The view from the front: military matters and motivation for 6/10/22.
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Hi friend,
Happy Friday! Hope you have big plans for the weekend!
I thought we’d start today’s newsletter with a hype video.
Probably every single subscriber of mine has either served, wanted to serve, or knows someone who’s served (or is serving).
And the below video by PFC Duke Edwards is one of the best hype videos I’ve seen in quite a while. (If you’re not ready to enlist or re-enlist after watching it, then you probably need your pulse checked.)
@18airbornecorps!!\n\nThe @3rd_Infantry continues to enhance and upgrade warfighting capabilities with the most lethal ground and rotary-wing combat equipment available in the world. \n\n 🎥 ➡️ Pfc. Duke Edwards\n\n#Army247 | #AlwaysReady ","username":"USArmy","name":"U.S. Army","date":"Thu Jun 09 19:03:36 +0000 2022","photos":[{"img_url":"https://substackcdn.com/image/upload/...
U.S. Army @USArmyThe Hammer of @18airbornecorps!!The @3rd_Infantry continues to enhance and upgrade warfighting capabilities with the most lethal ground and rotary-wing combat equipment available in the world. 🎥 ➡️ Pfc. Duke Edwards#Army247 | #AlwaysReady June 9th 2022
132 Retweets330 LikesMoving along, I’m going to share a bit about Ukraine in a moment, but before I do, let’s honor the five Marines who died in a training accident this week.
@USMC: 5 Marines from Marine Aircraft Group 39 (MAG-39) died in the crash of an MV-22B Osprey in California yesterday. ","username":"PaulSzoldra","name":"Paul Szoldra","date":"Thu Jun 09 17:02:57 +0000 2022","photos":[{"img_url":"https://pbs.substack.com/media/FU03jZ...
Paul Szoldra @PaulSzoldraSad news, now confirmed by the @USMC: 5 Marines from Marine Aircraft Group 39 (MAG-39) died in the crash of an MV-22B Osprey in California yesterday. 
June 9th 2022
59 Retweets141 LikesMost non-military folks have no idea how dangerous even peace-time training is for our various services, and we overlook the price our troops pay even when we’re not in war.
I myself lost a great buddy from a sister platoon in 1999, who died in a highly-dangerous river crossing while training in Okinawa.
And it looks like we lose almost 30 per year to training accidents, based on just the past couple of years. (I’m not sure anyone has tracked it over say 20 or 30 years.)
Regardless, spare a moment of thought for the five Marines above, and the next time you see a family member or friend who’s serving, look them in the eye when you shake their hand and tell them you know how dangerous their jobs are.
I’ll bet you they look back in shock that you realize this, and I’ll bet you it might help them to loosen up and share a bit about their job.
(I know, I know. We military types rarely share anything, but open up that door a bit by saying the above and see if it doesn’t get them talking. Trust me, they probably DON’T want to talk about their deployments or horrible things they’ve seen. But they might just tell you about the mountain they rappelled off of or the live-fire range they just completed, where bullets zinged by overhead or to their front while they charged like madmen across some open field.)
Now, let’s talk about the situation in Ukraine for just a moment.
There is no breaking news there. And I don’t think there will be any time soon.
The war drags on and lingers, with both sides lobbing artillery at each other and clutching for ground to seize.
Roughly 100 Ukrainian soldiers die every day and I’d wager probably twice as many Russians meet the same fate.
There will be no massive flanking movements or epic battles. Both sides lack the punch to pull off such a move, and satellites and other electronic intelligence prevent surprise of that nature.
Instead, this will be a fight of guts and determination. It will be muddy, bloody, and tiring. Exhausting beyond your wildest dreams, if you’re unlucky enough to be on the frontlines.
The Ukrainians will begin to edge out the Russians with better artillery, morale, and training. And they will push back the great Russian bear like a pissed-off wolverine defending its territory.
But we the American public must not get bored or take our eyes off this fight.
There will be other, more-exciting things happening, but we owe it to the Ukrainian people and the many brave soldiers and fighters who have already died in this war against tyranny to never let our focus wane.
Moving along, one really cool thing I wanted to share this week comes from distinguished journalist and prior Marine James LaPorta. (See below.)
James LaPorta @JimLaPortaTraditionally, military officers never salute an enlisted person first, as it is the duty of the enlisted to pay respect to the officers appointed over them. Here, Gen. Mark Milley, the chairman of the JCS, is the first to salute a former Army private from World War II. June 7th 2022
272 Retweets2,096 LikesThis is definitely something you don’t see very often.
Moving to news I didn’t expect to see, check out this story below, about a woman who used to live in Kansas.
NPR @NPRAllison Fluke-Ekren admitted to operating an all-female ISIS military group and training women and girls on how to use explosive devices. 
A U.S. woman pleads guilty to leading an all-female ISIS battalionAllison Fluke-Ekren admitted to operating an all-female ISIS military group and training women and girls on how to use explosive devices.n.prJune 8th 2022
36 Retweets93 LikesYou know, they say a picture is worth a thousand words, and I’ve got to say, you can almost see the cruelty and hatred in that photo.
