Six Steps... Part II
MAJ Egland, author of Six Steps to Victory, says he has received an incredible amount of feedback. He plans to eventually publish a manuscript, but in the meantime he is trying to get the ball rolling on connecting American citizens with the counterinsurgency effort in Iraq. The following is excerpted from a letter to Blackfive:

Hey, do you know anyone who is just about to deploy, or has just arrived in Iraq, preferably in a line infantry, ground-owner type unit? Goal is to implement Step 3--connect the American people to the effort by giving them the chance to directly support the guys on the ground.

I am trying to line up a few battalions who would want to get sponsored by a city here and use the WalMart 'wedding registry' to order what they need-- video games, dvd's and books for themselves; cell phone cameras, laptops and video cameras to give to supportive locals for help with spotting bad guys; and dolls, bicycles, microwaves and generators to strengthen relations with the locals.

I have the list of deploying units, but prefer to go grass roots so I don't have to put up with some brigade XO tell me to send a white paper and powerpoint brief--only to never hear back from him.

Let me know if you or your readers can connect me with someone from a combat battalion either in country or about to deploy in the next few months. I can explain that all they would need to do is go to WalMart.com and sign up for a gift registry account, tell their buddies in the unit, send me the account information and I will take it from there.

Once they start getting stuff, they can take pictures and e-mail them back here so the folks supporting them can get the feedback to see that their efforts are really making a difference. I have mayors, CEOs, nonprofit presidents, church leaders, Rotary clubs, political groups and other local leaders from Alaska to Florida chomping at the bit to help out. People here really want to help but don't know how--beyond prayers, bumper stickers and care packages. Also, if one of your readers wants to sign their city up to sponsor a battalion, they can e-mail me at SixStepsInIraq@hotmail.com...

If you know someone with combat experience in Iraq or Afghanistan, make sure to tell them that this is a chance for their voice to be heard. E-mail the Major and help the true grass-roots movement.

Hat tip: Blackfive  ¶ Tuesday, November 21, 2006