance of them getting torn off when some baggage handler tosses it.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-og2rJMM0O9o/WV-87AEJDEI/AAAAAAAAHM4/yoin2wA-mY8jcGcUyZQn-pR1WMzsV3qcgCLcBGAs/s1600/20170626_183959.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-og2rJMM0O9o/WV-87AEJDEI/AAAAAAAAHM4/yoin2wA-mY8jcGcUyZQn-pR1WMzsV3qcgCLcBGAs/s400/20170626_183959.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mama's vacuum bags made my uniform items super small.</td></tr>
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<b>Get magic bags. </b>They're called <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vacuum_packing" target="_blank">vacuum bags</a>, and they decrease the amount of space your stuff takes up. Thanks to my mama for suggesting these and letting me use some of hers!<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZbIibcwfzd4/WV-87J8CCEI/AAAAAAAAHM0/9z4gLO_mZG8qZR9Maj5pLJMvUYfC9Wg7ACLcBGAs/s1600/20170628_170741.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZbIibcwfzd4/WV-87J8CCEI/AAAAAAAAHM0/9z4gLO_mZG8qZR9Maj5pLJMvUYfC9Wg7ACLcBGAs/s400/20170628_170741.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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This is my checked and carry on stuff. I bought a blue suitcase so it'd be easier to spot at baggage claim. Every small electronic item I own is in here.</div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k-wqf3tjKDs/WV-89WxbmYI/AAAAAAAAHNU/R4bowwWJCNkduOrRci6Q1CdjV8eYr_2ZACLcBGAs/s1600/20170629_165027.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k-wqf3tjKDs/WV-89WxbmYI/AAAAAAAAHNU/R4bowwWJCNkduOrRci6Q1CdjV8eYr_2ZACLcBGAs/s400/20170629_165027.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Carry on items, so all this is going in the backpack. Make sure you have:<br />
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<li>your printed orders</li>
<li>your passport</li>
<li>a bag with sunflower, pistachio, and pumpkin seeds</li>
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Make sure checked and carry on stuff is separate from your HH or UG move items, because the movers will take everything they see. I put all this stuff in a separate room and told them everything in there was staying. Simple.<br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TQnuk_UxbWc/WV-88PxYFjI/AAAAAAAAHNA/iGxo5gruvao9Wh24nk3Hu5Ol2PyjrkpSgCLcBGAs/s1600/20170628_181310.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TQnuk_UxbWc/WV-88PxYFjI/AAAAAAAAHNA/iGxo5gruvao9Wh24nk3Hu5Ol2PyjrkpSgCLcBGAs/s400/20170628_181310.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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My PC obviously couldn't go in checked luggage. I was told it was a bad idea to ship it with my high end graphics card still attached, as it could get easily damaged during a rough ride...<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0oSsmpeekiQ/WV-88jEkXjI/AAAAAAAAHNI/B0EypHe8Hsgw6vj168ff5JpfSNCk3bzoQCLcBGAs/s1600/20170628_181822.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0oSsmpeekiQ/WV-88jEkXjI/AAAAAAAAHNI/B0EypHe8Hsgw6vj168ff5JpfSNCk3bzoQCLcBGAs/s320/20170628_181822.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I didn't take this pic just to show everyone I own a Founder's Edition GTX 1080, the best graphics card on the planet.</td></tr>
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...so I took it out and shipped it in its original packaging. I'm terrible at assembling, disassembling, or maintaining ANYTHING so this was a big win for me.<br />
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<i>SURVIVAL TIP: Pack your electronics in their original boxes if you can, but DON'T SEAL THEM. The movers will want to copy serial numbers so they have a record on their end.</i><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2M5-yrpJzEI/WV-89KA6KOI/AAAAAAAAHNQ/PMD5-zMqY3YoUUMGc2ZS6E7lW5AJXdz3gCLcBGAs/s1600/20170629_133907.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2M5-yrpJzEI/WV-89KA6KOI/AAAAAAAAHNQ/PMD5-zMqY3YoUUMGc2ZS6E7lW5AJXdz3gCLcBGAs/s400/20170629_133907.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">They put everything in huge boxes. Maurice and Lindsey were awesome. Thanks again guys!</td></tr>
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<b>Treat the movers right. </b> These guys are working their asses off all day. Have some snacks and drinks ready for a UG move, and give them sandwiches or pizza for the bigger HH moves. Also, tip them. I gave them $40 each at the end and they were very appreciative. That was probably more than necessary, but they were cool. (we laughed almost the whole time...good conversation)<br />
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It feels awkward to have strangers moving your stuff. I asked them if I could do anything to help and liked the response. He said "just hang out and talk to us." That's a great approach, because it's a non-creepy way to stay in the equation to make sure it goes smoothly.<br />
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I just hung out on the couch and played Stepbrothers real loud so everyone could enjoy it.<br />
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<b>Learn the language (don't be lazy like me). </b> I need to get on this, because knowing some Japanese will make my 3-year tour more rewarding...and help me talk to women without accidentally saying something weird like "I enjoy tickling myself in the tub."<br />
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I just bought <a href="http://store.steampowered.com/video/438270" target="_blank">Hiragana Battle</a>, an old school RPG game that teaches Japanese writing.<b> </b>Might help.<br />
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<b>Don't blow stuff up. </b>Be prepared for different voltage in another country. Depending on where you are, you might need adapters or even converters. This could be a post on all on its own, but check out this page for good info.<br />
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<a href="http://www.japanupdate.com/2015/02/japanese-versus-north-american-voltage-and-frequency/">http://www.japanupdate.com/2015/02/japanese-versus-north-american-voltage-and-frequency/</a><br />
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<b>Know the flight process. </b>Going to Japan means a flight on the Patriot Express out of Seattle. It's part of the Air Mobility Command. (AMC) I'm still learning about all this, but here's a couple helpful links.<br />
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/SeaTacAmcPassengerTerminal/">https://www.facebook.com/SeaTacAmcPassengerTerminal/</a> (VERY RESPONSIVE TO MESSAGES)<br />
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<a href="http://www.spacea.net/faq/patriot-express">http://www.spacea.net/faq/patriot-express</a><br />
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<i>SURVIVAL TIP: </i>If arriving in Seattle from another flight, get your checked luggage from baggage claim. It doesn't fly straight through to Japan, so you'll need to recheck it when getting your AMC ticket.<br />
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Here's step-by-step instructions to get you through the Seattle Tacoma airport USO and flight check-in process. Individual experience will vary, especially since flight times change frequently. I'll be spending the night in the USO, so I won't follow this exactly.<br />
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Reddit user TheBeneGesseritWitch saw me fumbling around on there looking for PCS info and sent me some excellent info. I don't know this person, so taking the time to do this for me meant a lot.<br />
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"So I actually just walked my sponsee through this process:</div>
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Go to the USO on the second floor of SEATAC. Check in at the desk; the employees are really rude, but, whatever. They also have a storage unit there where you can check in your seabag/luggage. I checked in at like, 1200 the day prior; I have family in the SEATAC area so I promptly went over to my sister in laws and chilled. But the USO is a great place to hang out if you don't want to explore Seattle....go get some starbucks, the original is out there.</div>
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Chill out until roll call, which is like, at 0300 (it'll say on your orders)</div>
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Go back to the USO about a half hour early to get your luggage, and the directions to whichever gate they're going to issue you tickets from.</div>
