Situational Awareness (PICTURES)

[SARMedTech]

Regarding the pic of the soldier with Senator Clinton:

The picture shows that this soldier has been thru Survival School and learned his lessons well. He's giving the sign of "coercion" with his left hand. These hand signs are taught in survival school to be used by POW's as a method of posing messages back to our intelligence services who may view the photo or video.

This guy was obviously being coerced into shaking hands with Hillary Clinton. It's ironic how little she knew that he would so inform us about the photo—perhaps because she's never understood our military to begin with.

Verification from snopes.com with an explanation of the crossed fingers:

Military history includes many instances when soldiers who fell into the hands of the enemy were trotted out before photographers or television cameras by their captors for purposes of propaganda: — to create false images intended to trick audiences into believing that the prisoners were actually well-cared for, sympathized with their captors, or were voluntarily denouncing the political policies of their home countries.

Likewise, military history includes many instances in which such captured soldiers managed to inserted subtle and furtive signs into propagandistic images to express their defiance, to indicate that the information they were relaying was false, or to signal that they were acting under duress.

(One of the most well-known examples of this phenomenon is the infamous middle finger gesture employed by the crew of the USS Pueblo in photographs after their ship was captured by North Korea in 1968.)

Verification from truthorfiction.com adds a follow-up from the subject himself:

The answer is that he did intentionally cross his fingers during the handshake and it did mean that he was not thrilled to shake Senator Clinton's hand.

After his discharge from the Army, the soldier posted a personal profile on Yahoo Personals as part of looking for introductions to single females.

In his profile, he includes the picture with Hillary and explains:

"The picture of me and Hillary Clinton was taken when she came to visit Iraq. I was actually ordered to shake her hand, and I never figured that my friends would circulate it all over the net. I AM NOT a Hillary fan by any stretch."

I don't want to be "that guy" that points on hideous lapses in courtesies and customs, but the crossed finger distress signal is really tacky and unbecoming of someone wearing the uniform of his country. He may not like the Senator, but she is a United States Sentator, the  former first lady and a presidential candidate. I know I should probably put on my flame suit, but this guy should be ashamed of himself. What he is doing is tacky at best and totally disrespectful at worst. I can only imagine that if he had done it if she were President, there would be holy hell to pay. Very disappointing.

[jeders]

I don't want to be "that guy" that points on hideous lapses in courtesies and customs, but the crossed finger distress signal is really tacky and unbecoming of someone wearing the uniform of his country. He may not like the Senator, but she is a United States Sentator, the  former first lady and a presidential candidate. I know I should probably put on my flame suit, but this guy should be ashamed of himself. What he is doing is tacky at best and totally disrespectful at worst. I can only imagine that if he had done it if she were President, there would be holy hell to pay. Very disappointing.

Personally, my take on this is along the lines of salute the rank, not the person. He's shaking her hand and smiling, doesn't mean he has to like her. Probably not the best thing to do as far as C&C, but still funny in my opinion.

[NIN]

Screen shots of video games don't count.

EPIC FAIL!

[cnitas]

I thought the game pic was a good example of 'loss of situation awareness' that I imagine many of our cadets would 'get'.

It made me chuckle at least as much as the old photo of Clinton and crossed fingers.

[dwb]

Personally, my take on this is along the lines of salute the rank, not the person.

I really dislike that phrase, because it makes people think they're exempt from basic human courtesy and respect.

Yes, Sen. Clinton gets "saluted" (so to speak) because she is a U.S. Senator, but that doesn't mean you should take a dump on her front lawn if you don't like her.

Every time I've heard the phrase "salute the rank, not the person", it has been in the context of showing a token display of respect while simultaneously exuding a rather stunning lack of respect underneath.

[mikeylikey]

^ Thats one take on that phrase.  I see it as showing respect to the person because of the rank they have.  I can hate a person and dislike them as much as I want, but because either their position or status is greater than my own, I will show respect to that position or status. 

I honestly expect people to not like me, and think negatively of me, but I know in the military, when I give an order that it will be carried out because the person respects my rank. 

[Bear Walling]

I would rather someone respect me because I have earned there respect, not just because I am of higher rank. If I give an order I expect it to be done to the fullest because thats what the job calls for. But demanding respect from someone based upon rank is demeaning and makes the person of the higher rank look like a @$$.

As far as this topic goes, all pictures are very funny.

