Well, I have finally gotten to my final destination. Actually, I found out the day after my last post that I was staying here in Baghram. But, I am no longer in Maintenance Platoon. I have been moved to Production Control to be the Night Shift NCO. Which means that I a'm responsible for all maintenance that gets done overnight. But, not just the Chinooks, the Blackhawks and Apaches are also included. Its a lot of responsibility and I'm looking forward to it. However, I also miss being in charge of my maintnance teams. Oh well, I'll live and it'll look good on my resume when I retire. I was told that I was picked because the day PC NCO trusts me to make the right decisions without haveing to be watched over. We shall see how this story unfolds.
Anyway, that's about it for today. I am beat, been working 14 to 16 hour days. But you know what, it makes the day pass quick.
I'll see ya'll later.
15 January 2008
11 January 2008
I Have Arrived...Sort Of
Hey all, I have gotten to Afghanistan, and maybe to where I will be at for the whole 15 months. Actually, I got here on the 6th, and have been in a tent for the past few days. I'll get to that in a few. Right now, I think I'll continue my story about the trip here.
Where did I leave off, oh yeah, New Hampshire. So we leave there and go to (CENSORED). (Which, believe it, or not, was warmer than New Hampshire.) We were supposed to be there an hour for gas. No big deal, right? Wrong. We were there for 2 hours, and we had to stay on the airplane. All because the (CENSORED) (SP?) government charges 15 Euros per person to use a terminal, and the Army is to cheap to pay it. But, we did get given some real good chocolate. (Like that made it any better.) So we get the gas and are off to (CENSORED) for a 4 hour stop over. Cool, we can get off the plane there and smoke. Again, that is a big NO GO. We land, there is like 3 feet of snow on the ground, and they park us out in the middle of a ramp. The crews are getting bitchy at us because we're all standing around in the aisles and making it hard for them to do the swap out. Well, here's a little secret, if we weren't on the plane, we wouldn't be in the way.
We finnally take off from there and fly to Kuwait. We land there, get off the plane and onto a bus. The bus takes us to a holding area, where we were supposed to stay for a littl bit. And, we finnally get a chance to smoke. (YAY!) And let me tell you what, after 17 hours cooped up in a flying metal tube, some of us were getting down right bitchy. We had exatly enough time for me to suck down one cigarrette. (At least it took the edge off.) And got right back on the busses for an hour and a half ride to the transient holding area. We were supposed to be there no more than 48 hours. Think the Air Force was able to make that time frame? You're right, that's a big fat no. So we are there an extra day. Sure the down time was nice, but over all, I was bored out of my skull there.
We leave out of Kuwait on a C-17 that is set up for passengers instead of cargo. Now this is new to me. Everytime I've been on one, it was a cargo one. There are over 100 people on this thing. And talk about crowded. I'm sure ya'll know what flying coach is like. Well, this was like flying Sardine Class. I'm not a very big guy, but the seats were almost too narrow for me to sit in. Its another 4 hour flight to Baghram. The absolute worst flight I have ever been on. We get off the plane and its raining. We have to pull al of our bags off of the pallets and set them out on the ground while we go inside for a brief. Then we load the bags onto 5-tons, ourselves onto busses, and head over to these huge fest tents for our temporary quarters. (For those who don't know, these tents can sleep about 130 people on cots.) This place is 4 miles from anything you can do on the base here. And the bus schedule to get there is erratic at best. Anyway, we're there for 4 days, it wasn't too bad, the heat worked great there, so I didn't really have any complaints. Then today, we were moved into our (possibly) permenant quarters. They are called "B-Huts". Basically a B-Hut is a plywood and 2X4 building that sleeps 8 people. Everyone has their own little room, about 10 foot X 7 Foot. 4 rooms to a side, with a 2.5 foot hallway down the middle. Its really not too bad. I hooked up internet service today and here I am letting all of you know how things are going.
Of course there is more to tell, but I've written enough for now. (Oh, and by the way, the (CENSORED)s are from me, not someone else. Some old hbits are very hard to break.
I'll see ya'll later.
