Tonight 5 of the Philadelphia Eagles cheerleaders came to TQ to give a little show and talk about their appreciation for us.

Nikki, Madeline, Laura, Rachel, and Kjersti got on stage at 8PM to dance, tell a little about themselves, and provide give-aways of Philadelphia Eagles gear. 

As for why I wasn’t issued a hottie during my pre-deployment I am not sure but will certainly mention the concern on my After Action Report. 

In the mean time I guess I will just have to start taking applications for a girlfriend for when I get home in October.  Application questionaire below:

The be Jonathans Hottie Application:
Just email me (Jonathan@ConservativeBOG.org) your name, where you live, a little bit about yourself, a picture, and why your self-esteem so is low you wish to be my hottie.

Attention: Weirdos, psychos, man haters, and cougars need not apply.

Semper Fi,

GySgt Jonathan Jenkins

Popularity: 51% [?]

Grrrrr.  What a long day this was. 

Up at 0530 to finish packing (ok start packing), unplug everything, and get on the road to attend a pro-troop rally and then my friends house to drop my car off and scam a free ride to the airport.

I thought all my gear would barely fit into 2 sea bags but thinking and packing were not to be synched up today.  I quickly found I needed a 3rd bag and regrettably a carryon too.  The weight however wasn’t as bad as a I thought (ok I did leave some stuff behind I thought there would be no need for).  All told about 200 pounds of gear so not that bad.  I like the idea of going by myself and being on my own program but the downside is you have to totally fend for yourself.

On my way to my friends’ house I stopped to thank the patriots who meet weekly in West Chester to show their support to the troops, their mission, and the ideals of America.  Believe it or not there have been protestors on the opposite corner for 5 years now.  They protest the troops, the mission, religion, and most notably America.  If you ever have a chance to attend the rally its 11AM every Saturday.  Just look for the side that has American flags or pro-troop signs.

Next, I stopped at my friend Cheryl’s’ house.  She is going to keep an eye on my car and help out with the finances/power of attorney stuff while I am away.  Great girl and I am soooo lucky to have her as my friend.  She is also considered one of the bets local jewelry makers so check out her site Inspired Designed at http://www.inspiredesigned.com.

At Philly International Airport I was happy to see my mom and my elder sister Christine with her family.  Unfortunately, we were only able to chat for maybe 30-45 minutes as I had to ensure there were no delays due to international security checks.  I know the week before when I was in Montreal it took over an hour to get out.

Plane rides for me are never fun.  First, being that my primary job in the Marines is that of an Air Traffic Controller I know what goes on with the goofing around and games, second, food is worse then that in a hospital, and third its rare I get to sit next to a hottie.

Pete Peeve #1:  Passengers who pour over into my seat
The first plane ride, from Philly to Dulles, I had the window seat but the woman next to me was sooooo large she took up all of her seat, some of my seat, and some of the aisle.  I do like people but like in Air Traffic Control – separation is important.

Pete Peeve #2:  Stuck in the middle with you
Sitting next to a goof, being sick, or squashed on a short trip maybe but 11 hours flight?  No thank you.  I had the worst seat I could get heading from Dulles into Kuwait.  There were 2 seats, an aisle, 5 seats, an aisle, and then 2 more seats.  Well I got to sit in the middle seat of the middle section for 11+ hours.  We were so tight I don’t think any of us were able to sit back and relax but thankfully the woman from the Philly to Dulles flight wasn’t with us.

I guess it was about 1730 Kuwaiti time (7 hours difference) when I arrived in theater, picked up my bags, went through customs and meet the Marine Liaison waiting for me.  Master Sergeant Hendricks drove me to Ali Al Salem which was about 30 minutes away.  Once there he hooked me up with all a Marine needs:  A weapon, something to eat, and a rack. 

Life is good.

Semper Fi.

GySgt Jonathan Jenkins

Popularity: 33% [?]

I must say how all but the two companies I mentioned before (Comcast and Barnes & Noble’s) really seem to respect our mission abroad and the troops sent into harm’s way.

