The Waters Edge

The Waters Edge - This is an entertaining short video of the Naval Diving Salvage Training Center (NDSTC) in Panama City, Florida. Watch to see the wide variety of diving performed by the U.S. Navy to include scuba, surface supplied, and mixed-gas re-breathers. There are also depictions of physical training...and blowing sh!t up!

*** The WATERS EDGE (Short Film) *** - Mariano Lorde | 16x9Studios from 16x9 Studios on Vimeo.

A Remembrance of 9/11

Re-posting "A Remembrance of 9/11" with thanks to Jim Prewitt for trusting me with his story. Start with this link on the Small Wars Journal. The whole story can be reached through the link embedded there.

I will never forget.

Boat School Sea Story - "Sir"

"Sir"

When Barker jumped to his feet and assumed a position of attention, so did I. There was no need to look behind me for the danger that had just entered his room on 4-0. To do so would have exhibited a lack of discipline, and a questioning of Barker’s judgment.

“Sir, Midshipman Fourth Class Phillips, nine two five seven eight seven, Twenty-Third Company, First Platoon, Third Squad, Beat Army, Sir!” I yelled in near unison with Barker’s own ‘sounding off.’

“Mr Barker, how are you?” I heard in a distinctive southern drawl. I knew from the voice that Marine Corps First Sergeant Halifax was in our midst. The first sergeant was our Battalion Senior Enlisted Advisor, and guided the entire Plebe Regiment through drill during Plebe Summer.

Now it was fall, we were approaching our first set of finals and Barker and I were already sinking. Halifax cared for not just all Plebes, but all midshipmen within the Brigade, but he especially looked out for prior enlisted Marines like Barker. My classmate spent a few years in fleet before coming to Annapolis, much of it as part of the Marine Corps detachment onboard the battleship USS New Jersey.

Prior enlisted mids definitely had a leg up on their peers, especially military-wise. I had made a plastic model of the New Jersey as a kid. Barker had served on the iconic ship. But now we were in the same boat academically. Somehow Halifax knew this...the way all senior enlisted know what is going on with their charges.

“Really? Everything is copacetic with you two?” he said now including me in the conversation.

“We are both struggling with grades, First Sergeant,” Barker admitted. “We are trying to prep for finals and are both sweating it.”

“You are going to do fine. I know you are taking all the right steps to succeed, extra instruction and all that. Hell, you are here on a Saturday afternoon to put in the needed effort...you will make it.”

“I will, First Sergeant, but sometimes I think I will be ranked dead last,” Barker said dejectedly.

“That may be, Mr. Barker, but do you know what they call the last man to graduate in each Naval Academy class?”

No, First Sergeant.”

“They call him, ‘Sir.’”

Signed copies of 'The Recipient's Son' and 'Proximity.'

Fans of military fiction, especially those interested in stories about the U.S. Naval Academy and the Navy's Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) community often seek signed copies of The Recipient's Son and Proximity.

 

Signed copies of each can be obtained from Stephen Phillips through the online market - https://squareup.com/market/stephen-phillips

Put your specific inscription request in the 'note to seller' text box at checkout.

4th Annual METAvivor Author's Luncheon

METAvivor supports those who are enduring metastatic breast cancer.  On September 7, 2013, 11:00am -2:30pm at the Doubletree Hilton in Annapolis, I will join authors Priscilla Cummings, Lisa Veronica Pires, Erika Roebuck, Jeanne Slawson, and Elissa Brent Weissman at the METAvivor 4th Annual Authors Luncheon. At this fundraising event author Tom Dowd will moderate a discussion about our books, we will sign copies, and everyone will enjoy a great lunch. Proceeds will benefit METAvivor. I hope you will join us for this fun and supportive event. Details on the attached flyer and at www.metavivor.org