Forbidden to brew

[rmwood]

Michael,
Ditto what others have said. You guys are awesome! Be safe brother!

 

[michael88n]

Thank you all for the responses and the overwhelming support. As I’m sure you all know, mass media isn’t the most supportive voice of America and, at times, it can be quite disheartening to constantly hear politicians treating the military like their own kids in a nasty custody battle. However, I didn’t want this post to turn into a platform for anyone’s (especially mine) political soapbox. So, again, thanks for all your support.

And for those who asked, I am in the Air Force stationed in Delaware (Hi, menchmachine!), but my unit is attached to an Army transportation battalion and we’re driving the same tractor-trailer, cross-country convoys throughout Kuwait and Iraq that the other services are. One team… One fight. It’s more than a cute saying. We’re living the dream.

Our replacements arrived a last week, so we hope to rotate out by the middle of April.

And don’t think I haven’t thought long and hard about how easily I could make a batch (or two or three) while I am over here. Sanitation (and sand) would be an issue. Hiding the smell of fermentation might be an issue also (Rhino farts? I don’t smell anything, Sir!).

And like MikeFlynn stated, not having brews here is for our protection. There are a lot of people that I don’t trust with a six-pack of Mountain Dew, let alone a six-pack of beer. Of course, some folks do manage to get it here somehow. I’m sure it’s not too hard. It’s just not something I’d like to lose my job over.

So in the past few days, I’ve ordered some rhizomes to plant, ingredients for an IPA, Apfelwein, and still looking for what kind AG kit/equipment would be best for my little house in base housing.

I hope that my fist post prodded a few people to get up and get their brew on. I think it worked.

Again, thanks to you all.

Michael

 

[Revvy]

So are you rotating back home in April, or to another posting?

Use this thread as a home base the next few weeks, so we'll know you're ok!
~Michael

 

[justbrewit]

and still looking for what kind AG kit/equipment would be best for my little house in base housing.
Michael

When i was in base housing in germany, it was a tight fit to get all my gear together. using the small storage unit they gave me, i had to stack most of it on top of all my other stuff. it was kind of a pain to brew because of lack of space. with that said, if your limited on space, do what i do!! most of my gear pulls double duty, my bottling bucket serves as my mash tun, cleaning bucket, and bottling bucket. if you can pull off an all grain with what you already have, then you don't have to add that much at all. all i really added was a large grain bag to put in my bottling bucket, a larger kettle, a chiller and kegging equipment(although the kegging stuff isn't needed for all grain) not that much at all.

get home safe, brew like theres no tomorrow and enjoy being back home!!!!!

 

[Jason Horlacher]

I, too, am in the service. Being stationed in Germany, I would always complain to the wife how hard it is to brew over here. I will now just shut my mouth and be thankful for the opportunities I do get to brew.

CYA! and come home soon! And remember your OPSEC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! you never know!

USAF SSgt Jason E Horlacher

 

[MikeFlynn74]

And remember your OPSEC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! you never know!

Oh for the love of god. You know we did Combat Search and Rescue support for some important personnel that we were not allowed to know who it was or the flight times. Turns out yahoo and CNN news had the DVs entire schedule posted on the internet and ran it as their top story.

OPSEC is a bunch of crap when 99% of everything is posted to CNN

 

[Bad Shark Brew]

To michael88n and all my fellow HBT'ers who have proudly served,
Thank you all for standing up. I returned from Afghanistan less than a year ago and have been brewing like crazy since I got back. My brother bought me an AG set up for a homecoming present and I've used the heck out of it.

Just remember, keep your head down and stay safe!!


US Navy Seabees - Can Do since '42!!

 

[Yuri_Rage]

G.O. 1 sucks. However, prolonged beer deprivation gives you a whole new appreciation for a cold one when you get home. Stay safe!

 

[TrojanMan]

Shoulda joined the Navy.

If a ship spends 45 days at sea without ever hitting a port, each crewmember is entitled to two beers (usually Bud). :cross:


I've only ever sailed on auxiliaries as a reservist/MMIRRG and in port every 7-10 days so I have no personal experience in this matter but it might comfort you to know that while you're sweating in the desert, your Navy brothers *might* get a few Buds for their troubles. Then again, considering it's just Bud... you might not really care.



I recall an interview with two British soldiers and one of the questions was, "What comfort from home do you wish you had in the desert?"

The first gentleman answers, "Fish and chips and a few pints of bitter."
The second answers, "My wife."
The first says, "Wait a minute, I didn't know that was an option! ... Then again, I'd still rather have the beer."

 

[Bad Shark Brew]

Shoulda joined the Navy.

If a ship spends 45 days at sea without ever hitting a port, each crewmember is entitled to two beers (usually Bud). :cross:

It's actually 80 days...I was in the fleet for 6 years and I was "lucky" enough to hav experienced this. The only positive to it is that our "beer day" just happened to fall the day after my 21st b-day, so I got to have a couple of beers to celebrate the occasion. I may be the only guy to celebrate his 21st with a beer on a Navy ship in the middle of the Red Sea!!!!

 

[EamusCatuli]

Keep on truckin', thanks for the service.

Come home soon!

 

[Jason Horlacher]

Oh for the love of god. You know we did Combat Search and Rescue support for some important personnel that we were not allowed to know who it was or the flight times. Turns out yahoo and CNN news had the DVs entire schedule posted on the internet and ran it as their top story.

