For those who serve...A new thought

[BePrepared]

So I'm rarely described as the most "patriotic" of people, but every friend I have knows that I would take one to the face before letting someone slander one of our servicemen.

So I'm thinking about putting together a sort of "One for the Troops" type thread.

What I have in mind is a thread where people who know a person serving in an active combat roll can come and post their loved ones name, rank, and current duty location, along with a request from the person serving for whatever kind of Becker would suit their needs.

Then one of us generous souls with a few dollars to spare, can step up and volunteer to fill that request....

If this idea is stupid someone tell me and delete this thread. I'm not rich, but I would do my part.

 

[willis]

Kinda' creepy idea.

 

[BePrepared]

is it really? How so?

 

[McGrain]

...know a person serving in an active combat [...] post their loved ones name, rank, and current duty location...

1) Not sure about the risk involved posting intel on public forums.
2) Verify if someone is really serving in active duty. If verified with photo or video, see 1)
3) Knives are the least of worry for those who serve

Then one of us generous souls with a few dollars to spare

You?

 

[BePrepared]

You?

I'd step to the front of the list if it got off the ground

I have no doubt that it's not really high on their list of concerns, but knowing that someone here cares enough might just be some minor help

as to the rest, I don't know. Just tossing an idea out there and standing at a safe distance to see if it goes up in flame

 

[mrn8]

If you've got extra money for this sort of thing, there are good organizations in place already to achieve what you're thinking.

 

[DougB2]

Putting out information like SPC Joe Smith, US Army, assigned to 1st Platoon, B Company, 123rd MP Brigade at Ft Wherever, deployed to Camp Dung Hole, Afghanistan is a really bad idea from an operational security standpoint. BePrepared's heart is truly in the right place, but I agree with mrn8, there are other ways to go about it.

 

[BePrepared]

Guess i hadn't given that aspect of it much thought

i suppose the idea is probably a non-starter, but hopefully you understand where i was coming from...

 

[Snakedoc]

Your heart is in the right place Bro, no doubt about that!

 

[CaneC808]

Once an individual is deployed unless he's working in specialized jobs giving out that information Does Not violate OpSec in any way. It is no secret that people are stationed overseas. Im a 13 yr intel mos active duty soldier and it's a very phenomenal idea. Sending anything to put a smile on someone's face who's living in a shithole for over a yr of his or her life is pretty amazing. And it wouldn't be hard to verify information. If its being sent to an APO or FPO overseas the person is obviously there. You'd be sending it to the overseas base they're stationed at and it should be a family member who is a good standing member here on the forum that's lists the person. I can also recommend a pattern to who would have priority. Ppl carrying jobs that frequent them off base and in the line of fire would be a good start. Feel free to pm me w any questions on the matter.

 

[buckmaster96]

mabye before theyre sent you could send it through an engraver and have it engraved with their name, rank, and squad. make it a very nice gift for those who serve

 

[rokclmb]

Just because someone has an APO/FPO address doesn't make them active duty military. That's probably not a good way to verify. I'm a husband of a civilian federal employee located in Japan and I have a FPO address.

 

[MrKnifekid]

I like the idea, if we have some way to prove that they are in the military, on active duty, and are in need of a cool blade.

I mean, I love out dudes over seas, they fight for our freedom, and freedom ain't free.

 

[CaneC808]

As I also said, members in good standing family members. And you could remove info like SS # from their orders and send a copy to the person getting that soldier the knife.

I don't understand why every time I see someone trying to do something to support the troops why twice as many ppl give their opinion on why it's not a good idea. You've obviously never been a deployed soldier if you've done so. I'll leave it at that but just know if the shoe was on the other foot things would be different.

And this isn't directed at any one person.

 

[glockednlocked]

Devil is allways in the details but I say bravo to the op for wanting to do something like this. The feeling of wanting to help is what starts it all, the logistics is what wears alot of folks down trying to make it happen. I think this is a great idea started by a caring guy. I am very selfish and I like to look a man in the eyes when I thank him for his service and hand him a meager tool like a knife, but we all should be donating to help bring comfort to (as well as praying for) those who serve and those who care fore them.

 

[BePrepared]

I'm just picturing these guys getting a package they didn't expect, opening it, and having that 5 minutes of OH DAMN! that i get to have 3 or 4 times a week when the UPS guy shows up.

I'm going home in an hour to my wife and my comfy couch to watch my TV and play with my knives. An hour from now, there will be a man somewhere in the world wearing a US military uniform, carrying a rifle and crawling through mud so that I have the right to watch SurvivorMan and eat a TV dinner

How the hell can i NOT give some tiny bit of what i have to give him the same 5 minutes of happy that i take for granted every time a big brown truck pulls up in front of my house?

 

[thatotherguy]

How the hell can i NOT give some tiny bit of what i have to give him the same 5 minutes of happy that i take for granted every time a big brown truck pulls up in front of my house?

You can do that. It's not that hard, but posting name, rank, base, etc on a worldwide public forum that the enemy (whoever they are at any given time) has access to is a serious risk. I commend the idea, and I would really appreciate it if I was in the sandbox, but it might just be easier to use that certain knife dealer's "knife for a soldier" program. I'm sure they'll let you pick out a Becker if you're willing to pay full price.

 

[Tilley Knife]

BePrepared has a good heart and a great idea but I'm afraid that the logistics would get pretty convoluted rather quickly. If folks really want to give some extra money to help out some of our vets then go here.

 

[DougB2]

Once an individual is deployed unless he's working in specialized jobs giving out that information Does Not violate OpSec in any way. It is no secret that people are stationed overseas. Im a 13 yr intel mos active duty soldier and it's a very phenomenal idea. Sending anything to put a smile on someone's face who's living in a shithole for over a yr of his or her life is pretty amazing. And it wouldn't be hard to verify information. If its being sent to an APO or FPO overseas the person is obviously there. You'd be sending it to the overseas base they're stationed at and it should be a family member who is a good standing member here on the forum that's lists the person. I can also recommend a pattern to who would have priority. Ppl carrying jobs that frequent them off base and in the line of fire would be a good start. Feel free to pm me w any questions on the matter.

CaneC808,
I appreciate your service and your intel MOS. As I said earlier, though, putting name, rank, unit, and location on a public forum certainly does create an OPSEC issue. Being overseas is not the issue; it is attaching names, units, and deployed locations. Going through a knives for troops program is a better way to go. I'm not against the idea, but as proposed it is not a good idea. I know any recipients would be thrilled to get a great knife out of the blue but posting such information is the wrong way to do it.

FYI, I, too, am active duty military, 20 years AF in intel and Security Forces.

 

[InquisitorLord]

Great idea as long as it gets pulled off properly. Why not have a coordinator who would compile two lists, one of donors and one of donees.. Then people could post in the thread "I am interested in donating to someone" or "I have a sibling/parent/cousin/friend/etc.." then no info has to be public and the OP can still run with his idea and do something nice for some troops from the Beckerhead community... There are always people looking to help the troops like this over in the Busse forum, maybe try searching and you could get some other ideas... I might not be able to donate a whole knife but I could chip in towards one for someone..