Now that it’s over, what have I learned? This is hard training to summarize. Most of what we covered is common sense. But, sense is only “common” if it’s considered. It’s not so much about what I learned as about how I learned to think. For example, I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about […] Read more »
IRAQ: Hostile Environment Training: Making Hard Choices
“Smoking kills,” the Syrian rebel commander flashed his AK-47 when I offered him one of my colleague’s cigarettes while we were awaiting our next move just inside the border of southern Syria. We had just evaded an ambush and what appeared to be a chemical gas explosion before following the commander deeper into the woods […] Read more »
IRAQ: Hostile Environment Training: Prepping for Kidnap
Donald is a man who makes you feel safe. With his clipped hair and speech, he exudes military training. He’s spent his career in risk management. So when he joined Miles, the journalist from a major newspaper, and me for a post-training drink and warned us about what might happen that night, we listened. Donald […] Read more »
IRAQ: Hostile Environment Training: Today I Held My First Gun
Today I held my first gun. Not a proud moment, but a profound one. I’ve never understood the gun culture, and I really have little desire to, in spite of the fact that my brother loved guns and was a card-carrying member of the NRA. Today I held an AK-47, the most produced gun in […] Read more »
IRAQ: Hostile Environment Training: Day 1
After the first day of Hostile Environment Training, two things struck me: 1. I’m more prepared than I thought I cialis price check was. 2. Old memories aren’t as deep as I’d thought they were. Don’t get me wrong; I’m learning a lot. Our first day bounced between two intermittent, brain-overloading segments: All EXCEPT products […] Read more »