What's the story behind your forum name?

[Viking Truck]

I've seen this before on other auto forums and thought it was a bit fun so I thought I would bring it here. Why did you choose the name you gave you gave yourself here?

I'll go first. Several yeas ago I joined my first online forum for USPSA competitors. I'm not creative at all when it comes to these things so I had a hard time with coming up with a name. I finally settled on Viking Shooter because I flew the S-3 Viking in the Navy. Most people have never heard of the Viking before but it was a 4 place twin engine carrier based jet aircraft built to combat Russian submarines in the 1970's. I got into the community in 1996 and in 2008 the Viking was officially retired from service. So on gun forums I am Viking Shooter and on Jeep forums I am Viking Jeeper. I didnt want to be viking trucker here because it implies I am a truck driver, a very necessary and appreciated profession but I never want to misrepresent myself. Viking Truck it is.

 

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[myrez]

Or what about Viking AT4 2500 Red Tint Coat? Kind of tolls off of the tongue. An officer eh? I worked for a living as enlisted.

 

[Viking Truck]

An officer eh? I worked for a living as enlisted.

Thank you for your service.

I used to think like that but when I was an E-4 cleaning shitters I decided something had to change.

 

[myrez]

Thank you for your service.

I used to think like that but when I was an E-4 cleaning shitters I decided something had to change.

Just busting balls bro. You took the best route there is. You are humbled as an enlisted puke and then OCS. Makes the best leaders this way.

 

[ironworker40]

I am an a Local 40 Ironworker in NYC. I build skyscrapers and bridges for a living.

 

[Whaler27]

Just busting balls bro. You took the best route there is. You are humbled as an enlisted puke and then OCS. Makes the best leaders this way.

Yup. In The Corps marines who take this route are called “mustangs”.

One of my sons was an E-5 when he was selected for STA-21. The Navy paid him as an E-5 and covered tuition and BAQ while he earned an engineering degree. For him, the Navy was a great ride from A-school through his first two deployments as an officer. Then he got a lazy douchebag as a skipper and his life changed. When the skipper sucks, officer-life sucks — even when the XO and the rest of the team are great. Amazing how much damage one poorly placed guy can do… That one guy is inadvertently persuading dozens of O-3s and O-4s to bail on the navy after the navy has spent somewhere north of $400,000 training each of them.

I enjoyed restoring Boston Whaler boats. My last project was a 27’ Boston Whaler, so I picked “Whaler 27”.

 

[myrez]

Yup. In The Corps marines who take this route are called “mustangs”.

One of my sons was an E-5 when he was selected for STA-21. The Navy paid him as an E-5 and covered tuition and BAQ while he earned an engineering degree. For him, the Navy was a great ride from A-school through his first two deployments as an officer. Then he got a lazy douchebag as a skipper and his life changed. When the skipper sucks, officer-life sucks — even when the XO and the rest of the team are great. Amazing how much damage one poorly placed guy can do… That one guy is inadvertently persuading dozens of O-3s and O-4s to bail on the navy after the navy has spent somewhere north of $400,000 training each of them.

Leadership is a trait you are either born with or not. You are absolutely correct the effect of a poor leader has on his men. I didn't get enough of poor leadership in service so I figured I'd be a LEO lol.

 

[Viking Truck]

Just busting balls bro. You took the best route there is. You are humbled as an enlisted puke and then OCS. Makes the best leaders this way.

Its all good my friend.

Yup. In The Corps marines who take this route are called “mustangs”.

One of my sons was an E-5 when he was selected for STA-21. The Navy paid him as an E-5 and covered tuition and BAQ while he earned an engineering degree. For him, the Navy was a great ride from A-school through his first two deployments as an officer. Then he got a lazy douchebag as a skipper and his life changed. When the skipper sucks, officer-life sucks — even when the XO and the rest of the team are great. Amazing how much damage one poorly placed guy can do… That one guy is inadvertently persuading dozens of O-3s and O-4s to bail on the navy after the navy has spent somewhere north of $400,000 training each of them.

Navy uses the term mustangs also.

STA-21 is a spectacular program. I was too early for it. I was absolutely jealous when the first group came through Pensacola when I was in flight school.

