First up is a D Company (Forward LOL) group photo on an ATC tower near our clamshell hanger. (I'm second from the top of the stairs.)
This is the clamshell hanger with both ends open. The only reason I took this pic is because of the OC's OH-58 hovering on the other side. I think that they look like fishing lures.
I see you!
An AH-64 Apache doing a flyby.
Yep, there was some Cav guys (and girls) there too. Their little OH-58D Warriors were soooo cute. The pilots started to dislike me (even the one that used to work for me when he was a SPC), I think it had something to do with me constantly asking where the rubberbands went, and how long the batteries lasted in the RC unit.
Another -58. Ain't it cute.
The next few are of the convoy training we (I) had to conduct. At the last minute I was told to put together some convoy training. Of course I said, "Yes First Sergeant." And went to work. Now, mind you, the last time I was in a convoy was in Desert Sheild/Desert Storm (Shut up Biz. Not a word.) and convoys have canged a lot since then. So, I just basically made it up as I went along. Everyone seemed impressed at how well it went and effective it was. (Including myself.)
"Its ok. Its just a camera. You can point the machine gun somewhere else." A previous picture flash had caught the trail vehicle gunner's attention.
Our Platoon Sergeant conducting the After Action Review (AAR) after we did the convoy training.
A sand table, that was our Platoon Leader's (LT A.) brainchild, of our "area". His brainchild, but he enlisted a couple of our privates to help him with it. Once they got ahold of it, they ran with it. It came out pretty damn good, especially for a bunch of aviation guys.
Same thing, different view.
This is a close up of our protest to some of 10th Mountain's stupidity. (I think that this one deserves some explanation.) As you can see, our model, we'll just call him "Bob" to protect his true identity from reprisals, is wearing his issue Sand/Wind/Dust Goggles, as well as a sporty reflective belt worn diagnally from right to left over the top of his Infantry Body Armor w/ceramic plates. But in all seriousness, the 10th had some serious stupidity going on. At all times you had to wear a reflective belt, goggles and camel back. If you were in a vehicle you had to have the above plus a kevlar helmet (The helmet is standard for the Army in tactical vehicles.) and a pair of nomex flight gloves. All military vehicles had to have a ground guide (A person walking in front of the vehicle.) At first, it was only at certain locations and for short distances, but it evolved to inlude the entire field site. (It was over 2 miles from the entry point to our hanger.) And any time a vehicle moved. Also, you couldn't run when ground guiding, even if you didn't exceed the 5 MPH speed limit. We had a PFC get yelled at by a 10th MTN officer that he couldn't run. So the PFC stopped running and started skipping. It was priceless, and the officer was speechless. (Iwish I had thought of it.)
Believe it or not, it fricking snowed in Louisiana, in April! And the day before it hit 80.
These are two of the officers in the unit. The one on the left is LT A. On the right is his partner in crime, CPT O, doing his version of "Blue Steel". Obviously, this was during hell freezing over.
Here we have the CO showing us what he thought of the designated field uniform. MILES gear (Kind of like a laser tag set for the Army.) draped over ACUs, or in this case, flight suit and gortex, and the head sensor portion (aka halo) attatched to the patrol cap. Now the rules for this part were a little vague, so the CO got a little creative.
Ah, what a beautiful site!
I think I can. I think I can.
Maintenance useing some down time to play frisbee in the clamshell.
Mothra Attacks!!!!!!
A couple days before we left there was a huge fire down wind from us. We were told it was a "Controled Burn", but it sure didn't look like there was too much control going on.
The next several shots are of the aircraft as they flew away. Every flight of aircraft was followed by a Chinook as a "just in case." And they say that we don't need Chinooks anymore. Dumbasses.
The one that almost got away.
Don't leave me!
Here we all are waiting for the busses to show up. Each of the buildings to the right hold 170 people. Not very comfortable, but much, much better than a GP Medium Tent. This is where we stayed during gameplay.
While we were waiting for the busses, an ice cream truck showed up. I didn't think too much about it, until I walked behind the truk an saw the signs on the back. When I saw the signs, there was a crowd of soldiers waiting for ice cream. Buy the time I had gotten my camera and back into position, the crowd dwindled to one. (Man, that ice cream lady was quick.) But, you get the point. (OK for some reason, you can't click to get a bigger view, but the redish blurs on the back of the truck say "Caution Children." I thought it was funny.)
We stopped at this rest stop somewhere in the middle of Mississippi and I had these two signs pointed out to me. The one on the left says "Dog Trail" with an arrow pointing to the right. The right side says, "No Pets Allowed." I just thought that it was typical of the South. But, if you look closely at the right hand sign, in smaller letters on the bottom, it says "In This Area." So, I guess it means right here in the front.
And finally the Bizkit hooked me up again. When I got back home at 4 AM this morning, I had a package from him. He sent me a travel mug I had left at his apartment in Daegu at one time or another. And there was also a little gift. Something that completely made my day. After all of the shit I put up with from the Mighty Midget in Charge of E Company, this was a taste of sweet revenge. Even though I had no idea about it, nor how it was aquired. Biz told me that it ended up on his desk one morning just before he left. No explination or any way to thank the unknown individual. But, if you happen to run across my little piece of cyberspace, you have my heartfelt gratitude. This lovely piece of history now resides on the case to my laptop to accompany me for the rest of my life. (It will never be permenantly attached.)
I'll see ya'll later.
