I have a heightened respect for the men and women flying military mobility missions around the world.  After the last 72hrs, I've seen how hard they are worked and how little thanks they get from 'the system'.  I thought life in the SOCOM community had to be the hardest, but now I see each military community has difficult challenges uniquely their own.  

For the mobility aircrews, it's working for a system that seems to have little concern for the quality of their rest and morale.  It is commonplace for the crews to work for 20+hrs straight, try to sleep completely off their regular circadian rhythm, and then do several more 20+hr work days.  What does the system do?  Ask them to do it again and again.  Fatigue and frustration hovers above them, waiting for its chance to settle in. 

I didn't fully realize this until I joined the community as a Reservist a little over a year ago.  I always thought this line of work in the military would be like an early retirement: lower risk than my previous life (as in it's rare to get engaged by the enemy and the mission threats are low), relaxing hours of cruising at high altitude on auto-pilot, having a flushing toilet on board and traveling to new and interesting places.

Well, that can be the case, but often it is not.  Dependency on Ambien or sleeping drugs becomes the norm in this time-zone hopping, circadian rhythm crushing world.  Those challenges are shared by other aircrew throughout the military (Lord knows I was popping Ambien like no tomorrow in my previous job), but I find the constant cycle of 20+hr days and little thanks or consideration by the Command & Control system to be acutely destructive.

In the AFSOC world, it seemed to me that our circadian rhythm and sleep quality was always respected.  Were there 24hr days?  Hell yes, but that was not the norm.  Was adequate time allowed for recuperation?  Whenever possible.  Did the command structure regularly give thanks and praise for work?  Absolutely.

From what I've seen, when mobility crews call to check in with their remote command and control, they almost cringe as they dial the airborne sat phone.  Why?  Because month after month, year after year, they've grown accustomed to someone thousands of miles away telling them their work-day just got extended, their rest just got shortened to the bare-minimum allowed, and their request to change any of it is denied.  To be fair, it's possible to get lucky and convince 'the system' to give a few extra hours off in-between flights, but that's the exception, not the norm.

So I raise a toast to the Mobility Air Force crews who are flying around the world, napping 2hrs here and there on the floor or bunk of the plane, chugging coffee and Red Bulls to fight off their bodies' need for sleep and then using sleep drugs to force a few hrs rest as they hop through time zones day in and day out.  Hollywood and the media doesn't glorify your mission.  It's often taken for granted.  There is no lull; your fight never ends... it is 24/7.  I give my respect and appreciate the hard work!  Blue Skies.  --RMM

Finally got myself some decent sleep.  Due to jet lag and the unusually cold floor of our transport plane, I got no more than 3hrs of straight sleep since leaving Washington on Friday the 5th.

So to call my 8hrs of sleep last night glorious is no understatement.

I’m about to head into the desert sun for a run and workout, but thought a quick post was in store while my workout tunes load onto my phone.

We arrived in country after several hours of flying.  The moment the plane reaches cruise altitude, we unbuckle and spread out like refugees across the floor: everyone throwing down sleeping pads and blankets in hopes of finding a little rest.  But this plane had a weak floor-heater and few were able to sleep due to the cold radiating through insulated pads and thin sleeping bags.

Arriving in country brings back old memories.  Some of them are good, some not so much.  One of my favorite sensations is the smell of a foreign land.  In Africa, the smell of earth and wood smoke always put a smile on my face.  Here in the Middle East, it’s more of a warm, dusty scent.  No way to describe it other than that. 

The cargo ramp lowers and the smell of the desert rushes in.  Hot sunshine floods in through windows and the doorway; a nice respite from the frigid floor temps.  And there is that tan, sand colored horizon.  A few military bunkers in the distance, but mostly nothing on first glance.

We offload our myriad of bags: flight gear, chemical warfare suits, a shopping bag of mostly eaten food from Germany, books/computer/comfort items, and a wide selection of workout, civilian, and military clothing.  This part of a deployment is called the “bag drag” as you drag and tote your stuff off the plane, down a taxiway, to a car, to a processing building, back to a truck, to another building, back to the same truck, then to yet another building, and finally across rocks that are just big enough to imped the crappy little wheels on your Pelican case so that you begin cussing at the design of the wheels and at whoever laid down such stupid G’damn rocks between the last piece of hard-packed earth and the dilapidated trailer park that is your “new” home 150yds away.