[Flying Pig]

I thought the game pic was a good example of 'loss of situation awareness' that I imagine many of our cadets would 'get'.

It made me chuckle at least as much as the old photo of Clinton and crossed fingers.

Yeah, thats the problem. 

[nesagsar]

How is it a problem?

[Flying Pig]

Someday you'll understand.

[nesagsar]

Tell that to Shigeru Miyamoto.

[Flying Pig]

Siiiiiiiigh. 

[cnitas]

While you might call it a problem, it is a reality that we face today.  Obviously, I would rather see them out at CAP activities being active, but you ignore the modern world at your own peril. 

This is only going to become more prevalent as we get more connected and spend more time with computers each day, so instead of being an old codger and just insisting it is a problem, embrace it and use it to motivate your cadets.

Those same kids who spent all their time sitting in front of a computer are now building us websites and moving us to online record keeping, so the problem has a silver lining.

Perhaps the gamers of today will make good UAV fliers in the future.

[nesagsar]

Perhaps the gamers of today will make good UAV fliers in the future.

NEVER!

[Flying Pig]

OK,

Enjoy your games.

[cnitas]

OK,

Enjoy your games.

Siiiiiiiigh.

[flyguy06]

Regarding the pic of the soldier with Senator Clinton:

The picture shows that this soldier has been thru Survival School and learned his lessons well. He's giving the sign of "coercion" with his left hand. These hand signs are taught in survival school to be used by POW's as a method of posing messages back to our intelligence services who may view the photo or video.

This guy was obviously being coerced into shaking hands with Hillary Clinton. It's ironic how little she knew that he would so inform us about the photo—perhaps because she's never understood our military to begin with.

Verification from snopes.com with an explanation of the crossed fingers:

Military history includes many instances when soldiers who fell into the hands of the enemy were trotted out before photographers or television cameras by their captors for purposes of propaganda: — to create false images intended to trick audiences into believing that the prisoners were actually well-cared for, sympathized with their captors, or were voluntarily denouncing the political policies of their home countries.

Likewise, military history includes many instances in which such captured soldiers managed to inserted subtle and furtive signs into propagandistic images to express their defiance, to indicate that the information they were relaying was false, or to signal that they were acting under duress.

(One of the most well-known examples of this phenomenon is the infamous middle finger gesture employed by the crew of the USS Pueblo in photographs after their ship was captured by North Korea in 1968.)

Verification from truthorfiction.com adds a follow-up from the subject himself:

The answer is that he did intentionally cross his fingers during the handshake and it did mean that he was not thrilled to shake Senator Clinton's hand.

After his discharge from the Army, the soldier posted a personal profile on Yahoo Personals as part of looking for introductions to single females.

In his profile, he includes the picture with Hillary and explains:

"The picture of me and Hillary Clinton was taken when she came to visit Iraq. I was actually ordered to shake her hand, and I never figured that my friends would circulate it all over the net. I AM NOT a Hillary fan by any stretch."

I don't want to be "that guy" that points on hideous lapses in courtesies and customs, but the crossed finger distress signal is really tacky and unbecoming of someone wearing the uniform of his country. He may not like the Senator, but she is a United States Sentator, the  former first lady and a presidential candidate. I know I should probably put on my flame suit, but this guy should be ashamed of himself. What he is doing is tacky at best and totally disrespectful at worst. I can only imagine that if he had done it if she were President, there would be holy hell to pay. Very disappointing.

Now, If I had doen that to George Bush (who I met in Iraq) you guys would be all over me. But I took thehigher road. When he came into the room, I left.

[Stonewall]

Now, If I had doen that to George Bush (who I met in Iraq) you guys would be all over me. But I took thehigher road. When he came into the room, I left.

I would have been all over you regardless if it was H. Clinton or G. Bush; because you're a 30-something officer, not some early-20s enlisted guy who got out and later posted the pic.

Kind of like how when you're 35 and can't believe some of the things you did when you were 25, 20 or 15.  Hopefully by the time that former specialist PFC is in his 30s he'll somewhat understand how what he did was disrespectful.  Funny and sneaky, but disrespectful.

[flyguy06]

The guy in the pic is an officer as well. To eachhis own I guess. Its all good with me. I served my country honorably and still continue to serve today

[stillamarine]

The guy in the pic is an officer as well. To eachhis own I guess. Its all good with me. I served my country honorably and still continue to serve today

Negative. In that picture he was a PFC.