Allied Waste didn’t charge me for the quarter and Verizon waved all their charges for the entire month without hesitation.  After having to put out over $400 for Iraq it is nice to have less expense this final month.

Primerica was easy as anything to modify my beneficiaries and Desarri from Harleysville National Bank has made herself the contact person for my customers to send their checks to.  I do think I somehow owe her dinner when I come back though.  Again no dessert lady banker!

Lastly, I have to once again mention Joe Ryan.  Joe was a Marine who later started a law firm and successfully fought corruption as a county controller and as well led the county to attain a AAA bond rating which less than 1% of all counties in the US attain.  Now, Joe is helping young pups like me.  He donated his firms’ time and resources to ensure I had a proper will, power of attorney, and living will setup.  Joe gave me much peace in my mind and I am very appreciative.

Thank s again to all the companies who respect and understand what those of us in the military do on a daily basis.

GySgt Jonathan Jenkins

Popularity: 21% [?]

I must say that I truly found a great home in East Coventry, Pennsylvania.  Just 30 miles from Philly and 90 miles from NY (driving time the same grrrr) I am surrounded by farms and good people.  I live in the type of place where you do not have to lock your doors, neighbors welcome themselves over, and you better at least pretend you know something about farming or hunting.

This morning I met my friend and handyman extraordinaire Billy Keeley at probably the smallest restaurant in all of Chester County.  It is a working class place called Coventry Café and if you go be prepared to listen to some wild conversations.  Oh and if you start with any of the waitresses you will lose.  They do bite back!  Haha

Ok stay focused Jonathan.

Billy has volunteered to take care of my home for my entire deployment.   Billy is a former squid (that means he was in the navy and not really a cephalopod).  I really lucked out meeting Billy when I bought my house as he will be doing everything from grass cutting to getting the mail to telling the insurance company where my house was when it burns down while I am away.

Breakfast was especially bad today as I got yelled out and berated by Helen again by asking for pork roll and blueberry pancakes.  Who doesn’t have pork roll and seriously what dude knows when blueberries are out of season?

It wasn’t all bad however.  I was promised a free breakfast when I come back and yes to include pork roll and blueberry pancakes no matter what time of year it is.  Seems so easy to con the ladies into feeding me lately.  God bless sympathy and blueberry food group.

GySgt Jonathan Jenkisn

Popularity: 22% [?]

Grrrr its bad enough I do not like to drive (hence my true motivation to become a self-made millionaire) but why did my last day in Washington DC involve a 6 hour drive home?  I can understand the south bound lane being shut because that’s where the accident was but I was heading north and crawling like a fat kid to a salad.  In my opinion DNA research will reach its peek when we can modify the want to rubberneck at police and fire activity.

Anyway….I digest (sorry that was on Family Guy the other night and I could not find anywhere in the course of the day to use it).  Today, I finalized just about everything I needed to handle for Iraq.  I am cleared hot to go but feel the need to purchase a better holster for the 9MM I will be issued and a pair of WileyX glasses that meet military ballistic standards.

Friend, Marine, and now detective in Tredyffrin Township, Todd Bereda meet me tonight to provide me a drop holster so I didn’t have to purchase my own.  Todd is a good friend and will be my liaison to the Republican Committee of Chester County while I am deployed.  Thanks again Todd!

One more item to get, call some last minute businesses, pack, and I am ready to rock and roll.

GySgt Jonathan Jenkins

Popularity: 51% [?]

Well today I called everyone I pay bills to so that I can either cancel or suspend services.  Most companies were very helpful.  Two however flat out will do nothing to compensate those who go fight abroad (Comcast and Barnes & Noble’s).

Sprint for example will allow service members under contract to suspend their service until they come back at no cost.  Not needing to come home to a new phone number will be great.

Meenan Oil not only put me on a budget plan but reduced the cost further for no other reason than I am deploying.

PECO reviewed my history of spending for the last two years and gave a lot of advice on reducing cost and protecting my house.

