I'm off to Iraq

[SOCOMSASGsG9]

oh, and by the way, i agree with thai on this one people.

[seany85]

Good luck.

[EmptyneSs]

dont go to iraq man. as some iraqi said, iraq is nothing but a graveyard. and its only getting worse and worse over there man.there are people over there that will do anything to kill and kidnap you. iraq is nothing but bad times. stay with the wife that loves u, dont go there dude. even if u come back alive, u are going to see some shit over there that is gonna emotionally mess u up for life bro. personally i cannot understand why u would leave a wife and family and an awesome country to go to one of the most hardcore, dangerous fucked up places on earth, but either way good luck man and come back safe.

[Tee Sok]

First and foremost I would like to thank all you guys for your support. I deeply appreciate it.

For those of you who cannot seem to grasp the reasons why I am going well I don’t need to state my reasons but suffice it to say I have a long history of doing dumb ass things and volunteering to be put in harms way. It’s not all about the money it has to do with service and if you have to ask the question why then you probably wouldn’t understand the reasons anyway.

Again thanks for all your kind words and support.

Hi Darrianation. Fist of all I want to tell you that don't want to judge your decisions. I read that you fought in Thailand, and it's a tough experience that I witnessed many times (I am currently working in Thailand and l will go home soon). That's why I had the feeling that your decision to go to Iraq was not just about the money, and your "doing dumb ass things" are a way to prove yourself, I think.
When I read your post an episode came to my mind: months ago four italian security operators were kidnapped in Iraq. Three were released by coalition forces and one was killed. Knowing he was about to get executed in front of the camera, that man said "I will show you how an italian dies" and tried to take the hood off to face those cowards like a man. They shot him dead before he could do it. This man was a martial artist and he was known by his friends and family for his courage and bravery, and I really think that he went to Iraq not just for the money, but to prove himself too. I can call that "fighting spirit", the same "thing" that pushes you to do "dumb ass things" such as going to fight in Thailand or people like Silva and co. to fight in a Vale-Tudo. I know you thought about it really carefully and I can only respect your decision. So best of luck to you once again and take good care!

[Thai Bri]

That Italian guy was impressive indeed. How many could face the Grim Reaper like that?

[darrianation]

Well, I don't intend to die, that thought is furthest from my mind. Of course if the unimmaginable were to happen I think most poeple have some grand delusion of going down pulling the trigger. Then there's reality.

This will be my second time to Iraq. I fought in the first gulf war. I have also volunteered in places like Bosnia and macedonia. I am not trying to prove myself it's not about testosterone I have been to one of my buddies funrals who was a security operative there and one to a buddy who was KIA in Afganastan (SP). I am tired of seeing people Americans, Alies, and freinds suffer and make sacrifices while I sit on my ass in an air conditioned office safe in small town USA.

I have the itch to get back into action but it is with real humbleness to do something about my personal feelings and to protect and serve. I guess thats why I went into the military in the first place, why I became a paramedic, and why I have worked personal protection details for the past 11 years.

It's just me, it's what I do. My family is the only reason why I havne't done anything this far, but I have the full support of my wife and kids.

[Tap4Me]

Good luck, be safe.

[Tom Yum]

That Italian guy was impressive indeed. How many could face the Grim Reaper like that?

Pretty brave I'd say!

[EmptyneSs]

darr u want to be a mercenary?

[darrianation]

Mercenary eh? What I do is not merc work.

[Toudiyama[NL]]

Good luck and hope for a safe return for you


Also hope you will still be able to post overhere, hate to kick the habbits of reading your insights

[gregimotis]

do you mind giving us an idea of the weaponry that you'll be carrying.

Water balloons and seltzer spritzers, I'm sure.

[kengar]

Be sure and enform your wife that if you are to get killed not to get to mad. And remember it was your own selfishness that got you there. Some things can't have a price put on them. If you are interested in helping in Irag join the military.

What the hells wrong with you. It's not his selfishness, it's his selflessness.

A number of people are taking these contract jobs for many reasons; some for the good pay to put food on the table and others because they believe in it.

Best of luck..

[darrianation]

Final farewell

Nah haven’t left yet, I just have had a shit load of stuff to do, however I am getting ready to go visit family out of state for a few days to say goodbye. I worked my last shift today, and I taught my last SD class last Thursday, now I am going to say my goodbyes to my family and friends out of state before I leave. I’ll be going tomorrow, then I will be leaving for the Gulf.

I really don’t know what to say, so I’ll leave you all with some advice.

My thoughts on self-preservation:

First, last, and always self protection starts and ends with awareness and avoidance but if one finds himself in a violent confrontation then “Attack, attack, attack! Hit first, hit hard, and hit often! Aggressively close with the enemy and attack. Never give him time or distance to draw a weapon, keep him off balance so he cannot counter, keep driving him back so he cannot recover and of course always cheat, fight unfair, and use dirty tricks every chance you get. Remember “Keep it simple and keep it aggressive”.

A note on weapons “Weapons beat empty hands, weapons are an equalizer against the bigger stronger more capable opponent, and weapons should be used if at all possible against all armed assailants, and multiple attackers.

The number one important aspect when it comes to fighting for your life is the mental and psychological attributes:

1) Mindset (killer instincts/willingness to hurt or kill the other person, to do what ever it takes to survive).
2) Aggressiveness.
3) Will (willpower-to not give up no matter what, to continue fighting if you are hurt, tired, out numbered, or out classed).
4) Toughness.

You cannot train toughness you either have it or you don’t but you can train the rest and it should be a key element in your training.

Although I believe there to be many deficiencies in many martial systems claiming self-defense but in my book the number one deficiency is: “Fitting reality to the solution, instead of fitting the solution to the reality.

A wise ol’ salty Chief once told me: “Trying is the first step towards failure, we do not try we do, we accomplish, we finish, we adapt and we complete our mission”!

My favorite quote:

"STOP overcomplicating this shit! It's NOT brain surgery, it ain't rocket science. This is NO Sunday women's club coffee clatch. BUT THAT'S HOW IT's BEING PRESENTED! WAKE the F**K UP! A real FIGHT is like being dropped into a MEAT GRINDER! I don't give a rat's ass HOW GOOD you think you are or what a BADASS you think you are, when the shit goes south for REAL and I mean against REAL enemies with real intent and murder in their hearts, well, your SORRY ASS is in a world of deep SHIT! So if you think that bitch slapping some punk or knocking the local yokel drunk on his ass qualifies as being for REAL, well you don't know jack and I got a bridge to sell you in Brooklyn". Carl Cestari


I would like to leave you all with a quote that I say as a prayer before each and every class I teach:

“I will do whatever it takes to win the fight. I will fight fast, I will fight hard, I will fight smart and I will win. I may get hit, I may get cut, I may go down, I may feel pain, I may feel fear but I will turn fear into fire and I will turn pain into power. I will keep fighting as long as I have breath in my body and blood in my veins and I will win because I will do whatever it takes to win the fight. I will do whatever it takes to win the fight”. Dennis Martin- a combatives instructor in the UK.


Thanks for your support, good luck, stay safe, and train hard- “D”

[Tee Sok]

Thanks for these good advices. Take care and good luck!