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Go get your tickets. This is a long-ass line; have a copy of your orders handy. And don't freak out, if you're on orders, you <em style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;">will</em> have a seat on the plane. If you're on leave or a retiree, you might be SOL, but yeah, you'll be okay.</div>
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Take your tickets and boarding pass over to the military baggage turn-in area--this is near the luggage check in where people are dropping off their pets and oversized luggage. Turn in your luggage.</div>
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Go through security.</div>
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It's probably about 0700 around now. Grab breakfast and snacks for the plane (they will feed you on the plane, but snacks are always good.)</div>
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Find your gate. Chill out, you've got another two hours (ish).</div>
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Get on the plane, put on your headphones and eyemask and sleep the entire flight because it'll help you with jetlag. Seriously, the time difference will jack you up when you arrive.</div>
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Land in Yokota, have your passport and orders ready; they're gonna give you an abbreviated 7th Fleet Liberty Policy Brief, and try to usher you onto a shuttle to/from Yokota to whichever other base you're really going to--if you're flying further (usually to Korea) you stay on the plane for this ~3 hour layover.</div>
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Google "Patriot Express" and there are some youtube videos where you can see the inside of the plane. It's a "normal" civilian plane, 767, it's just run and staffed by military. That being said, I've done MAC flights in the back of an A-10 Warthog, so I mean, my first thought was "oh shit, the Navy's gonna fly me 12 hours in a fucking cargo transport plane," but this is nothing like that.</div>
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Oh, and my sponsee said her flight didn't have USB connections so maybe grab a battery pack for the flight, but mine did, so, YMMV."</div>
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I read that last part about a battery pack, slapped my forehead, and went to Best Buy and got a <a href="http://www.mophie.com/shop/powerstation-xl?gclid=CjwKEAjw4vzKBRCt9Zmg8f2blgESJADN5fDg-UnR626UkeoL5HC19cMoQLw2-q_WYUALyGGxcvXxcBoCbCLw_wcB" target="_blank">smartphone/tablet recharger.</a> Thank you! (And thanks to my mama for helping me research those things.)</div>
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I'll add more to this post as I learn about the process. Expect photos of the sleeping area in the SEA-TAC airport USO and of the Patriot Express plane. Wish me luck! </div>
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<br />Glennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13493183049080739575noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2283139291637178699.post-40563480815360996342017-05-25T13:00:00.000-04:002017-05-25T22:10:07.536-04:00Promotion Day<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MstZGUrTohg/WScOGvBfCuI/AAAAAAAAGgc/kVoZUHUStuE4QO3PEqMz_YSFZYu4O8jRwCK4B/s1600/20170525_125605-737125.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="85" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6424118902332000994" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MstZGUrTohg/WScOGvBfCuI/AAAAAAAAGgc/kVoZUHUStuE4QO3PEqMz_YSFZYu4O8jRwCK4B/s400/20170525_125605-737125.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">He's standing at 12 o'clock, wearing the tan shirt, just left of the chief in dress whites.</td></tr>
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Congratulations to MC2 Eric Brann, who just graduated from MC3! He took the test</div>
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...a lot...so he's excited to finally make it. Now start studying for MC1! jk he has to spend 3 years at this rank before being eligible for E6.</div>
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Glennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13493183049080739575noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2283139291637178699.post-6321802905306392222017-05-11T10:37:00.000-04:002017-05-20T02:21:36.851-04:00From boot camp to DMA<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KXzhJf2QoiU/WRR3TR567DI/AAAAAAAAGbs/QoIdut6RQqEhmCYdZztx_y17su5CLSLmQCK4B/s1600/20170511_103039-784559.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="225" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6418886542017358898" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KXzhJf2QoiU/WRR3TR567DI/AAAAAAAAGbs/QoIdut6RQqEhmCYdZztx_y17su5CLSLmQCK4B/s400/20170511_103039-784559.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">H</span>ere's a rare case: Seaman Recruit Victoria Reynolds went straight from boot camp to working here. It's a place you might end up while waiting to class up!</div>
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Glennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13493183049080739575noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2283139291637178699.post-89200638025793056692017-02-23T16:01:00.000-05:002017-02-23T17:44:23.013-05:00MC Choice Awards<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nVPghFNcU8Q/WK9ixXL0nZI/AAAAAAAAFp8/B9LFEj9ml_oQrEUnpiUD0wW-VFT3oUA_wCK4B/s1600/20170223_143659-792373.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="140" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6390434996438736274" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nVPghFNcU8Q/WK9ixXL0nZI/AAAAAAAAFp8/B9LFEj9ml_oQrEUnpiUD0wW-VFT3oUA_wCK4B/s400/20170223_143659-792373.jpg" width="650" /></a></div>
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I'm hanging out with the latest batch of MC students, while they show off their video products. It's called the MC Choice Awards, and the students vote on the best spot video. </div>
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A spot is basically a public service announcement. The topics range from good hygiene to sexual assault prevention to proper nutrition.</div>
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The instructors invited DoD News to give feedback to the directors-in-training. We had a lot of fun, thank you for having us. We saw some great products!</div>
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Glennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13493183049080739575noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2283139291637178699.post-60620181646368628412017-01-30T18:49:00.000-05:002017-01-30T18:49:29.706-05:00MC Perspective: Student Life<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8ygB0rf3t3c/WI_LpcpEASI/AAAAAAAAFfI/TpPmQiTi7IkPy84KqKDv1XdcUbFGMjLEACLcB/s1600/15896383_10100895841448569_7277684983086794040_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8ygB0rf3t3c/WI_LpcpEASI/AAAAAAAAFfI/TpPmQiTi7IkPy84KqKDv1XdcUbFGMjLEACLcB/s400/15896383_10100895841448569_7277684983086794040_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">T</span>hat's Seaman Morgan Nall lying on the ice. She's a DINFOS student and took time from her busy class schedule to drop off a few pics of student life!<br />
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<i>I AM YOUR EYES: </i>How's life as a Navy MC student?<br />
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<i>NALL: </i>It's good. I passed features and am now in photo. I'm really excited about the stuff we're learning now. Getting more into layout design and publication. Only four months until graduation!<br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qjTu3L6Ei9U/WI_LpizGitI/AAAAAAAAFfU/pfzxXClSVMkWkds85_lkJYPm3GOENIs8QCLcB/s1600/16145332_10154727936894792_1306382000_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qjTu3L6Ei9U/WI_LpizGitI/AAAAAAAAFfU/pfzxXClSVMkWkds85_lkJYPm3GOENIs8QCLcB/s320/16145332_10154727936894792_1306382000_o.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">H</span>ere are some photos of the wing eating contest we had at the detachment the other weekend.<br />
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The Coalition of Sailors Against Destructive Decisions (CSADD) is run by the students for the students and organizes drug/alcohol free events for Sailors to enjoy when they aren't in the classroom.<br />