Friend and Republican Committeeman Joe Ryan has dedicated his firms time for all my legal work and flat out refuses any compensation.

My township police chief has committed to have each shift take a look at my place being that I live alone.

My great friend Cheryl has agreed to manage my money while away and be the executor of my will in case I do not come back.

 
Billy, my handyman, is completely trustworthy and will be at my house often to ensure it looks lived in and take care of anything that may arise.

 
And the list just goes on.

 
However, I was surprised how billion dollar Comcast refused to even discuss waiving reconnection fees.  I will concede that the only social responsibility business has is to make as much money as possible but when the Pennsylvania Governor Fast Eddie provides subsides (i.e. us the taxpayers) the least I think they can do is look to help those who truly have sacrificed.

 
Another shocker was Barnes & Nobles.  All I asked was to suspend my readers advantage card until I get back and stop payment on the Wi-Fi access I use in their stores (The same stores I purchase hundreds of dollars a year in).  They went so far to say that it doesn’t make sense for me to suspend my service since I can still order books online while in Iraq.  How do I retort to such intelligent suggestions?  Haha  As for the Wi-fi, they have no way to suspend the service and insist I must go through AT&T who 2 days later still doesn’t know how to cancel my Wi-fi access.

 
Let me digress by saying that overall everyone seems helpful except for a few radical anti-war/American Sovereignty “people” who say I deserve whatever happens to me over there.   The people in my circle of friends understand sacrifice and wish to be a part of something positive.  It’s an honor to know them and have such commitment to the troops.

 
Semper Fi,

GySgt Jonathan Jenkins

Popularity: 20% [?]

Ahhh time again for the infamous gas chamber requalification.

Our gas chamber cannot kill you but it can certainly make you miserable for about half an hour or in my case today a few hours.

In typical Marine Corps fashion we were told to show up at 0 Dark 30 so we can start getting everyone their gas masks and get in the chamber by 0700.  Finally, after sitting around in the cold and rain until 0900 we start to kick off today’s training evolution.

168 Marines ready to breath in some riot control gas and possibly toss their cookies.  As much as I loathe the chamber I do like to go in quickly just to get it over with.

It was awesome to watch the first group go through as a few had to leave early and puke their guts up.   Luckily for me I am more of a spitter then a puker when it comes to these 10 minutes of fun-time.

Now here is where the fun begins.  There must be about 50 of us right next to a few of the vents waiting.  Brain-children that we are we don’t even think about the gas coming out.  Well let’s just say it only takes about a minute for us to know our mistake.  We are not even in the chamber and already its burning us and we are coughing.  No need to wait for someone to give us the order to get our masks on we just do it.

Well, finally it’s my turn with 25 other jarheads.  Still with gas masks on, we walk in and stand around to ensure we can breathe properly with the mask.  We then shake our heads from side to side to see if our masks securely in place.  After a few calisthenics and the gas mask still securely fastened to my brain-housing-unit it appears like another easy chamber experience until I remember the final stage.  We each must break the seal on our masks and raise them high enough for the instructors to see our eyes.  After the instructors see every Marines eyes we can put the mask on.

Having faith in my fellow Marines to lift our mask as soon as the order is given I do so as quickly as possible.  Grrr let down again!  There was at least one knucklehead taking his good old time as I was their long enough to not be able to hold my breath any longer.  Awesome, now I am sucking in gas and losing faith in my fellow warriors.

Finally we get the order to put our masks on, tighten them up, and try to breathe again.  Sucked in too much this particular time so now I am just trying to hold my breath again until we are allowed to run like sissies out of the chamber.

Finally, we get the order to get out and I proceed to take off my mask so I can spit and cough for 15 minutes.  What a great way to start your day eh?  But seriously, it’s not all that bad.  I had a bad chest cold the week prior and any remnants I had left were now gone.  Later in the day I certainly felt my chest cold was completely gone.  Maybe this should be a part of a healthcare bill!?

