 Shift+Option+K “an apple a day…”

shift option k is fortunate enough to have the pleasure of knowing a member in the California National Guard, we’ll refer to him as “OFFICER H”. This highly trained soldier has quite an impressive resume however here @ shift option k we are going to forget about his military accomplishments and focus on his inner geek.

a few months ago i asked “OFFICER H” to share his opinions on the ipod and other personal tech in the military and how they play a role in soldiers everyday life. here is his response:

“Those who serve do so for various reasons but the bottom line is that we spend much time away from our family our friends and in short our home. We travel to far distant lands to wage war, keep the peace and in these ends hopefully create positive change in the world. These momentous tasks can only be accomplished through the dedication and sacrifice of days months and years. In this time we spend our time amongst the company of our brothers and despite our different backgrounds and upbringing we share a common binding experience.
Within in any unit the sheer diversity of the soldiers makes for an environment where both material and non-material cultures are freely exchanged. One of the most noticeable exchanges is the exchange of media between men who seek simple distraction, entertainment, and ties home, and allows all members to explore diverse styles not common to them. It seems that ipods, terabyte hard drives, lap tops, Xboxes, cells, PSPs, and any other electronic device is as common to a soldier and is as familiar to his hands as the riffle itself… if not more so. While many of these device are strictly against regulation while on duty, they are the bread and butter of the barracks life. This is a revolution in the military culture and is a stark contrast to the time of our fathers, whose connection home was limited to pen and paper or at best a telephone call and whose entertainment was limited to a good game of Spades or dominos.

Tools like facebook, myspace, skype, email and cell phones give a soldier instant and continuous connection home. Which in my humble opinion is both positive and negative. The connection can be both unifying and horribly isolating at the same time. ”

please stay tuned for much more from “OFFICER H” & please feel free to ask any questions r share your thoughts in the comments section.