Mil-blogger Surveys Iraq, Afghan Wars Through Arts

http://acolytesofwar.com/

"Time Now," a military blog that reviews "The Iraq and Afghanistan Wars in Art, Film, and Literature," has been added to the Red Bull Rising blog-roll. It appears in the right-hand column of the webpage, under a new "Military Arts and Culture Blogs" category. In past posts, blogger Peter Molin has considered topics including contemporary war poetry and literature, photography and cinema, and theatrical and dance productions.

Molin, a U.S. Army officer who served on Embedded Training Team in Afghanistan's Khost and Paktiya provinces in 2008-2009, also maintains an archived of his deployment experiences at "15-month Adventure."

Red Bull Rising blog readers may remember that Paktiya Province was the area of operation of the Iowa Army National Guard's 1st Battalion, 168th Infantry Battalion, during the 2nd Brigade Combat Team (B.C.T.), 34th Infantry "Red Bull" Division's (2-34th BCT) deployment in 2010-2011.

Unlike the standard "the views herein do not reflect those of the U.S. Army" boilerplate, Molin's disclaimer regarding his deployment is clear, conversational, and worthy of duplication by other mil-bloggers. Note how he blends both his blog's mission and intent:

I am an active-duty Army officer. I started this blog to keep friends and family informed about my deployment to Afghanistan in 2008-2009 as the leader of an "Embedded Transition Team." I have kept it going since because it gives me a chance to reflect on the experience and because at least some people say they still enjoy reading it. My intent is to write in interesting and original ways about the war without being critical of the US or the Army, without compromising security or operations, and without saying anything remotely unflattering about the great military personnel and civilians with whom I served.

Here are some of Molin's reviews of contemporary mil-poetry collections:

• Walter E. Piatt's "Paktika." Piatt deployed to Iraq twice and Afghanistan once, when he was a battalion commander in Eastern Afghanistan Paktika Province. He is a past commandant of the U.S. Army Infantry School, and is currently a deputy commanding general with the 10th Mountain Division. Unfortunately, "Paktika" seems to be out of print, but his 2003 collection titled "She Came to the Door to Wave Good-bye" is still available here.

• Paul Wasserman's "Say Again All." Wasserman is an Army Aviation NCO. His chapbook is available through Lulu.com here.

• Elyse Fenton's "Clamor." Fenton is the wife of a combat medic. The 2010 collection is available on Amazon here. Another review of her work, suggested by another Red Bull Rising blog reader, appears here.

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Note: This content regarding military writing is underwritten by Victor Ian LLC, a military media and gaming business. The business publishes Lanterloon, an eclectic lifestyle, technology, and military blog; has a physical retail storefront called "Dragons and Dragoons" located in Colorado Springs, Colo.; and hosts military-writing workshops and other events under the "Sangria Summit" brand name.

Free Military-Writing Workshop in Iowa April 5-7

A free writing workshop will be offered to current and former military personnel, spouses, and teen dependents April 5-7, 2013 on the campus of the University of Iowa campus, Iowa City, Iowa.

"We each have a story to tell and the 'Writing My Way Back Home' weekend workshop will help you gain the tools and confidence to craft and share yours well," reads the announcement. "Using reading and writing exercises, we will explore deployment and wartime experiences—the fear, boredom, anxieties, thrills, brutality, tears and beauty—considering ways to write a personal story and make it compelling."

The announcement continues:

By the end of the weekend, workshop participants will have had the chance to try out a range of styles and approaches to produce stories, poetry, fiction, and blogs. Opportunities to work one-on-one with professional writers during the weekend, as well as online follow-up, will help continue the writing and revision process. No writing experience is needed to attend this workshop. A public reading for course participants interested in sharing excerpts from their work will complete the weekend.

Announcement materials included the following tentative schedule:

Fri., April 5: 7 to 9 p.m.
Sat., April 6: 9 a.m. to 12 noon; 1 to 4:30 p.m.
Sun., April 7: 9 a.m. to 12 noon

Lunches will be provided. Participants must arrange their own housing and transportation. Workshop size is limited.

For an online registration form, click here.

A 2011 "Writing My Way Back Home" was featured on the Red Bull Rising blog here. Other coverage resulting from the event includeed a post regarding the University of Iowa Veterans Center.

If you are an Eastern Iowa business or organization that wishes make a donation in support of the April 2013 workshop, please contact University of Iowa Veterans Center coordinator John Mikelson at: 319.384.2020.