No complaints though: this is an easy deployment.  I’ve got a roof over my head, electricity, an air conditioner unit, and by God, I’ve got intermittent wi-fi.  Is this the sort of trailer that Steven Avery (of ‘Making a Murderer’ fame) lived in?  Yup.  But maybe a bit more beat up inside. 
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I’ll go in to further detail later.  For now it’s time for the first workout of the deployment, a late breakfast, and then off to the skies.  -RMM

We have choices in life.  It’s often so easy to overlook them that it took me most of today to realize what choices I faced over the last 14hrs and what significant choices lie ahead during this deployment and beyond.
 
I just finished watching Interstellar.  The first time I watched it was in little Lawton, OK and I thought it was awesome.  A bit much to wrap my brain around, but a very cool sci-fi.  My wife isn’t much of a science geek, but she wanted to talk about black holes and relativity for the next two hours!

However this time, it was a different experience.  Yes, I already knew what was going to happen in the film.  But I found out I had been missing the entire heart of the movie.  It’s not about gravity, relativity, and a mission to find a new planet.  That’s just the plot you block heads!

The real point of the movie is so powerful it gives me goose bumps… moves me to tears.  It’s a movie about the power of love.

“Love is the one thing we’re capable of perceiving that transcends the dimensions of time and space.  Maybe we should trust that even if we can’t understand it yet.” 

Anne Hathaway’s character says that line, as she is trying to convince her fellow scientists to make a decision based on love, not on data.  Because she knows in her heart of hearts it’s the right one.  (And it was…)

But it didn’t fully hit me until Matthew McConaughey’s character is trying to send life-saving data to Earth from another dimension.   He tries to send it on every frequency and data channel known to man; all to no avail. 

That’s when McConaughey realizes it’s his love for his daughter that will get the message across time and space.  He ended up on this wild sci-fi mission not because he was a great pilot, but because he had such love for his child that he could harness it to reach her.  (And he succeeds.)

Ok.  So perhaps you haven’t seen Interstellar and this makes no sense.  That’s what happens when I try to explain the beautiful kernel of truth in an utterly complex movie that is nearly 3hrs long.  But take my word for it- underneath all the sci-fi coolness is a message people from all walks of life know.  Whether it be Jesus, Buddha, Krishna, your pastor, Gary Zukav, your child, Oprah, a parent, or you… people throughout time have known the power of love.

Whether or not you’ve seen the movie and understand what I’m saying, stick with me here, ok?  Because this feels important.

Earlier today, as we were delayed in Germany due to an engine flaming out, I went to see a movie at the base theater.  It didn’t really matter which one we watched, as we were just looking to relax.  So Matt and I went with Quentin Tarantino’s latest film, “The Hateful 8”.  I didn’t know what it was about, just that it would probably be like many other Tarantino films: a western with strange twists, some memorable dialogue and likely a level of violence.

Well, it was very much a Tarantino film, but by far the most violent and foul of his creations.  It brought racism, violence, and an utter lack of compassion for life to a new cinematic level.  Three long hours of it.  Was the acting good?  Yes.  Was the plot unique?  Yes.  Did it make me feel ugly for watching it?  Yes.

But throughout the movie, I kept thinking, “What’s the point of this movie?”  Is it to glorify wanton violence and death?  It must be.  ‘Cause, that was the entire focus of the film.

I hear that Samuel Jackson and Quentin Tarantino both speak out against gun violence.  But yet they blow people’s heads apart in graphic detail on-screen?   It’s the choice they made to create a movie peddling death, extreme violence and racism.  It’s a choice that Christopher Nolan made to take a huge risk on creating Interstellar, a movie about exploration, family and love.

It was my choice to buy a ticket to see Hateful 8, just as it was my choice to watch Interstellar again.   I’m glad it worked out that way.  Because it offered me a stark reminder:  I can choose to laugh and relish in graphic violence.  I can choose to cheer and laugh in uplifting love.  The choice is always ours. 

Hollywood elite denounce violence, yet peddle it like porn.  Are they riding the great metal chariots to combat zones?  No. 

