If you are ever in the El Paso, Texas area and have time to kill..visit on post Fort Bliss * if you are able to * If you like visting museums and are interested in Military History, The Air Defense Artillery musuem is one for the Miltary junkies and experts. I took a small group to this museum and we were impressed, especially the stand-up StarWars stormtrooper standing next to dressed up Full Battle-Rattle soldier, amazing how our (US Military) equipment we use has had a basis off futuristic movies from the past! Its actually huge open area full of ...junk. Ah well it is a part of our Nation's history, so where else can you view equipment your grandfather or great-grandmother use to use or ride! The museum is a history on Air Defense and Old Fort Bliss. It is fairly small for a museum but has room for improvement. They have a litle gift shop and please sign the guestbook...If you are in the area stop by. Admission is Free

Once upon a time when I was a 21 year old sergeant in charge of grown men almost twice my age, I was a leader among men. It was intimidating at first because I was known as the kid who 'fast-tracked', nothing against them but I knew it myself...I was not experianced at all, for any 21 year old and a girl....

So as the rebellious young sergeant i did my best to excell in everything, Physical Training with my soldiers and discipline in my soldiers (regardless of age or sex). 3 years prior ...when i had no idea I was gonna do after high school. I was afraid to ever interview anyone for my high school paper or try out for a school production, i was quiet and part of the crowd from the West Side of Charleston. What i did then in the army, made me do a 180 for the better. See I had an attitude that i didnt give a f*** who you were, I am the Best and i never had that attitude but I had to , to get the respect I needed to have my men trust me. Kind of like comparing myself to Joan of Arc minus the visions from God and stuff.....

So after working with these guys for 7 months I decided for our Training Day I'm gonna take them to Fort Bliss. Now I had to tell my First Sergeant what my training day was so I told him.

" NO" he bellowed, " You guys are just going to the PX. You have to do military training"

I didn't say anything. You know like when you're arguing with a parent it's best to shut up and not say anything. So I walked away from him. I wanted my guys to get a break. Some of us have had to pull double shifts cuz of people going on leave or coming off the mission and these guys when they're on their day off just stay in their rooms, worse drink all day...I was one of them. So I wanted to best 'Top' and out-smart him a lil, so I went on-line and did a lil research and found the best thing for my guys to do tomorrow...

Following morning, as my troops filed in our 15 PAX van, they thought we were going to the BP Station for our training so I said the following:

"Guys, we're going to Fort Bliss today"...i got different takes, sum thought shopping, sum were curious

"We're going to the ADA musuem, i guarantee none of you been there. If you dont like then we can go to the station and do CTT training, everyone was in favor of driving to Bliss!

'YOU ARE NOW ENTERING US GOVERNMENT PROPERTY..'

We took the scenic route toward El Paso though the mountains, it was cool even though i was still getting use to the higher elevation. We got to Fort Bliss with no problem and we got to the musuem. In the front there are old rockets like 20-50 feet high. We posed and took flicks, upon entering we signed the Guest Book and walked in. It was a musuem full of military history. I wont bore you reader of the details, im not a big fan of going to museums and explaing about them...they are jus places you look and see...sorry if that makes me ignorant or sumthing but i guess im more of a adrenline junkie!!!

After we left there, i told all my soldiers to take pictures just in case...they didnt understand but i would need the proof later just in case..

Yea I did let my soldiers shop at the PX, so what..I did too : )

We got back to our hotel and got them back by 1300 so that they can enjoy the rest of their days off, however I went to find my First Sergeant, i went to his quarters and knocked, he was there, opened the door.

"Hey Jess, how was training?" he asked

"We went to Fort Bliss"..... i said and his tone changed..

"And what did I tell you Sergeant????"

"Top you directed me to conduct Military Training and I did"

And before he replied I said "Military History". We sat down and showed him my pictures I took and why i chosed the Air Defense Artillery Museum. It didnt matter to tell him my guys needed a break, its not his job to hear shit like that. But i explained to him the importance of military history. Everyone goes to school to learn sumthing, at least thats what the purpose is anyway besides building a social life, etc..

But the importance of knowing Military history is this, learning from the past, to be proud of our background, enhancing our skills so when we do, do trivia you can be the person that knows the answer !! Duh, lol.

I didnt get in trouble, he didnt like that i dis-obeyed him but the one thing I have learned as a leader among men, a woman is still gonna get her way, even when she knows better! Thanks guys