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Here's another one where you can spot a photo student in the background. š<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">I</span>'m in "think tank" club. We drink tea and eat biscotti cookies and talk about philosophical topics. <br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">Yeah, we're old souls.</span></i></blockquote>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">S</span>eaman Taylor King and Seaman Recruit John Bigbie enjoy a highly competitive, heated game of Risk...<br />
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[This] picture is from the suicide awareness walk "illuminating the darkness" it was an all night walk-athon back in September. Seaman Previc made it to sunrise I believe.<br />
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<i>I AM YOUR EYES: </i>Thanks again, keep up the great work!<br />
<br />Glennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13493183049080739575noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2283139291637178699.post-45011673384421472102017-01-17T20:43:00.000-05:002017-01-18T07:43:14.439-05:00Motion Media<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by MCSR Julie Vujevich</td></tr>
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MCSN Kaitlyn Eads graduated DINFOS in November, and took time to explain what to expect during the video section.<br />
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<b>EADS:</b> We were at Harper's Ferry Adventure Center for a video project for the video part of BMCSC. (Basic Mass Communication Specialist Course) We had to get footage of the center itself and do interviews with the employees. Each group chose their own direction with their interviews and each individual put together their own video based on all of their footage.<br />
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<b>I AM YOUR EYES: </b>What was the most challenging part?<br />
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Hmmm I suppose it would be putting the actual video together. We were in groups of five or six and all of us had to shoot b roll and so when we were each putting together a video, we had to go thru all of that footage and pick which parts of the interviews we wanted. So essentially, deciding the direction of our individual videos and putting the hours of footage together in a roughly 2 minute video<br />
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Thanks for stopping by!</div>
<br />Glennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13493183049080739575noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2283139291637178699.post-12913396666891431212017-01-09T12:55:00.000-05:002017-01-17T20:28:20.530-05:00The inner circle<div class="mobile-photo" style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TdwW94pvGIA/WHPOsdPnMDI/AAAAAAAAFbE/3mVbxHmEZoImT25T3GKn6C5FQoAIs0G_wCK4B/s1600/20170109_124850-760385.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="143" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6373665160819060786" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TdwW94pvGIA/WHPOsdPnMDI/AAAAAAAAFbE/3mVbxHmEZoImT25T3GKn6C5FQoAIs0G_wCK4B/s400/20170109_124850-760385.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">M</span>y recent promotion to first class means access to hidden rooms with important people. This is the weekly chiefs meeting, also attended by my fellow E-6s. The senior first classes sit with the chiefs while new ones like me sit on the side of the room and pray they don't get called on.</div>
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Glennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13493183049080739575noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2283139291637178699.post-82593199510838301152017-01-05T15:53:00.001-05:002017-01-07T17:43:38.510-05:00Farewell Flag<div class="mobile-photo" style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">O</span>ne of our graphic artists, MC2 Tim Haake, is separating from the Navy. We're flying a flag over Defense Media Activity, and will give it to him during his farewell lunch tomorrow. Pretty cool tradition huh?</div>
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ET2 Brandon Goodwin and crew are the honor guard. Thanks shipmates!</div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">Photo by MC2 Andrew Gordon </span></div>
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Glennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13493183049080739575noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2283139291637178699.post-84127551648274587442016-12-17T15:06:00.000-05:002016-12-17T15:06:13.279-05:00I got promoted!<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
It took a few years, but I finally made E-6, petty officer 1st class. My family was there for the pinning ceremony, and my boss Chief Larry Baruwa and my dad Glenn Slaughter pinned the new rank on. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From left, Aunt Ruth, Uncle Gilbert, mama Lois, Dad, stepmom Kathy. Great bunch!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dad practicing before the ceremony. I'm trying to throw him off with a look.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pretty much the entire building was there. All branches represented.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Don't drop the crows! There's 100 people watching.<br /><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Chief and Dadeo inspect their work. Good job!<br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Captain Norr is the top dog at DMA. He spoke at the ceremony told me to be ready to lead.<br /><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/--nkI24bIrRg/WFWY-5WCmtI/AAAAAAAAD3M/AnkHJZJj0P0OnpnPyVcXYx5vmfggF3BEgCLcB/s1600/E6%2Bpinning%2B5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/--nkI24bIrRg/WFWY-5WCmtI/AAAAAAAAD3M/AnkHJZJj0P0OnpnPyVcXYx5vmfggF3BEgCLcB/s400/E6%2Bpinning%2B5.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Uncle Gilbert is a Navy veteran. He's helping me upgrade the rank on my NSU jacket.<br /></td></tr>
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Next stop, chief petty officer!Glennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13493183049080739575noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2283139291637178699.post-53928556106883771682016-11-10T12:49:00.001-05:002016-11-10T12:49:56.016-05:00Graduation Day<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ux0H_LU9Uos/WCSzREWr1EI/AAAAAAAADxA/hVvbtzz88I0nNShj78RZVplCek3FRb5agCK4B/s1600/20161110_122638-796017.jpg"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ux0H_LU9Uos/WCSzREWr1EI/AAAAAAAADxA/hVvbtzz88I0nNShj78RZVplCek3FRb5agCK4B/s320/20161110_122638-796017.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6351398480307278914" /></a></p><div>Class 050-16, our newest batch of MCs, is about to graduate. They've been here for about six months but the pain is almost over. </div><div><br></div><div>These young squidlets have been hard at work, producing print and broadcast news and features stories, recorded still and video photography, and created graphic designs, all using the Adobe software suite.</div><div><br></div><div>I'll see you in the fleet! (Your grad video kicked ass, by the way.)</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div id="composer_signature"><div style="font-size:88%;color:#364f67" dir="auto">Sent from my T-Mobile 4G LTE Device</div></div>Glennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13493183049080739575noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2283139291637178699.post-90959166053721812032016-11-05T13:04:00.001-04:002016-11-05T13:04:58.253-04:00Sea Trials<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0C0rvm3ARLI/WB4ROoP3qOI/AAAAAAAADv4/QB99G56RuJM0igTLiIIYohPHAYFn7ZjIACK4B/s1600/20161105_125428-798254.jpg"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0C0rvm3ARLI/WB4ROoP3qOI/AAAAAAAADv4/QB99G56RuJM0igTLiIIYohPHAYFn7ZjIACK4B/s320/20161105_125428-798254.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6349531467658799330" /></a></p><div>The final test for MC students is sea trials, a 4-day event simulating life on a ship. They're hit with a nonstop barrage of jobs, designed to keep them on their toes.</div><div><br></div><div>Seaman Janine Jones is required to produce a feature story in a very short period of time. MC2 Gordon and I are being interviewed about life as a secdef videographer </div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div id="composer_signature"><div style="font-size:88%;color:#364f67" dir="auto">Sent from my T-Mobile 4G LTE Device</div></div>Glennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13493183049080739575noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2283139291637178699.post-48168150439450648182016-10-20T17:41:00.001-04:002016-10-20T18:25:23.421-04:00Group shot!<div class="mobile-photo" style="text-align: center;">