Could not be more right. I had a CO when I was an O-4 who fit into a special category, you know the first navy "fill in the blank" Commanding Officer. CAG (his boss) hated him and could not trust him but he was untouchable with his "status". The guy was absolutely awful. Cant tell you how many times I flew in a jet that had a "new" discrepancy and then later find out it had that discrepancy on the previous flight with the skipper but he never wrote the discrepancy to maintenance control so they didnt know to fix it. Lazy, gutless, spineless SOB. The XO at the time is still a great friend and neighbor. I was at his house for drinks last night.

 

[bookemdanno]

Mines pretty simple...It's my 1st name and I'm a retired LEO. I've used it on several other forums.

 

[Whaler27]

Funny. I aspire to be a retired LEO. I’m old as dirt, and long since eligible, but trying to finish a project I care about. I’m like a twelve year old, three-legged, greyhound… I’m beat up, a little wobbly, and I’m no longer fast, but I still like to hunt: when I see the rabbit I gotta chase it. I also live in the gym, trying to show the young ones I’m still the bull… I’ve lost that battle now. Just trying to make sure I’m not a liability in my last lap.

 

[bookemdanno]

Funny. I aspire to be a retired LEO. I’m old as dirt, and long since eligible, but trying to finish a project I care about. I’m like a twelve year old, three-legged, greyhound… I’m beat up, a little wobbly, and I’m no longer fast, but I still like to hunt: when I see the rabbit I gotta chase it.

I miss the people I worked with every day and hook up with them for lunch! BUT, I don't miss the job.

 

[Whaler27]

I’ll miss most of the people and the shared sense of mission, duty, honor, and commitment.

I won’t miss the endless and increasing paperwork, process, or social engineering. Society’s impact on police training and policy has been disastrous, and it’s getting worse.

Media and politicians don’t understand the streets — or the concepts of conflict and survival. They think we can “nice” every person into law abiding behavior, and they think that physically strong, capable people are “militaristic” and mean. The truth is, most of the most capable warriors I know are friendly, soft-hearted, generous, kind people — because they have the disposition, poise, presence, and confidence to be these things. Sometimes conflict is unavoidable, but it’s the frightened, unfit, and unprepared cops you have to worry about turning a small conflict into a fatal one.

Our recruits get a little softer, a little fatter, a little less driven, a little less disciplined, and a little more entitled every year. The change over the last 10 years has been dramatic. The change over 30 years is stark. These days new recruits whine about the rigors of training and file personnel complaints when training days are long or the DI’s tell them to “suck it the f@#k up!” They report incredibly minor injuries. It’s shocking… It would never have occurred to anybody from my era to whine about the misery of boot camp or LEO training. First, it would not have eased the pain, and second, it would have meant admitting you weren’t tough enough, and nobody wanted to do that. With the exception of most former military, our newest generation of trainees has plenty of complainers, and when they complain the HR folks and lawyers start an inquiry. Since most of them understand little about what we do or need, what usually follows is easier training, and less stress inoculation.

The politicians, media, and social engineers think easing training is “progress”. They consider it part of the “demilitarization” of police. The great irony is that this BS doesn’t build the cops anybody wants. We end up with cops who are less strong, less capable, less durable, less useful, and less confident. “Verbal Judo” is fantastic, and we emphasize the art of de-escalation, but it works best in the hands of strong, confident cops, and it doesn’t solve every problem. In the end, weaker cops are MUCH more likely to resort to deadly force — because their weak presence invites more conflict, and when conflict comes they’re less able to manage it without resorting to a firearm. At the same time, we’re empowering criminals, and they are training in MMA. What could possibly go wrong?

Sorry for the hijack… An old man with building anxiety. Whiners or not, I care about the next generation of people willing to do this job. Society is doing many things to make the world more dangerous for them, while forcing us to ensure recruits are less prepared to manage it.

 

[Viking Truck]

I’ll miss most of the people and the shared sense of mission, duty, honor, and commitment.

I won’t miss the endless and increasing paperwork, process, or social engineering. Society’s impact on police training and policy has been disastrous, and it’s getting worse.

Media and politicians don’t understand the streets — or the concepts of conflict and survival. They think we can “nice” every person into law abiding behavior, and they think that physically strong, capable people are “militaristic” and mean. The truth is, most of the most capable warriors I know are friendly, soft-hearted, generous, kind people — because they have the disposition, poise, presence, and confidence to be these things. Sometimes conflict is unavoidable, but it’s the frightened, unfit, and unprepared cops you have to worry about turning a small conflict into a fatal one.

