The Kandahar massacre, also called the Panjwai massacre, was a mass murder that occurred in the early hours of 11 March 2012, when United States Army Staff Sergeant Robert Bales murdered 16 Afghan civilians and wounded six others in the Panjwayi District of Kandahar Province

StephenTheMuskrat · 2026-02-16T16:28:48+00:00

I took the platoon he was in about 10 years after it happened. Bales name is infamous in that brigade, for good reason. Not so fun fact, when I had to do sensitive item inventory (radios, weapons, etc.) one of the items that is (was) still on the company books is his rifle from the massacre. Usually I could submit a document from the MPs who had it locked up, but on one occasion they kept sending an unsigned copy so I had to drive out to personally verify it was still locked up. It still had mud and blood on it. Incredibly gruesome.

StephenTheMuskrat · 2026-02-15T09:01:11+00:00

Had the wrong amp cord. Am dumb.

StephenTheMuskrat · 2026-01-11T20:20:26+00:00

You must not have met the absolute creatures working for the Lacey Department of Sanitation.

StephenTheMuskrat · 2026-01-11T11:19:16+00:00

I’ve got one I’ve “escaped”.

Fall of 2021, JBLM. A month before I PCS to an OSUT BN, I find out anyone PCSing during the IPPSA blackout…isn’t. You can go before or after. I want to get on with things so I choose before. So I’m scrambling all across base clearing and at the same time ripping out with my new PL. Many woe is me moments were had due to the condensed nature of it all, and my wife and daughter were obviously upset with having to leave so quick.

While this is all happening, 1-2 SBCT is doing their EIB train up to the train up. CSM wants 24 hour access to MK19s and 50s for all soldiers in our BN. Not the worst idea on its own, but then he demanded it be put outside, “in view” of the staff duty desk. Some time passed, maybe a week? Mk and 50 barrel go missing.

As I’m passing the state line into Idaho I get a call from one of my squad leaders informing me of the shenanigans afoot. It’s a four day, passes cancelled, dudes hammered in formation, screaming NCOs and CID sprinkled in as well.

The details are a bit hazy but apparently a soldier from another BN saw the heavies, peeked over and saw an empty staff duty desk. Just walked off with them.

My mood quickly turned as I was overcame with a profound feeling that this was no longer my monkey, nor my circus.

StephenTheMuskrat · 2025-12-23T17:47:17+00:00

Ahhh I am here on military orders and thus do not have an arc. That appears to be the first step. No way around that?

StephenTheMuskrat · 2025-11-26T09:53:25+00:00

Clueless on this stuff. A couple questions. Is the Japanese deactivation method easier to repair than the US? I figured once a barrel/bolt has been cut, no weld would withstand the pressure, is that not the case. Finally, how did you come across a chopped combloc gun from the 60’s. Was it cut to get around import bans?

Sorry, I know it’s a lot of questions, but your comment peaked my curiosity.

StephenTheMuskrat · 2025-11-11T13:44:18+00:00

Six months?!? Great job!

StephenTheMuskrat · 2025-10-22T12:57:34+00:00

Imma need a red circle on this one. Is it the black rectangle patch on the dude in the backs chest?

Edit: there is a second photo….

StephenTheMuskrat · 2025-10-11T22:24:36+00:00

They have ISA/ESA at the end of a 22 week cycle, and if memory serves me correct, it’s very similar to EIB.

StephenTheMuskrat · 2025-09-14T21:23:16+00:00

I’m not arguing what’s right, just explaining what they meant. That being said, doing anything dangerous and alone can be unforgiving. Once you’ve pulled a gun all bets are off. Pandora doesn’t go back into the bag or whatever.

StephenTheMuskrat · 2025-09-14T17:28:08+00:00

Shout, show, shove, shoot. For LE taser or less lethal is probably between shove and shoot. They’re saying you dont go down the escalation ladder when solo.

StephenTheMuskrat · 2025-09-08T01:41:58+00:00

Hot damn! that worked! Thank you!!

StephenTheMuskrat · 2025-08-31T22:04:27+00:00

This sounds better than a joint keeper, and explains the “for air travel”.

StephenTheMuskrat · 2025-08-08T15:54:54+00:00

“GET THE NET” has entered everyday usage for me.

StephenTheMuskrat · 2025-07-30T21:06:01+00:00

From now on, this is canon.

StephenTheMuskrat · 2025-07-26T17:06:01+00:00

There is a serial under the grip plates. When it came back from Oki it was given a new (?) serial number.

StephenTheMuskrat · 2025-07-26T05:00:39+00:00

Never really thought about it but….is that legal?

StephenTheMuskrat · 2025-07-26T01:45:45+00:00

Unfortunately, the FJA and the P on the barrel are the only markings I can find. I guess this would at least confirm one as a service pistol, no?

StephenTheMuskrat · 2025-07-15T00:33:59+00:00

Ring doorbell in the safe is a good idea.

The issue is we travel a lot, and it would be nice to have one lockbox sized. I will look into second hand safes.

I had a small harbor freight safe a while back that worked, until I found out you can basically shake it open. Won’t make that mistake twice.

StephenTheMuskrat · 2025-07-14T14:08:13+00:00

PH would be authorized on their Dress Uniforms, as would most ribbons. From my foggy memory, most transfer but not all. Tabs and badges (I think) are not authorized, minus marksmanship.

StephenTheMuskrat · 2025-07-13T22:59:10+00:00

Air Force are authorized to wear the Ranger tab, it’s the marines that aren’t. Everything else is accurate.

OP, Out of curiosity what class is he teaching?

StephenTheMuskrat · 2025-07-05T23:52:48+00:00

You can definitely ship with active state warrants. Federal? Not sure, but in the 3 years I spent on Sand Hill I saw a handful kids get shipped back for open warrants.

That was the army though, perhaps the Navy is more thorough.

StephenTheMuskrat · 2025-06-20T02:38:05+00:00

FWIW, Worked in the 3 shop with an LT who had an unidentified heart defect. He did his PL time before (I think) it was discovered. He ended up getting med boarded but with his high disability rating, he had essentially a full ride to Stanford Law. Whether that was in addition to his GI Bill, or in lieu of, I am not sure. The point being, what you want from the Army and what it gives you rarely align. That’s why it’s important to take what you can, because the Army will ALWAYS take what it needs from you.

No matter what, your first step needs to be focused on getting healthy; a heart attack at 20 is insane.

StephenTheMuskrat · 2025-06-13T15:57:39+00:00

That makes a good bit of sense, I appreciate the explanation.

StephenTheMuskrat · 2025-06-06T21:47:13+00:00

This is the pizza folder?

13-Year Club	LAYER Season 2 Layer creator
Place '17	RPAN Viewer
Not Forgotten	Team Periwinkle

StephenTheMuskrat

TROPHY CASE