Corps launching its own Wiki/online Encyclopedia

Article from Marine Corps Times:

http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/2009/06/marine_corpspedia_060809w/

By Trista Talton - Staff writer

So long Wikipedia. Say hello to Corpspedia.

A new informational Web site about the Corps, specifically for Marines, will soon be tested by troops at the School of Infantry-West at Camp Pendleton, Calif.

“Right now, it’s focusing on infantry skills,” said Capt. Mike Regner, Corpspedia project officer at the Marine Corps Warfighting Lab in Quantico, Va.

When students at SOI-West tap into the new site in July, they’ll have access to more than 150 topics, including weapons systems, offensive and defensive tactics, heli-borne operations, close air support, crew-served weapons, Combat Hunter and land navigation.

The idea sprang out of Regner’s assignment to find out why Marines are having trouble with land navigation. The light bulb turned on as soon as he entered ‘land navigation’ into the Google search engine in November 2007.

“In the process of doing all that, I had that ‘ah-ha’ moment,” he said. “Wouldn’t it be nice if the Marine Corps had its own Google? Marines are already doing this, but they’re doing it out in Wikipedia. They’re doing it in other places. There’s finally an alternative.”

Corpspedia will be like a much smaller version of Wikipedia, which offers an encyclopedia of user-updated information in dozens of languages and via millions of links. The program can grow to thousands of topics, Regner said, and will include graphics and pictures.

“If you’re the instructor at the school, you already have the information together at that point,” Regner said. “You already have the pictures on your PowerPoints. You already have the references listed at the bottom. You just don’t have an arena. You don’t have a podium. It fills that gap.”

The bulk of Corpspedia’s content will likely consist of training materials, he said.

But the site’s content, accessed only through Navy-Marine Corps intranet accounts, will ultimately be left up to its users. Every topic site will have a five-star rating from “does not answer questions” to “answered all of my questions.”

“Corpspedia grows based on what the Marines are asking for,” Regner said.

For example, if the site does not contain information about the Corps’ latest tattoo regs, but there are a lot of requests on that topic, that information can be added.

Unlike Wikipedia, where the information on a topic may be altered by anyone who uses the site, Corpspedia topics will be managed by designated subject matter experts. Regner said he doesn’t want Marines throwing in their own “we did it this way” scenarios.

“That could get dangerous in the Marine Corps,” he said. “What we’re trying to do is put down vetted information in here. We don’t want this to become an alternative to the right way of doing things.”

Marine Officer web site - new and improved.

Check out the recently updated and vastly improved web site for recruiting Marine Officers!

MarineOfficer.com

Do Something.

If you are reading this in English, thank a veteran.

Our veterans need our support. Most of us express support in words... but then we take our ball and go home. We leave it to others to actually DO things in support of those who secure our freedom. I submit to you that if EVERYONE did this, NOTHING would get done. Be part of the solution. Who better to do something than you? You can't save the world but if you add your small contribution to those of others... and then others add theirs... and still others... think what could happen?

If you don't have money to spare, donate your time. If you don't have time to spare, take a few moments to pass on links or emails or web sites to inform others. No contribution is too small. There is nothing worse than apathy when it comes to our veterans. Their needs don't end with their service. What they've done for us is immeasurable. I submit to you that each and every one of us should do SOMETHING to be worthy of the gifts we've been given by others. And if those ideas don't hit home, consider this: What if we do such a poor job of responding to the needs of our veterans that serving in our armed forces becomes unattractive and undesirable? What if those who might serve decide that we aren't worth the effort? I can't imagine that would ever happen... but where would we be?? We know they don't do it for the money. They do it for US.

DO SOMETHING. NOW.

There are many outstanding veterans organizations and advocacy groups. Here are just a few places one might start:

Rolling Thunder - Don't forget our service members who never made it home.

Disabled American Veterans - Not everyone comes home without trauma or injury.

Veterans of Foreign Wars

United Service Organizations

Gunners, range officers merge into single MOS

Gunners, range officers merge into single MOS - Marine Corps Times

The Corps will merge the military occupational specialties for Marine gunners and range officers, addressing a gunners shortage and putting nearly all weapons training under the control of a single MOS.