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Class 050-16 is doing their end-of-year group shot. It's all done without any help from the instructors. This can feel like<b> herding cats</b>. Seriously though, taking a group shot is an important skill to have out in the fleet. You WILL be asked to shoot large groups of VIP visitors and entire departments.<br />
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The number one thing to remember is that you, the photographer, are in control. Don't be afraid to give the group orders, no matter what rank they are. Be polite, but firm.<br />
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It may feel awkward to shout commands, but if you don't, you could end up with a crappy photograph with no chance for a do over.<br />
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Looking good MCs!</div>
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<span style="color: #364f67; font-size: 88%;">Sent from my T-Mobile 4G LTE Device</span></div>
Glennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13493183049080739575noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2283139291637178699.post-14321256118913613322016-09-07T17:56:00.001-04:002016-09-07T18:40:29.131-04:00MC Perspective: Photo stories<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oBv1j_jlmQY/V9ByZZvoy5I/AAAAAAAADuY/XEPf4DV0npEN1ht0_pAJGzMflB3XVpj5gCLcB/s1600/14075159_10106735517710448_1812716540_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="168" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oBv1j_jlmQY/V9ByZZvoy5I/AAAAAAAADuY/XEPf4DV0npEN1ht0_pAJGzMflB3XVpj5gCLcB/s400/14075159_10106735517710448_1812716540_o.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo story by Seaman Janine Jones.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">S</span>tudents at the Defense Information School who make it to photo class usually rejoice, because they SURVIVED WRITING!!! News and feature writing give problems to the most people, but photo can be scary for some, and not for the reason you'd expect.<br />
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APPROACH ANXIETY: The fear of speaking to strangers. In order to complete these assigned photo stories, students must find live human subjects to shoot. Typically they're dropped off in Annapolis, DC or Baltimore, and have one day to complete the assignment.<br />
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This is terrifying for introverts.<br />
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Seaman Recruit Janine Jones is definitely not an introvert. She took the time to send in some field footage of the students working, along with the finished product.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-58E8EmHgbrM/V9Byd2JCPaI/AAAAAAAADus/TvYxiWINfUo2rE8Ny7IqCR7vbIA7qJiZwCLcB/s1600/14001742_10106682788530148_658710605_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-58E8EmHgbrM/V9Byd2JCPaI/AAAAAAAADus/TvYxiWINfUo2rE8Ny7IqCR7vbIA7qJiZwCLcB/s400/14001742_10106682788530148_658710605_o.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Seaman Recruit Perla Peters at El Toro Bravo. Photo by SN Janine Jones.</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">JONES: <span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129;">The first attempt by Peters was at an ice
cream place that had their freezers break causing the ice cream to melt, so they
weren't going to be open that day. Thankfully the owner also owned a lobster
roll place that she was able to shoot at.</span></span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-x6Vuxld8ejc/V9BydSQELPI/AAAAAAAADuc/Q0vM-jKmmwsKjx-Vi5BAJMO-e1aluZKXgCLcB/s1600/13950461_10106682767392508_119442985_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-x6Vuxld8ejc/V9BydSQELPI/AAAAAAAADuc/Q0vM-jKmmwsKjx-Vi5BAJMO-e1aluZKXgCLcB/s400/13950461_10106682767392508_119442985_o.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 14.2667px;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Peters gets caption info at El Toro Bravo. </span></span><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 14.2667px;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo by SN Janine Jones.</span></span></td></tr>
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It's not enough to take photos of people from afar. Students need to speak with them to get crucial background information. This info is placed in the photo story, so the audience understands what they're looking at.<br />
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It's important to go back to the client and give them a copy of the photo story. Many students don't do this, and it makes it harder for future photographers to do stories on the business.<br />
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JONES: <span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">A lot of the businesses we
approached had bad experiences previously with other classes shooting there.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7gv2aN2x-3U/V9Byd1q0FzI/AAAAAAAADuo/_1iKAsOGScw5GR6bJalVlkOliqX8gAkpwCLcB/s1600/13987768_10106682691319958_1754991299_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7gv2aN2x-3U/V9Byd1q0FzI/AAAAAAAADuo/_1iKAsOGScw5GR6bJalVlkOliqX8gAkpwCLcB/s400/13987768_10106682691319958_1754991299_o.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Seaman Kevin Leitner at Kilwin's in Annapolis. </span></span><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 14.2667px;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo by SN Janine Jones.</span></span></td></tr>
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JONES: <span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We are required to have ten
different images that tell a story to create a layout with two short
paragraphs.</span></span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-V8VPMA6KWrg/V9BydlM7k_I/AAAAAAAADuk/AkQO81mgmfAuvjOHUSoiapX5F70FLpfqgCLcB/s1600/13950714_10106682691539518_1114169102_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-V8VPMA6KWrg/V9BydlM7k_I/AAAAAAAADuk/AkQO81mgmfAuvjOHUSoiapX5F70FLpfqgCLcB/s400/13950714_10106682691539518_1114169102_o.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Seaman Kevin Leitner at Kilwin's in Annapolis. </span></span><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 14.2667px;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo by SN Janine Jones.</span></span></td></tr>
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I AM YOUR EYES: The trick is to capture the subject in his or her natural environment, without getting in the way.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TIkDosVun6A/V9BydnKROvI/AAAAAAAADug/Jpc0QKFCCUIq4MMZlGeaSNvxyT2V9X0qwCLcB/s1600/13950821_10106682366840218_2109842197_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TIkDosVun6A/V9BydnKROvI/AAAAAAAADug/Jpc0QKFCCUIq4MMZlGeaSNvxyT2V9X0qwCLcB/s400/13950821_10106682366840218_2109842197_o.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 17.94px; text-align: left; white-space: pre-wrap;">SR Kyle Moore putting in work at </span><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;">Capital Teas in Annapolis. </span><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 14.2667px;">Photo by SN Janine Jones.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 17.94px; text-align: left; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></span></td></tr>
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A good smile can go a long way to winning over nervous subjects.<br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ztV9J9hty_o/V9Byiicx0sI/AAAAAAAADu4/e7mTEswfsmY893jDLDhnhxEq45XDvq19wCLcB/s1600/14087176_10106735511213468_325391156_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="128" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ztV9J9hty_o/V9Byiicx0sI/AAAAAAAADu4/e7mTEswfsmY893jDLDhnhxEq45XDvq19wCLcB/s400/14087176_10106735511213468_325391156_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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SR Kyle Moore's photo story<br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oLjSKDRfL4Y/V9ByijZ9BKI/AAAAAAAADu0/cknM-dTasBU9gn227aQ2GfdvAwgSGpjRACLcB/s1600/14114585_10106735510514868_866836424_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="128" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oLjSKDRfL4Y/V9ByijZ9BKI/AAAAAAAADu0/cknM-dTasBU9gn227aQ2GfdvAwgSGpjRACLcB/s400/14114585_10106735510514868_866836424_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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SN Kevin Leitner's photo story<br />
