Tuesday, June 29, 2004
Another New Address
W. Colin Judge
A Co / 89th MP Brigade
APO AE 09348
Not much different than the previous address. As you may know, companies make up battalions, which, in turn, make up brigades. In a combat division, brigades would then make up divisions, which make up corps, which make up Armies. Regiments in the Army are more of a historical reference. Many non combat arms brigades such as the 89th MP Brigade are independent of any division. Why our address is not A Co. / 112 MP BN / 89th MP Brigade - I don’t know.
More on My Platoon
Our platoon’s average age is 33; with myself pulling up the mean up ever so slightly. Compare that to a regular Army platoon of probably about 25. My squad leader has stressed that because we are Guard we bring a lot of diverse experience to bear. He’s mentioned twice that “Judge works in the corporate world,” but hasn’t suggested how that helps me or my platoon out here. It actually caused some problems or at least some less than balanced impressions: basically, people thinking I was a snob. I think things changed a lot the day of the fire fight on top of the overpass. The few guys with whom I didn’t get along became much more open. Maybe some expected me to be laying in the floor of the truck in the fetal position, I don’t know.
One of my roommates said out of the blue, “Judge, you’re a good guy. I think people sometimes have a bad impression of you.”
“What’s that?
“You know.”
“That I’m judgmental”
“Yeah, and a …”
“Condescending”
“What’s that mean?”
“I look down on people.”
“Yeah, that’s it…”
The way I act, including the way I speak, of course, has something to do with impressions. I’ve made some adjustments, obviously I still use the term “gluteal fissure” as opposed to “butt crack” (its use is required quite often) and “articulating lorry” instead of – ahem – “trac-tor trail-er”.
W. Colin Judge
A Co / 89th MP Brigade
APO AE 09348
Not much different than the previous address. As you may know, companies make up battalions, which, in turn, make up brigades. In a combat division, brigades would then make up divisions, which make up corps, which make up Armies. Regiments in the Army are more of a historical reference. Many non combat arms brigades such as the 89th MP Brigade are independent of any division. Why our address is not A Co. / 112 MP BN / 89th MP Brigade - I don’t know.
More on My Platoon
Our platoon’s average age is 33; with myself pulling up the mean up ever so slightly. Compare that to a regular Army platoon of probably about 25. My squad leader has stressed that because we are Guard we bring a lot of diverse experience to bear. He’s mentioned twice that “Judge works in the corporate world,” but hasn’t suggested how that helps me or my platoon out here. It actually caused some problems or at least some less than balanced impressions: basically, people thinking I was a snob. I think things changed a lot the day of the fire fight on top of the overpass. The few guys with whom I didn’t get along became much more open. Maybe some expected me to be laying in the floor of the truck in the fetal position, I don’t know.
One of my roommates said out of the blue, “Judge, you’re a good guy. I think people sometimes have a bad impression of you.”
“What’s that?
“You know.”
“That I’m judgmental”
“Yeah, and a …”
“Condescending”
“What’s that mean?”
“I look down on people.”
“Yeah, that’s it…”
The way I act, including the way I speak, of course, has something to do with impressions. I’ve made some adjustments, obviously I still use the term “gluteal fissure” as opposed to “butt crack” (its use is required quite often) and “articulating lorry” instead of – ahem – “trac-tor trail-er”.
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