Our recruits get a little softer, a little fatter, a little less driven, a little less disciplined, and a little more entitled every year. The change over the last 10 years has been dramatic. The change over 30 years is stark. These days new recruits whine about the rigors of training and file personnel complaints when training days are long or the DI’s tell them to “suck it the f@#k up!” They report incredibly minor injuries. It’s shocking… It would never have occurred to anybody from my era to whine about the misery of boot camp or LEO training. First, it would not have eased the pain, and second, it would have meant admitting you weren’t tough enough, and nobody wanted to do that. With the exception of most former military, our newest generation of trainees has plenty of complainers, and when they complain the HR folks and lawyers start an inquiry. Since most of them understand little about what we do or need, what usually follows is easier training, and less stress inoculation.

The politicians, media, and social engineers think easing training is “progress”. They consider it part of the “demilitarization” of police. The great irony is that this BS doesn’t build the cops anybody wants. We end up with cops who are less strong, less capable, less durable, less useful, and less confident. “Verbal Judo” is fantastic, and we emphasize the art of de-escalation, but it works best in the hands of strong, confident cops, and it doesn’t solve every problem. In the end, weaker cops are MUCH more likely to resort to deadly force — because their weak presence invites more conflict, and when conflict comes they’re less able to manage it without resorting to a firearm. At the same time, we’re empowering criminals, and they are training in MMA. What could possibly go wrong?

Sorry for the hijack… An old man with building anxiety. Whiners or not, I care about the next generation of people willing to do this job. Society is doing many things to make the world more dangerous for them, while forcing us to ensure recruits are less prepared to manage it.

Well written.

 

[gemarsh]

Pretty simple here. My initials and last name.

Started out in the early 90's on HKpro bulletin board... then it turned into a online forum. Have used this username since, on forums.

 

[myrez]

I’ll miss most of the people and the shared sense of mission, duty, honor, and commitment.

I won’t miss the endless and increasing paperwork, process, or social engineering. Society’s impact on police training and policy has been disastrous, and it’s getting worse.

Media and politicians don’t understand the streets — or the concepts of conflict and survival. They think we can “nice” every person into law abiding behavior, and they think that physically strong, capable people are “militaristic” and mean. The truth is, most of the most capable warriors I know are friendly, soft-hearted, generous, kind people — because they have the disposition, poise, presence, and confidence to be these things. Sometimes conflict is unavoidable, but it’s the frightened, unfit, and unprepared cops you have to worry about turning a small conflict into a fatal one.

Our recruits get a little softer, a little fatter, a little less driven, a little less disciplined, and a little more entitled every year. The change over the last 10 years has been dramatic. The change over 30 years is stark. These days new recruits whine about the rigors of training and file personnel complaints when training days are long or the DI’s tell them to “suck it the f@#k up!” They report incredibly minor injuries. It’s shocking… It would never have occurred to anybody from my era to whine about the misery of boot camp or LEO training. First, it would not have eased the pain, and second, it would have meant admitting you weren’t tough enough, and nobody wanted to do that. With the exception of most former military, our newest generation of trainees has plenty of complainers, and when they complain the HR folks and lawyers start an inquiry. Since most of them understand little about what we do or need, what usually follows is easier training, and less stress inoculation.

The politicians, media, and social engineers think easing training is “progress”. They consider it part of the “demilitarization” of police. The great irony is that this BS doesn’t build the cops anybody wants. We end up with cops who are less strong, less capable, less durable, less useful, and less confident. “Verbal Judo” is fantastic, and we emphasize the art of de-escalation, but it works best in the hands of strong, confident cops, and it doesn’t solve every problem. In the end, weaker cops are MUCH more likely to resort to deadly force — because their weak presence invites more conflict, and when conflict comes they’re less able to manage it without resorting to a firearm. At the same time, we’re empowering criminals, and they are training in MMA. What could possibly go wrong?

Sorry for the hijack… An old man with building anxiety. Whiners or not, I care about the next generation of people willing to do this job. Society is doing many things to make the world more dangerous for them, while forcing us to ensure recruits are less prepared to manage it.

I agree with all of this and would like to add that the puppeteers know exactly what they're engineering. It's the demise of our society.