Marine Reconnaissance Foundation’s fundraiser: MGySgt “Chunks” Padilla November 24, 2020
Posted by Chris Mark in Uncategorized.Tags: Chunks Padilla, Donation, MGySgt Padilla, Mountain View Fire, recon marine, USMC, Veteran
add a comment
Please consider donating! On November 18th, 2020 Master Gunnery Sergeant Charles “Chunks” Padilla and his family lost their home and all of their belongings in the Mountain View wild fire near the Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center at Bridgeport, California.
This is a call for all Recon teammates, supporters and family members and Americans who recognize the sacrifices people like MGySgt Padilla make to keep us safe to raise funds to support this great American and his family.
He has spent his entire adult life serving our Nation in peace and in war. He has also dedicated his retired life to supporting others, to include serving as an advisor to the Marine Reconnaissance Foundation Board of Directors.
Chunks is a brother, teammate and a significant figure in the Marine Reconnaissance Community. He is also a plank owner of Marine Corps SOCOM Detachment-1 (MCSOCOM DET-1), the origin of today’s Marine Raider community. For those that know him, you know that he would never ask for help….so the Marine Reconnaissance Foundation is doing so on his behalf. It is time to live the Recon Creed and support our brother and his family.
We have spoken to Chunks and he is aware of this effort and has given his reluctant approval for it. Please donate if financially able and share with your friends and family.
Never above you Never below you Always by your side
Risk 102- Lose “A” Match but Win “THE” Game March 23, 2012
Posted by Chris Mark in Risk & Risk Management, weapons and tactics.Tags: Chris Mark, decision, force recon, mark consulting group, recon marine, risk, risk management, security, USMC
add a comment
Risk management is about decisions. Given certain information, people then make decisions that they hope will minimize the risk of a particular outcome. This post is about risk and decisions.
Years ago I was a young Marine attending the USMC’s Amphibious Reconnaissance School (ARS). Upon successfully passing the school I would be conferred with the coveted Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) of 0321- Reconnaissance Marine. Recon Marines operate in very small teams conducting various reconnaissance missions to provide intelligence to the commander. The last phase of ARS training is known as “patrolling phase”. This is where all the students put their skills to use and run back to back patrols for a week while begin graded by the instructors.
During one of the final patrols we came upon a road known in military speak as a “linear danger area” and were considering a “two man bump” and other techniques to safely cross the danger area. After having not slept for the better part of a week my mind was a bit foggy. I asked the instructor: “SSGT, if we apply these techniques can we be confident that we will cross safely?” He looked at me and said: “Mark, you can do everything by the book and exactly right and still get your entire team killed. All you can do is make tactically sound decisions and hope for some luck.” Certainly without meaning to do so, this Marine Staff Sergeant articulated the idea of risk and risk management as well as any academic. (more…)
Global Security, Privacy, & Risk Management 