When the seeds of hate spread by self-important politicians, media, or clerics take root and grow into conflict, do those same people participate in the fighting they fueled?  No.  It's left to young men and women, many who aren't even sure who they are fighting.

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I can’t stop ISIS, Boko Haram or Al-Shabaab from wanting to destroy half the planet.  As much as I’d like to, I can’t sit down, have a cup of tea with them, and talk about how much we actually have in common.  If I could just take them on a climb of Rainier before they first pick up that AK-47 or IED vest…  I wish in my heart it was that easy.  It isn’t.

But I’m gonna do my damn best to progress with love.  Lord knows it’s a tough thing when you’re in uniform fighting a war.  But it’s a fight worth fighting.  It’s a choice I make.  And let me be clear, it’s not just the fight to protect the innocent that’s worth fighting.  The good battle, the crucial battle, is the one in which we use nothing, find nothing, but love.
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(Want to learn more about Interstellar the movie and it’s underlying plot of love?  Here are two articles that might help: 
http://www.tor.com/2014/11/13/love-in-sci-fi-interstellar-speech/
http://www.businessinsider.com/interstellar-review-2014-11
Watch the film and let me know what you think.

Five years after I last thought I'd be 'downrange', I'm packing to do it again.  It's the first time no one has told me I have to get in the fight.  This time I volunteered to deploy.  To leave my family and put my Pacific Northwest life on hold.  The newscasts of ISIL attacking Paris, burning pilots alive, and murdering people along the beach moved me to raise my hand and say, "I want to get back in the fight."  Will it be the direct action missions of the past?  Not this time.  I'm older, my SOF days are done.  But this dog still has a few skills that are valuable.

Returning brings back memories.  My final flight out of Kandahar is one I cannot forget.  A C-17 was leaving westbound... west toward America, toward home.  So I grabbed my bags and jumped a ride.  Little did I know that my knees would be 16" from a row of flag draped caskets for the next three hours.  "Sobering" doesn't come close to describing it.  Deeply moving, profound, desolate, angry, honored.  Those are a bit more accurate.  The loadmaster and I were the only two souls in the back, no doubt each thinking about life, the pains of war, our mortality, families, and this fight.

I told myself, "I'm not coming back to this shit."  It made sense at the time.  But five years later, I get the feeling it's a different fight.  Is it?  Back then it was the Taliban, Pakistan-backed insurgents, the Haqqani network.  Those a-holes are still there.  But now it's the cancer on the world that is spreading beyond national borders.  Peddling something worse than drugs: a violent, intolerant, radical caliphate that would rule the world if they had their way.  

So I join my American sisters and brothers; do my little part in the big puzzle.  Let's roll.

Packing begins.  I actually like packing.  It reminds me of getting ready to leave on a big mountaineering trip or international adventure.  (This is an adventure, right?!)  I'm pretty lucky to have a wife that is making breakfast burritos for me right now, so I can be well fed for the 24hrs of travel that begins tomorrow.  

My goal is to pack light.  Not have a lot of crap to weigh me down or distract me.  Work out gear, books, and a computer.  Plus lots of uniforms/military stuff.  I've got some new flippy flopies that should keep my feet free of shower scum (thanks Combat Flip Flops!), but more importantly looking chillaxed when cruising the gravel paths of the Middle East.  I meant to get a light-weight travel hammock... damn, forgot it.  But otherwise I think I'm GTG.

There isn't much time in the day, as we've got big plans for my last night here.  We're off to the Northwest Avalanche Center Snow Ball- a charity event to raise money for a super important resource for snow-loving mountain people.  It'll be a great way to say adios to the PNW.  So I'll cut it here and get back to packing.  --RMM

(Maj. Marshall's blog is hosted by USAF50Summits.com as part of our mission to tell the story of military members who are also avid outdoorists.  Stay tuned in for more adventures.)

Eighteen Airmen from Ft. Drum, New York hiked to Vermont's highest point, Mt. Mansfield, on Sept 25th, 2015.  Led by SSgt Chris LaBerge of the 20th Air Support Operations Squdaron, this group of Air Force members hiked together as an opportunity to build healthy resiliency skills and to show their pride in serving their country.