A Facebook page for "Writing My Way Back Home" is available here.

'Boonie's Haiku Contest' to Celebrate FOB Memories

The editor of the Red Bull Rising blog has announced "Boonie's Haiku Contest," a light-hearted poetry competition commemorating the experiences of both military and civilian personnel downrange—regardless of era—and particularly those who have supported the war effort from the perceived safety of larger installations.

Entries will be judged on factors such as: originality, creativity, humor, and adherence to the specified haiku format.

"We chose the haiku not for any particular connection to Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan, Honduras, or any other country in which the United States has deployed the 'Forward Operating Base' ('FOB') concept," says mil-blogger Charlie Sherpa, "but for the simplicity and accessibility of the form."

"That," he says, "and it lends itself equally to both sarcasm and sincerity. I anticipate plenty of both."

Deadline is March 18, 2013. Only one submission per entrant. Entrants may, however, submit up to three haiku in a single entry. For entry methods, see below.

For the purposes of the contest, a haiku poem will:

• Consist of three lines; each respectively comprising 5, 7, and 5 syllables each, for a total of 17.
• Refer either to a character or characters, setting, music, and/or narrative of the TV show "China Beach," or to a similar real-life military setting, such as a Forward Operating Base ("FOB"), main operating base, Combat Outpost ("COP") or patrol base.
• Ideally incorporate a reference to one of the four seasons, or to nature.

For example:

China Beach sunset (5)
reflections on TV waves (7)
and my Vietnam (5)

Note that the syllables of acronyms and initialisms are counted as they would be pronounced aloud. For example: "TV" is two syllables; "REMF" is one syllable.

Three prizes will be awarded:

• First-prize: A boxed DVD of the entire "China Beach" television series, never-before-released on DVD or VHS. Includes 62 episodes on 21 DVD, and features 268 classic hit songs as originally broadcast—and more than 10 hours of bonus features, including a cast reunion with Dana Delany, Marg Helgenberger, Michael Boatman, and Robert Picardo and more. For previous Red Bull Rising coverage of "China Beach," click here.

• Second-prize: An autographed and personalized (at prize-winner's specification) copy of David Abrams' sarcastic, surreal 2012 Iraq War novel "Fobbit."

For previous Red Bull Rising coverage of the book, click here.

• Third-prize: A "Blue Falcon" coffee mug, from the creator of the "Doctrine Man!!" cartoon. Appearing on Facebook, the Doctrine Man!! cartoon routinely captures the absurdities,  uncertainties, and ... camaraderies (?!) ... familiar to those who have weathered staffy and stuffy deployments downrange. As Doctrine Man!! himself says: "Remember: 'Buddy' is only half the word!"

There are four ways in which to enter Boonie's Haiku Contest:

Via e-mail:

Send an e-mail to haiku AT redbullrising.com, with the poems in the body of the message. The subject line should include the words "Boonie's Haiku Contest Entry."

Via postal mail:

Send entries via postal mail to: "Boonie's Haiku Contest," c/o Red Bull Rising, P.O. Box 31099, Johnston, IA 50131-9428.

Via Facebook:

Post one to three poems as a single Facebook comment to the link dated Feb. 25, 2013 on the Red Bull Rising Facebook page, and marked "ENTER CONTEST BY POSTING BELOW IN THIS THREAD."

Via comment to this Red Bull Rising blog-post:

Please remember to sign in, however; anonymous posts will not be considered for the contest.

Other contest details include:

• By submitting their work(s), entrants agree to allow the editor of the Red Bull Riding blog non-exclusive and perpetual rights to reprint their work(s), in any media or format, known or unknown, throughout the universe, regardless of whether or not the work(s) are recognized as contest winners.

• All parties, regardless of military, veteran, or civilian status, are encouraged to participate. Prize-winners, however, must have a U.S. mailing address for prize delivery. APO addresses are acceptable.

• Judges' decisions are final.

• The judges reserve the right to substitute prizes, or to decline to name winners in one or more prize categories, should circumstances require.

• Winners will be announced March 25, 2013.

• Prizes will be sent to winners approximately April 25, 2013.

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DISCLOSURE: The boxed set used as a prize in this competition is provided to the editor of the Red Bull Rising blog in partial consideration for otherwise unpaid technical-consulting services rendered. Red Bull Rising is the sole organizer and sponsor of this contest.

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