Friday, February 10, 2012

Putting the Lid on the Pot -

**I know several people have made blog posts responding to this woman..err idiot.. but I have finally wrapped my head around it enough to respond myself lol**

Last night I posted this blog post - Stirring the Pot on my Facebook page, *Army Wives Do It With Hooah*. By the title of her post, it is obvious she wanted to start some crap and she succeeded. She got the attention she wanted... and hey, I like a little drama every once in a while, so here I go =)

The gist of her blog post is basically putting down National Guard members and their wives.. I will respond to certain things that stand out to me...quotes from her blog post will be in italics & bold...

Living in Vermont, there isn't a very strong Active Duty Military presence. 90% of the military influence around here comes from the Vermont National Guard.

Let me point out that on the side of her blog she says that she 'married her hero' in August 2011 - that makes her an extremely new wife... and I'd like to ask this: If there isn't a very strong Active Duty Military presence, how do you know how Active Duty spouses are suppose to act/behave? How can you even compare the things they do to that of National Guard Spouses?

The Vermont National Guard is just that, they are State Militia.

Actually, according to the National Guard website they serve State AND Federal governments. So while they don't train as much as Active Duty, they are a VERY IMPORTANT part of our country.

When there are floods, fires, storms and other natural disasters, who do you think responds? The National Guard. When other branches of the military deploy and schools, hospitals and homes get destroyed in the war path, who do you think goes and rebuilds? The National Guard.

And, did you know that the National Guard is the OLDEST branch of the military? It is obvious that ALL branches work together and not one is better than the other.

The National Guard spouses around here like to refer to themselves as 'Army Wives'. They aren't. I respect their significant others for the things that they do, but they are not, by any stretch of the imagination, soldiers.

Let's take a little look at this pic here... if you can read, tell me what it says please. Thank you. I'll wait.... you see, here at Fort Stewart, we have a training area specifically for the ARMY National Guard. Now, just because they made the choice that was best for them, joining the National Guard, doesn't mean that they are any less of a Soldier because they may only do it "part-time". EVERY SINGLE MEMBER of the military is important. Sure hope you don't need their help if your area ever gets hit by a natural disaster lol

I'm so proud to say that the Hubs has been through 2 deployments, and his mind is as solid as a rock. What Guard spouses seem to not realize, is that A LOT of other people, who have nothing to do with the military, have PTSD. It's a horrible, horrible thing to deal with, and I would never wish it on anybody, but just because he has PTSD, doesn't automatically file him in the 'soldier' category.

You know, she is correct here, there are a lot of people who have PTSD that don't have anything to do with the military...HOWEVER, if a SOLDIER in the National Guard has deployed, and seen things that can't be unseen, he may very well have PTSD and it could be very serious. The wife of that National Guard SOLDIER will have to deal with it just like any Active Duty spouse. When they are deployed, they go through the same worries and concerns as Active Duty spouses. I wonder how this "woman" would feel if people downplayed her husband b/c he is "only a recruiter"? Hmmm. (BTW, I feel every single job in the Army is important, however we all know there are some who don't and would argue that with her, which is why I said what I did lol)

I guess what I'm trying to get at here, is that I would really like people to stop jumping down my throat when I tell them that they are not an Army Wife.

Why do you even feel the need to say that to someone? Is your entitlement really that high and self-esteem so low that you need to say this to others? Why try to belittle the pride they are feeling? Do their husbands not serve just as yours does?

Part of YOUR job as a spouse, is to be a direct reflection of him. That means getting your facts straight, and getting educated.


So, am I to assume that your husband is a self-righteous pompous ass too since you are a direct reflection of him? =) And let me point out that you obviously don't have your facts straight and are very uneducated when it comes to the National Guard. So to tell someone to have their facts straight and to be educated is ridiculous when you yourself need to do the same.

- Respect your husband when he's in uniform. Just because my husband and I aren't on post when he's in his uniform, I keep the 'handling' to a minimum. Technically, you aren't even supposed to hold hands with him when he's in uniform.

Just one question here... Why are you telling them ARMY REGULATIONS if you think the National Guard isn't a part of the Army and that they're not Army Wives? Why should they follow Army Regulations? Yeah, I'll wait for that too.

- Respect the uniform itself. Don't put it on and take sexy pictures with it, with boobs/butt falling out all over the place. That's just trashy. A fun picture with his cover on is one thing, flaunting your assests is another.

