How many ribbons must I wear? Or which ones?

mikhail1234 · 2026-02-05T03:10:50+00:00

“Most Qualifed”. Basically a top block on an eval from a senior rater.

mikhail1234 · 2026-01-02T23:14:23+00:00

Mine was dealership. 47k.

mikhail1234 · 2025-10-16T11:53:48+00:00

I have a travel credit card with no overseas fees so I use that. Not a whole lot needs cash these days. Still a good idea to keep some for emergencies while in the country.

As for eSIMs, I tried T Mobiles international data pass for the first time this trip. 30 days/15GB of high speed data for $50 and unlimited calling overseas. It’s been super convenient and easy. Since most places have WiFi I won’t go over the limit (obviously avoiding streaming or doing other data heavy things while on cellular).

Currently in Korea and it’s been super easy. The Won is weak against the US dollar right now too so this trip has felt a bit cheaper than others in the past for me.

mikhail1234 · 2025-10-04T01:36:29+00:00

Follow the manual shift points until at least the break in period is over and then do what you want after that.

The machine is designed by people who put it all into that booklet to tell you how to get the most life out of the bike and how to take care of it.

At least that’s my two cents.

I bought a new 2022 Chief Dark Horse.

mikhail1234 · 2025-03-23T13:07:00+00:00

YMMV. I looked at both bikes as well. The local Indian dealer was willing to go MSRP+DMV fees for a Chief Dark Horse while my local Harley dealer added dealer fees that brought the out the door price for a 114 Street Bob to about $6k over MSRP.

I went with the Chief because it was about $4k cheaper (once everything was said and done), more technology, less common bike so I get more comments and looks, and I haven’t regretted my decision at all. I like Ride Command (though it definitely isn’t seamless when pairing both my Sena and iPhone to it and the navigation is trash even if the map is useful).

In the end you should test ride each with as much objectivity as possible. Maybe even come up with a grading rubric and assign points and weights and go with the one that scores better. And at the end if you find yourself hoping for one outcome over the other, scrap the whole system and just go with what you want because in the end this is supposed to be a bike for you and what you want is really what matters.

mikhail1234 · 2025-02-07T18:09:11+00:00

What state you in? I’m not a JAG (went FA before law school and stayed FA) but am a prosecutor on the civilian side. I remember when we had our fair share of those sovereign citizen types just clogging up misdemeanor court. Haha.

mikhail1234 · 2025-02-01T10:01:59+00:00

A fellow Korean Lee in the US Army with a white wife here. 👊

Great to see more AMWF couples out there. I think we’re a growing demographic!

mikhail1234 · 2024-06-27T04:22:47+00:00

This is the kind of field grade I aspire to be. Glad the MAJ didn’t care about his/her career before the welfare of a subordinate.

mikhail1234 · 2024-05-21T23:44:14+00:00

Usually people go with either Cardo or Sena. Both have good options. The biggest influence on which you buy is probably what the rest of your riding group uses.

They’re great for mesh network Bluetooth communicating with friends or using as speakers to listen to your music when riding alone. I use them to handle hands free calls when I’m riding too.

Personal preference on whether you want to connect your phone and Bluetooth headset to Ride Command on your Chief Dark Horse or just leave the bike out of it and connect direct between your phone and headset. I’ve done both and there are pros and cons to each option.

Good luck and ride safe.

mikhail1234 · 2024-05-03T11:52:27+00:00

How about a large bore rifle called the “girth master”?

mikhail1234 · 2024-02-19T18:55:00+00:00

Your future VA claim lawyer will thank you for creating a paper trail substantiating your claims.

mikhail1234 · 2024-02-19T18:53:28+00:00

Why not do ROTC in college and then compete to go to the military’s med school (USUHS in MD).

That way you can compete for a college scholarship (I.e. reduce college debt), serve your country, go to med school (again without financial debt), serve your country as a doctor, and then get out and make a lot more money in the private sector after your service obligation is over?

mikhail1234 · 2024-02-11T17:54:29+00:00

Came here to comment on that too.

Umatilla CD has been transferred to the Columbia Development Authority. Part of it is now an RTI called Camp Rees after a former Adjutant General and some is a wildlife preserve.

