Twelfth Anniversary Message to the *Specialists*

 

Greetings And Salutations my fellow Squaddies:

 

November 2008 marks the twelfth anniversary of the founding of the Specialists squadron.  The precise date, in November 1996, is regrettably lost to posterity; we have, accordingly, determined to celebrate the entire month. 

 

We come together on this occasion at a time of national crisis and, perforce, national renewal.  At a micro-level, our observance is back-dropped with the justifiable suspicion that our 401Ks have become 201Ks; we note that auto repair has replaced auto purchases as a subject of our threads; and we maintain hopes that we at least afford cable even as we shorten our stays and tighten our bets in Atlantic City.  Though we know better, the economic odds look appreciably more sanguine at the crap table.  The only bailout we might enjoy involves three presses of the “Enter” key.

 

I’ve been asked to address a few remarks in your direction on this occasion, which I fervently hope you will not find unwelcome, and presumably because I had the good fortune so many years ago to happen across a talented pilot up in the virtual skies of an amusement then known as Air Warrior.  Settling on a name, we started a squad (with far fewer keystrokes than evidenced at this juncture) and, by dint, I believe, of little more than striving to set a good example, found another, and another, and then another, equally talented pilot to carry out the missions which our squad nom de guerre was intended to reflect – precisely focused and synchronized attacks on specifically assigned targets in the enemy heartland contributing to our Country’s – not necessarily our individual or squad’s - real-time success in the overall theatre.  In a very short time, an esprit of dedication, professionalism, and merry blithesomeness came into being as the signature and trademark of the Specialists squadron.

 

What this nucleus never anticipated, indeed never contemplated, was that more than a decade later those same principles and characteristics would have endured in unchanging format. And in the vapors of cyberspace.  In twelve years the squad has shared births, deaths, weddings and divorces, victories and defeats, sickness and health, good times and bad.  Sounds like a family to me. 

 

For those of you fortunate enough to actually fly with regularity, it may come as something of a surprise to learn that it’s possible to stay abreast of tactics, and fly a double-virtual mission through the expedient of reading the squad emails.  It’s not the same rush as seeing a bogey explode in front of your cowl of course, but it serves, and there’s always that day, seems like it is always in the future, when you might get back in the game. But, if history is any guide, there will be “always be a Specialists” squadron when that day arrives. 

 

So, whatever the economy, remember that you have something that money can’t buy.  In any event, please accept these longwinded congratulations on achieving the twelve year marker.  I am very pleased to have had anything at all to do with it.

 

Good Hunting, Long Live the <CO>, and <S>

 

And goodnight TC.  ;)

 

Darks

 

PS:  You can blame Joker for this missive. lol