Uh, so they can't do it, but you can? I'm pretty sure you are flaunting yourself in your husbands uniform... So are you one of those women who say what others should and shouldn't do but you do as you tell others not to? As I mentioned above, low self-esteem..it's obvious here when you refer to yourself as "trashy". I think this made me laugh the most =)

It burns my biscuits when these spouses, who so loudly (and rudely) insist that they are 'Army wives' can't even handle these simple types of things, that go along with being an actual Army wife. You're just making yourself and your spouse look bad.

Your blog post REEKS of "loud & rude". You have made yourself and your husband look like ignorant assholes. Plainly put.

Now, in my opinion - no branch is better than the other. I would love to see this "woman" at an Army installation and walk around with this kind of attitude. I can almost guarantee she is the kind of person that others would complain about...you know, that annoying neighbor who is always in everyone's business and spreading rumors and gossip....I can also almost guarantee that she wears his ranks. She reeks of it.

Now, I've got to get my day started =) Thanks for letting me "vent" lol

UPDATE - THIS "WOMAN" HAS REMOVED SOME CONTENT AND THE COMMENTS ON HER BLOG, INCLUDING HER HUSBANDS, AFTER HIS COMMAND GOT INVOLVED. *READ HERE TO SEE WHAT THE COMMAND SAID*

This was her Husbands comment on her blog - what he talked to about by his command and what she removed:

Hubs said...
This is the "Hubs". I'm very proud of my wife for her blog. She spoke her mind about something that was bothering her. That is essentially what a blog is. What most of you don't understand, since you are National Guard, related to one, or married to one, is that it really bothers any active duty, full time, Regular Army soldier to be compared to national guard. I am always being asked what gaurd unit I'm with. Even when I tell people I'm active duty, they still don't get it. This isn't anybody's fault, it is just the ignorance of people in this area because there is no real Army base near by. The closest one is Fort Drum, NY, which is about 5 hours from Burlington. If you lived near a main post then everybody in the surrounding area would assume you were an active duty soldier working there, not a member of the guard. It is the exact opposite for those of us that are proud members of the Federal army who are stationed in this rural area. Most people do not know who we are, or what the Regular Army is about. A lot of people actually believe the National Guard is the one and only army for the U.S. This is a huge pet peeve of mine and I make sure to educate people who think this. My wife was doing the same thing by writing the blog, in a ranting kindof way. She had just had it with people calling me a guard member, and not knowing the difference. I could go blue typing on here the difference between the two, and most of you won't get it either because all you know is the Guard. I respect the members of the Guard. Both the state of Vermont (and the other states and territories) and the Country needs citizen soldiers. There was nothing in the blog to say otherwise.
She looks great and very sexy in the uniform. She is not a soldier so she does not fall under Army Regulations. Look up recent Supreme Court rulings, as well as Federal Laws, that say wearing the uniform is a freedom of expression as long as you are not trying to impersonate a member of the military. Under Army Regulation 670-1, which governs how the Army uniform is worn, goes on to state that official uniforms (that civilians cannot wear) are "distinctive and will not be sold to or worn by unauthorized personnel:

(1) All Army headgear, when worn with insignia.
(2) Badges and tabs (identification, marksmanship, combat, and special skill).
(3) Uniform buttons (U.S. Army or Corps of Engineers).
(4) Decorations, service medals, service and training ribbons, and other awards and their appurtenances.
(5) Insignia of any design or color that the Army has adopted." (Army Regulation 670-1, par. 1-12).

Insignia of any design or color that the Army has adopted has to do with unit patches. If you look at the Regulations, consult federal law, and look at the Supreme Court rulings concerning free speech (while wearing the uniform), you will see that my wife is perfectly within her rights to wear an ACU top and bottom and look great doing it. My wife is not a soldier. She supports the fact that I am in the military, which is not something that all soldiers can say of their spouse. Look at the picture of her, the only thing visible is the American Flag. She had that on there because she is a proud American. I am happy and proud to be married to one. She has never cheated on me, I don't know why anybody would put something as mean as that on here, but it is slander and not appreciated. Opinons are appreciated, that is what a blog is. But going to the length of being mean and spiteful is very sad. If you are going to post, try to be an adult. At no time was this blog meant to offend anybody, regardless of military affiliation or not.

