Forward!
FM 7-8. I’ve borrowed this title from Army Field Manual 7-8 covering basic infantry maneuvers. I felt it apropos to use it in describing a magazine dedicated to Troops, Soldiers, Marines, Sailors and Airmen. A LIFESTYLE magazine like none seen before. Reality: in the Army we have two commands in drill, the Preparatory Command followed by the Command of Execution. Forward! March. Don’t you fucking DARE anticipate the command. I bring it up because, in my humble experience, when a military member leaves their respective branch, that person becomes a dude or a chick and, without training, must “reenter” the “world”. Often, they get stuck in the Preparatory Command, awaiting a command of execution that will NEVER COME. Believe me. One can stand there ten years, like big tit Bob Paulson, and accomplish not a damn thing. There’s no command coming, and that prep command will hang on the air like a damp chill till your life gets pneumonia and dies alone in a dreary hospital room. You will find Death in Hades, too. That brings me to why I am creating a magazine geared towards Vets, and most importantly, why the hell it’s different (thus needed):
1. FM 7-8 is not NEWS or long data points called “articles”
There will be current events. There will be DATA. All subordinate to the American Warrior lifestyle. Opinion. Funny shit. Music. Gym stuff. Travel. Food. Lifestyle. Of course, current events, books, science-y geek shit and more. Entertainment first, other stuff last. This has never been done and FM 7-8 will do it. With your help!
2. This is a SQUAD of likeminded American Warriors
Not the untested, unblooded masses of the world. If you’ve served, welcome. If you’ve set foot in a two-way range or two—fuck’right welcome. And let’s be real: you never stop being a warrior. NEVER STOP. You probably fought off bullies long before raising that right hand. Unless it’s by mistake, you aren’t likely to see much of the word “veteran” or “retired” in FM 7-8. Why? Because these are terms used to keep American Warriors in the Preparatory Command. The VA? Fuck the VA. Use it for what it’s worth, but they want to dope us up and keep us docile. They want us stupid as fuck because we have experiences that are DOMINANT in every way. I’m serious. Leadership. Problem solving. Vision. And, of course, COMBAT PROWESS. Our government TREMBLES. And it should. Pro amore Patriae, because the tyrants have always hated us, and we’ve never done it for the BRASS. Subscribe and join us!
3. And for some S1 (admin) stuff
Writing on SubStack is just the beginning. FM 7-8 belongs in a printed format that will resemble a military manual that can be collected. We want articles, photographs, drawings and anything the FM 7-8 community comes up with. Beginning with the SubStack subscription platform, there are some things that 7-8 Troop members can expect, as well as non-members:
Everyone gets regular articles, published Wednesdays
Members can expect SE articles at least once a month
Members can also expect occasional group video chats
Founder members get everything, plus one-on-one calls and a chance to publish
That’s the basics. Other things will come about as we grow. This is about YOU, and we want FM 7-8 to be useful and fun. The more subscribers, the quicker we grow.
4. The American Warrior class was not made timid
Battle forged us and we’re just getting started. See you on the front line.
Looking forward to reading more.