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Great job everyone and thanks to SN Jones for the information!Glennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13493183049080739575noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2283139291637178699.post-72129258849653595812016-07-21T10:53:00.000-04:002016-07-21T15:22:49.614-04:00Us versus the camera<div class="mobile-photo" style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-N1j7KS0NN3s/V5DiM701qeI/AAAAAAAADsY/fp_VXOneh9MQIHuXGPiS2mp_67Vj0NeKwCK4B/s1600/20160721_105024-781771.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="225" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6309791789791685090" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-N1j7KS0NN3s/V5DiM701qeI/AAAAAAAADsY/fp_VXOneh9MQIHuXGPiS2mp_67Vj0NeKwCK4B/s400/20160721_105024-781771.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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We're all learning the beast of a camera called <a href="https://pro.sony.com/bbsc/ssr/product-PDWF800/" target="_blank">F800</a>. The manual for this thing is 250 pages. So far, the camera is winning.</div>
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I'm posting more often at the I Am Your Eyes Facebook page right now, so stop by!</div>
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Sent from my T-Mobile 4G LTE Device</div>
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Glennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13493183049080739575noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2283139291637178699.post-17810004001935132302016-06-22T09:32:00.000-04:002016-06-22T09:33:56.702-04:00Riding in style<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DYKE2cMvgEs/V2qTxTuYMAI/AAAAAAAADnw/XHVNSIsj1N4I-2UymCUOVOjacESSrh4sACK4B/s1600/IMG_5670-736702.jpg"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DYKE2cMvgEs/V2qTxTuYMAI/AAAAAAAADnw/XHVNSIsj1N4I-2UymCUOVOjacESSrh4sACK4B/s320/IMG_5670-736702.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6299009504148729858" /></a></p><div>I'm the videographer for the Secretary of Defense as he visits US troops this week. Lots of plane and helo rides and lots of pressure. Wish me luck! </div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div id="composer_signature"><div style="font-size:88%;color:#364f67" dir="auto">Sent from my T-Mobile 4G LTE Device</div></div>Glennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13493183049080739575noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2283139291637178699.post-51312813179698691532016-05-30T13:03:00.001-04:002016-05-30T13:13:50.469-04:00Memorial Day: An MC remembers Chief Ryan Bell<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mnUWJMI_Ft4/V0t_uZIuvWI/AAAAAAAADnE/MNMIDZ8Bvy0hXbcp1g-R9TYagU5xG1J3ACLcB/s1600/IMG_9972.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mnUWJMI_Ft4/V0t_uZIuvWI/AAAAAAAADnE/MNMIDZ8Bvy0hXbcp1g-R9TYagU5xG1J3ACLcB/s400/IMG_9972.JPG" width="520" /></span></a></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">Rendering honors at the USS Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Yesterday my buddy MC2 Alex Tidd contacted me and asked if I'd run a story he wrote for Memorial Day. If you remember, Tidd was the guy who wrote that great post about his time in Japan, providing <a href="http://usnavymc.blogspot.com/2012/04/operation-tomodachi-mcs-story-of.html" target="_blank">humanitarian assistance after the reactor meltdown.</a> He has a very personal experience to share about the loss of one of our own.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<b style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 200%;">The Importance of
Memorial Day</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 32px;">by Alexander Tidd, Public Affairs Intern</span><br />
<div>
<b style="line-height: 32px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 200%;"> </span><span style="line-height: 200%;"> I</span><span style="line-height: 200%;"> remember my first time seeing the USS Arizona Memorial,
a stark white but simple edifice perched on the sparkling cerulean waters of
Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. It was oddly beautiful, in its tragic way. Fellow Sailors
in their equally brilliant dress whites lined the flight deck of my aircraft
carrier as we ceremoniously rendered honors to the sunken mausoleum. We did so
because, as is often the case in life, there is much more to the USS Arizona Memorial than what appears on the surface.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CsnfFWLXuXQ/V0t_uSunUtI/AAAAAAAADnI/s-7Pnfh6VIsAvtICp-X7VwaOzR1vPP7dACLcB/s1600/IMG_9973.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="325" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CsnfFWLXuXQ/V0t_uSunUtI/AAAAAAAADnI/s-7Pnfh6VIsAvtICp-X7VwaOzR1vPP7dACLcB/s400/IMG_9973.JPG" width="500" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">Rendering honors at the USS Arizona Memorial.</span></td></tr>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 200%;"> Beneath the memorial is the USS Arizona itself, the
battleship famously caught on film as its superstructure exploded in flames and
was torn asunder, the victim of a direct hit to its massive ammunition stores.
Nearly 1,200 of the 1,500-man crew were killed by the explosion or trapped
within in the steel confines as it sank, taking just 12 minutes to disappear
forever. The majority of their bodies remain there, buried at sea in the
remains of the ship they called home.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; text-align: start;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">I did my best to capture this somber moment in photos, </span></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; text-align: start;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">juxtaposing the naval present with its past.</span></i></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 200%;"> It is with a heavy heart I write this, feeling deep emotions
despite the generations between me and those brother Sailors lost that day. The
Navy values its own to its core and they are forever honored and remembered
whenever a vessel comes to port in Pearl. As my fellow crew members of USS
Ronald Reagan saluted Arizona in solidarity, I did my best to capture this
somber moment in photos, juxtaposing the naval present with its past. Iāve
included some of my photos with this story in the hope that they help with
understanding Memorial Day.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 200%;"><i>It was barely four months into my naval career when Memorial</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 200%;"><i>Day would first become a personal event for me.</i></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span>
<span style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> Word was spread around
the Navy barracks that Chief Petty Officer Ryan Bell, my instructor at DINFOS
(better known as the Defense Information School in Fort Meade, Md.), had been
hospitalized for a massive heart attack. Little did we know at the time that we
were experiencing a real-life application of a lesson weād only recently been
taught in our trainingāwhen a servicemember passes away, they are only publicly
identified 24 hours after notification of next of kin. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 200%;"><u><br /></u></span>
<span style="line-height: 200%;"><b>So it wasnāt until the
next day that we found out Chief Bell was dead at just 33 years old.<o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 200%;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 200%;"> Getting to know Chief Bell had been a profound experience
for me during my first few weeks of training at DINFOS. I reported there
immediately after two months of intensive training at Navy boot camp, where
recruits are taught to fear as much as respect anyone wearing a khaki uniform,
the common attire of chiefs and officers. But getting to know Chief Bell taught
me that chiefs were people too, people who were here to nurture our growth into
productive Sailors of a very proud U.S. Navy. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TA9yRzxxDtk/V0uJLOwwCFI/AAAAAAAADnc/GNu8blfrtvQRTvIRYwIwVBEizDaQp7KRgCLcB/s400/12552551_10206988509144593_1263780344345472891_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Memorial display at the Defense Information School.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 200%; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"> C</span><span style="line-height: 200%; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;">hief
Bell was a muscular and youthful black man who stood tall. He was quick to show
off his bright smile and had a way of making ever interaction personal. He
wanted to know how we were doing, what we were doing and how he could help.