The merger of the two warrant officer communities was approved April 28 by Commandant Gen. James Conway and will be outlined during a June 20 meeting at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Va., officials said. It means Marine gunners will take over management of rifle ranges, while existing range officers will be forced to either become gunners or find another MOS, said Chief Warrant Officer 5 Jeffrey Eby, a gunner at Marine Corps headquarters overseeing the merger. It also will streamline oversight of Marine marksmanship, which was handled in part by both MOSs.

“There is some emotion tied to this, but it’s specifically because you had two professional MOSs both performing the same job,” Eby said.

As of February, there were 70 gunners and 32 range officers in the Corps. About 12 current range officers who do not have an infantry background will not be eligible to become gunners, but officials will find other assignments for those Marines in billets held by their current ranks, Eby said.

While both MOSs have handled weapons training in the past, there are many differences between the two assignments. Range officers typically handle the initial instruction of marksmanship training programs for small arms and infantry crew-served weapons on Marine bases in the U.S., and develop training doctrine and techniques. Gunners advise infantry commanders on weapons tactics, oversee combat marksmanship and frequently deploy with infantry units.

“What you ended up with is two guys trying to do the same thing from different perspectives,” Eby said. “If you streamline that effort by having one guy oversee it from cradle to grave, you eliminate all conflicts.”

There are other benefits to the merger, Eby said. First, moving gunners back and forth from range assignments to combat will allow them to integrate lessons learned on deployment into range training, a struggle for some range officers who never deployed. It also will increase dwell time for gunners and allow them to ensure that range training on items ranging from optics to communications gear does not hamper combat performance.

The Marine Corps Ground Board has asked for a study to determine which units without a gunner may need one, officials said. The Corps also approved assigning gunners in 2009 and 2010 to Reserve infantry battalions: 4th Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion and 4th Reconnaissance Battalion.

*Rolling Thunder XXII – May 24, 2009*

Dear Friends,

My father (a USAF veteran) will be leading a group of 30 or so members of his Harley Owners Group (HOG) chapter from our home town in NC up to Washington DC on Memorial Day weekend to participate in Rolling Thunder XXII. As they state on their web site, this is not a parade but a demonstration. I'm very proud of my father for his participation and very happy to announce that I just made arrangements to be in attendance!

I have discussed this with some of you in conversation but it has come to my attention that there are many people who are not familiar with the Rolling Thunder organization and what it does. Because their mission is so important, I hope you'll take a few moments to read about them and their valuable efforts so that you can discuss them any time the issue of our American POW/MIA is raised. Rolling Thunder has made significant strides for these heroes... the least we can do is appreciate what they do and support them in words if not deeds or funds. The issue of our POW/MIA is one that is often overlooked and I submit to you that this is unacceptable. What if it was YOUR Marine who didn't come home?

From the Rolling Thunder Web Site- FACT SHEET:

Incorporated in 1995, Rolling Thunder, Inc. is a class 501(c)(4) non-profit organization with over 88 chartered chapters throughout the United States and members abroad. While many members of Rolling Thunder are veterans, and many ride motorcycles, neither qualification is a prerequisite. Rolling Thunder members are old and young, men and women, veterans and non-veterans. All are united in the cause to bring full accountability for POWs and MIAs of all wars, reminding the government, the media and the public by our watchwords: “We Will Not Forget.” The name Rolling Thunder is derived from the constant bombing of North Vietnam in 1965 and was given the name, "Operation Rolling Thunder." No officers or members of Rolling Thunder, Inc. receive compensation; we all donate our time.

Click here for more information about Rolling Thunder.

May 8th is Military Spouse Appreciation Day!

Thank you, military spouses, for all you do!!

AP News: Marines helicopter crashes in Calif.; 2 killed

Thoughts and prayers going out to these Marines’ families.

AP: Marines helicopter crashes in Calif.; 2 killed

ALPINE, Calif. (AP) — Authorities in California say a Marine Corps helicopter has crashed in a remote area of San Diego County, killing both people on board.

California Forestry Department Captain Daryll Pina says the Cobra attack helicopter crashed late Tuesday in the Cleveland National Forest.

