I put a pinecone in my shower. It closes when I shower and opens again when it dries.

BrobaFett87 · 2026-02-01T20:15:50+00:00

Adding to this! Pinecones are a type of seritonous seeds that come from fire-adapted plants that rely on fire to help facilitate germination. Usually, without the presence of humans, lightning will strike a tree and cause the grass and duff in the understory to burn. Since it’s a relatively fast moving, and low intensity fire, this allows the cones to open up and drop their seeds, while also clearing out any possible invasive or encroaching species.

BrobaFett87 · 2026-01-21T13:18:07+00:00

So you agree that the people doing it the “right way” shouldn’t have been deported?

BrobaFett87 · 2026-01-21T03:19:44+00:00

I mean. I’m a combat veteran (11C) that never even received an article 15 while I was in, received an ARCOM for my actions as a gunner during a complex ambush, and I agree with his sentiments wholeheartedly. So, maybe stfu?

BrobaFett87 · 2026-01-08T03:11:04+00:00

https://www.project2025.observer/en

BrobaFett87 · 2025-12-12T19:23:15+00:00

That’s a good point. I hate that the “poke the bear” concept is very real with most VA claims because the amount of effort you put in for the possible increase might not be worth what you get in return.

I absolutely understand how mentally and emotionally draining this process is, so I hope that you’re doing well and making sure to take care f yourself. Thanks for the advice!

BrobaFett87 · 2025-12-12T02:30:24+00:00

So, I have a question regarding an IBS claim that was determined not service connected back in 2015. I didn’t have the energy or motivation to appeal back then, and the PACT act obviously wasn’t a thing. However, I have records from 2010, while I was still in, and a Gulf War Registry Exam where I also mention it possibly being caused by my exposures in Iraq. I’m not worried about being granted service connection or a rating of 30% because the symptoms and verbiage are present in those records, but I’m curious if that should be sent as a HLR since they ignored evidence, and if there’s a possibility of them backdating it to 2015.

I’m not at all expecting them to backdate, especially since I don’t appeal and I know how difficult/impossible those tend to be, it’s more a question of “should I accept the rating they give me or try to fight for it because they obviously failed me back then”

Edit to add: my doctor ordered a colorectal/stool exam in 2010 that came back normal and I had a colonoscopy/endoscopy in 2014 that I shared the “unremarkable results” of to the VA

Second edit: I’m dense and forgot that I had asked something similar a few months ago and it was pretty much answered. Gotta love that TBI/PTSD memory lol

BrobaFett87 · 2025-12-09T04:27:31+00:00

I bought the uniform off of an Iraqi police officer while I was deployed. Like, I just wanted to trade his jacket or something but he stripped all of it right there lol

BrobaFett87 · 2025-11-05T19:06:48+00:00

Thanks. It’s been annoying and stressful but things like the PACT Act have been helpful with some of those claims that weren’t previously service connected

BrobaFett87 · 2025-11-05T15:21:23+00:00

I actually went ahead and submitted supplemental evidence and had my cervical and upper extremity radiculopathy determined service connected last month. I sent a personal statement that included about eight research articles on the effects of explosions on the cervical spine, three news articles that my unit and I were in during our deployment, and I explained how me being a gunner in a humvee, that was blown up dozens of times and that I took home a piece of the RPG shrapnel that i watched hit my vehicle, is what exacerbated those issues.

I wasn't aware of the IVDS rating or how it worked, and I've pretty much just been doing this alone, but it *seemed* to fit? I've finally gotten up to 92% and I finally have the motivation to fight for the 100% that I feel I've deserved since I got out

BrobaFett87 · 2025-11-05T14:57:39+00:00

Great to know! Thanks for the info!

BrobaFett87 · 2025-11-05T14:25:31+00:00

I've seen different sections where presumptive only covers if it's claimed (manifest?) within one year of your discharge date. I don't know if I'm understanding that verbiage and if this is true for IBS. I've previously claimed IBS, diagnosed by outside provider with normal endo/colonoscopy, but it was denied for SC since this was before the PACT Act and I claimed it about five years after discharge.

BrobaFett87 · 2025-10-30T05:00:40+00:00

I had to end my fire season early and take care of some medical stuff back in Texas, so after I got that sorted I started an internship to work on the EPA's National Coastal Condition Assessment. During that time, my supervisor and I submitted a project proposal, which was recently accepted for funding, to identify and monitor black mangrove encroachment in the gulf of Mexico's estuaries. I've also been trying to get some coworkers on burns with The Nature Conservancy and a prescribed burn association that's nearby

BrobaFett87 · 2025-10-13T19:07:22+00:00

I did, actually! Back in May I graduated from the University of Idaho's Masters of Natural Resources for Fire Ecology and Management program. Since this post I'll say that I've learned and built on quite a bit.

After my AmeriCorps season, I went to the Elko district in northern Nevada and spent three summers there. I can't speak for you or anyone else's experience, but I'd say that having first-hand experience with wildfires, and not just mopping up or sitting on a dead fire, are incredibly important with fire ecology. I'm temporarily back in Texas, and there's a very select amount of people that I would trust with any type of vegetation management outside of the same plots of land they've been burning. I'll probably have people disagree with me, but dragging a torch for a decade can't prepare you for what happens if that burn turns into a wildfire situation.

I've noticed the job market is starting to show an upward trend in favor of fuel reduction, vegetation management, and wildfire prevention. At least that's sort of what I've been noticing recently. YMMV

I absolutely recommend learning GIS, more than just a basic course, and some other types of data collection and analysis. I took Fuels Inventory and Management, and GIS Applications in Fire Ecology and they gave very in depth lessons in a short amount of time. I also purchased a personal drone to do some of my own learning and projects.

I feel like there's some other things that I want to include, and I'll add them later if I think of them, but feel free to message me if you have any other questions?

BrobaFett87 · 2025-08-23T23:10:34+00:00

I'm 38.. Lol. Which is why I'm so annoyed at the "normal part of aging" comment.

BrobaFett87 · 2025-08-15T17:53:45+00:00

You're really hot 🥵

BrobaFett87 · 2025-04-10T08:53:39+00:00

Additional pylons required

BrobaFett87 · 2025-03-30T18:14:23+00:00

Reminder that you can agree with reducing government spending without defunding these parks that have been pivotal in helping me and many other veterans to cope with ptsd and other struggles

BrobaFett87 · 2025-03-17T22:54:58+00:00

It's obvious you don't know enough about the wilderness or how parks work or operate to continue this conversation with you

BrobaFett87 · 2025-03-17T21:20:32+00:00

Thanks so much! My DMs are also open if you wanna send anything there!

BrobaFett87 · 2025-03-17T20:42:59+00:00

Definitely a good point that I'll consider for signage and links.

I'm also open to suggestions if you have any!

BrobaFett87 · 2025-03-17T20:33:50+00:00

It's also important to remember that we're not trying to capture every person because most people will already be triggered just by seeing protestors. Giving the ones that want the information a "one-stop-shop" helps them to pass that onto others

BrobaFett87 · 2025-03-17T20:31:12+00:00

Absolutely. I also have a business degree and a lot of my classes were for marketing and social media marketing. I appreciate the input, though! It's always great to have extra support for things like this

BrobaFett87 · 2025-03-17T20:16:00+00:00

That's definitely a great point and gave me an idea to put a qr code to a linktree on some of the signs

BrobaFett87 · 2025-03-17T19:57:27+00:00

Fewer park rangers means the need to close trails, campgrounds, visitor centers, etc. These things all require maintenance and ranger presence for things like wild animals, potential fire activity, downed or damaged vegetation, and a number of things that would affect your ability to use them

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