My trip to Colombia was OEF-CCA.
Your 2024 Presidential Election Thread
- Thread starter Gunz
- Start date
- Status
The Quartermaster
Verified Military
- Joined
- May 3, 2020
- Messages
- 1,037
Pardon my ignorance here, but wasn't OEF against Islamic terrorism or was it mainly that and some others tossed in? I'm kind of bewildered that there were actions in our backyards so to speak.
Kraut783
SOF Support
In 2002 we were on the fence for OEF-Afghanistan and OEF-Philippines (AQ elements there). I was happy we got the desert and not the jungles. As far as south America...AQ, and others, were present in the South American Tri-Border Area (TBA), to plan attacks on the US.
Terrorist and Organized Crime Groups in the Tri-Border Area (TBA) of South America
Defense Technical Information Center
Terrorist and Organized Crime Groups in the Tri-Border Area (TBA) of South America
Defense Technical Information Center
Last edited:
I mean, it seems like this would be an easy thing to check. Did he draw combat pay? Did he earn a SSFFWS (combat patch)? If so, he was "in the war." If not, then he wasn't.
Saying he was "in OEF" because he hung out in Italy OEF support orders makes about as much sense to me as saying someone was "in OEF" because he earned the GWOT-S medal. We **all** supported OEF if we were in the Army at that time, one way or the other. **Not all** of us were "in war."
Saying he was "in OEF" because he hung out in Italy OEF support orders makes about as much sense to me as saying someone was "in OEF" because he earned the GWOT-S medal. We **all** supported OEF if we were in the Army at that time, one way or the other. **Not all** of us were "in war."
Last edited:
Shrug emoji. I didn’t invent the system I just played it.
I get what you’re saying. But at the same time all of us got a GWOT-EX for being awake during terrorism. I’m not defending his record but we over used the term OEF to our disadvantage.
I wouldn't say you played it, but you did your part well, bro. Few have your kind of legit combat creds.
TLDR20
Verified SOF
- Joined
- Jan 7, 2009
- Messages
- 6,400
Yeah I got hazard pay and one of my trips to SA was technically part of OEF…however while I would call those deployments, they weren’t combat.
Are you maybe confusing the two awards? IIRC the GWOT-S was for being awake during terrorism. GWOT-E you actually had to go somewhere and do something. And a GWOT-E still not necessarily "in war."
Sorry you’re right. I meant the GWOT-S.
This brings up an interesting question about semantics. You say you weren't in combat, but were you "in war?" For example, I frequently say that I am a "war vet" but not a "combat vet," because to me they are two different things.
It’s all service inflation. Everyone was at war. Everyone got a medal. Everyone was a hero.
I’m not sure anymore. It’s all relative I suppose. I was in some hairy situations but I’m not sure it was war. Not like Ukraine is experiencing.
TLDR20
Verified SOF
- Joined
- Jan 7, 2009
- Messages
- 6,400
Not for that trip.
TLDR20
Verified SOF
- Joined
- Jan 7, 2009
- Messages
- 6,400
I think the interesting thing is we can’t even decide what is right..
He was a SGM, in rank and responsibility for sure. But not in professional development? He got a DUI, that is lame, but so have literally a ton of guys in the military. Including some of my best friends, like it or not I have certainly deserved one in my past.
I personally do not think getting out after 24 years with or without a deployment makes someone a shitbag. The military is one part of any persons life. If life lines up a certain way, and you want to get out, fucking get out.
How many people here have changed units, went to schools, or did numerous other things that changed their position or MOS or whatever that may have impacted their unit as a whole? I don’t see that as dodging anything, it is a big military and it goes on without all of us.
He was a SGM, in rank and responsibility for sure. But not in professional development? He got a DUI, that is lame, but so have literally a ton of guys in the military. Including some of my best friends, like it or not I have certainly deserved one in my past.
I personally do not think getting out after 24 years with or without a deployment makes someone a shitbag. The military is one part of any persons life. If life lines up a certain way, and you want to get out, fucking get out.
How many people here have changed units, went to schools, or did numerous other things that changed their position or MOS or whatever that may have impacted their unit as a whole? I don’t see that as dodging anything, it is a big military and it goes on without all of us.
Topkick
Verified Military
Sure. But in my opinion, a CSM should do better.
TLDR20
Verified SOF
- Joined
- Jan 7, 2009
- Messages
- 6,400
Well was he a CSM or not?
I think it is pretty well established that he was. Even the Harris/Walz campaign says so.
https://www.politico.com/news/2024/08/08/harris-walz-military-credentials-00173236
- Status