OPSEC is a bunch of crap when 99% of everything is posted to CNN

Then why not put a ****ing bullseye on your back, son? How about the fact they are scanning MySpace looking for addresses of military members...We had a family in our squadron get a threatining phone call last month.

Maybe if you stand out like a sore thumb douce-bag...they will leave me alone!

Freakin' Part-Timers..................

 

[MikeFlynn74]

Opsec is not the same as keeping your personal info secret kid. Anyone who puts their personal info on the Internet is an idiot.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operations_security just so you know what OPSEC is-


I have more AD time 7 years and more deployments 3 (120day in 3 years) than you do but thats a moot point. Funny thing is "Part Timers" run 45% of all combat sorties and something like 70% of the Airlift. But go ahead keep your myopic view of how the AF really works.

 

[Jason Horlacher]

Opsec is not the same as keeping your personal info secret kid. Anyone who puts their personal info on the Internet is an idiot.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operations_security just so you know what OPSEC is-


I have more AD time 7 years and more deployments 3 (120day in 3 years) than you do but thats a moot point. Funny thing is "Part Timers" run 45% of all combat sorties and something like 70% of the Airlift. But go ahead keep your myopic view of how the AF really works.

You know...I had about 3 paragraphs typed out for you..but then I realized I dont have to prove **** ...I'm in such a good place..I cant complain...think what you want

 

[MikeFlynn74]

I guess I got carried away-

But my point still stands as OPSEC is nonexistant. You would think troop movements would be considered OPSEC.

Why was the entire media at the Military Pax terminal for our going away? Why did they publish a complete flight path with our layover in Germany all approved by PA?

As I get ready to put on MSgt I find myself more angry at how poorly things are executed and how well we manage to spend money on idiotic projects while systematically decreasing our resources benefits and personnel. Ive seen tons over here and it keeps getting worse. I guess I let my discontent get the better of me after 4 loooooong months. No hard feelings- We need more positive people in the AF. God knows it wont hurt.

But one thing that will never stop pissing me off is the ******* reflective belts. Why do we wear camo with a REFLECTIVE Belt in a war zone?

 

[drsocc]

But one thing that will never stop pissing me off is the ******* reflective belts. Why do we wear camo with a REFLECTIVE Belt in a war zone?

So that the terrorists know that in America - we don't go anywhere without our bling-bling. :rockin:

Just kidding - that seems counterintuitive.

 

[michael88n]

Holy crap!

Okay, I was deliberately vague when I last posted for OPSEC's Sake.

I'm sure we all remember Navy SEALs being greeted on the shores of Somalia in '92 and Geraldo Rivera giving away troop movement info (on the air) during the onset of OIF (what a clown). OPSEC fiascos. And we all know that there have been more than just those.

We all realize the importance of OPSEC, not just for military members, but for family members back home. Whether it's one person, a company, squadron, whatever... it's all important. Even if it seems that it's the media is our biggest OPSEC violator at times, just make sure it's not us.

So let's just RDWHAHB.

Michael

 

[Revvy]

Holy crap!

Okay, I was deliberately vague when I last posted for OPSEC's Sake.

I'm sure we all remember Navy SEALs being greeted on the shores of Somalia in '92 and Geraldo Rivera giving away troop movement info (on the air) during the onset of OIF (what a clown). OPSEC fiascos. And we all know that there have been more than just those.

We all realize the importance of OPSEC, not just for military members, but for family members back home. Whether it's one person, a company, squadron, whatever... it's all important. Even if it seems that it's the media is our biggest OPSEC violator at times, just make sure it's not us.

So let's just RDWHAHB.

Michael

Yeah...when you wrote that I was picturing THAT exact image in my mind, as well as CNN shooting the troops landing in the Falklands, from the ground.... My late father, a WWII vet had a field day with that stupidity.......I hadn't heard my dad swear that much since I was a kid....

 

[Jason Horlacher]

I guess I got carried away-

But my point still stands as OPSEC is nonexistant. You would think troop movements would be considered OPSEC.

Why was the entire media at the Military Pax terminal for our going away? Why did they publish a complete flight path with our layover in Germany all approved by PA?

As I get ready to put on MSgt I find myself more angry at how poorly things are executed and how well we manage to spend money on idiotic projects while systematically decreasing our resources benefits and personnel. Ive seen tons over here and it keeps getting worse. I guess I let my discontent get the better of me after 4 loooooong months. No hard feelings- We need more positive people in the AF. God knows it wont hurt.

But one thing that will never stop pissing me off is the ******* reflective belts. Why do we wear camo with a REFLECTIVE Belt in a war zone?

No hard feelings.

 

[michael88n]

All,

I've been back for a few days, and pretty busy at that.

Thanks for the support for me and the rest of our bothers and sisters still over there.

Stay strong,

Michael

 

[ScubaSteve]

FWIW, I truly hope Mike Flynn and Jason Horlacher aren't your real names....because if they are, youre interest in OPSEC is totally a moot point....

 

[michael88n]

FWIW, I truly hope Mike Flynn and Jason Horlacher aren't your real names....because if they are, youre interest in OPSEC is totally a moot point....

Too true. And funny. It makes me think of the dictionary definition of the word "ironic"

"Don't 'cha think?"

Michael