rlfj: Blog

I have had a huge number of readers asking why Grim hasn’t received an Medal of Honor for his actions at Outpost Whiskey. I do not plan to discuss whether or not Grim will or won’t get the MOH, but it is important to understand the process in receiving awards and decorations. They don’t just hand this stuff out! The lower the level of the award, the lower the level of upper management needed to hand it out. This is NOT a comment on the relative importance of various awards and decorations. If I had served, it is doubtful I would have earned a Good Conduct Medal! It is simply a discussion of the procedure.

Lower-level awards, such as the Achievement Medal and Commendation Medal, are usually authorized at a battalion level, though usually somebody higher up has to rubber stamp things. The next level up would be Bronze Stars and Silver Stars, which usually require authorization at the brigade or division level, and take longer, weeks or months. When you get up to the Distinguished Service Cross or Medal of Honor levels, it has to go to the Pentagon, and usually higher. Criteria are extremely stringent, and the process can take 18-24 months, or more.

So, while Outpost Whiskey might or might not result in higher awards we need to be realistic! The battle occurred in June 2007. As of Chapter 51, it is still December 2007. The absolutely earliest date Grim might get the highest level awards would be sometime in 2009, or perhaps later. For those of you looking for big medals, you are just going to have to wait a little longer!

There’s a flip side to everything, and Chapter 51 is the flip side to Chapter 50. It’s not a happy chapter. Sorry about that.

One of the interesting things I learned about becoming a police officer is that in many, if not most, jurisdictions there is not a requirement that recruits be given a psychiatric evaluation when applying. In Georgia, for instance, the Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council simply requires an applicant to “Undergo a physical examination by a licensed physician to determine any physical, emotional or mental conditions that may adversely affect the ability to exercise the powers or duties of a peace officer.” I have heard similar things from police officers. In some cases, the psych eval is simply the doctor giving you a physical asking “Are you depressed or crazy?” If you answer no, you’re in. That being said, most police officers do not want crazies on the force with them, if for no other reason than for their own safety. As a result, Training Officers are on the lookout for what some call ‘woo-woos’, guys who want to see the lights flash and the sirens go woo-woo.

Are things changing in this regard? Yes, slowly. Psychiatric evaluations cost money, money that police departments often don’t have. Politicians can yap all they want about upgrading standards and increasing training, but that costs money, which the same politicians do not want to pay. Often it takes a YouTube disaster to get them to actually do something.

Important note: For those of you who have purchased a copy of my stories, I appreciate the purchases, as does my wife, who is spending the money!

Well, the guessing is over. Grim is becoming a police officer. Interestingly, at least to me, is how some people are unhappy about this. Cops are bad, cops are evil, cops are [fill in the blank.] Sorry, I disagree. As the saying went when I was a kid, if you don’t like the cops, next time you get robbed, call a hippie. (That probably dates me; I turn 70 in November.)

Several readers have been wishing that Grim goes into politics or law. They are looking for Grim to become a larger-than-life national leader of some sort and solve all sorts of problems facing the country. Sorry, this is a story about a young man trying to figure out his life and find his place in the world, something that all of us have to do at some point.

I need to do a major shout-out to one of my editors. I couldn’t have written Book 3 without the assistance of grynslvr2, a veteran police officer in Texas. Yeah, I know Texas is not Georgia, but as you will learn in Book 3, that isn’t all that important. I repeat, I couldn’t have written this without his constant advice and editing. Any errors are mine and mine alone.