Bob on the FOB
Tuesday 12 February 2008
2100
Well, I’ve been meaning to post these for a long time, and since I also haven’t written a blog entry in a long time I guess this is a good way to get started again.
“Bob on the FOB” is a cartoon that was drawn by a soldier who was here (in Iraq, I think) a couple of years ago. They consist of single, detailed drawings, each showing an archetypal inhabitant of military facilities, with a corresponding humorous definition. They are posted everywhere here in people’s workspaces, and I’ve seen them on other blogs, so I don’t think I’ll be violating any copyrights to share them here.
SGT Albert J. Merrifield (the artist /cartoonist) was clearly very perceptive and creative, kind of in the vein of Scott Adams, who created Dilbert from his own experiences as an engineer. In any case, his cartoons provide a humorous look at some of people’s foibles here. We all know at least one person like each of these characters, and it’s only fair to say that I recognize myself in at least two of them (I am certainly at least a moderate Geardo, and maybe even a FOB locust at times. Old habits die hard…).
A little background on terminology: a FOB is a Forward Operating Base, which is a smallish, self-contained base in a forward area. It is what most of the people in Iraq and Afghanistan live on and work out of. A TOC is a Tactical Operations Center, which is simply a headquarters facility with radios, computers, mapboards, etc, out of which people work. “Back when”, this meant a canvas tent extension off the back of a parked M577 armored vehicle (and no computers), but I suspect most of the TOCs here are in fixed facilities. Since I’m a REMF at Camp Arifjan, I don’t really know.
OIF is Operation Iraqi Freedom, which is what we're here for. "OIF I" refers to the intial invasion and battle against Saddam's Army, as opposed to the follow-on counterinsurgency.
I know there were more of these, because I’ve seen them posted here and there. But these were all I could find online.
Anyway, enjoy… :-)
Fobbit
Originally uploaded by hkp7fan.
TOCroach
Originally uploaded by hkp7fan.
FOB locust
Originally uploaded by hkp7fan.
Storyfeller
Originally uploaded by hkp7fan.
Good idea fairy
Originally uploaded by hkp7fan.
Shower Princess
Originally uploaded by hkp7fan.
Geardo
Originally uploaded by hkp7fan.
Music: Pietro Antonio Locatelli, Concerti Grossi
Mood: Busy
posted by Brad @ 9:32:00 AM
4 comments
4 Comments:
Glad you liked the BOB on the FOB stuff...
- SSG A.J. Merrifield
I have included color print outs of "Bob on the FOB"" for each employee I in-process here at FOB Marez on Mosul Iraq. I hope I dont get into trouble for copyright! HA HA! We love it, and especially love pointing out copy cats on the fob. If the SGT is reading this, please include the new geardo which I have labeled "tactiCOOL".
These cartoons are GREAT and so TRUE! Brightens up this Infantrymans day everytime. Thanks.
Two more:
"OND Rambo" - an Army E7 or higher who managed to evade a deployment until the 2011 withdrawal from Iraq; then, proceeded to act over the course of the deployment like it was the initial invasion and he was John Rambo
"SSG Sanford & Son" - an Army E6 who spent the initial hours in theatre collecting up all the outgoing unit's amenities for free and then selling them to soldiers in his unit (out of his junkyard CHU) at a 2500% markup
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