Pina said Defense Department investigators were at the scene Wednesday morning.

Officials at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar said it was a Super Cobra helicopter from the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing. The Marine Corps confirmed that both pilots were killed.

Pina said the crash started a one- to two-acre fire but the flames quickly burned out.

Pendleton, Miramar lose print newspapers - Marine Corps News

Pendleton, Miramar lose print newspapers - Marine Corps News, news from Iraq - Marine Corps Times

Pendleton, Miramar lose print newspapers

By Gidget Fuentes - Staff writer
Posted : Monday May 4, 2009 5:40:56 EDT

SAN DIEGO — The recession has trickled down to the San Diego area’s three major base newspapers, forcing their publisher out of business and leaving the Marine Corps and Navy to publish local content only online for now.

The Scout, serving Camp Pendleton, Flight Jacket, serving Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, and The Compass, which covers Navy life in and around San Diego, all terminated their joint contract with publisher TFM Associates in April after it struggled to meet its contractual agreements, officials said. A handful of civilians employed by TFM to help produce the weekly papers were laid off in early April.

Marine Corps Installations-West and Navy Region-Southwest plan to find a new publisher, but it’s not clear when that will be.

The Scout, which has served Camp Pendleton since its inception in 1942, exists now online at http://scoutnewspaper.com. It had a weekly circulation of about 30,000 papers, which were distributed throughout the base and at several locations outside the gates, and over the years garnered several top awards from the Defense Department.

Pendleton officials intend to maintain the Scout’s online presence after the new contract is issued. “We are going to continue this, regardless, because it provides up-to-date news,” said Maj. Kristen Lasica-Khaner, a base spokeswoman. “That more mirrors what the local papers do.”

The base, which runs Pendleton’s main Web site, www.pendleton.usmc.mil, and The Scout’s, has linked with I Marine Expeditionary Force and other major commands to get more stories and photographs onto the newspaper’s site, she said.

The Flight Jacket, which distributed about 10,000 printed copies weekly, exists now in a digital format at Miramar’s Web site, www.miramar.usmc.mil. Officials opted to keep the same broadsheet format — The Flight Jacket is created as PDF files, without ads — so Marine combat correspondents who write, edit, take photographs and lay out the pages can continue to get the experience, said Maj. Jay Delarosa, Miramar’s spokesman. Marines “still need to keep up with the basic skills they need to learn,” he said.

The Compass, which distributed about 35,000 copies weekly, can be found now at http://navycompass.com. But it’s not just short news items being posted there. The paper’s staff of one chief petty officer and four mass communications specialists is still writing and reporting on happenings at commands and aboard ships throughout the San Diego area, said Brian O’Rourke, a spokesman for Navy Region-Southwest.

“Our folks are still covering new things that are going on,” he said. “We’re definitely still covering the waterfront.”

Like the Marine bases, Navy officials want to bolster The Compass’ online presence even after the newspaper returns to a printed edition.

Remember Me

Thank you to FlutieCutie for sharing this on YouTube.

Marines, soldiers, sailors, airmen........ we love you.

Freedom Calls Foundation

Please read and pass this on. Good information for our service members and their families!

Freedom Calls Foundation

Working closely with corporate contributors, individuals, and the military the Foundation has deployed its first wireless VOIP telephone and video conferencing services in an Army Camp located in the Sunni Triangle. The Foundation's network offers 50 soft-phones and 20 hard-phones, 6 video conferencing stations, 10 video email stations, and 50 computers with email and internet access. As a result the more than 10,000 soldiers in the camp will be able to communicate with their families and loved ones at home on a regular basis free of charge.
The Foundation's network offers soldiers more than 8,000 miles away the opportunity to participate in milestone family events such as births, birthdays, weddings and school graduations. The Foundation's network will soon include installations at military hospitals here in the United States, to enable soldiers to interact with their newborn children and loved ones who have become ill; And, installations at Family Readiness Centers, to enable families and loved ones (who do not have broadband connections at home) to video conference with soldiers.

Future deployments overseas will encompass as many as 200 additional locations in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other locations where our overseas troops lack regular communication with their families and loved ones at home. With your support, we hope to deploy 1-2 camps per month in the coming months.