Because most of all, he was a teacher. He taught us to become masters of public
affairs, or as he liked to put it, āthe storytellers of the Navy.ā He felt he
had the best job in the Navy and wanted to make sure we all felt exactly the
same way.</span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 200%;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 200%;"> I was also very fortunate to know Chief Bell on a
personal level. He was a big baseball fan and an even bigger fan of Barry
Bonds, who Iād grown up watching smash home runs into the bleachers of
Candlestick and AT&T Park. Needless to say, we had a lot to talk about.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 200%;"><i>Chief Bell was also one of the most generous people Iāve met. </i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 200%;"> One time, when he was
serving overnight duty as our barracks babysitter, I walked by his office and
saw him chowing down on a Whopper from Burger King. I jokingly asked why he
hadnāt gotten me a burger too. Immediately, despite still chewing on his last
bite, he thrust the burger toward me, sincerely offering to share his dinner. It might
be easy to write that off as a joke but with Chief Bell, it was a genuine
gesture.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LwEI2h4nvvg/V0uJKHBf8-I/AAAAAAAADng/iHIZuB7izC04Em7rmzSdk_fZHICSoupjgCKgB/s1600/1154474_med.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LwEI2h4nvvg/V0uJKHBf8-I/AAAAAAAADng/iHIZuB7izC04Em7rmzSdk_fZHICSoupjgCKgB/s400/1154474_med.jpg" width="267" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">A light moment with Bell during a training exercise.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> I</span></span><span style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"> got to know him best on the first
Friday night of our holiday stand-down that winter. Most of my classmates
caught flights home immediately, but I decided to save a little money and fly
back to San Francisco the next day. Consequently, Chief Bell and I were pretty
much the only people in the Navy barracks that night. We chatted in the duty
officerās workspace with a ballgame on in the background, sharing experiences
and learning from each other. </span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;">He didn't care that I was a seaman recruit, the lowest rank in the Navy. To Chief Bell, we were equals who both had something meaningful to contribute.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;">That was the last time I would see him alive. I flew home Saturday morning and wouldn't return to Maryland for two weeks. It wasn't long before word got out and I, along with other concerned Sailors, asked if we could go visit Chief Bell in the hospital. We found out the next day why our request was impossible.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="line-height: 200%; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">After the news had sunk in, I realized I had something to offer my fellow Sailors. I went to the command master chief and told him that I was a trumpet player and would like to play Taps at Chief Bell's memorial service, if they would have them. It turned out to be one of the better decisions I've made, because if I hadn't been able to do so, they would have used a recording on a CD.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I was 21 years old when they struck the bells for Chief that day. As the final strike resonated throughout the room, I lifted my trumpet to my lips and let out the most important notes I'll ever play. The first note warbled as tears ran down my cheeks, but I found my confidence in thinking of Chief Bell and the rest came out as strong as he was. I did my duty as best I could for my fallen friend.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OfUZaKEWo3w/V0t_uQkFuWI/AAAAAAAADnA/MLqGyBDCtCk-t8YJaGN9kM-417bf930iQCLcB/s1600/IMG_9974.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="500" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OfUZaKEWo3w/V0t_uQkFuWI/AAAAAAAADnA/MLqGyBDCtCk-t8YJaGN9kM-417bf930iQCLcB/s400/IMG_9974.JPG" width="350" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">MC3 Alex Tidd</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small; line-height: 200%;"></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;">In
my five years in the Navy, I had to play Taps for four more Sailors taken
before their time. I also played for services remembering the battle of Midway,
at burials-at-sea and, of course, on Memorial Day. What I want to be clear is
that Memorial Day isnāt about me, it isnāt about you, it isnāt about anyone who
can read this account. Itās about those Sailors trapped beneath the waters at
Pearl Harbor, itās about the Marines who died charging Mount Suribachi at Iwo
Jima, itās about the Soldiers who didnāt come home from Iraq. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span>
</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><i>Itās about Chief
Petty Officer Ryan K. Bell, USN.
Memorial Day is something we carry with us because they canāt. </i></span></span></div>
</div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nJl83IneVZo/V0t_uG2ZDEI/AAAAAAAADm8/ZbBGts7OdvEbDeXB_6EVO2izGEr58xY5gCLcB/s1600/IMG_9817.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nJl83IneVZo/V0t_uG2ZDEI/AAAAAAAADm8/ZbBGts7OdvEbDeXB_6EVO2izGEr58xY5gCLcB/s400/IMG_9817.JPG" width="313" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Chief Ryan Bell</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 32px; text-indent: 0.5in;">.</span></div>
Glennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13493183049080739575noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2283139291637178699.post-1159764986172023322016-04-29T14:07:00.000-04:002016-04-29T14:28:42.733-04:00Get fit!<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Rq2FQIubqug/VyOn26sy5vI/AAAAAAAADmI/1L4WD60Yw24Klohp1JbyZbN3BscARFQ1QCK4B/s1600/20160429_140543-722734.jpg"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Rq2FQIubqug/VyOn26sy5vI/AAAAAAAADmI/1L4WD60Yw24Klohp1JbyZbN3BscARFQ1QCK4B/s320/20160429_140543-722734.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6279046867396519666" /></a></p><div>Today's the day! The Sailors are doing the biannual PT test. PAIN</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div id="composer_signature"><div style="font-size:85%;color:#575757">Sent from my T-Mobile 4G LTE Device</div></div>Glennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13493183049080739575noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2283139291637178699.post-52092440773625941882016-03-29T19:41:00.000-04:002016-05-30T13:14:38.972-04:00MC perspective: Shaping squidlets<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Rt0UL_RQBFw/VvsFFv6b9PI/AAAAAAAADlQ/_Nu1__jH66kiTSjJ32RunNU3W8Qtm0CbA/s1600/MC2%2BVeronica%2BMammina%2BDINFOS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Rt0UL_RQBFw/VvsFFv6b9PI/AAAAAAAADlQ/_Nu1__jH66kiTSjJ32RunNU3W8Qtm0CbA/s400/MC2%2BVeronica%2BMammina%2BDINFOS.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Selfie with her first class. They look...lively.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I know I've said this a bunch of times but you really <i>have to be ready for anything</i> with this job. MC2 Veronica Mammina is the perfect example, as she was recently handed a major direction shift.<br />
<br />
Assigned to Defense Media Activity, where I work, Mammina only made it a few months before the Navy called on her to fill an instructor spot over at the Defense Information School.<br />
<br />
Talk about change, she went from producing multi media content for the Navy's premiere publication, All Hands Magazine, to teaching it to recruits right out of boot camp.<br />
<br />
MC2 talked briefly about what it's like over at DINFOS and how she got to where she is now.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pRStAJxlWTU/VvsFSjXtwlI/AAAAAAAADlU/D5LIJ1pvhKoGRkK5Hvtp3OEPGOcI_hQsg/s1600/MC2%2BVeronica%2BMammina%2BDINFOS%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pRStAJxlWTU/VvsFSjXtwlI/AAAAAAAADlU/D5LIJ1pvhKoGRkK5Hvtp3OEPGOcI_hQsg/s400/MC2%2BVeronica%2BMammina%2BDINFOS%2B2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The newest crop of DINFOS instructors.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<b>MAMMINA: </b> I'm going the through the certification process of becoming a a Navy A-School Instructor. There are 5 functional areas in the six-month course to become a Mass Communication Specialist (MC). I teach the last functional area (Multimedia) which I am ecstatic about. It was my favorite part of A-School when I went through so talk about coming full circle.<br />
<br />
