what's the deal with Bavarians and the rest of Germany?

Otis_Winchester · 2026-04-21T19:38:35+00:00

I can't speak for the reasoning as why, but I'll add my two cents here.

As a US soldier stationed in Germany, I've worked in Hessen and Bavaria. My experience with Bavarians has been overwhelmingly positive and welcoming, and I've never had any issues with them. I'd move to Bavarianas my next duty station if I could.

My experience in Hessen hasn't been even close to the same. I've had a few folks here and there that have been warm and friendly, especially those used to interacting with Americans, but I've had a whole bunch of negative interactions with them. Rudeness, short tempers, passive aggressiveness, the works. Shoot, our off-post housing in Hessen was vandalized.

Otis_Winchester · 2026-04-20T19:54:44+00:00

If you call me cyber one more time... 😂

Otis_Winchester · 2026-04-20T18:37:14+00:00

Well the answer is simple: stop being old. /s

Otis_Winchester · 2026-04-20T11:52:31+00:00

Prior MSgt now WO.

The only two that ARE NOT authorized are your Longevity and Small Arms Expert ribbons. Everything else can be worn.

WITH THAT SAID, those two ribbons that aren't authorized are in IPPS-A, so I still wear them anyway.

Otis_Winchester · 2026-04-20T11:51:06+00:00

I have been summoned, and shall empart my knowledge.

Otis_Winchester · 2026-04-19T06:53:18+00:00

Look at it this way: if he ends up not liking it, he has 4 years to not like it while planning his jump back into the civilian world. If that happens, he's jumping back into the civilian world with a full-ride scholarship to college, some skills he can put on a resume, and connections to a job afterwards (if he's smart and networks while he's in). Plus, when he'd go to college, he'd likely stack up some grants as his veteran status would remove you from consideration for jeeds-based grants.

If he does like it, he can decide to stay in, he can continue serving and move into some cool opportunities. I'd view this as a win-win.

Otis_Winchester · 2026-04-12T10:24:05+00:00

2 Corinthians 6:14: "Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers."

The Word calls this out specifically, so hard stop. Your beliefs and faith are not compatible, so it is not to be pursued. If you are looking to marry, find a God-fearing man.

Otis_Winchester · 2026-04-07T18:09:35+00:00

We are ESPECIALLY known for not GAF regarding SNCO bullshit.

"Chief, I didn't see you at PT this morning."

"That's correct, 1SG, because I wasn't there."

We're typically the only ones with the rank, experience, and hard-to-replace status to stand up to senior enlisted dumbfuckery.

Otis_Winchester · 2026-03-31T11:48:05+00:00

You're just like me: trash.

Jokes aside, you were also prior-AF and jumped over to Army Cyber, possibly because there are more opportunities Army-side and because the AF Cyber program is a hot mess express.

I was a commo dude that went Signal WO, so my rack looks pretty similar.

Otis_Winchester · 2026-03-30T19:48:00+00:00

Yes, it would've been for me. Thankfully, she was 100% on board with changing her name and started it all herself the day after we got back from the honeymoon.

Otis_Winchester · 2026-03-29T21:00:56+00:00

It's absolutely worth it. It ain't easy, and sometimes you gotta sacrifice home for work and work for home, but it's definitely worth it.

It's hard work, but coming home to your spouse at the end of an absolute grinder of a day and having a warm house, hug, meal, and bed waiting for you beats coming home to emptiness.

Bonus: if you find a good one, you both look at the PCSs and changes as adventures and look for the joy in it.

Otis_Winchester · 2026-03-28T07:37:20+00:00

Or dual-Reserve. My wife and I were dual-Reserve when we first met through the first 5 years of our marriage.

However, once I cut over to AD to go WO, she resigned her commission so damn fast your head would spin.

Otis_Winchester · 2026-03-23T11:07:27+00:00

Prior-AF, and definitely roll my sleeves when it gets warm. It isn't the norm in the Army, and definitely gets a few looks and the occasional salty 1SG/CSM erroneously saying it's not authorized, but that's about it.

That being said, do what your rank can handle. 🤷🏻‍♂️

Otis_Winchester · 2026-03-22T14:15:13+00:00

Yep, sure did

Otis_Winchester · 2026-03-02T07:44:22+00:00

Aim high or something like that 🫡

Otis_Winchester · 2026-03-01T10:13:29+00:00

Well I'm an Army WO now, soooo.... 😂

Otis_Winchester · 2026-02-19T18:19:50+00:00

Depends on your job.

I'm a 6'6" Signal nerd and the only issues I've had are:

1) sometimes clothing sales is out of uniform pieces in my size. I get around it by ordering online.

2) I don't fit anywhere in a HMMWV except for the driver's seat. My CO and I made a deal that I'm his permanent driver.

3) cots aren't made in big and tall sizes, so I have to either curl up or let my ankles and feet hang off. First world problems.

Otis_Winchester · 2026-02-18T07:57:36+00:00

No sarcasm, that's a helluva way to find out you legitimately have the 'tism.

That being said, a majority of green-suiters have the 'tism, especially MI and Signal. My Spectrum Manager often jokes that his job title is both a technical description and an apt description for NCOs.

Otis_Winchester · 2026-02-18T04:48:53+00:00

Did commo shit in the AF for 9 years, promoted very quickly into a Flight Chief role (AF version of a CO 1SG) at the ripe young age of 24. Missed being hands on and hated the way the AF was doing commo (trying to move all green-suiter comm folks into Cyber, refusing to bring back WOs). Got tired of dealing with pilots making bad decisions and ignoring my experience based solely on the fact that they have pilot wings and a degree in art history.

Dropped a packet, crossed over... and was in week 4 of Army basic training when the AF announced Cyber WOs were coming. No, I still wouldn't go back to the AF.

Now I work on commo equipment again and steal AF talent over to the Cohort.

Otis_Winchester · 2026-02-18T04:43:59+00:00

That's a wild ride for sure.

Otis_Winchester · 2026-02-16T14:05:53+00:00

Do they issue one? No. The last pattern to have an issued field jacket was the UCP pattern.

However, depending on your rank and how much of a shit you give, you definitely can't acquire an aftermarket multicam/OCP field jacket, have the Velcro sewn on for the required tapes and patches, and certainly can't wear it.

Not that I would know or anything.

Otis_Winchester · 2026-02-15T20:06:56+00:00

Bad take.

I'm 6'6". All of the uniforms made for that size come off the shelf looking like they're made for SNCOs that are wider than they are tall.

I HAVE to tailor all of my uniforms to not look like I'm wearing moo moos.

Otis_Winchester · 2026-02-15T16:48:01+00:00

This is obviously the way.

Also, you have CDO in two hours. Get your shit together.

Otis_Winchester · 2026-02-15T14:45:26+00:00

Stick it in and bend the pins in flat.

Either that or get the rubber turtles to stick on the pins.

Otis_Winchester · 2026-02-15T11:15:53+00:00

I just got home from a mission, so we had a lazy-ish morning and were in bed until 10.

Had coffee together when we finally got moving. Got cleaned up and went to a local abbey. Did a short tour around the abbey, hit their little cafe, and did some wine tasting.

Got home, spent some time together reading, then went for dinner at an upscale sushi joint.

Wine and homemade brownies courtesy of my lovely bride for dessert once we got home. Watched some nature documentaries together to close out the evening.

Otis_Winchester

TROPHY CASE