She’s facing up to 20 years in prison, so I think she’s going to have some time to reflect upon her actions.
Sadly, it’s not just former women from Kansas in hot water.
Turns out there’s a Marine 4-star officer facing his own legal issues.
@AP investigative reporters @AlanSuderman and @JimMustian.The FBI has seized the electronic data of the retired four-star general who leads @BrookingsInst ","username":"nixonron","name":"nixonron","date":"Wed Jun 08 01:12:55 +0000 2022","photos":[],"quoted_tweet":{},"retweet_count":916,"like_count":2120,"expanded_url":{"url":"https://bit.ly/3xtkojZ","im... seizes retired general’s data related to Qatar lobbying","description":"The FBI has seized the electronic data of a retired four-star general who authorities say made false statements and withheld “incriminating” documents about his role in an illegal foreign lobbying campaign on behalf of the wealthy Persian Gulf nation of Qatar.","domain":"bit.ly"},"video_url":null}">
nixonron @nixonronNEW: From @AP investigative reporters @AlanSuderman and @JimMustian.The FBI has seized the electronic data of the retired four-star general who leads @BrookingsInst 
FBI seizes retired general’s data related to Qatar lobbyingThe FBI has seized the electronic data of a retired four-star general who authorities say made false statements and withheld “incriminating” documents about his role in an illegal foreign lobbying campaign on behalf of the wealthy Persian Gulf nation of Qatar.bit.lyJune 8th 2022
916 Retweets2,120 LikesFrom reading the story, I’d say this doesn’t sound good for him at all.
Finally, you’re starting to see Somalia come up in the news a bit again. And we’ve got a small number of troops now fighting there. (See below.)
Task & Purpose @TaskandPurposeThe airstrike happened two weeks after the Pentagon said it was sending troops back to the country. 
The U.S. is bombing al-Shabaab in Somalia, againThe airstrike happened two weeks after the Pentagon said it was sending troops back to the country.bit.lyJune 7th 2022
10 Retweets26 LikesI think this little hotspot will start to make it into the news more and more in the coming weeks.
And if you’re wondering about where you kind of remember hearing about Somalia in the back of your head, you probably remember Somalia best (in recent years) from the book and movie Black Hawk Down.
Back in the early ’90s, American troops attempted to capture Somali faction leader Mohamed Farrah Aidid. That eventually led to the Battle of Mogadishu, which resulted in two Black Hawk helicopters being shot down, as well as 18 American soldiers killed and more than 70 wounded.
Let’s wrap up today’s edition with some motivation and wisdom, as always.
I thought I’d begin by sharing the threat below.
It has some incredible wisdom in it.
Maybe some of the best writing advice that I've ever read.
And I'd argue if you're chasing ANY kind of dream, it applies. So, read it if you're in the arena, getting some right now, or planning to in the near future.
Lindsay Buroker @GoblinWriterIt’s hard not to have any expectations when you publish your first book (or 20th), but the more certain you are that it’s going to be a life-changing success, the more you’re setting yourself up for disappointment. 1/11May 26th 2022
29 Retweets159 Likes
Life Quotes @RTLifeQuotesA pessimist is one who makes difficulties of his opportunities and an optimist is one who makes opportunities of his difficulties. — Harry S. TrumanJune 10th 2022
13 Retweets45 Likes
Motivational Quotes @motivation_qotPsychology says silence is often better than explaining.June 10th 2022
11 Retweets46 Likes
Success Minded @_SuccessMinded_"Let your dreams be bigger than your fears and your actions be louder than your words."June 10th 2022
86 Retweets257 LikesLife Quotes @RTLifeQuotesFor a man to achieve all that is demanded of him he must regard himself as greater than he is. – Johann Wolfgang von GoetheJune 9th 2022
12 Retweets49 LikesMotivational Quotes @motivation_qotThe future depends on what you do today.June 8th 2022
22 Retweets89 LikesSuccess Minded @_SuccessMinded_"6 months of focus and hard work can put you 5 years ahead in life."June 9th 2022
1,721 Retweets8,338 LikesLife Quotes @RTLifeQuotesLife's battles don't always go to the stronger or faster man. But sooner or later the man who wins, is the man who thinks he can. — Vince LombardiJune 9th 2022
37 Retweets134 LikesMotivational Quotes @motivation_qotTrain your mind to be stronger than your feelings.June 8th 2022
1,575 Retweets6,194 LikesSuccess Minded @_SuccessMinded_Say goodbye to the past. It is time to move on and be happy. Amazing things are on their way.June 8th 2022
201 Retweets841 LikesThat’s it for this edition.
As a reminder, please be kind and endeavor to love your fellow Americans. We need to pull this country together, and that starts with all of us.
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Semper Fidelis,
Stan R. Mitchell
P.S. Don’t forget to check out my books. I’ve written a CIA/Marine sniper series, a detective series, a private investigator series, an action-packed Western, a leadership/biography book, and two realistic war novels: one about World War IIand one about Afghanistan.
P.P.S. And here’s a short bio about me and what I’m trying to do with the newsletter.