Now, in case you are wondering why it affected me for hours here you go.  The gas stays on your clothes until you wash them in cold water or a few hours out in the wind.  Well lucky me got to drive two other Marines to and from the chamber so the three of us contaminated the car.  On the seats, steering wheel, seat belts, clothes, etc… it seemed like it was all over the place.  It was nice to suck it again driving back to my room.  Let’s just say the drive from Quantico to Washington DC seemed more like 60 miles then 30 miles.  Maybe this is why some call me a brilliant idiot.

Semper Fi,

GySgt Jonathan Jenkins

Popularity: 34% [?]

This week I wrapped up my training to be a liaison for the Marine Corps Center for Lessons Learned (MCCLL) in Iraq.  We spent the week reviewing software/database systems, processes, procedures, and tools then ended the week having to give a mock brief about MCCLL to the Commanding Officer to ensure we knew what to do when in theater.

Interestingly enough, a few squids (Navy) and fly boys (Air Force) sat in on the training to try to gain an understanding on how the Marine Corps does business.

Briefly, my job in Iraq will be to continually communicate and provide training and information to every Marine Corps command in the Al Anbar province.  You can think of MCCLL as trying to ensure Marines utilize best practices.  We collect information and conduct interviews to understand what works, what doesn’t work, and how to improve upon virtually anything. 

Marines have been successful because of knowledge gained from Marines that came before us.  Now, MCCLL is leading the way with the other service branches hence why the other branches sat through our training too.

Now again, I am going to the Al Anbar province.  Al Anbar is the largest province in Iraq and encompasses much of the country’s western territory.  It shares borders with Syria, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia and is predominately Sunni.  Before 1976 the province was known as Ramadi; before 1962, it was known as Dulaim.

Not only was the training top notch, the Marines and civilians working for MCCLL had great personalities, drive, and commitment to improve how the Marine Corps operates.

MCCLL sets the bar high for the liaisons and expects much.  Just the sort of environment I like and need to be engaged with.  I look forward to helping my Marine Corps to the best of my abilities.

Semper Fi,

GySgt Jonathan Jenkins

Popularity: 39% [?]

Thank you reading my blog.

Having served our country my entire adult life I confess that helping others is who I am and relish it.  Be it as a United States Marine, Chairman of the Chester County Young Republicans (in Pennsylvania), conservative political activist, or working with non-profits/charities, serving is a large part of my life.

For the last 5+ years I have been recalled back to active duty and stationed at Headquarters Marine Corps working as a Watch Chief for the Logistics Readiness Coordination Center in Washington DC.  Now I am finally getting a chance to get my boots on the ground (BOG) in Iraq.

From mid-April to late-October I will be working as a liaison for the Marine Corps Center for Lessons Learned in the Al Taqaddum province which is located about 74 miles west of Baghdad.

Reception by others when they find out I am going to Iraq has been mixed.  Most are encouraging and asking how they can help.  Sadly, many still remain unknowing about the cause.  Being a part of the liberation process of over 50 million people (Iraq, Afghanistan, and Horn of Africa) is in my opinion one of the noblest gestures one can give their time and life for. 

Years from now history will properly judge Americans as liberators and eradicators of terrorist.  As time creeps forward and the light of freedom shines brighter throughout the Middle East, our growing list of friends will remain steadfast for American ideals and our country will become safer.

I will miss my friends and family but at the same time I look forward to meeting my fellow Marines who on a daily basis provide security and comfort to millions of our Iraqi friends.

Let me close by saying that to support the troops means you must support the mission.  No matter if you thought we should go into Iraq has been irrelevant for years now. 

We came in to remove a monster that was responsible for over 1 million deaths, violated virtually every UN sanction, shot at Americans an average of 3 x a day for years in the no-fly zone, paid families of suicide bombers if they killed Jews, and yes had manufactured, stored, and employed weapons of mass destruction.  If you cannot see the value of removing a murderous tyrant then you simply don’t get it and most likely never will.

Support the troops abroad and at home. 

Support the mission. 

Thank you and Semper Fi.

GySgt Jonathan Jenkins

Popularity: 33% [?]