E-Mail 'Telling You a Thousand Times Wasn’t Enough - Part 2, by Orofino' To A Friend

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1. armchair survivalists need to read this deserving Article Part 2 for a conviction and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacklyn_H._Lucas for some inspiration, and redeem the time by building skills and readiness.

2. Thanks for laying down a good challenge.

   I chuckled at your bowline comment. Our group did a field training and the bowline was one station. So I stuck my power arm behind me, laid the rope on the ground and listened to the surprised group remarks as I tied the bowline with my weak hand.

   Way back when Boy Scouts were just exactly that, one instructor told us we must be able to tie one around ourselves with one hand. So we learned.

   You didn’t say this in your article, but a common adage among the best trainers for conflict is this: train the group to achieve success in a manner that they incrementally are always building confidence with each success and recognizing their progress, and always manage progressively difficult training to reach the goal where the accomplished training objective is much harder than the actual mission, building individual and unit confidence in parallel.

   Examples are not numerous in history, but WWII has several great examples like the Rangers at Cabatuan, the physical portion of the train up period for the guys in Band of Brothers, and a few others.

   When I inspected US Army units in the 90’s and evaluated their success, it was clear that there were few..less than ten percent… competent leaders managing training, and their unit performance reflected it in terms of soldiers who couldn’t and wouldn’t do their basic jobs, like check the oil and radiator before they started vehicles, wouldn’t do basic fitness, Non Commissioned Officers who wouldn’t even keep track of their squad members basic skill level proficiency training, senior NCO’s more concerned with turf protection than junior leader development.

   It starts with individual self discipline and motivation. Those few who pushed it in their lives always became shining beacons of leaders and their units showed it.

   1. Wheatley Fisher, you have a good way with words. I am grateful for the clarity of your post.

      Carry on

      1. You’re most welcome. I hope even one person benefits. I often told my subordinates that what gave me the most satisfaction was witnessing their success when they followed my mentoring.

3. Congratulations to Orofino on his fitness program. Mine is not nearly as detailed, consisting of a three mile walk about four or five times a week (weather permitting) and twice a week weightlifting.

4. Wow I thought I was doing well to be 61 years old and backpack in the mountains with a 50 pound pack. I am fitness shamed.

   1. Now, here is a man with a sense of humor. I felt the same way, brother, as I reflected on my fitness routine.

      Carry on

      1. Hello Once a Marine. I was never in the service If I had to do it over again I definitely would have So I appreciate ya Heres some interesting useless trivia for ya My brother did extensive ancestry research on our family all the way back to several hundred years ago
         He found our family coat of arms originated in England On the coat of arms it says our name and under our name it says Semper Fidelis Im proud of our Marines and all branches of our service My dad was in the army in the Korean war and my grandpa was a 20 year vet in the navy Take care brother

         1. Thank you, WV Joe. I am touched by your sentiment.

            Carry on

   2. Hello WV Joe.

      Truth is, you are doing MUCH better than I am. To wit, you are a bit older than I am, I only Ruck once a week with a pack that weighs half as much as yours.
      Furthermore, all of my other cardio is done in lightweight clothing, running shoes, and on level ground, usually track or treadmill, for my geriatric safety–that is huge difference from boots, steep topography and a much heavier pack.
      You have inspired me. I am working on a heavier ruck as a goal, but for right now, I am aiming for consistency.
      My honest goal was to inspire; I am sorry that you took it otherwise. We are in this together.
      God Bless

5. Orofino, thanks for these 2 articles, & for sharing your goals for the coming year.

6. I know little of Japanese culture or philosophy, but your quote about the elephant and flea caught my attention. We usually think of big animals as the most dangerous ones, yet the simple mosquito kills and sickens more people across the world than any other nonhuman life form, excluding bacteria and viruses. Perhaps size really doesn’t matter.

7. Good message. Thanks for sharing.

8. While the training regime listed above is laudable, it also snacks seriously if overtraining. The body simply won’t take it for long. So one trains sensibly or very soon one sees the orthopedist. I’m 54 and a life long martial artist and 29 yr Leo. One of the reasons is still train hard is I took Clint Eastwood’s advice: Man has got to know his limitations. The above regimen would work for awhile for a twenty year old. Over 40 and debilitating injury is coming. And we all agree a fight is coming. So train sensibly to be fit for the fight. Not incapacitated by injuries

   1. I hear ya Bret. That’s the main reason I don’t train like I used to. The desire is there but I get injured much more easily now at 61 and the recovery time is incredibly slow. I can still push the cardio pretty hard but I use little old man weights for strength training and any explosive or ballistic movements that I might do like boxing or wrestling or martial arts causes at least a severe strain if not a muscle or tendon or ligament tear Getting old aint for sissies

   2. Hello Bret.
      Point extremely well taken.
      I am older than you are and I presume heavier.
      I can only train each body part with weights for one day each week in order to recover at all. I do chest, shoulders, legs, back, and arms in that order with rest days in between.
      Cardio-wise I watch my Fitbit closely; I shoot for 10,000 steps—go figure. I never exceed 20,000 steps.
      I am so inflexible that BJJ and Tae Kwon Do are simply not an option anymore;
      I love that Clint Eastwood line too.
      The calisthenics are my constant.
      I appreciate your point immensely, if we are injured we become part of the problem.
      My profuse thanks for stating something so obvious that i foolishly neglected to state in my essay.
      Thanks also for your public service.
      God Bless.

9. Orofino, you wrote … “Laugh if you want, but the old, fat guy shows up at least.” Bro’ let me tell you, I am NOT laughing. I am truly inspired. Your approach is realistic, humble, modest and achievable. Plus it sounds like you are actually DOING it! That’s the biggest deal! I admire you sir. Keep it up. I have “some” practice regimen going but not nearly as consistent and committed as you. You have given me the inspiration to up my game.

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