Milbloggers, Blackwater and Operation Envy Continues

With all the hoopla about the NFL Color Guard Flap, I completely forgot about Operation Envy, you know the operation where I went to Blackwater in North Carolina and drove cars fast and shot their guns for the day! Yeah that Operation Envy.

Susan Katz Keating has a great post up about our time prepping for the range, and I can attest, it was f’ing cold, I don’t think my fingers ever hurt so much trying to load a magazine, as they did that day. And here I thought I was going to NC to avoid the cold!

Before I go any further, let me say this up front. If the only thing you know about Blackwater is the Nisoor Square incident …you are doing yourself a disservice not investigating this corporation further. While I can not discuss everything we saw and heard there, let me simply say that the security services Blackwater provides is but a small percentage of the work they do, a very small percentage. Blackwater is foremost a training facility, and if it’s world-class, first-rate training you want, Blackwater is the outfit to provide it. They operate on a can do attitude, and if they can’t do it when you talk to them, they will find a way to do it in days. Yes I said days, not weeks or even months. As we learned on our tour, their turn around time is at time mere hours from saying yes to delivery, and in almost every case they are taking on the job because either the Government can’t do it or they can’t do it fast enough.

But back to the range, and more importantly how you can get in on one of these trips.

As Susan noted we loaded our magazines, and approached the firing line. For an old-timer trained to shot a pistol standing sideways to the target and extending your arm towards the target, learning to shoot two-handed standing square to the target, with both eyes open was a challenge, but our instructor, was very patient and had us shooting two to the chest and one to the head in no time. One magazine expended and I didn’t even need my gloves anymore, the excitement was taking over!

Up next: Fast Cars and Hot Laps

Milbloggers Gunslinging and Car Racing

When I mentioned that we did it all on our trip to blackwater I wasn't kidding. How did such a motley crew get together for such an interesting day? I can't say just yet, but have a look at this video Uncle Jimbo's evil twin took for us, while the real Uncle J was at the Church of St. Coochie Galore's Our Lady of Sacred Sluts Orphanage performing his daily bible study and big brother gig for wayward youths.



Looks like fun heh? It was..and remember stick around for details on how YOU can get in on one of Uncle J's trips to the Orphange.

Operational Update II

Well since the proverbial cat is out of the bag, I guess now I can begin to let you all know where Operation Envy took Uncle J of Blackfive, JP of Milblogging.com, Susan Keating and two staffers of the National Museum of American's in Wartime.

As Susan has already mentioned we boarded our transport early Friday morning for a brisk flight south to...

...Blackwater Worldwide!

What you need proof?
Well....how about this?

The group outside the Blackwater Pro Shop, that only the invited are allowed to enter.
In the back: Your humble editor; Craig Stewart, NMAW; Uncle J; JP of Milblogging.com
Up Front: Elizabeth Newberry, NMAW; Susan Katz Keating; Anne Tyrrell, Blackwater. [Photo by Blackwater staff member, using author's camera.]

And just what did we do there?

What would you do at the worlds largest training center for military and law enforcement, where there are dozens of live fire ranges, almost 2 miles of highspeed track and enough room to blow stuff up? Yep, we did it all!

And remember in the days to come, I'm going to let you know how you can get in on a trip just like this, so stay tuned!

Operational Update

It does seem that I named our secret mission appropriately.

Operation Envy has caused quite a few of our fellow bloggers and family members some discontent at our good fortune, but let me alleviate your worries, this exceedingly good luck on our part wasn't a chance encounter. Oh no it was work, hard work on our part, hard work that in the end can get you along for the ride next time.

Oh yes we feel immense pride at our good fortune but please do not hold that against us. Some of our commando group are already feeling guilty at their good fortune. Others of the group, well we can handle it, and rest assured we most certainly will let it go to our heads.

Remember, it is not our intention to keep this day to ourselves, so stay tuned and you to can find out how to join us on our next air infiltration to points unknown.

So I Went on a Secret Mission...

... and had the time of my life!

Not very covert am I? Well what can I say, I'm still basking in the glow of what happened yesterday. Remember when I posted earlier about my upcoming trip? Well it went off without a hitch, and man was it fun! Better than an "E" Ticket at Disney World if you ask me!

Who else was with me?
Can you believe: Uncle J and JP along with the ever talented Susan Katz Keating, thats who!

And do you want to know the best part - YOU, yes I said YOU can also get in on this once in a lifetime event. Of course you'll have to stick around until I can tell you how.

Oh and I have pictures.....maybe I'll post a teaser....later.

Oh and video too!