Where did I leave off, oh yeah, New Hampshire. So we leave there and go to (CENSORED). (Which, believe it, or not, was warmer than New Hampshire.) We were supposed to be there an hour for gas. No big deal, right? Wrong. We were there for 2 hours, and we had to stay on the airplane. All because the (CENSORED) (SP?) government charges 15 Euros per person to use a terminal, and the Army is to cheap to pay it. But, we did get given some real good chocolate. (Like that made it any better.) So we get the gas and are off to (CENSORED) for a 4 hour stop over. Cool, we can get off the plane there and smoke. Again, that is a big NO GO. We land, there is like 3 feet of snow on the ground, and they park us out in the middle of a ramp. The crews are getting bitchy at us because we're all standing around in the aisles and making it hard for them to do the swap out. Well, here's a little secret, if we weren't on the plane, we wouldn't be in the way.
We finnally take off from there and fly to Kuwait. We land there, get off the plane and onto a bus. The bus takes us to a holding area, where we were supposed to stay for a littl bit. And, we finnally get a chance to smoke. (YAY!) And let me tell you what, after 17 hours cooped up in a flying metal tube, some of us were getting down right bitchy. We had exatly enough time for me to suck down one cigarrette. (At least it took the edge off.) And got right back on the busses for an hour and a half ride to the transient holding area. We were supposed to be there no more than 48 hours. Think the Air Force was able to make that time frame? You're right, that's a big fat no. So we are there an extra day. Sure the down time was nice, but over all, I was bored out of my skull there.
We leave out of Kuwait on a C-17 that is set up for passengers instead of cargo. Now this is new to me. Everytime I've been on one, it was a cargo one. There are over 100 people on this thing. And talk about crowded. I'm sure ya'll know what flying coach is like. Well, this was like flying Sardine Class. I'm not a very big guy, but the seats were almost too narrow for me to sit in. Its another 4 hour flight to Baghram. The absolute worst flight I have ever been on. We get off the plane and its raining. We have to pull al of our bags off of the pallets and set them out on the ground while we go inside for a brief. Then we load the bags onto 5-tons, ourselves onto busses, and head over to these huge fest tents for our temporary quarters. (For those who don't know, these tents can sleep about 130 people on cots.) This place is 4 miles from anything you can do on the base here. And the bus schedule to get there is erratic at best. Anyway, we're there for 4 days, it wasn't too bad, the heat worked great there, so I didn't really have any complaints. Then today, we were moved into our (possibly) permenant quarters. They are called "B-Huts". Basically a B-Hut is a plywood and 2X4 building that sleeps 8 people. Everyone has their own little room, about 10 foot X 7 Foot. 4 rooms to a side, with a 2.5 foot hallway down the middle. Its really not too bad. I hooked up internet service today and here I am letting all of you know how things are going.
Of course there is more to tell, but I've written enough for now. (Oh, and by the way, the (CENSORED)s are from me, not someone else. Some old hbits are very hard to break.
I'll see ya'll later.
04 January 2008
I Hate Big Army Deployments
Hey everyone, nope, I'm not in Afghanistan yet. I've only gotten to Kuwait. But let me tell you, you know how they say that getting there is half the fun? I hope to God that's not true. First, it was below freezing at Campbell (+ a 10 mph wind) when it came time to board the plane. Yoiu would think we could wear our cold weather gear, right. Noooo. We had to be only in our ACUs and the SGM was checking. So, while waiting to get on the plane, in 12 degree weather (with wind chill) we were like a bunch of popsicles trying to climb the stairs. Well, it wasn't too bad, but I couldn't feel my hands by the time I got onboard.
We fly from Campbell to our first crewswap/fuel stop in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. When we get off of the plane there are about 60 people there to greet us! Most of them Veterans. And a lot of them former Marines. It was amazing. They were there for us! I've never seen anything like it in my 19 years in the Army. I was really touched by their sincerity. They went around talking to us, thanking us for our service and generally trying to make us feel better. Tell you what, it worked. These people took the time out of their lives to let us know that they supported us. They also gave each of us a brand new set of Bose in ear headphones, a phone card and lots of snacks. Those headphones cost $100 each! (The headphones were donated by the Bose company for this purpose. Bose gave their organization 6000 of these to pass out to deploying troops, and didn't ask for anything in return.) From now on, I am going to be a big supporter of Bose. The greeters took a group photo of us to put up in their "Hall of Heros", where they have pics of all of the troops they have greeted. They have done this for over 600 flights! When it was time to get on the plane, the Marine in charge of the greeters called them to attention, and they saluted us! I was so moved by that one gesture I almost came to tears. Seriously. Then our BN CO called us to attention and we returned the salute. I have never started a deployment feeling better in my entire career.