I'm in a team of about 6 instructors. We take turns teaching basic graphics design techniques while using vector & raster based software. I.e. Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign to name a few. We also touch on Dreamweaver and AfterEffects if students express interest.<br />
<br />
<b>I AM YOUR EYES: </b>Teaching that stuff would terrify me. The only things I'm good at are writing conversationally and making videos.<br />
<br />
<b>MAMMINA: </b>So far, it's been a lot of fun. The course slightly changed but for the better. I shadow the other multimedia instructors to get a better understanding of what's expected of the students and follow along on the graded assignments. How would I grade their work if I've never done it right?<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: start;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">I taught my first class today and watching </span></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: start;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">the light bulbs go off is seriously amazing.</span></i></span></div>
<br />
Though my days are typically from 0700 until 1700, I don't even think about time. I'm constantly learning and preparing lesson plans, writing down ideas. I taught my first class today and watching the light bulbs go off is seriously amazing. I'm glad I'm here and able to do this job.<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Wamti48ArkM/VvsJU48q1HI/AAAAAAAADlk/elb3e5Pj5_QEg8Fq_wO7N62WRRmDZ-hHw/s1600/MC2%2BVeronica%2BMammina%2BDINFOS%2B3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Wamti48ArkM/VvsJU48q1HI/AAAAAAAADlk/elb3e5Pj5_QEg8Fq_wO7N62WRRmDZ-hHw/s400/MC2%2BVeronica%2BMammina%2BDINFOS%2B3.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mammina on the flight deck of USS Boxer.</td></tr>
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I graduated from A School in 2012, motivated to get into the fleet, make rank, get my warfare pins and get a little salt on my shoulder (life on a ship is what the Navy is all about right?). I got 2nd pick in the class and got stationed at the amphibious assault ship USS Boxer (LHD 4) out of San Diego until November of 2015. <br />
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">In my entire life I never worked as hard </span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">as I did on that ship during those three years. </span></i></div>
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I experienced the maintenance/overhaul phase known as PMA, an eight-month deployment to the middle east/pacific ocean with about 2,000 embarked Marines, won Junior MC of the year in 2013 for the products I made (after one year of being on the ship) and some other awards.<br />
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The ship was an arduous duty but was very rewarding. After Boxer, I had a few choices of where I wanted to go after my sea tour and ultimately re-enlisted for 3 years for Defense Media Activity.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-H9NLuN6h5f0/VvsPbbf6nZI/AAAAAAAADl0/D6n4a3btrMkd6lT9YqgRpPBtnkYy_rGVw/s1600/MC2%2BVeronica%2BMammina%2BDINFOS%2B4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-H9NLuN6h5f0/VvsPbbf6nZI/AAAAAAAADl0/D6n4a3btrMkd6lT9YqgRpPBtnkYy_rGVw/s400/MC2%2BVeronica%2BMammina%2BDINFOS%2B4.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mammina's going away present, drawn by MC1 Mark Logico</td></tr>
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After a few months of loving DMA and learning about broadcasting and magazine publishing, I was offered a rare opportunity by my supervisors to fill a needed special-shore-duty billet as an instructor at DINFOS. I was nostalgic for a moment because I realized how much of an awesome experience I had as a student there, and<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>...I've always wanted to be a teacher </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>so why now start now? </i></span></div>
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It was hard leaving DMA, and felt kind premature, but definitely awesome to ultimately be working side-by-side with the instructors I had when I was at DINFOS 4 years ago, literally.<br />
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<b>I AM YOUR EYES: </b>I drove a couple of my instructors crazy...not sure I want to see them too soon.<br />
<br />Glennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13493183049080739575noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2283139291637178699.post-23482284035381992182016-03-25T07:59:00.001-04:002016-03-25T10:12:25.529-04:00Vietnam Memorial<div class="mobile-photo" style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-l7xndiOCtO4/VvUoOeSI_kI/AAAAAAAADlE/5zwdVIL7TSUqUCZ9K1mrPYNHNTdGH7blg/s1600/20160325_075537-793301.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="400" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6265958685668343362" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-l7xndiOCtO4/VvUoOeSI_kI/AAAAAAAADlE/5zwdVIL7TSUqUCZ9K1mrPYNHNTdGH7blg/s400/20160325_075537-793301.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">W</span>e started at about 0500...we're in Washington D.C. to get a time lapse of the sunrise and video footage of the Vietnam Memorial. EJ is pulling his iPhone on the wagon while his two Nikon D4s churn through the timelapse.</div>
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I'm still trying to wake up.</div>
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Sent from my T-Mobile 4G LTE Device</div>
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Glennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13493183049080739575noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2283139291637178699.post-44314594876416585102016-02-09T13:55:00.001-05:002016-02-09T13:59:21.181-05:00I Am Your Voice<div class="mobile-photo">
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DiW2oRdy-X0/Vro2Oh7V2vI/AAAAAAAADkw/V3HWwvYAyrA/s1600/20160209_133525-752651.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="225" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6249367056183319282" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DiW2oRdy-X0/Vro2Oh7V2vI/AAAAAAAADkw/V3HWwvYAyrA/s400/20160209_133525-752651.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2283139291637178699" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2283139291637178699" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a>MC2 Darien Kenney is controlling the sound for the 2017 budget announcements happening at the Pentagon. This is big time news for us and it's got a massive audience. At DMA we are streaming the event live to defense.gov where it'll be used by the civilian press.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bTeqHrwP9A8/Vro2NrJ_RXI/AAAAAAAADko/gSxpkG54o1k/s1600/20160209_135344-749175.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="225" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6249367041480803698" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bTeqHrwP9A8/Vro2NrJ_RXI/AAAAAAAADko/gSxpkG54o1k/s400/20160209_135344-749175.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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From my observations I'd say Kenney's a bit stressed.</div>
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Glennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13493183049080739575noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2283139291637178699.post-57821659934880951142016-01-18T20:28:00.003-05:002016-01-19T21:21:17.722-05:00MC Perspective: Lose the uniform<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jp8BnjcMzJc/Vp2K5Ncgu5I/AAAAAAAADj4/ewc6vJuLXYo/s1600/Godbee.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="347" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jp8BnjcMzJc/Vp2K5Ncgu5I/AAAAAAAADj4/ewc6vJuLXYo/s400/Godbee.jpg" width="450" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Everyone's watching you MC1.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">S</span>ee that guy in the suit down there on the floor? That's MC1 Tim Godbee on C-Span. He's the personal photographer for the Secretary of Defense. Yes, this is a job we do. If you're good enough they'll ask for a 2-3 year tour, following SECDEF all over the world.<br />
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There are also MCs working for the Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (MCPON), the Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (CJCS).<br />
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I asked MC1 to fill us in on what he does.<br />
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<b><span class="null">What were you doing in this screenshot? </span></b><span class="null"><b>What's it like?</b></span><br />
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<span class="null">I'm covering the Secretary of Defense speaking on the hill.