History of the U.S. Marines

What a great assembly of Marine Corps history from TellTheMarines. Thank you and OOHRAH!

History of The US Marines.

Drive by F-bomb.

I had the most refreshing phone conversation with an associate yesterday.  By "associate" I am referring to one I have never met who works for the same company but in a different state.  So although he was an associate I have never made his acquaintance.

To make a long story short, I was making a serious of phone calls to such associates for a specific fact finding purpose related to a project.  The project itself (not so much my calls or me in particular), suffice it to say, has not inspired joy in the participants. 

The conversation with the aforementioned gentleman was novel because during the conversation he very blatantly yet casually implemented swear words to communicate his disgust with another associate or supervisor (I'm not sure which term applies here).  Two prerequisites for my having been amused by this were:

1. I am not offended by curse words

2. The profanity in question was not directed at me.

What a breath of fresh air.  The very idea that someone was utterly unafraid of being tattled on to management or offending another by being socially, if not politically, incorrect?  The lack of restraint or care of consequence was delightful.  Was it necessarily his most strategic move?  Certainly not.  But I could hardly have come away from the conversation doubting his sincerity.  And I don't know if the associate he was referring to is, in fact, the son of a bleepin' bleep I was told he was... but I tend to think, probably so.

Check out usmcwives.com.

Testing the site's new widget.  =)

I want you to take a look at : Welcome to usmcwives.com.

Making history.

Big things are happening in the world today. My life is no exception.

I've started my college classes and so far I'm making a good run at it. I'm a bit tentative and nervous but I know it's going to be fine. Underneath this polished funny exterior I'm actually a brainiac. I just need to get my mojo going.

My children are growing and changing daily. My son just started the 4th grade and his first season of football. He now takes some measure of interest in his appearance and his snarky sense of humor is thriving. My daughter can say words (although she usually opts out) and is climbing and dancing like nobody's business.

My husband remains my biggest source of encouragement and inspiration. In that "if you only knew" kind of way.

The web site, meanwhile, has been improved by leaps and bounds. Things have a lot of room to grow and I'm convinced that they will. Given that it has only been around for a few months, and is spearheaded by yours truly-- with no actual expertise-- I'm very encouraged.

What are YOU bringing to the table?

As I sit here on Saturday afternoon not having been very productive today, I'm thinking about wasted time.

Now, I have a bit of an excuse today. Yesterday I helped my husband with some manual labor on a fence we are building (when I say "we" I mostly mean HIM with some moral support from yours truly) for our backyard. It turns out, when an out of shape 33 year old woman bends, stoops and reaches for 5 hours, she suffers consequences the next day. It's not altogether dignified! My back is killing me and I have sore muscles in places I didn't realize were there. Despite this, I managed to get out there by myself and do some more painting for about an hour and a half. The intended result of feeling accomplished and perhaps even working out my muscle aches was NOT achieved. This may be due to the sheer volume of work left to do and my lack of motivation to do it or maybe it's just because I'm tired. Either way, I didn't feel validated by the work and, adding insult to injury, this was my greatest accomplishment of the day!

I don't know if it's the summer heat or my schedule having been disrupted for weeks because my family and I went on an extended trip.... or what. But I've been about as useful as a duck in a bucket a month or so now. And the madness has to stop. I usually have much to offer-- be it here on the home front or with the web sites or just as a friend-- but I have lost my mojo.

Always, always bring something to the table. No matter what or whom you are dealing with. Be worthy of your place and of others' care and time. This is important. And starting right now I am going to get back to my essence and start getting things done.

Mama's got to TCB!

A must see new web site: A Military Life.

A new and very informative web site just went live. Its administrator the very talented spouse of a National Guardsman. Her name is Emily and I am fortunate to have made her acquaintance online a few months back. She is one of the driving forces behind a favorite spot of mine, The Silent Ranks forum, and she is a self taught web mistress. Her work is impressive, particularly the new site. She has labored away at this thing in a much more organized and persistent fashion than I have with usmcwives.com. She has solicited input from other military spouses and this will serve to make the site all the more relevant in the military community. It contains everything from tips for beginners to base ratings. It's still a work in progress but I strongly recommend paying a visit as soon as possible!

http://www.amilitarylife.com

Grabby McSnatchy

So, I've been trying to do a little bit of research about online forums and resources for Marine spouses and girlfriends.  The idea is for me to be somewhat well informed so that I can pass on any good leads to the ladies on our forum.