Well, I only have a few miutes left. Next update from the A place. See ya'll later.
We fly from Campbell to our first crewswap/fuel stop in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. When we get off of the plane there are about 60 people there to greet us! Most of them Veterans. And a lot of them former Marines. It was amazing. They were there for us! I've never seen anything like it in my 19 years in the Army. I was really touched by their sincerity. They went around talking to us, thanking us for our service and generally trying to make us feel better. Tell you what, it worked. These people took the time out of their lives to let us know that they supported us. They also gave each of us a brand new set of Bose in ear headphones, a phone card and lots of snacks. Those headphones cost $100 each! (The headphones were donated by the Bose company for this purpose. Bose gave their organization 6000 of these to pass out to deploying troops, and didn't ask for anything in return.) From now on, I am going to be a big supporter of Bose. The greeters took a group photo of us to put up in their "Hall of Heros", where they have pics of all of the troops they have greeted. They have done this for over 600 flights! When it was time to get on the plane, the Marine in charge of the greeters called them to attention, and they saluted us! I was so moved by that one gesture I almost came to tears. Seriously. Then our BN CO called us to attention and we returned the salute. I have never started a deployment feeling better in my entire career.
Well, I only have a few miutes left. Next update from the A place. See ya'll later.
02 January 2008
Just a Short One
Hey all, I know I haven't updated in a very long time, but I've been busy. This is my last update before I head out to Afghany land. There is supposed to be private internet service there, but we shall see.
Anyway, so we worked our asses off so that the entire battalion's aircraft could fly to port on time. And I do mean worked our asses off. We were pulling 16 to 18 hour days in freezing cold and rain. We get them out of here and are looking forward to some down time. Guess what, the Brigade Commander fucks us. We still have to come in every work day, no day on/ day off schedule for us. Only half days. Doesn't sound too bad, right. Good in theory, bad in execution. We still went in for PT, but now we HAVE to do it from 0630 to 0800. No exceptions, no excusses. Then after PT, back to the hanger. And what do we do while we're at the hanger. That's right. Absolutly nothing! We sit there for the rest of the day with our thumbs up our asses. Generally we were out of there at lunch, but come on. We were the only company in the battalion that was doing PT and coming to work. Why did we do this? All of our airplanes are gone, the hanger has been cleaned out and up and we do absolutly nothing while we're there. It made no sense.
So, enough of that rant. I leave this morning, like I said earlier. I'm part of our advance party and have been chosen to be in charge of the build ups. Right now, its a little unclear wether I'm running all of the teams, or just one of them. I hope they don't expect me to do both, it can't be done. There is just too much to keep track of. And the ons that should know what I'm doing, don't have a clue yet themseves.
Biz, sorry to hear about that bitch in family court. (Actually both of them, the judge and the ex.) But don't take it to heart, what goes around, comes around.
I wish ya'll the best for the New Year and keep yourselves safe.
I'm out till I get up in Afghanistan. See ya'll later.
Anyway, so we worked our asses off so that the entire battalion's aircraft could fly to port on time. And I do mean worked our asses off. We were pulling 16 to 18 hour days in freezing cold and rain. We get them out of here and are looking forward to some down time. Guess what, the Brigade Commander fucks us. We still have to come in every work day, no day on/ day off schedule for us. Only half days. Doesn't sound too bad, right. Good in theory, bad in execution. We still went in for PT, but now we HAVE to do it from 0630 to 0800. No exceptions, no excusses. Then after PT, back to the hanger. And what do we do while we're at the hanger. That's right. Absolutly nothing! We sit there for the rest of the day with our thumbs up our asses. Generally we were out of there at lunch, but come on. We were the only company in the battalion that was doing PT and coming to work. Why did we do this? All of our airplanes are gone, the hanger has been cleaned out and up and we do absolutly nothing while we're there. It made no sense.
So, enough of that rant. I leave this morning, like I said earlier. I'm part of our advance party and have been chosen to be in charge of the build ups. Right now, its a little unclear wether I'm running all of the teams, or just one of them. I hope they don't expect me to do both, it can't be done. There is just too much to keep track of. And the ons that should know what I'm doing, don't have a clue yet themseves.
Biz, sorry to hear about that bitch in family court. (Actually both of them, the judge and the ex.) But don't take it to heart, what goes around, comes around.
I wish ya'll the best for the New Year and keep yourselves safe.
I'm out till I get up in Afghanistan. See ya'll later.
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