It's tough fighting off civilian press, but you have to realize you're
the official photographer and have to assume that if you don't get a
photo of him somewhere, he was never there. </span><br />
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<i><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="null">"Your shot is the most
important in the room."</span></span></i></div>
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<span class="null">You're documenting history. It's an interesting
dynamic often being the lowest ranking person in rooms full of
presidential appointees and flag officers, but you can't be shy. Get in
and get your shot (and get used to getting kicked out of rooms).</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bOGrugAaOMA/Vp7eDWcEIkI/AAAAAAAADkQ/ON9PutRGDB8/s1600/Godbee%2B1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bOGrugAaOMA/Vp7eDWcEIkI/AAAAAAAADkQ/ON9PutRGDB8/s400/Godbee%2B1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This pretty much sums up MC1's career so far. </td></tr>
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<span class="null"> </span><b><span class="null">How is it working in a suit?</span></b><br />
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<span class="null">Working in a suit changes everything because people
don't know who you are, they just know you're with the boss. I've
already had flag officers get out of my way and get a lot of unwarranted
sirs. </span><br />
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<span class="null">You have to find a balance between not looking crazy in your suit
and having enough gear to get you through the day. Travel light but
efficient. And buy them cheap because you wear them so much and do so
much moving they wear out quick.</span><br />
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<span class="null">----------</span><br />
<span class="null">FUN FACT: MC1 Godbee <u>wrote my blog before he enlisted</u>. He found me and asked me for advice. Now he outranks me. THAT'S how fast this guy has moved up. Keep killing it out there! </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TmeEfBjDbOA/Vp2K5H5UA9I/AAAAAAAADj0/S-DUu00zPVI/s1600/Piniero.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="347" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TmeEfBjDbOA/Vp2K5H5UA9I/AAAAAAAADj0/S-DUu00zPVI/s400/Piniero.JPG" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">MC2 Pineiro is clearly in the moment, adopting an aggressive stance to get the shot.</td></tr>
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Here's another MC doing big things. MC2 Dominique Pineiro works for the CJCS.<br />
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DEFINITION: "Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff <span class="_Tgc">is the <u>highest-ranking military officer</u> in the United
States Armed Forces and is the principal military advisor to the
President, the National Security Council, the Homeland Security Council,
and the Secretary of Defense."</span><br />
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<b>What's happening in this photo MC2?</b><br />
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<span class="null">I'm taking a photo of General Dunford, General Dempsey and the Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman for SEAC's change of responsibility ceremony. There were about 900 people there.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3Dly7dIe4Yo/Vp7eDT91axI/AAAAAAAADkM/W6EgJPEks4c/s1600/Piniero%2B1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="243" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3Dly7dIe4Yo/Vp7eDT91axI/AAAAAAAADkM/W6EgJPEks4c/s400/Piniero%2B1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Conducting an interview with Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus. No big deal.</td></tr>
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<span class="null"> </span><b>How do you like the work?</b><br />
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<span class="_5yl5">Make no mistake about it, the work is tough, but it's one of the most rewarding and unique jobs in the entire DoD. </span><span class="_5yl5">History unfolds in front of us and we're there to capture it. </span><span class="_5yl5"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="_5yl5">"When I was in Iraq I took five flights in one day.</span><span class="_5yl5"> </span></span></div>
<span id="goog_1218401294"></span><span id="goog_1218401295"></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="_5yl5">That was a motherf*cker."</span></span></div>
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He said he's been to eleven countries already. Not bad considering total time on the job is about two months.Glennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13493183049080739575noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2283139291637178699.post-42846634045237268012015-12-12T10:24:00.000-05:002016-01-06T09:13:09.673-05:00Wreaths Across America<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The volunteers worked for several hours to unload and hand out wreathes.</td></tr>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Nmf5-COewbw/Vmw8WNHsW4I/AAAAAAAADjo/hgdeY2172Uw/s1600/20151212_102045-711748.jpg"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">I</span>'m in the center of the action at Arlington National Cemetary. With over 50k people here to put wreaths on graves, it's easily the biggest volunteer event of the year. </div>
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Check out the video MC2 Darien Kenney and I produced <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v1cVIF2jQ20" target="_blank">here</a>. The Pentagon wanted us to create time lapses of the crowds slowly covering the headstones. We decided to go with a slow, dissolve time lapse to preserve the sense of reverence.<br />
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Sent from my T-Mobile 4G LTE Device</div>
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Glennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13493183049080739575noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2283139291637178699.post-63666018857788849932015-12-07T10:55:00.001-05:002016-01-06T09:27:03.542-05:00Tight Fit<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JMjAg9GG7AA/VmWsDrNnimI/AAAAAAAADjY/J45icQn-khY/s1600/20151207_095256-757876.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="225" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6225571239049005666" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JMjAg9GG7AA/VmWsDrNnimI/AAAAAAAADjY/J45icQn-khY/s400/20151207_095256-757876.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">She's hiding from the camera back there...</td></tr>
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THIS GUYS'S A LEGEND: I'm in Texas hanging out with Sergeant First Class Allan Armstrong. He's one of the few Soldiers to ever fight his way back from an amputation to deployable status. (Meaning he can be dropped into combat zones.).<br />
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What you can't see is I'm crushing some poor woman trying to work next to me. Feels like I'm back on a ship.<br />
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I'll post the video here (and on the FB page) once it's released.</div>
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Glennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13493183049080739575noreply@blogger.com0