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On this day in 1987 Private E-1 Oldsen was born. Thought I would share some of the random amazing (not so amazing) thoughts.
- First duty station was Berlin Germany, The Wall was still there. I guarded Rudolph Hess who was imprisoned in Spandau Prison in the British Sector. The Wall came down four months after I PCSd and the crumbling of the Soviet Union began.
- I carried the M14, M16A1, A2, A4, the M4A1, A2. I used iron sights, M68, and ACOG. No laser, PAC 4, PEQ 2, PEQ 15. Fired countless ammunition nomenclatures.
- I used the PVS-5, PVS-7, 7B, PVS-14, AN PSQ 20 Thermal, night vision devices.
- PRC-77 w/ SOI, SINGARS w/ ANCD, ASIPS w/SKL, Harris, MTBTR, and some very recent satellite stuff.
- I have worn the white wool thermal underwear, Artic Parka w/wool liner, Pile Cap, and Mickey Mouse boots. Nice to have the silkies and gortex trust me.
- I slept many cold nights in a down filled "Mummy bag" with my green sleeping cap on. Nice to have the new sleep system trust me.
- Watched the M1 replace the M60 tank, The Bradley Fighting Vehicle replace the M113, the HMMWV replace the Jeep, the Stryker programs success. Have seen numerous weapons retired and replaced including the Army's medium/long range missile program.
- I have worn the wool green Class A uniform, the polyester green Class A uniform, and the ASU. Went from the Garrison Cap (some know the unspoken name), to the beret, to the Service Cap.
- I have done P.T. in tennis shoes and BDU bottoms w/ brown t-shirt, the banana suit, the Army Grays, the current IPFU, and the new black and gold.
- Wore Olive Drab utilities, BDUs, DCUs, ACUs, and OCPs. Black and tan boots.
- I have been to the NTC nine times and JRTC three...FML!
- I have seen the Army change from Legacy formation to Unit of Action to the current modular BCT/RAF.
- I went to PLDC, BNCOC, and ANCOC not WLC, ALC, and SLC.
- I have PCSd to 13 different duty stations, never to the same place twice.
- I have seen/participated in our great military removing a dictator from Panama, push Sadam Hussein's Army from Kuwait in a matter of days, attempt to bring some stability to Somolia, bring stability to Bosnia and Kosovo, mourned with all Americans as we were brutally attacked on 9/11, remove Sadam Hussein from power and stabilize (kind of) Iraq, defeat the Taliban and stabilize (kind of) Afghanistan.
- I have worked for five Commanders in Chiefs
- I never thought I would stay past my first four year enlistment much less achieve the rank of CSM.
- The most amazing thing from the past 28 years is all the amazing people I have met and have had the extreme honor to serve with, it is truly one big family.
It has been an amazing ride...thanks for listening!
- First duty station was Berlin Germany, The Wall was still there. I guarded Rudolph Hess who was imprisoned in Spandau Prison in the British Sector. The Wall came down four months after I PCSd and the crumbling of the Soviet Union began.
- I carried the M14, M16A1, A2, A4, the M4A1, A2. I used iron sights, M68, and ACOG. No laser, PAC 4, PEQ 2, PEQ 15. Fired countless ammunition nomenclatures.
- I used the PVS-5, PVS-7, 7B, PVS-14, AN PSQ 20 Thermal, night vision devices.
- PRC-77 w/ SOI, SINGARS w/ ANCD, ASIPS w/SKL, Harris, MTBTR, and some very recent satellite stuff.
- I have worn the white wool thermal underwear, Artic Parka w/wool liner, Pile Cap, and Mickey Mouse boots. Nice to have the silkies and gortex trust me.
- I slept many cold nights in a down filled "Mummy bag" with my green sleeping cap on. Nice to have the new sleep system trust me.
- Watched the M1 replace the M60 tank, The Bradley Fighting Vehicle replace the M113, the HMMWV replace the Jeep, the Stryker programs success. Have seen numerous weapons retired and replaced including the Army's medium/long range missile program.
- I have worn the wool green Class A uniform, the polyester green Class A uniform, and the ASU. Went from the Garrison Cap (some know the unspoken name), to the beret, to the Service Cap.
- I have done P.T. in tennis shoes and BDU bottoms w/ brown t-shirt, the banana suit, the Army Grays, the current IPFU, and the new black and gold.
- Wore Olive Drab utilities, BDUs, DCUs, ACUs, and OCPs. Black and tan boots.
- I have been to the NTC nine times and JRTC three...FML!
- I have seen the Army change from Legacy formation to Unit of Action to the current modular BCT/RAF.
- I went to PLDC, BNCOC, and ANCOC not WLC, ALC, and SLC.
- I have PCSd to 13 different duty stations, never to the same place twice.
- I have seen/participated in our great military removing a dictator from Panama, push Sadam Hussein's Army from Kuwait in a matter of days, attempt to bring some stability to Somolia, bring stability to Bosnia and Kosovo, mourned with all Americans as we were brutally attacked on 9/11, remove Sadam Hussein from power and stabilize (kind of) Iraq, defeat the Taliban and stabilize (kind of) Afghanistan.
- I have worked for five Commanders in Chiefs
- I never thought I would stay past my first four year enlistment much less achieve the rank of CSM.
- The most amazing thing from the past 28 years is all the amazing people I have met and have had the extreme honor to serve with, it is truly one big family.
It has been an amazing ride...thanks for listening!
Posted 9 y ago
Responses: 16
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No eye pro or gloves, sleeves up, no IOTV and no PT BELT!!!! I don't know how we survived back then!
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MAJ (Join to see)
Apparently this was a cry for help; a plea in the wilderness for proper leadership and supervision; since no man stepped forward to fulfill this need to his satisfaction, CSM (Join to see) did it for himself! And that is why the Soldiers of today will not take and post pictures like this on RP 20 years from now. - The End.
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I misread the title and thought you were the most rapidly promoted CSM in all history. CSM (Join to see).
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CSM (Join to see)
Capt Richard I P.
Ha! I just kept hanging around and eventually they were like, screw it just promote the guy.
Ha! I just kept hanging around and eventually they were like, screw it just promote the guy.
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CSM (Join to see) thanks for the great memories. What a great way to share a career's worth of service.
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