Thank you for looking at the blog. Please be respectful that this is her blog and her opinion on things.

February 8, 2012 9:48 PM

23 comments:

  1. Well put! Thank you :D

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  2. I'm a Marine Wife and I still find this horribly offensive. I wouldn't be surprised if her husbands command got involved.

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    1. I heard that some spouses were looking up that information.. sad.

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    2. They did. His commander had to issue a public apology. Now whos making their spouse look bad? The irony...

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    3. I think it is kinda messed up they looked for his command info. I wouldn't have went that far.

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    4. They had to go that far... The insults she slung around could not go unchecked and the military cannot go after her. Her idiot husband should have known the Army would come after him for her comments and especially his!

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  3. Very well done, proud to be an Army Wife to my soldier who is in the National Guard.

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  4. Thank you! My husband is in the National Gaurd, and we're preparing for his first deployment. I believe, just because we are not living on a base and he doesn't train everyday- doesn't mean he doesn't do the same things overseas as Active Duty members or National Guard wives don't go through the same things when their husbands are gone for days, weeks, or months at a time.

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  5. Yes!! Thank you! Very well said!

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  6. Very well written!!! And to those Army National Guard Wives...you are every bit as important as an Army Wife...and often face a unique set of challenges. You are in no way, lesser than an Army Wife! Thank you for your husband's, and your, service and sacrifice for our country.

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  7. Very well written!!! You said exactly what I told my husband last night!!! I love it...I can't believe she said they aren't soldiers.. My husband used to be reserves before he went AD and they work just as hard!!:).. Just glad you wrote this and I hope she sees how stupid she looks for being so hypocritical!!..

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  8. I appreciate the comments =) Thank you.

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  9. Oh please tell me where I can find this woman's blog! I AM AN ARMY WIFE, no matter what anyone wants to say. My husband is in the national guard here in Ohio and last year did a tour in Kuwait...which also caused him to miss the first 8 months of our daughter's life! He is also getting ready for a tour in Afghanistan next year, If that doesn't sound like an Army wife....and an Army brat, I would love to know what does!?!? lol

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  10. The blog is linked above... however she removed some content and all the comments, including her husbands, after his command got involved..

    http://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=10150534107058247&id=190005468246

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  11. First off,

    Lets talk about something here, how about our freedom of speech? I was on active duty for ten years and deployed way too much and never seen my wife, I feel and understand what army wives go through when the Husband is not there due to deployment. Now lets talk about The National Guard, I am presently in the National Guard, I chose the National Guard because the simple fact that I have more time home with my wife and beautiful son. I get to get a paycheck and advance as well as be part of the best Army in the World, and I do it on my terms. I like to control my life and where it is going, The National Guard has given me extra money on top of the Chapter 33 to fulfill my Master Degree. I am currently waiting to finish my Bachelors, but at least I get to wear the uniform, serve my country, and if needed, get activated if my Federal Government needs me. I am proud to have served in both, I understand both and am very proud to be able to serve still. If I was in Afghanistan with National Guard, like I have been before, I depend on them to watch my six, and any Military person should know what it means when I say that; and on top of all that, these guys have real life skills that are sharp because they do their job all the time. I am Military Intelligence and the only time I get to do my job is when I am deployed, if I worked for the government and did that too, than guess what I be that much more experienced and that much more of an asset to my Brother and Sisters in Arms.....

    R/
    Matt

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    1. I'm not sure what you mean by this... But you do have to realize that as a member or the military your freedom of speech is greatly diminished. I'm in the Army and I am very careful about what I say when, and I don't post ANYTHING online that can be traced back to me. Just look into the news about the Marine that got discharged for his criticisms of President Obama...

      I certainly do agree with you though, make choices for yourself and if that means you join the National Guard instead of Active Duty... Well all right then. I myself am a very proud National Guardsman.

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  12. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE your post!!!! The sarcasm is just the icing on the cake!

    My husband is a soldier with the Colorado Army National Guard, and last night this was a firestorm among the spouses. I posted my own response on my own blog as well -- since she took down the comments.
    http://thetoyboxyears.blogspot.com/2012/02/in-response-to-stirring-pot.html

    Love your blog and will come back for more!!

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  13. I still say who ever signed on the dotted line is a soldier, whether full time or part time. These people are just ignorant. Maybe one day they will get over themselves. God help him if he ever has to deploy with any of the men and women from that area who are NG.

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