This is the week we learned about the theory behind Counter Insurgence. Basically, the idea is in order to win a counter insurgency war we need to win the hearts and minds of the people. In this war there are 10% of the people who are hard core insurgents, 10% who are pro-government and the last 80% who are undecided. It is this 80% that we need to work on winning over, so they do not actively or passively help the insurgents.
The rest of the time, I spent taking people flying in the afternoons and evenings. I’ve always enjoyed taking people flying in the hope of sparking interest and creating new pilots. One of the nicer trips I took was to Abilene, Kansas, birthplace of Dwight D. Eisenhower. We landed at this tiny little airport and borrowed a beat-up rental car which we took into town to grab some burgers. Dennis Glover, JC Christenson, and his daughter Kate had a great time.
This is a team picture of our Ft. Riley crew. From left to right. Top: LTJG Holly Johnson, LCDR Mike Feightner. Middle: SSGT Jourusik, HM1 Travis Gann, CDR Beth Harbison, CDR Neil Heimer, LCDR Steve Shadley, LT Josh Meador, LCDR Andrew Lin, SFC Pleniak, HM1 Jerry Cantorna, CDR Dennis Glover, LCDR DJ Becker, and CDR Tim Foster.
With the four-day weekend, I started flying back to San Diego on Thursday afternoon. This is a picture of Camp Funston on the Ft. Riley Post. Boy, was I glad to be heading back home to see Thuy again. We actually had been very good about keeping in touch nightly by phone or Skype.
As I was flying back there was a significant amount of weather over Arizona, which required me to deviate and stop a couple of times in Arizona. As you can see here, my Doritos did not like the altitude at 6,900 feet.
My adorable niece at a model home in Scripps Ranch. These homes are in a development called Santuary. Thuy and I have been looking at these homes for a couple of years now. Maybe one day…
Attie in the model home bedroom.
Attie as the queen.
Attie as the drummer.
