Now, us Singaporeans are properly superstitious. Even my atheist friends have decided to err on the side of caution whenever possible. And what I experienced, well, I don't have a reasonable explanation for it.

Context: the pontianak, according to local Malay folklore, is the ghost of a vengeful woman who lures men with her beauty before ripping out their innards, heralded by the smell of...

At 0430 on my first morning of Army basic training, we’re all in formation on the drill pad awaiting our first day of physical training. We were supposed to be there just long enough to make formation and go begin PT, but we never made it that far. Instead, we got smoked. The drill sergeants are screaming at us, “what? Did you think this was going to be easy?! Do you want to quit?! Come ring the...

By all rights, I am the very first Purple Heart of Operation Restore Hope.

You know how we all pointed and laughed at the Russians for not knowing that you don't invade until you've got logistics established?

Well, evidently, that's been the US doctrine since forever, but nobody told me.

I was a radio operator with Headquarters and Headquarters Company (HHC) 548th Supply and Service Battalion...

By all rights, I am the very first Purple Heart of Operation Restore Hope.

You know how we all pointed and laughed at the Russians for not knowing that you don't invade until you've got logistics established?

Well, evidently, that's been the US doctrine since forever, but nobody told me.

I was a radio operator with Headquarters and Headquarters Company (HHC) 548th Supply and Service Battalion...

After I wrote the Chronicles of the Katrina stories, my mind sort of dried up. I've been paid a lot of compliments of being a good E-9, but how did that happen? How does one become a good leader? In answer, my drunken mind said tell the stories of your failures and other adventures of your 31-year career. So here we go. Let me know if I should tell more or if I'm on the wrong track. Thanks in...

We had a couple, um, "unique" (thankfully) individuals in our BCT cycle at Fort Benning several decades ago. I have no idea how often this type of stuff occurs, hopefully infrequently, but we had a guy go AWOL very shortly after reporting to Basic. It was about three days in when our platoon was formed up and told to be on the lookout for this guy, who we'll call Goldy, as he was missing.

A while...

(My dad told me this story a while ago so sorry about the lack of detail an military terminology)

My dad was deployed to Iraq in 2003 as a satellite communications technician for the airforce and I believe he was in Kuwait at some airbase.

My dad and his buddy were in a tent joking around when a siren went of that usually means they’re getting mortared I believe. My dad put on his a gas mask, CBRN...

So my particular company may have caused Black hawk down. Along with some air support. Warlords set up a meeting in a Mogadishu hi rise, we had been there for months. Intelligence found out about this meeting. We surrounded the building with troops in 5 tons and some us flew in Cobra helicopters. The building had a doorway coming out of the rooftop. The Cobras lit the place up with with tow...

During Basic Military Training, my unit, Kestrel Company, was particularly concerned with our mobile phones. Regular checks were conducted, oftentimes without warning.

This was because of a previous batch of recruits, of which one particular idiot had the brilliant idea of taking an in-camp video recording and then posting it online after graduation.

The video contained explicit content (among...

Back story: This is about 3 weeks after Hurricane Katrina decided to pay a visit New Orleans. There was still no electricity, however I believe we had water (Hell, it's been almost 18 years ago and I was the old man back then!) The Coast Guard Village (Like 28 six 5th wheel trailers, air conditioned two-hole shitter, several huge generators, wooden sidewalks connecting it all, AND 2 full blown...