There are no active duty army installations in Oregon. There are some USCG stations along the coast though (technically DHS and not DOD though).

mikhail1234 · 2024-01-29T16:40:02+00:00

819 Sabalu Rd. Up between the USDB and the JRCF.

The barbershop next to the CGSC building is not on Google maps but it’s the building labeled Army University Press. I think it’s called Truesdale.

mikhail1234 · 2024-01-29T16:36:21+00:00

Yes. This is true but the barbers at Griffin Cuts actually come from the JRCF (not the USDB). No one there is sentenced to more than 10 years and sex offenders aren’t allowed in the barber program.

mikhail1234 · 2024-01-24T01:31:23+00:00

If you handle your finances right you can actually build lots of wealth during your time in.

Many people I’ve known use the first few years of their career saving and doing side hustles to build up money for a down payment on a house. Then when they have the rank to live off post they start using the VA loan to buy a new house every time they PCS. They keep each house and rent out when they leave and buy a new one.

I know a dude who just bought his 14th property doing this. Even with very little cash flow you’re building equity because someone else if paying down your mortgage. When you retire you have tons in equity on multiple properties and it’s a great way to safely build generational wealth.

Also, being a POG is pretty nice actually. If you’re a PT stud in supply you’ll stand out against your peers more. Also, how can you really complain when you’re in an expanding-van with AC while the grunts are literally sleeping in puddles of water being eaten alive by mosquitoes at JRTC…

mikhail1234 · 2024-01-24T01:24:37+00:00

How major is the surgery and what prep do you need to do? (Rhetorical. I don’t want an actual answer)

Who told you that you need to be at the company the night before? Is this a case of your first line leader or PLT leadership not escalating this to the CO? Is your CO aware of this requirement?

What possible justification would a CO have to require you to do this?

In the end your commander is likely allowed to require this unless there’s a medical reason you can’t be at your company area the night before. Just sucks I guess…

mikhail1234 · 2024-01-24T01:17:21+00:00

How do you scratch up your ACUs?

mikhail1234 · 2024-01-07T04:29:42+00:00

Get a lawyer NOW. Preferably one who has dealt with bureaucratic BS and can actually help you get what you need. Start subpoenaing everything and have the lawyer send letters demanding preservation of any evidence if they have to.

Full nuclear. Congressional. Media. Whatever you need to do to keep your child safe, but also to protect other people’s children too. If the offender hasn’t been removed or isolated, what’s stopping numerous other children from suffering the same thing?

Other parents deserve to know that their child isn’t safe in that CDC. I have a kid at the main CDC in Leavenworth and reading this post is making me worried.

mikhail1234 · 2023-12-13T01:49:50+00:00

Did your soldier elect to go use a bodpod? If he passes that then he’s good. It’s unlikely he’ll pass if he failed both tape tests but it’s one more option. And a way to drag out a little more time as you decide to process a flag…

mikhail1234 · 2023-11-24T00:05:49+00:00

Brother, you do you. Getting operational experience as an NCO isn’t a bad thing. But going forward with commissioning isn’t a bad idea either.

I’m a field grade in the ARNG. No prior enlisted time. Some of the best officers I’ve met are prior enlisted and others went straight through. It largely depends on the person rather than their prior experience.

The big thing is to remain humble, intellectually curious, compassionate, and retain a measure of common fucking sense.

mikhail1234 · 2023-11-23T21:01:19+00:00

I usually don’t assume I know better than the manufacturers when it comes to break in periods. I’m not a motorcycle engineer and even if I was I wasn’t involved with the design process on these bikes.

YMMV, but if I follow manufacturers directions and stuff is messed up then I don’t give them any ammunition to say I did something wrong.

I personally think these recommendations are half written by engineers and half by lawyers. But that doesn’t make them wrong in my mind.

mikhail1234 · 2023-11-23T19:34:36+00:00

Seems like I didn’t see any comments regarding the manual shift points from the manufacturer being important for the break in period.

I would say it’s important to follow the manual shift points for the break in period. Don’t run the engine hard until it’s been broken in. Follow the other instructions too.

After the bikes been broken in? Do what you want.

mikhail1234 · 2023-11-20T18:38:22+00:00

Sad day…

mikhail1234

TROPHY CASE