My philosophy is:  To each her own.  What works for one person might not for another.  What one person lives by might bore the life out of the next person.  So on our site I have posted (and will post more) links to other sites and good forums.

But I find it interesting how grabby some places are with their users.  I get that they don't want blatant spamming or advertising for other forums (and I never do this!).  But some of the little rules and nuances I have come across are very rigid and seem to be geared towards keeping their guests inhouse.

Am I just ignorant or naive?  I mean.... I understand why a for-profit business wouldn't want to redirect its customers the competition.  But how good is a support forum or resource center if it doesn't actually offer ALL MEANS of support and a wide array of resources?

This is just a musing about the situation.  Complaining is a waste of energy.  But I have resigned myself to stay true to the goal of offering up whatever goodies I find to others who may be interested.  If that leaves me talking to myself but results in happy members, I'm good.

A good excuse. Really.

Honestly, I can't believe how long it's been since I've written. I can't believe the world is still turning and people are just carrying on with their lives when something is so clearly missing?! Lol.

I do, however, have an excellent excuse for my bloglessness. My family has been on a kamikaze road trip since the 12th of June. We're talking a Suburban loaded to the maximum and carrying two adults, a 9 year old and a 13 month old. Minnesota to Texas, Texas to Kentucky, Kentucky to North Carolina and now North Carolina to South Carolina. We won't even be home until next Wednesday! A crazy, crazy plan... but we've been visiting family and we are having a BLAST! We'll be at Myrtle Beach, SC this afternoon and will be there until Sunday morning. Good stuff!

Also good stuff is the fact that I sold 3 pieces of jewelry while on the road.... without even trying! ;) And the usmcwives.com forum is growing by the day. We're up to about 1700 posts and chatting like crazy. It's fantastic. I'm not enjoying the spam we've been getting and I'm still working on that issue-- but at least it's only a pain for me and not for the members. New accounts now require approval... that way we don't log on in the morning to find Euro smut awaiting. Eew.

As it turns out, typing while riding is making me carsick. That won't do. So I'm out. But I hope everyone has an awesome 4th of Juiy weekend... to include being grateful for everyone who has ever secured our freedom!

The last impromptu cocktails.

I'm a bit sad today. Partly because it's gloomy and rainy outside and partly because of my neighbors getting ready to move.

We met Jill, Barry and their 4 boys right after we moved into our house a year ago. They live right next to us and they are great fun. We've spent a lot of time together, much of it unplanned and on the spur of the moment. This is easily done when you're next door neighbors. And they are only moving a couple of miles from here, so we'll still visit frequently. But last night was probably the last time we will run into each other outside and end up having cocktails and playing cards until 1:00 a.m. (on a Tuesday!). So that's kinda sad.

I guess I should focus on how nice it is to have friends like them in the first place, though. The kind who will help with your home improvement projects and laugh at your jokes. The kind who will ask you for favors knowing that you'll ask them for a favor of your own at some point. The kind who will go to a Sinead O'Connor concert with you and take your son to baseball games when they have tickets. The good kind.

"Easy Opening."

So I just bought a mouse to use with my laptop. I'm getting better with the built in mouse but sometimes it's still a challenge. Anyway, it's working just fine, but as I was blowtorching my way into the plastic container it came in, I noticed something appauling.

A little red sticker in the top right corner that says "Easy Opening. Just bend corner."

Seriously.... what?! Umm, no. There is NO corner bending. There is NO easy opening. I'm glad the false advertising wasn't what prompted me to buy the product, otherwise I would feel horribly violated. I'm just horrified at the statement. And, for argument's sake, perhaps someone somewhere COULD easy-open-by-bending-corner. Let's say that this is within the realm of possibility. I still label it as false advertising because if a relatively average individual such as myself can't do it, then it probably shouldn't be stated as fact on the packaging.

Stay tuned for tomorrow's post on "furniture assembled in 3 easy steps." Lol.