This was much more than a hike up a hill.  24 hours earlier, the team of Airmen was joined by dozens of other service members for a day of discussion and presentations on the different pillars of resiliency.  Thanks to chaplains and mental health professionals from Ft. Drum, the Airmen were able to learn about and consider different views on the importance of spiritual, social, physical, and mental health.  


SSgt LaBerge reported they focused on stress management  such as "avoiding catastrophic events (your spouse is 30 minutes late, how do you avoid thinking they're dead, cheating, etc)."  His team also learned about "mental resiliency with frame of mind, talking yourself up to increase your performance (common with snipers and athletes, believing you can do something and then doing it)."  "They emphasized on spiritual not being religion, but something to find peace of mind with, nature, golf, stuff like that."

The learning didn't stop there.  Unlike many military mental health events that end after a classroom session, this group of Airmen headed outdoors to practice what they had just learned.  Many experts agree: resiliency is not something that can be taught from a book or presentation.  Rather, it must be practiced over and over, often in challenging circumstances.  The team chose Mt. Mansfield and it's miles of hiking to practice their skills and build up camaraderie. 

The diverse group worked together during the five hour hike to ensure all who started reached the top.  On the summit, they proudly flew the American, Air Force, and TACP flags.  Mission Complete!

SSgt LaBerge said that it was such a success that he and his colleagues aim to do another resiliency hike, but this time it will encompass three state high points: RI, CT, and NJ.  We wish them luck and will help spread the word about this morale and health boosting event they are organizing.

On Thursday, Sept 24, more than 30 Airmen will be learning about the power of positive vision and beliefs.  As part of the USAF 50 Summits Challenge, these Ft. Drum, NY based 20th ASOS Air Force members will engage with several base speakers as they explore the aspects of spiritual and mental resiliency.  The goal is to boost knowledge and skills regarding the stress-busting power of a set of healthy coping skills.

But unlike many similar lecture events, this lesson in resiliency doesn't end in the classroom.  The following day, many of the Airmen will be hiking to the summit of Vermont's highest mountain, Mt. Mansfield as part of their official resiliency training.  At 4,393ft, this peak will provide a moderately difficult hike for the more than two dozen Airmen participating in the event.  Time spent in the outdoors, especially working in a team setting, is a time-tested method for practicing and improving resiliency skills.  Nature provides spiritual inspiration for many, while the challenge of the tough hike tests physical and mental fortitude.  And what would a big hike like this be without the social skills found from working together as a team to achieve a common goal?

We're excited for this great turn out and looking forward to the inspiring stories that come from this two day resiliency boosting event.  Good luck Team Vermont!

To learn more or to sign up, contact us at [email protected].

--RMM

Here at the USAF 50 Summits Challenge, we're firm believers that a unique or challenging experience makes life feel a little be more fulfilling.  Sure, we love getting a new backpack or pair of boots, but that's because they're going to enable us to do something or go somewhere awesome.

Here's an article that just came out highlighting research that confirms that an outdoor or special experience is more likely to bring you happiness than going on a shopping binge or buying the latest gadget.

Want advice on some things that will help you get outside?  Or perhaps you've got the gear you need to be safe in the outdoors and you want to find an adventure.  We can help you with that too.  Just drop us a line!

In the meantime, check out the article:  


The Science Of Why You Should Spend Your Money On Experiences, Not Things
You don't have infinite money. Spend it on stuff that research says makes you happy.
http://www.fastcoexist.com/3043858/world-changing-ideas/the-science-of-why-you-should-spend-your-money-on-experiences-not-thing 

Happy St. Patty's Day to you all.  As winter melts away, the USAF 50 Summits Challenge is warming up with some spring high point trips.  Get your boots and hiking gear ready as we tackle Arkansas' Magazine Mountain (8 May) and Iowa's Hawkeye Point (3 May).  Both trips should be well attended thanks to the energy of their respective team leaders.  It's going to be a fun way to kick off the spring and to get into the great outdoors.

Don't see a trip planned for your state?  Rally your friends together and plan a hike to your state's highpoint with us!

(Above is a photo of Ireland's highest point, Carrauntoohil.  Want to know more about it?  Read up via wikipedia:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carrauntoohil)


-Climb On-